Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 11: All Fun And Games Till Someone Jinxes It

Damon POV

As soon as Stefan stopped the car, a wave of dread washed over me. Two trips to the same hell within two days was just too much. As we got out I tried to mask all emotion from my face, but couldn't stop my body from all the nervous movements.

pull it together Damon. I thought to myself as I shuffled my feet.

Joking with Rick eased my nerves a little. Even more so when Stefan said we are just passing through.

It all made sense right then. I knew where Stefan was taking us.

I couldn't help but smile.

All my nerves were gone now. Something about the lake just made everything more bearable. The lake always felt more like home than the Victorian style house that father made me stay in until the day he shot me.

Hell knows I wanted nothing more than to take Stefan and leave the God awful place once I came of age. But Giuseppe had threatened me before hand, saying that all the treatment I got would shift onto Stefan too if I ever tried to leave.

I couldn't even bear the thought of that happening to my baby brother, so I stayed put.

After all, I learned that Stefan was my only true family soon after my mother died. And I would never intentionally put him in harms way.

Stefan motioning for me to lead the way snapped me out of my thoughts.

I felt instant relief when we stepped into the woods, on the familiar trail to the lake. Even after all this time, Stefan and I knew every twist and turn. Not many residents in Mystic Falls knew about the lake. I made sure of that for the past hundred years.

I smirked to myself.

My chest filled with pride at the fact that I had accomplished to preserve the one spot in this horrid town that felt like home to me.

The little walk was easy. If we could, we could run at full speed and be there within minutes, maybe seconds if Stefan was feeling competitive. But we had to play nice with Rick and not let him get lost and hurt himself in the woods.

Like earlier, we made our trip in a comfortable silence.

But, once we were at the lake, it was just like when we were human. With the addition of Alaric being there of course.

I started looking for a new tree to climb while Stefan started to get ready for a swim.

Stefan seemed to be more calm than when he was 13, but if you had been around him as long as I have, the gleam of barely contained excitement was clearly evident in his eyes.

I felt a warm smile creep onto my face before turning to look for a tree.

Once I found one, I made quick work of climbing it. I sat comfortably on a branch before I saw Rick standing awkwardly by where we came from the woods.

"Come on Rick! For once, this is the appropriate time for you to act like a teenager instead of an adult. I mean, you don't seem to have a problem with that at your students parties!" I said, using his usual drunk, shit-eating grin against him. Even though Stefan has refused to let me drink ever since he found out.

He rolled his eyes and didn't reply, instead, he took off his pack and took out a blanket and laid it down.

"You know, taking a hike with a hangover isn't very fun" he said while laying down.

"Really? I thought you would be used to hangovers." I mumbled to myself.

For a good two hours, Stefan swam and Alaric slept.

I was still in my tree when Stefan got out, knowing that it would be a bad idea to get down before Stefan is completely dry.

I still don't understand how he can stand swimming in pants.

As soon as Stefan got out, he looked around for something to use to put his evil plan in action. Finding nothing, he decided to revise his plan.

And yes, I know what he's doing.

I grew up with Stefan's little evil pranks and I know how to avoid them.

Alaric, not so lucky.

I saw something click in Stefan's eyes and he moved towards Alaric, being sure not to wake him.

I watched curiously, torn between watching Stefan's plan play out or warning Alaric.

I chose the first choice.

I leaned forward as a dripping wet Stefan laid next to the history teacher, still keeping distance.

Then, in one quick movement, Stefan fully wrapped himself around his unaware victim.

I couldn't hold back my laughter any longer when Rick panicked and tried getting away.

Clearly, he didn't want to cool off.

Not being able to take it anymore, Stefan burst out laughing and rolled away from the perplexed teacher.

I jumped down out of the tree to be sure I didn't make a fool of myself by falling out during my fit of laughter.

Okay, so maybe that wasn't the best idea.

Stefan and Alaric gave me a look before glancing at each other.

"Oh no. Stay away from me!" I said as I started backing away.

Stefan and Alaric grinned. I turned to run but I ran into a bothersome little brother. Stefan clung onto me as Rick came from behind and hugged both of us.

Being squished between my soaked brother and his equally wet victim, was probably the fault of my poor planning.

Damn, shoulda stayed in the tree.

They both broke into a fit of laughter and released me.

I scowled and tried shaking the access water off.

Despite my distasteful look, I was actually really enjoying myself.

I was thinking about how good it felt to have a care free day to myself.

Apparently I fucking jinxed it by just thinking it.

Stefan and Alaric were still on the ground when I froze.

They quickly noticed and got up

"Damon, you okay?" Stefan asked while grabbing my right arm.

That's when the searing white pain exploded in my skull. Followed by pain all over my chest and abdomen and up my left arm.

I heard Stefan yelling at Rick to run ahead and make room in the car, then the yelling was directed to me

"Damon-" it was all I heard before it became muffled.

Then I heard wordless screaming, before I realized that it was coming from me, but I was too occupied by the white iron that was pushing its way through my skull.

Then my body went limp and refused to listen.

I turned my head and saw Giuseppe standing by the water, smirking predatory like.

And then everything went black.