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Her head was pounding.

No, scratch that-Everywhere was pounding. Every inch of her body hurt-her head, her arms, her legs, her face…She licked her lips to find that they tasted like blood. Elena focused on the old wardrobe as her vision cleared, and she realized that she was back in her room. Well, not her room, the room that she had to share with Stefan. The room that she was raped and hit in. The room with all the horrible memories. There was nothing spirit lifting about this room, it was torture residing in it.

The voices seemed distant, but then she seemed to remember. Of course. She was trying to escape, and then…

Then they caught her.

Stefan and Klaus.

The brunette panicked-remembering the way Stefan had held her against his body as Klaus touched her. It was nothing big really, it was a small brush of his fingertips, but it disgusted her. She remembered thinking about what could have been, how far it could have gone and what he could have possibly and so easily have done to her. She winced at the bitter thoughts and tried to rid them from her mind but it was no use. She remembered the pain as Stefan applied pressure on her neck, and then it clicked. They had brought her here to punish her, to torture her. They wouldn't just forgive her. They were going to hurt her.

She opened her mouth to scream and raised her hands to move, but it was then that she realized that there was something cold on her wrist. She stared in panic and her eyes grew wide in horror.

She was chained to the wall. What the hell? Oh God, no, Elena thought, expecting the worst. What were they going to do to her? God help me, she prayed. Damon, please come back.

"Look who's awake," Stefan smirked at Klaus, and Elena saw the men coming towards her. Stefan was holding a pocket knife. Klaus nudged her with his shoe, then drank her in, undressing her with his eyes. The clothes that covered her body felt useless. She felt so exposed the way his eyes darkened as he looked at her. It disgusted her as she could only imagine what he was thinking as he looked at her.

"Hmm," He commented, a grin across his face. "Not so tough now, are we?" He reached out for her, squeezing her face between his hands. "Weak mortal."

Elena tried to stop tears from forming.

Then, Klaus looked beyond furious. "How did you open the door tonight, Elena?" His eyes were cold as he moved in front of her, his fingers brushing against her hips suggestively.

"The door was open," She cried out immediately, the lie escaping her lips so easily.

"Don't lie to me," Klaus let his fangs descend and he grabbed her face. Elena felt helpless as her pinned, chained hand lay limp, unable to fight him off. His grip on her face tightened and she felt pressure on her cheeks, his hands felt like they were crushing her jaw bones.

"I'm not lying. The door was open…" She whispered what she could with the way he was holding her face. It made it hard for her to speak.

"My naïve little mortal, you better tell the truth now or you're going to be sorry. You have powers, don't you?" he continued to tighten his grip until Elena felt like she was suffocating.

Elena resigned herself. "Yes."

"What can you do?" Klaus demanded.

"Telekinesis…and telepathy," She whispered, looking away instantly. She hated that she needed to reveal her 'secret weapon'. She didn't know exactly how it was a secret weapon because she didn't know how she could use it against people like him but there could have been a way-in the future. That could never be the case now though.

"So what, you can move objects with your minds and communicate with your mind? Do you practice?" He asked question after question. His voice was cold but he equally seemed intrigued. Of course he was interested in what she could do... all the better reason to take her for his use. She shivered, trying to erase the scary thoughts of Klaus taking her away to be of his personal use.

No. Ever since I was kidnapped, the powers weren't working. Until now. I opened the door with my mind." She replied, feeling defeated. She didn't want to tell them but she didn't really have a choice.

"Interesting," Klaus commented softly, reaching towards the girl, his lips close to her ear. "So you really are special, Elena."

"I will be stronger than you, Klaus," Elena said bravely, "I just need time. Trust me."

"Says the girl who is chained to the wall," Klaus let out an evil laugh. "Do you understand how pathetic you look?" He sighed. "But anyway. You tried to leave this place without permission-escape. There are surely consequences, my dear girl." He continued to trace her facial features, his hands on her chest now, taunting her.

Elena closed her eyes.

"Stefan, please?" Klaus asked sweetly in his British accent, pulling away.

Without warning, Stefan rolled up her dress to reveal her torso. She felt a knife cut into her skin and she realized that she was being marked-marked as Stefan's.

"This mark will stay with you forever," Stefan smirked cruelly. "A gentle reminder that you're mine."

"I'll never be yours!" She hissed between sobs and cries of agony.

"The world will think differently with a mark like that." He pointed to the gash with the weapon he used to make it. He felt pretty proud of himself in that moment, he was right full of glee.

Blood pooled at her belly and Elena cried out, wiping away tears.

As if the carvings on her body were not enough, Elena had to go through hours of pure torture-being repeatedly hit, and memories of Damon flashing through her mind. By the time they were finished with her, Elena's body was black and blue. Everywhere was marked.

"Please, stop," She finally begged when she couldn't take it anymore.

Klaus once again walked towards her, his fingers playing with the hem of her dress. "If you try to escape again, it will be much worse next time. Just remember that Stefan won't hesitate to claim you again."

"Stop it!" Another voice called, and weakly, Elena recognized the voice as Victoria's, and then Kol's.

"You have hurt her enough, brother," Kol said, his eyes narrowed. Klaus shrugged and looked at Elena like she was a piece of disgusting meat.

"Let's go, Stefan. I think princess here has learnt her lesson." Klaus eyes his brother carefully before glancing at Elena once last time. He shot her a devilish grin before spinning on his heels and leaving. His other slave-Stefan, following closely behind.

When Kol and Victoria leaned against Elena they found the girl cold as ice. Her hands were still chained, but her head was hanging freely as If she was a helpless, one week old child.

"Kol, I think something's wrong," Victoria panicked, "She's not breathing properly…"

Kol immediately supported Elena's head so that she could examine Elena. "Elena, can you hear me?"

But he didn't get a response...

"Klaus, why are you interested in Elena's powers?" Stefan asked curiously. "I mean, she's just a bloodbag for you, right? She'll just make your hybrids…" Stefan tried to understand what was so special about that measly human. Sure she was a looker and she tasted good but was everything they were doing really necessary? Was she that much of use to Klaus. Surely they could just kill her like all the others and be on their merry way. Klaus was keeping something from him.

"Stefan," Klaus smirked, "Doppelgangers are species as well…and some of them are chosen. Why do you think I need Elena? Just for hybrids? You are truly mistaken, Stefan. Elena can offer much more than that, and I knew it since the beginning."

"But what…"

"Shh, Stefan. I believe that you should stop asking questions." Klaus would never tell Stefan what he was really keeping Elena held hostage for. And it bothered him immensely but he dropped the topic, knowing his master wouldn't give in.

Klaus walked to a locked room. "Damon's body is in the casket, locked by the witches. I hate what your brother became, Stefan. Would you be ready to train him, to encourage him to join us? You know that your brother broken all the rules. All I ever wanted was for you to sell humans and get the blood-the payment. No complications."

"My brother screwed up." Stefan shook his head as if he were ashamed. "He's nothing to me anymore, Klaus."

"You both did. You are weak, both of you." Klaus spat. "You're no better than Damon. I'm just offering you a second chance because I felt kind and generous at the time."

He sighed, before walking next to the casket and opening it.

His face turned white.

"The body. The body's not here!"

"What's going on?" Victoria asked in horror as Elena laid frozen.

"She got severe head injuries," Kol said in a few minutes. "She…Victoria, Elena's in a coma."

Quiet footsteps were suddenly heard. "Is it safe for her to see me now?" A familiar voice asked gently.

Damon.

Victoria raised and turned to Damon, who was now still, his face panicked. "Damon, I'm so sorry…" She tried to tell him.

"What's going on?" Emotion clogged his throat as he spoke. "Why is Elena...?"

"She…We weren't quick enough. She tried to escape, and they beat her . She has severe head traumas, Damon, she's in a coma…" Victoria tried to say as much as she could. It was just enough for him to understand what had happened but he'd get filled in on the details later. His non-beating heart had metaphorically stopped at the sight of his lover.

He didn't really understand where he'd been but he knew he needed to see his Elena. And now he was helpless. "We have to do something, please…"

He let silent tears stream down his face as he realized that the harsh reality had forbidden them to be with each other yet again.

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Details about how Damon woke up will be revealed next chapter, don't worry.