A/N

I simply couldn't wait to update this story! So I hope you guys enjoy this earlier than expected chapter.

The Masquerade

"So what is this ball about anyways? I mean, aside from the obvious, of course." Elena watches her slim figure in the mirror, biting her tongue as she looks from her current lush green dress to the ruffle coated blue gown that lay on the bed. Rachel had taken it upon her herself to pick out Elena's dresses. Not that she was complaining, but she preferred something simple, not extravagant.

Rachel laughs as she continues pulling Elena's silky brown hair into a stylish up do. "The ball is held annually, when the southern troops return home from the war. The soldiers all wear masks and pick a woman of their choice to dance with. At the end of the night they are to take their masks off and show their true faces. Normally it is a huge ordeal. Especially when a lovely lady doesn't know she was dancing with her true love all night."

To Elena, the entire night seemed magical. Being swept off your feet by a loyal soldier that may or may not be your everlasting love. However, she couldn't help but worry that she will be chosen to dance with. Will she get the chance to dance with Stefan at all?

As she finishes pinning up her hair, Rachel turns her attention to getting Elena out of her dress. The whole sequence of getting a woman ready was normally done by the maid or the lady's closest friend. And because Elena had no friends and no maid, Rachel had taken it upon herself to make sure she looked beautiful.

"Mother washed your... undergarments. You know, those skimpy clothes you were wearing in the woods." She said in a rather monotone voice, as if she did not care much about the topic.

Elena laughed softly, the corners of her delicate lips turning up into a wide smile. "They are my pajamas. Not undergarments."

Her friend joins her in laughter, having to stop stripping the dress off of Elena in order to catch her breath. Elena didn't understand why women constantly wore dresses in this time period, but to be quite honest, she was enjoying it. Aside from the all too constricting corset, of course.

"If those are your pajamas," the blonde Victorian begins after she has finally gained her voice back, "then you must have gotten yourself in a lot of trouble where you came from. Guinevere and I must wear night gowns. That is just how women are supposed to dress for bed."

With a a fading smile, Elena shakes her head whilst trying not to mess up her hairstyle. "The women where I come from don't wear dresses all the time. We could wear whatever we want."

The two exchange glances as the dainty brunette steps out of her hoop skirt, holding onto the sides of the mirror to steady herself. All in all, she was glad to be rid of that thing. It was just as heavy as the dress itself, and she felt rather exposed in it for some reason.

Without another word said, the two prepare for the ball, each of the biting their tongues and second guessing themselves.

The Draut carriage pulls up to the Salvatore mansion at the start of dusk, carting Jacob, Rachel, and Elena along with it. Jacob, dressed in a formal black suit and top hat climbed out first, greeting the other attenders and shaking hands with the officials.

Rachel was assisted out next, her beautiful lavender gown flowing the ground, where it's lush pink trimming brushed the dusty roads. Her escort, a gentlemen of perhaps twenty, locked arms with the woman that adorned lovely curls of sunshine gold. They stood opposite the carriage as they await Rachel's new friend.

A beautiful brunette emerged from the doorway, her angelic features reflecting the look of innocence in every way. Her figure was fitted perfectly into a simple blue gown with a thin bodice and a skirt that radiates from the hips and hides the feet that were resting in powder blue slippers. Elena's hair was tied in a fashionable up-do and lightly curled on the ends, a black flower laid on the side of the style, tying the entire look together.

And of course, her escort was waiting right outside the carriage, his hair slicked back and of course wearing his best suit. Stefan's piercing emerald hues lighting up as he catches a glimpse of the girl he had only just met a few hours ago. And to think she couldn't get any more beautiful.

"Good evening, Mistress Elena." Stefan holds his hand out to Elena, a bright smile spread wide across his chiseled features. "May I say that you look absolutely stunning."

Elena's cheeks redden as she slips her hand into Stefan's. "Yes, you may. Thank you very much, Stefan."

The two walked after Rachel and her escort, John, too lost in the other's intent gaze to think of another word to say. For Elena, it was as if she was meeting him for the first time. At total loss for words. Or anything for that matter. Her heart was beating like a hummingbird trying to keep itself aloft.

As they enter the mansion, Elena observes the company she plans to keep tonight. Some faces were familiar, like the people she had talked to earlier that day, or important people she read about in history books. There was a decent amount of classical musicians playing in the far corner of the parlor; pianists, harpists, violists, and more. The décor looked to be right out of Elena's dreams, like in a castle almost. And just as Rachel had told her, scattered around the room were men in masks, making pleasant conversation with their neighbors and friends.

It didn't take long before Elena completely lost sight of her friend, knowing she must have gone to dance or to socialize with the people she had grown up with. Aside from Stefan, however, Elena knew no one. So she carefully smoothed out her dress and looked up at her handsome escort with an expecting smile. If she was going to be at a ball, she was going to dance.

"Mr. Salvatore, are you going to ask me to dance or am I going to have to wait all night?" Elena says smoothly, her chocolate brown eyes tracing every inch of Stefan's features. He had never been one for dancing, but who said that is how he was in 1864?

Stefan emits a soft chuckle, taking Elena's hand and guiding her into the grand ballroom, where many were already dancing. She takes in the atmosphere, feeling the intensity of the couples twirling elegantly around each other. Before long, she herself was in the arms of her clueless lover, following his lead rhythmically.

It was if they were one. Their hearts connected with no doubt that they were meant to be together. Elena's moussey brown eyes glide over Stefan's prominent features, over his cheekbones, jawline, and his soft lips. Oh, his lips were like honey, so gentle and sweet. If only she could feel that again. If only she could act like they weren't just meeting.

If only she was at home...

"Where is she?" The loud voice of a bodacious blonde rings through the Salvatore Boarding House, her arms being thrown in the air wildly.

Caroline and Bonnie had been searching the entire town for their dear friend, knowing that she had never just disappeared without telling anyone. Literally, anyone. Elena hadn't even told Stefan she was going. One minute she was at home and the next...

The two pace back and forth, contemplating the whereabouts of their best friend. They had tried everything. Bonnie even performed the location spell, but it told her that Elena was still there, in Mystic Falls. But her friend was no where to be seen. No one had seen her all day, and it was getting dark out.

Damon rolled his eyes, sitting down across from the frantic girls. "Will you guys stop? You're creating a draft."

A scoff emits from Caroline's throat, even mad she still sounded distressed. "Wow, real original, Damon."

The two stare each other down for a good five minutes, until Stefan walked between them with furrowed brows and tired eyes. Like everyone else, he had been searching all day, but unlike the others, he had been tearing the town apart. It didn't come as a shock to anyone, but it still felt weird to see him look that way.

Everyone in the room was under stress, causing a muck and accidentally translating their worry into hatred. The Bennett witch, vampire Barbie, and retired Ripper begin arguing with each other, throwing ideas into the pile and burning the ones they think to be impossible. And all the while, one lone immortal sits in an arm chair, casually drinking from a glass of amber liquid and watching his "friends" indifferently.

Bonnie backs out of the argument, suddenly defeated by the amount of tension between a few people. She reluctantly sits on the couch beside Damon, holding her head in her hands. "I would have thought you would be looking harder than Stefan..."

The dark haired vampire flits his icy blue hues over to the witch, shrugging lightly. "Tearing the town apart won't find her any faster than calming own and talking it through."

"I'm just getting a head start." He says simply, getting up and retreating to the kitchen. In all honesty, Damon was nearly destroying his brain trying to think of what had happened to Elena. She wouldn't just up and leave. It wasn't like her at all. And if she was taken, even the ones who took her would have told that they were. Nothing made sense.

Damon tried not to listen to the conversation between Caroline and Stefan which was currently dialing down a notch, instead jumping up and sitting on the counter like he used to do as a boy when he helped his mother in the kitchen. He would sit and watch her wash the dishes (She never let the servants come anywhere near them and risk breaking them).

He could remember those days, when he was only five or six, and loved his mother more than anything in the world...

"Damon, darling! What on earth are you doing in there you silly goose?" Mary Salvatore held her arms out to the little boy who sat in a somewhat empty cabinet. His curly black hair was speckled with dust as well as the shoulders of his nice Sunday vest, but his mother thought nothing of it.

The boy smiled brightly, crawling out of the cabinet and right into his mother's arms. "I was playing hide and seek with Stefan... did I win?"

Mary quickly looked around for her youngest son, laughing melodically when she sees he's no where to be found. She lifts Damon up onto the counter top and ruffles his hair playfully. "I think you did, you brilliant little thing."

The two laugh, poking fun with each other and messing around, and after a while Damon had convinced his rather prestigious mother to join him on the marble counter top. It wasn't as if she never did these things, but when in Sunday attire is what rested on her shoulders, she would not allow herself to get the tiniest bit dirty.

That idea didn't quite occur to her though, as she was preoccupied by the loud giggles of her eldest son as she peppered his ticklish spots with little kisses. Damon squirmed about in his mother's arms, his entire body slithering about in order to escape her firm grasp. He even made his own little game out of it. He called it 'Try To Escape Impending Death'. Let's just say the boy was a tad melodramatic.

When the game finally ended, they were lying on the floor in the parlor, where Mary had corralled Damon when he had finally broken free of her grip. His small, smooth hand was gathered into his mother's, and they just laid there, giggling quietly to themselves.

"I love you, mommy." Damon smiled brightly over to his dark haired mother, who radiated the same lovely view of pearl white teeth.

"And I love you, my brave soldier."

"It is an honor to be representing the troops that have just returned home. Although it is for a short while, we appreciate your love and prayers. That it was keeps us on our feet each and every day on the field. And we want to thank you for coming out tonight to celebrate our return." A southern soldier raises his glass to the audience of Mystic Falls, a genuine smile across his full lips.

Elena follows the lead of her friend, lifting her glass briefly to acknowledge the fact that he has spoken on behalf of his brethren. His brothers of war. She observes as all the men begin slowly backing off the dance floor, as do a few elder women. The only men who remain wear masks, hiding their face from the beautiful women around them.

The man who proposed a toast lifts his hand to gain the attention of all who have lost focus, the same wide smile still on his cheerful face. "Let us commemorate the gain of loved ones with the traditional masquerade waltz. Brothers, one by one, you may choose a woman from those who remain."

With a whisk of the hand, music was playing, and just as instructed, a soldier would walk up to any lady of their choice and ask her to dance. Elena ringed her fingers, hoping that she wouldn't be chosen. Because she didn't know any of the people in this town besides Stefan and the Draut family, Elena wasn't too thrilled about dancing with a legitimate stranger.

And suddenly, her mind exploded. A man, who knows who it was or what he looked like, was walking right for her. He wouldn't seem so bad if he didn't have a crippled hand and a slight limp. Not that Elena was discriminating against the poor man, he couldn't help it. But she was afraid that her forceful dancing would hurt him even further.

Just as he was a meter or so in front of her, a small tap was placed on Elena's shoulder. Oh, how horrible this will be. With slight hesitation, Elena picked up her dress and turned around to face her new partner for the evening. Why couldn't Stefan have been a soldier? She would have been able to pick him out a mile away. But instead of being met by warm green hues like she dreamed, Elena found herself staring into a pair of chillingly deep blue eyes that consumed her the moment she saw them.

The man had jet black hair with light curls on the ends, a strong jawline, and irresistibly warm hands. He had grabbed hers, lifting it till it was level with his chest, all the while the piercing sapphire orbs that were so elegantly hidden behind a black mask never leaving Elena's. "Hello, miss. Would you care to dance?"

It was a voice she could not mistake for anything. Thick and soft, with a raspy quality added to it as it rolls off the tongue. Normally so confident, it was hard to pin point at first. But there was no falsity about who Elena thought, knew, this was.

"I-... Damon?" Elena's voice translates to a soft whisper, not realizing it the slightest bit. "I mean... yes. Yes, I would love to dance."

Now confused, Damon guides Elena to a section of the room that offered more space to move. For a small while, he said nothing, either deep in thought or lost in Elena's chocolate brown eyes. He was not as confused as he was before, when Elena had first said his name, but it was hard to accept that she knew him when he had never seen her before in his lifetime. "How did you know what my name was?"

Elena's heart picked up a few beats, trying to come up with a logical reason to know who he was aside from the whole 'future' business. "Your brother, Stefan, showed me a picture. He told me about you when I came to visit this morning."

Nodding, Damon guides her through the waltz, seeing as how she didn't really understand the steps to it. "Well. I suppose since you already know my name, I should know yours."

"Elena." She smiles warmly, her eyes constantly locked on his. If she hadn't known any better, she would think that she was enjoying herself. And in all honesty, she was. But Elena wasn't ready to admit to herself having fun with Stefan's evil brother.

At the time, however, he didn't seem as horrible as he is later on in life.

A bright smile crossed Damon's features, his eyes lighting up at the smallest word. A name. Her name. Elena. The one that was certain to be his brother's before the night is through. But Damon wouldn't have that, not this time. Because just looking at her, the beauty that rests on her soft olive skin, he could feel his heart throb. Although he had only known this girl for a few minutes, he felt a weight being lifted off his chest, and he couldn't help but express it.

He stopped dancing and holds out his hand for Elena. "Would you like to go on a stroll through the gardens with me?"

Elena smiles, briefly glancing over her shoulder at Stefan, who was currently preoccupied with a man who seemed to be of high importance. So she gently laid her hand in Damon's, nodding to him. To be frank, Elena didn't know how to respond. Damon had never asked her things like this. He wasn't that romantic of a guy. But now Elena felt like romance is part of his personality. As a human, at least.

Man, he was so much warmer as a human. His eyes, his features, his smile... everything just so pleasantly warm and so wonderfully human. It wasn't that Elena didn't like Damon as a vampire. It was just that... he got a bit too moody.

The two of them spent maybe an hour just talking. Mainly about Elena, though, because Damon refused to answer questions about him before asking her his questions. Before the night was through, they knew everything there is to know about one another. Likes, dislikes, passions, hobbies. It was a never ending cycle of conversation.

If not for Damon's father beginning to send people off to their homes, they might have stayed out there for another two hours. And Elena was having a hard time believing how easy that was. He wasn't the least bit complicated. Just a normal small town boy with big ambitions who stands up for what he believes to be right. For a while, there was no Stefan on Elena's mind. Because every last drop of Damon's words made her want to forgive him for the things his destined to do.

The good and the bad.

But Elena didn't know if that will ever actually be an option. Damon hurts so many people. Innocent, guilty, annoying, dumb, all of them... dead. No matter how Damon acts now, it won't matter in the grande scheme of things. Although, Elena seemed to care a lot more than she thought she would.

Four hours later and there was still no sign of Elena. She had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace of a struggle of any kind. She couldn't have been taken. It wasn't possible.

Stefan and Damon had contacted any close enough supernaturals around the States and asked for them to look in their areas, only to come up with a blank. And all the while Bonnie is growing even more frustrated with her lack of knowledge.

Why was the map saying that Elena was still in Mystic Falls? They had checked and triple checked every possible nook and cranny of the town, with no turn up of the angelic doppelganger.

Moreover, the entire group just wanted to make sure she was okay. But how could they do that when her cell phone was still sitting on her bedside table? It seemed hopeless, although no one would even begin to admit it. How could they find their lost friend when there is nothing to use to find her? No hints, no ransom notes, not even a "Hey I took your clone" phone call.

Damon sits down beside his brother, both of them beginning to drown their guilt in a bottle of bourbon. Glancing at one another, they share a momentary sympathetic connection to one another, and then turn back to their bottles as if it had never happened. Jeremy, who had arrived about an hour ago, was sitting on the floor across from them with a cloth wrapped tightly around his hand where blood had been taken from for Bonnie's spell.

Bonnie sat with an unconscious Caroline, who had eventually pissed Damon off, racking her brain for an answer to the seemingly unsolvable puzzle. Elena couldn't be in Mystic Falls... could she?

Before she could ask Stefan if he had really searched the entire town, she was cut off by a sudden door slam. A fairly confident Katherine strode into the tension filled parlor, her curls framing her face and bringing even more life to her sinister eyes. "Hello, there. Still moping about your lost love?"

A smirk flashes across her smug features, watching as the entire lot of them, aside from Caroline, turned their heads to face the unwanted visitor with disgust.

"What the hell are you doing here, Katherine?" Damon growled, his dark brows furrowing.

Katherine glides over the the Bennett witch, taping a manicured finger loudly on the blood covered map. "Oh, it's simple really. I just wanted to let Bonzilla over here know that she isn't a complete idiot."

Stefan and Damon stand up simultaneously, one putting his bottle down and the other clutching his even tighter. A million different emotions and questions swiped across their face, but in the end Stefan finally stepped up. "What are you talking about?"

"Elena is in Mystic Falls."

Jeremy launched himself onto his feet, his eyes frantic and filled with worry. Katherine laughed, watching as faith struck every single person in the room. Time to tear it down, she thought maniacally as she walked around the room with an evil grin.

She stopped in front of Damon, her cold brown hues no match for his icy blue ones, though she didn't let him know. Katherine's brow quirked as she tilted her head to the side slightly, observing his tense posture and stone expression with amusement. "Just not in this one."

A/N

Thanks for reading! New chapter coming sometime next week. Don't forget to review! I love to get your feedback.

~ Charlotte :)