Ruthless scientist and vampire creator Jack Daltry is dead, killed by Damon and Elena. But now Elena is dying, and the Guardians have given her one chance to save both herself and Damon. She must go back into the past, back to before she met the Salvatore brothers and the point everything started.

Elena must ensure the destruction that was started with Stefan and Damon's obsession with her will never begin. But she doesn't know the Damon she first met all those years ago, and he doesn't know her. He's dangerous. And can she bear to create a future where she's not with Damon or Stefan?