Chapter 4:
Misguided Ghosts

"You're pretty tired, little one."

Taylor and Damon lay awake on his bed, her head rested comfortably on his chest. Her eyes slowly opened, fighting the sleep that wanted to take over. It had been a tough couple of days and being there in bed with Damon, finally able to relax, allowed her body to realize the trauma it had undergone.

"I know… I didn't realize it either."

The Salvatore brother raised his hand and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her left ear. As a content sigh escaped Taylor's lips, he spoke.

"You have all the time to rest."

As good as that sounded, she found it hard to believe. There was something strangely foreign about the idea of having time to rest. Everything that had happened since she'd been back suggested that there was no such thing as peace. Still, she sighed contentedly and gazed up.

Though she should have been surprised, she wasn't and it confused her. Rather than seeing Damon, whom she remembered being with, she faced Klaus. Taylor expected a cold fear to sweep through her body – a feeling that screamed for her to get up and run as fast as she could. Yet, neither happened. The young girl felt contented and safe.

"I told you, you are mine, Taylor."

As soon as those words left his lips, Taylor sprang up in bed, a scream managing to rip its way out of her throat. Hands encircled her from behind as she continued to scream, thrashing around to free herself.

"Taylor. Taylor, it's me. Calm down."

As Damon's voice reached her ears, she snapped her head around. She was met with his worried eyes and a concerned look plastered on his face. Though she could see him physically, she didn't trust it. She sprang up, freeing herself from his arms, rushing to the other side of the room.

"S-stay where you are!"

Cautiously, he stood. "Taylor?"

"Stop," she yelled, holding her hands outstretched in front of her, her body trembling with fear.

"What's wrong?"

"Just stop!"

Footsteps echoed in her ears – someone was running up the steps. She tried to focus, afraid that everything was not what it seemed.

A few seconds later Stefan and Elena popped their heads in.

"What's going on?"

The question was directed at Damon, who turned to glare at his brother for thinking this was somehow his fault.

Damon turned to face them, though his peripheral vision remained locked on Taylor, "She woke up screaming."

"Taylor," Elena's soft voice questioned. "Are you okay?"

"No!" She screamed, her arms lowering to her sides. A wind began to rush around the room, though there was no open window. "He was here!"

"Who was?"

"Klaus!"

Taylor was frantic. Tears streamed down her face in floods as her body shook from the fear that filled her very core. Had it been Klaus in the room? Or had he simply invaded her dreams? Either way frightened her more than she wished it would.

"Klaus," Damon asked, angrily. His hands clenched at their sides at the thought of him in her dreams.

"You were you and then he was you!"

Elena and Stefan were confused. "He was Damon?"

"He changed my dreams! He was holding me with my head on his chest – he called me his."

The wind in the room picked up. The lighter things placed around the room began to lift up. The more frantic she became, the more the wind picked up. The other's shared glances, knowing it was her that caused the wind, but there were more important things on their minds.

"Taylor," Stefan said, trying to be the voice of reason. "We're going to figure this out and we'll get him to leave you alone."

The young vampire turned to face Stefan, the tears still falling. She spoke in a frightened but sure voice, "He is never going to leave me alone. Not until he's dead."

"He's going to die," Damon spat, quickly turning and running to the door. He stopped, turning around to face Taylor. He gave her a soft and reassuring look before disappearing out of the room and soon, out of the house.

"Damon," she screamed, rushing to the window in hopes of seeing him. She knew what he would try to do.

The wind got stronger – a lamp flew across the room, slamming against the wall. Elena jumped, grabbing onto Stefan's arm. He pulled her close, reassuring her before turning his attention back to Taylor.

"Taylor?" He called out.

For a minute she didn't move – didn't answer. Damon had just gone to do the dumbest thing he could have done. There was no way he would be able to be Klaus. He was much too strong for him. That was clear – yet, he still ran after him. She knew it was for her. That he wanted her to feel safe, but that didn't change the sudden anger that flooded her. Did he have to be so hot-tempered? So selfish?

Running off to save her put his life in danger. Her freedom was nothing if he was dead.

"He is so stupid," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else.

In a split second, she turned, ready to run to the very place she wanted to stay away from the most. Before she could reach the door, Stefan tackled her to the floor. He gripped her shoulders with his hands and held her down. A look of determination flooded her face, though he continued to hold her down.

"Stefan! Let me go!"

"Don't, Stefan!" Elena screamed, kneeling down next to the two.

"Elena! I need to go!"

"You're going to go back to Klaus," she accused, tears threatening to spill.

"It's the only way to save him. Damon's going – you know he is. Klaus will kill him!"

"You can't let him get you."

"What if it was Stefan, Elena? What if he was going to die?" Taylor's words hit her sister hard. "Wouldn't you do everything to save him?"

"Taylor," Stefan spoke, grabbing her attention, hoping it would calm the sudden fear he knew Elena felt. "He'll be fine."

Anger began to bubble beneath the fear she felt. "We don't know that."

"Damon can handle himself."

"Not against Klaus!"

In a sudden surge, the wind that blew through the room picked him up, flying him across the room. He hit the wall hard, a dent where he had hit. She used the wind to hold him back as she stood, rushing to the door.

"He's your brother Stefan. I know you want him safe. I'll get him back."

Before they could stop her, they rushed out and down the same path she knew Damon had taken. She pushed herself to go harder than she had gone before, knowing that time was something she did not have if she wanted to see Damon alive. Yet, there was a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. The feeling that Damon would be alive whenever it was that she got there. That Klaus was waiting for her. Because he knew she would come to save him – he knew whom she cared for. And that scared her. If he knew who she cared for, he knew exactly how to control her.

Hello!

Been a while and such, I know. This chapter is not the longest, but it needed to be written to get the next one. I do hope you like this.

Also, updates may be spread out like this, too. I am going back to school (21 credits on my load this semester) and I am working two jobs. I will try my best, though.