The prophecy ~1864~

Chapter 17

Damon sat at the end of Elena's bed, his head in his hands. Doctor Fell had left, Marie had retired to her chambers, which left Damon alone. The only light in the room was a slowly fading candle.

"Elena, baby, I can't do this without you. I can't live 1864 over again, not without you. Please, please be okay." He whimpered.

A figure stood at the door.

"Son," Giuseppe whispered. "Son, please you need to rest, let me sit with Miss Elena."

"No, no Father. She needs me." He said turning his head away from his father, so not to show the tears.

"Damon you are exhausted, you will be no use to Elena if you are ill yourself." Giuseppe said as he took a seat on a chair adjacent to the bed.

"Father." Damon began.

"No, Damon it is settled. You will go to bed, and I will take over for a few hours, then your brother will relieve me." Giuseppe stated.

"Stefan? Where is he? I didn't see him when I got back." Damon commented.

"Your brother was on an adventure apparently to find us, he got lost and a woman gave him directions to come home, he just got home not moments ago, I am not pleased with him, but that is a matter for another time. Damon please go to bed. Malcom has got a bath ran for you." Giuseppe pointed to the door where the servant stood.

Damon weakly nodded. "Thank you father." He said defeated.

"I love you son, I know I don't always show it but I do." The old man stated as he lit the oil lamp next to him and pulled out a novel.

"I... I love you to." Damon whispered quietly to himself as he left the room.

Elena lay motionlessly on the bed, in her head thoughts were racing 'Why am I so hot, where is Damon, I need Damon.' She moaned in her sleep.

"Hush child, you are alright." Giuseppe said as he rose from his seat and took a cloth from the wash basin. Squeezing out the excess water and placing the cool rag on Elena's forehead, he began to speak in a low voice.

"You mustn't die child, I fear you are the only thing keeping my son sane. I have seen the look in Damon's eye, the look of a broken man. You must fight this." Giuseppe stated as Elena's breath returned to normal and she drifted back off to sleep.

Malcom stood in the doorway, "Sir, Master Damon is asleep now." He spoke.

"Wonderful. Malcom please go to town and fetch Miss Bennett for me, Miss Elena is in a bad way and I need her guidance." Giuseppe requested.

"Right away sir." Malcom said as he swiftly exited the room and headed towards the stables.

Some sort time later Marcel appeared. "Sir, shall I wake Master Stefan to relieve you?" the servant kindly spoke.

"Yes, please Marcel, and then could you please check on Damon, Malcom has gone to town on an errand for me." The old man said grasping the chair arm to steady himself as he rose.

"Right away sir." Marcel nodded as he rushed to Stefan's room.

The young man groaned as Marcel lightly shook him.

"Master Stefan, Master Stefan, you must wake up. Your father needs your assistance with Miss Elena." Marcel said loud enough for Stefan to hear but not so loud to wake the rest of the house.

Stefan groaned as he opened his eyes. "I am coming Marcel. I will be there shortly." Stefan said pulling himself out of bed. He grabbed a cleanish looking shirt off the floor and pulled on a pair of trousers.