What Lies Beneath

Chapter 17: The Weakness

Damon Salvatore coughed and chuckled slowly, groaning from his place on the floor. He struggled to rise up onto his arms and winced as another ripple of pain shot down his spine due to the criss cross of lashes on his back. After Clarissa had forced herself into his home and laid a hand to his chest that burned, she'd proceeded to use her power to whip him. And each time he tried to get up or get to her, she'd send another wave of piercing torture that made his head feel like it was having an aneurysm. Obviously he'd promised Bonnie that he wouldn't kill but naturally that didn't include psycho bitch witches sporting a vendetta?

Right?

"She was innocent and you just…threw her out like trash!" Clarissa snapped as she circled him. "For your own selfish needs. Did it ever occur to you that she had people who cared about her? People who loved her!"

"Honestly? No." He panted irritating until the end. "I didn't care. Still don't. She was a means to an end just like all of the others."

"Shut up!" She shouted, and another slash appeared on his skin. "From the moment I found out what you did I swore revenge. I asked Bonnie for help but she said no."

"Yeah, I'd go ahead and stay away from her if I were you." He managed to shoot her a glare.

Arching a brow, she folded her arms over her chest. "Wow, you honestly care about her, don't you? I didn't think it was possible for you to give a damn about anyone but yourself. And yet…" She crouched in front of him just out of reach. "I'm not sure I am totally convinced. The Damon I know never does anything without a motive behind it."

The handsome vampire slouched against the bottom of the couch. Did this chick have a screw loose or what? "You don't know me at all, sweetheart. This is the first time I have ever seen you; I think I would have remembered running into a nut job before."

She snorted. "I know you. I've been watching you for weeks since Lexi died. All the pain and destruction you have brought to those around you. All the evil stuff you did just for fun. Tell me something Damon, do you really think you're what Bonnie needs in her life? I mean you're not sensitive or decent or…any of the things a young girl should have when the going gets tough. Not to mention you tried to kill her."

He grinned at her. "Oh c'mon. That's the equivalent of a love tap that five year olds give each other. Besides she got over it."

Clarissa rolled her eyes. "Not like she had a choice in the matter because of that spell." When the realization that she knew dawned over his face, she snickered. "I told you I've been watching you. I've been trying to find out where it would hurt you the most. I considered taking out Stefan, when really the answer was in front of me all along. Bonnie."

Okay now she is starting to get on my nerves. "You think you've seen my bad side little girl? You haven't seen shit. Trust me. Fuck with me and I will end you."

"Touchy." She stood. "But this is how it's always going to be Damon—surely you knew that. Bonnie will always be in danger as long as you are in her life because that is what you stand for. Well…she'll always be in danger if she survives."

"I'm warning you…" He growled, struggling to sit up. "How is hurting her going to bring Lexi back? She didn't even know Lexi or have anything to do with her death. That was all me."

Sighing, she nodded. "You're right. She's innocent in this and I—well I don't want to hurt her. But I do wanna hurt you. I wanna hurt you so badly that it's all I have been able to think about for weeks. And it seems the only way to do that is to take away something you care about. Bonnie is that thing."