Chapter 6

Elena groaned, stirring and finding herself suddenly very sore all over. There was a feeling of numbness creeping over her and surrounding sounds became muffled, as though she was wrapped in cotton wool. Slowly the dimness and silence which surrounded her became to clear and the smell of smoke drifting into her nose causing her to choke.

She gradually started to open her eyes and emerged from the darkness of her deep sleep. What happened? Her confused brain frantically tried to explain not only where she was, but what had actually happened. All she could hear was the ticking of a clock and an aching pain in her neck.

Memories flashed back and she suddenly remembered that she had been in her room, packing and preparing to leave. Yes and then Damon came in in and tried to stop her, but she couldn't remember anything else apart from the sharp sting in her neck and then…nothing.

Son-of-a-bitch! He drugged me!

Elena tried to move her hands to her face, but found her wrist bound together behind her. She started to panic, twisting her arms back and forth in an attempt to loosen the rope. With each turn, the skin on under the rope turned raw and began to sting and throb. They were no looser than before and now she had only increased her pain.

Elena took a moment to study her surroundings and came to the conclusion she must have been a room of some sorts, but it was hard to make out with the lack of lightening in the room. She was laid on a chair, but that was as much as she could make out.

She heard voice echo from outside the room just as the door open shinning a bright light through the door way. Elena squinted and turned her face away from the harsh light, slowly letting her eyes adjust. When she could finally see, Damon was kneeling right in front of her, grinning away like a Cheshire cat.

"You're awake." Damon mused, brushing her cheek with the pad of this thumb. "I was beginning to worry that I used too much on you."

Elena jerked her face away from him. "Don't fucking touch me."

"Now, Elena, you know I don't appreciate that kind of language." His expression was serious, but his tone was still cocky and amused.

"Untie my hands, now." She hissed.

"I will, just as soon as our little meeting is over with."

Damon grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up with little effort, setting her on her own two feet to stand. Her head felt heavy and cloudy as dizziness struck her fast at the sudden movements. Elena couldn't support her own weight and her knees gave away, but Damon caught her in his arms, supporting her against his body.

He ran his fingers through her hair, pulling it out of her face and away from her neck. His eyes were fixated on the little pin prick on her trend flesh from when he had injected her. He felt guilt bite him like a rabid dog seeing the small bruises that surrounded the mark. Maybe he was too harsh with her?

"I think I used a little too much on you." He wondered out loud.

"Why?" Elena questioned him. "Why'd you do it?"

"I did it to calm you down." He said simply. "What we are about to do is something that you're not going to like, but I promise that as soon as it's over, you can go to your room and sleep off the drug. Okay?"

Her eyes widen. "What are you talking about?"

Damon ignored her question and pulled her with him through the door he came from and into the next room. The walls, ceiling and carpet were all black, with one single light bulb hanging in the middle. Elena noticed Stefan stood in the corner and then another person, a woman she hadn't seen before, on the opposite side of the room. On the far wall of the room a massive television screen was mounted to the wall, a camera and a laptop all spread out on a desk.

"What's going on?" Elena panicked as Damon dragged her over to a chair by Stefan, gently setting her down in it.

Again, he didn't answer her, instead making his way over to the laptop and pressing several different keys, making the television spring to life. He then switched on the camera and repositioned it in the centre with the tripod before finally turning off the lights so the only light in the room came from the television.

Damon clapped his hands, smirking over at Elena. "It's show time."

With that Stefan produced a remote from his jacket pocket and pushed a button. Elena turned back, completely confused to what was going on and froze with what she saw on the screen. He seemed to have aged almost five years in the space of only a few days, but she knew exactly who it was. It was the man who had cared for her and protected her, but wasn't there to save her when she was stolen away in the night.

It was John.

"Good evening, John." Damon smirked, this usually cocky tone evident.

"Salvatore." John replied, his face remaining neutral and unmoving.

Elena wanted to say something, scream for help, anything. But she couldn't. Her throat was dry and her muscles seemed uncooperative, most likely from the drug Damon had given her but also because of her complete and utter shock. Never would she have guessed that the reason for them being down here was for a live webcam chat!

"You're looking good, John, I must say." Damon said sarcastically. "The last couple of years have been great for you."

"Cut the crap, Salvatore." John snapped. "What do you want?"

"I want what you owe me." He replied, all humour gone.

John's eyes narrowed before a small laugh escaped him. "After all these years and you still think that you're going to get that back?"

"Oh, I know I'm going to get that back."

Both men stared at each other, neither one making a sound or movement. Elena was left stunned at what was going on. Watching her Uncle confront his man and not flinch. What worried her most was that these two men had known each other for years and Elena had been none the wiser to it.

"Damon," John sighed, irritated. "What happened to Katherine happened years ago and it was your own fault. Let it go."

Damon could feel the heat rising in his face at the mention of her. How dare he say her name! After everything that John had done! Damon tried to relax his expression, letting a smirk curl on the corners of his mouth. John may have felt all big and clever for using the mention of her against him, but Damon had one better.

"Funny you should say that." Damon jeered. "Because it looks like history is going to be repeating itself."

With that he snapped his fingers. Stefan grabbed Elena's arm and hurled her to her feet. Her legs were still numb from the drug so when Stefan threw her in Damon's direction, she stumbled and fell but Damon caught her effortlessly. A shriek escaped her as he tightened his grip on her waist, spinning her around so that her back was pressed against his muscular chest and she was facing the camera. Oh God…

Elena stared at the man on the screen, watching as his face shifted between a look of shock, fear before finally setting on a look of pure hatred. Damon chuckled behind her, carefully gathering her hair over her shoulder so that his chin was rested there.

"W-what..?" John whispered, unable to believe that this was actually happening.

"I know, you thought that sweet, innocent, little Elena was going to be at her friends this week." Damon purred, loving that he finally had the upper hand in this. "But when I saw her sitting all alone in a house by herself, I just couldn't resist taking her."

Elena was still stunned, completely heartbroken in seeing the distress in John's eyes. She wanted to scream and cry and curl up into a little ball on the floor just to pretend this was all a bad dream. It had to be!

"Elena, are you alright?" John croaked out.

"John, ple-…" Elena never finished her sentence as Damon placed a hand firmly over her mouth, effectively cutting off all speech.

She struggled and squirmed in an attempt to leave his embrace but it what's near impossible with her wrists pinned behind her. Besides, Damon only tightened an arm around her waist, anchoring her to his body causing her to let out a squeal.

"You see, John, I don't think you're in any position to bargain with me this time." Damon mused, giving him a lopsided smile. This was going better than expected!

John didn't know what to do at all. He hadn't expected Damon to pull something like this. Elena was his niece and he'd promised his brother that he would look after her and protect her from getting involved in the family business or any of this. Then again, he refused to be played by Damon, knowing that this was only going to end badly.

"What do you want, Damon?" John seethed, finding it hard to remain calm for Elena's sake.

"I want my money. And seeing as you have been so unwilling to give it to me, I decided to take matters in to my own hands." Damon smirked as he glanced down at Elena, whose eyes had widened in dismay.

"It isn't just about the money though, is it?"

"No, it isn't" He told John, though his eyes never left Elena's dark orbs.

"I'll do anything, Damon, anything just leave Elena out of this." John begged. "She's just seventeen years old! She has nothing to do with this. Show some mercy!"

"Funny!" Damon scoffed. "That's exactly what I said when I begged you to leave Katherine out of this. Where was your mercy then, John?"

"Please." He pleaded. He hated himself in that he had to stoop down to this level.

Damon smirked, leaning his face in to the side of Elena's hair and taking a deep breath to piss John off even more. He had him exactly where he wanted him. Everything was falling into place just like he had planned all those months ago. He was going to avenge Katherine, finally.

"Okay, I will make you a deal." Damon said. "I will give you one month to get me double the amount of money you owe me."

"Done." John said instantly, just wanting Elena to be return home safely.

"Wait, wait, wait," Damon retorted, hugging Elena's small body closer to him. "If you get me the money in one month, then I will be happy to let sweet Elena go home with you, if she wants to."

"What do you mean 'if she wants to'?" John sneered. "Of course she'll want to come home!"

Damon chuckled. "We'll see about that. After all the dirty little secrets you and your family have, I don't think Elena would want to be involved with any of you Gilberts."

Elena gulped, just listening to the back and forth conversation. She had given up her struggles ages ago, fixated on what was said between the two men. Who the hell was Katherine? What did her Uncle John have to do with her? What were these dark secrets that her family had? But what consumed Elena's thoughts most was that her Uncle had just agreed for her to stay prisoner here for a month! He didn't even try to bargain, just expected the deal straight away.

"Damon, I swear to God-…"

"You have a good evening, John." He glanced down at Elena, leaning in so his nose was touching her forehead. "I know I will."

Damon snapped his fingers and Stefan pressed the button on the remote, shutting off both the camera and the television before flicking the light back on.

Damon let out a sigh, closing his eyes for a moment. It was happening, after all his planning and perpetration he was finally going to get closure on all of this. John was right; it had nothing to do with the money, although it was a nice added bonus. This was about destroying John and his family the same way he had done to the Salvatore's. Things were finally going his way.

He was brought out of his daydream with a muffled scream from Elena, who was once again thrashing around in his grip. He grinned and slowly removed his hand from her mouth as she coughed. Damon took her hands in his and he untied her gently making sure to rubbing her sore wrists that were now bright red from rope burn.

Damon had expected her to break down on her hands and knees, crying over the ordeal. He had expected her to scream at the top of her voice and beg to leave. What he hadn't expected was the sudden, sharp pain in his cheek that snapped his face to side. She'd slapped him!

"Who the hell do you think you are?!" She screamed in rage. "Why were you holding me like that when you knew I had no chance of escape, anyway?"

"Vulnerable." Damon replied simply. "You were vulnerable and it hurt John more to see you like that."

"You bastard." She spat.

Damon smirked at how funny the situation was for him. Did she really think that she could take him on? Honestly. Elena just completely fascinated him. She could from tears to smiles to rage in a matter of seconds. No wonder she was a Gilbert, she was so wild and untamed. She was his biggest challenge yet.

Damon's smirk only pissed her off more with his complete arrogance and cockiness. Seething with anger and hurt Elena shoved him causing Damon to step back slightly. She raised her hand to slap him again, only to have him catch her wrist and squeeze. It wasn't enough pressure to damage her, but enough to make the sore marks burn on her wrist. His eyes were like chips of ice as he gazed steadily at her.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Elena." He said calmly, throwing her hand away from him.

"What are you going to do?" Elena hissed, pushing her luck. "Lock me in the basement, chain me to the bed, or dress me up like some slut for your amusement?"

"Hmm, don't tempt me." Damon taunted, letting his gaze run all over her body.

"You're disgusting!" She yelled. "How the hell could you do this to my family!?"

Damon's eyes held a dangerous glint. He could feel his own anger rising, having to clench his jaw to stop from saying something he would regret. Instead, he pulled her forward roughly so that her body collided with his and trapped both her hand in front of her. Glaring down at her, he tilted his head slightly and took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent.

"You don't know even half the story, sweetheart." He growled through gritted teeth. "So maybe you should think before you make any witty comments you can't back up."

Damon then thrust her away from him, but with her weak leg muscles it caused her to crash to the floor in a heap, only just narrowly missing the desk with equipment on it.

"Damon!" Rose snapped, coming forward from the corner of the room and leaning in front of Elena. "That's enough. You've proved your point, now let it go."

His eyes were now narrow slits as he regarded them on the floor before finally taking off and leaving the room with Stefan following right behind him. Rose rolled her eyes at how pathetic they both every before helping the shaking girl to her feet. It was strange to finally meet her after the way Damon had spoken about her all the time.

"Thank you." Elena said quietly, glad that at least one person in this house had the courtesy to be a little kind and considerate to her situation.

"It's okay. My name's Rose." She replied. "I apologise for the way that Damon acted and what happened tonight."

"Why is he like that?" Elena asked, her voice wobbling slightly. "Why is he doing this to my family, to me? I haven't done anything to him."

Rose nodded her head and sighed sadly. "It's hard to explain and it's not my story to tell."

Elena felt her eyes water slightly, all her adrenaline gone and the sudden feeling of numbness taking over her body. She came to the realisation that she wasn't getting out of here, at least anytime soon. She was trapped with an unpredictable mobster and his gang of henchmen and there was nothing she could do about.

"Hey," Rose placed a hand on her shoulder. "I know it's hard, but you can at least try to make the best of this. The situation isn't ideal and I really wish that this hadn't happened to you, but there is nothing we can do now. The deal has been made."

"What happens if my Uncle can't pay Damon the money in time?" Elena whispered, fighting back tears.

Rose gulped, gripping Elena's hand in hers as she looked down at her with a hint of sadness in her eyes. She really hadn't expected her to ask anything, which is why didn't have an answer, or at least an answer that Elena would like.

"I don't know." Rose said deadpanned. "I honestly don't know."

"Who the fuck does she think she is!?" Damon shouted, throwing his glass of bourbon into the fireplace in his office.

He was beyond mad at this point, feeling the need to punch someone and break something. He hated the fact that Rose stepped in, trying to be the moral and good person in this house of madness. The years she had spent away in marriage had made her too soft and emotionally towards others. The old Rose that Damon knew would have laughed in Elena's face at how pathetic she was. And now…

"FUCK!"

"Brother, calm down." Stefan tried to reason, but it was almost impossible when he was like this.

"Calm down!? After that stun Rose just pulled?" He questioned, running his hands through his hair. "That stupid, fucking rookie mistake could have cost us! She made me look like an idiot!"

"You knew when you invited Rose back that there was a possibility that she had gone soft. That was your call brother, not mine."

"I know!" Damon shouted, taking deep breaths and trying to control himself. Deep breaths. "I know, it's just…I guess…ahh…I've known her for so long, but she's changed."

Damon thought back to the times that he and Rose had spent together all those years along. She had been his rock through the hard times in his life and supported him no matter what. She was like the sister he never had and that's why it hurt so bad that he felt he went against him.

"Rose has been with me through thick and thin." Damon muttered, gazing into the fire. "I mean the last time we had this face-off with the Gilbert's she helped me with everything. The got me through the worst parts when I felt like giving up and now-…"

"And now what?" Rose's voice boomed.

Damon spun around on the stop you see Rose leaning against the door frame, her arms crossed over her chest and her eyebrows raised. All the anger and rage that he felt slowly started to disappear. Rose always seemed to have that effect on him, maybe from being around her for so many years, but he was the person who understood him the most.

"Rose, don't ever do that again." Damon said calmly.

"Do what? Stop you from acting like a complete maniac and frightening some innocent girl?" She murmured, inching her way into the room until she was stood in front of him.

"I mean it." He snapped. "Don't ever get involved in my business again or-…"

"Or you'll what? I'm not scared of you, Damon." Rose said quietly, a grin on her lips.

He sighed, but deep down he knew she was right. She was always right.

"I'm sorry." He muttered. "You know I can't control myself."

Rose nodded, stepping around him to sit in her chair. "That's true. You're impulsive and a complete moron when it comes to dealing with delicate situations. Besides, it's not me you should be saying sorry to."

Damon scowled. "Are you suggesting that I apologise to her, after what she did to me?"

"Stop being such a baby! It was only a light slap, which you deserved!" She moaned, pouring her own drink. "Just go say sorry."

"Are you serious?!" He started laughing hysterically at the fact that it had even crossed her mind. "No way. Not a chance."

"Well then, I guess your epic plan will ultimately fail."

Damon crossed his arms over his chest and huffed like some twelve year old child with mood swings. He was being pathetic and stubborn about everything, but it was the type of person he was brought up to be, nothing would change that. Still, he understood what Rose was telling him in that if he wanted this to go his way, then he was going to have to make an effort on his part. Damon's entire body went taught as he realized he'd let his need for revenge get in the way of things and lash out needlessly at Elena. Shit.

"Where is she?" He groaned, feeling ridiculously for caving in so quickly, but also suddenly very tense and anxious to see Elena.

Rose smirked. "In her room, still trying to sleep off the drug that you gave her."

He rolled his eyes and didn't bother to comment on her snarky remark because right now his thoughts were on Elena. How the hell was he supposed to make this up to her?

Elena was curled up in a ball under the covers, constantly tossing and turning. Despite the sleeping drug, she felt complete restless, her mind still reeling from the events that had happened. Everything she had known in her life felt like it had been thrown in the air, landing in places that she couldn't reach and therefore couldn't understand.

She felt like she didn't know or trust anyone in her family anymore after what had been reveal. It made her think that if she didn't know her family, did she even know herself? Who was Elena Gilbert and why was she suddenly the centre of a raving war between to family names?

There was a light tap on the door and Elena was suddenly on high alert, sitting up in the bed and wrapping the covers around herself. No, please no! The one person she was dreading to see came through the threshold of the room, stepping closer and closer to her.

Damon.

"Elena." He murmured as he reached for her, but she cringed away from him, raising a hand as though to force him back.

Damon looked into her eyes and felt his blood run cold at the emptiness he saw in her doe-like orbs. They were hallowed out and dark. He felt a little anxious as his chest tighten, hating the fact that the reason she was like that was because of him and what he had done. Damn it!

"Please leave me alone." She spoke softly, looking down at her trembling hands.

"Elena, listen-…"

"I don't care!" She cried, her eyes finally filling with emotion.

Damon felt a small sense of relief wash over him because he didn't care if she was angry or not, just as long as she didn't have that vacant and deathly looking expression permanently visible in her beautiful features.

"Do you have any idea what you put me through tonight?" Elena asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. "At all?"

Damon remained silent. One because he didn't know what she wanted him to say and two because he couldn't let her know that he cared. He couldn't let her see how much she was beginning to mean to him. He didn't understand what he was feeling or why he was feeling his way in the first place but it was something that he couldn't control. It was spreading like wild fire in his chest, melting away at the ice cold cage he had locked his heart away in.

He sighed and slowly made his way back to the door, gripping the handle firmly before glancing back at her over his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." Damon didn't say another word, instead he turned away from the anguished look in her eyes and closed the door behind him.

Elena let a tear slip from her wet lashes, feeling a pain rising through her chest. She was meant to hate this man! He had done so much to hurt her and yet she couldn't help the way she felt. There was something about him that made her question everything around her, even more so now after what had happened with her Uncle. Had she been lied to her whole life? Could she really trust anyone anymore?

She wrapped the covers around herself, tightly, closing her eyes, more than ready for sleep to take her away to the land of dreams. What she hadn't expected, however as she slipped over the edge and in to darkness, was that those dreams would be filled with a certain dark haired, blue eyed man who she just couldn't seem to shake.

Hello! So I already had this chapter prepared and decided to upload now so you guys weren't left waiting ;)

Well, a lot happened in this chapter as well as a little bit of back story into issues that Damon has with John. This will be made clear in the near future... ;) This chapter is really where it sets everything up for the main plot line of the story and where it will be going. I know a few people have been questioning the way Damon has been acting and how Delena can happen when he is so evil to her. Yes, it is a difficult situation that they are in, but over the course of the story both characters will change and develop with what they learn about each other. Plus, this is Damon and Elena and we all know how dramatic their relationship is already :p I wanted to try and keep the story realistic in that neither person wants to be the first to break and admit they feel something. Damon lashes out and Elena gets emotionally, that's how they deal with each other :)

Anyway, what did you guys think? Do you like Damon's softer side coming out? Is the romance moving to fast? What do you think of the small snippets of the back story so far? Please let me know! Thanks so far for the feedback and support as always! You guys are amazing! I will hopefully update again as soon as possible.

Next chapter: Elena tries to make the best of her time at the house and Damon tries his best to tame himself around her. Stay tuned ;)