Chapter 2:
The Rescue

"Call the witch now or I will."

Damon Salvatore's threatening voice boomed through the living room in the boarding house. His brother and Elena sat on the couch in front of him. Both wore mirrored looks of worry, though the vampire always wore a look of slight frustration.

"Damon, we need to think this through –"

"We don't have the time to sit around and think this through, brother. Call Bonnie or I will find her and drag her here."

Elena's sudden voice broke through their conversation. "Damon! Calm down. How do we know this is really from her?"

The vampire fell silent. How did he know it was from Taylor? Only minutes ago the letter had appeared out of thin air, dropping itself onto his lap silently. In it had been Taylor handwriting, sprawled across the page in a frenzy, asking Damon to help her. No, he didn't know for sure that it was from her – or how it would get to him even if it really was her – but it didn't matter. It was something and he was going to go with it whether or not Elena would help him.

"We don't."

It was as simple as that.

"And if we're walking into a trap? Damon, what if Taylor really is in some kind of trouble and we go rushing into this? What if it turns out to be a distraction and we can't help her?"

"Elena," Damon replied slowly, staring down at the surprisingly calm girl in front of him. "I will not wait around for something else to happen."

With those words, he turned on his heels, ready to walk away from the girl who apparently didn't care as much about her sister as he did. It was frustrating, actually, to Damon. He wanted nothing more than to through her across the room in a fit of anger. The lack of concern she seemed to show for her sister was amazing.

"You're not the only one who cares for her Damon!"

The vampire turned sharply, using his speed to appear in front of the now standing Gilbert.

"It sure as hell seems that way."

"Damon," Stefan warned, standing to protectively hold Elena's arm.

"Relax brother. I'm not going to hurt her. I have other things to do."

"Bonnie won't help you," Elena pushed. She knew she was right.

"Then I'll find another witch."

It was definitely an interesting sight for Elena Gilbert, who had never seen Damon show such strong emotions for someone other than himself. He seemed entirely focused on finding Taylor and it appeared to be honest feelings.

"I'll call Bonnie. I'll see if she can locate Taylor."

Taylor felt stupid.

Actually, stupid was a bit of an understatement to how she felt.

The second Klaus saw what she had done he'd pieced it together. He was on her in less than a second, holding her arms down, demanding to know what had just happened in his low and threatening voice. She'd refused to speak, holding her breath with the expectation that he would strike her.

It was a surprise when he jumped off, turning around and disappearing into the hallway. For a second, she thought things were changing. That she would somehow be able to get out of there without anyone's help.

Then he came back with a handful of chains, spikes poking out and glaring at her menacingly. Taylor had a feeling she'd be lucky to make it through the day alive.

The young vampire backed up, but it was pointless. Her back was against the wall before she could blink.

"Can't have you escaping now, can we?"

A shiver of fear ran down her spine at the sound of Klaus' voice.

A split second decision, she pushed off the wall, knocking Klaus down with the element of surprise. With the adrenaline rushing through her body, it was easy to run down the stairs, nearing the front door. Using all the will power she had in her, Taylor thrust her hands forward, forcing the doors to open. They burst open, slamming against the walls outside the house.

She could do this.

All she had to do was reach the door. If she wanted it hard enough she would be able to get out. Jace's magic would let her.

Taylor closed her eyes, her ears listening to the minute sounds that bounced off the floor as she ran. The door was within inches before she was thrown back against the stairs, her back slamming hard against the railing, cracking through the wood. A few pieces broke off, stabbing her deeply in the back, one piece just barely missing her heart.

"You can't get away that easily, my dear."

Though the pain was immense, she glared at the vampire before her, a look of pure hatred on her face. "Don't call me dear."

In a flash he was standing in front of her, the chains now dangling by her head as he held his hand near her. "I will call you whatever I want. Now let's get you comfortable."

Klaus' grip was tight around her arm as he ripped her from the railing, forcing her down to the ground. Taylor watched with horror filled eyes as he untangled the chains. It was a terrifying thing to watch someone threaten you when you have no way of defending yourself. The only thing that made it worse was the sudden smell that hit her nose just as he pulled a bottle from his back.

"That smell," she hissed, scrunching her nose at the burning sensation.

"This?" He smirked, holding the bottle closer to her face. "Vervain. It should keep you weak enough to keep your little witchy powers under control."

"W-what? What do you mean keep me under control?"

The fear she felt leaked into her voice, betraying her.

"I can't have you using your powers to escape now, can I? This vervain," Klaus said, dipping the spikes in the chains in the liquid, unfazed as it touched his skin. "Will keep you weak enough to prevent you from trying anything. Speaking of powers, how did you get them?"

Taylor didn't speak. Even if she had wanted to tell him she wouldn't have known what to say. Maybe Jace had given her his powers, but then again, maybe he hadn't.

Frustrated with her silence, the vampire grabbed the chains, clamping the ends around her wrists and ankles. The ends like bracelets held the spikes – dipped in vervain and very sharp, piercing her skin every time she moved even the slightest. The last piece lay on the floor near her hip. Noticing that her gaze fell upon it, he picked it up.

"I don't think you'll be doing much moving with this around your neck."

Klaus clamped it shut around her neck, like a choker, the spikes piercing her skin sending a violent burst of pain through her body.

She screamed. "Take it off!"

But the screaming only made it worse. The sudden jerking of her head sent the spikes deep into the right side of her neck, causing her to once again scream out in agony.

The vampire simply smiled. "Why would I do that? You'll have to learn to be obedient. I may as well start the training now."

He got up to leave, a sadistically satisfied look on his face.

"Where are you going," Taylor hissed, her face twisted in pain.

"Out," he simply replied, reaching the door and turning to send a menacing smile her way. "I've got some business to take care of. Something your witch friend failed to do for me."

Taylor was beyond confused. Maybe it was the fact that she didn't know anything or even who this Klaus was. Maybe it was the fact that there was three pieces of very sharp wood stuck in her lower back. Then again, it may have been the vervain leaking in through her wounds that was making her unfocused.

"What? What are you talking about? What didn't Jace do?"

Her questions were futile – they went unanswered. The older vampire simply turned and sped out of the house, the doors slamming shut behind him.

"KLAUS! COME BACK HERE," Taylor screamed, ignoring the pain that shot through her as the spikes continuously tore her skin open. "TAKE THESE OFF!"

Bonnie had arrived at the Salvatore house a little less than ten minutes ago and was still trying to wrap her mind around the situation.

"Taylor's missing and some guy, Klaus, took her? How do we even know this isn't some trap?"

Damon sighed for what may have been the millionth time since the conversation started. "We don't. Just find her."

"And if it is a trap Damon? I care about Taylor just as much as you do, but I will not risk everyone's lives."

"Then I'll go after her by myself. Just find her."

"I'm going too," Elena butted in, a determined look on her face.

"I don't think that's a good idea," Stefan tried to argue, but he wouldn't win. Elena had made up her mind and much like Taylor, they wouldn't be able to change it.

"She's my sister, Stefan. I'm not going to sit back and wait. Damon's right."

"Damon and I will you go. You should stay here with Bonnie. It's safer."

"I'm going," she answered, before turning to face Bonnie. "Can you find her?"

"I think I can. I need the letter, though."

Elena held the letter limply in her hand, holding it out to Bonnie, praying that the witch would be able to find her sister. It may have been all the worry that exuded off of Damon, but Elena felt the deepest gut feeling that Taylor was hurt.

Bonnie grabbed the letter. Sitting on the floor with her legs crossed and her eyes closed, she began to mutter words that no one their understood. The candles they had set up around the living room began to flicker, growing stronger with each second that passed.

It was only seconds, but it felt like an eternity to the three before Bonnie opened her eyes again.

"I know where she is."

"Where?"

"I'll take you there."

Damon was beyond peeved. He'd been putting up with everyone today to find Taylor, but he could only handle so much. "Just tell me where she is Bonnie."

"I don't know exactly."

Stefan, confused, spoke up. "Then how are we supposed to find her? We can't just wander around. She could be anywhere."

His words discouraged Elena, who sent an anxious glance at her best friend, hoping there would be some way.

Bonnie's reply came instantaneously. "I can feel her."

"You can feel her," Elena asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I can't explain it. It's never been like this before, but I can feel where she is. I'll know if we're getting close. But we need to hurry."

"That's what I've been saying this entire time," Damon said angrily.

Bonnie was serious. There was no smart remark at the vampire. Nothing.

"Bonnie? What aren't you telling us?" Elena asked, aware that there was something her friend was hiding.

The witched sent a sad glance in her direction. "She's hurt – really bad. I can feel it."

There were no words to explain the amount of pain that rushed through Taylor's body. She had given up on trying a few minutes after Klaus left the house. Every time she tried to move, a spike would pierce her skin and the vervain would make her weaker and in more pain. Even trying magic put strain on her already weak body. All the energy she had was seemingly gone, leaving her lying limp on the floor, trying to contain her breaths as everyone caused her pain.

Klaus was dead if he ever came back and unchained her.

She would do whatever she could to kill the bastard.

Just as she was falling into unconsciousness from the vervain and the wounds, she felt something. It was so strong that it forced her to prop her head up to stare at the door, despite the jolt of pain. No one was there. There were no sounds. But she'd felt it.

Something inside her told her that they were coming. There had been a feeling – a feeling that felt like magic, a tingling sensation that she had gotten only once before: when she'd sent the letter to Damon.

Lying on the floor with her hands limp at her sides, blood pooling from her many wounds, she felt like rejoicing at the sound of car tires.

Klaus hadn't used a car. It was someone else.

Taylor opened her mouth to speak, but struggled to get words out.

"H-help. H-help!"

There was footsteps – rushed and frantic.

"Damon?" Her voice was hopeful, but struggled.

The door burst open, filling her eyes with such a sudden light that she clamped them shut. There were gasps and more footsteps. The young vampire refused to open her eyes until one voice reached her ears.

"Taylor? I got your letter. Bonnie, Elena get these off her."

The young vampire watched through barely opened eyes as Damon turned his head to command the girls. A small smile formed on her lips. She never thought she'd ever be happy to hear his commanding voice again.

"Why can't you just rip them off?" Elena's voice asked.

"Their laced with vervain," Stefan answered.

"Get out of the way," Bonnie demanded.

Taylor watched in anxiety. All she wanted was out of the chains. Damon backed up, standing next to a worried Elena and Stefan. They all turned to stare at Bonnie who held her arms out in front of her, pointed at Taylor.

"This is going to hurt," she said. "The spikes are stuck in your body and they have to be pulled out."

The young vampire's eyes bulged, a lump forming at her throat. No, she wanted to shout. It was already painful, it didn't need to be worse. But she never had the chance. Almost like she could feel what Taylor felt, Bonnie muttered the spell, pulling the chains from her body, blood pooling out and an agonizing scream ripping from her throat.

Damon was by her side in a second.

"D-Damon," she choked out.

"Shh," he whispered, with surprising kindness, an unfamiliar glint of caring in his eyes. "You've lost a lot of blood. Don't try to talk."

With that he scooped her up in his arms, her head resting limply against his chest. Taylor could feel the concern from every one and she knew they wanted to say something, but the fear that they would stress her more kept them quiet. Bonnie and the others went out first, waiting on the porch for Damon to follow. The second his feet reached the door he froze.

"What's wrong, Damon?" Elena asked, worry still laced on her face.

"I can't come out."

It was Stefan's turn to speak up. "What?"

"I can't leave," he snapped, frustrated. They come all this way and find her and they can't leave with her?

Taylor wiggled in Damon's grasp, forcing him to put her down. Though it was a struggle, she managed to stand on her feet, using the door as a crutch to keep her from falling to the floor. Her voice came out soft and forced when she spoke.

"Go through the door."

"Taylor –"

"Just do it!"

He did as he was told, crossing the door with ease.

"I'm compelled to stay in," Taylor spoke, answering the question that they all were thinking. She seemed unemotional, her body numb from the trauma. "I can't leave."

"Do something," Damon yelled, turning to face Bonnie.

"I don't know what to do. I don't know a spell for this."

It wasn't like she didn't want to help. It was that she couldn't, though that didn't ease Damon's mind one bit. He snapped, lunging at the girls throat, his hands clasped tightly around it restricting her air flow.

"Try."

Knowing that his emotions were getting the better of him, Stefan pulled his brother off the witch, taking him to end of the stairs before letting him go. Just in case, he stayed near him, watching out of the corner of his eyes his brother's actions.

"I'm not sure this will work," Bonnie started, moving to stand in front of Taylor. "Hold on, okay?"

Taylor nodded her head. She was up for anything at that point.

Bonnie's eyes closed and her hands extended, pressed up against the open space as if it were an invisible door. She muttered words that no one understood and opened her eyes only to see that nothing had changed. Frustrated, she tried again. And again. But nothing happened each time. The compulsion was too strong for her to break.

Her hands dropped to her side as she sent an apologetic glance at Taylor. "It won't break."

Elena's worried voice broke the silence that followed. "Is there anything else we can do? We can't just leave her in there!"

"Elena…"

"Don't Elena me, Stefan! Look at her! She's barely alive. We can't just leave her here."

"I'll stay," Damon interrupted, his voice loud and serious.

Taylor's eyes widened, but she didn't speak.

"What?"

"I'll stay here, Elena."

"Whoever did this to Taylor had to be strong, Damon. You're risking your life if you stay here alone."

"That doesn't matter. I'm not leaving her here like this."

They continued to argue about it in front of her, though Taylor had no say in the matter. She wouldn't have them stay. If there was no way she could leave she would at least make sure they were safe. There was one thing she hadn't tried.

Taylor pushed herself off the wall. She staggered a bit before regaining balance, using the last of her energy to keep herself up. She managed to extend her hands in the same way Bonnie had earlier before any of them noticed what she was doing.

"Taylor? What are you doing?"

The words never fazed the young vampire. She closed her eyes, focusing all her energy against the barrier. She could feel the energy pulsing through her hands and her fingertips, leaving her body and disappearing. She focused on the barrier, on the compulsion, and she focused on trying to break it. To be free.

A sudden jolt of energy left her body, forcing her eyes open. Her hands dropped to her sides and she stumbled forward, out of the house. Before any rejoicing could be done she fell forward, Damon catching her before she hit the floor.

There was silence in the air around them.

No one knew what just happened or how it did. All they knew was that Taylor had somehow managed to leave the house, though she was under the compulsion of Klaus, whoever he was. Though Bonnie had failed to get her out with her magic, Taylor had managed to do it on her own.

"Damon?" She called, her voice soft and fading.

He didn't say anything. Damon's eyes had never once left her face. He raised his hand to her cheek, bringing her gaze to his own.

Staring into his eyes, Taylor forgot what it was she wanted to say. A million thoughts rushed through her mind; a million emotions flooding her system. But none of it mattered. All that mattered was the amount of emotion she saw in his eyes – the love that she never would have guessed existed there.

With a shaky hand, she grabbed the back of his neck, pulling him down to her. She paused, unsure, before throwing away all the inhibitions she had, her lips crashing onto his.

For a second everything disappeared. She didn't remember Jace or what happened with him. The time she'd spent trapped with Klaus faded away. All there was, was Damon Salvatore.

And she had the feeling that it was all she ever needed.

Hey There!
I know it was quite a wait until this chapter came out. To tell you the truth, it was really hard to write this. I had the plot all written out, but I couldn't get it into writing for some reason.
But I do hope you liked this! Review and let me know what you think! And what you think will happen next!