Damon Salvatore's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Three days had passed since Stephen saw them walking together. Since then, Stephen never left Elena's side. He drove her everywhere. He sat close at every table. Damon needed one private minute with her, and his brother made sure he got none. Damon found them at the brick tavern near Town Square. Warm light spilled through the front windows. A pool table sat by the glass, balls scattered on green felt. Stephen leaned against it, watching the door like a guard. Elena sat at the bar with a soda, half a smile ready. Damon walked to the bar and set down a bottle of amber bourbon. He poured two glasses and slid one to his brother. "Sit," he said. "Drink with me. Like we used to." Stephen didn't move. "You know what you're doing." "I'm buying a round." Damon lifted his glass. "You're the one making it a war." Elena watched them both. She set down her soda. "Why are you guarding me, Stephen? I'm not yours to guard." Stephen turned to her, and that was the mistake. His eyes left Damon for one breath. Damon leaned close to Elena and spoke low and fast. "Meet me tomorrow. Alone. The old road where we walked. I'll tell you everything he won't." Stephen heard it. He crossed the floor and gripped Damon's collar. "Stay away from her." Damon didn't fight back. He let his brother hold him and spoke calm. "Look at her, Stephen. She's already deciding. You can cage me. You can't cage her." Elena stood. Her chair scraped the floor. "Let him go." Stephen froze. He looked at her, waiting for her to take his side. She didn't. She stepped between the brothers and faced Stephen. "You lied about him," she said. "You told me he was a monster. He's the only one being honest with me." Stephen's hand fell from Damon's collar. "Elena—" "I want to make my own choices," she said. "You following me isn't protecting me. It's controlling me." The room went quiet. The bartender looked away. Stephen stood alone in the warm light, and everyone could see he had lost his hold. Elena turned to Damon. "Tomorrow," she said. "The old road. Just us." She grabbed her jacket and walked out the door. She left both brothers behind, choosing neither guard nor guest, only herself. Damon picked up his glass and finished the bourbon. Stephen stared at the closing door, then at his brother. "You made her hate me," Stephen said. "No," Damon said. "You did that. I just stopped lying for you." Damon set the empty glass down. He had his private moment now. Tomorrow he would have her alone. But Stephen's face had changed. The guard was gone. Something colder stood in its place. Damon had won the meeting. He had also turned his brother into an enemy who no longer pretended to be a friend.