14

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Elena felt the warm sun hit her face as well as a horrible amount of pain. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this much pain. She felt as if someone had dropped hot coal all around her body and every time she moved she wanted to burst into tears.

Her thoughts were all over the place as she tried to remember what happened. Following Lexi, getting ambushed by Connor. Connor had tried to hit Lexi and Elena had stepped in to protect her. She could remember Connor raising the whip and him laying down lash after lash. But after that what had happened?

Everything was sort of a blur. She could remember seeing Damon's face, and maybe the face of a servant, but other than that everything was a big blur and she couldn't remember anything. Elena forced herself to sit up, though she immedierly regretted it.

Even though she was wearing one of her softest nightgowns the silk was cold against her tender skin. She raised the hem of her nightgown slightly and saw that her entire body was covered in thick bandages with some kind of gooey, smelly lotion. Elena winced if her wounds looked like she felt, they were pretty ugly. She was already dreading the next time she would have to wear a corset and a tight dress, she couldn't stay in her nightgown forever.

She heard the door open and Damon came in. He looked different, Elena couldn't help but realize. Frail, in a way and nervous. His skin was pale and he looked distracted, he closed the door behind her. "You're awake."

"I'm awake." Elena responded. Why did she feel so awkward around him? It wasn't as if they were strangers.

Damon sat at the edge of her bed and caressed her hands, but Elena could tell that he was avoiding looking at her. "Do you want anything, tea or milk-"

"No," Elena said sharply, wanting answers. "Damon, what-"

"I'm taking you back home, Elena." Damon said before she could finish her sentence. When Elena looked confused he continued. "Your actual home, Mystic Falls. Not here. You don't belong here."

Elena shook her head. Yes, she missed her family, but she couldn't just leave could she? Elena was in a conflicting position. She loved her family and she loved Damon too, she did miss her town, but Ville Rogue was home too and all of her friends lived here as well. When she had first been bought she often fantasize about going home, but that was then and this is now.

"Damon, Damon look at me," Elena begged. "I know what you're doing, but the whole incident with Connor and Lexi, it wasn't you fault, please don't sent me home-"

"Elena, you almost died," Damon emphasize. "If I hadn't gone there you would be dead, you didn't see it, your entire body was covered in lashes and even in your sleep, you weren't going to let me heal you. You were going to die, Elena. I was afraid, I was afraid for you. As long as you live here, as long as you're my slave your life will be in danger," he patted her cheek. "And I can't have that, you need to go home."

"You're going to leave me?" Elena squeaked, hating how pathetic and weak she sounded. "Damon, I know you're worried, but this isn't the way-"

"It is the way, Elena." Damon said firmly, his voice hoarse. "Please don't make me compel you."

Elena's brown eyes widened at the mere though, at the beginning she had hated Damon, but things were different now. She didn't want to forget him. She didn't want to forget about the months that they had spent together.

"Damon-"

"Elena," Damon bit his wrist and blood poured out. "I made my decisions, drink please. It will help you heal faster."

Elena stubbornly looked away and Damon sighed as he coaxed his blood down her throat. Elena sputtered, but she could already feel her wounds starting to heal.

"Get some more rest," Damon said without bothering to look back at her. "We will be leaving tonight."

Dressed in a navy blue dress and a small black hat, Elena looked around the lavish Salvatore house one last time. She couldn't believe that she was leaving, that she was actually saying goodbye. Elena had felt like she wanted to cry all evening. She had said her goodbyes to the servants and to Katherine and Caroline. She had also said goodbye to Lexi and Stefan who both thanked her deeply for trying to save Lexi and she even had to leave the little kitten Ivy behind, because she couldn't show up at home with a cat. Home.

She knew it was selfish, that she should be looking forward to it, but she honestly couldn't think of anything more miserable right now. Back in Mystic Falls everything was like clockwork, like an endless boring party, here everything was different and exciting, though maybe that was because she was in love.

"Elena," Damon said as he stood from his place at the carriage. "We need to go."

Elena nodded, she hadn't spoken to him all day. Would they ever see each other again? Would he get a new slave? "Can I ride in the front with you?"

After a moment's hesitation, he nodded though Elena was quickly disappointed. It was a short ride and it was spend in silence. Elena felt her heart drop when she saw the familiar farms and trees that would lead to Mystic Falls.

Damon stopped short near the church, the streets were empty and Elena guessed that it must be late. Damon silently helped her out of the carriage as they both stood quiet and motionless, just staring at each other under the glow of the pale moon.

"I won't compel you," he said. "If that's what you're worried about."

Elena raised an eyebrow, her voice quivering with sarcasm. "And am I supposed to thank you, Master?"

Damon looked hurt. "Elena, you know I don't want to do this-"

"Then don't. I want to stay with you."

Damon lowered his head. "I can't, Elena I just can't. You deserve so much more. I want you to be safe. I want you to be happy. I want you to be free." He petted her cheek and kissed her. "I love you, Elena Gilbert."

"I love you too." She whispered.

Elena pulled back and suddenly she heard a gun go off, blood quickly started spreading on Damon's coat and shirt as another bullet went off and he staggered on his feet until he fell to the floor. "Damon!" she screamed ignoring the townspeople, the founding families that had shot him. All she cared about was Damon, she knew that the bullets wouldn't kill him, but it still scared her watching him bleeding on the ground.

"Damon," Elena choked out. "I'm right here."

"It's her." Elena felt someone pulling her forward. "Grayson, I found her. It's your daughter, Elena!"

-End of Chapter Fourteen-