Damon fell to his knees, coughing violently from the thick, choking smoke that filled the air. His chest heaved, desperately trying to pull in what little oxygen he could find. He hadn't felt the effects before—his shadow had consumed all his focus, battling Xander and vying for control of his body.
Half the time, Damon had been locked in a mental struggle with his insidious shadow. His shadow was almost ravenous, its hunger a constant threat to his sanity.
He'd known the risks from the start. Without the power granted by Shadow Hunger, he wouldn't have lasted long in the evaluation. It had been a gamble—a dangerous one. But luck, or perhaps sheer will, had turned things in his favor. Xander's final, desperate attempt to rise had given Damon just enough clarity to seize control, eliminating Xander from the evaluation before the shadow could kill him outright.