Markus was gone when Elena awoke the next morning. This left her feeling sullen, lonely and depressed. She was unsure why exactly she was feeling this way from Markus's obvious snub and avoidance of her, but nonetheless she did.

Elena had decided as of late, to not spend much time analyzing her feelings, as it always left her feeling in circles, torn, and even more confused. She remembered hearing stories and studying in school psychology, about victims of abductions starting to identify with their abductors, after being made to spend great lengths of time with them, and having to rely on them for everything. Giving the victim misplaced feelings of kinship, or loyalty.

Having this knowledge seemed to make things worse, because it left her feeling foolish. Like she should know better.

She found herself wondering how many abductors were as GQ looking as Markus. Ruggedly handsome, with that slightly square-ish jaw line, and high cheekbones. Yet polished to perfection.

With a nose that seemed somehow regal and complimented his face. Eyes you could get lost in and almost drown, with eyelashes, and hair, that would make a super-model jealous.

Then of course, there was that body! "Oh God, what am I thinking" she audibly admonished herself, harshly jerking her mind from the direction it was going in.

Oh what a slippery slope. Only this one, was paved in gold. What was it her mother use to say? Something about "the road less traveled and hardest", being the right one?

Elena found it pretty hard to believe very many had been down the road she was on. "Vampires, werewolves, witches, and Kitsune…oh my". She could not help but chuckle thinking about the yellow brick road being a red one. All she needed now was a pair of Ruby-Red heels to click together while saying, "I wish I was home".

Let's see, bravery... check. Heart...Check. Brain... Not so sure anymore?

It is amazing the thoughts one can come up with, with to much time on their hands.

Had she let herself down? When did Markus's touch switch from unwanted, to passionate embraces returned, that left her with a strange ache, in their absence?

Elena found herself suddenly in the nursery rubbing her hands softly over the rocking chair, which she knew Markus had spent the night it. Funny thing was she had been so lost in her own thoughts she really did not even consciously remember going in there. Almost as if she was on automatic pilot.

It was when her fingers touched something that felt crusty, like spilt food or something on the chair that jolted her mind back to the present and her surroundings.

"What in the world" she thought, while bringing her hand closer to examine the now flaky like substance on it and under her fingernails. It was reddish-brown giving the appearance of blood.

She looked back down at the chair and saw what looked like stripes, with the exception, of a few splotches were the substance had absorbed more into the material, leaving a more matted look.

Without thinking, she tasted her fingers, for conformation. It had a metallic-rust like tangy flavor, confirming her suspicion that it was blood. However, there was more to it. It also had a gamey wild type of flavor, she knew she recognized, but could not exactly recall where from.

She remembered when she was young and her father had brought home a deer, he had killed. He had been so proud of his antler trophy, and announced they wood be having venison steaks for a while.

Elena remembered that time well because it was the first and last time her father had ever gone hunting after he had seen how she had reacted to it.

She remembered running straight to her room and throwing herself on her bed and crying into her pillow, for what at the age of seven she considered Bambi.

After about five minutes or so, her father had came in and sat down beside her, not trying to make her look at him, but softly rubbing her hair, and explaining in tender tones, that hunting was not wrong if it was to feed your family. That the only time it was wrong was when people did it purely for sport. Which he had not done. To her seven-year-old mind, it still was Bambi.

Dad had tried to explain that,

"All meat had at one point or another been alive." It did not depend on if it was in supermarket packaging, or caught fresh by him, it was all the same. However some of the supermarket ones, the animals were not treated so well, and that the deer he had killed had not suffered, nor had it been afraid.

While his talk had helped a little...enough to get her to try a bite, the antlers were never hung, nor did dad hunt again after seeing how distressed she had gotten. Dad really was a good guy.

That had been long, long ago, and she did not remember exactly how it tasted, but remembered it did not taste like other meat she had, had. She had been told the taste was considered "gamy".

Was that it? Was that why this blood tasted familiar, even though this blood also had something almost sweet about it? All these questions flashed through her mind in a matter of what seemed like only seconds.

Then it hit, she felt a rush. Her face felt like it was flushing, and a sudden jolt of energy seemed to flash through her. It was far from unpleasant. Actually, it was just the opposite. Her insides seemed to warm, like drinking cocoa after being out in a snowstorm.

Recognition set in. This was definitely vampire blood, though she could not remember ever having any that was dry before, and was a bit shocked that such a tiny amount could be felt so strongly.

Did this depend on the age of the vampire it came from? Was Markus ancient and therefore his blood stronger, or did this have something to do with the fact that she was pregnant? Last but not least, did this have to do with the fact that her baby's daddy had been Damon...a vampire?

Why did Markus have blood on him? Was he hurt, and if so how? If Markus was hurt, what did the other guy look like...or girl? That last thought made Elena feel queasy. Whatever he had done, it was obvious he had not wanted her to see!