AN: Well, that was a quick update, right? I'm really enjoying writing this, so I hope you are enjoying reading as much!

Thanks sooo much for the reviews! I appreciate feedback so much. It inspires me and my writing! Someone mentioned they were confused? I'm happy to answer any queries anyone might have, unless it would just be spoiling you!

Also, thank to Steph for being an AWESOME beta!

Kaine.

Chapter 2. House of Horrors.

Elena stared up at the mansion, frozen at the end of the long drive.

She could see people milling about the grand entrance. They were nothing more than blurs of colour to her, at such a distance. But they were people she knew. Mostly people that she liked, and maybe that blob with blonde hair was Caroline. Caroline - who she had known forever. Yet despite that, she still couldn't bring herself to start walking.

She was tired. So tired, and she didn't know if she could face it. All the faces, and all the questions. Where have you been Elena? Why has it been so long since we saw you? How's Stefan? She could predict every single thing that they would ask of her, but she didn't want to have to answer a single one of them.

How's Stefan?

That one would be particularly irritating, for she had no idea. She had called him when she finished work, even driving up to the Manor when he didn't answer. But he wasn't there. A part of her was concerned. But mostly? She was angry. The one time that she needed him - the one time that she wanted him to tell her that she was worrying over nothing...and he wasn't there.

She gnawed at the inside of her cheek, still rooted to the spot. She wanted to turn and run. But where would she run too? Stefan was nowhere to be found. Home held only nightmares for her. And all her friends were up there, partying away – oblivious to the fact that Elena was more afraid than she ever had been in her life.

She could still feel the touch of the vampire's lips on her hand. She could still feel the way his eyes stabbed at hers, sharp and painful. She shuddered at the memory. She had no idea who he was, or what he wanted with her. But the mere thought of him was enough to turn her stomach.

Then she remembered Matt, and how he had made her smile. She straightened her back, drew in a long breath, and she took a step forward. She couldn't be alone, not tonight. So she pushed herself on, forcing down her anxiety, and made her way up the drive.

Her heart raced and her hands were suddenly clammy, but that was nothing compared to the fear that she felt when she pictured herself spending her evening at home. Curled on her bed for hours, not sleeping for fear. That fear propelled her forwards and soon she could make out Tyler's face as he welcomed people into his grand home.

He noticed her at about the same time and his eyebrows shot up in surprise. But then his face split into a wide smile and Elena found herself smiling in return. A warmth spread through her and she felt some of her tension ease; this would be okay.

She still wasn't used to calling Tyler a friend. Even before Stefan, and then Damon had turned her life upside down, she had never really liked him. He was a bully, he was obnoxious. But he had been Matt's best friend so she had put up with him. Then, when his father had died and his Uncle Mason had appeared, things had worsened...significantly. It had been war between vampires and werewolves. And it had been hell for Elena, especially once Bonnie had joined Tyler – her hatred of Damon clouding her mind. Elena had feared that not only would she lose both brothers, but her best friend as well.

In a sense, Elena was grateful for Katherine. It was her presence; her threat that had eventually forced each side to realise there was a greater enemy. Tyler finally broke free of his uncle's mind warp and they had all banded together with a common goal. Without the werewolves, Elena would probably have died.

She finally reached the first step leading up to the grand entrance way and Tyler strode down to meet her. She noticed how his eyes scanned the space behind her and then his brow lowered, and she grinned. This was good. This was normal. Trivial matters of the teenage heart.

As he fell into step beside her, Elena threw Tyler a knowing smile, 'She's not with me Ty...'

The tension in his jaw was the only sign that he had heard her. Other than that, he smiled broadly and ignored her statement all together.

'I wasn't expecting to see you here,' he said, and there was a lightness to his tone that showed how happy he was that she had proved him wrong, 'You seem to brood as much as your boyfriend these days.'

She rolled her eyes at him as they reached the top of the steps and came to a stop in the shadow of the doorway.

Tyler laughed, and the sound of it rumbled through Elena. It was something familiar, and she was grateful for it.

'Where is he anyway?' Tyler asked, still chuckling softly to himself.

Elena felt a sharp jolt. The question that she most wanted to avoid pulled to the surface her conflicting emotions; a mixture of anger and worry. Her eyes dropped away and she shrugged, 'I don't know.'

Tyler's smile faltered slightly, though his dark eyes still glittered with mirth. He raised an inquisitive eyebrow, 'Trouble in paradise?'

Elena shook her head, smiling softly, 'Nothing for you to worry about!' She glanced behind her to find another surge of people approaching. She didn't recognise them and she turned to Tyler with an incredulous expression, 'I thought this was supposed to be a small party?'

Tyler followed her stare, gaze settling on the group of young girls waddling towards him in their too-high heels. He scratched the back of his head sheepishly, 'Word spreads, you know...'

'Tyler...' Elena's voice was stern and she stared at him until he met her gaze, 'Just call her. If you are trying to make her jealous...it isn't going to work. I know Bonnie; it will just make things worse...'

Tyler's cheeks flushed and his expression darkened. In a gruff voice he muttered, 'Ill see you inside...' then he plastered the biggest smile across his face that he could manage and disappeared to greet his fan club.

Elena watched him for a second, shaking her head with a small smile. She made a mental note to call Bonnie in the morning and inform her of what had just happened. Then she turned to the doors, took a breath to settle herself, and stepped inside.

There were people everywhere. It seemed as though Tyler had invited the whole town and Elena felt a wave of anxiety. In such a crowd, it would be easy to get lost. It would be easy for somebody to take her away, and nobody would notice. A shiver ran down her spine and suddenly Elena felt eyes on her.

It was as though everybody was staring at her, and all she could hear were their whispers and the blood pounding in her ears. Then there was something else, a sick feeling. The feeling she had felt when that man had touched her. She swallowed the bile that rose into her throat and dashed into the nearest room – hoping that she would find Caroline.

Instead she simply found another group of strangers, who all turned to face her as she darted into their presence. She pulled up quickly, eyes wide and cheeks flushed with a mix of fear and embarrassment. This wasn't her. She was stronger than this. She managed to pull some sort of smile onto her face and she looked away. But only for her gaze to fall on the tapestry on the back wall. The tapestry detailing the first ever guest registry.

Stefan Salvatore.

Damon Salvatore.

He glanced up. His blue eyes glowed from beneath his dark lashes. In that moment, she had never seen anything so beautiful.

'Doesn't it always come down to the love of a woman?'

And that was all it took for her to be utterly spellbound.

Elena turned her back instantly. She would not let this happen. Not anymore. He was gone. He had left her and it had been her fault. But she still had Stefan, wherever he was. She still had her friends and her family. She still had her life to live.

She squared her shoulders and marched from the room, holding her chin a little higher than before. She forced her mind to calm, to think clearly. She knew where Caroline would be, in the Games room with Matt. So she headed in that direction, teetering on the edge of her sudden determination to retain some sanity.

She smiled at people she knew. And they smiled back, genuine smiles that proved to Elena that they weren't all talking about her. They weren't all gossiping about her sudden disappearance from their social circle. Most simply seemed happy to see her again.

Feeling stronger by the second, Elena allowed herself to relax. She wasn't in danger here. Whoever or whatever that man from the Grill had been. Whatever he wanted with her...if he was a Vampire...he couldn't reach her here.

She slipped through one of the arches off the main hall and she stiffened. The werewolves. They turned to face her as one, uncertainty pouring off them in waves. They were a part of Tyler now, his pack. But they hadn't been quite as accepting of Elena's choices as Tyler had. She met each of their stares, one by one, and it was a stand-off. All five of them looked her up and down, lips curling with distaste as they fell silent. In their eyes, she was a traitor to the living. She had been forever tainted by death. Or at least, that was what Darren had told her.

She held his gaze the longest and something of the old Elena stirred within her. She tilted her chin, challenging him to say something. His eyes narrowed and a muscle twitched in his jaw, but he said nothing. Instead he nodded, the smallest inclination of his chin, and the tension poured away as the wolves pulled their attention away from her as one.

'Elena! There you are!'

Elena only had a second to glance to her right before she was pounced upon. She saw a flash of blonde hair, caught a whiff of flowery perfume and then she smiled warmly.

'Caroline,' she breathed, wrapping her arms around her friend and squeezing her gently.

Caroline pulled away with a happy sigh, holding Elena at arm's length. Her eyes ran over her friend, round with concern, 'I didn't think you'd actually come!' she gasped, unable to contain her smile of joy, 'How've you been?'

Elena laughed. She had never imagined she would be so grateful to be treated to an onslaught of questions from Caroline. But she was. Her amber eyes brightened, unable to resist her friend's enthusiasm.

'I'm fine. I've just been a little...over-worked recently...'

Caroline tugged at her arm, pulling her towards the room at the back. She fixed Elena with what could only be described as a motherly stare and Elena braced herself.

'I still don't understand why you don't just quit. You could get a job anywhere.'

Elena sighed heavily, shaking her head, 'And I've explained to you a million times...I like it there.'

The look Caroline threw her way was disbelieving, but she let the subject drop as they found a sofa near the pool table and sat down. Matt threw them both a wave as they sat down, tossing Elena an accompanying wink. Elena grinned back at him. She should have expected her friends to be happy to see her...but still, it made her realise that she should have done this a long time ago. Instead of hiding herself away.

'So...' she Elena started brightly, determined to make an effort, she turned to Caroline with a smile, 'how is work?'

Caroline's expression turned wistful as she happily launched into a monologue. And Elena was happy to listen. It was soothing in a way, to hear somebody she loved and to hear that they were so content. Caroline and Matt were the only two of her friends left that were still oblivious to all the supernatural beings surrounding them. Sometimes, Elena couldn't believe that it was possible. Tyler was Matt's best friend yet he had no idea that werewolves existed. And Caroline...she still sometimes had nightmares...where she was hunted by creatures in the night. But that was all they were to her, nightmares. In her mind, Damon was nothing but a young man that had treated her badly.

She found him easily. Standing outside, eyes surveying everything around him.

So beautiful.

So dangerous.

And she felt a fire burning inside of her, something she had never felt before. It pushed her down the stairs. And even as he heard her approach and turned to face her, it did not falter. She shoved him, because she wanted to hurt him somehow. Her eyes blazed as she moved in close.

'There is something seriously wrong with you...'

She still didn't want to believe it.

'You stay away from Caroline, or I will go straight to her mother – The Sheriff...'

But there was something in his eyes. Hurt? Disappointment? And she almost faltered. Suddenly she had to get away.

'Got it? Stay away from her!'

The memory still made Elena cold. The memory of what he once had been, and the memory of how she had failed as a friend. But Damon had tried to make things right, and that was all that he could do. And it was refreshing somehow, that Caroline didn't know. It reminded Elena of when she hadn't been a part of this world – of when things had been easier.

Elena realised that she had completely zoned out. She shook herself and refocused her attention. Luckily, with Caroline Forbes – you didn't need to input much for her to keep a conversation flowing. Elena couldn't help but laugh softly and Caroline paused.

She shot Elena a strange look, 'What?'

'Nothing,' Elena said, 'It's just...it's good to be here.'

And she meant it.

Caroline's face split into a luminous smile, 'Good!' then, on an impulse, she reached forwards and took both Elena's hand in hers, 'Seriously Elena, you don't know how much better I feel, seeing you here. I at least thought if you came, then it would be with Stefan...where is he anyway?'

Elena's lips puckered as she frowned, her stomach plummeted. Her thoughts were so confused when it came to Stefan these days. 'I really don't know...' she slipped a hand out of Caroline's to snatch her phone from her pocket, 'I might try him again...'

But as she flipped her phone open, the mansion was plunged into darkness.

A few people screamed, followed by a bout of nervous laughter. Elena's breath caught in her throat as she gripped Caroline's hand tightly. She blinked a few times, impatient for her eyes to adjust to the sudden gloom.

'What the hell...' she heard Caroline mutter.

The two girls scooted closer to one another on the sofa and waited as people milled around them.

'Where's Ty?' they heard Matt shout.

'I think he's still outside...' somebody muttered in return.

But the darkness stretched on, and soon the air was filled with anxious whispers mixed with the occasional gasp of pain and murmured apology.

Elena's heart pounded furiously, she hated the dark.

'Everyone stay calm,' Darren's voice broke through the buzz clearly, he sounded bored, 'I'll sort...'

Then he stopped.

Then he screamed.

And it was a scream of pure agony.

Elena and Caroline both jumped to their feet, clutching at each other fearfully. Caroline shouted out, but her words were lost amongst the surge of noise as people began to panic. And still Darren screamed, more of a roar now and the sound made Elena's skin crawl. She felt tears prick the corners of her eyes, she begged somebody to help him...

The screaming stopped.

There was a sudden silence. Elena's breath was coming in short, painful gasps as she whirled on the spot. Her hand never left Caroline's. But she still could not see. The darkness was eerie...almost unnatural. The hairs on the back of her neck arched, telling her that something was wrong.

'What's going on?' Caroline cried fearfully. And her cry was accompanied by others. There was no longer any nervous laughter; the mansion was filled with a horrible fear. A fear of turning the lights back on. A fear of what they would find.

Elena swallowed the lump in her throat, 'Don't let go of me Caroline...' and in response, Caroline gripped her other hand too.

Then there was a gust of cold air and Elena's stomach was suddenly gripped by ice. She froze. Then she groaned, 'No...'

She heard a low growl...an animal snarl. Then something roared and the screaming started again.

'Elena!' Caroline shrieked.

Utter panic. Elena's mind froze. All she could do was grip Caroline. She still could not see. But she could hear people running and crying. She felt them rushing around her, jostling her.

'Don't let go!' she roared at Caroline.

'I won't!'

Elena felt something brush past her, too fast to be normal. The air changed and she heard death descend. She heard something rip, something like flesh, and her stomach turned. Then something hit the floor behind her with a heavy thud and a groan. She felt hot tears pouring down her cheeks. Then Caroline was ripped away from her.

'No!' she bellowed. She leapt forwards, felt her fingers brush the tips of Caroline's...

Then there was an arm around her waist and suddenly she was flying.

'No!'

Instinct kicked in and Elena fought for her life. She kicked and she punched and she scratched as she cried. But the grip on her was too strong. Her face was buried into a chest of steel and she couldn't breathe. Because she was afraid. But not for herself this time, for her friends. She had heard them dying.

She felt air coat her skin as she was sped outside. She pressed her palms against her captor with all her strength but still they sailed forwards, their passage unrelenting.

'Let...me...GO!'

And her captor did.

She was dumped unceremoniously onto the dry earth.

The sudden silence and the sudden halting of movement left her dazed. She sat, stunned, and stared unblinking back the way she had just come.

What had just happened?

Then she heard movement behind her and she tensed. Slowly, she turned her head – terrified of what she might find - terrified that this would be her end.

Her eyes widened. She blinked a few times as her gaze travelled up the length of him to meet his.

Her heart sang.

'Damon?'

AN: Review?