In the world I was born into, I was taught to never question, to never wonder. My stubbornness was the spawn of the devil, or at least that was what my father had told me growing up. I prayed everyday for God to fix me, to help me surrender to their beliefs. There is nothing Christian about abuse and pain and threats, but this was just the way things were for me. I had no choice but to be a part of it.
"Elena, I have assigned you a new husband. While you two were gone, I married off Rebekah and Caroline, who both seem content. You know we can't trust you and Damon together after what you've done. I've been left with no option but to marry you again. Hopefully you've learned by now that to be happy here you must be obedient. Am I correct?" The Prophet spat.
I was relieved to hear Rebekah and Caroline found happiness. I knew that they would be given new husbands as soon as Damon and I escaped. It was no surprise that I would soon join their fates of a fresh marriage. Damon and I were too powerful together, rebels in the eyes of this cult. The Prophet knew that. They knew Damon couldn't beat me or keep me in line anymore or berate me. Maybe Damon had loved me, I'll never be sure. Even though I still feel I could never return those feelings, I cared about him.
He had fallen in love, and love was just too powerful in this place. Nothing could overcome true love, nothing, and everyone in that compound knew it. Still, Mr. Barlow was right about one thing; to be happy in this hellhole, you had to be obedient. I would from now on. I couldn't risk the baby's safety or my own. I was too frail, too weak, and already I had lost so much.
"Yes, sir," I whispered, my eyes gazing at his perfectly shined leather shoes.
"Good. Bring him in," He shouted at someone.
My brows furrowed in confusion when he stepped into the doorway. I knew him.
Damon's POV
I drowned in depression the first night back in my old house. Every memory drawn into the plaster of the walls. Beneath that paint were the remnants of a life I once considered holy and godly and pure. Now I understood the illusion of my happiness. Elena showed me that.
"Members of the Committee are not allowed to have any wives until they have completed their service to this community. They are the only people who are allowed to choose their wives. That is their reward for serving me. Aren't you thrilled, Damon? You get first dibs in a few years when I'm done with you. By then, you will be able to efficiently put a woman in her place. That I can promise you," He smirked as his long, bony fingers wrapped tightly around a thin pen to write something.
"I am still married to Caroline and Rebekah," I hissed in complete fury.
"Caroline is now married to Mr. Klaus Mikaelson and Rebekah, with Mr. Matt Donovan. You threw those girls away like rags, so I remarried them," He laughed so lackadaisically.
"You can't end a marriage without our consent. That is going against the Lord," I snapped. "You are a poor excuse for a praiser of God."
"I can do whatever I want! That's the best part," He breathed, wiping the sweat from his slightly wrinkled forehead.
"And Elena?" I asked, trying to keep myself from screaming her name.
"I think it's more fun to keep you guessing," He chuckled again, staring into my angry blue orbs.
His own eyes were such a dark blue, like black holes that threatened to suck you in. Not knowing what they had done with her was enough to make my blood boil. Was she safe? Was her husband cruel? Did she know I was still here in the community? The questions just kept coming at me.
"You promised you wouldn't hurt her. We made a deal," I growled at him, and almost instantaneously his smile grew.
"I never said we hurt her. Only her spirit!" He said whilst cocking his head slightly.
"Can I leave now?" I snarled.
"Remember, you're on call tonight. You never know when a little bitch is gonna need a good beating. There's always at least one a night."
I did not even turn to answer him as I disappeared from his office. My heart was sinking more and more with every moment this nightmare played on. This was my new life. The Committee was exactly what I had promised myself I would never become. They were monsters, and without any mercy, I was one of them. I would be expected to wake up in the middle of the night to go beat an innocent woman for misbehaving; A girl just like Elena.
Elena's POV
His short brown hair and matching eyes were the first indications of his familiar identity. He was the one I had met at dinner. It was Rebekah's brother. What was his name? This couldn't be happening. I clenched my fists, trying not to scream.
"Hello, Elena!" He said in a soft tone.
I had to look up slightly to speak to him, but he seemed to enjoy my timidness. His smile was soft and he stepped toward me, but carefully, as if not to scare me.
"H-hello" I returned, my eyes tugging away to look down at my hands.
"I'm Elijah, remember? I'm Rebekah's brother," He confirmed as he came to stand to the right of me.
"I remember," I mumbled, and my voice shook ruthlessly.
"I don't expect much, Elena. Listen to me and I will listen to you," He whispered, sliding his fingers to entwine with mine.
The action was so sly that it took me many moments to realize he was touching me. I suppose I had become desensitized to feeling, physical or emotional.
"Okay," I responded as he pulled me out of the room and down a long hallway.
I saw that we were soon outside, heading down the dirt road. Every step was more painful than the last and it felt like we had walked for miles before his house finally came into view. It was a simple, two-story brick colonial with a small porch and a stone path leading up to the door. Better than a cardboard box, I supposed.
He walked me inside, showing me the formal living room, quaint dining area, and grand kitchen, almost as beautiful as Damon's. I noticed his other wife, Jenna, the one at the dinner party who had asked me if I enjoyed Damon as my husband. She no longer looked like an inflated balloon, and I noticed just moments later the small cradle beside her.
"Elena, this is Jenna," Elijah introduces me as if we're meeting for the first time.
His wife smiled at me, just like Diana always had. It pained me to the core.
"It's nice to see you again," I rumbled robotically while being tugged along by my new master.
We climbed up the small staircase until we reached the second floor, where he explained each room. One was the nursery, another Jenna's, and then mine. There were also a few spares which he explained would be filled with children soon enough.
"Tell me what you are thinking," He said firmly as he placed his two hands on my shoulders.
At first I didn't answer, hesitant. I didn't know how I felt, to tell the truth. There was so much emotion clouding my vision, my heart, and even my soul. Death was the only cure for such agony.
"Elena, answer me," His voice sounded strained, and he turned me so that I faced him.
"I'm scared," I whispered when his eyes met mine.
There was pause and he relaxed, as if he wanted me to say it out loud.
"Just do what I say and you have nothing to fear. I won't hurt you, okay? I know this is hard for you," He muttered, still holding my bony shoulders.
"Okay," I whispered
He smiled for just a fleeting second, moving his touch to my hands and guiding us to my new room, my own personal prison cell. Elijah released my hands in the doorway, but I walked on without him. I expected him to follow behind, but he never did. The man just smiled ever-so-slightly at me.
"Goodnight, Elena" He whispered before disappearing.
I waited all night for his return, preparing myself for our marital consummation. To my surprise and delight, he never came and for just an ephemeral time, I believed that maybe there were good people here. Then again, maybe I was just hopeful.
Damon's POV
It must have been six that morning when my beeper rang. It was so loud that my heart skipped uncontrollably. I panicked as I grabbed it, rubbing my eyes of their blurriness until I could accurately read the damn thing. 55 Sabbath St. NOW. I rose from my bed, scrambling to throw clothes on as I ran out of the house, my hair still a pathetic mess.
It didn't take long to get there. The asshole group of men gathered around the house of condemnation, and I recognized one of them; it was Kol. In a chorus, they were shouting and pounding on the door. Some older man who opened the door threw a red-haired woman out of it, falling like a sack of flour into the crowd waiting outside. They grabbed at her, laughing and grunting. I was only feet away from the girl, her screams piercing my ear drums like needles.
Fists slammed her from all sides, and her screams only drowned amongst the endless laughter as each took a turn with her beating her creamy, pale skin. I followed behind as they dragged her down the street by her fiery red hair. The frantic wails turned to deathly shrieks when the gravel began to scrape against her skin legs and feet. Before long, the trees engulfed us until all that could be see was the endless forest surrounding us. A peeking sun was just coming up over the horizon when their pounding legs finally stopped moving. Our victim was dropped recklessly onto some faded grass, still stained in red. This was obviously where they did their business, and I cringed at the sight, chills running laps up and down my spine.
"Let Damon do it," Kol yelled, everyone's eyes turning toward my trembling figure.
I was already panicking, my insides exploding with fear. They all smirked at me as the woman softly cried on the ground, hiding her bruised and battered face.
Hesitantly, I moved to where she laid, crying defenselessly. The men watched intently as I grabbed the collar of her dress, my face hardening like stone into an emotionless monster. She looked me right in the eyes just then, and I saw her innocence, her fear, and I swear for a second, I saw Elena in her. It took everything in me to raise my arm in the prospect of ending this disgusting sideshow entertainment. The guilt was too much, and I released her from my grip as I rubbed my eyes in defeat.
"Do it or we'll go take a little visit to Elena's house. You made a deal. Now keep your side of it," Kol hissed.
They had used Elena as a leverage. They knew that I would be their little pet because I would do whatever I could for her. Those bastards had me on such a short leash, that I had no choice but to give in. I had to do whatever was necessary for Elena and for our child.
I grabbed the woman again, pausing for a second before laying the first punch. The fist smashed into her jaw, cracking at impact. Blood spewed from her lips and her lungs wheezed as I slammed her against the grass. From there, I let my mind drift, not wanting to be conscious as I continued this cruel act of a monster.
"More," Kol barked when I stopped suddenly.
I felt her blood splatter my face and clothes with every impact. My knuckles were so sore, but I thought of Elena. I thought of our baby. I had no choice. Again in this fucking community, I had no choice. They had me pinned. They always found a way to make me do things I would have never, ever done.
"More," He screamed again and I began to cry.
Sobs poured from my lips. The tears were flying, but I couldn't help the pain I felt inside me. The woman's face was so bruised and puffy, I could no longer recognize her. Her blood soaked the already stained grass below, her body lifeless now.
"That's enough," Kol confirmed and responsively, the men stared in awe.
I dropped her, falling to my knees as I let out a grunt of defeat. I was crying and screaming as I watched the blood seep from her.
"Come on Damon. It's time to go," One of the men pulled at my shoulder, but I simply let out a long howl, my face splattered with blood, her blood.
I was in such shock that I sat frozen beside her corpse, two of the men finally plucking me from the ground until I could stand on my own two feet.
"No," I screamed,y eyes still glued to her lifeless body.
They pulled me away, my head still turned so I could see her bruised body as they tugged me along. I was gasping for air, my throat tightening cruelly until I felt I couldn't go on breathing. Miraculously, another long wail escaped me. I had never been so emotional, but it was with good reason.
"Fuck" I screamed.
"Have a nice long shower and you'll be fine," Kol told me, pushing me into my house and patting my back.
I fell to the floor, gripping the rug underneath me and letting out my painful shrieks when I could no longer deny what I had done. All I could remember was her face. The way she looked at me with such trust. She was just like Elena and then I...I had...done that. Image of her broken body lying in a pool of blood haunted me as scraped my nails along the wood floors, leaving faint claw marks.
"You piece of shit," I roared, grabbing at my chest to feel my heart steadily thump against my palm.
I listened to the rhythmic beats while I cried. If it wasn't for Elena and the baby, I would have hung myself right then and there.