A/N: I know it's been a little while, but I've been working on other stories. I haven't forgotten about this one! I hope you enjoy this chapter.

I DO NOT OWN THE ORIGINALS, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, OR THE CHARACTERS.
Music Credit: "Skin" – Alexz Johnson

~*.*~
'I drift away to a place, another kind of life.
Take away my pain and create my paradise.
Everything I've held has hit the wall.
What used to be yours… isn't yours at all.

Falling apart and all that I'm asking, 'Is it a crime?
Am I overreacting?'

Oh, he's under my skin.
Just give me something to get rid of him.
I've got a reason now to bury this alive – another little white lie.'
~*.*~

Chapter Eight:

I let Rebekah talk to Klaus alone. I told her that I was around if she needed to talk afterwards, but I wanted to give them their privacy. I thought about going back to my room, but despite everything that I was feeling, I didn't want to be alone.

I found myself wandering the halls of the Mikaelson estate. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going. I just reveled in the fact that Damon was even more of a monster than I ever imagined.

I've been over everything a thousand times over in my head. I can't make sense of it. I can't make sense of any of it. I don't understand what drives Damon or how much hatred must run in his veins for the cruelty that he bestows on everyone else. I don't know why he picked me or Rebekah. I don't know anything… and that fact makes me more uncomfortable than almost anything else. It's the not knowing that helps fuel my never-ending nightmares.

"Are you going to stay out there all night?" Kol's voice wafted into my ears. I jumped and turned to find the source of his voice. Kol and Elijah were watching me from outside of what looked like a media room. "Join us, darling. Watching a movie beats staring at the wall." Kol tried. I nodded, slowly, and walked into the room with them.

"What are we watching?" I asked them, quietly. Elijah gave me a soft smile that lit up his eyes. I rarely see the softer side of Elijah, but when I do, it's always around his family. He's happy here. They all are. I don't blame them. I think that… I hope that… one day I can learn to be happy here, too.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie," Elijah answered. My eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Somehow I'm not surprised," I told him, softly. Elijah smirked and set up the movie.

"Everyone has a soft spot for Julie Andrews." Kol agreed.

"I didn't peg you for a fan." I admitted. Kol laughed.

"You don't know me very well." Kol reminded me. I nodded in quiet agreement.

"Get comfortable. I'll have some food brought over." Elijah told me. I nodded, again, before settling in. I walked over toward Kol and tried not to be awestruck by the couch bed built into the center of the room. It's almost like a room within a room. Elijah handed me a pillow and a few blankets. Kol pressed a button on a remote and the lights turned off and a projector turned on. I lay down and looked at the movie that was playing on the ceiling. Now this is a home theater.

A quarter of the way through the movie, I realized that I had managed to forget about the Salvatores, even if was only for a little while. I smiled to myself and stole a little of Kol's popcorn. I've been mooching off of him, since brought it over and he's been pretending not to notice. The way that his lips curve into a knowing smirk tells me that he does.

True to his word, Elijah had the cook bring me dinner and some scotch for them. I picked at my potpie, but I didn't really want it. I didn't have an appetite. I was only eating the popcorn to munch on something. It's habit, when I get sucked into a movie.

I can't remember the last time that I actually sat down to watch a movie.

When the movie started, I was a good few feet away from both of the Mikaelson brothers. By the time it finished, I was leaning on Kol's shoulder and wedged in the middle of him and Elijah. It took a while for me to let my guard down, but when I did, I felt safe. They make me feel safe. Safe is such a welcome feeling, especially around people, especially around men. It's something that I didn't think I'd ever be able to feel again. Klaus was a big step for me, but Kol and Elijah… That's huge.

"Shall we watch another?" Kol asked me. I nodded. We haven't seen Ester, Klaus or Rebekah. I can only imagine how things must be going. It's probably best that we're out of the picture for the moment. I'm just going to enjoy the distraction and the company for the time being.

"Any requests?" Elijah asked. I shrugged.

"Are we keeping with the theme, brother?" Kol asked. Elijah remained impassive and took a sip of his beverage.

"Something light," I whispered.

"Of course," Kol agreed.

"Singing in the Rain?" I suggested. Elijah smiled – a smile with teeth – something that I'm not sure that I've seen him do before.

"That's a favorite of his." Kol mused. "Don't let him fool you. He has a soft spot for musicals."

"Good musicals," Elijah interjected. "And I'm not the only one."

I clawed at Damon's face and tried to get away from him. He just snickered and backhanded me. His hand was at my throat and I struggled to breathe. I tried to scream, but nothing came out. I could feel his fingers ripping away at my underwear. Silent tears burned down my face.

"St-stop," I rasped. Damon just sneered at me and I felt white, hot pain at my core. I tried to get away from him.

"Bonnie! Wake up!" Someone yelled. I jerked away and heard screaming. My hand flew to my throat, as I realized that I was one screaming. I scrambled away from the hands that had been trying to shake my awake. I trembled and tried to get my brain to work the right way again. I can't picture anything else. I can't feel anything but his hands. I can't breathe. My breath hitched and I couldn't get myself to breathe again.

"Bonnie, it's okay." Elijah tried to soothe me. He crept closer and I shook, fighting the urge to move away from him. He set a hand on my shoulder and I flinched away from him.

"No, it's not. Nothing is okay." I whimpered.

"Would you be more comfortable in your room?" He asked me, gingerly. I shook my head, hurriedly.

"N-no. I-I don't… I don't… Can we stay? Just… watch a movie? I… I can't." I cried. Kol moved next to me and moved his arms around me. I was too tired to fight him. I just cried in his chest. I was vaguely aware of Elijah moving and putting in a movie, before leaving the room.

"Let it out, darling. Scream if you need to. You're safe here." Kol whispered. I did as he said. I couldn't help myself. I cried. I let it out, because I couldn't stop it. I couldn't stop myself or control it. Everything was too much to hold inside. He's always there to tear me down. He's always there to haunt me.

"It's worse than I thought it would be." I heard Klaus say from the doorway.

"She's practically catatonic, Niklaus." Elijah stressed. I just burrowed further into Kol. Someone tried to pick me up, but I just clung to Kol harder.

"Leave her be. She doesn't want to be moved and she doesn't want to be alone. I'll stay here with her." Kol offered. I was too shaken to appreciate his words.

"She –" Klaus started.

"No, brother. I'll stay. She's family now." Kol pressed.

"We'll all stay." Elijah agreed.

"I'll fetch Rebekah. She wanted to see Bonnie. We can all stay here tonight." Klaus decided, before leaving the room. I tried to slow the tears, but couldn't. Kol rocked me and I tried to forget about the nightmares that I see almost every night. I tried to forget about the nightmare that my life turned into.

~*.*~
'So, what you had didn't fit among the pretty things.
Never fear – never fear – I now know where you've been.
Braids have been untied, as ribbons fall away.
Leave my consequence – my tears you'll taste.

Falling apart and all that I question, 'Is this a dream or is this my lesson?'

Oh, he's under my skin.
Just give me something to get rid of him.
I've got a reason now to bury this alive – another little white lie.

I don't believe I'll be alright.
I don't believe I'll be okay.
I don't believe how you've thrown me away…
I do believe you didn't try.
I do blame you for every lie.
When I look in your eyes, I don't see mine…'
~*.*~

A/N: If you haven't seen the movies mentioned in this chapter and you don't mind musicals, I highly recommend them. If you read, please review!

Love,
Anneryn