She was running through the woods, skipping over the fallen branches and the undergrowth. She wished she was wearing shoes, when she tripped and fell, the harsh ground cutting into her wrists. She got up to run, but found herself rooted to the spot.

Over her shoulder, she saw him. The creature looking at her through yellow eyes as it held on to her jeans. He tugged it, and she instinctively knew she had to flip over, and so she did.

She didn't want to anger the creature.

But even then she knew it wasn't just some creature of the woods.

"Klaus."

He smirked at her, even in his wolf form, she could tell it was him. She tried to slide back, but his eyes remained fixed on her.

Before she knew it, he was close to her, his face in hers, as he transformed back, and she was now staring into blue eyes.

"Hello love." He slid hand over her face, and she leaned into his palm, causing him to let out a low chuckle.

She felt something settle in her stomach as he did.

He smirked at her and leaned in, but he didn't go for her neck, he was advancing towards her lips and she was leaning towards him.


She woke up with a gasp to see Jenna in her room. She was drenched in sweat and she was sure there was wetness between her thighs.

"Hey, I didn't think you'd be up so early, it's Saturday."

"Yeah, just, weird dream."

"Are you okay?" She hated the concern with which her aunt looked at her.

"Yeah, fine. Listen, is anyone home?"

"No, why?"

"I need to talk to you." She told her plainly.

"Sure, let's talk over breakfast." She nodded and waited till her aunt was gone to use the bathroom.

She couldn't believe what she had dreamt, what she was doing in the dream.

She was going to kiss Klaus.

She shook her head, sure that it was just a dream that didn't mean much.

She finished showering quickly, purposely ignoring that feeling between her thighs, and dressed in her regular clothes, before joining her aunt for breakfast.

It was over coffee that the topic was broached.

"So you wanted to talk?" Jenna asked her.

"Yeah. What was going on last night?" She asked with a sigh.

"What do you mean?" Her aunt was munching on a toast, as if she didn't know what Elena was talking about, but it was an act.

"Before I came home. You, Alaric, Bonnie and Damon talking about something. It isn't as if you all are friends." She said just as casually, neither fooling the other.

"It was nothing. We just wanted to have dinner with you."

"Bonnie left before it was served."

"Things are awkward between her and Jeremy."

"I don't believe you. Something was going on and Jenna, you need to tell me please."

"Elena-"

"Listen, I know you're new to all the supernatural. But whatever plan Damon is making, it isn't going to work. There is no way to kill Klaus." There was a minuscule part of her that knew it wasn't an absolute, but she didn't want to focus on that, for some reason.

"But there has to be."

"Jenna, he is an immortal original hybrid. He's the strongest vampire in history." She told her. "Damon is a hundred and eighty year old vampire. The older you are, the stronger you get. And even if you count Stefan and Damon together, Klaus still has seven hundred years on them." She wanted to beg her, to not get involved with whatever they were planning.

"Yeah but Klaus-"

"Klaus wants my blood to make hybrids. His first objective is to keep me alive. No matter what. And he is the most dangerous thing out there. All he wants is my blood every few months. For me to get married to a human someday and have kids. That's it." As she was talking, she realised it was the truth, at least partially.

"But, Damon said-"

"Damon is worried that Klaus will take me away from hi-from home. But Klaus can be reasoned with."

"Can he?" Jenna asked, genuinely.

"I think so. Look, he doesn't have anything against me right now. He just wants his family back."

"He's hoarding them Elena, in coffins."

"I know, but what can I do about it?" She asked her aunt genuinely.

"He wants to use you as a human blood bag. I don't like Damon but-"

"Damon would've used me the same way if I didn't look like Katherine." She said suddenly, shocking even herself at the vitriol in her voice. "Just like he used Caroline and Andie. So Damon isn't exactly the moral high ground here."

She didn't know where that outburst had come from and judging from the look on Jenna's face, she didn't either.

"Did something happen between you and Damon?"

"No, I just, I wish someone would listen to me."

"Why? What happened?"

"Look, I -"

"Elena, please. You promised me, no more secrets."

"I made a deal with Klaus."

"What? What kind of a deal?"

She wanted to tell Jenna the truth, but if she didn't, she was sure her aunt would tell Damon, and then Bonnie would be placing a boundary spell on the house again.

"I give him my blood willingly, whenever he wants, and in exchange, he will leave you guys alone. By that I mean you, Jer, Ric and Matt. These were the only people I could get him to agree to." She said, still miffed she couldn't add more of her non-Salvatore friends on the list.

"Elena..."

"Look, I know it's not ideal. That it's crazy even. But Klaus can kidnap me anytime he wants, and if I'm still here, it means that isn't what he wants."

"But the coffins.."

"You don't think he'll paint the town red if he doesn't get them? Jenna, when Katherine ran away from, so that he couldn't break his curse, he slaughtered her entire village. And then he propped up the remains of her family on the walls for her to see." She said softly as Jenna pushed her breakfast away.

"I did not know that."

"So, if you know where the coffins are, I have leverage. I can go to him, make another deal with him." She said imploring her aunt. "Please tell me where they are."

"Elena, I-I don't know okay. But if I find out and I tell you, he won't do that will he?"

"No, I don't think so."


Later that afternoon, she was sitting at the Grill, doing homework, when Stefan slid in the seat across from her.

"You made a deal with Klaus."

She sighed, putting her pen down.

"Yeah."

"Are you crazy?" And that was Damon.

"No, I am not."

"What did you do this time Elena?" Stefan again.

"What is this? Good cop bad cop?"

"Yeah, Elena, what the hell were you thinking? And did you really think Jenna wouldn't slip." So much for that.

"Are you working with him now? The man who killed you?" Stefan asked, the disgust evident in his voice.

"Of course not."

"Then why are you looking for the coffins?" He asked angrily, leaning forward.

"I want to make a deal with him, alright?"

"What, like your deal with Elijah?"

"That was a mistake. Not to mention, Damon would be dead if not for that."

"Good to know that. Now I know it, your mind has warped, completely."

"Stefan." Damon warned.

"You know what he made me do Elena."

"Oh, so he was the one who made you want to drive me off Wickery Bridge?" She knew it was a cheap shot, but she couldn't stand the way he was talking to her.

"You know I had to do that."

"My parents died there Stefan."

"And I'm tired of listening to your complaints Elena. The constant self absorption."

"I'm self absorbed? You're painting targets on our backs with what you've done."

"At least I'm not fraternising with the enemy."

"I am just trying to keep you all safe."

"Right, because you're plans are so good."

"None of this would've happened if you had just let me die."

"There you are again, always the martyr."

"But you intervene in all my plans, and people die."

"Because they're stupid plans Elena." Damon cut in.

"I want to make my own choices Damon."

"You know what this is Elena? An intervention. Not the women's liberation movement."

"I just want-"

"I want you safe."

"And I want my family safe." She pointed a finger at Stefan, "You took his coffins, so he threatened Jeremy. I had to get us out of that mess. Then he went after Caroline, I had to get us out of that too. Who's next? Jenna? Or maybe Matt. Or Bonnie. But no, it's always about saving me or revenge. Has it occurred to you that I can't have any more deaths on my conscience?"

"Elena-" Damon tried to intervene.

"No, you never consider my opinions." She said, holding back tears now. "You fed me your blood when I didn't want to, you kissed me when I didn't want to. So what's next, huh, Damon? Are you gonna compel me like you did to Caroline and Andie?"

"How dare you accuse me of that?"

"Because I have a mountain of evidence."

"Wow, Elena. I didn't see you caring about those things when I was protecting you. What? Couldn't afford to lose me then? Needed me to keep you safe, only to throw me aside, now that someone more powerful is handing out protection like candy. He's just doing it to fatten you up."

"The Hansel and Gretel thing doesn't work if he's already sacrificed me. And I did what I could to protect you too." Tears were streaming down her face now.

"Truth is that you just want us both, like Katherine." She was shaking with anger as she stuffed her books in her bag, and got up. She made to move past him and realised that he was holding on to her.

"Damon, let go."

"No, this conversation isn't over."

"Pretty sure it is." Stefan said.

"Damon you're hurting me," she said as he increased the pressure on her wrist.

"Not until we're done talking."

"Damon." She tried to wrestle her wrist out until someone was yanking Damon's hand off her. She cradled her wrist as she watched the new person. He was at least six feet tall with blue grey eyes, and obviously a vampire.

"Who the hell are you?" Damon asked the new comer.

"Derek."

"You're a hybrid." Stefan stated. Still part vampire.

"Yeah, and you're not supposed to hurt her." Derek said jerking a thumb in her direction.

"Right, you can be Klaus' bitch elsewhere- Ahh." The hybrid was contorting Damon's hands and Elena grimaced.

"Stop, please. I'm sure he didn't mean it." Derek let go of Damon and turned to her.

"You can leave if you like." She looked around her, and realised most of the Grill was starring in their direction. She nodded her thanks and left unable to keep the tears from flowing anymore.

She got in her car and started driving, despite her sore wrist. Damon had said she was using them, but she told him many times that she didn't feel the same way about him.

He had still kissed her.

She should've seen it coming, but he had been so supportive of her since Stefan had left, she didn't see it coming. He'd been a good friend, so she hadn't expected him to kiss her.

At the time she had been rooted to the spot, as he'd kissed her, but later, she realised there was a small part of her he had taken. She was the girl who kissed her ex boyfriend's brother. And with them it was just so much more complicated.

She wiped the tears clouding her vision, letting out a moan of pain when she jostled her wrist and continued driving aimlessly.

Or so she thought.

Somehow, she ended up in this driveway.

Of all the places and of all the people.

She was about to turn around when the front door opened.

She got out of the car and walked towards the door.

"Klaus..." she trailed off, voice still trembling, wondering what she was even doing there when he opened the door wider, letting her in.