Hello there!

Thank you all so much for reading, sadly we only have two chapters more before this story is over, hopefully, you'll like the direction I'm taking it, I want to hear what you have to say, please leave me review and enjoy!

"When the nightmare grows black enough, horror spawns horror, one coincidental evil begets another, often more deliberate evils, until finally blackness seems to cover everything. And the most terrifying question of all may be just how much horror the human mind can stand and still maintain a wakeful, staring, unrelenting sanity"

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-Stephen King-

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The sound of gunfire was a distant echo she attributed to dreamland, her face nuzzled further into the covers as she tried to quiet down the sound reaching her ears, she had barely slept the night before while arguing with Damon about their plan before he had to take off to oversee a shipment arrival with Stefan, which meant right now she only wanted a couple of hours of sleep so she could function like a normal human being.

Shouts and mumbled voices echoed in her ears, a frown marring her forehead as the fog in her heard started dissipating; the sound of gunfire approached and Elena's eyes snapped open, her senses on high alert as the realization of the situation hit her.

It had come sooner than expected.

She threw the covers away from her body and scrambled out of bed, she kneeled immediately and reached for the box Damon had stashed under, her hands tore open the lid and pulled out a small silver gun, the steel cold on her bare hands.

Elena looked for her slippers and slid her feet inside, later she would laugh at the normalcy of such an act in the middle of an attack. She got closer to the door and placed her ear against the wood, shouts were nearing and a fraction of a minute in complete panic passed before she decided she needed to leave the room and reach for Caroline.

The hallway was dark as she stepped outside, she hadn't thought about checking the hour but she guessed it was still way too early for someone to be up, they had been ambushed and though she knew it was coming the realization of it send vile rising her throat. Her feet were quiet as she neared the blonde girl's room, her fingers secured around her gun as she gently pushed open the door only to reveal an empty bed and tousled sheets.

"Caroline?" Elena whispered almost expecting to find the other girl hiding under the bed or locked inside the closet but the response she got was an arm around her middle and a hand over her mouth.

The gun slipped out of her hand and she cursed herself as she acknowledged what was happening, Damon would be so ashamed of her killer skills, the thought was brief and almost comical as she felt the chloroform that dampened the cloth over her nose take effect, making her unaware of everything around her.

It was like a déjà vu. Her eyes opened to stare into an old rotten wooden ceiling, a stale smell surrounded her making her gag. She was awkwardly lying on top of an old dirty bed, her wrists bound with chains to the bars of the headboard making her skin feel raw and hot.

"Sleeping beauty is up" The voice that spoke startled her and her eyes roamed frantically around the room, her mind still receding from the fogginess that overwhelmed her.

A man chuckled nearby and her eyes tried to adjust to the dimly lit bedroom until she spotted a dark-suited man standing a few feet from her, a teasing smile painted in his face, cold maniac eyes staring back at her and making her skin break into goosebumps.

"Might want to share some comforting words with your friend back there, I think she may need them?" The man said as he glanced to the other side of the room where Elena was now able to see Caroline bound to a wooden chair "Forgive the treatment" The man said as he gestured to the steel around her wrists "We guessed you'll be the one to put on a fight"

As if it had been exactly what he wanted, Elena rattled the chains around her wrists, an angry snarl leaving her lips "You son of a bitch" She hissed as she managed to kneel on the bed to lessen the pain in her wrists "I know you, you are Mikael"

The disquieting smile seemed to stretch wider into his face "A pleasure to meet you Elena Gilbert" His words were accompanied by a small flourish "You are quite the legend, La Parca's Achilles heel; we certainly didn't expect him to have one"

Elena's heart dropped to her stomach at the mention of Damon, she threw a quick worried glance in direction of Caroline before fixing her eyes back on Mikael again, surely Damon would be on his way now, he wouldn't let them harm her, she had to believe that.

"Well then you know what is coming from you"

Mikael threw his head back and released a boisterous laugh, the unsettling sound echoing in the empty walls "Oh no principessa, you should be more worried about the things that are coming your way" Wicked eyes roamed over the length of her body as he moved closer "Loverboy is already being taken care of"

Elena scrambled back until her back bumped into the headboard, her knees rising in front of her as a form of shield, she was half-aware of Caroline crying from across the room but she couldn't take a minute to spare a glance, her eyes were now fixed on Mikael who towered over her.

His breath was of stale beer and cigarettes, sweat marred his brow and upper lip, the suit he was wearing while expensive-looking was crumpled and dirty, the man possessed none of the elegant exquisiteness his children had.

His face went to her neck, his lips touching her skin and making her stomach churn "How sweet your fear smells, I can't wait to have you. Your father has been promising me you for a long time; I know I'll have a great deal fun once I collect my prize" One of his hands grabbed her right breast, squeezing it through the thin silk material of her pajama top, fingers pinching her nipple and making her want to gag in response. With a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins Elena bit into his ear, her teeth clamping on the skin until she felt the tangy taste of blood on her tongue.

Mikael pulled away from her body with an angry growl, his hand going to his bleeding ear at the same time Elena spit the blood in her mouth at him.

The man's eyes turned murderous seconds before he closed his fist and hit her right on the nose, Elena felt the world tumbling out of focus as another punch caught her on the cheek this time. Caroline's cries became louder; Elena felt the blood dripping from her nose and tried to keep her focus on the man standing near her.

"Keep them coming, I like them feisty" He snarled at her before taking his attention to the crying blonde girl "You want to keep yourself quiet blondie unless you want one of your own"

Elena stared up at him, the metallic taste of her blood coating her lips "I'll enjoy seeing you die"

The manic smirk was back on his face as he stared at her, his body started going for her again when the sound of heavy footsteps reached them. He straightened his back and winked playfully in her direction before addressing Caroline as well "While talking with your ladies has been the epitome of my day, it seems my shift is over"

His form moved towards the door and Elena felt something easing inside her, she didn't realize she was shaking until the sound of rattling metal caught her attention and she noticed it was her binds against the headboard bars.

Elena heard hushed conversation outside the door where Mikael had disappeared moments earlier before it burst open again and a man she knew her whole life walked inside.

His entire demeanor was relaxed, he was wearing a dark blue suit and had his hair styled as if he was going to a party. Elena felt some kind of hope flaring inside her as she stared up at the man who had bought her first dollhouse.

As if somehow he sensed the blur of emotions swirling inside her, he took his attention to her, a warm smile on his lips as he approached her "Hello sweetheart, I must admit it's great seeing you after so long"

"Daddy…"

"The the same" He shook his head as he took in her appearance, his hand pulling out a handkerchief from inside his coat and leaning towards her so he could gently clean the blood that stained her face "Ugh this is such a mess, I might have to remind him to keep his temper in check, luckily it won't leave any scar"

Elena closed her eyes and started crying, hating herself for breaking down like this "Why are you doing this?"

He released a disappointed sigh as he sat down on the dirty looking mattress, his hands twisting the now soiled handkerchief "Well, you choosing the wrong side certainly didn't help, my dear" He said "What did you expect me to do? You disrespected me greatly when you choose to roll around Damon Salvatore's sheets instead of remaining loyal to your family"

Elena felt nausea building up in her throat "The Salvatore are my family"

His eyes became hard as he stared at her, the sweet caring man from her childhood disappearing completely "No Elena, they are not. The greatest mistake of my life was marrying into that bloody family" He admitted before releasing a pensive sigh and moving his eyes away from her, placing them somewhere in the opposite wall "It all seemed perfect at the beginning you know, Isabella was a goddess in bed, she did things to me your mother couldn't even imagine"

"…Please stop"

"She was so passionate, and I must admit the thrill of fucking her in the bed she slept with her husband was tremendous but the thrill of getting my hands in the Colombian cartel was even better"

Elena balled her hands into fists, she felt physically ill at the proximity she had with the man in front of her, the scrapes of hope that had flared inside her minutes earlier died down as the words left his mouth, anger, and disgust growing inside her like a poisonous vine.

He gave her a cruel smirk, cold eyes staring back at her as he leaned closer to her as if wanting to tell her a secret "Your mother took too long to die if you ask me, but it needed to be like that to remain clear of any suspicion, she was a well-beloved woman in New York society"

"No, no stop" A sob broke out of Elena's throat; she closed her eyes in an attempt to erase the cruelness of his stare. She pictured her mother, beautiful and elegant, her soft voice singing her to sleep and her gentle hands braiding her hair in the mornings and felt something tearing up inside her, a hole so wide she feared it could never be filled.

"The poison was slow and so very painful, but sacrifices had to be made" He continued, ignoring for complete the pain he was putting her in "It was the perfect plan, but I didn't count of the dark nature of that boy, I foolishly believed I could manipulate him to my bidding. His father was a spineless twat, what else could be expected from him? But I was wrong, that damned boy came out as his grandfather" His entire expression changed as he spoke about Damon, anger overwhelming his features "He ruined things for me for so long, but not anymore. I've been too patient, waiting for the right time to finally take him down with me and it seems like luck has finally smiled up at me"

Tear stained eyes bore down on him "You're a monster"

He chuckled in response before standing up "We're all monsters when it comes down to it Elena, you should have learned that by now" His words were accompanied by a pitiful look "The world is a cruel dark place and only the toughest can survive"

Elena bit her lip to contain the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes. How could she had been so fool as to believe there was even a fraction of kindness in this man? How could she and everyone else be so blind to his cruelness? Her heart broke when she thought about her poor mother, murdered by the man who had promised to love her and protect her.

"I hate you" The cold and hollow words slipped out of her mouth without her realizing it.

John crooked his head to the side, a gleeful yet thoughtful look present on his face as he stared down at her "Oh sweet child, we could have done great things together you and me" His fingers went to caress the tangled locks of her hair, his touch alien and unwanted to her "You could have been the queen of this empire but you settled yourself with being just a common Principessa" He leaned down and pressed his lips into her forehead in a forceful kiss before straightening up and throwing at her the handkerchief stained with her blood "You may excuse me please, it seems I have some pressing affairs to deal with but I'll leave you in very capable hands"

Without another word or spare glance in her direction, he turned around and disappeared behind the door once again. Elena wanted nothing more than break down in tears right there, to curl into herself and allow the pitiful sobs that were building inside her to be released, to remain there completely inert until Damon came to save day but she knew she couldn't, because breaking down was not an option, it was not what Damon had thought her.

Instead of that she inhaled deeply and searched with her eyes for her blonde friend "Caroline… are you all right? Have they hurt you?"

The other girl sniffled as she returned her look "Elena… I'm scared" Her voice was small and fearful and Elena cursed at Stefan for dragging the poor innocent girl into such a soiled piece of the world.

Despite the distance, Elena was able to spot the red tender skin around the blonde's wrists and ankles were the rope was cutting into her skin "Don't worry Caroline; it's all going to be okay"

"You promise?"

"I promise"

The sound of a sinister bout of laughter startled them both, their gazes moving to the door from where Mikael had slipped inside without them noticing it, Elena was aware of the distant sound of a car speeding out but nothing more, not even the wind dared to make noise that night.

Mikael gave Caroline an amused glance "I know your mom, some serious shit that woman. You must be such an embarrassment" He told her as he moved closer to her, his hand rising upwards to tangle on her blonde locks "Cowering like a beaten puppy, your fear must be delicious too" He leaned down to breath her in and the girl started crying louder "Such a tasty treat"

Elena's mouth opened to shout at him to leave her alone and damned be the consequences but before she could speak the sound of a door banging and heavy stomping feet reverberated in the enclosed space.

"I've always been surprised by how creepy the words coming out of your mouth can sound" Elena's eyes snapped in direction of the voice and she found herself staring at the man people in their world called The Arctic Wolf "I can't say I had missed the sound"

Mikael straightened up, Caroline long forgotten behind him "Son, long time no see" He said casually as his hands went behind his shirt trying to find the gun he probably had stashed in there, only that from Elena's point of view she could not see any gun hidden behind him.

"Not long enough is you ask me," Nikklaus said nonchalantly as he walked further into the room, he threw a conspiring wink in her direction before taking his attention to his father.

Mikael released a shallow laugh as his trembling hands continued searching for a gun that wasn't there "I must say I never thought I'd see you as the Salvatore's lapdog"

Nikklaus moved closer to his father, the corners of his lips tipping up in a satisfied smirk "Don't even try it old man, I am not the same boy you could taunt with your games" He said at the same time he took one of his hands behind his back "It might have taken my too long but I've learned to reign on my impulses" He started circling his father, the other man remained still as his son taunted him. "Didn't you always say they were the one thing that stopped me from being great?" Elena was enraptured by Nikklaus, by the grace in the movements she was sure would prove to be lethal.

"Should I congratulate you?" The words that slipped out his mouth were meant to taunt, his stance nonchalant as he observed his son moving around him but Elena knew better, she saw the slight way his hands trembled and the sweat that accumulated over his upper lip.

He was a cornered animal and he was aware the hunter was meant to strike at any minute.

The younger man released a deep breath, mischief dancing his eyes as he finally stopped walking "No, no. There's only one thing I want from you" He said as he stood a few centimeters away from his father "And that is revenge"

With the skill only a trained killer possessed Nikklaus dug out a thin silver knife from the back of his pants and jabbed it straight into his father's right eye socket.

"You son of a bitch!" Mikael's painful cries mixed with Caroline's scared ones as he doubled over the floor, blood dripping from his face in a gruesome spectacle, Elena was ashamed to admit she found the image exhilarating.

Klaus chuckled darkly before kneeling and grabbing the man by the hair "I think you might have that right, you little bitch" He sneered at the same time he performed almost perfect cuts to the back of the man's knees, the sharp edge cutting through fabric and skin "Tell me, Mikael, do you think you'll die today?" The only response he got was pitiful cries so he smashed his father's face into the dusty wooden floor "Answer me!"

"Yes!"

"Wrong!" He shouted as he leaned into him, Elena felt herself cowering into her spot, the mad rage burning inside Nikklaus eyes was making her feel cold and afraid "You do not get the courtesy of dying today you little piece of shit" He sneered into his father's face as the other man covered his bleeding eye socket with his both hands, the bravado he had showcased in her presence long gone, leaving nothing behind but a pitiful and destroyed man "You'll be alive for a very very long time. You know why?"

Elena saw Mikael's face crumpling in fear and for a fraction of a second felt sorry for the man, if she had learned something over her years growing up with one of the most feared mafia men was that dying quickly was the best you could hope for.

Nikklaus stood up and cleaned his hands against the fabric of his pants, barely contained rage burned behind his clear blue eyes as he towered over the pitiful man on the floor "Because each day you're in my hands I am going to make you live ten times the pain you put my sister through" His right feet went to rest over the other man's stomach "Your daughter, who you tortured and raped and sodomized with your little elite group" He pressed down so heard Elena was sure she heard something crack. "When I am done with you, you're going to wish you were dead and you are going to cry and beg for forgiveness for what you did to your flesh and blood"

Elena stared in horror at the man lying on the floor as she absorbed the words slipping of Nikklaus mouth and what Damon had once told her about the urban legend that was Rebekah Mikaelson, she felt nauseous, repulsed by the mere sight of the perpetrator of so many vile crimes.

Would she have run the same fate as the Mikaelson girl if Damon hadn't entered her life? Was John Gilbert the same kind of monster as Mikael or his depravity didn't reach that far?

Elena watched in horror as Nikklaus pulled out a syringe similar to the one Damon had used on her, the skin of her neck prickling at the sight of it "I am going to eat you up and spit you out and do it all over again every single day. Does it scare you, Mikael? Does it?"

"Yes!"

"Good" The smirk he had on his face as he leaned over him and pierced the skin of his neck with the needle was sinister, Elena was sure that neither she or Caroline would ever forget the sight of it, she thought briefly that it was sure how the devil looked like.

The drug took his effect quickly and Nikklaus proceeded to tear away Mikael's shirt, scrapes of fabric were tied around his knees for preventing the man to bleed out.

Both Elena and Caroline looked at him fixedly, the later one in a state of shock as the tears fell silently down her cheeks now. Nikklaus felt them staring at him and gave Elena an almost sheepish glance "What? I'm not going to let him bleed out, after all, I promised him"

Elena almost laughed at his response but figured it probably wasn't the right time plus now that the imminent danger was over she could feel the throbbing pain in her face where Mikael had hit her.

As if reading her mind somehow, Nikklaus got closer to her, wincing when he noticed the state her face was in "Fuck, Damon is going to want my head for this, you weren't supposed to be harmed"

Elena tried to give him a small smile "I'll put on a word for you"

"You do that"

The sound of screeching tires made their attention snap towards the window at the far end of the room, Elena felt her heart speeding up as the distant sound of police sirens reached her.

Frantic fearful eyes turned to look at Nikklaus who only gave her a crooked smile and a careless shrug "Well shit, it seems like we might have run out of time"