Words Unspoken (The Vampire Diaries)

Chapter 16

I can hear as her nails scratch the wood flooring desperately, the vomit splattering all over her hands and chest. She cranes her neck to look at me with an expression that emanates shame and embarrassment, all while holding back tears. Droplets occasionally dribble from her ajar lips, her lungs panting vigorously through the shock.

"Daymond," She whispers wearily, too weak to speak any louder.

"It's okay," I snap, panicking, even though I have to keep calm.

Her palms are planted on the stable wood flooring, bracing her trembling arms. I hold her delicate locks back as a small squirt of vomit again spews from her. The contractions of her stomach heave and churn until Elena's arms finally collapse. My hands snatch her body before it can plummet to the wet wood below, the action knocking the wind right out of her already tired lungs. I turn my body and drag her backward and away from the blood so that I can effectively comfort her. Cupping her face in my palms, I force her to look at me. Her eyes droop, barely staying open enough to glance in return.

"I'm going to fix this, okay? You have to trust me, Ellie." I push her hair back out of her goop-covered features.

Her lips are dry except for the crimson blood, parted in a sleep-like state and panting the horrid scent of human retch. I kiss her temple, trying to keep myself from losing sanity. Already, I can see that there is no point in trying to salvage her fluid-soaked nightgown, so I use it as a bib, wiping the vomit from her mouth. She doesn't fight me, closing her eyes instead and allowing a tear to trickle down her temple. I feel her neck snap backward when I retract my hand from the base of her skull, just long enough to disrobe her body. My hands pull the fabric right over her head and Elena softly grunts.

The nightgown is chucked aside right before I return the support of my palm to the back of her head so that it no longer dangles toward the floor. This fear that pumps through my blood is so strong, as if soaking into the crevices of my soul. I take the time to wipe any more of the mess from her skin, trying to keep her from crying in the process. When I finally lay her naked silhouette on the mattress, the sheets cradle her soothingly.

"Daymond?" She quietly begs, reaching out to touch my face.

"I'm right here-" I choke up.

"Good," She cries, closing her eyes. "No go."

"I won't, baby. I'm r-right here," I whisper whilst stroking her cheekbone.

Another clump of hair detaches from her scalp when I touch her, and I hold the liberated lock in my hand. The clenching of my throat creates a blockade for my lungs, but I feel each individual strand between my fingers and it soothes me for just a moment. She is already asleep by the time I move to clean up the mess on the floor. The smell is becoming intoxicating, not to mention the distraught sight, more like a crime scene than a bedroom full of warmth and succor. I grab some rags out of the linen closet that the cleaning staff uses when they're here. It's a fairly quick cleanup and although I lose track of time, I realize that the movie playing is already an hour in, a timetable of this tragic night.

"Daymond," Elena whimpers from the bed when I'm washing out the contaminated rags.

Her voice pulls me back into reality, I suppose. My fingers relax, dropping the cloth in my hand, as if too tired to continue. The fabric slaps against the bowl and I immediately shut the flowing water until it terminates. As I walk, the hand towel I use dries my shaky palms.

"I'm right here," I whisper in her ear once I'm beside her on the bed, grabbing her waist and pulling her against me beneath the white sheets.

Her body is surprisingly warm when it brushes my chest. She sniffles a little, but folds her lanky arms around me in relief. For some time I carefully kiss her neck, holding her closer against me and humming softly. It is a peaceful moment for us. The television goes silent eventually, although I'm not exactly sure how. There is just so much pain in my heart. I have no choice left but call Bonnie and fucking figure this out. For now, I will fall asleep beside my angel, the only light amongst this darkness.