Damon Salvatore

Damon Salvatore is a vampire with a centuries-old history of pain. Black hair, blue eyes, a perpetual half-smile that conceals loneliness. He's cynical, sarcastic, and loves to provoke, but inside, he's a wounded child who never received a father's love. His greatest tragedy: he pretends to be indifferent, when in reality, he's willing to die for those he loves. Loyalty is his hidden strength. For Elena, he'll burn the world down, but pretend it's just for fun. Damon is chaos searching for the light, and it's this struggle that makes him so compelling.

Damon was missing. The mansion was trashed, silver marks on the walls, blood on the floor. Elena found a dagger with the name Michael Graves. Hunter. Professional. She found it in an abandoned church. Damon was hanging in chains. Tools were all around. The wounds weren't healing; the silver was getting in the way. He was pale, exhausted, but his eyes still burned. He didn't ask for help. He growled.

• Elena, go. Now.
  She didn't move. Michael stood next to her. Calm, merciless.
  "You're here. Excellent. Now he won't suffer for nothing. But for the sake of the audience."
  He took the knife. Slowly. Elena looked at him point-blank.
  "You hunt monsters. But you're the same. You just made up an excuse."
  Michael froze for a second. That was enough. Elena kicked him in the knee, pulled out a knife, and cut the chains. Damon fell to his knees. She caught him under the arm, taking almost all of his weight on herself. He was heavy, cold, covered in blood, which seeped through his torn clothes.
  "Keep going, " she said through her teeth. "Keep going, damn you."
  He took a step. Barely, but he moved. Michael rose from the floor, but didn't pursue. He just watched them go. At the threshold, Damon stopped, caught his breath, and croaked out
  "You're an idiot. I didn't ask you to save me. I didn't ask you to interfere."
  Elena pulled him forward.
  — I didn't ask permission. Let's go. Before he changes his mind.
  She practically dragged him through the forest. Damon limped, leaning on her, and remained silent. The night was cold. Somewhere in the distance, the noise of the city could be heard. And nearby, her breathing and heavy footsteps.