
Damon was different from his brother Stefan from the start. While Stefan tried to maintain his humanity, Damon fully embraced being a vampire and enjoyed the power it gave him. Both brothers grew up in Mystic Falls with their father, Giuseppe, until 1864. Everything changed when they met Katherine Pierce, a vampire who turned them by sharing her blood. After being killed while defending her, they both began the transformation into vampires. Stefan initially struggled with his darker impulses, but Damon was completely without mercy. This led to a bitter, decades-long feud, as Damon blamed Stefan for the path his life had taken.