So I'll start with an explainer. :P

Damon found out that Katherine doesn't love him and decides he has to try to move on. He has made a mends with Caroline, Elena Stefan and Bonnie and the story picks up from there :):)

p.s. I made up the herb called 'alcovine' – al-coe-vine :D

Please read and please review

It had been 4 months since Damon had disappeared. Neither Stefan nor any of the others had heard a single word from him. There was no sign, no clues… nothing but an empty house for Stefan to pace. Elena had called him and asked him to come to her house for dinner and informed him that Bonnie and Caroline would be there. Though he really wasn't in the mood, he gritted his teeth and said that he'd love too. Damon would resurface when he chose too, but that really didn't make it any easier.

.

Stefan knocked on the door and was greeted by Elena. She looked beautiful. 'You look stunning, as always.'

'Thanks. Come on in, dinners almost ready.'

He walked through to the dining room and took a seat at the table. 'Hello Bonnie, Caroline.' He smiled politely, trying desperately not to look miserable.

'Hey. How are you?' Bonnie asked. Concern filled her eyes as she studied Stefan's expression.

'I'm alright. Thanks for asking.'

There was a knock at the door and Elena was quick to answer it. Pulling the door open she saw a beautiful woman standing in front of her. She had long blonde hair down to her waste and big blue green eyes. She looked like she was better suited for a magazine but somehow she had found her way onto her porch. 'Hi…'

'Hello. My name is Salette Stone. I'm looking for Stefan Salvatore. I was told I might find him here…'

'Um… I'll just get him…' Elena answered still confused by this woman's arrival. She headed to the kitchen are returned to the door with Stefan by her side.

'Stefan Salvatore?' Salette asked politely.

'Yes… Have we met before?'

'No, I don't believe we have. I'm looking for Damon.'

Bonnie and Caroline peeped from around the corner while straining their ears to hear what was being said.

Stefan pulled his brows together. 'How do you know Damon?'

She ignored the question. 'Can you tell me where I can find him?'

'I haven't seen him in over 4 months now.'

'Where has he gone?' She had a clear look of frustration on her face at this point.

'I don't know. I've been looking for him but there's just no trace of him. How do you know him?'

'Were old friends.' She answered briefly.

'How old?'

She sighed. 'We were introduced 60 years ago. We became friends and saw each other from time to time for the next 30 years but 20 years ago we met once more and decided to 'roam' together for a while. We split up 3 years ago but we have kept in constant contact with each other… We call each other at least twice a week.'

'He never mentioned you…'

She smiled. 'I know.' Her smile faded slowly. 'The last time I spoke to him was around 4 months ago. He mentioned to me that he wanted to meet up again. He wanted me to come to Mystic Falls but I didn't get another call and he never picked up his phone after that…' Her expression melted into a more concerned look. 'You have no idea where he might be?'

'Not a clue. There's no sign of him. I just hope he's not…'

'Don't even say that! I don't want to hear it.' Her voice grew a lot darker and protective. 'If were true, I would have slaughtered every last person involved, slowly and painfully by now.'

'Do you have an idea?' Elena asked quickly, trying her best to turn the conversation another way.

'Is there anywhere we can talk?'

Elena looked over at Stefan who gave her a worried look.

'I mean you no harm Elena, if you grant me entry into your home; I will never enter without first asking for permission.'

Elena sighed. She seemed concerned for Damon, enough so that she could be trusted… or at least she hoped. 'Come on in.' She led them to the lounge room where Bonnie and Caroline joined the conversation.

'You are all aware?' Salette asked with a smooth, melodic voice.

'Yeah. We all know.' Elena answered.

'I'm a witch.' Bonnie added casually but at the same time she seemed completely unsure about it.

'I am very aware of that miss Bennett.' Salette answer with a smile. 'I'm positive that Damon has been being held against his will and I'm almost positive I know who has been holding him.'

'Who?' Stefan asked.

'4 years ago Damon and I came across a nest of vampires.' She had a sudden look of disgust on her face. 'They took a liking to Damon.' Anger crossed her face this time. 'I told them that if any of them touched him I would rip their limbs from their bodies and force them to ingest their own organs.'

'Ouch…' Caroline blurted before she realized what she had said. 'Sorry…'

Salette nodded.

'So, you think these vampires took Damon?' Stefan asked.

'Yes, I believe they have.'

'What do you mean they took a liking to him?' Elena asked.

'It means exactly how it sounds. When an older vampire takes a liking to younger vampire it's never a good thing and if a nest of old vampires take a liking to one young vampire…' She paused. 'Amplify that by one thousand.'

'What are they doing to him?'

Salette raised her eyebrow and adjusted in her seat. 'Generally when a vampire or a nest of vampire take a liking to another vampire…' She hesitated for a moment. 'It's for sex and torture.' She sighed at the thought of Damon being subjected to such pain. 'Some vampires, not all of them, but some, enjoy biting and drinking the blood of other vampires.'

'Oh my God.' A look of disgust crossed Elena's face. She looked over at Stefan who gave her a 'No,-I-don't-enjoy-drinking-the-blood-of-other-vampires' look.

'Almost any nests you come across are filled with vampires like this and I know for a fact that the nest that took a liking to Damon were those type of vampires.'

'So, their sucking his blood? Will he die?'

'No, if they continue to feed him, he'll be fine… well as fine as he can be.'

'And it hurts? You know, to have your blood sucked?'

'I'm not sure exactly what they're doing, but I'm almost certain their using the herb 'Alcovine.'

'Alcovine? I've heard of Vervain but not that…'

'Vervain is very different to Alcovine. If a vampire ingests or is injected with Vervain it'll weaken them and cause severe pain and fever. But if Alcovine is ingested or injected into a vampire it only causes them to become very weak to the point of normal human strength and ability. Also, it's very strong. Even the smallest amount is enough to weaken a vampire for an extended period of time.'

'An amount the size of your smallest toe nail, if ingested or injected is enough to keep a vampire weak for up to 2 weeks. It's very powerful.' Stefan added.

'Wow… Was Zach…'

'No, very few humans know about this herb and it would be much appreciated if no one mentioned it.'

'Yeah, because I was gonna go running to my mother…' Caroline answered sarcastically.

'We won't tell anyone.' Bonnie answered.

'Thank you.' Salette answered.

'So how do we go about finding this nest?' Elena asked.

'Whoa, you guys are not going anywhere near this. Salette and I will take care of it.'

'I think they could help…' Salette answered.

'Yeah and it was yours and Elena's idea that we all give Damon another chance. So we have the right to help save him. And besides, if we help, he'll owe us.' Caroline smiled.

'How could they help? They could get hurt.' Stefan insisted.

'Bonnie's a witch, I could teach her a few protection spells and…' Salette paused for a moment. 'Here…' She pulled 3 small stones from her pocket. 'These are protection stones. They were blessed by a great witch I once knew. As long as you have these on you at all times, nothing can hurt you.' They each took one. 'Bonnie, would you like to learn a few spells?'

She took a deep breath in. 'Sounds good.'

Thanks for reading :):) I was thinking the next chapter would be Damon's point of view? Yes? No? Review and tell me what you think.