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Chapter 15 (Final Chapter)

"Transformation" by Alan Menken (from the Beauty & the Beast Soundtrack)

I love you.

Those three powerful and moving words left her effortlessly. In her heart, she knew the moment she realized Damon was in danger she loved him. People might find it insane to fall in love with such a monster, which indeed hurt her and treated her poorly. However, she knew that wasn't his true self. His curse had taken control of his actions and emotions. The beast he had become wasn't tamed and thrived off fear. It made him feel superior. Once she had shown him she wasn't afraid and defied him, things changed. The human side of him was ever so present.

She continued to sob into his soaked shirt. Blood was smearing her cheek as the wound bled out. The shrieks of Stefan's group came from below as she assumed they had discovered his mangled body on the ground. Only one beast in her eyes died tonight and that was Stefan. He had killed Damon and she couldn't help but feel guilty for it.

"This is all my fault," she whispered into his chest. "I'm sorry."

The warmth of his body comforted her. This was the closest she had ever been with him and unfortunately it was his death that brought them together like this. Those precious moments prior to his death were still locked into her mind. She saw the joy in his realization she had come back. The feeling was mutual.

Thoughts of never being able to see him smile or look him in the eyes or speak to him again made her cry harder. This wasn't supposed to happen. She wasn't supposed to fall in love with beast that captured her. He wasn't supposed to die.

At least now he was free of his curse. He was freed from damnation.

Where he was now, she hoped he was happy.

Elena heard the diminishing voices of panic and shock as the group was heading back into the forest. She half expected them to bust into the house and look for Damon, but they never came. Stefan's death probably scared them and sent them running for the hills thinking Damon had caused it. But she knew the truth. He was not a murderer. Sure Damon had done terrible things, but even in his darkest hour he wouldn't kill.

As she shifted her weight, something moved. She raised her head from his chest slowly peering down at it. Were her eyes deceiving her or was his chest really moving? Her eyes darted to his parted lips and bent down to listen for breathing. Small warm breaths graced her cheek.

This wasn't possible. He was dead.

But as she watched closer, she noticed it more. His chest heaved up and down. Still unconscious he laid sprawled out on the floor of his room. She knelt next to him watching in awe. Damon was coming back to life, but how?

The transformation was happening before her eyes. Elena fell back on her heels as more changes began.

The blood staining his shirt was no longer spreading. It had stopped. Looking closer the bullet hole was now fading too. The wound was healing on it's own. Within seconds it had completely vanished. Elena covered her mouth. How was this possible? You don't die and come back to life. That's not how life works. Wounds don't heal rapidly like his just did. Her mind was boggled with fascination.

Once he was cleansed us his battle scar, next came the most astonishing part. His torso lifted from the ground seeming as if he was arching his back. It twisted from side to side. The fangs protruding from his mouth were retracting. The wrinkles on his face were smoothing out into flawless skin. Any distortion once upon his face was now disappearing. She couldn't believe her eyes. His return to life and now the backwards transformation from beast to man had her wondering if she was losing her mind. Things like this just didn't happen. Only books contained just power and magic. Her imagination was getting the best of her; at least she was attempting to convince herself that it was. What was occurring before her eyes was very real and she knew it.

His back fell back on the ground with a thud and she waited. Motionless and dead to the world, Damon remained still. For a moment she thought he had deceased again, but his rising chest confirmed otherwise.

Dramatically, his eyes opened. He sat up abruptly as his unmarked hands felt around his body. Elena observed his behavior. He was distraught and energized. Once he regained his surroundings and breath, he looked to her. "Elena," he said in a calm tone. His hand reached out to stroke her face. "It's broken."

Wary of his sudden transformation, she was hesitant. She couldn't believe the man in front of her. He almost seemed like a stranger. With no scars or mask, he wasn't hard to distinguish, but he was a different sight to see. Perfection blessed him, as he appeared strikingly human. His tone of voice was what made her unsure. It was so smooth and tamed. The outcries and guttural tone from before was what she expected him to sound like still. She knew he was realizing her dismay.

"It's me." He said. "Damon."

Elena stared into his no longer bloodshot eyes. A most beautiful blue circled around his pupils. She peered into them for a moment trying to search his soul. This shade of blue she had once seen before when he was beast. It really was him. This was Damon. He was alive.

"It is you." Elena exclaimed. "Damon, you're alive."

He nodded his head as he pulled her in close. Another stream of tears fell from her eyes. Every emotion inside of her was on overdrive. Without saying it, either of them, she knew what had happened tonight. The curse had been broken. Only love could bring him back from the dead. Her unconditional words had saved him and herself.

Damon moved toward her and cupped her cheek. She didn't have to say those three words again. He knew what she had done selflessly to unbind him from eternal damnation. His lips hovered over hers for only a second before he pressed them together. Fireworks ignited inside. They were soft and wet. Elena threw her arms around him. They were reunited at last.

Months had passed since the pivotal moment in both their lives had happened. Damon was living as a human and he was no longer burdened by pain and suffering. His outlook on life and on others had also changed. He no longer judged someone merely based on beauty, but also what was on the inside. Elena knew it was his greatest lesson in life and she had been a huge part in discovering it. She continued to stay by his side.

The towering house and grounds were cleaned and remodeled all thanks to Alaric. Freed from the cryptic town of Mystic Falls, he decided to reside in Damon's home with Damon and Elena. His knack for creation and inventing was put to test as he brought life back into the home. Light was shining through the windows. Color was splashed on all the walls. No more dirt or blood was shed throughout the place. To anyone now, it looked like a dream home far off in the forest.

Elena walked down the long marble staircase that glimmered from the sunlight. She smiled knowing this place was also her home now too. Her provincial life back in Mystic Falls was in the past. Stumbling upon here under horrible circumstances had turned out for the best. Her story wasn't for the faint of heart, but sure was a good one. The passion she had for books were now her inspiration to write one and she knew exactly what story she would tell.

Around the corner and into the great hall she entered. Alaric smiled at her as he sat at the organ. To her left, dressed in a suit and well groomed came Damon. His blue eyes popped and his grin was wider than his face. He had out his arm for him to guide her and she obliged happily. The organ began to omit sounds of repetition and Damon twirled her around. Flashes of their previous dance together crept in her mind. It was then when she understood her feelings for him, but was too afraid to admit to them then. Her feet began to move to the beat of the music.

Staring up at Damon, she couldn't help but smile. He was handsome and gorgeous. Even if he still dawned the appearance of a beast, she would love him no matter what. However, she was happy he was freed of curse and able to live a life normally. Things were all falling into place.

She was meant to live a life with him. That fateful day she discovered this place and found him, she knew her purpose. She was sent to him to break his curse. Elena was confident in her destiny. She had awakened the beast.

Not sure of what the future held for them, she didn't care. All she wanted to focus on was this moment with him. Being in his presence knowing she had done such an incredible thing made her feel accomplished. As they moved around the dance floor effortlessly, Damon stopped her. He leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips. Fireworks exploded in her again. She was joyous.

Once they finally parted from one another, he continued to lead her around the floor as Alaric looked on. She knew she could get use to this.

And they lived happily ever after.

The End.