Elena was mesmerized by the large room she stood in. Everywhere she looked, large paintings and tapestries hung, painted with gold and red and every other colour one could imagine. The furniture was art itself, hand carved and draped in silk.

"You like it, then?" A smiling british voice called out.

"It's amazing." Elena ghosted her fingers across one of the paintings, her eyes glued to its majesty. "Especially this one."

Klaus laughed, "Of course, the blood and carnage would impress you."

"I want to show it to Damon." She decided with matter of fact determination.

"Oh I don't think so, Elena." He replied, shaking his head. "That wouldn't be the best idea."

:

"You can't call her on her cell phone." Matt rolled his eyes at the other blonde. "It's at the bottom of a river.

"Well, what do you want me to do? Damon's upstairs not looking. Stefan's outside with no ring and the sun is going to come up any time now. We have to stay here to make sure Jeremy doesn't go get himself killed, what do you want me to do?"

Matt's eyes softened, but his face remained firm. "Fine, call. No one will answer anyway."

Caroline's eyes widened as they connected with Matt's. "Hello?" She asked into the receiver.

:

"Drink this," Klaus said, handing her a drink.

The smell of blood filled her nose and she quickly began to gulp the liquid. Before she'd finished though, she choked, and the blood spiked wine poured out from her lips. "Klaus." She stuttered, afraid.

"Don't worry Elena, there isn't enough to harm you." He handed her another glass, encouraging her to drink. "If people are going to be compelling you, it's best for them not to be able to. Drink again, and this time, finish it."

Afraid but trusting, Elena brought the glass back to her lips, and let the precious red flow through. She coughed but swallowed painfully, the taste of blood tying her to the vervain. "It hurts."

"I know it does." Klaus smiled. "How about some more blood then, to ease the pain.

His smile was captivating to the new vampire. She felt that she couldn't stop staring. Eagerly, she followed him into the kitchen, unaware of her puppy like state. As Klaus handed her a cup filled only with blood, she drank it down with animalistic need.

"Now, now, Elena, try to have some class." He chuckled shaking his head. The laugh was humourless.

Nodding, she restrained herself and began to take human sips, one at a time.

"Pinkies up?" Klaus asked, sticking his pinky in the air with a devilish smirk and drank his own. The girl giggling, copying him.

:

"I couldn't find her." Stefan slammed the door against the returning sun light with disdain. He wouldn't make eye contact; he only slumped onto the couch and hung his head in his hands.

The door opened and closed again, to everyone's surprise. In came Elena, moving gracefully towards the staircase, not a care shown.

"She was right behind you." Damon whipped a pillow into Stefan, leaving to follow Elena. He appeared at her bedroom door, closely followed by half the town. Rolling his eyes at the group behind him, he turned his focus to Elena. "Welcome back." He stated, void of emotion.

She hesitated. "Thanks." He was giving her a Stefan face. That was the only way she could describe it.

"Have fun?"

Again, she hesitated. "Yes." She wasn't sure what the right answer would be. Klaus had told her not to tell them anything. Was that already too much?

In the hallway, everyone exchanged glances. Had Rebekah found her alive? Surely not, if her throat was still intact. Then...

"Give us a minute." Damon said, closing the door and waiting for footsteps to ensure they were alone. He walked towards the bed that she was sitting on, and sat beside her, close enough that if either of them moved, their finger tips would brush together. He tried to keep his attention away from that fact. He didn't speak. He was sure, from her behavior in the park, that she would simply tell him what was on her mind. He waited.

"I'm sorry if I worried you." She said quietly, watching his face, the way his brow creased while he stared. "Are you mad?"

Frustration hiding now beneath the surface, he diminished all negativity he might be showing the innocent girl. "No, Elena, just worried. Giving in to himself, he draped his arm across her shoulder and pulled her to him, kissing the top of her head sorrowfully.

For some reason, he only felt worse when she snuggled against his side, wrapping her arms around his torso. "I'm sorry." His Elena would never apologize to him, not for something like this anyway. He assumed though, that she didn't know him anymore, so of course she would. Really, she didn't know anyone. She didn't have a reason to be herself. This bothered him. She liked him now, but for the wrong reasons. He almost wished they could go back to petty bickering and snapping at each other.

"I'm going to help you, Elena. I'm going to bring you back." She didn't respond. She didn't really know what he meant. But she trusted him, so she nodded her head against his shoulder. "I guess you're tired, do you want anything before you sleep?" Her eyes were half closed, staring at the other side of the bed.

"No thanks."

"Hungry?"

"Nope."

Damon stared down at her. How... "Want any blood?" He asked again, hoping for a new answer.

"No, I-" realizing her mistake, she jumped away from him. Quickly she tried to cover it up. "I'm just really tired right now." She said, voice unsure.

He nodded. "I'll let you sleep then." He got up, and she jumped again, grabbing his arm.

"Can you stay?" Memories of last night flooded her mind, Stefan outside the door, the tree outside her window... the missing light.

Concerned, Damon nodded his head and sat down against the headboard. He watched her uncertainly crawl back to him, getting under her covers. She suddenly seemed shy, something he never wanted to see from her.

"If something was wrong, Elena, you'd tell me." It was a question, one which she only answered by shaking her head. He nodded in response to her, and pulled her against him again. "Go to sleep." He whispered into her hair, letting her rest peacefully, without fear.