God help him. He had to murder his friend.
The pulsating red in Mark’s eyes flickered and for a quick moment his face slackened, the rage and fight disappearing from his expression completely.
“D-do it, Damon,” he stammered, before his eyes blazed crimson again.
Damon gritted his teeth and didn’t think twice. He plunged the wood of his stake straight into Mark’s heart. The blood of his only friend, his fellow hunter, of Tiffany’s brother, covered his face.
“Everybody out!” he heard someone scream.
A loud explosion sounded from his right, and a wave of heat washed over him, the force of the explosion knocking him to the ground. Fire spilled through the building.
With shaking hands, he wiped the crimson liquid from his eyes.
“Brock!” The Sergeant’s muffled yell carried from behind him.
Damon looked up and everything stopped.
For one long second, he couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t function.
Amidst the smoke and flames, a large vampire stood silhouetted on the opposite side of the room, his arm around Tiffany’s neck in a choke hold. She writhed against the bloodsucker’s grip, struggling fruitlessly against him.
Damon launched himself from the ground and sprinted full speed toward her. Several of his fellow hunters and the Sergeant hooked their arms through his and tugged him back. Damon fought against them with every ounce of strength he possessed, as they struggled to hold him.
“No! Let it go, Brock! No!” the Sergeant yelled in his ear.
As the vampire disappeared into the smoke of the building, carrying Tiffany with him, her head snapped in Damon’s direction.
No!
A loud cry ripped from Damon’s throat as Tiffany’s eyes flashed crimson and she bared her fangs.
***