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Long ago, in the dark side streets of Florence, starving, frightened, and exhausted, Stefan hadthe Powers he sensed within hi, but still-hu to break thee of Power had passed over Bonnie and Meredith and followed hi

He wouldn’t let it wait long

Unencumbered by the burden of Elena’s body, he broke into a predator’s lope on the e sleet and wind didn’t bother hih the the prey he wanted No thinking of Elena now Later, when this was over

Tyler and his friends were still in the Quonset hut Good They never kneas colass shards and the storm blew inside

Stefan meant to kill when he seized Tyler by the neck and sank his fangs in That had been one of his rules, not to kill, and he wanted to break it

But another of the toughs cauy wasn’t trying to protect his fallen leader, only to escape It was his bad luck that his route took hiround and tapped the new vein eagerly

The hot coppery taste revived hih him like fire It made him want more

Power Life They had it; he needed it With the glorious rush of strength that came hat he’d already drunk, he stunned the deep and throwing the tops on a six-pack

He was on the last when he saw Caroline huddling in the corner

Hisas he raised his head to look at her Those green eyes, usually so narrow, shohite all around like those of a terrified horse Her lips were pale blurs as she gabbled soundless pleas

He pulled her to her feet by the green sashes at her waist She wasup in their sockets He wound his hand in her auburn hair to position the exposed throat where he wanted it His head reared back to strike - and Caroline screamed and went lih anyway He was bursting with blood, like an overfed tick He had never felt so strong, so charged with elemental power

Noas time for Damon

He went out of the Quonset hut the sa falcon soared out theand wheeled into the sky

The new shape onderful Strong and cruel And its eyes were sharp It took hi over the oak trees of the woods He was looking for a particular clearing

Stefan ripped bloody strips out of his arer

I’ht down to Da blast of PowerAnd this time I’ve come for your blood

He felt the backwash of hatred froSo this is the thanks I get for saving you and your betrothed ?

Stefan’s wings folded and he dived again, his whole world narrowed to one objective Killing He went for Damon’s eyes, and the stick Damon had picked up whistled past his new body His talons tore into Damon’s cheek and Damon’s blood ran Good

You shouldn’t have left me alive, he told DamonYou should have killed both of us at once

I’ll be glad to correct the mistake! Damon had been unprepared before, but now Stefan could feel his drawing Power, arht tell me whom I’m supposed to have killed this time