Soul Connection (Damon and Elena)

Chapter 8

Previously on S.C.D.E.

The rest of the morning is filled with shaking with laughter and drenching each other in colorful paint. We become very creative with the colors we throw on each other.

It's all fun and joyful until we get a knock on our new apartment that no one knows about yet.

And what begins to happen is what I'd least expected would fill my day.

"Stefan." I say, as he stands in our doorway. "How'd you know.. about our apartment?" I ask.

He does a sly little smirk and walks inside. "You ha-haven't been invited in." I say, anxiously. "Damon!" I shout to him. I turn back to Stefan and look at him puzzled. "Stefan you haven't said a thing. What the hell is going on." I chew my lip.

He brushes off my comment and continues to walk into the kitchen where Damon is. Stefan's under compulsion or he's possessed. This could only mean one thing.. "Stefan?" Damon gasps when he sees

Realization hits me like a truck. "Run!" I yell to Damon.

He wastes no time in taking off out of the house. Followed by a bunny-eating vampire.

I speed run after them.

"Elena.. what's going on?" Damon questions when I reach him. The air outside is foggy and I can tell it's been raining.

"I don't know.. Where'd Stefan go?" I ask. "He's compelled or possessed. There's something wrong." I scratch the back of my head.

"If it isn't obvious." Damon raises his eyebrows.

"Guess again." Stefan appears from behind me. I jump and He grabs me from behind holding a wooden stake at my chest. I struggle to get from his grasp. "It's useless Elena." He whispers in my ear, making me go cold. "I'm Markos." He says proudly. He turns to look at Damon and smirks. "I'll kill her right on the spot. Right now."

Damon glares at him. "No you won't," He starts. "You need her for the 'Doppler ganger' fantasy."

"It's not fantasy Damon, it's reality. And you and Elena will be history." Markos hisses. "I might not be able to kill her, yes, but there's something else I can do. I'll make her suffer for the rest of her life, and I'll make you watch. Then after years of excruciating pain I'll let Stefan be the first person she sees. She'll fall in love with him all over again." He says, proud of himself. "And she'll barely remember the vampire who let all of that happen to her."

Damon hesitates. "So what do you want?"

"You dead." Markos answers, slicing pain through my heart.

"Damon don't! Don't do it!" I scream at him. "I can always find my way out, but there's no hope if you're dead!" I cry, breaking free from Markos who has loosened his grip.

He looks like he's actually considering this. "Damon please! I love you! We're supposed to be together!" Tears freely spill out. "I can't lose another person. I can't handle it, Damon! I need you to balance out all of the insanity in my life! Without you I'm just the girl next door. I love you so much Damon, please stay with me! Let him take me, but don't put me before yourself this time! I'm begging you!" I sob. I see something flash through Markos' eyes.. Either anger or realization.

Damon walks over to me. He stares down at me and brushes his hand gently along my cheek. He cups my face in his hands. "There's no stopping me this time." he says and presses my lips to his. Electricity races through me, and my entire body ignites. He pulls away swiftly and wipes a tear away from my cheek. "I love you Elena Gilbert." He says causing my heart to pound. "Each time I look at your eyes I fall more in love than I ever thought I was capable of. You've shown me everything I'm capable of and everything I'm not. I thank you for that."

A fresh tear falls out. "Don't you dare tell me that you're leaving. Don't say your goodbyes. It's you and me against infinity, remember?" I bite my lip, and plead with my eyes.

His eyebrows furrow up and his expression reads sympathy and sorrow. "I love you." Those three simple words that have caused my heart to pound countless times.. This time they are signaling that this will be my last time hearing it. "I have caused you so much struggles in your life, and I refuse to be responsible for whatever Markos will do."

"But you've also caused me so much happiness." I try to smile as best as I can. "You're the best thing that has happened to me and I need you." I throw my arms around him and hug him like it's my first time hugging. I breathe in his scent and cry on his shoulder.

We stay like that for a few moments until Damon pulls away. "Alright." He says to Markos. "I'm ready." He says. "I love Elena, and I'm ready to die for her."