My heartache

DAMON'S POV;

"Leo I'm the one in charge and she can't disobey me" I growled sitting on the sofa. I was furious with the way Elena walked out on me.

"Antonio, She's just a woman, just give her a little time, they're always like that." He replied calmly.

"She had the guts to walk out on me," I spoke out angrily.

"She needs to know her place definitely but she won't know that way," Leo replied to me.

I looked at him puzzled at what he meant by his statement. "What do you mean?" I asked him. He walked to the fridge at the corner to take a drink, picked a glass from the cupboard and brought it to me.

"She is unaware of your plans and we can't lose her now because she is a very important key to the plan," Leo said intently.

"I agree but she disobeyed me" I replied Leo. I was not going to let that slide cause I am very strict with my intentions and I hate to be deprived of it.

"We just have to take this carefully," Leo said calmly. I tried to understand what he was saying, Derek was the main target but losing Elena's trust would make it difficult.

"She is only mine" I growled, there was no way I would lose my pleasure seeing her discomfort.

"Get her for me" I ordered Leo.

Leo went up the stairs to get her and I was wondering what Derek thought of Elena in the ball. He was looking obsessed enough towards her and I have to make sure he falls into my trap but it all depends on Elena.

I looked at the card details I had collected earlier from Elena. He has to suffer before he dies because death is a gift to the wicked.

But living her in the hands of men like Derek is like living her in a cage with a lion. I knew what could hurt me and I had to prepare for it.

I heard footsteps coming in slowly and louder.

Leo held Elena forward and she followed reluctantly, and he brought Elena to her knees right in front of me.

I saw her gaze helplessly on the floor, she was unable to move as if the weight of the world was crashing down on her.

"Why did you disobey me? You know the consequences of such actions." I asked, trying to calm the angry tone in my voice.

She was still kneeling there saying nothing and her silence just made me angrier, I wanted to take action but Leo's warning still flashed through my head.

"Answer me now!" I shouted angrily.

"How despicable can you be Damon?" She said to me with a tone that made me feel like I was the one kneeling and she was seated.

I stared at her shocked as she finally looked me in the eye, it made me think I was talking to a completely different person.

"You're a monster, Damon!!! I would rather die than bear a son like you." She said very boldly and in a cold manner

I felt taken aback by her statement, I never thought I could hear such words spoken to me before. I couldn't believe the boldness she had to say what she said to me.

"You used me as a pawn in your twisted game against a stranger." She said with her voice dripping with venom."

I was baffled by her words, she really didn't like it when she was with Derek but so did I. I could tell her that but what was coming out of her mouth interrupted me.

"You never care about anyone but yourself." "Can a man like you raise a child to be great and responsible?" She asked and got me thinking

Was I planning to have a child? I thought

"Was this why you married me?" To only maltreat and not be happy even once when I am with you, I admire you at least but it's like I'm losing my sense of humour caring about you." She said as tears were glistering down from her eyes.

Does she really care about me that much? I felt my heart ache, using her as a pawn was really hurting her much more than I expected.

I manipulated her into speaking with my brother with the intention of getting the upper hand against him for revenge without respecting her emotions. I never considered the effect it would bring upon her.

"That's enough," I said calmly, I couldn't raise my voice at her again, she was making me feel a profound sense of guilt.

"Do you even love me?" She asked me again intently. I didn't answer, the words coming out of her mouth were beginning to hit me on the inside, no one had ever spoken to me this way and I wasn't feeling right at the moment.

"You can punish me now if you want, I'm all yours." She said to me, submitting herself totally to me.

She looked expectant of my usual cruel self but I was more than sensible to not lose my facade completely.

"Leave," I said calmly. She looked at me puzzled, she was expecting my judgment, I couldn't see myself trying to make any move.

She looked at me emptily for a short while and walked away towards the staircase. She almost stumbled but Leo caught her up from where he was standing.

Time passed, minutes turning to hours, and I couldn't think of any of other thing except Elena

The toughness of the facade I had, the furious mask I had worn for years, was starting to crumble. I soon realized that I could not keep treating her this way as a mere tool for my revenge.

"Are you okay Antonio?" Leo asked me, jerking me from my thoughts. I stared at him expecting a report from him but wasn't saying anything again.

It's getting darker as the night falls. I was unable to ignore the weight of my conscience any longer, so I made my way to Elena's room.

I pushed the door gently and peeped in a little, she was asleep but her face was filled with distress. I moved towards her bedside.

Carefully, I brushed a strand of air from her face, she slightly stirred but didn't wake up. I felt a wave of tenderness wash over me as I watched her sleep, it was something I had never experienced before.

My fingers traced the lines of her face. I couldn't help but remember the first time I brought her here, she was quite scared and reluctant to respond but now she's the very opposite.

I saw her eyebrows furrow in distress, she was having a nightmare. I pulled her into my arms, she nestled against my chest and her breath was calming as she found solace in my warm embrace.

This made me feel an overwhelming desire to protect her. In her vulnerability, I saw a strength that I had underestimated.

" I'm really sorry" I whispered into her hair. She was right, I cared about nobody but myself. I used her as my pawn so she had every right to be angry with me. I stared at her throughout the entire night and watched her sleep till the break of dawn. I looked out and knew she would soon be awake, so I knew that was my cue to leave. I rose from where I was before heading out of the room. Leo was there and the look in his eyes made me understand what was going on. Then I moved towards the room Leo escorted me to before seeing a man tied up with his mouth covered.

"My my, what do we have here?" I asked, giving a devilish smirk at the man who was glaring daggers at me. "You thought I wouldn't know it was you amongst those men? Spying stylishly on me. Then it came to this point... for you."

"You can never win, whether you like it or not. You're nothing compared to our boss." He said, And for real, I wasn't offended, I was rather amused. Comparing me to my brother was like comparing a time bomb to a missile. I couldn't help but chuckle. I stretched my hand before I was handed my favourite weapon. It wasn't a whip, nor a knife or gun. I turned it on and the drilling sound began.

"What were you saying again?" I asked but he kept shut. "Cat got your tongue?" I chuckled once. "I was about to drill a hole inside of it." Leo went behind him and held his head still. I was so certain I looked like a bloodthirsty monster at the moment, but nobody could try to mess with me and get away with it. They're messing with the wrong person. I was so close to drilling his entire teeth when I heard a sharp scream. I wasted no time straightening before tossing the drill to Leo so he could handle it. I ran out of the room towards the origin of the scream. I knew it was Elena. The moment I entered her room, I realized that she was squirming on the bed, looking quite uncomfortable. I walked to the bed and noticed the tears in her eyes.

"Stop, don't do this to me, Dad, please I beg you." I heard her say. "You can't give me to him, he'll hurt me. Mum, don't let him take me." She was sleep-talking. This was the first time I saw her this way ever since we slept together. I saw the sweat as her body trembled and I honestly was confused, not knowing the first thing to do. But the way she tossed and cried made me feel uncomfortable and it made my chest ache. I hated seeing her like this. I hesitantly took her hand, not knowing what to do, cause I sucked at being sympathetic. It was a struggle, a constant struggle. But then, I couldn't watch her act this way. I did the first thing that came to my mind and climbed over the bed before bringing her to my chest.

I looked at her beady forehead and kissed it before tucking strands of hair behind her hair.

"It's okay, shhh. I'm here. Shh." I whispered before kissing her forehead again. Where this side of me was coming from...I had no idea. I kissed her forehead again and again trying to soothe her. Then I caressed her face with my fingers again, she slightly shuddered but didn't move. My fingers traced her round face down to her arm, slightly caressing every part of her body. "Fuck, she's so fucking beautiful." I blurted out. Her lashes kissed her cheekbones a little, her body was more relaxed than before and I loved everything that happened with her body as I was there to soothe her. The way she shifted into my embrace, hugging me harder and shoving her face into my chest. I hugged her closer. It was obvious that she wanted safety, a safety that she didn't get while she was yet a child. She was just hurt over and over again, and in some ways, she reminded me about myself and my instincts were so guarded around her that I wanted nothing more than to become better than I was before. She was doing things to me that even she was unaware of.

"You're safe mi amore. There's no reason to be afraid I'm right here with you." Her breathing was steadier. Now I understood, that what she wanted was someone who was capable enough to protect her. She wanted security and safety. I could have broken that bond if I didn't give in to my current feelings. Now I wanted her more than anything else..I felt the need to protect her and give her that life she'd always craved for. I was going to look for a way to make things up and give her the life she deserved.