A/N: I'm going away tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday. I won't have my laptop so I won't be able to update but I'll take a notebook so I can try and get a chapter ready to type up when I come back. I hope you like this one in the meantime!

The next few days passed peacefully enough. However that peace was shattered one evening. We were in the dining room, having dinner when the door opened sharply. I looked up and felt my heart drop into the pit of my stomach. Lucien was back. Yay…

"Lucien." Tristan didn't seem surprised by his appearance. I narrowed my eyes, watching them.

"Tristan. Elena."

"Lucien…"

He sat down in a seat with an aggravated huff.

"What's got you so down?"

"Your witches have a twisted sense of humour," muttered Lucien darkly, glaring into space.

"Were they unable to help you?"

"Oh they helped me. They told me that what I wanted is in New Orleans."

"Oh, really?" Tristan asked. "Well that's…"

"Impossible. Because I can't go back to New Orleans. I will be murdered."

"Well that happens when you kidnap their monarch…" I murmured under my breath. Lucien glared at me before focusing back on Tristan.

"They didn't even tell me what I was looking for. Almost a month and they just said that my answers were in New Orleans. What a waste of my time."

"When are you leaving?" Tristan asked. Lucien didn't respond, just glared at him. I rolled my eyes and looked over at Tristan, trying to communicate with him without speaking. What was he doing? I knew that he had to have planned this and while I wanted to go back to New Orleans, now more than ever, I didn't want Lucien anywhere near New Orleans or those rings. He gave me a slight smile and his hand found mine under the table, brushing his fingers against mine. He ran his finger over the back of my hand, spelling out letters.

T-R-U-S-T.

I bit my lip and nodded my head ever so slightly, enough for him to see but not enough that Lucien would notice.

"I guess you have a decision to make," I said to Lucien. "How much do you want your tiny army of monstrous vampire kids? Or rather… how afraid of Klaus and the others are you?"

"There's got to be another way…"

"If there was, my sisters would have found it," Tristan said, smugly. "Maybe you should give up, send Elena home and beg for forgiveness. Maybe then you'll get a quick death."

"Not if I have anything to do with it…"

"Elena, there's no need for that," Tristan said. I pouted and got up.

"I'm going upstairs. I promise the girls I'd read to them before they go to bed."

I left the room and headed upstairs. I didn't head to my room or the girls, instead I went to Tristan's room and perched on his bed. It only took a few minutes before he came in. He smiled and locked the door to ensure Lucien wouldn't walk in.

"I presume you have a plan?"

"I do."

"I don't want Lucien getting his hand on that item."

"I know, he won't. I instructed the sisters not to give details, just to direct him to the city."

"And do you have a plan past that? If he agrees, he'll just lock me inside, put the girls somewhere else and I won't get a chance to get away."

"I'll come with you."

"That will look really suspicious."

"I'll come up with an excuse. And I'll have my witches fashion items for the girls so that I can locate them should Lucien attempt to separate you. Will that work?"

I nodded slowly.

"I think so. But I still don't think he'll go for it."

"What do I say Elena?" he asked, touching my cheek.

"Trust you. And I do."

"Good." He kissed me lightly. "Now run along. I've got things to arrange."

I nodded and left the room. I went quickly to the girls' room and sat down with them, hoping that Lucien wouldn't have noticed my absence. He was probably still downstairs sulking that things weren't going his way. I settled down to read. After a few minutes, I heard the sound of footsteps on the hallway. I realized that I'd become especially attuned to pick up Lucien's presence nearby and even with his absence, it hadn't dulled.

Three… two… one…

The door opened and Lucien came in. He slumped against the doorframe, watching us. I glanced over at him.

"Can I help?"

"No. I just haven't seen my beautiful wife in almost a month and I missed you."

"Please… not now…." I said softly. "Not in front of the girls."

"Five minutes."

He stalked out. I sighed and finished my story, tucking the girls into bed. I left the room slowly, my feet dragging. I felt nausea build inside of me with every step I took. I knew that I couldn't avoid him forever but the peace I'd enjoyed had allowed me a brief period of hope. Now the realities of my life were coming back into a harsh focus.

I let myself back into the room we'd shared. He was on the bed, reclined with an arm behind his head. Seeing him, I took several slow breaths, trying to switch off my emotions as best I could. I had to make myself numb to all of this. It was the only way I'd get through it.

He eyed me with a predatory hunger, slowly getting to his feet and stalking towards me.

"Oh baby I have missed you."

He grabbed hold of me and pulled me tight against him, our bodies flush with one another. His fingers brushed my cheek almost tenderly and he gave me a bruising kiss. He pulled back sharply and circled around me, coming to a stop behind me. He pushed me forward so I stumbled and landed on the bed. He clambered on top of me, straddling me and pressed my face into the mattress. One hand gripped my waist, fingers digging into my soft flesh, the other pulled at my hair. He pressed himself against me, his fangs resting on the curve of my throat. I closed my eyes, trying to block it all out. The hand on my waist trailed up my back before gripping the top of my dress and pulling sharply. The fabric ripped and I was left exposed. He wrenched off my underwear and I heard the clink of his own belt, the sound of his zip. I tensed and a second later I felt it, the pain, the blood dripping down my thighs. Tears ran down my cheek and I dug my fingers into the mattress. I opened my eyes, staring at the wall as the headboard thudded with each of Lucien's movements.

After, when Lucien had fallen asleep, I wriggled free of his grip. I pulled on a dressing gown and left the room silently, heading down the corridor to Tristan's. I wasn't sure why, I felt like I was moving without full control of my body.

I knocked lightly and I heard the rustle of movement from behind the door. It opened a little and Tristan peered out.

"Elena…? Oh god what has he done to you…?"

Seeing him, I couldn't keep the tears at bay. They broke free and I began to sob. He opened the door fully and wrapped his arms around me, drawing me into his room. He guided me to his bed and tucked the covers around me. I rested my head on his chest, closing my eyes. His presence was comforting and although every part of me still hurt, having him there made it a little easier to deal with.

We lay together and although I didn't plan on staying, as much as I wanted to, we both dozed off. I was restless, my sleep intermittent and haunted by dark figures. When a loud crash came from downstairs, I bolted upright instantly.

"Tristan…" I shook him. "Something's wrong."

He stirred and opened his eyes, sitting up slowly. He cocked his head, listening intently. I heard more crashing, bangs and the sound of glass breaking. Tristan got to his feet and crept towards the door. I followed a foot behind, wary of what might be on the other side. He tore it open. The halls were a buzz with life, men and women with mismatch of weaponry. They were destroying everything with a single minded determination. Someone had started a fire on the lower floor and it was already spreading to the curtains and carpets. Tristan grabbed my arm and immediately made for the stairs, pulling me behind him before I had a chance to react. I heard a faint scream from somewhere in the din and I pulled back sharply.

"No! The girls!"

"They'll be fine, but you have to get out!"

"I'm not leaving them behind!"

I pulled away from him and raced back up the corridor to their room. Smoke was beginning to fill the hall, thick and black, making it nearly impossible to see anything. I darted between the raiders who paid me no mind, too focused on their destruction. I thought I heard Tristan yell my name but the sound was lost to the chaos around us.

I reached the girls room and let myself in. The girls were curled up in the corner of the room, clutching one another in terror.

"It's okay, I'm here."

I went over to them and knelt down.

"I need you two to be very brave. Hold my hand and don't let go, no matter what. Do you understand?"

They nodded. I took their hands and led them to the door. I paused, steeling my nerves for what we were about to face.

"Ready?"

They nodded. I opened the door, made sure I had firm grip of them both and hurried down the corridor to the stairs. The destruction had got worse. The fire was spreading uncontrollably. Bodies were dotted around. Some were members of Tristan's staff, some were the raiders who I assumed had been trampled in the fray.

We neared the stairs and a large man with an axe stepped into view. He lunged for us, narrowly missing. His eyes were wild and crazy, with a glassy quality to them. He took another swipe. Blair released my hand to avoid his swing and he turned on her, as though attracted by the movement. He took a step forward. My mind was panicking as I tried to think what to do. Before I could act, Lilah released my hand as well. Her eyes turned a vibrant gold, her arms flew up in front of her, fingers splayed. The man let out a yell and tumbled backwards down the stairs, landing with a sickening crunch at the bottom. I stared, momentarily frozen by the act. He wasn't moving. I looked down at my little girl who was staring in terror and I swept her up in my arms, guiding her forward. I grabbed Blair and we ran down the stairs, avoiding the body at the bottom. Above our heads a beam cracked. Splintered chunks of burning wood were falling around us, crashing to the ground. I swerved to dodge them, holding the girls close to me. Broken glass was scattered across the floor and it cut into my bare feet as I moved. A large chunk fell in front of us, blocking the door and hemming us in. Fire surrounded us on three sides, the wall on another. I couldn't think in the heat. The sounds of screaming as those still trapped in the house burned, the scent of blood and smoke, the feeling of terror, it was overwhelming me.

I looked down at my girls, who were clinging to me. They were terrified. I knelt down and touched their faces, streaked with ash.

"Close your eyes, don't let go." I tugged a curtain that had avoided the damage so far down from the pole, scooped them both into my arms and wrapped it around them tight. They buried their faces against my chest. I steeled my nerves once more, facing the flames which were growing. I could see the door, or what remained of it. It had been knocked down and I could see the night sky outside, the promise of fresh air and freedom. I clutched my girls tighter, took as deep a breath as I could manage in the smoke filled air, before darting through the flames. I bit into my lip, holding in a scream as the flames licked at my flesh. I couldn't stop. I had to get them to safety.

I kept running until I felt the sting of cold air on my damaged skin and then kept going, wanting as much distance between my twins and the fire. My feet, slick with blood, caught on the uneven ground and I tumbled down onto the grass, holding the girls in my arms. I lay there, dazed for a moment, staring up at the stars, unable to believe I had really made it out.

I heard footsteps on the grass and I looked up to see Tristan with Lucien and Aurora a few feet behind.

"Wh… what happened?" I asked.

"They were compelled," Tristan said. He looked over at Lucien. "I'm guessing Elijah did this. I don't know about you, Lucien, but I'm going to New Orleans."

"Well… we don't really have much choice. Do you have a way to get us there?" Lucien asked.

"My phone was in my pocket. Aya's on her way," Tristan said.

He knelt down and bit his wrist, offering me his blood. I accepted it willingly, feeling my burned skin healing rapidly. He helped me to my feet and took Blair from my arms. The six of us stood on the grass, clustered together as the house burned behind us.