Elena said nothing during the short drive to her home. Stefan often looked at her, but said nothing as well.
She kept her eyes fastened to the scenery passing by, dull eyes taking nothing in. She certainly did not notice the black raven that kept perfect pace with the car.
As Stefan pulled up to the drive Elena wondered why she had not gotten a call from her aunt, it was then she realized that she had no phone. Duh, she should have seen that coming, she did not take her purse from the hospital.
Stefan turned towards her, his head tilting to the side.
"Your aunt is leaving a message at the house, she is very upset."
"Fine." Elena said, "When we get in the house, I'll call her."
Then she stopped short.
"Wait! I do not have my keys!"
Elena was close to tears,
"This was a stupid idea, why did I think I should do this?"
"Elena, it's going to be fine. I will go up through the window in your room, is it still unlocked?"
She nodded.
In a instant he was gone, leaving her alone with her thoughts. There was a rush of wings as a large black bird flapped onto the porch. It cocked it's head, winking at her impudently, then it strutted over to the pot where the spare key was kept and started pecking.
The key! Elena huffed, irritated at herself for forgetting about it. She had to pull herself together.
"Come on Elena," she chided out loud, "For God's sake pull yourself together and stop being such a moron." She spat the last word out with self-loathing. But before she could say anything more the dumb bird started to hop around and shriek in a most peculiar way.
"Shoo!" she stepped towards it and waved her hands, she wanted in the house NOW! The bird gave one last squawk and then rose off the porch, flapping towards the sky, till it spied a cat innocently walking along the sidewalk. It gave a scream and dove towards the hapless feline, causing Mr. Custard to rush under the nearest house where he plotted hideous, though futile, revenges on the bird. All of which ended in him bringing the beast home to his pets, dead. Then being petted and praised for his bravery accompanied with much tuna.
By now Elena was safe in her house, having met Stefan as he was ready to open the door.
Elena looked around the house, suddenly she felt drained. The impact of her trial the past days impacted her . She felt chilled, and then all at once she was almost overwhelmed by the physical pain. She gasped and staggered. In an instant she felt Stefan's arms around her waist supporting her as he guided her to a chair.
"Elena! What is it?"
"It hurts, Stefan." She cried.
He took her face in his hands.
"What is it? What can I do to help?"
"I want to go to my bed, please. Stefan, it hurts so badly!"
Almost before she had finished the sentence she was gently gathered up in his arms and placed in her bed.
She felt a blanket being drawn over her. The phone shrilled, Stefan reached over and picked it up.
"Gilbert residence… Yes, I saw her leaving the parking lot and drove her home… uh huh… right… I understand… yes, she is fine…yes. Goodbye."
"That was your aunt." He turned to the still form on the bed. "She was very worried about you, didn't you tell her you were leaving?"
There was a barely imperceptible nod from the bed.
"She is on her way home now."
Silence.
"I, I am going downstairs unless you need me." He lightly trailed his hand over her shoulder. There was a gasp and she shuddered under his hands.
He stepped back, pain flashing over his face, then turned and went down the stairs.
Then, in a few seconds he was back beside her door, listening. He could hear her stirring in the bed restlessly, her breathing shallow and uneven from the pain.
It seemed like an eternity till he heard the car pulling in the driveway.
He could still tell by her breathing that she was still awake when he went down to meet her aunt.
She was out of sorts and flustered, Stefan could tell that she was exhausted, and offered to drop off Elena's prescription for her. She was very grateful and took him up on the offer at once.
She went up to check on Elena, she seemed to be asleep as far as she could tell.
She wanted to chew her out for the stunt she pulled at the hospital, but reflected that this was not a good time, in fact she would probably ignore it out right.
8*******************************************************************88
Elena was in the dark. It was so dark, she could not move, for some reason she felt as if she could not struggle, that was it, her arms were tied behind her back and she was laying on them. It hurt, it was agonizing, and pins and needles were burning her hands as the circulation was cut off. Oh, God, Her shoulder hurt. No hurt was not the right word. It felt as if it were being ripped off her body. She screamed in pain, not even recognizing the sounds coming from her.
"OH look! The princess has woken."
Suddenly boots closed in around her, forming a grimy circle. A foot suddenly struck out and kicked her; there was an audible crunch as it made contact with her ribs. Elena's body bucked from the agony of having her ribs broken, and once again she screamed as pain seared through her.
Suddenly someone was close above her, hovering. No he was not hovering, he was kneeling, and leaning low over her as he obscenely ran his hands over her exposed body. There whistles and cheers from the men. Then she saw him straighten up and open his fly and take off his belt.
Elena squeezed her eyes shut as if this act could save her.
His hands were on her shoulders, she was being shaken. Someone was calling to her from far away Wait, she knew the voice… She was saved!
8**************************************************************************8
Damon perched up in the tree where he had been observing Elena as she drifted off to a fitful sleep. She was restless and tossed and turned every few seconds, then it changed, there was a note of terror that infused her tone as she whimpered in her sleep. The fear was palpable to him even though he was not even in her house. Then she let out a shriek that made him clench his teeth, He paused a second to see if anyone had heard, but no one came up the stairs. In a moment he had slipped in her room and was beside her bed, calling her name.
There was a moment's pause as she woke, then she suddenly she was huddling her body against his."
"Please, please, please." She whimpered clutching the front of his shirt.
"Shh," Damon soothed, brushing his lips through her hair and stroking her back.
"Take me away; do not leave me here with them." Damon tilted her chin up with his fingers, she was still locked in a dream state, awake, but yet the nightmare was still playing out some way in her mind.
Then she stiffened and would have screamed aloud, had not Damon's lightening quick reflexes allowed him to muffle her cry with his hand.
She squirmed as if to fight him, but Damon was quicker.
He clasped either side of her face with his hands and looked deep into her eyes.
"Elena, listen to me!"
She stopped all movement and looked up at him.
"Now, that's better isn't it?"
She continued to stare.
"You're tired… you want to sleep…"
Her eyes drooped, and she slumped forward slightly, and he supported her easily with his hands.
"You will have no dreams, Elena. No dreams at all."
Suddenly, Damon found himself pushed across the room.
"Damon! How low and despicable can you be?"
Stefan hissed.
"How dare you influence her when she is hurt and helpless?"
Damon opened his mouth to defend himself when suddenly the sound of feet pounding up the stairs reached him. Elena's aunt had heard the commotion and was coming to investigate.
The curtains fluttered, lazily when she entered the room with a glass of water and some medication for Elena.
"What was that?" she asked suspiciously, she still was resentful of his abetting Elena in her 'get away', but she did have to admit he was being helpful.
"Sorry, I tripped, but I do not think she woke up."
Stefan was right, Elena was asleep and peaceful looking, so peaceful she hated to wake her to give her the medication.
A.N. Okay people, did you notice the "Not for Children" in the description? These coming chapters are DEFFINATLY not for minors. No gross sex, but adult situations will be dealt with.
P.S. I am also wanting a Beta to review my work. I know it is a lot of work, but you will get to read the chapters before anyone!
