LOST IN THE VAMPIRE DIARIES |DS [DISCONTINUED]

rescue me

Chapter 5

RESCUE ME

"This waking nightmare lingers

when will the mirror stop telling lies

I don't know where i've been

or where i'm going

But I can't do it alone"

(Rescue Me - Kerrie Roberts)

Damon could barely keep his eyes open to look at his brother through the bars of the cell Stefan had locked him in. He tried to glare at him anyway, trying to convene all the anger he could feel towards Stefan for what he had done to him. Worst thing of all, Stefan had taken his daylight ring too.

"Where's my ring?" He was barely able to utter, his throat burning.
"Won't be needing it anymore." Stefan almost taunted him.

Damon cursed himself once again for having lowered his guard that night at the Founders' party, enough to allow his brother to capture him after having spiked Claire's glass of champagne with vervain. How could he have not noticed that her blood had vervain in it? But he had been so hungry in that moment and Claire's blood had looked so tempting offered like that, and he had known perfectly how delicious it tasted, that he hadn't realized what had happened until it was too late.

"How long have I been here?" Damon asked then, not sure how much time had passed since the night at the party.

"Three days" Stefan answered emotionless.

Three days, it sure seemed longer. He wondered how to get the hell out of there and who could help him with that. Immediately after, he thought about Claire and wondered where she was; if his brother had compelled her to forget about what had happened to him; or if she was worrying about him, not knowing where he was and if he was okay. Maybe he was kidding himself; maybe Claire was relieved that he was no longer around, being a threat to her, her friends and family. Then he remembered her reaction towards Stefan, her anger at what his brother had done to him, her fear, for him, and realized that if there was one person who wondered about his disappearance, then that person was Claire.

"What are you doing?" He asked his brother, wanting to know what Stefan's plan was.

Stefan looked at him with a gaze that was half pity and half determination and answered, "During the dark ages when a vampire's actions threatened to expose or bring harm upon the entire race, they would face judgment. They sought to reeducate them rather than to punish them."

Damon almost asked him what right did he have to cast judgment upon him but thought better of it and instead said "You know what will happen if I don't... Feed on blood".

Stefan nodded at him indifferently "You'll grow weaker and weaker. Eventually you won't be able to move or speak. In a week your skin will desiccate, and you'll mummify. A living corpse. Unable to hurt anyone. Ever."

Damon felt dread coursing through his weak body but his voice was firm – though scratchy – when he asked "So what, you're just going to leave me in the basement, forever?"

"I've injected you with enough vervain to keep you weak." Now Stefan's voice was filled with satisfaction, almost proud of his accomplishment "Once your circulation stops, I'll move you to the family crypt, and then in 50 years, we can reevaluate."

Damon glared at him, not ready to give up "I'm stronger than you think."

Stefan nodded at him, almost mockingly "You always have been. But you're not stronger than the vervain. And we both know it. I'm sorry. Didn't have to be this way." With that said, Stefan walked away and Damon watched him go without saying anything further. He didn't care what Stefan thought, Damon would find a way to get out of this cell and then Stefan would pay.