Alaric left that night with the tapes in his bag. I remember the look in his eye as he said his goodbye, knowing he may never return. The Committee was watching us closely, and we knew what they were capable of. I just prayed those tapes would be in the possession of the cops as soon as possible. As life went on, I never gave up hope on Elena. In some ways, she was in my heart, and I knew I could never lose her. It only felt right to tell her about our plan, so I would have done whatever I had to do to let her know.
It must have been ten O'clock that night that I made my way to Elijah's house. All the lights on the street were out, and I almost felt safe as I approached the structure. One light was still on, a small frame in the window. It was Elena. I knew the houses were unlocked. How could you not feel safe here? I think I even let out a snort at the obvious irony.
I tip-toed to the door, my heart racing as I turned the knob slowly, my legs trembling beneath me. With a breath of conviction, I pushed it open ever-so-slowly, exposing the interior. It was dark, lifeless, and still as I expected. Slowly I entered, my lungs huffing shakily as I shut it behind me. The stairs were only feet away and I ascended them with care and accuracy, every noise causing me to wince.
I finally reached the top, letting out a silent sigh to celebrate my victory. I knew her window was the third from the left of the house, so I mapped it all out in my head before turning left in search of her door. I turned the knob ever-so-slowly, praying it was her hidden behind the barrier. Then I paused suddenly. What if Elijah was in there? Shit.
I took a risk, pushing the door more and more until I was able to peek in. There she was on her bed, reading the Book of Mormon. Elena reading the Book of Mormon? I thought I was going to slip out a laugh, but I held it back forcefully. For awhile, I stood there, watching as she intently read the book. It wasn't long before she set it on her table, shutting off the light beside her and engulfing the room in darkness.
I couldn't see anything now, but I could hear her steady breaths as she snuggled herself beneath the covers. I was on my knees, pushing the door open and shutting it quietly behind me. My fingers felt the floor in front of me as I searched for her bed. I bumped into it softly, feeling her warm breath as slapped against my face.
I stood on my knees, reaching my fingers out until I felt her shoulder. She let out a panicked gasp, but I hushed her in response.
"It's Damon," I whispered.
"Damon!" I could hear as her voice trembled, maybe in disbelief.
I pulled her toward me, wrapping myself around her. She was crying, clawing at me in desperation. Her embrace was hungry and forceful and needy. I lightly pushed her away so I could join her on the bed. I slipped beneath the covers, our bodies tangled together as she clung to me. My arms held her like a small baby, cradling her. She rested her cheek on my chest as she softly sobbed. No words were needed to understand how much we had both suffered here.
"Damon, don't leave me," She begged, combing her fingers through my hair.
"I'm going to get you out of here, okay? You have to trust me. Give it a couple weeks at the most," I softly spoke as she buried her face in my chest.
"Elena, you have to trust me," I told her again.
"I trust you," She mumbled.
My hands moved to her belly. I felt it, stroking it, and Elena's hand joined mine.
"I'm getting you and the baby out of here if it is the last thing I do," My lungs hummed. "I will die doing it, Elena. I owe that to you."
"No-" She tried to say.
Elena's POV
That's when I heard it from the hallway. There was someone heading towards my room. I felt his grip tighten, panic filling both of us. Damon plopped my body next to him, rolling himself off the bed until he hit the floor. I heard him scramble to hide under the bed. It was a tight fit, but it was good enough.
That's when the door screeched open, the light from the illuminated hallway seeping in. It was Elijah.
"Elena, are you okay? I heard you crying and talking," His expression was full of concern and confusion.
"Just a bad dream," I smiled, as he stepped toward the bed.
He squatted beside me, his hand cupping my face gently. He smiled and reached up to kiss my face. His hand combed my hair, while his fingers caressed my arm.
"Do you need me to stay the night with you? Jenna would understand." His hands held my stomach as he kissed the bulge.
"I'm fine, really, Elijah. Thank you," I mumbled, looking him square in the eyes.
"I'll see you tomorrow, okay?" My husband spoke.
"Good night," I whispered with a smile, closing my eyes as if I were about to sleep.
He shut the lights off, closing the door quietly behind him as I let out a long sigh in relief. It wasn't long before Damon was back on the bed with me, holding my body to his. Feeling him again reminded me of just how much I had missed him, even after all he had done. He felt familiar, safe.
"I want to go home," I whimpered. "I want Diana."
"I can at least give you one of those," He whispered softly. "I'll take you home, Elena. I will."
We laid like that for hours. I relished in every moment I had with him, knowing that he would have to leave me again. I was cradled in his arms, and I could feel as his body heat soaked into my pores. I must have fallen asleep at some point. When my eyes opened, the sun was shining into my room, and I was no longer in his arms. I let out a long cry, afraid it was all a dream. I could still smell him faintly. My fingers curled around the sheets where his body had been, clutching them roughly. I couldn't believe he was gone, and once again, I felt broken.
Elijah eventually came into my room, wondering why I was still in bed. He sat down next to me, kissing my forehead. He kissed my belly as I expected, and I shoved a smile onto my face.
"Hope is running a fever. I think Jenna could use your help, Elena. She really loves you being here," He stroked my cheek.
"She's sick? How bad is it?" I was almost pleading with him as my heart raced inside my chest.
"I'm not sure. Get dressed. Jenna needs you." He kissed my cheek before exiting.
I was scrambling to braid my hair, throwing on my dress swiftly. I was so anxious to help Jenna as I ran down the stairs. Hope was in the living room, tucked in her mother's arms, squirming as she cried. Jenna looked horrified when she met my gaze. I was by her side within seconds, reaching out.
"I don't know what to do," She cried, handing me the small baby.
"I will do everything I can to help you. My little sister, Mary, had the same thing when she was her age. She'll be fine," I said reassuringly.
It was true that Mary had had the same exact symptoms and my mother had taught me how to treat it. I was still hesitant about it all. What if I couldn't help her? Jenna was counting on me, and it only made me more afraid.
I was scrambling to the medicine cabinet, directing Jenna to get some cool water and some towels. I knew I needed to decrease her body temperature. I just prayed there was some Tylenol in that cabinet.
Skimming through all the drugs of the cabinet, I saw 'baby Tylenol'. Quickly, I grabbed the bottle, the baby still nestled in my left arm. I handed her back to Jenna.
"Take her clothes off, so her body doesn't overheat. Wipe her body down with the cool water. I'm going to fill this syringe with the medicine," I yelled to her from the kitchen.
I heard the baby cry as Jenna peeled off her clothing. My hands were trembling as I filled the syringe to the right amount. There was endless anxiety, but I made my way back to the living room calmly, handing the medicine to Jenna. After, I grabbed the wet washcloth, continuing to wipe down Hope's body while Jenna pushed the syringe into her tiny mouth. The medicine slid down the baby's throat without any problem.
"she's going to be just fine," I whispered, and Jenna smiled.
The infant was crying, obviously unhappy with the medicine, but I was nothing but relieved to have it inside her body.
"Dress her in as little as you can, and keep cooling her down with the water. Oh and make sure you get some liquids into her," I breathed.
"I can't thank you enough, Elena. I had no idea what I was going to do. There are no doctors." She was on the verge of tears, but I pulled her into an embrace, rubbing her back rhythmically.
I just hoped Damon's plan was working; whatever it was. Jenna's baby deserved a chance at life outside of this community. She deserved to choose who she wanted to marry and if she wanted to share her husband. Hope deserved that chance...we all did.
Damon's POV:
Leaving Elena in that room was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Not knowing if that would be our last time together was almost too much to bear. Alaric still hadn't returned and I was beginning to worry. Did he miss the bus? Maybe he had gotten lost. Maybe it was all a hoax.
I missed sipping bourbon with Alaric. My nights at home had become lonely. I waited for my beeper to ring, just praying it wasn't anything that required me to hurt an innocent life. When it did, I read it wearily.
Damon to Prophet's house. Now.
Shit. Of course of all people, he wanted me. He knew he had leverage because of Elena, and he was using it to his advantage. I walked to the door, stumbling down the road as I made my way to his house.
The home was gigantic; no surprise since he had an exuberant amount of wives. Plus he was the leader, and he could do whatever the fuck he wanted. I entered the foyer, seeing a group of women gathered in the living room, each with their copy of the Book of Mormon. I was interrupting Bible study...great!
"Damon. The Prophet wants you in his room," A gentlemen hissed to me, pointing upstairs.
I made my way to his room, fumbling. He was in a large, overstuffed chair in the same room he had threatened to rape Elena in. It had been his own bedroom. I could feel my stomach flip a million times over. I swallowed to keep the vomit down. I knew there was a two-way mirror; only God knew who was watching me right.
I didn't even notice the young girl that stood trembling. I could hear her small cries as she looked at me. I was so confused, yet somehow I knew whatever he had planned was enough to break my humanity.
"Damon! So glad you could make it," The Prophet smirked from his chair.
The giant fireplace behind him made him appear small, insignificant.
"I know I said you couldn't have a wife until you retired from the Committee, so let's work around that." He smiled, and I felt my heart race inside me.
I knew where he was going with this, and I would have run if I could. I would have done anything to escape his wrath. I held myself together as he chuckled softly to himself.
"Since you can't have a wife, why not have a little toy of sorts? You can keep her for a little while. I don't mind." The man coughed, and I wanted to believe it was because his lungs were full of shit.
Silence filled the room, but Mosiah smiled at me before continuing.
"Claim her or I will," He barked, letting out a deep laugh, a laugh only the devil himself could replicate.