Finally, I updated. God, I was so busy- Very shitty weeks. But anyway, you got an update-hooray! I also updated "My Last Chance in saving my humanity" and Courtney updated "What Lies Beneath" the story we are co-writing together. Please leave a review :D

Elena froze on the couch hearing Kol's determined words. Her heart was now filled with hope, hope that her Damon was still there, and that it wasn't Damon who betrayed her. It was Klaus-It was all Klaus. Damon was just a victim, he was being possessed. It had been Klaus all along... now it made sense

"Kol, I will do anything to save Damon," Elena replied, "I love him."

Kol nodded his head. "There are a lot of sacrifices to be made, Elena. There is a long journey ahead of us. No one messes with Klaus, so we won't see lines of witches ready to help."

"What about me? What do you want me to do?" She asked, needing to help in any way possible.

"Listen up, Elena. Klaus is out of control. There was a time where this place was heaven. But now, every time I step inside, all I see is disaster. I want this place under my watch, I could make this place bearable. Luxurious even. It's a bloody massacre out there. Vampires getting exposed and I won't stand for it."

"Why is it so important to you that your secret stays safe?" Elena asked without second thought.

"That is none of your business, Elena. I might be helping you, but you still have to submit to me." His words were soft, but Elena shivered.

"I'm sorry," She choked out.

"Apology accepted," He gave her a cocky grin. "I will give you more details later, Elena. Until then, I want you to return to your room. I have business to attend to outside. You won't be seeing me for a few days."

Elena thought that it wasn't fair that he was going to leave her hanging for days, but she didn't breathe out a word.

"Until then, Elena," Kol smirked, placing a kiss on her hand before adding, "I highly doubt I need to remind you not to breathe a word of this to anybody."

Elena nodded and he was gone.

Elena slowly tiptoed to her room, shivering. It was suddenly very cold and since she was just wearing a strapless dress, she thought that her heart was going to give out. Every night in this hell was cold, there usually were no fires; even though the rooms were filled with fireplaces. Of course, humans were made to suffer here. The vampires thought of nobody but themselves. They didn't need heat therefore, they couldn't give two fucks. Elena hadn't met more conceited or obnoxious people in her life.

She held her breath and thanked the heavens that Stefan wasn't there. She took off her dress and slipped into the shower, finding the dirty white robe that Stefan had given to her during the first few weeks there. Then realization hit her, did she just say weeks? How long had she been there? The days were blurring into each other and it was hard to keep track. It wasn't like she had a calendar.

Days have pretty much blurred by, and she realized that she was getting older-ageing before her eyes. Her eyes were no longer smiling and shining when you look at them, they were just blank…lost. Dark circles had formed underneath her eyes, and she was sure that her hair was thinning. The stress that this place caused her was killing her slowly, getting rid of all traces of the happy Elena that had arrived. She'd been replaced and she didn't know if that girl was coming back. But thanks to Kol, she hoped a little further each day.

As she touched her body to wash it with frozen water, she found that she had been in so much pain that now it had become numb. All that was left were bruises. She let the tears stream down her face as she slipped in the gown, hugging it to her body, because it was the only thing that was left. She had no one. She might have had Kol, but she knew that he was helping her for his own benefit, not hers. She didn't mind as long as he got her out, but still the feeling of being lonely in this world scared her.

She also couldn't understand the sense of being in a place like this. What was the point of keeping humans slaves when they could easily snatch, eat, erase? What was the point in freeing a few humans every month or so? It seemed kind of like a game, a game for their own amusement. The thought sickened Elena but she didn't have anything else to believe it could be. There were a lot of things that didn't make sense, and she knew that she couldn't ask. Asking will only got her beatings and more work. Oh, how much she missed Damon, his touch and his warmth. She realized that she had missed him more than she had ever missed Jenna or Jeremy. Jenna and Jeremy! She thought all of a sudden, wondering what they could've been doing right now. Were they still searching for her, or did they give up? She wouldn't have blamed them if they did. People need to carry on.

Tears prick the corner of her eyes but managed to stay calm. She had learnt by now that crying only got her eyes red and puffy. She opened the door and nearly jumped out of her skin when she found Stefan on the bed.

"Where have you been?" He asked her, but she quickly noticed that his voice was different. He seemed tired, as if he was carrying the pain of a hundred years on his back.

"I got into an accident," Elena mumbled.

He nodded his head and motioned for her to come closer. Her legs started to shake, but she did.

He pulled her onto his lap. "Katherine," He said, "My Katherine."

Elena widened her eyes, shocked, and it was then that she smelled the alcohol on him. He rubbed his cheek against hers. "You are so beautiful, my Katherine…"

Her instinct was to tell him that she was not his ex-girlfriend, but she stopped herself quickly. It was better if she let him hold her and pretend that he was Damon. He stroked her hair and placed kisses on her neck, and Elena bit her lip to keep from crying. She did not want this man to touch her.

"Why so tense, my love?" He asked her, kissing her lips sweetly.

"Stefan, I think you should let go of me," Elena said slowly. "That way, we can…sleep," She said, trying to keep her face and voice natural.

"Okay," Stefan nodded, stumbling his way to the other side of the bed. He took off his shirt and pants and grabbed her, a bit roughly. He buried himself in her neck and wrapped one arm around her. "I love you, you do know that, don't you?"

Hearing his soft words, Elena couldn't help but feel her heart break a little. Because Stefan was like Damon in some ways. They were both broken and back stabbed. She could not feel sorry for the man who had raped and hit her more than once; but she did feel sorry that Stefan's life had become this.

"Jenna, I told you. It had taken us weeks to get this signal. I'm positive it's accurate," Liz told Jenna. "It leads to the Salvatore mansion, a few hours away from Mystic Falls. I've sent some of my deputies. I'm sure we will be able to take him down."

"And I'm telling you, Liz, no one lives there. At least not any more " Jenna said. "I drive to the University everyday, and I see the house. It looks abandoned."

"Look, Jenna. My deputies will search the place, and I want you to have faith. She's there, I can feel it. You just have to have faith."

"Okay," She said, "Thank you, Liz. I owe you."

"I'm just doing my job, Jenna."

In the morning, Elena woke up to find that Stefan was gone. She dutifully made the bed and was lucky enough to find a packet of biscuits for breakfast. They were disgusting and dry, but she didn't care. It was food-it kept her alive if only just barely.

It was then that she heard a little noise from underneath the bed, and Elena jumped in fright, expecting the worse. Her fears however went away when she saw something tiny under the bed. Curiously, Elena took a cautious step forward, and was shocked when she found out that it was Elle, the three year old girl Tara had told her about.

"Elle?" She spoke gently.

The little girl glanced up at her in surprise, and gave her a frightened look. "Pwease make the monsters go away."

"It's okay, Elle, I'm not a monster," Elena said gently, holding her hands for the little girl to take. "I'm not going to hurt you. What are you doing here?"

"I-I fowowed you," The girl said guiltily. "Because you verwy pwetty."

She followed her because she thought she was pretty? Elena smiled a genuine smile and reached out for the girl. "But what are you scared of? Are you hurt?"

"No. But...Victowia w-was m-mad and she looked scarwy," The girl buried her face in Elena's neck.

"Oh, sweetie," Elena said, giving the girl a tight squeeze. "But you can't be here. Stefan will be mad at you."

"I hate Stefan," The girl shocked her. "He verwy scarwy. Last time he p-pushed me, but then Victowia yelled at him and he left."

Elena cringed at the thought of this young girl being harmed by Stefan.

"Where is Victoria now, Elle?"

"I don't know," The girl sucked her thumb. "I wuv Victowia, but she scared me."

Elena sighed, seeing the true innocence of this little girl who had her life screwed up in such a young age.

"Well, Elle, let's go and find her then," She took her hand and lead her out of the room.

"No, pwease don't take me back." The adorable child begged. Elena wanted to give into her, so badly. She wanted to confort her and make all her scary thoughts go away but she knew they'd both be punished brutally if either of them got caught with each other away from their assigned destinations. Especially Ellie, they didn't seem to care that she was barely a kid.

"You have to, Ellie," Elena spoke gently. "You'll be alright."

At that moment, Elena heard a woman calling Ellie's name. "There you are!" The woman exclaimed, "Oh my God, don't you ever do that to me again, do you understand me?" She said, shaking the little girl by her arms. Ellie took a step back. "Ellie, what's wrong with you?"

The girl hid behind Elena, and the woman raised her face to meet Elena's eyes.

"You must be Elena Gilbert." The woman stated, half disgusted but half intrigued.

"And you must be Victoria." Elena answered back just as sarcastic.

"What is Ellie doing with you? Does Stefan know?" She said, her face frowned in disgust.

"I found her in my room this morning," Elena explained.

"I didn't hurt Ellie," Victoria said, as if she was answering an unasked question. "Things just got a little out of control. She's becoming quite a little brat. Come to my room, and we can talk."

"I don't think…"

"It's still early in the morning, Elena. You can afford some time off." She smiled, and this time her smile was gentle.

Elena nodded and followed the woman.

"Have a seat," She said, "Help yourself to some food." Elena sat with Ellie on her lap.

"I never thought I'd be seeing the doppelgänger," She muttered. "At least not here."

"You knew Katherine?" Elena asked curiously.

"Damn right I did. Katherine's the one who turned me."

"Oh." Elena's face darkens. "Then you must know about Damon and Stefan."

"Yes," She sighed. "Katherine was the rope in the brothers' tug of war. Until she died, that is."

Elena bit her lip, wanting to change the subject. "Why do you raise Ellie?"

"Her mother was a friend of mine," Victoria said without emotion. "I used to work as a CEO, and she was an employee, but also my best friend."

"She was human?" Elena found herself asking the obvious.

"Yes, Elena, she was. She was expecting a child," She glanced at Ellie. "Then a vampire got to her. He turned her."

Elena bit back a gasp.

"I tried to help her as much as I could. Poor soul, she couldn't understand what was happening to her. Her husband died at war, and when she was turning, I was positive that she was going to lose the baby despite the fact that she was eight months pregnant. But she didn't luckily." Victoria smiled curtly at little Ellie and focused back on her story.

"I helped her and tried to control her blood-lust but eventually she lost control and almost killed her newborn baby. She made me promise to take care of her daughter and name her Ellie. Then she walked out in the sun and died, in front of my eyes. There was nothing I could've possible done, I didn't have the time to think."

"Oh my God…" Elena's hands flew to her mouth. She pitied Ellie.

"I kept my promise and started to raise Ellie as mine."

"But why did you come here?" The human couldn't understand it. Why was she even telling her the story? It wasn't if she knew Victoria.

Victoria frowned. "Klaus. It's a long story which I don't like to share, Elena."

"I'm sorry." She muttered.

"Don't be. I just want you to be careful, Elena. Don't trust anyone here. Just remember that in the end, every one of you just wants to save yourself. I can't say more than that."

Elena spent the rest of the day working in the kitchen and cleaning, like always. It was always the same, boring and dreadful routine, one that she hated with all her heart. She couldn't help but notice that sometimes, they were less people. And she knew why. Usually they disappear after they take them to the mysterious locked room on the left of the main hall.

"What happens in there?" Elena had asked Tara earlier in the morning. "I saw them taking Kelly in there, and I haven't seen her since."

"I don't know," Tara had shrugged, "All I know is that whenever they take them there, we'll never see them again."

And now, Elena was in the main hall, waxing the floors next to the same room she was so curious about. The door was inviting her to go and check it out, but she carried on working, knowing that it would not end well for her.

But then she seemed to think about a few things. What if the room lead to an escape? There had to be an entrance right?

She slowly dropped the mop and stood in front of the door, trying to open it. It was obviously locked, but then she remembered her long, lost powers-She used to move objects with her mind. God…It was way too long ago. She had abandoned everything when she met Damon. But what if, her fear and determination could help her get out of here? She knew that Kol was trying to help her get Damon back, but she didn't trust him. If she got out, she could find answers, she was sure of that.

But how was she going to make this work? She had forgotten she had powers, yet alone how to use them.

She concentrated fully on the knock, trying to put her heart, soul and determination in the task. There was nothing.

"Come on, please," Elena thought, trying to remember the times she had pushed doors open with her mind.

Still, the door remained closed.

"God!" Elena cried out in frustration, rage taking over her, and the lights seem to black out for a few moments and when Elena looked, the door was burst open.

She gasped, unable to believe it but wasted no time in hurrying into the room.

The moment she stepped in, she felt cold, as if there was something bad there. There was a narrow black corridor, and for a while Elena regretted the decision.

She searched the place hoping that her eyes will adjust to the darkness.

She wasn't so lucky.

She had barely moved three more steps when she felt herself hit a stone-hard body. She let out a scream as the hands pinned her in place.

"And what do you think you're doing here?"

Elena gasped in horror at the familiar British accent and desperately tried to run away. This time, her body crashed into someone else.

"Elena, Elena, tsk,"

Stefan.

He pressed her back against his chest and pushed her hands behind her back, making her scream at the harsh pull.

She heard Klaus's footsteps and as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Klaus holding a candle, dangerously close to her face.

"Ah. My lovely doppelgänger," He smirked. "What is she doing here, Stefan?"

"I have no idea," Stefan bit out, jerking Elena's pinned hands.

"Ah, you're always causing trouble," Klaus moved closer to Elena and cupped her face. "You don't seem to understand that we can kill you in a mere second."

"You won't," Elena challenged. "I'm the doppelgänger. I know you need me, you filthy, disgusting leech."

That only earned her a slap across the face, but Elena never felt any more satisfied.

"You watch your mouth, princess," Klaus said next to her ear. "I might need you, but there are a lot of things I can do to torture you. Much more fun than killing you, I might add," He smirked, holding his finger out and caressing her collarbone, inching slowly down. Elena fought against Stefan's grip to defend herself from Klaus's touch, but she wasn't so lucky.

He continued to make patterns from her collarbone to her chest until his fingers danced on her stomach. "Hmm. I wonder if you have the fire like Katherine had."

"Please, stop," Elena begged as he played with the hem of her dress.

He chuckled. "So scared. Just like Katherine was. You Petrovas only act tough, but in reality, you're nothing. I'm not finished with you yet, though. Take her to the room, Stefan. I will join you in a few seconds, because I need to ask Miss Gilbert here a few questions, and she better answer them truthfully or I won't have any problems finishing what I started." He stroked her hip suggestively and smirked.

Elena didn't even try to fight as Stefan applied pressure on her neck. She fell limply in his arms, knowing very well that the worst was yet to come.

Tiny tiny spoilers ;)

1. The characters of Victoria and Elle are very important.

2. There is a specific reason why humans are kept in the house.

3. There is a reason why Kol wants to help Elena.

Please leave a review :)