***

Damon tried to break open the bars but they were drenched in vervain. He was weak and angry at the same time. 

Enzo spoke, "it's no use, Damon. Stop burning yourself. It would only end up in you getting hurt. And it won't be good for both of us." 

Damon turned to face him, "I know that. I FREAKING WELL KNOW THAT! But look at us. Look at them. And here in this world people think that we are the monsters. These bloody humans are the monsters. They are worse than us even." 

He spoke, "save your energy, Damon. Who knows when you'll need it." 

He slammed his hand in the wall and grimaced in pain, "animals, they have reduced us to mere animals. And what the hell are they? Just a bunch of brain dead moronic humans! I swear I'll rip their hearts out and tear them to pieces if I get out of here alive. I swear." 

Lorenzo let out a bitter laugh, "you're right. If we get out of here alive. And the 'if' is almost an impossibility." 

He glared at him, "we are here because we are vampires. It's our crime. If we were humans we would definitely be free of this torture." 

He shook his head, "I wouldn't say that if I were you, Damon." 

He snapped, "and why wouldn't you?" 

He pointed to the cell across from theirs, "look over there. She's a human. And yet she is held imprisoned too. Like us. She is stuck in this hellhole too even though she's not a vampire." 

He followed his gaze and saw the occupant of the other cell. She was a young girl with hair the color of gold and large terrified eyes. She was sitting on the floor with her head buried on her knees rocking herself as if trying to give herself some comfort. 

Seeing her surprised Damon, "but she's a human?" 

Enzo replied, "they brought her in last night when you had been taken for the blood draining. She was screaming and protesting to let her go. But to no avail. Since then she has been here. I don't know why though and it seems strange since she's not a vampire. I don't have any idea why they would use a human as a specimen. The first few hours she created a racket, she begged, pleaded, cried and did everything in her power. And from this morning she has been sitting like that as if she had lost hope. Helpless. Like us. Destined to be tortured." 

He noticed the sympathy in Enzo's voice. He looked over at the poor human again. She was so young and yet so unfortunate. He knew there was nothing he could do but to take Enzo's advice and sit back to await his fate. 

Soon enough a few scientists entered the underground vaults in which they were imprisoned. They were headed towards the girl's cell. Both Damon and Enzo came forward to the bars to see what would happen. 

"Get up," they ordered her as they unlocked her cell. 

"No," she sank back further eyes sparking rebelliously. 

"Enjoying your stay here, I see. Everyone does. But pity your time has come," one of them, Dr Whitmore, sneered. Damon was a bit surprised that the girl had the will to fight back even now. 

"You promised my mother that I'll be safe," she spoke with her voice seething with hate and anger, "you promised you'd treat me like your own daughter!" 

He clicked his tongue in disappointment, "but some promises are made to be broken, dearest Arianna. And you should be grateful that because of us you're going to be part of the research that will change the world." 

She yelled, "your research may go to hell for all I care!" 

He grabbed her hair and pulled her to her feet painfully, "your mother failed in teaching you to behave. You are not supposed to answer back let alone shout at me. Or else the consequences can not be so desirable." 

She winced from pain as he twisted her arm behind her back cruelly, "and you will do exactly what I say." 

She struggled to free herself but the grip was too strong. Both Damon and Enzo watched as she was dragged out of the dungeons screaming and struggling helplessly. 

"Poor girl," Enzo remarked. 

Damon clenched his jaw, "and to think that he actually promised to treat her like his daughter. Pitiful. No, shameful is the right word." 

A few hours passed away. Every now and then they would glance at the empty cell opposite them and wonder at the fate of the unfortunate girl. After a long while, the gates opened and Whitmore returned dragging the limp body of the poor girl as he threw her into the cell and locked it. 

She was so still that it seemed as if she had died. She was weak and helpless. They waited for her to gain consciousness. She slowly lifted up her head and tried to sit up but failed sinking back on the floor. 

"Its unbelievable that they do that to humans even," Enzo whispered. 

"They are Monsters. That's what they do. Monsters ruin innocent lives," Damon whispered back. 

They saw as she finally managed to sit up grabbing the bars for support. She moaned in pain resting her weak figure against the barred wall. 

"Hey are you okay?" Damon asked softly. 

She looked up at him in surprise, "uh...yeah. I'll live... perhaps." There was an uncertainty in her voice as if she had given up all the fight in her and accepted her fate. 

"You shouldn't lose the will to stand up to them, young soldier," Enzo remarked. 

She tilted her head to the side looking straight at him, "but what's the point? I know... we are not... getting... out." 

He replied, "we've been here since five years and we're not giving up. We believe that we'll get out of here soon." 

She let out a dry chuckle, "I know... Lorenzo. I... know you. Been here... longer than you... have. Fifteen... years. Half... my life. More than... half." 

He was startled when she used his name. 

"How is that possible?" Damon asked. 

She sighed, "I... worked here. Scullery maid. When... I found out... about Augustine, I... tried to... stop them. And see where it got me. I... tried to free... you. At that time... you were... the only... one here. I... failed. Got... caught." 

Enzo nodded at her and spoke, "I thank you for trying. But don't talk right now. Rest yourself." 

She nodded and took in a few deep breaths but ended up coughing blood. Both Damon and Enzo stiffened. She sank further back in the cellar knowing that her two companions were Vampires and the blood scent could trigger havoc. 

When they kept still and she became certain that nothing would happen, she whispered softly, "I'm sorry."

Days passed. Arianna became silent and would hardly say anything. As per the usual routine, both Damon and Enzo were tortured and hearing their screams wrecked her. At times they would find her sitting in her cell with her hands covering her ears rocking herself as if trying to shut out everything. They felt sorry for her but were helpless. 

"How...how can you put up with this?" she finally choked out the question to Enzo while Damon's screams were echoing in the background. 

"Its not like we have a choice," he replied, "but the plus point is that we get healed. You humans don't." 

She buried her head on her knees again, "sickening. Terribly sickening." 

He drawled in his smooth voice, "its going to be New Year soon. And then Augustine is going to end." 

However she didn't listen to the last part. The doctors entered throwing in Damon and began unlocking her cell. 

She was scared, "no... Don't." 

All the horrible images whirled in front of her eyes. Damon was weak but he sat up groaning in pain, "let her... be. Don't... torture her." 

Dr Whitmore turned to face him, "easy, Damon. Next time I'll consider taping your mouth before I throw you back here." But something glinted in the doctor's dark eyes, "however its really great that you care for her. We'll definitely need that." 

His words confused Damon and Enzo alike. Arianna tried to free herself from the strong hold but couldn't. She was dragged out like that night before screaming and begging for mercy. However she didn't return and days passed swiftly. They got worried for her as they didn't even know whether she was alive or dead. 

"I don't know what's going on," Enzo remarked, "but I fear it is something awful. Something definitely worse than what we've been through." 

Damon replied, "what could possibly be worse than this?" 

He shook his head, "you never know, Damon. But I think it is related to that Arianna...and to you." 

He stared right at him, "nothing could relate me and Goldilocks." 

Enzo shook his head, "pity you're still calling her that. Do you remember what Whitmore said when they took her away? That it was great that you cared for her? And they would be needing it?" 

Damon rolled his eyes, "Whitmore has a nut for a head. Brain dead. He definitely doesn't know what he talks about most of the time. Psychotic retard." 

The door to the dungeons opened and speak of the devil and he doth appear; Whitmore entered, "hey I heard that. Psychotic retard, am I now?" 

Damon grumbled, "don't you like the title? Shall I serenade you with another one? F*ckhead, perhaps?" 

Enzo rebuked, "Damon don't." 

Whitmore knew he was pissing him off on purpose, "I hope you didn't say that." 

Damon gave him an annoying smirk, "ah but I did. And besides I was just being honest. Trying to show you that even vampires have morals. Include that in your check list. Vampire blood heals. Check. Vampires are not humans. Check. Vampires can be tortured. Check. But vampires also have morals which you are badly in need of. Put a check on to it right there." 

Whitmore gave him a stern look, "it seems to me that you're asking for an invitation to take up on Enzo's turn and get tortured instead of him." 

Damon leaned back amused at his facial expressions, "well well that's a given, I suppose." 

He nodded back and started unlocking his cell instead, "enjoy the ride then, Damon. Spoiler alert: you're going to end up where the pretty little human companion of yours ended up. I thought it might have taught you a lesson of not to fight back. But I was wrong." 

At the mention of the pretty human companion they knew he was referring to Arianna. "Where is she?" Damon's eyes darkened frighteningly. 

He pulled him out making sure the shackles on his hands were in place, "you'll find out soon."

Arianna was locked in the separate dungeons and it had been a whole week since she hadn't heard from Damon or Enzo. She was every much as worried for them as they were for her. She was curled up in a corner trying to stop thinking about everyone so that she would stop getting the horrible nightmares but was failing constantly to do so. 

Her current cell was too far away from the dungeons where both the vampires were imprisoned. She straightened cautiously when she heard footsteps. Whitmore entered dragging a limp and badly tortured Damon. He unlocked her cell and threw him inside locking it shut securely. 

"Damon?" Arianna was shocked to see him thus. 

"Enjoy the little time you have with your bloodsucking friend, dearest Arianna," he sneered. 

"What the hell have you done to him?" she asked fiercely. 

"Oh the usual but with a little prolonged effects," Whitmore shrugged, "he'll heel soon, don't you worry. Since he was so interested to see you, I thought both of you could probably make do with a tiny reunion. For the time being, at least." 

She snapped, "you have no right to take matters of Nature in your own hands." 

He replied dismissively, "the world will change with this unimaginable discovery, Arianna. You have always been a smart girl, haven't you? If you just start estimating the medical breakthroughs this is going to create and the fame and money it will bring, you'll probably come to see why I so treasure this. Its not just an ambition, its going to be The New Age Of Science And Advancement for mankind." 

She shook her head as if he was a deranged nut, "I still don't see the point of torturing them." 

But he had already disappeared. She glanced down at Damon. His tattered white shirt was blood soaked and he was cut up. She bit her lip to stop herself from screaming aloud. But then curiosity took over her fear as he began to heal and the cuts faded to bruises and the bleeding stopped. 

She gently caressed his cheek where a deep cut lingered and soon enough it also healed up. However before she could lift her hand off him, his eyes fluttered open. 

"Hey Goldilocks," he coughed a little but a smirk tugged up on his face. 

"Damon are you okay?" Arianna asked still not sure if he was fine or not. 

"Ugh... well... definitely. Could you just... ah... pull this out?" he asked pointing at the wooden stake pushed in his stomach. 

She cringed at seeing the stake but pulled it out. 

"That's better," he mumbled. He knew she was curious seeing how his wounds were healing up. "Curiosity killed the cat, Arianna," he spoke. 

She drew back, "sorry." 

He was staring up at the ceiling, "why did they lock you up here? And what is this place?" 

She curled up in the corner like before, "it's a crypt. And they locked me here because of their own purposes." 

He turned his head to look at her, "can I ask exactly what purposes?" 

She sighed, "monstrous purposes." 

He nodded as if that much answer was explanatory enough. He started whistling random tunes. 

All of a sudden, she asked, "are you sure you're alright?" 

He sat up and faced her, "why do you ask?" 

She mumbled, "you're not acting... um... normally." 

He nodded, "I'm trying to act like the person I was before I got stuck here. All this depression and mean behavior was eating me up. You know what I pissed off Whitmore today. It felt good. Amusing." 

She raised an eyebrow, "what exactly did you do to him?" 

He shot her one of his flashy smirks, "I called him a f*ckhead." 

She shook her head, "Damon, all this is not going to lead you anywhere. It will only cause more trouble." 

He rolled his eyes, "stop being Enzo. You know we're not ending up anywhere either way." 

She sighed in defeat, "yeah right." 

After a while of silence, Damon asked, "hey are you going to be silent all the time? I'm bored, why don't we just talk?" 

She looked up, "what do you want to talk about?" 

His brow furrowed in a thoughtful look, "for starters can you tell me why I'm here? I should probably be back with Enzo. He'd be worried." 

She replied, "I don't know that. Perhaps they're trying to find out others ways to satisfy their sick curiosity." 

Damon leaned back stretching himself as he healed completely, "another experiment, you mean? Enzo thought it might involve you and me. But seriously: I think not. I told him he's totally lost it if he thinks that." 

At his words her face turned ashen, "no, you... you did not say that." 

He cocked an eyebrow at her, "why? What's wrong?" 

She held her hand in her hands, "Oh... My... God." 

He spoke, "stop scaring me, Goldilocks and tell me what's bothering you. In plain simple English. Not with these monosyllables." 

However she did not reply. Her face had gone deathly white and she looked stricken. "Arianna, you okay?" Damon asked as concern flickered in his eyes. 

He had reached out to shake her a little but before he could touch her, she backed away fear and terror visible on her face, "d-don't... don't. Just... stay away Damon." 

He was confused, "what the hell is wrong with you?" 

She drew further back in the corner, "it's not me. It's them." 

He was still not getting her point, "care to elaborate?" 

She whispered in a low voice, "I'll tell you everything, Damon. But you'll have to wait." 

They heard footsteps. He was about to say something when she gestured him to keep silent and listen. 

"Oh of course its going to work," they heard Whitmore speaking to one of the other scientists, "and we can always take help of compulsion if this fails." 

Arianna looked shocked and terrified as if she knew something all along but was concealing it from Damon. 

"What the hell are they talking about?" Damon mouthed over to her but she didn't reply instead placed her finger on her lips gesturing him to stay silent. 

"No its absolutely under control," they heard the other scientist, "Dr Whitmore, sir, nothing can possibly ruin this. The plan is perfect." 

Arianna couldn't hear anymore since the voices grew distant but Damon was using his vampire hearing zoning in on whatever they were conferring about. After the voices faded away, he turned to look at Arianna. 

His eyes were blazing, "why didn't you tell me?" 

She flinched as he drew threateningly closer to her, "I... I... I thought it was Enzo. T-they had chosen...E-Enzo." 

He let out a low growl, "you knew all along! What are you? An Augustine? Tell... Me... The... Truth." 

She shut her eyes from fear, "D-Damon its not my fault." 

He spoke in a strained voice since he was too close to her that he could almost feel the blood circulating under her skin and the scent was too strong and the thirst unbearable for a starving vampire like him, "are you an Augustine or not? Are you one of them or not?" 

She stammered, "no. I'm not an...an Augustine. Never." 

Seeing her cowering away in fear and as a tear escaped her large eyes, Damon's expression softened, "okay." 

He retreated to the opposite corner and sat down. An awkward silence prevailed between them. Finally Damon spoke, "I did not intend to scare you." 

She only nodded in reply. 

He looked thoughtful as if pondering over something, "I'm not going to hurt you Goldilocks, I just need answers, okay?" 

She nodded back again. 

"When were you planning on telling us about this experiment and would you just shed some light onto what exactly this nonsense is all about?" he asked the first question. 

"I thought it would never happen so I decided not to tell anyone," she replied in a low voice, "these scientists want a miracle. They're going against Nature by doing this but they don't intend to stop. Dr Whitmore wants to create a new race, a new kind of creatures that have both the qualities of humans and vampires. He wants to research on hybrids: half human creatures. It is not common and it has side effects but this is definitely not stopping him in his tracks. I should have known earlier that it was never Enzo they would choose for the experiment. He's too compassionate. And in comparison to him, you might have stronger chances. You're younger and fiercer. They needed these traits in the experiment. They might have found out that your blood is more effective that Enzo's." 

He raised an eyebrow at her, "but how do you know all this? You said you were just a Scullery Maid." 

She sighed, "I was not a scullery maid. At least not always. My mother was an Augustine. After her death, I found out about their intentions and tried to put a stop to it. I eavesdropped on their conversations and tried to free Enzo. When they found out, they punished me. Made me work like a scullery maid. But I was determined to stop them, so they decided to imprison me as well. I came to know that they'd use me in one of their hideous experiments but when I found out it was this... It should not happen, Damon. It will be disastrous. But we can't stop it now. Its too late." 

He nodded, "it will never happen even now." 

She looked up at him in disbelief, "but how?" 

He spoke, "you don't want it, I don't want it and so I'll make sure to do everything in my power to stop it. I promise you. This experiment is never gonna happen." 

She looked as if she wanted to believe him but couldn't, "its not about what we want because we aren't the ones to decide. If they want it they'll use any means. They will compel us." 

He was resolute, "I'll fight it." 

She shook her head, "you're weak. You won't be able to." 

He sighed wearily, "why don't you just trust me, Goldilocks? Stop being such a pessimist." 

She spoke, "I'm not being pessimistic. I'm just telling you the truth like you asked me to. I want to believe you. But this is reality, Damon, and we can't fight it. We are both not in the position to stand up to Whitmore. I wish we could. I wish you could." 

His eyes blazed, "I will stand up to him. You wait and see. I will not let it happen." 

She rested her head back, "I hope you do. But I fear what they'll do to you if you stood up to them." 

Her eyes fell down on the deep cut on her lower arm which was still sore and aching. 

"What's this?" Damon asked as he followed her gaze. 

"Nothing I'm not used to. The way they torture you, similarly they tortured me to punish me for standing up to them. But I'm fine. It'll heal." 

He looked at her sympathetically, "I could help you to heal it right now." 

She understood what he meant; she knew Vampire blood had healing properties but she refused not wanting to cause him any pain since he was already starved and blood loss couldn't possibly help him in standing up to Whitmore, "no please. You're already very weak and the blood rations they give here are hardly sufficient to survive on. Thank you for caring, Damon, but please don't do this. I'll heal up myself soon." 

He asked a few more questions about the Augustine and whatever she knew about Whitmore to which she answered truthfully. She even sketched out a rough map on the ground with the help of a chalk outlining all the escape routes he could use once he would free Enzo and put an end to Augustine on the next New Year's Eve according to the escape plan which he had shared with her. 

His eyes swiftly followed each and every detail she drew on the map quickly memorizing everything. They stopped talking when the door opened and Whitmore entered. 

"So who's next?" Whitmore asked unlocking the cell, "built up your strength a little now, have you, Damon? Or shall I take this precious beauty to suffer instead of you?" 

He had reached out towards Arianna but Damon came in between, "you're not getting away with your damned experiments. And you sure as hell can't touch her."

He sneered, "so dearest Arianna here has finally told you. Good. Very good. And for your kind information, I'm sure as hell getting away with this experiment and will definitely succeed. Who will dare to stop Dr Whitmore any way? You will? Now that seems like a pathetic joke." 

A threatening growl escaped Damon, "I won't allow it." 

He clicked his tongue sarcastically, "pity it's so not going to work." He fastened the shackles on Damon's arm and dragged him out, "Enzo was really worried about you. And I intend to make him more anxious. Same applies for dear lovely Arianna."

Night had fallen. Arianna was pacing in the cell anxiously. Whitmore had not brought Damon back. She was hoping Damon was safe with Lorenzo but internally she was terrified out of her wits knowing that wasn't the case. 

Finally the cell was unlocked and Damon was thrown in. However this time he was fatally wounded. She covered her mouth with her hands trying to muffle the screams that would proceed. She felt numb by seeing his terrible state. Her voice had stuck in her throat and she could hardly even breath. 

"Oh my God, Damon?" she knelt down beside him shaking with fear and distress. His pain seemed to stab her and she was undergoing a lot of trauma. She carefully stroked his hair, "Damon please don't be dead. Open your eyes, please. Please. Look at me." 

He let out a low groan and she sighed in relief; at least he was alive. He didn't look like himself. His face was deathly pale as if it had lost almost all of its color, the skin practically clung to his bones and he was so weak. 

"You'll be okay, Damon," she whispered soothingly to him stroking his hair softly while her voice was brittle from pain and fear. She looked around for any sharp object and found a shard of glass. 

She knew what she intended to do could cost her own life but she didn't want to live either. In her opinion, dying was indeed acceptable than becoming part of such a hideous experiment that could endanger more lives than it was yet known. 

Positioning the glass over her wrist she slowly brought it down pushing it into her skin leaving a thin but deep cut. Blood began to ooze out of the wound. The pain was blinding but she shuffled closer to Damon and placed her wrist over his mouth letting the drops trickle down his throat. 

Within seconds Damon's eyes widened and he looked at her with a mixture of fear and anguish. "Arianna...stop!" he pushed her hand away stumbling to his feet, "what the...hell are you...doing!" 

She whispered softly, "you need blood this instant. Drink it. I'm allowing you." 

He kept his eyes plastered to the floor fearing that he would hurt her if he saw her. A human. "I can't do it. I'm a vampire not a mosquito. If I drink even a tiny amount, the taste will only drive me crazy for more. I'll drain you out until there won't be a single drop left. And believe me I don't want this. I don't want to hurt you. It could kill you." 

Tears escaped her eyes as she gently shook her head, "who wants to live? I don't want to live anymore and would be more than just glad if you could end this pathetic excuse for a life." 

He was taken aback, "no you don't deserve to die. I can't forgive myself if I ever hurt you." 

She looked at him silently pleading with her large eyes, "please kill me. Trust me you'll be doing me a great favor. You promised me that you'll prevent the experiment, right? In this way you will be preventing the experiment. You need the blood to survive so take it. I don't want to live so kill me. Please." 

He shook his head in disappointment, "I also promised that I'll never hurt you. I can't do this, Goldilocks. I'm sorry." 

She looked at him helplessly as she sank down on the floor only to be pulled up by Damon who placed a supportive arm around her, "please Arianna." 

They stood like that for a while, he was whispering comforting words to her in order to calm her down. 

"Why can't you just kill me?" her voice was choked with her sobs but demanding all the same. 

He gently cupped her face as he wiped her tears, "because you were right. I'm so sorry. I failed." 

She faltered, "wh-what are you talking about?" 

He looked at her with an infinite sadness in his blue eyes, "the compulsion. I failed to fight it. I simply can't kill you." 

Her whole world seemed to be crashing in on her, "no... you promised me." 

He spoke, "I'm sorry. I was too weak and you were right. I couldn't fight it off. I failed to prevent the experiment. But I promise you that I'll take you out of here. We will not let the experiment reach its conclusion. But first we'll have to get out of here. Trust me. Please." 

She seemed stricken and hurt, "Damon... I want to die." She seemed so childish and resolute but he could do nothing. 

He kept whispering "I'm sorry" to her. But both were helpless now. Nothing could be done. Arianna was desperate but also exhausted. She collapsed in his arms falling unconscious. 

He gently pushed back her golden curls from her face, "I'm so sorry, Arianna, I'm so sorry."

The next morning when Arianna woke up, all she could feel was pain. It seemed as if all her joints had broken and a searing pain shot through her body. 

She looked around and freaked out seeing that she was not in the cell anymore but in one of the hospital like rooms of the college. She couldn't see anyone around her and looking over to her hand which she had cut last night, she saw it was bandaged. 

Carefully, she sat up but before she could get rid of the bandages and escape, the door creaked open and Whitmore came in. 

"So you're awake," he spoke. 

He adjusted a Glucose Drip on the stand and pushed the needle in her vein. She freaked out seeing that instead of glucose, the Drip contained blood. Vampire blood. Damon's blood most probably. 

"Why are you injecting me with this?" she stammered. 

He replied, "because it is essential. Part of the experiment, you know." 

She dreaded the words soon as she heard them, "wh-what experiment are you t-talking about?" 

He laughed sarcastically, "congratulations, dearest Arianna. I'm indeed ecstatic to tell you that the experiment succeeded. And without your and Damon's cooperation, it would never have been possible. So, congratulations." 

Her face paled, "you didn't... He didn't..." 

He bent down to be face to face with her, "ah but he did. And he does not remember a single thing about what happened last night. Consider this, after a few months I'll have possession of a hybrid; a half human half vampire creature. I'll have full authority to investigate its nature and physiology. Consider how famous I will be after that. The only person on earth who will indeed open the gates to Supernatural Knowledge, who will show the world the benefits that could be derived from this research and who will expand the circles of science on extraordinary levels." 

She felt disgusted, "shut up." 

He looked straight in her eyes, "this is reality, Arianna, just like you told Damon yesterday. This is reality and you can't fight it. The sooner you accept it, the better it is for you." 

And with that he left the room while she broke down to tears knowing that her fate was decided and she could do nothing to prevent it.

Damon had been locked up back in the dungeons with Enzo. 

"Where were you for the past few days? I thought they had killed you," he asked. 

Damon replied, "I'm not going to die this soon." 

Enzo had noticed the agitation in his eyes and the guilt that was evident on his face, "what's wrong?" 

He groaned, "everything." 

Enzo asked, "hey what have you done now?" 

He slammed his fist into the wall, "I don't know what the hell I have done now and that's what is wrong with me. I know I've done something I shouldn't have but I can't recall it." 

He sighed, "well is that something to do with Arianna?" 

At his words, Damon looked up immediately as if startled and shocked at the same time. 

"Damon you okay?" Enzo asked with concern. 

"Shit!" Damon cursed under his breath. 

He spoke, "when you feel like you want to talk about it, I'll be here to listen." 

He turned over to look at Enzo who was staring at him expectantly, "fine then. You want to listen so then listen to all of this shit that has been happening here. I just made Arianna's life more hell than it already was. And all because of that nut case, mentally retarded, filthy, abnormal, worthy of going to hell Dr Whitmore! You were right about the schemes going on in his foul mind. He used me! And he used Arianna! Just for a stupid worthless experiment!" 

Enzo observed his anger calmly and spoke after a pause, "Damon what exactly are you talking about? It would be more easier if you explain a little." 

He told him everything. He related all that had happened since Whitmore had locked him up in the crypt with Arianna. 

"But I can't freaking recall what happened last night," he added, "and that is absolutely driving me crazy. Because it means something did happen and I was compelled to forget. I couldn't keep my word, I couldn't stop the bloody experiment and, hell, now Arianna probably hates me. I so wish I could get my hands on that vermin of a doctor. I swear I would not spare him." 

The gate unlocked and Whitmore entered, "your turn, Enzo." 

He noticed Damon was fuming in anger but chose to ignore it. Pulling Enzo out for the daily torture, Whitmore crossed Damon's cell. 

This time, however, Damon threatened, "you still won't get away with your hideous schemes. And I'll make sure of it." 

He looked at him briefly then laughed, "says who? The Damon Salvatore who failed to protect dear lovely Arianna from his own self? Who couldn't fight off a tiny bit of compulsion? Who is nothing short of just useless?" 

Damon almost grabbed him by the throat, "I'd watch your tongue if I were you." 

He clicked his tongue to annoy him further, "seething with anger, are you now? I would not dare to threaten me if I were you, Damon." 

Knowing that nothing could possibly be done now, Damon let go of him with a jerk muttering curses under his breath.

Enzo was gone and all that could be heard were his screams that aroused from his torturous blood draining. Damon was sitting in his cell with his head in his hands, wallowing in self hate and guilt. Unexpectedly, the gates opened and a very distressed looking Arianna came in. 

Seeing her, he stood up from surprise, "Arianna?" 

She spoke, "its done, Damon. I couldn't do anything about it. The experiment has been done." 

He slammed his fist in the wall again from frustration, "crap." 

Arianna was hurt but she also felt bad seeing Damon in torment. 

"I'm so terribly sorry," he mumbled, "its all my fault. I'm worthless." 

She spoke, "no its not your fault. Neither mine. The Augustine is to be blamed for this. Look, Damon, I don't have much time. You have to give me your word." 

He looked at her in distress, "I failed to keep my word before. How can you still trust me?" 

She shook her head, "Damon, I trust you, okay? Because I don't have any other choice. You have to promise me that you will not let anything ruin Enzo's plan. His life depends on it along with yours and my own. Promise me that you'll put an end to Augustine." 

He spoke, "if I keep this promise, will you forgive me?" 

She nodded, "yes I will." 

Then he spoke, "I promise you. I won't let anything ruin Enzo's plan. You have my word for it." 

She gave him a slight smile, "and I don't hate you, Damon." 

He looked up at her in disbelief. He was holding the bars that separated them and the intensity of emotions he felt at that time made him grip the bars harder so that his knuckles went white. 

She gently placed her hands on his tenderly stroking them, "you don't have to worry about me hating you anymore. And I trust you not because I don't have any other choice. But I trust you because I want to. You're not a very bad person, Damon, not at all. And you surely are not a monster. I know whatever happened will be a disaster but I don't blame you for it. I can't blame you for it." 

He didn't know what to say so he spoke what first came to his mind, "thank you."

It was New Year's Eve. The cocktail party was arranged and the guests were filling in; humans who came to gawk at the Supernatural species put on display. Damon and Enzo were locked in a cage with its bars drenched in vervain. 

It wasn't long before Whitmore would come to take a sample of Damon's blood and that was when they had to set the plan in to action. The vervained metal singed away at their flesh. Whitmore was proudly explaining all that he had found out to his guests. Damon looked over at Enzo silently confirming the plan going into motion. 

As expected, Damon was pulled out of the cage so that Whitmore could give his blood as a sample for his guests to taste. 

As his back was turned while he was explaining how Damon's blood was incomparably more effective than Lorenzo's, Damon slyly crunched his hand out of the shackles crushing his bones in the process.

The sound of crunching bones took Whitmore by surprise and he turned around to see Damon smirking threateningly at him. 

"Now you see it," he smirked wildly and lurched forward killing Whitmore immediately and painfully. 

The taste of blood drove him crazy for more and he attacked more of the guests. People ran around terrified and amid all the commotion, the candle stand was knocked over and fire broke out everywhere. 

"Damon we have to get out now," Enzo shouted, "go and get Arianna and then break open this cage." 

He nodded at him and rushed to the crypt smashing the door to her cell. She stood up seeing him. 

"We have to hurry," Damon grabbed her hand and rushed back to Enzo. There was smoke everywhere and it clouded everything making it almost impossible to see. Damon tried to break open the cage but the vervain stung him badly. 

"You can do it, Damon," Enzo encouraged him, "keep trying." 

Both Damon and Arianna pulled at the cage. Arianna gave up after a while as the smoke filled her lungs and she sank down coughing. Damon was worried both for Enzo as well as for Arianna. He tried hard but the vervain, his already weakened condition and the raging fire didn't help in freeing Lorenzo. 

Damon pulled back and looked around. There was only one thing he could do; escape. Or else either he would get burnt along with Arianna or the Augustine would capture him again. There was no way he could get another chance of escaping. 

"Damon please," he begged. 

Damon looked down at Arianna who was half unconscious and then back at Enzo who was gazing at him helplessly. He did the only possible thing he could do. He lifted Arianna and fled out of the burning building while Enzo's cries for help echoed as he was burned.

It was dark and a storm was raging. The town had shut down after the fire and massacre. Whitmore College was itself reduced to a rubble. Damon had broken into a bar where both he and Arianna were alone. 

She had not yet gained consciousness and was totally worn out. Damon twisted open the lid of the ninth bottle before downing it in one gulp. He glanced over at Arianna for a minute. She stirred and her eyes fluttered open. She tried to sit up and Damon was by her side in an instant helping her. 

She grabbed her head slightly massaging her temples. He took her hand and supported her. She looked up at him, "Damon, where is Enzo?" 

He kept silent but his eyes were flashing with guilt and remorse. 

She straightened, "why are you so silent? Damon, answer me!" 

He looked away still not giving any answer. 

Arianna turned his face so that she was looking straight in his eyes, "what's wrong? Where is Enzo?" 

He tried to take her hands off him so that he could leave but she was resolute, "why are you ignoring me?" 

This time though he replied, "I'm not ignoring you, Arianna." 

She spoke, "then tell me everything." 

He looked pained, "Enzo's not here. I couldn't save him. He's no more." 

She was speechless. 

"I couldn't save him. He trusted me with his life and I broke it like this," and with that he smashed the bottle in his hand. 

She looked at him rather worried. 

He was depressed and torn hating himself more than ever. The guilt for leaving Enzo behind was eating him alive, "I ruined everything. I'm worthless. I saved myself even though I should have saved him. I should have done something." 

She tried to comfort him, "there's so much you could have done. But sometimes it is impossible to do everything." 

He spoke, "but I'm so selfish. I'm a jerk." 

She placed her hand softly on his arm, "no you aren't. You saved me too. You are not selfish." 

His eyes glistened with tears at the loss of his friend, "I'm glad you're okay but I could not save him." 

She spoke, "everything will be alright. We will get through this together." 

He stood up, "no, not together." 

She was taken aback, "what do you mean?" 

He shook his head, "you have to leave, Arianna. You can't possibly live with me, a vampire, without endangering your life and I don't want that. You deserve another chance at life and I don't want to be the one to ruin it for you. You are meant to stay human, grow old, have kids (normal kids), live. Being a human is a privilege and I don't want you to lose it. Never." 

She stared at him sadly, "I... I don't know. I don't want to leave you alone." 

He wiped the tear on her cheek, "trust me. Please. Just promise me you'll forget everything and start your life afresh." 

She looked in his eyes, "but the child?" 

He shook his head, "you will have to get rid of it. It can be dangerous for you. And I don't want you to get hurt. I mean it. This was not supposed to happen at all. So it will be it. Its not happening. You have the choice in your own hands. Get rid of it and forget everything. Start your life afresh." 

They were walking down the road together hand in hand. Every passing moment was a painful stab of sharp daggers for Arianna. He glanced over at her sorrowful face. The moonlight outlined every beautiful feature of hers and he felt it necessary to protect her from any danger be it his own self. 

"Will I never see you again?" she asked innocently. 

He nodded, "never. Trust me, its the best that could happen to us. I care for you. I honestly do. And that's why I don't want to risk anything for you." 

His hand trailed down to the burn mark on her left cheek near her jawline as he gently stroked it with his thumb, "not all things can be wiped. This scar for instance will be permanent but you will have to try your best to forget every other thing. And if you can't forget, just make sure to put it away so that it won't ruin your life ever again." 

Her eyes were sorrowful as she stared back at him, "I'll try." 

He looked into her eyes clearly seeing the unspoken words written across them. She looked at him as if seeing him for the last time and even though she was trying to bury her emotions at the moment still the silent sentence didn't escape his notice. 

As if replying to the unsaid statement visible in her eyes he whispered, "I love you too, Arianna." 

Her eyes widened in surprise and disbelief while a beautiful crimson shade dawned on her cheeks. He came closer and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, "farewell, Goldilocks. Take care of yourself. And be happy." 

But as always, the sweetest yet the saddest are goodbye kisses. It leaves one longing for more and hurts to know that the person will be gone never to return again. 

She closed her eyes as a tear escaped them. And when she opened her eyes again, he was gone. She was standing alone on the path in the moonlight with her sorrow engulfing her like smoke. Her heart was crushing inside. 

She lifted her hand and touched the scar softly which he had caressed just a few minutes before, "I will never be able to forget you, Damon." Her voice was muted like a gentle whisper, "if I'm alive, its because of you. And I'll never forget that."

***