-------------------Damon's POV-------------------

  Hunger, all I dare to focus on is feed the void that consumes me. The blood of many, the succulent substance that brings life now fills my mouth and runs down my chin. Don't dare think about anything but this moment, the mantra that I repeat whenever my mind begins to wonder.

  Another shot, the burn of the alcohol collides with the smoothness of the blood. Music pounds around me, I can feel it vibrating through the rickety floor boards of our current residence. The squeal of laughter penetrates the air as a blond runs by me, being chased by a taller brunette.

  Woman, I have lost count of how many, lounge around in differing states of undress. Many are dancing, some are passed out, all have neat little bite marks trailing over their bodies. I crave them, no I crave her, but they will do.

  "Come here baby" A giggling woman about half my height rubs her hand down my bare chest.

  Her warm fingers sending shivers over my cold skin. Where did my shirt go? Doesn't matter, lost it at some point in my alcohol induced haze. I reach for her, pull her close to me. Her moan of appreciation egging me on. I knot my fingers in her curly black hair, crunchy from too much product, and force her head to the side. Her bare, smooth neck inviting me to take what I need. Wrapping an arm around her frail body I lift her with ease. She eagerly wraps her legs around my waist, clinging to me like I am the most important thing in her life.

  Another time I may have been more appreciative of her curves. The way her ass feels in my hand as I hold her to me. How her breasts, only held in by a thin piece of lace, feels pressed again my chest. Now though, it is nothing but a fleeting thought. I sink my fangs into her skin, and she moans loudly in pleasure. Her hands running through my hair, pulling me harder to her as I drink.

  My mind going blank as the first drops of her blood mingle with my tongue. Then Nereza's eyes, terrified and wet with tears, flashes across my mind. No, none of that. Just this moment. I bite down harder, she gasps and clings to me, as I concentrate on just the taste of her.

  "Damon!" The unwanted cry invades my mind.

  Reluctantly I remove my fangs from the girls neck and turn to the intruder. My head tilts to the side as I stare emotionlessly at the distraught Elena. She storms threw the front door, her head whipping back and forth as she takes in the chaos that awaited her. She removes her purse from over one shoulder and throws it onto the table beside the door, not even noticing as she misses and it tumbles to the floor. Her mouth hangs open in disbelief, shaking her head no as if that could make this all just a bad dream. Maybe this is. Maybe it's nothing but a nightmare I am stuck living over and over again.

 The woman in my arms groans unsatisfied with my lack of attention, reminding me that this is the sad reality of our world.

  "What are you thinking?" Elena's shrill voice screams over the music.

  She doesn't have to yell, I would be able to hear her just fine even if she whispered. With this much blood in my system every one of my senses are heightened. I feel invincible, I feel alive!

  Stefan walks just half a step behind her, his eyes set on me. He doesn't get distracted, even as a hot little number tries to get him to dance. He cuts through it all to get to me. His jaw set, anger blazing within him, he is ready for a fight. Why must we always fight?

  I lessen my grip on the girl, her legs slowly releasing their hold on me as she slides to the floor. She pouts, feeling forgotten, which she is. I turn my back to her and take a step towards them, and smile.

  "Welcome to the party. Pick a girl, any girl" I waive my hand at our guests, "they are all here for our pleasure."

  "Oh my god," Elena runs her hands through her hair in frustration, continuing to gape at the women around her.

  "Get them out of here" Stefan demands. I tilt my head and sneer in response.

  "What, can't a guy have a little fun?" I walk around Stefan and step to Elena. "You get to go off shopping, and not have to worry about getting anything done." She averts her eyes as I make a dig about her night with Nereza. "But when I try to let loose," I take a few steps away from them both, and shrug, "you act like I killed someone."

  I turn back to them with narrowed eyes, a twisted smile playing on my face. Elena glances around in horror, obviously fearful that this is exactly what I have done. Stefan never breaks eye contact, trying to stare me down.

  "Your drunk," he spits his words at me.

  I shrug again, grabbing my half empty glass that had previously been forgetting on a side table, now lifting it up to him.

  "You right!" I bring the glass to my lips and finish the contents in one large gulp.

  "You said you wouldn't bring people here anymore!" Elena, finally reassured everyone present is still breathing, turns her anger back to me.

  "I lied." I shrug again, taking a step closer to her. "I'm the bad guy remember," her eyes soften as I bring up her words from the other night, "that's what we do."

  "Damon," she sighs, but doesn't continue.

  What is there for her to say.

  "Shouldn't you be in school?" I raise my eyebrows in mock surprise. "Oh no!" I cover my mouth with my hand, acting as if I just discovered something horrible. "Are the two little angles skipping school?"

  I finish my act and roll my eyes. Already loosing interest with this exchange I start eyeing up a few girls who are wondering in this direction.

  "This is serious, there has been a-" Stefan starts to scold, but I have no patience for it.

  "Come now baby brother." I interrupt him.

  I reach out for the plump girl with the short auburn hair, and pull her back to me. I wrap my arms around her, she sighs contently as she leans back against me. I sway the two of us as I place my head on top of hers, smiling at Stefan as sweetly as I can manage. "

  You must learn to lighten up." I run my hand down the girls arm. "Join me!" I take a hold of the girl's wrist and hold it out like a peace offering. "AB-, a rare vintage." I tempt him, but am only met with his cold stare.

  "Your a mess," He trails off, looking at me with disguised.

  "And your pathetic!" I sneer, letting the girl go and gently pushing her to move on.

  "We are pathetic?" Elena questions in disbelief. "Your the one who is here getting drunk while we have a major dilemma"

  "Aww, does your pet not want to play anymore?" I wave off her worries, wondering over to a chair and letting myself collapse into it.

  "Nereza is hiding in her house, terrified to leave because she knows vampires exist." Stefan answers dryly.

  He doesn't have the same emotional outburst that Elena may have, but it is easy to see this is bothering him. I sit up straighter in my chair at the mention of her name. I try not to seem interested, but I need to know more. I need to know if she is ok.

  "How is her dad?" I try to casually ask.

  Elena tilts her head, looking off in the distance as she works something through in her mind. Her eyes widening as she comes to an idea. Her gaze snaps back to me, her jaw clenching as her anger returns.

  "What did you do?" she hisses at me.

  "Me?" I stand from my chair and storm over to her. "Your the one who decided to get inside her head!"

  I am right above her now, shouting in her face. My rage that I have been trying to suppress now exploding out of me.

"She didn't know a thing when she left me." She tries to defend herself. "You are the one who saw her last!"

"I didn't do a thing to her!" The fact that she believes I would be a danger to Nereza exasperates me.

"And her father?" Stefan watches me closely as he asks.

  I do not leave my position, but my gaze darts to him. I hold his stare as I clench my jaw at a loss of words. They would never except that what I did was necessary. That I made him better!

  "Oh god!" Elena runs her hands through her hair again, turning away from me in disgust.

  I roll my eyes at her dramatics.

  "So it's because of you she won't talk with us." Stefan accuses me, moving closer to Elena to comfort her.

  "Oh, don't put this all on me" I feel my temper boiling again.

  "Do you even realize the damage you cause?" Elena speaks softly now, shaking her head in disbelief.

  I want to scream, I want to shout that this is on her. If she wouldn't have pulled that stunt in the park, none of this would have happened. What would be the point though? Nothing I say will change how they look at me. Without another word they turn to leave.

  "Where are you going?" I sound defeated, which only annoys me further.

  "To try and fix this mess you created." Stefan doesn't even spare me a second glance as he walks through the front door.

  "Just stay here Damon." Elena orders.

  She looks over her shoulder once, disappointment written all over her face, and then she is gone as well.

  They leave me alone, like a child who needs to be in time out. My outrage fills me, overtakes my mind. I throw my glass against the door they disappeared though, it shatters and falls to the floor. A few of my guests eye my with curiosity over my sudden outburst, but they don't really take in the scene before them.

  All these people, they are nothing. A pleasant distraction a moment ago, but now they only add to my fury. A scream escapes me. All my rage and the disappointment I have in myself bubbling to the surface.

-------------------Nereza's POV-------------------

  "This is too much!" Zeke's voice is strained.

  "I know," I mumble.

  "I really can't handle this. After everything else I just can't take anymore" Zeke's eyes scan the room for a way of escape.

  "I don't know what to do." I keep my voice low.

  "No seriously, my mind is blown!"

  "Imagine waking up to this!" I speak louder than I had intended to as I gesture to my dad bustling around in the kitchen.

  Zeke and I had spent all day doing researching, and yet are no closer to having anything figured out. We were so set on our mission that we never once thought to stop and check the time. The sun set, and as night fully took over apparently my dad began to worry about me not being home. I would never in my wildest dreams have imagined that. He was actually worried! Not mad that I didn't have dinner prepared, or screaming at me for not doing some chore properly. Genuinely concerned about not knowing my whereabouts. When he called to check in on me, he didn't even raise his voice once. Just made me promise to let him know where I was going from now on.

  Once I informed him that I was only right next door, he insisted that we both join him for dinner. Part of me wanted to make an excuse, say that we had already eaten so we could continue our search. A bigger part of me was curious, and would even go as far as to say excited, about the concept of what dad would cook.

  Zeke was less than thrilled with the idea. At first laughing me off like I made some kind of bad joke. That's when I realized that I was so distracted with all of our supernatural drama, I never got around to tell him about my dads miraculous change!

  Of course he didn't believe me at first. Over the course of a half hour swearing I am not lying, he decided he needed to see it believe it. Now, even after seeing it, Zeke is unable to wrap his mind around it. Not that I can blame him, I am just barely excepting it!

  "What are you kids whispering about?" Dad smiles knowingly at us as he peeks into the living room.

  Zeke jumps off the couch at the sounds of my dads voice, he is defiantly too on edge. I can't suppress a giggle causing Zeke to glance down at me as if I have betrayed him.

"So," Zeke takes a cautious steps into the kitchen, "what are you making?"

  I stand and join the two of them, sliding myself onto a stool so I can watch as dad runs around putting last minute things into the pot on the stove. Zeke hesitates only a moment before sitting on the edge of the stool beside me.

"Oh this?"

  Dad's smile widens as he leans into the steam rising from the large pot and breaths in. The smell is intoxicating I will admit. I hadn't realized I was hungry until I walked through the door and got a whiff of it. My stomach hasn't stopped rumbling since. Without even tasting it I can already tell it's going to be much better than anything I managed to ever cook for us.

  "This is one of Alessandra's favorite meals."

  My entire body jerks to attention. My mom? He never speaks about her. On the rare occasion that he does, it's never of good things. He grabs out two bowls and scoops large servings into both. As he sets them in front of us my mouth begins to water.

  "Good old fashioned Italian stew, just like mamma made it." He beams, obviously pleased.

  Before today I can't remember ever having anything Dad cooked. Never would I have dared to imagine I would ever be able to try a family recipe! After one bite I can't get enough, not surprising it was one of Mom's favorites.

  "Whenever something good would happen, she would always ask for this to celebrate." Dad continues as he sits down opposite us, his own bowl in hand.

  "Are you celebrating something?" Zeke eyes me as if I may have forgotten something else. I just shrug, this is news to me as well.

  "Yes, we have lots to celebrate." Dad stops to take a bite, closing his eyes and sighing as he enjoys his first taste.

  "Did something happen Mr. Morelli?" Zeke asks, snapping Dad back into the moment.

  "Really, I think we have known each other long enough to forget formalities." Dad smiles brightly at the two of us again. "And yes, something did happen. We are making lots of changes! I am going to work harder, make this family right again." He stops, nodding directly at me for this. "Also, to make things even better," he glances between the both of us excitedly, "I found a new job!"

"That is great!" I cheer, a weight lifting off my shoulders. Thankfully one last thing I have to worry about!

"I wont be working swing shifts anymore, should be home just a bit after you get out of school." He grins as he thinks of how things will be. "Can have dinner like this every night."

  He sounds so happy, really genuinely happy, for the first time in my entire life. I bite my lip and glance at Zeke, who is just staring at my dad in amazement. I can't get over it either, but it is definitely something I could get used to.

  We take our time as we sit together at the counter, eating my mothers favorite meal, and talking. Getting to finally know each other, the way we should have long ago. Dad pays full attention when either of us speaks, hanging on to every word we have to say. He wants to know everything about us.

   He asks about our other friends. A quick glance at Zeke tells me that mentioning Stefan and Elena may not be the best move, so I tell him all about Leo instead. Dad insists we must invite him over some time, says that he wants to meet anyone who is important in my life. Damon flashes in my mind, but I quickly push his image away. This is turning into too good a night to ruin with that mess.

  Dad asks about school, and only laughs when Zeke and I groan in response. He wants to know what we like to do, so we tell him about the coffee shop. He excitedly slaps his knee and tells us about how he and Jim go way back. It took me a moment to process this. Really? I could not imagine the two of them being friends. There is way too much I have yet to learn about him.

  "Old Jim was a crazy one, not as crazy as his wife but still!" Dad laughs and shakes his head, thinking of past times.

  "Why aren't you friends anymore?" Zeke asks and I snap my eyes to him, shooting daggers.

   I am terrified that with one wrong move or one wrong comment Dad will go for a beer and then this will all be over.

  "Things change," Dad shrugs and his smile slips just a little, "Alessandra was good friends with Grace, Jim's wife. Whenever the two of them got together you knew there was going to be trouble." He looks past us at the wall, ghosts from the past dancing in his eyes. "With Aly gone, was just to hard."

  There is a moment of silence as we take in his words. Things must have been so different back then. For the millionth time I with I could remember my mom. It's hard not having her there, but I never really got a chance to know her. I can't imagine how much it must have hurt to have the one you love die

"Tell me about mom?" I fear I may have overstepped, but I just had to ask.

  Dad's eyes dart to me, being brought into the present. His mouth twitches into a sad smile as he registers my questing. He doesn't answer, instead just collects our bowls and stands.

  "It's getting late, don't you kids think it's about time for bed?" He doesn't look to us again, just focuses on cleaning our dishes.

  I breathe out a sigh of disappointment and glance over to Zeke. He puts his hand on my back and shrugs.

"It's only 10. Want to head back over to my place and see what else we can find?" He whispers.

  I sigh again, this was such an amazing night. For a while all this craziness with vampires was forgotten. I suppose he is right though, can't keep denying it forever.

  "Hey dad," I stand and pause, suddenly realizing for the first time I need to ask before going somewhere.

  "Hmm?" He glances up from putting dinner away.

  "Would I be able to sleep over at Zeke's house?" I am oddly nervous, what if he actually says no?

  "On a school night?" He is alarmed by the idea.

  "My mom is fine with it" Zeke offers, hoping that will help persuade him.

  "Well all right, but make sure to get some sleep!" He calls after us as we bound towards the door.

  "What about this one?" I ask, pointing at Zeke's computer over his shoulder.

  We have scanned through every myth and story we were able to find. The world wide web is a wonderful place, except when trying to do research on something everyone believes to be fiction. It's not that we couldn't find any information, we found too much of it! Everyone has their own twist, their own idea, and no one has any hard evidence.

  "I don't know" Zeke sighs and leans back in his chair, he looks tired. "It's just so hard to say. If we believe that a vampire can shape shift, then we have to be open to the idea of werewolves. To be honest, I am not ready to accept that" He shrugs like that is excuse enough to discredit the notion.

  I blow out a long breath, this has been a long day. I turn my back to the computer, needing a break from the harsh glow. Stepping to the window I push the navy blue curtains to the side and look out at the sky.

  "Do you think they are stronger at night?" I absently wonder as I look out at the stars.

  "Traditionally I would say yes, but traditionally I would also say they are weak and vulnerable during the day. Considering they seem to be able to handle the sun without a problem, I doubt it really matters" Zeke reasons.

  I think about the way Damon was able to lift my dad so effortlessly. I had started to wonder if that was because it was night, or if that is just how strong he really is. That was one thing we were able to agree on, vampires must be strong. Fast as well, I think of how Damon would just appear in a blur of motion. I can't help but wonder what else they can do. Mind control? It's something that has been nagging at me. Damon tells my dad to clean up his act, and look at him now! If that is truly a possibility though, then I am terrified of what they could be capable of.

  "We are getting no were!" Zeke pouts as he slams his laptop closed.

  "Well, we know just about every possibility there is." I try to help stay positive.

  "A lot of good that will do us if we go for the holy water, and all it does is annoy them." He grumbles pushing back from his desk.

  "But that's to say we would ever need to fight them." I point out.

  "This is true." he nods, considering this. He flops back on the bed with another sigh. "I just wish I knew what was what"

  "Mhmm," I agree, leaving the window and joining him on the bed.

  "They did say you could ask them anything, didn't they?" Zeke eyes me carefully as he asks.

  "Well yea," I hesitate, shocked he would even suggest such a thing.

  "Maybe it wouldn't hurt to hear them out?" He shrugs, as if what he is suggesting wasn't meeting with known monsters.

  "You actually want to take that chance?" I'm scared, but more than that I am just surprised.

  Zeke has been the one focusing on how to kill them if necessary. If he believes them to be so dangerous, then how could he suggest we call them?

  "Well, we have no evidence that they are actually hurting anyone. What do we have to lose?"

  He cringes as he reconsiders his wording. We have a lot to lose, maybe even our life. We can't stay afraid our whole lives though. This might be the only way we get any real answers.

  I reach in my pocket and pull out my phone, staring at the blank screen for a long while. Zeke fidgets beside me, impatient to know what I am thinking. I take a deep breath and go to my contact list, it only takes me a moment to find Elena's number. Before I can change my mind, I press dial.

  "Hello?" A surprisingly gruff voice answers the phone.

  My heart skips a beat, my throat going dry. In a panic I pull the phone away to double check who I called. Yup, I definitely dialed Elena. So why is Damon answering? My brain abandons me, I forget how to form words, almost forget how to breath.

  What am I supposed to say?

-------------------Damon's POV-------------------

  "You will go home and sleep. You will remember nothing of tonight or of me."

  I stare deeply into the golden eyes of the final girl left loitering in our halls. She smiles at me, completely clueless of what is going on.

  "Have a good night!" She calls innocently as she walks out the door.

  I slump back into my chair, what a night! I could almost go for another bite after all that work. I must remember to keep my parties under check, the clean up is just grueling. I sigh, running my hand through my hair, realizing for the first time how tired I really am.

  Just as I am about to retire for the night a buzz catches my attention. I instinctively reach for my phone, but it is silent.

  I stand and wait for it to begin again, one of the girls must have forgotten their phone. Idiot, I curse the mystery woman as I realize it's just one more thing I must take care of tonight. When the buzzing cuts through the silence once more, I am ready for it.

  Curiously I follow the sound, all the way to our front door. I find myself peering down at Elena's bag, completely forgotten on the floor. I carelessly grab at it, not giving two thoughts to her personal space. Snatching the phone out of the front pocket I freeze as I look on the screen.

  Nereza

  Should I ignore it? Of course I should, but do I? Anger bubbles in me once more as I think of they way Stefan and Elena blame me, accuse me of doing harm. Yet, they aren't the ones here when Nereza is calling, when she could be in need! No, I am! Without letting myself hesitate a moment longer, I answer the call.

"Hello?" I close my eyes and inwardly groan, now what? "Nereza?"

  I can make out the faint sound of her breathing. She is definitely there, just not answering me.

  "Are you ok?" I think of her huddling in fear of us, of me, and it breaks my forever cold heart.

  "No," She whimpers out. "I am scared" she sounds so lost, but what can I do?

  Is there really anything I can do to comfort her? I try to recall my reaction to first discovering the truth about vampires. I don't remember ever needing to come to terms with it, it was just a fact and I accepted that. Then again, I was under the compulsion of particularly nasty little vamp.

  "You don't need to be."

  Even as I say it, I am brought back to her front yard. Her staring up at me in terror. Of course she is scared, what could I expect.

  "How can I not be" she shoots back at me. " I know what you are," She lets her words hang in the air.

  I freeze, I already knew this and yet it still makes me cringe.

"What can I do" I plead for a way to help make this all right.

  I sound weak, but at this moment I couldn't care less. I need to be able to do something!

"I need answers." She announces, for the first time sounding certain.

  "Yes, absolutely." I begin to pace, my body coming alive once more with the possibility of making things right. "When?"

  "Tomorrow, at noon." She decides, her voice void of emotion now. "Meet me here to talk."

  "I'll be there" I agree without hesitation.

  Before another word can be spoken the line goes dead. I stand there, replaying the conversation over in my mind. Should I call Stefan and fill him in? No, they will only demand I stay out of it while they go to her side. Stefan will play the roll of the knight in shining flannel, while I get looked at as the monster in the shadows.

  I won't tell them, I finally decide. Scrolling threw the options in Elena's phone I quickly delete all record of the phone call. Shoving her phone back to where I found it, I casually drop her purse back to its original place on the floor. Not that she probably would have noticed it anyway, but now I can be sure I won't have to deal with any of her pesky questions.

This is good, I decide. I will put Nereza's mind at ease, then we can get back to business without anymore silly distractions. At least, that's the reasons I keep giving myself for going.