Chapter 138

Elena:

I sat on my chair, fearing what was to come now that I knew that Konstantin was here.

The idea of me not seeing Vladimir was one that pained me, and though I did not even understand why it did; I felt like something was going to be ripped off from me before I even got it. 

I wrapped an arm around myself as I cradled my own body, wondering what it would be like to be free again. It was a dream that I had, but a dream that was shattered the second that I entered this Estate.

The fact that he had given me a notebook to actually ‘voice out’ what I was thinking was something that made me internally smile. And though I didn’t understand his reasons, something inside me told me that I was safer than I had ever been since I was a kid.

The bedroom door opened, and I closed my eyes for a second before getting up and looking down at my feet, knowing that it would be easier for me if I did not fight back. He would be done and would be out of here. 

“Elena,” his voice was above a whisper, but my eyes widened when I looked up to see him standing in front of me. I took a step back and looked at the door, knowing that he was risking way too much with being here. When it was Batrov…

“He is not here, Elena,” he said, noticing my fear. “And I made sure that he is not going to come tonight,”

I frowned, and he walked toward me. His eyes held more pain than the deviousness that they normally did. He put his finger on my neck, right where Konstantin’s nail scraped, cutting my skin. I flinched involuntarily, and he removed his finger quickly, clenching his fist momentarily before I saw his jaw tightening as he tried masking his anger.

“Do you mind me putting medicine on it?” He asked, taking me by surprise. I studied his expression before shaking my head, and he smiled. He pulled a small bottle out of his pocket and I watched as he walked to my dresser, pulling a tissue out of the box and gently squeezing the cream on it. “When I heard that he visited you, I had to force myself not to come here and check whether or not you were okay.”

He slowly dabbed the cut, and I closed my eyes as it stung a bit. He stilled, noticing my pain, and I nodded in assurance, allowing him to keep going. My heart raced, and it took everything in me not to melt in his embrace as a sense of safety washed over me. It was one that I didn’t understand, but I could tell that the man was being genuine. 

“And I had to fight back punching him in the face too,” he said, making my lips twitch up in a small smile. It was one that I forgot that I could do, and noticing my expression, his eyes softened. “I was sure to stir him and Batrov a bit though. I pretended to be sick of something that I ate, and considering that he believes that my body is still somewhat weak from waking up from the coma; he bought it. But I was sure to have him getting drunk and one of the men that he is with is a friend. He is going to tell me if he decides to come back.”

I kept my eyes on him as he spoke, and he smiled, noticing that my attention was on him and him alone. His eyes met mine, and I could swear that for a moment, they traveled down to my lips before he forced himself to look me in the eye again. “Is there anywhere else that he’s hurt you?”

I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes, and that was when he surprised me by putting his finger under my chin, raising my face for me to look at him. 

“Don’t hide your beautiful eyes from me, Elena.” He said, softly. My heart raced, and I couldn’t help but find myself melting in his gentle gaze. It was one that I was not used to, not without a consequence at least, and I couldn’t find the right way to even describe how I was feeling. But I knew that I felt vulnerable, and I didn’t know whether or not he saw it in me. Whether he was pitying me or being genuine. Questions played in my head, ones that I knew for fact that I would never have answers to. But at this point, I didn’t even want these answers. I didn’t care about them.

I nodded in response to his question, and he frowned in confusion before I turned around. I raised my hair which cascaded over my back. The number of times that he’s pulled it, ripping in his hands were countless. I remembered a time when my hair and face glowed. Now, though I was sure to take care of myself the best that I could, I knew that he was sure to break everything that I had in me. 

“Fucking bastard,” Vladimir whispered behind me, clearly annoyed with the scar that he saw. I was just glad that most of the belt whip scars were gone. He rarely ever used it on my face. According to him, he liked me looking ‘pretty’. But he didn’t care about anything else. He was sure that my wounds were covered, even from my own eyes with the dresses that he had me wearing, but I knew that he took pleasure in seeing them whenever he took me. And if they had healed, he was sure to inflict new ones. And the day that he chose to hurt my face, to slap or beat me, it would just be for me to remember that he owned me; the man would be traveling or would disappear until I healed.

Vladimir didn’t say a word for a few seconds as he applied the ointment on what he could see of my scar, and I stayed still, not moving until he put a hand on my shoulder. He turned me around slowly, his eyes meeting mine momentarily, and I took a deep breath as I felt my breath getting caught in my throat. 

“Can you hide it if I give it to you?” He asked, making me frown in confusion. “The medicine, I mean?”

I shook my head in question and his eyes, which held defeat, showed more pain than I would have liked to see. It made my chest ache, and he sighed. “I know that there are other wounds that I can’t see. If I give you this to put yourself, would you be able to hide it? It would help soothe the pain, and at least ensure that they aren’t infected.”

I nodded, and he smiled, taking my hand in his. 

Sparks coursed through my body, and I frowned in confusion. He didn’t let go of my hand as he placed the medicine in it. And I watched as he used both of his hands to close my hand around it, keeping his eyes on mine as he did.

However, what he said next was what took me off guard, giving the spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, I was no longer alone. A small door, no matter how far, was slowly peeking open for me.

“I give you my word that I will do my best to keep him from coming to you,” he whispered. “No matter what it takes. I will do my best, and if he does come, despite my effort to keep him away; I am going to want you to stay strong for me, can you promise me back in return?”

I kept my eyes on the man for a second too long as I got lost in my thoughts. I have been holding onto this life for a reason, whatever it was, I saw it in this man’s eyes. I held on for this long, I knew to hold on a little longer, no matter how long it was going to be. As long as it ended with him being here for me in the end, I was going to do it.

He waited for my response, staying quiet as he did before I nodded, making him smile. My eyes held the same promise that his eyes did.

I will hold on for you, Vladimir. I did for this long, at least I know that I ‘MIGHT’ have a shoulder to lean on this time…