Part II
Chapter Six
When Elena comes to, she feels nothing but a constant, stinging pain. Everything is pitch black. Biting back tears, she tries to move. Pain shoots through her as her body touches hard walls. Panicking, she continues to struggle anyways, beating her hands and feet against whatever holds her, only to realize they are bound with something burning into her flesh. She sniffs. Vervain. Her hands and feet are bound with something soaked in vervain.
Sobbing now, she screams, but no one answers. She takes shallow breaths, trying to kick out the end of whatever holds her, but it is heavily reinforced; she only causes herself more pain.. After a few moments, when she can no longer stand it, she stops struggling.
It is so tempting to flip the switch. Turn off her humanity. Lose her sense of fear. But she thinks of her brother, of Damon and Stefan and Caroline. They are the only family she has left anymore. What happens if she escapes only to find herself a monster?
She counts to ten, then takes a slow deep breath. I'll count to sixty, one hundred and twenty times, she thinks. I'll count the minutes and if I'm still here in two hours, I'll turn it off. She counts until she loses consciousness again.
When she wakes again, she hears the gentle hum of an engine; she's in a moving vehicle. She deciphers the sound of a radio playing, but the language is foreign. She shouts and bangs her feet a few times against the end of the container, biting back the pain, but no one responds. She's hungry, so hungry... she isn't sure how long it has been since she last fed. She wonders if Katherine sold her out; she is quite sure she went down as well, but the last moments in the club are hazy. Kol must have used a witch to incapacitate her.
There's a thud and the car stops moving. A few doors slam and then footsteps grow closer. She recognizes Kol's voice, but he isn't speaking English.
"Let me out, Kol!" she yells making as much noise as she can.
"Shut up!" Kol snarls. Whatever she is being held in shifts; she is being carried somewhere. A few minutes later, someone finally lifts up the lid. Elena blinks at the sudden light and finds herself face to face with Klaus, his dark brown eyes boring into her with amusement.
"Elena," he purrs sarcastically, lifting her out of the box and setting her down on the stone floor, "how nice of you to join us." She's in a large room, walled with stone, there are no windows, no furniture, but a number of weapons hang on the walls.
Next to her, Katherine is seated as well. She is sulking, her hands and feet bound. She holds her head high, trying not to look like she's been defeated.
Klaus regards them as if he can't believe his luck, as if they strolled into whatever this place is on their own accord. But beneath his amused expression, there is a surging undertone of real anger, thinly veiled in the twist of his mouth. Elena can tell this is a planned and calculated retaliation.
Her eyes dart around the room, looking for a way out. Kol is leaning against the only door, conversing with another vampire in a language she can't quite pinpoint. In the corner, there is a dark haired woman sitting cross legged on the floor, studying a book open in front of her. Elena is so incredibly hungry that her senses feel even more heighted; she can smell the girl's human blood even from across the room.
"How do you know which one is which?" Kol asks Klaus, interpreting her thoughts.
Klaus strolls over to Elena, grinning. "This is Elena," he answers. "Bring up Stefan and Damon and I'll show you."
"No..." Elena gasps desperately. Kol nods his head towards another vampire standing by the door and the two of them leave the room. Klaus smirks in response. It is all Elena can to do not crumple in defeat. Even if she and Katherine failed, she had hoped that her Salvatores would come through. But if Klaus has all of them, there's nothing left to be done. Even if Spike does return to London Bridge with Willow and the Slayer, he will come up empty, unable to find them.
"What have you done with them? Where is my brother?" She demands, confirming to Klaus that she is indeed, Elena. She can't bring herself to care, though; all she wants is to know brother is safe. She throws a glare at Katherine, wondering if she really did give them up.
"There's no need to blame her, Elena," Klaus remarks, laughing lightly, "For once you're the one who betrayed her."
"What?" Elena blinks in confusion, "I don't understand."
"You told Caroline you were on the next flight to London. It was nothing to compel it out of her. Unfortunately she didn't know very much, but Matt was able to lead me to the rest of your boys and I was able to fill in the gaps from there."
"What have you done to them?" Elena asks through gritted teeth. "Let Jeremy go. This doesn't concern him.
"Ah, but we both know that to be untrue, wouldn't you agree? I would have never found the cure without him. And if I could have, he serves as such useful collateral, doesn't he?" He pauses for a moment, letting his taunting words sink in. "There's no need to look so glum, Elena. You're getting exactly what you wanted."
"This is not what I wanted." Elena spits through gritted teeth.
Klaus ignores her. "Tell me Elena, did you find your witch?" he asks.
"No," she replies firmly.
Klaus comes closer, leering inches from her face. "The vervain my idiot brother bound you with is preventing me from compelling your right now. But let me assure you, this conversation is not over."
He pats her cheek affectionately. Elena opens her mouth, trying to bite his hand, but he only laughs. "I see we've gained a backbone on our little adventure."
Elena's eyes fly to the door as it creaks open. Stefan stumbles through first, eyes downcast, hands bound behind him. Klaus's minion walks behind him, prodding him. Damon follows, bound similarly, Kol's hands on his shoulders. She's never seen either of them so unkempt before; both are dirty, their clothes tattered and covered in bloodstains. She recognizes the wild look in Stefan's eyes; he hasn't fed on anything—animal or otherwise—in days.
Kol and the other vampire force them to kneel, so they are facing Elena and Katherine, with Klaus pacing between the four of them.
"Excellent," Klaus states, observing the strange group he has assembled. "Now that everyone is here—" He abruptly strolls over to Damon and plunges his hand into his chest, grasping his heart. Elena gasps for air, doubling over in pain. Klaus releases Damon and pulls out his bloodied hand, smirking.
"That one is most definitely Elena," he tells Kol, motioning his head towards her. He snaps his fingers at his vampire lackey, who brings him a towel. "The sire bond does the most peculiar things. It's quite fascinating really," he explains coolly, drying his hands.
Elena tries to catch her breath. Across from her, Damon remains upright only by Kol's firm grasp. His eyes meet hers and he tries to look reassuring but Elena can tell that he can't see any way out of this either.
"So," Klaus finishes drying his hands and tosses the towel back to his lackey. "We seem to be at a crossroads. I have two doppelgangers, two Salvatores, and a cure for vampirism that will only work for two vampires. But the question is, which two?" He turns to Elena and Katherine. Elena looks to Katherine who narrows her eyes in anger but neither girl says anything. "Well one of the two of you will have to take it," Klaus continues, "But which one? Suggestions?"
When neither girl speaks, Klaus turns on his heels to face the Salvatore brothers, and his eyes fall on Stefan. "Ste-fan," he calls, drawing out the syllables as if they are amicably drinking at a bar together, "I believe you should have the honour of picking an estranged lover. Either one will do."
Stefan glares at him with dark eyes filled with a mix of rage and wild hunger.
"We can do this the easy way or the hard way, Stefan. You can answer me on your own volition. Or I run you through a few times with that sword," he gestures to a particularly lethal looking sword hanging on the wall behind them, "and then compel you to answer me. Either way you're going to answer me."
Stefan's eyes flick from Elena to Katherine. "Elena," he rasps hurriedly, "It should be Elena."
Klaus shrugs. "No surprises there I suppose. Damon? Pick a girlfriend please."
Damon does not hesitate for a second, even though he is still grimacing in pain.
"Katherine," he utters clearly. "Take Katherine."
Elena's brow furrows in confusion. What happened to "I will always choose you?" Hadn't he wanted to find her a cure, hadn't he told her he didn't want her to suffer anymore? Was everything they shared a lie? Some messed up way of holding onto Katherine that he would only now, in this moment, admit? She manages at look at Katherine who merely rolls her eyes.
Klaus doesn't seem surprised at his choice either. "One of you always has to play the hero," He laughs wearily, "Well it's nice to know there are some things in life you can absolutely depend on." He turns to Elena. "You see Elena, Damon cannot bear the thought of you having to live out what is left of your miserable existence as a human blood bag with the guilt of knowing that your blood is helping me create my army. He thinks that picking Katherine is sparing you that."
Then it hits her; in his own, strange, Damon logic, Damon is choosing her. He doesn't want her to take it so she can live, even if she is undead.
"Unfortunately for Damon," Klaus continues, "I really only wanted to satisfy my curiosity. You see," he explains, "regardless of the sire bond, the blood of a vampire's sire is a powerful thing. In order to administer the cure, the vampire in question needs to drink the blood of the vampire who turned them. Even if I wanted to turn Katherine back, which let's be honest, would not be nearly as much fun, her sire is dead."
Klaus leans down next to Elena, his face inches from hers. His breath smells of blood and spearmint gum. "You're going to take the cure Elena. You can take it willingly like a good girl, or I can force you. The choice is up to you." He gestures to Stefan and Damon. "I still, however, have one more question to settle before we proceed. Both of them have proven they are willing to die for you, I wonder, is either of them willing to live for you?"
Elena realizes his intent slowly. "No..." she lets out softly in disbelief.
"You have got to be kidding me," Katherine comments dryly.
"I warned you not to cross me," Klaus reminds them evenly. "Do you remember what happened last time when I forced Stefan to bite you? Consider that a warm up exercise. Pick a Salvatore."
"No," she says firmly. Klaus grabs her by the hair and tilts her head back. His jocular facade is gone, leaving only the seething, boiling rage.
"You have one minute to pick a brother Elena. Otherwise I will pick one for you. Then I will kill the other one. Then I will kill Katherine and Jeremy and Tyler. I will even kill Caroline. I will then go to Mystic Falls and I will kill Matt and Bonnie and everyone else you have ever cared about, spoken to or so much as glanced at. I will massacre the entire town and I will do it all slowly and painfully while you remain alive, providing me blood and whatever else I need as long as I consider you useful. Do I make myself clear?"
He releases her hair and she nods, tears stinging her eyes with the undoubting knowledge that there is no bluff to call. There is nothing left to stop him. She can't bring herself to look at either Salvatore.
She knows who she wants. But she doesn't know if she can bring herself to utter it.
Damon manages to catch her eye anyways and he shakes his head no, his eyes pleading with her not to do this. Elena bites back tears. She knows now what Lorne meant about what she wanted coming with a high price. The pain eats at her. She knows what she wants; she knows who she wants. If she has to pick a brother to live out whatever is left of her life with, she doesn't have a doubt in her mind which one it is. But he shakes his head again.
Stefan's name is on the tip of her tongue. Whether she wants it or not the sire bond is working its will. Stefan gazes at her, neither pleading nor angry, but lovingly. Elena looks back at him and her heart breaks; in this moment, she truly realizes just how much she has already broken his. Still, she can't bring herself to pick him either; he wants a life with her she can't give him anymore. Choosing him would be a cruel fate.
The alternative is just as horrible, despite how much she wants this life with Damon, Katherine's words echo in her head.
"An ordinary life in ordinary town with an ordinary family are never going to be enough for him, Elena. It wasn't in 1864 and it's not going to be now."
He absolutely does not want is no right choice. No matter which one she chooses, one or both of them are going to hate her for it.
She bites her tongue, doubling over in pain as the sire bond tries to make her choice for her. It is unbearable and her vision blurs. She can hear Katherine cry out, a scuffle as one of the boys tries to get to her. Klaus grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her.
"What is wrong with you?" he shouts. Elena raises her head. Suddenly everything is clear; she feels a thousand times lighter, than she has since she turned. Damon is lying on the floor with Kol's foot on his back, Stefan is struggling, held back by his designated lackey. Even Katherine is straining against her vervain binding.
"She just broke the sire bond," Katherine announces quietly, a little bit of awe in her voice.
They all sit for a moment in shock before Klaus recovers. "Let's test it, shall we?" he suggests.
He motions for Kol to lift Damon up again. Elena cries out in shock and anger as Klaus plunges his hand once again into his chest but it no longer affects her physically. Klaus lets him go and motions for another towel. "Isn't that fortuitous?" he quips, drying his hands. "Tell me Elena. Now that you're deciding with your full faculties which brother will it be?"
Elena looks around the room, taking in everything clearly. "Neither," she pleads, frightened for this potential future. "Don't make them do this. They don't want this. I don't want this."
"That would be the point. I am losing patience with you, Elena. You have ten seconds before I pick one for you and the other one gets their heart ripped out."
There is no right choice to make, but at least the one she makes, she knows with every fibre of her being—is her own. Her eyes fall on Damon; his eyes are glassy, barely able to focus on her. He is barely conscious at this point, were Kol not holding him upright, he would most certainly collapse. "I pick Damon," she states evenly, giving Klaus the most withering look she can muster.
Stefan remains impassive, as if he were resigned to this; Damon brings his eyes to hers and asking only one question. Why?
Klaus wastes no time however. "See, that wasn't so hard was it?" He nods to Kol and the other vampire, "Kol, Marco, take Stefan and Katherine downstairs, please. I don't need them at the moment."
Kol lets Damon collapse unceremoniously to the floor. Elena can't tell if he is unconscious or just unable to move. Kol strolls over to Katherine, hauling her to her feet, the other vampire, Marco, does the same with Stefan. Stefan fixes his eyes on the floor, not meeting hers, but Katherine fixes her with a warning glance as the other vampire hoists her over his shoulder and carries her out. Then they are gone, the door slamming behind them.
Klaus grabs Damon by the neck and lifts him to his feet. "Congratulations, Damon. For once in your miserable excuse for a life, someone actually picked you."
Damon lets out a harsh, rattling laugh. "Only took me a hundred and seventy years," he quips. "You're what, a thousand and something, and still waiting? What's your excuse?" Damon keeps his expression stalwart, defiant, but his eyes frighten her. She's never seen him look quite this way before, deep down, he is running scared.
Klaus ignores him and turns to the woman in the corner. "Are you ready love?"
"Absolutely," she replies, shutting the book she's been concentrating intently on this entire time. She comes over and stands in front of Elena. She is so hungry her fangs burst out at the scent of her blood. The woman doesn't even blink, just regards her clinically.
"It shouldn't take much to fix her up, should it?" she asks Klaus, her accent indicating she is definitely American. Elena senses something decidedly off about her; there's a sinister twist in the corner of her mouth, a thirst for power in her eyes.
Klaus actually looks puzzled by her question. "Why would I want to do that?"
"I've been looking at the spell and I think the better condition she's in, the less likely it'll kill her."
"I can get her fixed up." He tugs Damon by the neck. "This one is going to take a little longer, though."
"Let's get them upstairs then," she replies. "We can at least get started with her while he recovers." Klaus nods to one of his lackeys who grasps Elena and pulls her to her feet. The witch undoes the vervain ropes binding her feet so she can walk. Elena aims a kick at her, but she dodges it easily.
The four of them and the witch make their way out of the room, into a large hallway, still with stone walls. One set of stairs leads upwards, another leads down. Elena struggles against the lackey as he shoves her towards the stairs, but he keeps a firm grip on her. Ahead of her, Damon barely stumbles along with the help of Klaus.
"Where are we?" Elena asks.
"That is need to know information," Klaus replies, "And let me assure you, you do not need to know."
A door opens and they are shoved into a doctor's office of sorts. There are a few hospital beds, a number of strange machines. A human is standing by the sink washing his hands.
Elena and Damon are pushed onto the bed so they are sitting next to each other. Damon's head lolls toward her, resting on her shoulder. She wants to say something, but she isn't sure what. And whatever it is she needs to say, she doesn't want to do it with an audience. Klaus and the human speak rapidly in a language she can't place.
"They're speaking Italian," Damon mutters under his breath. Elena feels her breath catch in surprise at his coherence. "They're trying to figure out the best way to make sure you're in peak condition before they give you the cure." He pauses a moment, listening, then continues, "Klaus is mad at Kol for binding you guys with vervain ropes; it's rubbed into your skin and he can't compel you until it wears off."
Klaus finally finishes his conversation, most likely because he can hear Damon translating.
"Elena, I'm unbinding your hands," Klaus instructs, "I can't compel you yet, but you're going to behave, because if you don't, I will take it out on Damon. And if that isn't enough for you, your poor little brother will suffer instead. Is that clear?"
"Crystal," Elena seethes.
The human comes forward and unbinds the ropes on her hands. Elena lays one of her hands on Damon's. Klaus hands her a blood bag which she takes in her other hand and drinks eagerly. Consulting with the human—that Elena assumes must be a doctor— they examine the rope burn on her hands and feet which are healing rapidly now that she is drinking blood.
"What do you think?" Klaus asks the witch.
She examines Elena's wrists carefully. "She should be alright."
"Does he have to offer her the blood willingly?" he questions.
The witch shakes her head. "The sire's blood itself should be enough. As long as she drinks while I say the spell and then she drinks the cure, it should be fine."
"Excellent." Klaus unbinds Damon's hands and holds his wrist out to Elena.
"Do we have to do this with an audience?" Elena snipes.
"Just drink it," Klaus growls.
"It's okay, Elena," Damon assures her softly. "Drink."
"Damon..." she says softly. "Katherine told me what this means." She feels like everything she needs to say is in that sentence.
"It's okay," he tells her reassuringly, "I want you to."
Klaus laughs. "Isn't that nice? He's hoping you'll kill him."
The tender look he gives her, though, tells her the opposite; this is his way of saying he forgives her. She keeps her eyes locked on his as she takes his wrist in both hands and bites down. The witch starts chanting something, but Elena can barely hear her. This time she wants this too and his blood is incredible. He brings his free hand up, cupping the back of her neck gently and she presses herself closer to him, knowing she could never get enough.
"Easy there," Klaus advises, pulling her off him. Elena blinks dazedly, but before she knows what is happening, they take Damon away. She tries to keep her eyes on him, but the lackey is hauling him out of the room in moments. Klaus barks an order at the doctor and looks into her eyes, his pupils dilating.
"Elena, you're going drink this cure, and you're not going to resist," Klaus instructs her. With Damon's blood in her system, her wounds have healed and the vervain has worn off, leaving her powerless to resist his compulsion.
The witch starts chanting again, and Klaus hands Elena a vial.
"Drink all of this," he commands her. Elena brings the vial to her lips, opens her mouth, and swallows the bittersweet cure.
The room starts to spin until all the colors melt away into a dark haze. Klaus helps her lie down on the bed. The witch comes to stand over her, strange words spilling from her lips.
A first, nothing happens, but then her veins begin to pulse. Bright colours dance before her eyes, making her head ache. She feels as if she is on fire. She loses all her sense of the room around her; she no longer hears the chanting, and the colours disappear. There is only blackness and biting, stinging pain.
For a while she tries to focus, thinking of things that give her peace; her mother, her favourite sweatshirt, the smell of Damon's shampoo. But then the pain takes over and she can focus on nothing else. It goes on and on and on and on. She loses all sense of time, of anything but the burning pain.
Her heart beats faster and faster. It excels to a pace she is sure no human or vampire can handle. Her muscles spasm. She can barely retain her ability to breathe. At some point she is quite sure she stops altogether.
Then, suddenly, it seems everything slows; she can hear the faint beeping of a machine next to her, the occasional murmur of voices, never in English. She fades in and out of consciousness. Her head aches, her throat burns. The fuzziness begins to clear and her eyes begin to focus.
Her mouth feels dry, her throat burns even worse, but it is not blood she craves.
"Water," she rasps. Someone brings water to her lips, again and again until she is sated. This time, she falls into a deep sleep.
Elena wakes to the faint beeping of machines. Slowly, she opens her eyes; she is in the same room she remembers from before. Only now, she is wearing normal pyjamas. A variety of tubes are sticking out of her arms. She feels different. The burning in the back of her throat that haunted her for months is gone; she feels a calming warmth from her fingers and toes. Nothing is too loud or too bright. Her nose itches and for the first time in months, she sneezes. She knows it is selfish, that this has come at a high cost. This is not a gift. She can't help it though. She smiles.
The doctor comes forward, speaking in rapidly in Italian, but she merely gapes, not understanding. He helps her sit up and hands her water, which she sucks down eagerly. For months she has choked down normal food and water, even though it brought her little taste. Now the water tastes sweet, clear.
"Hungry?" the doctor asks her in broken English. He is an older man with kind eyes. Elena feels for him; he probably doesn't want to be here anymore than she does.
Elena thinks for a moment, trying figure out whether or not she is hungry. She has forgotten what human hunger feels like. "Yes," she finally tells him. He nods and brings back a tray of food for her. It isn't much, just a few pieces of bread and some fruit.
"Slow," he advises. She nods, understanding her stomach is probably not equipped to keep much down. She chews slowly and carefully, enjoying the taste of food again. She eats until she is satisfied and stops, enjoying the pleasure of actually feeling full, one the bloodlust never really afforded to her.
"Thank you," she tells the doctor sincerely. He smiles widely in response. "What's your name?" she asks. He looks at her in confusion. Elena points to herself. "Elena," she announces.
He nods and points to himself. "Angelo Columbi."
Elena holds out her hand, "It is nice to meet you," she says. He nods, understanding.
"Aren't you charming?" Klaus oozes sarcastically from the doorway. Elena's pleasant expression falls. She turns to him, eager for answers.
"Where is Damon?" she asks, concerned that is he has not been in the room with her. "What have you done with my brother and Caroline and Stefan and Katherine? Where am I? What day is it?"
"So many demands, Elena. You've been out for a few weeks. It's the end of January."
"I've been out for a whole month!"
"You're looking better than Damon is."
"Let me see him. Please," she begs. "What have you done with all of them?"
"They're all alive, Elena. And they'll stay that way if you behave yourself." He leans closer to her, his pupils dilating. "Tell me, did you find your witch?" he questions, compelling her.
Elena thinks around his answer. Technically, they did not find the witch. "No," she replies. "I don't know where she is."
Klaus leans back, contemplating this. He has a preoccupied furrow in his brow; Elena wonders what he is up to. She hopes he phrased his question the same to Katherine and she replied the same. Klaus must be satisfied with her answer because he motions to Dr. Columbi.
"I'm going to translate while the doctor examines you. You seem to be recovering well, but we want to make sure everything is on the up and up." He gives her a lingering glare. "You're going to behave."
Elena obediently lets them weigh and measure her, test her reflexes, her vision, and her hearing. Klaus translates constant questions about her health before she turned: did she ever have migraines, seizures, asthma, does she know the nature of the brain haemorrhage she had the night she was turned? She draws the line when he asks her about her menstrual cycle.
"I am not answering that," Elena rebuffs, crossing her arms. "It's none of your business."
Klaus sighs wearily. Even for a vampire, Elena observes that he looks a bit tired. "I assure you, Elena, I don't want to ask you these questions any more than you want to answer them. Just do it."
"Fine. My cycles were regular."
"And were you sexually active?"
"Are you kidding me?"
"I'll take that as a yes?"
"Why are you asking me questions you know the answer to?"
Klaus shrugs. "How would I know the answer to that? Unless you're insinuating you and I have that kind of a relationship." He lowers his voice conspiringly, "Just between us, I prefer blondes."
Elena remains defiant. "This is humiliating."
"I'm well aware of that. Answer the question or your brother is going to wish you had," Klaus threatens.
Elena scowls. "Fine. Yes. I was sexually active. And for the record, I hate you." She spits the last three words out with as much vehemence as she can muster.
"How many partners?"
"Two," she mutters.
Klaus arches an eyebrow. "Only two?"
"Yes," she seethes, picturing all the ways she could run him through with the broadsword hanging on the wall above her. It wouldn't kill him of course, but it would probably hurt quite a bit. The only thing holding her back is what he might do to Jeremy.
Klaus only ignores her anger and carries on with further about diet and exercise that are far less humiliating but personal none the less. Finally, they draw a sample of blood to test and put her back to bed.
Elena spends the next few days lying in bed, bored and worried. Klaus hasn't thought to provide her with any entertainment to speak of, leaving her with nothing to do but sit there and list all the ways she has ruined not only her own life, but everyone else's. Dr. Columbi checks on her regularly bringing food, clucking in Italian. She doesn't understand most of what he says, but she is glad for the company regardless.
Finally, Dr. Columbi declares her fit enough to take a few litres of blood. As she watches the dab of crimson begin to fill the bags, she is filled with a sense of familiarity. It feels like a life time ago since she last sat in this position, watching her blood seep from her body. It has only been a few months though; just a few months and she has reverted smack dab back to where she started the day she became a vampire.
After he finishes taking her blood, he gives her some supplements and puts her back to bed. She sleeps for awhile, and when she wakes, Klaus is standing over her.
"What do you want?" she asks groggily. "I've already given you my blood; what more could you possibly want from me?"
"Come now, Elena. Isn't this what you wanted? To be human again? Well now you've gotten your wish."
Elena just glares at him, not even bothering to sit up. "Seriously, what do you want?"
"I'm moving you to a different room. There's no need for you to be up here anymore. I thought you might be more comfortable in one of the bedrooms."
"Is this what it is going to be like?" she spits bitterly. "I'm just going to be your prisoner here forever?"
"Not forever, Elena. But for awhile longer yes. It won't be so bad. Come with me. And behave yourself," he adds. Elena sighs, and gets out of bed. She follows Klaus out of the room in her blue pyjamas. He leads her down a hall; she shudders as her bare feet hit the cold stone floors.
"What is this place?" she asks again.
"A fortress," Klaus responds vaguely. "I've had it re-outfitted over the years to suit my needs." He leads her down a set of stairs and up another. Finally, he comes to a stop in front of a door. One of the vampires from before stands guard in front of it and opens it for them.
"This will be your room while you're here," he tells her, gesturing she should enter. Elena looks around; it isn't a bad room. There's a four poster bed in the centre, flanked by two nightstands. A wardrobe stands in the corner. There's a small window looking out into the darkness, a bookshelf beneath it contains a few novels. Klaus opens the door to a small attached bathroom.
"There are clothes for you in the wardrobe and toiletries in the bathroom," he informs her. "You'll be brought food three times a day and someone will come once a week to take the laundry. You'll also be seeing Dr. Columbi again for a few checkups and more blood." He gestures to the bookshelf under the window. "If you run out of reading material, I have an extensive library. Tell me what you want and I will bring it up for you."
"Great. Thanks," Elena replies unenthusiastically, sitting down on the bed.
"I assure you, it is far more comfortable than your friends are experiencing downstairs," he tells her. Elena blanches.
"Can't I see them?" she pleads. "You say you're using them to keep me in line, but I don't even know you have them."
Klaus smirks and reaches into his pocket for his phone. "I thought you might ask for proof." He cues up a video and holds it out to her. Elena squints to see and then wishes she hadn't. It's Jeremy. He's lying on a filthy floor looking incredibly thin, exhausted and disgusting. He doesn't appear to have been tortured, though, which is more than she can say for the next one Klaus cues up of Stefan screaming.
"Stop it!" Elena screams. "Do what you want to me. Just let them go!"
"Now why would I get rid of such excellent leverage? I'll make you a deal. You behave, do what I ask, and I won't kill them."
"You don't have to do this!" she cries. "You could just compel me!"
"Well that wouldn't be much fun, would it now?" He looks into her eyes, his pupils dilating with compulsion. "I am going to have to ask that you do not try to harm yourself in any way or try to escape."
"I won't hurt myself or try to escape," Elena repeats. "Please, I am begging you. Let them go."
Klaus ignores her. "Have a good night, Elena. If you need anything, you can just stick your head out and ask Marco here. He'll be standing guard to make sure you don't try anything." He glances at his watch. "Dinner should be arriving for you soon."
"Klaus," she implores, "At least tell me, where is Damon? Is he alright?"
"Damon's dead." Klaus says, heartless with finality. He smirks at the shock on Elena's face. "Have a good night, Elena," Klaus repeats as he shuts the door.
Elena sinks to the floor, head in hands, pulling at her hair.
A/N: Ok, I'm ready, go ahead and express your outrage. I want to thank you all for reading and send special thanks to SkyeVenomatic for the beta, this story is a thousand times better thanks to her. If you're interested, I just recently posted a series of one-shots titled A Short History of the Salvatore Boys, the one shots fit into this universe but they also work stand alone. Thanks again for reading!