Elena's POV

The rest of my day was spent in pure bliss. I scrubbed the toilets with a smile, I smiled when Rebekah rolled her eyes at me, and I even smiled when Damon yelled at me to stop being so bubbly. I knew the Lord hadn't taken everything from me. He gave me something back that I needed in order to save myself from destruction.

"Elena? Elena, are you listening to what I am saying?" Damon snapped, pulling me out of my trance.

"What?" I responded dumbly, not knowing what else to say.

"Your family wants us to come over in the next hour. Are you ready to leave?" He asked while he adjusted his hair.

I was so scared by the thought of seeing my family again. The family that threw my body to the wolves. My mother, my father, even my brother. Did I want to face them? Did they even care what had become of me? You would think that they would have been disappointed to find out I was still alive.

"I'm ready," I answered politely and I followed him to the door.

We walked down the small dirt road I had run down months ago, begging for my parents to rescue me. This was the same path my father dragged me along, beaten and bloodied on my wedding night. The memories flooded back, but I pushed them away. I wanted to believe that I still loved and missed my family dearly.

When we finally arrived on the porch, I saw my family waiting inside. My mother opened the door and for the sake of Damon, I promised myself I would behave. I would act like I was a changed woman...submissive and loving.

"It's great to see you! Come in, come in!" She exclaimed and we stepped in.

The house looked unchanged, obviously everyone had moved on with their lives. My absence from the house was left as unchanged as their surroundings. Why would I be so stupid to believe they had actually missed me? I saw my father standing there with the same emotionless expression I always saw him with. Beside him were Jeremy and Mary, my other mothers, and their children.

Damon stepped forward, shaking my father's hand before hugging each of my family members. I slowly walked forward, pushing myself to greet everyone. I made sure to hug Mary who squealed in glee at my presence. At least someone had missed me. I returned to Damon's side as if I were his property...which I technically was, I guess.

My mother led Damon and me into the living area where we all sat down. I tried to maintain my composure, avoiding the sadness that was forming in my heart. I missed being a child in this house, a house once full of so much love.

The adults all talked for a while about the recent church activities, meetings, and devotions. I kept my lips sealed and simply kept an attentive ear on the conversations. One of my siblings walked around with glasses of lemonade and I took mine with a smile.

The topic turned to things concerning the weather, the high fuel prices ahead, and eventually the death of my uncle's wife whom died giving birth to her ninth child. I sighed, tiring quickly. Jeremy's eyes were fixed on me and after only a few minutes, I was fed up.

"Damon, how is everything?" Asked my father, wrapping his arm around my mother.

"Everything is wonderful. Elena and I are very happy!" He answered and as if copying my father, I felt him wrap his arm around my body.

It felt nice. My skin was still tingling from earlier that morning.

"Glad to hear she is a subordinate wife," He muttered, clearing his throat, "Is she pregnant yet?"

I was sitting right in front of him, and he couldn't even ask me himself. Why was he always so nosy? Who was this man? Certainly he was not my father...not the father that had nurtured and loved me all my life.

"We are not ready to disclose that information, Mikael," Damon said softly, but with an obvious annoyance in his voice.

Did he just tell my father that it was none of his business, but in a nice way? Why wasn't he bragging that I wasn't pregnant because I was a horrible wife? He didn't care how I felt. He had made sure to tell me that on our wedding night.

"Everyone leave the room. I want to have a little chat with Damon and Elena," My father barked, pulling his arm back so it was no longer around my mother.

Everyone obeyed him, leaving just the three of us. My father glared at me before speaking. Damon held me tighter as he spoke, as if even he feared the man before us.

"Have you put her in her place?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"That doesn't concern you," Damon retorted and my father's face grew red almost immediately.

"Elena, leave. Go," My Father growled, pointing to the door.

I glanced at Damon who nodded in agreement and I promptly rose from the sofa, pulling myself out of the room. I stood right outside of it, listening intently as they spoke.

"Fear is how you control them, Damon. You possess all the power," My father declared.

"I have everything under control. I don't need your advice," Damon defended.

I pressed my ear harder against the door. The conversation was becoming heated and I could feel my heart begin to race.

"Elena has always been a manipulative person. She plays the victim to avoid discipline."

"I'm not going to say this again, Mikael...Leave. Elena. Alone. She's my responsibility now."

"I am still her father, sir. I know what's best for her," He almost hissed, "I fuck them in their sleep. I thrust into them in the dead of night when it is pitch dark and they are most vulnerable. They struggle to sleep at night, never knowing when I will take them."

"You pathetic excuse of a Christian," Damon spat, causing me to jump, "Don't you ever show up at my door. Do not ever. She is your daughter. She loves you or she thought she did."

I couldn't believe what I had heard. My abuser was protecting me. He refused to hear my Father tear me down. My breaths were heavy and when I heard someone walk to the door, I was forced to run as far away as possible. I wasn't supposed to be listening in.

It was Damon who opened the door, his face red with anger and frustration. He walked over to me, grabbing my hand for once, not my wrist. His hold was gentle as he led me to the front door.

"Let's go," He growled and we walked out of the house and down the porch steps to our home.

"You are a good person, Elena. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise," He commented before he finally let go of my hand, walking away from me, his voice shaky.

The conversation with my father was obviously hard on him. Was he upset that my father had said those things or did I deserve what he had divulged and Damon just could not bear to admit that he agreed? Was I the manipulative and controlling person my own father described me to be?

The afternoon came quickly and the entire family plopped into the living room. It was a horribly cold day outside and we all decided to stay indoors to escape it. It was rare for it to be so chilly. I grabbed my hymn book and hummed a random melody, watching as Caroline and Rebekah sat together to knit and chat.

Damon was in the oversized red chair in the corner of the room, one of the boys sitting on his lap. He was smiling and talking inaudibly to him. The boy laughed when he whispered something into his ear. The child punched Damon in the shoulder, giggling as he fled the area. My husband's face lit up as he gently tackled the boy to the floor, tickling him senseless.

"I bet you a dinner roll that we are going to have mashed potatoes," The boy laughed.

Damon's deep chuckle made my stomach clench. It was a sound I had never heard before and it had taken me by surprise.

"Fine. One dinner roll for the winner," Damon announced.

Rebekah and Caroline were smiling in their seats, but somehow I couldn't force one. It was so out of character for Damon. I was frozen in fear. I couldn't just join in like everything was okay. Everything about this man confused me. One minute he would slap me, curse me, abuse me, and the next he would apologize, tell me I'm a good person, and hold me with so much tenderness in his arms. It was becoming too much. I was confused and fearful...I never knew which version of Damon I would encounter.

Rebekah stood up with a wide grin, stepping toward the kitchen. She turned unexpectedly around, stopping her feet from another step.

"Elena, can you please help me in the kitchen?" She asked quietly.

At first I was paralyzed in shock, but I came to my senses and nodded, scrambling out of my chair. I followed her, my heart racing. My pulse seemed to always be pounding in my chest at an alarming rate. It was rare for it just to be steady, but look at my life; I had a lot to fear.

We entered the kitchen area and she began to grab a box of something out of the cabinet. I stood in the entrance awkwardly, nervous. Rebekah had never shown any kindness toward me and I could only imagine what cruel words would come out of her.

"I just thought you should know that Damon loves children," She said softly.

Her back was turned to me, but I understood her clearly. I didn't even know how to respond.

"I could see that," I whispered.

"He wants children of his own. I know he does and you're all he has for that. He was so happy when the Prophet told him about you."

I saw her smile slightly. She turned and walked toward me, handing me a wooden spoon.

"Can you stir?" She asked and headed back across the kitchen.

Damon had been happy about our arrangement? Why? I didn't understand.

"I had complications during my youngest son's birth. They told me I'll never be able to-," Her voice broke and I heard her hold back a sob.

"I'm so sorry," I told her.

"Damon tries to act like it doesn't bother him, but it does," She sniffled.

I simply stirred the mashed potatoes in the bowl. I didn't know what to tell her or how to feel. I just stood there like an idiot waiting for something, anything to break the silence.

"Can you leave me, now? I-I just want to be alone," She told me defensively.

I nodded and turned for the door.

"One last thing, Elena," She called after me, "Damon cares about you."

I whipped around in surprise, my eyes wide.

"I know what he does to you, but you should hear him when he talks about you. He cares," She whispered, turning her eyes down.

"Thank you, Rebekah," I said softly in return before heading back to the living room.

I was surrounded by nothing but confusion. Now, even Rebekah was trying to convince me of Damon's caring nature. I was raped. I was abused and hurt and tortured and now I was expected to believe that this man was good, but he was, wasn't he? He made me feel incredible, he stood up for me in front of my father, and he even told me I was a good person.

The future seemed foggy and I wanted to scream at God for an answer.

Later that night, he walked into my room appearing exhausted. I was already lying on the bed, waiting. I actually looked forward to seeing him, hoping it would feel just as amazing as it had this morning.

"Take off your clothes," He snapped and he began to remove his own.

"Yes, Damon," I said, trying to hold back my excitement when he finally finished.

He crawled onto the bed, and soon his naked body was pressed his against mine on the mattress.

"Are you going to be obedient?" He asked with his teeth clenched.

"Yes, Damon," I whispered back, still trying to hold back my enthusiasm.

I couldn't let him know how much I yearned to feel his hands on me, how much I beckoned to feel him caress me gently and kiss my neck. The thought alone made my nipples pebble.

He held me close to him, whispering softly in my ear, "Just two more days, and I promise it will feel good."

What did he mean by that? Why two days? Why not tonight? What was he going to do instead?

I was scared and I tried to push him off of me. The panic was setting in. Not again. No more pain, not now.

"Damon," I cried hysterically.

"Shhh, Elena. Be good," He whispered as if there were people around us. Why was he whispering? Why wasn't he kissing my neck or touching me all over? I heard his voice crack as he whispered the words 'I'm sorry' beside my ear.

I tried to push him off, but his body kept me pinned. His body was so strong that anyone watching would have believed I had consented it. He slid into me and I let out a sharp wail that reverberated through the tiny bedroom.

"Damon? Damon, why are you doing this?" I asked and I sobbed quietly beneath him.

Damon's POV

I thought I was going to cry as I whispered 'I'm sorry' before pushing myself inside her. I hated myself for it, but in two days the Prophet would remove the cameras and I could finally make it up to her, or at least try. For the time being, I was forced to make her look submissive on camera. She couldn't look like she was enjoying it too much or the Prophet would question who was in charge.

If I couldn't show that then the Committee would intervene, Elena would likely be given a new husband, or eventually be killed. Anyone that threatened their way of life would be annihilated, including a headstrong girl. I just prayed she would understand until then, but what sane person would? I was an arrogant bastard if I ever believed that she would forgive me.

After we had such intimacy in the shower, I had only appeared angry because I knew that I would have to abuse her later that night. I couldn't live with the thought. I had showed her how wonderful love making could be, and not even 12 hours later I would be forced to violate her. I was confusing her and she was suffering. I just wanted to get it over with, so that she wouldn't hurt any longer. I wanted Sunday to come faster, so the Prophet would remove those fucking cameras. I couldn't imagine another day of this.

I wanted so badly to wipe away her tears as she sobbed under me. I couldn't even look her in the eyes, too ashamed of myself for what I had done to her. The only thing I could do was softly hush her and run my hands up and down her body, trying so hard to finish up. The look of suffering I saw in her eyes for the fleeting moment I looked at her stained my soul as I held her, my throat tightening.

"I'm sorry. Two days. I promise," I whispered in her ear before rolling off of her.

I threw my clothes back on before turning to speak, attempting to block out her cries with my voice.

"See how being obedient is good? It seems I finally got through," I growled loudly, making sure that whoever was watching could hear how much I believed that she was submissive. I wanted them to be sure that she was. I wanted them to take these disgusting cameras out of her room, out of my house, and out of my sight.

I turned for the door, shutting it behind me. I could have died from how horrible I felt in that moment, leaving her to sob on her bed. My heart was broken, but hers was completely shattered.