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"I don't need heat, I've been burning in hell"

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DAMON POV

There is nothing worse than not knowing where three dangerous, angry, humanity-less vampires are, especially when one of them is your own sister.

It's been five days, nearing one full week since James, Blair and Caroline all fled from the bar, just seconds after James decided to join in on the fun and flip his switch. I'm both understanding yet angry that he would do such a thing, as now he's just another pain in our asses, yet I know his intentions were clear. I know that after so many years, the switch doesn't do much to a thousand year old vampire, so I can only hope there's some sane part of him still in there that is keeping my sister and Caroline out of trouble.

So far it appears that it's been working, as there have been no missing person cases, no animal attacks. The only thing that Stefan and I have managed to find in the newspaper is a police report regarding a missing motorcycle in which I know James and Blair stole. I can't be mad however, as I would much rather see Blair stealing than killing. I don't know if I can witness her come out of the other side from the switch again; last time she was a mess and so broken that it made me furious- and everybody knows that an angry Damon is a dangerous Damon.

"Hey, I think this is something you might want to see," Stefan says, sitting down beside me at the Mystic Grill bar. He slides over his phone on the wood of the bar table, allowing me to pick up the device and narrow my eyes at the content presented on the screen.

On it reads a social media post made by the one and only Blair Salvatore, outlining a grand house party at our very own boarding house tonight at precisely nine o'clock.

"Okay, first off, when was this posted?" I ask Stefan as I take a sip of my bourbon.

"Last night," he replies slowly, unsure of how to respond. The fact that he failed to find and share this information with me sooner causes me to growl.

"And you didn't think to show me?" I growl.

"Oh I'm sorry," he scoffs. "I was too busy cleaning up after our little sister, and didn't quite have time to sign up for Instagram. Let me add that to my list of things not to do right now," he sasses, clearly stressed; we both are.

"I thought there were no messes? There have been no reports in the newspaper?" I scrunch my brows together in confusion.

"Yeah, there were no reported messes because I have been there to clean them up," he explains, taking me off guard. I hadn't realize Stefan had taken it into his responsibility to clean after our sister and James, although I know he feels bad about the whole thing. He is after all part of the reason this whole thing started. He pissed off the wrong blonde.

"They've been destroying several bars each night for the past week outside of Mystic Falls, compelling the whole bar and stealing liquor," Stefan continues.

"Any dead bodies?" I ask quietly, not really wanting to hear the answer.

"Not yet," Stefan says, causing me to relax a bit. "However, I did find some guy with one arm at one bar. He was unconscious, but had clearly been fed vampire blood."

"I'm guessing that was Branson's doing," I mutter, wiping my mouth with my sleeve. "Going back to my rant, when the hell did Blair get Instagram?" I question.

"Last night at approximately eleven at night," Stefan sighs, shifting uncomfortably in the stool beside me.

"Can't say I'm not impressed." I smirk, causing Stefan to scowl. "Lastly," I sigh, "what are we going to do to stop this? What can trigger their humanity again?"

"The only thing I can think of is Theo, but I'm not about to put him in any danger," Stefan admits quietly, staring at his hands placed in front of him.

The big brother in me hates seeing Stefan so mopey and depressed, so I place my hand on his shoulder and give it a squeeze. "It's not your fault Steff," I say. "We'll figure this out, and then everything will go back to normal."

"You don't get it Damon. At any moment, they could do something so outrageous it could cost them their lives. If they do something terrible, they'll never want to turn their humanity back on, and we'll loose them forever!" He frowns, his jaw clenched.

"I know," I tell him, patting him on the back. "Everything would be a lot easier if Branson hadn't turned his switch. Now they're like some unstoppable power couple," I say, amusing myself. "They have nothing but a little four year old to care about. If only we could pretend to snap his-"

"Yeah we won't be needing to resort to any drastic measures just yet," Stefan cuts me off before I can say more. "I called little Branson last night, and although it took a little convincing, I was able to get him to come up here."

My whole body freezes, my head slowly turning to Stefan in a dramatic way with my eyes wide and my brows raised in suspicion. "What?" is all I say before taking a pause.

"You called little Branson? As in annoying, immature, arrogant, narcissistic maniac Branson?" I ask all at once, anger written in my voice.

"Got enough adjectives there?" Stefan sighs, unimpressed.

"Did I mention he's self-obsessive?" I growl, balling my hands into fists. Just the thought of the little Branson's face makes me want to punch a wall. I have no idea why, but the guy just annoys me. The worst part is that he knows it, so he gets a kick out of it.

"Yeah I think you threw that one in there," Stefan says.

"Seriously Stefan! Why in god's name would you call Joel freaking Branson!" .

"I don't know Damon! We're running out of options!" Stefan argues back, shaking his head at me. "What would you have suggested I do?" he questions, looking at me for answers.

"I don't know!" I shout. "Call a freaking exorcist or something!"

"Why in bloody Mary Jane's name would you call an exorcist when you have me?" A British voice speaks from behind us.

"Please let that be my subconscious speaking. Please let that by my subconscious speaking," I whisper to myself over and over, jumping slightly as a hand is placed on my shoulder.

I slowly turn around in a dramatic way until I face the person behind me, scowling quite noticeably as my brain takes recognition of the Brit standing in front of me. "I knew it was you just by the sound of your self-obsessive voice," I mutter, rolling my eyes.

"Stefan called me and told me my best friend, and dearest brother had turned their humanity off together, and are now storming the neighbourhood like freaking Bonnie and Clyde. Wanna tell me how the hell you guys managed to let that happen?" Joel accuses, crossing his arms across his chest like he usually does when he attempts to make a point.

"I'm sorry, but I don't keep a leash around my sister like she's some precious dog," I sneer, Joel's face immediately growing angry.

"Are you hinting towards something? You know, about the fact my boyfriend is a werewolf?" Joel growls, an audible groan of anger coming from his mouth. In all honesty I have never met his boyfriend, nor did I know he was a werewolf. But, I am pleased none the less that I have managed to get under his skin.

"No Joel," Stefan intervenes. "Neither of us knew about your boyfriend, or that he was a werewolf. Now can we please stay on topic? Blair and James need us, even Caroline," Stefan says, trying to keep the peace.

"I don't think that's the first thing on little Branson's mind at the moment," I tease, only angering Joel further.

"Is there something you wanna say to me?" he snaps, stepping closer to me.

Before I get a chance to respond and add even more heat to his entertaining fire, Stefan's phone rings, Elena's name flashing up on the screen. Stefan shoots me a warily glance before answering the phone, putting it on speaker. "Elena, you're on speaker. What's up?" Stefan asks.

"I was just at Whittmore, and I heard people talking about a party tonight at the boarding house," Elena begins. "When the hell did we plan a party?" 

"We didn't," Stefan and I both say at the same time.

"It appears the three musketeers have taken it into their responsibility to plan this fiesta. Should be interesting none the less," Joel says, shrugging.

"Joel? Is that you?" Elena questions, recognizing the familiar, annoying British accent.

"Oh my god! You remembered me!" Joel says in a mocking voice, placing a dramatic hand over his heart.

"Of course, who could forget?" Elena laughs, causing me to let out a snort.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Joel sighs, leaning against the bar table.

"So what is the plan?" Elena questions, getting back on topic.

"What do you mean?" I ponder, sticking my bottom lip out in confusion.

"They obviously plan on having a party at the boarding house, so has anyone bothered to stop by and see if they're doing anything?" Elena questions. Joel, Stefan and I exchange glances, all of us suddenly feeling extremely stupid.

"That would be a great idea actually. Good one Elena," Joel comments, as the two of us stay silent.

"You mean to tell me you guys didn't think of that before? What have you guys been doing!" she freaks.

Joel suddenly grabs the phone off the table, bringing it up to his lips. "Gotta go Elena, got big things to plan," he says quickly, ending the call before Elena can say anything more.

The three of us sit there in silence, contemplating on what to say next. There are no words to express how disappointed we feel in ourselves at the moment. "Are we going to acknowledge the fact none of us thought of that sooner?" Joel questions after a few minutes.

"No," I say bluntly. "Let's just go, find them and end this once and for all," I sigh, standing up. "The sooner we find them, the sooner we lock them away and the sooner we have their switch turned back on," I order, gulping the last drop of bourbon in my glass before storming out the door.

∆ ∆ ∆

It turns out Joel's boyfriend whose name I have learned is Logan, had decided to come with Joel, as the two of them had taken Joel's brand new Tesla to Mystic Falls. He drove to the boarding house with Logan while Stefan and I took my beautiful car which was ten times better than Joel's stupid fancy Tesla.

We arrive at the same time as I refused to let Joel beat me here. Stefan lectured me in the car saying how I shouldn't be so rude to little Branson, saying he never did anything bad, that he doesn't deserve my attitude but frankly anyone who annoys me deserves my attitude. I have no idea why I hate Joel so much, but I just do. Sometimes there's just those people that annoy you for no particular reason. Joel Branson just happens to be that person.

"Well, I guess we can now confirm it was James and Blair that stole the motorcycle," I sigh, hopping out of the car and laying my eyes on a nice, sleek red painted motorcycle parked in the driveway of the boarding house.

"Nice!" Joel claps his hands together, as if he's proud of his humanity-less brother for stealing the thing. "James always has good taste, just like me."

"Joel, for someone who bought a bright red Tesla, I'd say you don't have good taste," Logan snickers, causing even me to laugh.

"Yes!" I cheer. "Damn Logan, I like you better already," I compliment him, causing Logan to smile and Joel to scowl.

"Can we focus please guys!" Stefan says in a hushed whisper. "The party doesn't start until four hours from now. If we can vervain them and lock them up we can save ourselves from one heck of an eventful night. I don't know about you, but I'd rather not clean up vomit from my laundry basket," Stefan scolds us.

"You know, has it ever occurred to you what exactly they all might be doing in there?" Joel suddenly questions, ignoring Stefan's scolding. "You would think if you had no humanity you would be getting into all kinds of trouble, like killing and drinking blood and stuff, not locked away in some house."

"What are you saying, Joel?" I growl irritably.

"I'm saying there's a possibility that there's some threesome happening in there, and I think that if we're going to enter the house, we better brace ourselves for the possibility that we might see some things that we can't un-see," Joel explains, causing Logan to smile, Stefan to go blank and me to become angry.

"Watch it Branson- that's my sister we're talking about." I point an accusing finger at him.

"Eughhh." Joel shivers in a spasm. "Gives me chills just thinking about it," he says, making a disgusted face.

Before I can smack him in the face, the front door opens causing all of us to vamp speed over to the side of the house, out of sight from the people exiting the house. Joel drags Logan over to one side of the door while Stefan and I take the other, nodding at one another as we hold vervain needles in our hands.

I get into an attack position, springing forwards to stick the needle into their neck when suddenly I freeze, not knowing who this woman is. She holds a clip board in hand, glasses on top of her head with a brief case in her other hand. She looks at me in shock, but doesn't scream meaning she's been compelled. There is blood on her neck but no puncture wound, meaning she's been healed.

While she stares at me, Caroline suddenly walks out casually, not realizing we're here. Before she has a chance to realize what's going on, Joel sticks the needle into her neck, snapping her neck as well just in case.

"AHAH!" he cheers in accomplishment. "Gotcha." He smirks, lowering her body to the ground.

"Who are you?" I ask the unknown woman in front of me.

"My snack," Blair suddenly says, walking out and snatching the woman before throwing her back inside the house, the clipboard falling out from the woman's hands.

Stefan goes to stick her with a needle, and although he's fast, he's not fast enough as suddenly a wooden stake goes flying into his stomach. James stands inside the house, just inside the door with a cross bow in hand, several small daggers ready to be fired and shot.

As Blair steps back inside the house, I pick up the clipboard and skim over it's contents. I notice a signature at the bottom, my stomach twisting in a knot as I realize what this document is; it's the deed to the house.

"You didn't." I growl, stepping forwards to enter the house when suddenly I'm pushed back by an invisible barrier.

"We most certainly did." Blair smirks, leaning against the door frame as if to showcase further our inability to enter our own house. "This woman, Susan, owns the house now."

"Blair why? Come on, this has gone too far," Stefan pleads with her, desperation in his eyes.

"We can't throw a party if mom and dad are here," she teases, flipping her long, black hair over her shoulder.

"If Stefan's the mom and Damon's the dad, then what the hell does that make me?" Joel jokes, scrunching his brows together in confusion.

"Hey Joel!" Blair gapes in excitement, as if she's just realize he's here.

"Hey Blair." Joel smiles casually, as if this were some normal conversation.

"Haven't seen you in like forever. Oh look! You even brought Logan!" she says, waving to Logan who waves shyly back.

"Yeah well, apparently I should stick around more often seeing as everything has gone to shit since I left." Joel laughs, even though he's not helping our situation one bit.

"You know what? I think Joel should be invited to our party," Blair suggests. James starts to object, being the smarter one with the humanity off but it's too late. "Susan, invite Joel in."

"You can come in, Joel," Susan says nonchalantly.

"YES!" Joel says, crouching down on one knee and punching the air. He turns to us and gives us a smug wink before walking into the house.

"What about me?" Logan pouts.

"Can't let too many snakes in." Blair winks. 

"See ya later boys," Blair says, beginning to close the door when suddenly she stops. "And if any one of you try anything to screw with our party, I will burn this house to the ground," she threatens, before closing the door, leaving the four of us standing there with an unconscious Caroline by our feet.

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[completed & edited: 10/21/2021]