Elena paced the floor furiously. With each step, her mood seemed to grow fouler.

Just who the hell did he think he was? Obviously his time playing Markus had gone to his head. Did he truly believe he could keep her captive once again?

Maybe he had truly gone off his rocker. Maybe death had changed him, and Markus was now the real him. She sighed and flopped herself onto the bed.

She realized she could play the what if game all day long, but until she saw him

That was all it was…questions, and guesses. It was in that moment of self reflections she heard the bedroom door open.

She sprung to her feet, like a child that had been sent to their room awaiting father's arrival home for punishment. She found herself nervously wiping out the wrinkles from her gown which had accumulated (whether real or imagined) from the way she had so unceremoniously plopped herself, down on the bed. With a quick swipe of her fingers to the front of her hair, where a few strands had come loose and dangled in her face, she squared her shoulders to put on a much braver face, than what she felt. She raised her eyes, ready to plunge into a verbal attack.

Yet the air just cut off in her chest, as she found herself looking straight into midnight eyes, which seem to bore back into hers.

It was Damon, in all his glory. He seemed to have caught all the emotions that had just past through her, as that oh so smug smirk , that always seemed to start as a twinkle in his eyes, and then spread down one side of his face until it spread to his mouth and lips.

That when she realized she was looking at his lips, which of course he knew too.

Quickly she looked back up to his eyes, as to not be caught, but knew it was a useless attempt, as the damage had already been done. All of which just seemed to amuse him more.

In one stride he was in front of her and his fingers glided across her cheek. "What's wrong Princess, little brother not satisfying you?" Infuriated she tried to slap him,

But he had caught her had so fast she hadn't even seen him move. "Oh Elena…so predictable." He chuckled. Only making her madder, she went to bring the other hand up resulting in him having them both. He slowly leaned in, and she could feel his breath on her face. Unconsciously, or not she tilted her head up, just to see him pause. "I can hear your heart racing like an alley cat, you want it so bad."

Was he making fun of her? He pulled his lips away, and smelled her hair instead.

Well this certainly wasn't how she had pictured their first conversation going.

He turned his back to her, and went and poured himself a scotch, leaving her left standing there trembling.

"Where have you been? You know I'm not your prisoner. "The words just seemed to gush out of her mouth.

"Is that a question or a statement?" he asked, as he sat down and propped his feet up on the table, purposely letting his eyes linger on her bracelets. He swirled his drink before taking a sip. "Seems you have forgotten just where you are." He said with that smirk again.

Elena knew he was enjoying this way too much. Wanting to knock him down a peg, she spat out. "I'm not your prisoner Damon, I only came here to help you, and seeing as you appear to be doing just fine, it's time I return home to my daughter!"

If she had been hoping to return the favor of getting under his skin, it seemed to have worked. He abruptly threw his glass into the fireplace, making the flame jump, along with Elena.

"Don't play games with me Elena, I'm the master of them, and you will not win! Now where is my son?"

Now she had no doubt he was still delusional. She tried softening her tone.

Damon, I know you suffered some injuries and a pretty hard blow to the head.

I don't know what you think you saw, by I swear, Delena is your daughter."

"Delena hunh…catchy name. Nice try princess. Do you believe me a fool?

Injuries or not, I know what I saw that night. I can't believe you would try lying to me again, and over something like this. You can't keep him from me. He's mine Elena; I want to hear you admit it. You know I could have forgiven you for lying to me about what happened at the motel that night. But then you left me, after all our time together here and all I did for you. You practically ran to the altar with my brother. My BROTHER, Elena, and now the two of you plot to keep my son from me. YOU PUSH ME TOO FAR!"

He was now in front of her fangs out, and for the first time in a long time Elena felt truly scared of him.

Elena had backed up as far as she could. Her backside was pressing up against the bed, baring her from going further. She looked towards the door.

"Don't even think about it" he threatened her. "Do you know what I've been through for you? I sat back all this time watching you deny your feelings for me, and fawn over how good of a guy St Stefan was, as I ate my own heart. I rescued him from that prison, because I put your happiness above my own. I came back from the dead for YOU Elena, basically selling my soul in the process. For what…just to watch as you play lovey-dovey with my brother, as if my death had meant nothing to you? Had I not stolen you away when I had, God knows what you would have done with my child. I sat here going out each night and day fighting in the arena to pay for both my child's and yours freedom. Do you think children born here are just allowed to leave? No, Elena, that's not the way it works down here. What's born here belongs here; it has to stay here, unless you can pay. It cost blood Elena, not money. I had to fight to win both of your guy's freedom. While I was out fighting to the death, you were betraying me, and trying to slink away with my child, to steal it from me. I had mistakenly thought we could be a family.

I would win your freedom, and at the same time your love. With a fresh start as Markus, instead of the Damon you remembered, along with his transgressions. What a fool I've been. Are you proud of yourself Elena? You broke the great Damon Salvatore,

Never again, never…Damon is dead!" Before her eyes he morphed back into Markus.

"No Damon, you don't understand. Please let me explain!" She reached for the bag, but instead heard the door close.