Hello, guys! Sorry again for the delayed update, but I should really thank you for not giving up on this story. Your reviews and support has kept it going for so long despite how irregular I am with my updates. I'm working on balancing college and writing- please bear with me! *puppy dog eyes*

So here's chapter 15. I left you with a cliffhanger last time- another reason for you guys to be mad.. (but don't hit me *ducks*) Finally you'll find out what the hell happened to Elena. We left off with Damon telling Ric about Elena's past and that's where we pick up this chapter. Hope you guys like it. Have fun! :)

WARNINGS : Under- age relationships, child abuse, drugs, mention of rape, swearing., etc

"Why didn't she tell me about this?" Alaric's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with pain. "Hell, she shouldn't have had to. I can't believe I was so blind."

Damon handed him a glass of scotch. "She was just too good at hiding it."

"God, you should've told me something. You should've told me," He sucked in a shaky breath. "I had the right to know."

"She asked me not to," Damon downed the whiskey and poured himself another glass. It was the only way he could hold it together, at least for Ric's sake. "Told me there's nothing you could do."

"I could've been there for her. I could've taken care of her!"

Damon groaned, and it was a low sound of torment.

Alaric's hands shook so badly, he set his glass on the table. "That social worker, she must've known. How could she not tell me?" He looked at Damon helplessly. "There were signs… How could I not see them? Jesus, I blamed her for Gray and Miranda."

Damon's eyes had glazed over. "She begged me not to tell you. She made me promise."

"That wasn't her decision to make, Damon. She is a child."

"And I should've known better, is that it?" Damon cried, unable to contain his anguish. "I'm sick of thinking of her as a child. She's been though more than you and I could ever imagine. So yes, I respected her decision not to tell you until she was ready and besides, I thought there was no immediate harm since the dick was in prison."

"And you didn't think it was the least bit cryptic that social services conveniently chose to keep us in the dark?" Alaric's eyes narrowed. "Wait, where's her phone? You said she had been talking to some guy from her group home."

"Aaron," Damon said dismissively. "But, Elena only contacted him through mail."

Alaric retrieved Elena's phone from where he had flung it earlier, once again going through the text and nodding. "You thought he might've sent her that video. Do you think he sent her this?" He showed the text to Damon.

Damon squinted at the screen, his eyes slowly widening. "When was this?"

"Two weeks ago," Alaric said. "And that's it. That's the last text Elena received."

"What? That can't be right," Damon frowned. "I sent her plenty-" He cleared his throat at Alaric's glare. "I mean she was using her phone last night."

Alaric's glare turned into a scowl.

"And I know that because I saw her with her phone last night, okay? Geez," Damon rolled his eyes. "Give me that."

"God, this is so messed up," Alaric sighed. "I must be the worst guardian ever."

"No way," Damon gasped out. "No fucking way."

"What is it?" Alaric started.

"This can't be happening. It's not possible," Damon shook his head. "This cannot be happening."

"Damn it, Damon, just tell me what you know."

"This text, it's signed M," He said aghast. "Mason."

"Mason as in the guy who's in prison?" Alaric scoffed. "No. No, I refuse to believe even her luck could get any worse."

"You're right. This is probably just someone trying to use her relationship with me against her. I don't know, some kid from school probably." Damon said the words fully aware that he didn't believe it for a second. "I think I know just who could help."

As soon as drowsiness wore off, Elena stretched, opening her eyes to the brightness seeping through the drawn curtains before the confusion settled in. It took her a few addled seconds to realize that she was no longer in her bed in the lodge. She sat upright, all of her defences kicking in despite the slight hangover she felt. The events of last night came slamming back to her. Oh no…

She eyed the narrow bed she was sitting on and then the snug, yet considerately furnished room. Sliding off the bed, she tried to assess her danger. She saw nothing nearby that could pass as a weapon but a stodgy old pen. She took it anyway. When she was certain that she was alone, she did the obvious thing and checked the door. It was locked. There was no getting past it.

Looking around the room, she found it strange that it didn't have a bathroom. There was absolutely no way she could get out except through the window…

She ran over to it, feeling along its edges. It was one smooth piece fitted perfectly into the wall and all she had to do was crack it. The material looked more like reflective metal than glass, making it impossible to get a view of her outer surroundings. Picking up a wooden chair, Elena slammed it into the window which made little effect.

"Come on, chair!" She yelled as she tried three more times and still had no luck. May be the glass was some kind of bulletproof industrial… stuff and the chair? Well, hell if she knew. It had hardly fissured, but since she'd spent her whole life doing things that weren't reasonable, she kept trying to break the glass again and again until she heard someone at the door.

Spinning around, she kept a hold of the chair and charged for the door. It opened and she slammed into her abductor, with the chair's legs pointing out. Much like hitting the window, it didn't seem to have done much good. Just as she was giving up on the stupid chair altogether, the man shoved her back and she staggered. Gaining her balance, she charged once more only for him to rip the chair from her hands and toss it into the wall, splintering it in its wake.

"Stop," He said, deflecting one of her punches effortlessly. "You're wasting your time."

Elena backed away, exhausted. "What do you want from me?" She tried to sound bold.

"I want you to stop trashing the place for starters," He looked around with stern disapproval. "It's my sister's."

"Well, too bad," Elena said as she pulled a lamp, cords ripping from the wall. She ran at him, swinging the lamp as hard as she could. It probably would have hurt a little if it had hit him. It didn't. He intercepted it again, taking it from her and throwing it away. In the same motion, he grabbed a hold of her arms to stop her from reaching for something else.

"I'm not going to hurt you," He spoke each word clearly. "Please calm down."

"Who are you?" Elena asked breathily. "Why am I here?"

The man scrutinised her with his blue- grey eyes. He had dark brown hair and an average build and if Elena had met him under less threatening circumstances, she would've thought him handsome too.

After a moment of sharp and silent assessment, he let go of her arm.

"I'm Detective Malachai Parker of the NYPD and I have a few questions about Mason Thomas."

"Wait, Gilbert's missing?" Noah Salvatore said, his face comical but shocked.

Damon and Alaric exchanged a look.

"Bummer," Noah frowned. "I was going to take her skinny dipping."

Damon walked over, his face inches away from Noah's. "Where is she?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"It's a pretty basic one," Damon smirked but it didn't reach his eyes. "She was last seen with you."

"You're joking right?" Noah looked at Alaric. "I didn't do anything to Elena."

Alaric was working hard to suppress his thoughts, afraid he might be the reason behind Elena's disappearance. Could it be a coincidence that on the same night that he told Elena about Meredith, she went missing? Then again, perhaps it wasn't.

"Start talking," Damon snapped his fingers at Noah, directing his eyes back to his razor sharp ones. "Now."

The younger Salvatore looked fairly intimidated and Alaric couldn't really blame him given that Damon was glaring at him like a mad bull possessed.

"May be he's telling the truth," Alaric interjected. "Let's just take a beat."

Damon turned his glare on Ric clearly signalling him to butt out.

"Why are we so sure it's not Mason anyway?"

"Because he's rotting in a jail cell," Damon said irritated.

"What if he isn't?"

"He is," Damon said matter of factly to which Alaric arched a brow. "He is," Damon repeated faltering.

"I don't know," Alaric looked so tired and worn. "I- I'm going to give the social worker a call," He said as he headed out to the corridor.

"Jail?" Noah sounded impressed. "Is everything so complicated with Gilbert?"

Great. Just Damon's luck, Elena had become some kind of a challenge to his thrill seeker of a brother. He gave him a dirty look. "You don't want to get on my bad side, Noah."

Noah's smile faded into a frown. "You're right. I don't." He grabbed his laptop off the coffee table and settled into the couch.

"What are you doing?" Damon snapped.

"There are ways to find out if someone's in prison," Noah started typing on his keyboard. "All I need is a name."

"Sorry, I'm confused," Damon scoffed. "You want to help me. Why?"

"Let's just say that I like having Gilbert around," He shot him a cocky smile. "And believe it or not, I do consider you my brother."

Damon stilled, taken aback by his words.

"Name?" Noah probed.

"Mason." Damon's head tilted to the side as he observed Noah open an Inmate Locator. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

"I have friends in prison, yes," Noah shrugged. "I'm going to need a last name."

"I don't know his last name," Damon looked away.

"I do," Alaric said from the door way. "Mason Thomas."

"You're doing the right thing," Detective Parker praised. "It'll be over before you know it."

"What is poking around inside my head going to accomplish?" Elena asked exasperated, clutching the arms of the leather recliner she was lying on.

"A great deal," He said sure of himself. "You're our only lead to Mason Thomas and you have no proper memory of him. We need something more to go on. And believe me, my sister knows what she's doing."

"Kai puts me on some sort of a pedestal," Detective Parker's sister- Jo- walked in and seated herself in a chair facing Elena. Her black hair fell softly around her face, her features so much like her brother's. "I'm just a therapist."

"With psychic powers," Detective Parker joked. "She's solved more of my cases than I have."

"That's because I'm a people person and you're not."

Elena watched Jo swat her brother playfully with an amused grin on her face. They were acting like ten year olds although she was sure the Detective was in his late twenties and his sister in her mid- thirties.

"So, Elena," Jo said, touching her shoulder. "I'm well aware that my brother has broken a considerable number of rules bringing you here, but whether or not to go through with this must be your decision."

"Spare me the niceties, Doc." Elena gave her a knowing look. "I wasn't abducted and locked up in a panic room with tantrum- proofed windows all night so you could lecture me about free will."

"We're trying to help you," Detective Parker said in a clipped tone. "How does it make you feel to know that the man whom you thought was in prison has been stalking you the whole time?"

"Kai." Jo reprimanded.

"No, you're right," Elena concurred. "When can we get started?"

"I learnt from your file that you've had drug induced memory discrepancies since before the car crash-"

"You went through my file?" Elena shot Detective Parker an appalled look. "I thought the records were sealed."

"You were the last person to see Mason Thomas. Of course I went through your file," Detective Parker said deadpan.

Elena's mouth went dry. How could he possibly know that? She hadn't opened her mouth about Richmond. "What do you mean?"

"Two years ago," He explained. "In a courtroom where you saw him off to prison? That is the last time you saw him right?"

Oh god. She shook her head and looked helplessly at him.

"Elena?" Jo spoke. "What is it?"

Her eyes burned with unshed tears. "I saw him in Richmond last month."

"Twenty two results for Mason Thomas," Noah announced. "Twelve of them were released, ten retained in correctional institutions and three of them match our profile- white men in their forties."

"Mason Edward Thomas, 42." Damon pointed out.

"We can't be sure it's him," Alaric complained. "Why don't they put up mug shots?"

"Because it's not Match . com," Damon said annoyed. "What else have we got on him?"

"He's got seven more years," Noah was clearly shocked. "Why would Elena have anything to do with this guy?"

"Just see if you can get a location," Damon dodged his question.

Noah's expression turned pensive. "Is she in danger?"

"Noah-"

"Ray Brook," He muttered. "It's a medium security correctional facility in New York."

"Hypnosis?" Elena asked sceptical. "How's Hypnosis going to help me regain lost memories?"

"Hypnotherapy" Jo continued. "It's not only about remembering lost memories. It's also about reframing the ones we've buried to escape the pain they carry. Some memories come with consequences and so our brain blacks them out until…"

Elena swallowed through the gripping apprehension. She couldn't bring herself to listen to the load of crap the woman was selling. Mason was on the loose and after her. Just the reminder was enough to make her stomach churn. Knowing that the police were on to him squandered some amount of her fear, but not by far.

"…the memories that control our lives, the ones that define the kind of people we are-"

"Let's just do it," Elena cut her off. "Before I change my mind."

Jo looked uncertain, but nodded anyway. "I want you to close your eyes and relax," She said taking her hand.

Elena complied, her centre pivoting backwards to Jo's cadenced words.

"Let yourself go. Calm and relaxed. Every muscle calm and relaxed." Her voice was a low hum. "Elena, can you hear me?"

"Yes," Elena heard her distinctly.

"Good. Now I want you to tell me where you are."

Elena suddenly noticed the emptiness encompassing her. She was falling deeper and deeper into the void. Darkness. Desertion.

"No…" Elena sucked in hassled breaths as she gripped the leather recliner. "I don't want to- I don't want- I want to open my eyes, please."

"Elena, calm down," Detective Parker's voice resonated through the walls trapping her inside her mind. "This'll be over sooner if you calm down."

"No," Elena shook her head vigorously. "No, I want to wake up."

"Elena, you're in a safe space," He appeased. "Jo, I need you to hurry up."

"We're almost there, Elena," Jo spoke this time. "When I ask you to wake up, you're going to remember everything and you're going to tell me everything you remember."

Elena stopped squirming and nodded.

"Okay, wake up."

Elena slowly opened her eyes only to be shrouded with more darkness.

"What do you see?"

"I'm walking. I- I can't see," Elena's eyes squinted as she tried to make out the slightest form in the darkness. "It's dark."

Detective Parker signalled Jo to keep going.

"I want you to see beyond the darkness," She prompted. "You're holding back, Elena. I want you to let go. You're safe. No one can harm you here."

Elena inhaled a deep breath and moved further into the darkness. Seconds passed before she heard the sound of water dripping from an open faucet. "I hear water."

"Where is the sound coming from?"

"A faucet. I'm in a- in a bathroom."

"Take a look around, Elena. Is anyone else there with you?"

"I see him," Elena's eyes widened.

"You see Mason Thomas?" Detective Parker interjected.

"Aaron!" Elena suppressed a scream and almost called for help when she found Aaron semi- conscious on the bathroom floor.

Looking more closely, she saw the dry spots of blood on his wrist so identical to the ones covering hers and a syringe on the floor. She snuggled up beside him.

"Eleeeena!" She heard the all too familiar voice approaching. "Come out, come out wherever you are."

Her wide brown eyes shot to Aaron's hazy ones.

"There you are!"

"Stop!" Elena screamed. "Please! Please stop! I want to wake up!"

"It's okay," Jo pacified. "It's okay. Tell me what you see."

"Mason," Elena sobbed. "He's taking me away from Aaron."

He dragged her down the stairs and into the living room. Two of her dolls were lying in front of the television.

"How many times have I told you not to leave your shit on the floor, sweetheart?"

"I'm sorry!" Her hands flew out to break her fall a second too late. She scrabbled across the worn carpet, gathered up her dolls and clutched them to her chest.

"Yeah? You're about to be a lot more than that," He had already unbuckled his dreaded belt and was pulling it through the hoops. She was only eleven, but she knew what came next.

"I'm sorry!" Elena felt the wetness in her eyes as she writhed on the recliner. She felt like she was stuck in one of those nightmares where she couldn't move or wake up but only, this wasn't a nightmare. This was a memory- A memory her brain had chosen to shut out and for good reason.

"No!" The stinging slap of leather against her skin made her cry out. Once, twice, three times. She bit her lip and tried not to scream.

"Take off your little dress or this is gonna get a whole lot worse." He laughed. "I'm not warning you again."

Elena reached for the hem of her white cotton dress that Aaron had given her for her birthday. It was the only decent item of clothing she owned. He had shown her how to tie the white sash sewn onto the waist.

A door opened and the pounding footsteps of Aaron barrelling down the stairs were all the relief she needed.

"Don't touch her!" He stood between Mason and Elena, a 14 year old boy with small fists clenched at his sides.

Mason sneered at him. "You think I'm scared of you, boy?"

Aaron lifted his chin. "You should be." But even Elena could hear the fear in his voice.

"You little shit!"

Elena scrambled into the dining room as Aaron took what was left of her punishment. It ended when one of the strikes sent him sprawling across the floor and the front door opened and closed, indicating Mason was heading to the garage where he kept a refrigerator stalked with beer.

Aaron crawled over to where Elena lay curled up beneath the dining room table and dragged her into his arms. There was blood on his lips and one of his eyes had started to swell. "Shh," He murmured. "He's gone. Everything's okay now."

Elena dabbed his lips with the torn scrap of her dress, but he gently pushed her hand away. "I'm okay. You're hurt worse."

Elena could feel the welts rising on her back and arms. "You saved me," She sobbed into his sleeve.

"I'm never gonna let anything happen to you, Elena."

"I won't let anything happen to you, too."

He smiled all dimples and sparkling blue eyes. "Nah, you're too little. Just promise you won't leave me, okay?"

"I promise."

"I didn't- I couldn't- I'm so sorry-" Elena's restlessness tore through the trance as she sprung awake in the couch. "What's going on? What happened?"

"You broke out of the hypnosis," Jo spoke as she softly caressed Elena's hair. "It's alright. You're safe."

"Here." Detective Parker handed her a glass of water. "You did well."

Elena downed the water in one gulp. "Can I use the restroom?" She asked still shaking.

"Of course, it's down the hall," Jo's smile didn't reach her eyes this time.

Elena washed her face with biting cold water, doing her best to distract herself from the resurfacing memories of Aaron, but despite her forceful sublimation, she felt her eyes well up. Her reflection in the vanity confirmed that she was indeed crying. Watching herself cry somehow made her cry even harder.

"Elena," Detective Parker's voice shook her out of her emotional frenzy.

She used the lace of her dress- the one she had worn to the engagement party- to blot out her tears and pass off as human before she emerged from the restroom.

"I'll drive you to your lodge when you're ready."

"I think I am," Elena said. "With any luck Ric isn't already scoping out the fjords for drown victims."

A shifty look crossed Detective Parker's face before he cleared his throat. "If it isn't too much to ask, could we keep this rendezvous just between the two of us for the time being?"

Elena's eyes narrowed. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I'm not supposed to be investigating this case," Detective Parker said sheepishly. "I'm here for my cousin's wedding."

"I'm sorry, what?" Elena was now more confused than ever.

"I need you to trust me, Elena. I'm on your side here, but-"

"Tell me you're joking," Elena let out a humourless chuckle. "You kidnap me, bring me to some kind of a psychic, lie to me that you're a cop to fish information out of me-"

"I am a cop," Detective Parker drew out his badge from his pant pocket. "See, it's real."

"I let you go through my head," Elena shook her head incredulously. She couldn't believe she had been so stupid with this guy. The sense of relief sparked by her much needed means to tell someone about being stalked by Mason had overpowered her sense of self preservation.

She cursed herself for feeling anything akin to comradery with this man.

"Listen, Kai, I don't care who you are or what you want from me or why you've taken a particular interest to this case, but if any part of this charade of yours has any amount of truth to it, find him. He has a control over my life. He has for the past five years and I just need it to stop."

"I should take you back," Detective Parker said with a rueful smile. "Your guardian must be anxious."

Elena shot him a repulsive look before muttering a sharp thanks and heading toward the door.

Elena didn't say a word the whole ride back and sat with her head stuck outside the window. As they neared the lodge, her heartbeat accelerated. She had to come up with a story that didn't involve Detective Parker. The mountains and the river she had admired not less than three days ago seemed to have lost its beauty.

Detective Parker drove around the river which looked dark and forlorn now. Damon was there, right in front of her. At the far side of the inlet, a few metres across the water, he was no more than an insignificant blot on some rocks at the foot of the hill, but she knew it was him. She knew his posture, his stance; she would've known him even if he had been shrouded in darkness.

"Stop the car." Elena pressed down on the handle but Detective Parker continued along the driveway and parked at the end of the path leading to where Damon was standing.

"Elena!" Damon seemed to have caught sight of her because she could see him sprinting across the dock.

Propelled by the urgency to feel his arms around her, she tried to run, stumbling occasionally on a slippery stone while Damon marched forward, never taking his eyes away from her face.

She was wearing the dress she had worn to the engagement party, tresses of her hair out of place and her make-up all mussed up, but she had never looked more beautiful to him. This was all he had wanted for several miserable hours. The sight of Elena alive and well and near him.

As they drew closer, they both broke into a run and threw themselves at each other with such momentum that they nearly fell over.

"Damon," Elena buried herself in his warmth, the world forgotten.

"Oh, baby," He squeezed her. "Thank god." He pulled back to look at her. "What happened? Are you alright?"

She was shaking as she spoke, "Yes, I- I'm fine."

"So why did you take off like that?" Damon searched her face. "What are you not telling me?"

"I-"

"You disappeared without trace! I've been losing my fucking mind! Ric fucking called the cops!"

"Oh god."

"Yes. We thought something happened to you. We thought you were kidnapped!"

"Damon-" Elena looked away, but he cupped her face in his hands, forcing her to look at him.

"Your passport was gone, Elena. What the hell were we supposed to get at?"

"My pass-"

Detective Parker cleared his throat, drawing Damon and Elena's attention. "You left this in the car."

Elena saw him holding her passport out to her. She took it with trembling hands.

"I saw Elena here on the road and offered her a ride," He clarified catching Damon's scowl.

"Wait, I know you," Damon said his hands tight around Elena's waist. "You were at the engagement party last night."

"Guilty," He laughed. "Kai Parker. Hayley's cousin."

Hayley's what now?

"Damon Salvatore," Damon shook his hand. "We've got to be going, but thank you… for-"

"Oh, no big deal," He brushed it off.

"No, really. We were so worried something had happened to her," Damon pulled Elena closer to his side.

Elena felt uncomfortable about the whole situation with Kai having the upper- hand. And the fact that Damon was being awfully transparent only made her squirm further.

Kai laughed just then, a weird kind of laugh that made her skin crawl. "You were worried about her? Worry about yourself, Damon. Worry about you and worry about me. We're the ones you should be worried about."

Damon and Elena just sort of stared, disconcerted by his words and their implication.

Kai casually glanced at Elena like he hadn't just taken an abrupt trip to Crazyville before strolling away.

"That was strange," Damon finally said, stating the obvious. Well, someone had to.

Elena relaxed into his hold now that they were alone. "Damon, we need to talk."

"Later," He grabbed her and kissed her lips ardently with a desperation that knocked her teeth back. The kiss was impatient and fierce. There was a new edge of conflict to the way his lips moved. Elena locked her arms around his neck and moaned at the intensity of his force.

He didn't stop kissing her and she was the one who had to break away, gasping for air. "We need to talk about us."

Damon ran his fingers through her hair and down her cheek, his eyes intent on her. "I love you."

"Elena?" Alaric's voice reached them from a distance catching her off guard. She was still in the process of registering Damon's words. "God, where have you been?"

Damon gave her a sympathetic smile. She braced herself at Ric's tone, slowly peering around to see his approaching figure.

"You have some serious explaining to do, young lady."

"Ric, I'm so sorry."

"Sorry?" He looked enraged. "You're sorry? Do you have any idea what you've put me through?"

"Don't be mad," Elena whispered.

"Why not? God, Elena! Nothing, and I repeat, nothing gives you the fucking right to run away!" He was inches away from her now. "And send me into a fucking tailspin!"

"Stop yelling at me!"

He looked like he wanted to hug and strangle her at the same time, finally pulling her close to his face. "I thought you might be dead, do you understand? I thought someone-" He hesitated.

"What? Why would you think that?"

He squeezed her elbows. "Who's M, Elena?"

Elena stiffened. Crap, the text! "Oh god, you didn't-"

"What was I supposed to think? Or do you not give a shit?" He asked poignantly.

Her eyes filled. If Ric knew about Mason… She began to sink as if the ground was vanishing beneath her feet and Ric's clasp on her arms was the only thing holding her up. He let go and stepped away.

"Ric, please."

He shook his head, still trying to contain an explosive mixture of fury and relief.

Elena looked at Damon imploringly. "It's not Damon's fault," She cried. "I didn't… I can't."

Alaric's eyes softened and he pulled her against him. "Whenever you're ready."

"I'm so sorry," Her voice was muffled by a sob.

"I just- I thought I'd lost you, Elena. I was losing it."

"But why? I-"

"Because I love you for god's sake, why do you think?"

Elena's heart warmed. That was the first time he had ever said that to her. She beamed, her eyes sparkling with phantom tears. She peeked over his shoulders to where Damon stood watching with hooded eyes. "I love you, too."

Damon smirked. "I'm guessing we should call Liz."

"Let's get her inside first," Alaric opened his jacket and brought Elena under his arm. "Wait, you're not pregnant, are you?"

Elena's face scrunched up. "What exactly did Damon tell you?"

"Ever heard of passwords?" Damon raised his brows. "Put one on your phone."

Alaric sighed. "Let's go up."

Hope you guys liked it and you would've noticed that I've inserted a few of your suggestions as well. Let me know if you like the way the story is heading. I always appreciate honest reviews. PM me to strike up a conversation about anything at all- if you need me, I'm here. Thank you again! Cheers :*