Hi lovelies! Again, sincerest apologies for being so late with this chapter but I've been so so busy :( Anyway, this chapter isn't an extremely eventful one - more of a filler, if you will but I still dearly hope that you enjoy it. The main character in this chapter is Elena and I hope that's ok! Even still, we'll be seeing a lot more of our favourite couple in the next chapter. So until then - stay lovely darlings!

x

I hurried quickly down the street. Every so often, I caught glimpses of the price tags in the fancy boutique shops and was astounded again and again at how much money these people both had and spent. I glanced back over my shoulder again, positive I would see Damon sprinting towards me. He wasn't in sight, but I knew he wouldn't be far off. A small side street caught my eye and I veered off into it, just hoping there wouldn't be someone waiting to mug me.

Thankfully, the street led into a busy market, lined with shop stalls. This was far busier than the last street, and seemed a lot less snooty, although I was guessing there wouldn't be anything too cheap here either. The little stalls were brightly coloured, selling everything you could imagine, from toys to food to clothes. I slunk down behind them, trying not to catch anyone's eye. I was in a place filled with vampires, all of whom could kill me in a heartbeat. This did not aid my already shredded nerves.

A cool breeze whistled through the air and I shivered. My thin dress wasn't cut out for this kind of weather. I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and I spun around, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end. An older woman – vampire – with salt and pepper hair and warm amber eyes was smiling at me.

"Are you ok pet?" She asked, her voice gentle.

I took an automatic step back, positive this was some plan to get me into a dark room to kill me or something. She took in my tattered dress, my wide eyes and my defensive stance and nodded knowingly.

"To get to the Pail, you need to continue on down this street, take the first left and then follow down through there. You'll get to it soon enough dear."

I said nothing, just watching as she gave me a final smile and turned away, walking in the opposite direction. I was tempted to run after her and thank her but I didn't want to draw any more attention to myself.

By the time I had reached the end of the street, I had decided on my plan. I would hide in the woods beside the Pail for a day or two, so I wouldn't be found at my house. Then I could visit, take food and hide out again. My main problem was I didn't have any food for the days before I went back to my house. I knew I would survive – I had gone without food before, it could happen again but I knew it would be best to keep my strengths up. I had been stupid to not eat the breakfast Damon had given me, and to prove this point, my stomach grumbled.

Suddenly a bright yellow stall caught my eye. It was selling fruit and vegetables and loaves of bread which all looked delicious but it was the sign on the front that got my attention. We accept blood payments.

Before I could stop myself, I was hurrying over to the stall. A pretty young woman was perched on a stool, flipping through a magazine. She looked up and smiled when she saw me.

"May I help you?" She asked, her voice clear and sweet.

I swallowed and licked my lips.
"What's...what's a blood payment?" I asked hoarsely and she shrugged, putting down her magazine. "Basically you give me blood instead of money. Not too much obviously. We wouldn't want you to faint!"

I hesitated. I needed food, I knew did...but did I trust this stranger who happened to be a vampire? She saw my expression and sighed, sitting back.

"Look kid, it looks like you need it. So just take what you need. Don't tell anyone mind – I don't want a line of people wanting free stuff at my stall."

I stared at her. Maybe she hadn't actually thought I would take it but I was from the Pail and you didn't just turn down an offer of free food. "T-thank you." I stammered and she smiled and handed me a plastic bag. I shakily put a loaf of bread and a few apples in it before thanking her again and carrying on my way quickly.

I continued the way the woman had told me to go, a bit confused by the amount of kind strangers I had met today. Vampires weren't meant to be kind to humans – they were meant to use us and spit on us and take our blood. Not give us directions or free food. I looked up and froze. The fence that separated the Pail and Shire was in sight.

I broke into a sprint, clutching the bag of food close to me. I was going to make it, I was finally home...but then someone grabbed my arm, pulling me to a halt and purring in my ear. "Not so fast princess."

Oh God, he was going to kill me. He really was, I could feel it in my bones. Would he hurt my family too? Why had I been so stupid?

"I'm impressed you managed to get this far." He murmured as my heart thudded erratically. "But still, not exactly a clever idea, trying to get away from a vampire. I thought you were smarter."

"Let me go!" I snarled, struggling to get out of his grip. He snorted before spinning me around, forcing me to look into his piercing blue eyes.

"Some vampires would drink you dry if their donors tried to escape." He said with a hint of threat in his voice as he brushed a strand of my new silky hair out of my face.

"So go on then."I spat, glaring at him. "Kill me."

He seemed to consider it but then smirked. "I think I'll keep you for a little bit longer." He purred and I felt my heart sink. He suddenly focused in on the bag of food and frowned.
"Who gave you that?" He asked, holding out his hand for the bag. I held it tightly, determined that I would somehow get this home.
"I don't know. Someone at the market." He raised an eyebrow, retracting his hand.
"Let me guess. You want to give it to your family?"
I didn't reply and he rolled his eyes. "Fine. Let's go then." He let go of me and began to walk into the Pail. I stared after him in horror – he couldn't go in there! He'd end up causing an angry mob or something – at best.

He realised I wasn't beside him and I could hear his sigh even from a few feet away. He turned around slowly, as though it was physically paining him to do so.
"What's wrong now?" He asked through gritted teeth. I looked at him like he was mad – of course he knew what was wrong! "You can't go in there!" I hissed, and he rolled his eyes.
"You'll find that I can in fact. Besides, I have a letter to give to your mother." This changed everything and I froze. He produced a sealed envelope from his jacket and I had to fight the urge to snatch it from him.
"Who's it from?" I asked suspiciously, taking a step towards him. He laughed and put it back into his coat.
"That's for me to know and you to...dot dot dot." He winked smugly and I wanted to slap him. But my curiosity got the better of me and I had to follow him.

"How do you know where I live?" I snapped, a bit freaked out when I realised that he was going the exact way to my house.
He rolled his eyes and kept walking. I felt more and more sick as we came closer. It eventually came into sight and he glanced at me with...pity. My cheeks burned red as I saw the old bungalow in a completely new light – the grey paint was peeling from the walls, the wood splintering from the door. One of the few windows was cracked and slates were missing from the roof and I hated him for making me feel embarrassed of my own home.

The door was flung open suddenly and Mom appeared, running into the front garden. She froze when she saw who was with me though and her expressions flashed from fear to anger to blankness.

"Elena sweetie. Are you ok?"

Before I had a chance to answer, Damon stepped forward, pulling the letter out of his pocket. "From your husband." He said emotionlessly and she grabbed it from him, tearing it open and reading it quickly. Her face dropped and she looked up.
"What's this?" She whispered and I saw Damon was fighting hard to control the urge to roll his eyes.
"That is a letter written to you by Grayson Gilbert, your husband."
"This...this isn't my husband...it can't be." She whispered, the colour draining from her face. Damon raised an eyebrow.
"It is. If I were you, I'd be pleased. He's making sure that you can't be blamed for any of it."
"By separating from me!" Mom screeched and I felt a jolt in my stomach. Dad wanted to split up from Mom? If there was one thing that I was certain of, it was that those two loved each other. Or so I had thought. What was it that letter?

"I need to see him. I need to see Grayson." Mom was saying over and over.
"That's not allowed Mrs. Gilbert, you know that." Damon's voice was quiet but the threat was obvious. Mom's wild eyes flicked to me.
"What's happened to you?" She spat, and I winced. I didn't get a chance to answer though, because Damon did it for me.
"She got food and rest, two things that are seemingly lacking in this house." Mom's face turned puce and she reached out to grab my wrist. Then she saw my neck, in its bandaged glory and she literally went crazy, releasing me and springing at Damon, screeching and attempting to scratch him. "Mom!" I cried, wondering if she had a death wish as I hurried over to try and wrench her from him. Not that I wanted to help him obviously –I wanted to help her. Damon was standing pretty much totally still, looking down at her in vague disgust. I managed to get a grip of her arms and pulled her off of him.

"Get a grip!" I hissed at her, holding her arms behind her back because I wasn't sure if she would try and go at him again. But she didn't – she only turned to stare at me.

"Why are you sticking up for him?" She asked, sounding both hurt and confused and leaving me feeling like a knife was slicing through my heart. Damon caught sight of my expression and smiled smugly.

"Your daughter is worried you'll hurt me." He purred and I turned to stare at him. He caught my eye and smirked, continuing on to my mother, who now looked horrified.

"I've compelled her. Everything you do, everything you say, she'll tell me. Do you understand?"

I suddenly understood what he was trying to do and I shook my head in horror.
"Mom, no, of course that's not true!" I objected desperately, spinning to face her.

But the damage was done. She had stepped away from me, looking at me with open suspicion. I turned to glare at him but he simply grinned at me.

"I'll pick you up in the morning at 8.00 Elena. Be ready please." With that, he was gone, striding off back towards the Shire – leaving me alone with my fuming mother who now thought I was a total traitor. She shot me a look of total disgust, turning on her heel and striding back into the house.
"Mom!" I cried, trying to grab her sleeve.
"I can't deal with you right now Elena." She snapped, pulling on an apron and beginning to fumble around looking for something to cook with. That was when I remembered the crumpled bag in my hand and I cleared my throat hesitantly, offering it to her. She didn't take it, but regarded it with slight disinterest.

"It's food. I got it in the market." I whispered and she scoffed, rolling up her sleeves.
"I don't really want food from them, thank you very much Elena." She muttered coldly. To my extreme annoyance, I felt a lump form in my throat.
"Right." I said quietly, swallowing furiously. "That's...I'll just be in my room."

She didn't reply, and I put the bag down on the worn table carefully before slowly making my way to my tiny room, where I curled up in a ball on my thin mattress – I had to admit that it felt horrendous after spending the night on one of Damon's luxurious spare beds...I shook my head. No. I wouldn't think like that. I hated him. I hated all of them, and I would spend as little time interacting with them as possible. Otherwise – well, God only knows what the people of the Pail would do to me. Certainly not welcome me back with open arms anyway. What had I been thinking, even talking to Damon? Well, I would start again tomorrow – if I even went at all.

I let my eyes drift shut and slowly, comforted by the steady whistling of the wind outside; I fell into a deep sleep.