Author's note: Looks like this won't be the end after all. I was going into too many different sections of the plot for one chapter. Tomorrow (I hope), I'll be posting "The Recovery."

As always - The Vampire Diaries and all the characters belong to someone else. I'm just taking them for a spin. I'll put them back.

This chapter, while I hope isn't overly graphic, is the reason for the story's "M" rating.

Enjoy!

-N.E.P.

Stefan shook his head in disbelief. "But why would she go meet Katherine." He turned and faced Jeremy. "Was she wearing her necklace?"

Jeremy shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't really look up when she left. I don't know."

"Katherine had to compel her somehow. When Jenna stabbed herself, Katherine was talking to her on the phone. Can she compel someone over the phone?"

"You're reaching Stefan." Damon cut him off. "You know it takes eye contact."

"Unless she'd compelled her earlier. Katherine was in her room, she could have done it then."

"No." Alaric interrupted. "Katherine has something Elena wants."

"What would be that important to her?" Jeremy looked doubtful.

"Jenna."

Jenna's phone rang, and Elena spun in search of it beneath the dense canopy of trees. She recognized the distinctive ringtone her aunt had assigned Alaric's incoming calls. First Stefan called - now Alaric.

They knew.

The ringing stopped then started back up. Elena realized where the ringing was coming from, and she squinted her eyes into the darkness. "Jenna?" She thought she could see a hint of red hair in a patch of moonlight.

"She's not going to be able to answer you."

"You said she'd be safe if I came here.

Katherine drummed her fingers on her hip as she stepped closer to Elena. "Actually, I said you had thirty minutes. You took thirty-five. Sorry."

"What? No!" Elena sprinted toward her aunt's crumpled body, but a rough hand reached out and caught her before throwing her roughly to the ground.

Katherine knelt over Elena. "You've met Frank, haven't you? I believe he's the one who broke Matt's arm. Isobel was so kind as to loan him to me. Mystic Falls has changed a bit through the years. I needed a tour guide." A hint of a smile twisted her lips. "He'll be keeping you company tonight while I'm entertaining the Salvatores. I warn you, don't try to sneak away. I've discovered he's not a very nice man. He's also not the sharpest tack in the shed. Too bad you look like me." She spoke softly. "He probably can't tell the difference." Katherine stroked the side of Elena's neck. Elena felt her pulse speed with fear. "I promise you I'll take very good care of them; but before I go, I'd really like my necklace back." She reached out and ripped the chain from Elena's neck.

"Go ahead and take her." Katherine nodded to Frank. "Goodnight Elena."

Frank roughly yanked her onto his shoulder, striking her head against the ground. A searing pain pounded in Elena's head as the world faded to black.

"So, what are we going to do?" Jeremy looked back and forth between the men in the room.

"We have to go to the masquerade ball. She was listening to Elena's call. She knows we'll be there." Damon put one foot up on the base of the coffee table and leaned against it. He cocked his head to the side. "And then..." He looked over at Alaric. "You have those nifty toys in your car?"

Alaric nodded grimly in response.

"Once we know where Elena is, we're going to go get her." Damon addressed Alaric. "And Jenna too."

Several minutes later, they had Alaric's whole assortment of anti-vampire devices arrayed in front of them. Jeremy's face had taken on a decidedly greenish tinge.

"Jeremy, if you don't think you're up for this." Bonnie cautioned.

"It isn't that." Jeremy's eyes blazed with fire. "Katherine has the only two relatives I have left. I don't want to think of what she's doing with them right now while we're getting ready to go to a party."

"Jeremy, you have to stay calm." Stefan looked worried. "If you can't handle this, we're going to have to leave you here with Caroline and Sheriff Forbes. We have to play along." Stefan didn't feel like he could stress that fact enough. "Or they're going to die." Stefan felt Damon's eyes on him, and he looked up to see a strange expression on Damon's face.

His brother was scared.

"Matt," Katherine purred as she stroked his arm. With her hair straightened while she wore a mask, no one could tell she wasn't Elena. "Where's Caroline? I thought she'd be here with you."

Matt shifted uncomfortably. "Elena, we broke up. You knew that."

"I'm so sorry." She feigned a pained expression. "I've just had so much on my mind today. I wasn't thinking." She ran her fingers down the buttons of his dress shirt. "She doesn't know what she's missing. Seeing you in a suit."

"Um, hey Elena." Matt backed away until his feet brushed against a planter. "Look, there's Stefan." He nodded to Stefan and Damon as they walked toward the house.

"Why there they are." She gave the brothers a predatory grin as she descended the stone stairway. "You're late." Katherine's voice took on a steely tone.

"Fashionably late." Damon fingered his lapel.

"Happy birthday." Stefan forced himself to pretend he was looking at Elena. He bent and kissed her cheek.

"Now is that the way you greet your girlfriend?"

"It is when we're in public." Stefan stood and folded his hands behind him.

"Always the gentleman." Katherine shook her head. "Dance with me." She took his hand and led him to the outdoor dance floor surrounded by twinkling white lights. A half moon peeked out from behind the clouds and cast a silvery glow on the yard.

"You can drop the act." Katherine blinked up at Stefan from behind her mask. "I know you know who I am."

"Then why did you go to all this trouble?"

"Do you remember our first kiss? It was a night very much like this. You looked so handsome in the moonlight. You were always such a gentleman. You made sure Emily was outside the church - my handmaiden defending my honor." Katherine's voice dripped with sweetness. "Because I wanted to dance with you." She leaned her head into his chest as she wrapped her arms around his waist. "I wanted to remind you of what you had...and you can still have." The pair swayed in time with the music as he looked around for Damon and Bonnie. "Don't look around. Right now, its just us." She pulled his head down and brought her lips to his. "You don't need Elena anymore."

Katherine was working with Mason. Mason might have an idea where Elena was. Bonnie made her way through the crowded foyer and walked to the stairwell.

"I wasn't expecting to see you here." A familiar voice called out to Bonnie.

Bonnie turned around in surprise. "Aunt Lucy?"

The tall dark-skinned witch nodded in reply. "I haven't seen you in years."

"Not since Grams kicked you out." Bonnie's voice was bitter. "What are you doing here?"

"Not here." Lucy motioned to an empty hallway. Bonnie followed. "Do you really have to ask?" Lucy's lips crinkled in annoyance.

"Yeah, I do."

"Listen, I know you understand what's happening in Mystic Falls. You're helping the Salvatore brothers. Don't get caught on the wrong side." Lucy took hold of her niece's arm.

"And which side would that be?"

"The losing side."

"Damon looks worried." Katherine was enjoying this. It had been far too long since she'd had Stefan and Damon available to play with. "Think he's afraid you're going forget about your plan?" She slid her hand up the back of his jacket.

"What plan?"

All the teasing left Katherine's voice. "I'm not stupid Stefan. I know you wouldn't have come here without a plan. Damon's standing just close enough to hear me if I happen to slip and say where Elena is, and I believe I see the history teacher leaning against his car."

"Why don't we just end the charade now, then."

"Because I'm not finished playing, and I doubt Frank's finished playing with Elena." Katherine turned to take in Damon's expression. Even from this distance, she could see the tense set of his shoulders as he struggled for control. "Do you trust your brother?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

She reached up and stroked his cheek. "You're both in love with the same woman. Is it Elena or is it me?"

"I'm done playing." He pulled her hand from his face. "Where's Elena?"

"Is the game really over so soon?" She walked off the dance floor in a huff. She leaned back against the tree and shook her head. "I don't think so. Not yet." She stood on her toes and whispered, "If you think about it long enough, you'll figure it out."

"Its done." Lucy strode across the grass toward Katherine.

"Excellent!" Katherine turned and waved at Damon. "Your move." She and Lucy walked into the darkness.

"Think!" Damon's shout practically rattled the car. "Where would Katherine hide Elena?"

"I don't know. She told me if I thought about it, that I'd figure it out."

"We have to start somewhere. How do I get to your old house?" Alaric half-turned behind the steering wheel.

"There's nothing left there." Damon muttered.

They all rode in silence as the car rumbled over the roads left in disrepair. As they bumped across the railroad crossing, Jeremy called out. "There's something over there."

"Elena's car." Stefan jumped from Alaric's car before it came to a stop. "Elena!" He called into the darkness, but only his echo answered him. He was soon joined by the others.

Damon asked Alaric, "Do you have a flashlight in your car?"

"You need a flashlight?"

"No, but you and Jeremy do. This property is huge. Trust me."

"Jeremy, look under the back seat. I keep a tool box in there."

Damon and Stefan ran ahead - past the remains of the brick gate, through the now-overgrown maze, until they reached a small copse of trees behind where the house once stood.

"Something's over there." Damon reached Jenna first.

"Jenna!" Stefan carefully rolled her onto her back. Listening carefully, he was rewarded by a faint breath. He sat back onto his heels in relief.

Damon looked up at the tree - its largest branch still scarred by the rope swing that used to hang there. He remembered the swing. Katherine loved to sit outside in the evenings. He'd stolen his first kiss while she was watching the fireflies. He had an idea...a very twisted idea. "Where did you first kiss Katherine?"

"Are we really walking down memory lane right now?"

"This is important." Damon insisted.

Stefan closed his eyes and surrendered to his memories. "It was a Sunday night. We'd left a church social. She'd said it was so nice out that she wanted to walk for a bit, and I volunteered to be her escort. After everyone left, we came back for her carriage. I kissed her on the church lawn."

"That's where we'll find Elena."

"You can wake up now." Katherine stood over Elena. "They should be here shortly. I hope. I don't think I made it too difficult for them. Stefan should remember."

Elena hesitated as she sat up. Her side was numb from lying on the stone ground, but for some reason, she thought being numb was likely a good thing. Candles were lit in the sconces lining the walls. The flickering lights made her sick to her stomach.

"Frank didn't hurt you too badly, did he?" Katherine knelt down and looked into Elena's eyes. "Well, maybe he did. Sorry. He said you don't listen very well. You tried to leave."

Elena didn't remember trying to leave - but everything over the past few hours seemed as if it had been a dream. Except the pain. That was very real. She gave up trying to push herself upright and dropped back onto the dusty ground.

The room swam in front of Elena's eyes. It was vaguely familiar. "Is this the tomb?" Her voice sounded scratchy. She could feel the bruises where he'd held her by the neck.

"You've been here before?" Katherine seemed surprised. She gave the room an appraising glance. ""This is my first time. Emily really did a good job, don't you think? Oh, they did work fast." She turned and looked back toward the entrance. "You know, I think they're both going to be pretty angry when they see you. I'm going to need a little snack." She flashed to Elena's side.

Elena didn't have the strength to scream as Katherine's fangs tore into her throat.

"Back away from Elena." Stefan's words came out in a barely controlled snarl.

"Are you hungry too?" Katherine wiped the blood from her chin. "I don't mind sharing. Speaking of, where's your brother?" She stood and stepped over Elena as she peered down the darkened corridor. "Let me guess, you're going to distract me while he stakes me. Did I guess right?"

Stefan didn't answer - his eyes were fixed on Elena's pale face. "What did you do to her?"

She ignored his question. "Damon, why don't you come out and play too?" When he didn't respond, she knelt over Elena's throat. "I promise you, I'll drain her."

Stefan could hear a rustle outside the room as Damon came in. His breath caught in his throat as he took in Elena's battered appearance. "Don't." He shook his head. "Please."

"You're begging. Interesting. Isobel was right." Katherine looked up at the brothers' faces. Right now, they each resembled the frightened young men she'd first revealed herself to all those years ago. "I think she needs to be awake for this." She stared down at Elena, and Elena responded by opening her eyes a crack. "Now Damon, you stay there, but you can toss the stake you have up your sleeve to your brother." Katherine glared at him. "Do it now."

Damon pulled the piece of sharpened wood from the inside of his sleeve and watched as it arced across the room.

Stefan reached out and caught it. His anger barely controlled, his face took on its full vampire appearance.

"Try it." Katherine stood defenseless in the middle of the room as Stefan charged toward her. At the last second, she looked him in the eyes and he hesitated for just an instant. His arm stopped just before he gave Katherine the final blow. "I knew you couldn't do it." She threw him across the room and his head cracked against the stone wall. He limply slid to the floor.

Damon charged Katherine. She shook her head and with as little effort as if she'd been swatting a fly, she threw him into the wall. His arm snapped with a crack as he lay limp on the ground. "I didn't tell you to try."

"That's all I wanted you to see." She stroked Elena's cheek. "He couldn't kill me. Even after he saw what I'd done to you. I could never kill you. You're far too important to me. I've been waiting a long time for you to make your arrival." She stood and brushed the dirt from her knees. "I'm leaving now, but I'll be back. Don't worry about that."

Elena gave up trying to focus and let herself fall back into the darkness.

I'll admit that fight scenes are my weakest type of writing. I'm more of an angst-girl... We had to have something of a fight, though. I hope it lived up to your expectations.

This past chapter had a record number of views. I'd love to know what y'all think of the story. Reviews are awesome (and help inspire future stories)! I have an idea about a story that'll take place about 6 years in the future...interested?

Thanks for reading!