The Doppelganger's Keeper

Chapter 1: Prologue

Three Years Ago – Mystic Falls

Damon woke to flames surrounding him; the screams of the council members burning, as they banged on the doors that sealed them into the church. He had to chuckle at the irony as he looked around. The very same vampires that were locked in the tomb below were now taking revenge on the Founder's Council for the actions of their ancestors. A few years ago, he would have been with them, but these people were his friends...he made a home here.

"Liz..." he wheezed, coughing and pushing himself to his feet. He realized once he stood that he must have been hit with vervain. Moving around the church, he flipped over the bodies of those already drained of blood, and his heart broke when he saw the sheriff covered in blood with her throat ripped out. Forcing down all the emotion that threatened to boil over, he took notice of all the founding families. Mayor Lockwood, Tobias Fell, Sheriff Elizabeth Forbes...

"Grayson!" he darted around the flames, searching for the last of the Council. He heard the sobs of a woman near the back of the alter, and flashed over. The sight before him, was enough to make his eyes glaze with tears. It was moments like this, he wished he was able to turn it off, and shut out his humanity. Miranda was holding her husband in her lap, covered in blood. Damon could tell from the angle that his friend's neck was broken. "Miranda...we need to go." He tried to pull her up gentle, but she ripped her arm away.

"No, I'm not leaving him!" she continued to rock him gently. "He's going to wake up. He'll wake up." She needed confidently.

Damon glanced as his hand. "He's not wearing his ring..." he reached for her again, but she shook her head. "Miranda! He's dead...he's not coming back! We need to go. Now!" He yanked her to her feet, despite her cries, and jumped up to the higher windows, and breaking it open with his elbow. He held her tightly to him, and jumped to the ground, rushing them as far away from the burning fire as possible.

Once they were near the woods, he stopped, and Miranda felt herself stumble to the ground. It was in the light of the moon that he noticed the extent of her injuries. The blood she was covered in was her own; the multiple neck wounds making her face pale. "You need to promise me. Promise me you'll protect her." Damon dropped down next to her, assessing her wounds and doing his best to stop the bleeding, ripping pieces off his shirt. "She needs you now, Damon."

He nodded absentmindedly. Biting into his own wrist, and offering it to her, but she turned her head. "I promise, but if you don't drink from me right now, you're going to die!"

Her eyes rolled closed. "He'll come for her." He pushed his wrist to her mouth, but he knew it was too late.

He let himself cry for the first time in years; but he vowed to not let his rage take the front seat. He would bury his friends; he would bring them to justice...and he would honor Miranda's dying wish.