Heavy, so tired, hurts. Elena was semi-conscious now and rolled herself off of the comfort of Damon's bed. She clawed her way across the floor, smearing scarlet everywhere. Lakes of blood cover the floor and furniture where she'd put up a fight. Please God, help me. I have to get out of here, but everything hurts so much. Tears pricked her eyes and then there was no stopping them, but she carried on going. Once out of the door she pulled herself up to be supported by the banister and just leant there for a minute. Dozing off was a bad idea in her position at the top of the grand staircase, but she just couldn't help it, she was so exhausted.
"Hey Stef? You home- Elena?" Damon waltzed through the door not looking at the staircase until the smell hit him. His first instinct was that Stefan had brought food home, however then he thought of Elena. No sooner had he thought of her but he heard a gasp of pain and there she was. Gashes covering every inch of her skin, blood everywhere he looked. Before he could even contemplate the situation she was falling, no, crashing down the stairs, landing crumpled at his feet.
"Elena!" crouching to pick her up he gathered her in his arms and sped up to his room, where he stood in disgust. What was going on? Who- blood bags- Stefan? He didn't care. All that mattered was helping his love, who was lying unconsciously cradled in his arms.
The bathroom was plastered but that didn't matter. When it came to her he could stand any amount of blood and it wouldn't bother him a bit. He quickly ran a bath and began to remove the remains of her tattered clothing. For the first time he caught a look at her beautiful, mauled face. She had slashes all over her but the worst were the words. In big letters across her cheek read: SLUT, and in deep red words across her temple read: MINE. Bile began to rise in his throat but he held it back as he lowered her carefully into the bathtub. Her breathing was becoming inconsistent and unpredictable, and then it happened. "Elena? Elena! Wake up! You need to wake up!" she was breathing, not even a bit and he didn't know what to do. So he did the only thing he could and ripped into his wrist and attached it to her lips. She didn't respond straight away but gradually she started to swallow, but had not enough strength to hold it there.
Taking it away, he knew she was weak and wouldn't be able to wash herself so he gently sponged the wounds on her neck, arms and legs, and finally her face. He lifted her out of the bath and laid her on the sheets that he had quickly found and changed on the bed. She shivered and shook and cried in her sleep, until she awoke with a start, screaming. "DAMON!"
He was by her side in an instant rocking her back and forth, "it's alright, I've got you, and you're safe now."
"Please don't let him hurt me again, please Damon," she begged him in whimpered pleas. "Shh, shh, you need some more of my blood; you're not healed yet," biting into his wrist he offered it to the doe eyed Elena lying in his embrace. He pressed it slowly to her mouth and she drank willingly. Dizziness began to overcome her and she slumped back into Damon's warmth and fell into a dreamless sleep.
"He'll pay for this. I love you Elena" he murmured before, he himself fell asleep too.