DD's // TOSKA

- FORTY-ONE -

The next day, Damon stood in front of a mirror, stressed, wanting to remove the gauze. He took it away with slow and gentle movements, soon facing the stitches along with the scar. He looked at the spot; Akito left a more significant mark behind than he thought. At least Damon would be fun at parties now, going around telling that he was almost killed, but his brother-in-law saved him.

"It doesn't look that bad."

"I know."

Deetra stayed behind her brother with crossed arms, glaring at the mirror with her head titled. Damon shrugged and turned around, fixing his shirt. He tried to put on a tie previously, but the injury wasn't letting him; even a bit of touching felt like putting in on fire.

"What will we do with Sophia?"

"Tomorrow's the day, so we will torture her more today."

Damon chuckled, walking by his sister before going down the basement. Sophia was still tied up with her head down. It's been a while since she stopped sobbing and crying, and Damon thought she just wanted to look like a strong independent woman.

"Morning, Sophia."

"What do you want...."

Sophia lifted her chin; her eyes widened when she faced Damon's neck.

"What happened to your neck!? That looks... bad."

"Oh, nothing, I just found out that a man that I grew up with raped me when I was a teenager multi times while I was drugged!"

Damon answered back with a smile and a cheerful tone; Sophia looked at him like he was some kind of a mad man.

"I... I am out of words, Smiley... I hope God forgives him...."

"God won't forgive him. God doesn't forgive paedophiles and rapists, Sophia."

Damon grinned and nodded; Sophia just glared away gulping, her neck felt too dry out of a sudden.

"Could I have some water, please...?"

"Of course, the basement is sweltering, and I can't let you die, or yet at least."

Damon brought a plastic bottle of cold water to Sophia from the fridge. He put a chair in front of her and sat down before opening the bottle. Sophia glared at him, anxious as he brought the bottle to her lips, his fingers from his free hand under her chin lifting it gently.

"See? I am not a bad guy."

A charming smile took over his lips as he wiped her bottom lip with his thumb. Sophia kept staring at him, moving her face away abruptly. Damon chuckled, seeing her struggle a bit before calming down.

"Unfortunately for you, I have to torture you a bit more before giving you back to your lovely husband."

"W-What!?"

Sophia turned her head back to Damon, giving him all her attention as she was scared. Damon laughed, loving her reactions to his words.

"Calm down! I am not going to put cigarettes on your body; I am not a monster. Maybe some cuts here and there, some more bruises...."

Sophia started panicking and soon more struggling followed. Maybe because she realized that Damon and James weren't going to punch her and drag knives across her stomach, but someone else would do it.

The door opened, and a familiar woman walked in with a smile and with leather gloves.

"Take care of her, Deetra. Give her some of our hospitality and show Felix that he shouldn't mess with us."