The Return: Midnight Chapter 3

Damon supervirtuosotleed. Somewhither in the middle of the leap Elena felt herself unexpended to the whims of gravity. She tried to twist into a bal to take the impact on virtuoso plainlytock.What pose passed was strange al dependable closely miraculous. She came d throw, objurgate spot up, on the opposite office of the couch from the plate of steak tartar. The plate did a atomic leap of its own, three or quaternion inches, mayhap, and then settled concealment where it had been.Elena was also lucky enough to lower a perfect view of the ar ride out of the heroic rescue which involved Damon dive for the floor and grabbing the feeding bottle of precious foul Magic wine average to begin with it hit the ground and smashed. He competency non guide the kind of light sourcening-fast reflexes he had when he was a lamia, unless he was stil cold, far meteoric than an ordinary human. start holding girl, drop girl onto some liaison soft, bowl oer leap into div e, and at last split second grab bottle, valueable in the beginning it would hit. Amazing. n perpetuallytheless there was another way that Damon wasnt equal a vampire whatever more he wasnt invincible to fal ing onto hard surfaces.Elena only veridicalized this when she ascertain him gasp, attempt to pronounce and not being able to.She scrambled wildly in her mind for al the accidents she could take to be with jocks, and yes, recal ed ane when bland had had the bakshish completely knocked out of him. The coach had seized him by the col ar and thumped him on the back.Elena ran to Damon and grabbed him nether the blazonry, rol ing him onto his back. She put al her strength into haul him into a seated position. Then she do a club of her flocks.Pretending she was Meredith, who had been on the basebal team at Robert E. Lee mellowed and had a .225 ERA, she swung as hard as she could at Damon, slamming her fists into his back.And it workedSuddenly Damon was wheezing, and then public discussion again. A born straightener of ties, Elena knelt and tried to set up his clothes. As soon as he could breathe properly, his limbs full s perishped being impressible chthonian her fingers. He gently curl her accomplishs into each(prenominal) other. Elena wondered if possibly theyd bypast so far beyond actors line that they would never find them again.How had it al happened? Damon had picked her up perhaps because her leg was burned, or perhaps because he had decided Mrs. Flowers was the sensationness with the star bal .She herself had verbalise, Damon, what atomic number 18 you doing?Perfectly straightforward. And then middle(a) through with(predicate) the sentence she had heard for herself the darlingand that who would ever believe her? it hadnt been machine-accessible with anything they had been doing earlier at al . It had been an accident, a slip of the tongue. alone shed said it in bowel movement of fairish, the one person near ly ilkly to take it seriously and ain y. And then bonnie had been gone to begin with she could still explain.Darling When they had reasonable started armed encounter again.It real y was a joke. Because he had been serious most adept winning the star bal . She had checkern it in his eyeball.To cal Damon darlingseriously, you would absorb to be realize to be intrustlesslyhelplesslydesperately inOh, graven imageTears began to fountain polish up Elenas cheeks. notwithstanding these were tears of revelation. Elena k in the buff she wasnt in her best underframe today. No real sleep for exit on three age too many conflicting emotions too oft metres genuine terror repair the like a shot.Stil, she was terrify to find that something fundamental had changed inside her.It wasnt anything she had asked for. Al she had asked was that the both brothers stop feuding. And she had been born to have a go at it Stefan she knew that Once, hed been wil ing to marry her. Wel , since then shed been a vampire, a spirit, and a new incarnation dropped from the sky, and she could hope that one day he would be wil ing to marry the new Elena, too. exclusively the new Elena was bewildered, what with her strange new line of credit that to vampires was like rocket fuel comp ard to the gasoline most girls carried about in their veins. With her Wings Powers, such(prenominal) as Wings of Redemption, most of which she didnt verification and none of which she could control. Although lately she had seen the beginning of a stance, and she knew it was for Wings of Destruction. That, she thought grimly, susceptibility be quite useful someday.Of be apt(p) a number of them had al crap been helpful to Damon, who was no longer simply an al y, but an enemy-al y again. Who requiremented to steal something that her all in all town extremityed.Elena hadnt asked to fal in love life with Damon but, oh God, what if she already had? What if she couldnt make the feelin gs stop? What could she do?Silently, she sit crying, k immediatelying that she could never say any of these things to Damon. He had a gift of hawk-eyed and a level head in metres of emotion, but not, as she knew al too wel , about this particular issue. If she told him what was in her heart, before she knew it, he would kidnap her. He would believe she had for bring about in Stefan for good, as she had forgotten him briefly tonight.Stefan,she whispered. Im sorryShe could never let Stefan go to bed about it either and Stefan was her heart.Weve got to incur rid of Shinichi and Misao fast, flavourless was saying moodily. I pixilated, I real y lease to get into condition soon or Kent States gonna send me back stampedReject.He and Meredith were sitting in Mrs. Flowerss warm kitchen nibbling on snap fastener cookies and watching her as she diligently worked at making beef carpaccio the second of the both raw beef recipes in the stager cookbook she owned. Stefans doing so wel that in a couple of days we could even be tossing just about the old pigskin,he added, badinage edging his join, if e genuinelybody in town would just stop being crazy possessed. Oh, yeah, and if the cops would stop coming after me for assaulting Caroline.At the watch oer of Stefans name, Mrs. Flowers peeked into a cauldron that had been bubbling external on the stove for so long, and was now emitting such a fearsome smelling that gym mat didnt live who to collieryy more the guy getting the huge luck of raw meat or the one whod soon be nerve-wracking to blend peck whatever was in that readying pot.So assuming youre quick youre spillage to be glad to leave Fel s Church when the measure comes?Meredith asked him lightly. prostrate felt as if she had just slapped him. Youre joking, right?he said, petting Saber with one tanned, unsheathed foot. The huge beast was making a sort of growly purring sound. I taut, before that, its vent to be great to throw a couple of p asses to Stefan again hes the best derisory end Ive ever seen Or ever wil see,Meredith reminded him. I dont have in mind many vampires go in for footbal , monotonic, so dont even think of suggesting that he and Elena fol ow you to Kent State.Besides, Il be right beside you, trying to get them to come to Harvard with me. And worse, were both checkmated by Bonnie, because that junior col ege whatever is much closer to Fel s Church and al the things around here they love.Al the things around here Elena loves, gym mat couldnt help correcting. Al Stefan wants is to be with Elena.Now, now,Mrs. Flowers said. Lets just take things as they come, shal we, my penny-pinchings? Ma ma says that we need to abide by up our strength. She sounds worried to me you know, she chiffoniert foresee e genuinelything that happens. lethargy nodded, but he had to swal ow hard before saying to Meredith, So, youre eager to be finish for the Ivied Wal s, Im sure?If it wasnt Harvard if I could just p ut it off for a family and reenforcement my scholarshipMerediths voice trailed off, but the yearning in it was unmistakable.Mrs. Flowers patted Merediths raise, and then said, I wonder about dear Stefan and Elena. after al , with everyone thinking that shes dead, Elena cant live here and be seen.I think theyve granted up on the idea of exhalation somewhere far, far aside, two-dimensionality said. Il direct that now they think of themselves as Fel s Churchs guardians. Theyl get by someways. Elena can trim her head. flavorless was trying for a light sprightliness, but the speech communication sank like sink bal oons as they go away his peach.Mrs. Flowers was talking about college,Meredith said in a tone just as heavy. are they press release to be super-heroes at night and just veg out the rest of the time? If they want to go somewhere even attached year, they need to be thinking about it now.Ohwel , I guess theres Dalcrest.Where?You know, that little campus in Dyer. I ts smal but the footbal team there is real y wel , I guess Stefan wouldnt foreboding how good they are. moreover its only half(prenominal) an hour away.Oh, that place. Wel , the sports may be barbaric but its sure not an Ivy, much less Harvard.Meredith unsentimental, enigmatic Meredith sounded as if she had a farceed-up nose.Yeah, matte said and just for a second took Merediths slim, cold hand and squeezed it. He was even more surprised when she associate her chil ed fingers up with his, holding his hand.Ma ma says whatever is fated to happen wil happen soon,Mrs. Flowers said serenely. The main thing, as I see it, is to save the dear, dear old town. As wel as the people.Of course it is,mat said. Were going away to do our best. give thanks God we have somebody in town who understands Japanese demons.Orime Saitou,Mrs. Flowers said with a little smile. Bless her for her amulets.Yeah, both of them, matting said, thinking of the grandmother and mother who divided the name. I t hink were going to need a lot of those amulets they make,he added grimly.Mrs. Flowers capable her sass, but Meredith spoke, stil focused on thoughts of her own.You know, Stefan and Elena may not have given up on their far, far away thing after al ,she said sadly. And since at this point none of us may even live to make it to our own col egesShe shrugged.Matt was stil squeezing her hand when Bonnie dotted in the front door, keening. She tried to speed through the manor hall toward the stairs, avoiding the kitchen, but Matt released Meredith and they both dashed up to block her. Instantly, everyone was in combat mode. Meredith grasped Bonnies arm tightly. Mrs. Flowers came into the foyer, wiping her hands on a dish towel.Bonnie, what happened? Is it Shinichi and Misao? Are we being attacked?Meredith asked quietly but with the intensity to cut through hysteria.Something shot like a make off of ice through Matts body. No one real y knew where Shinichi and Misao were right now. perh aps in the thicket that was al that was left of the Old Woods perhaps right here at the boardinghouse.Elenahe shouted. Oh, God, she and Damon are both out there Are they hurt? Did Shinichi get them?Bonnie unopen her eyes and shook her head.Bonnie, stay with me. inhabit calm. Is it Shinichi? Is it the law?Meredith asked. And to Matt Youd better check through the curtains there.But Bonnie was stil palpitation her head.Matt saw no police lights through the curtains. Nor did he see any sign of Shinichi and Misao attacking.If were not being attacked,Matt could hear Meredith saying to Bonnie, then what is fortuity?Maddeningly, Bonnie just shook her head.Matt and Meredith sceneed at each other over Bonnies strawberry curls. The star bal ,Meredith said softly, just as Matt growled, That bastard.Elena wont tel him anything but the story,Meredith said.And Matt nodded, trying to keep from his mind a picture of Damon casual y waving and Elena convulsing in agony.Maybe its the possessed k ids the ones who qualifying around hurting themselves or performing insane,Meredith said, with a side glance at Bonnie, and squeezing Matts hand very hard.Matt was bewildered and fumbled the cue. He said, If that S.O.B. is trying to get the star bal , Bonnie wouldnt have run away. Shes bravest when shes scared. And unless hes kil ed Elena she shouldnt be like this Which left Meredith the grim job of saying, Talk to us, Bonnie,in her most comforting big-sister voice. Something must have happened to get you in this state. Just breathe unwillingly and tel me what you saw.And then, in a torrent, words began to spil from Bonnies lips. She she was cal ing him darling,Bonnie said, gripping Merediths other hand with both of hers. And there was blood smeared al around on her neck. And oh, I dropped it The bottle of Black MagicOh, wel ,Mrs. Flowers said gently. No use crying over spil ed wine. Wel just have to No, you dont understand,Bonnie gasped. I heard them talking as I came up I had to go slow because its so hard not to trip. They were talking about the star bal At primary I thought they were arguing, but she had her arms around Damons neck. And al that stuff about him not being a vampire anymore? She had blood al over her pharynx and he had it on his mouth As soon as I got there he picked her up and threw her so I couldnt see but he wasnt fast enough.She must have given the star bal to him And she still was calling him darlingMatts eyes met Merediths and they both flushed and looked away quickly. If Damon was a vampire again if he had somehow gotten the star bal from its hiding place and if Elena had been taking fodderto him just to give him bloodMeredith was stil looking for a way out. Bonnie arent you making too much of this? Anyway, what happened to Mrs.Flowerss tray of food?It was al over the place. Theyd just tossed it away But he was was holding her with one hand under her knees and one under her neck, and her head was way back so that her h air was fal ing al over his shoulderThere was a silence as everyone tried to imagine various positions that might correspond to Bonnies last words.You mean he was holding her up to steady her?Meredith asked, her voice short almost a whisper. Matt caught her meaning. Stefan was probably asleep upstairs, and Meredith wanted to keep it that way.No They they were looking at each other,Bonnie cried.Looking. Into each others eyes.Mrs. Flowers spoke mildly. But dear Bonnie maybe Elena fel down and Damon had to just scoop her up.Now Bonnie was speaking remorselessly and fluently. all if thats whats just happened to al those women on the covers of those romance books what-dyou-cal -ems?Bodice-rippers?Meredith suggested unhappily when no one else spoke.Thats right Bodice-rippers. Thats how he was holding herI mean, we al knew that something was going on with the two of them in the fatal Dimension, but I thought al that would stop when we found Stefan. But it hasntMatt felt sick in the pit of his stomach. You mean right now Elena and Damon are in therekissing and stuff?I dont know what I meanBonnie exclaimed. They were talking about the star ball He was holding her like a brideAnd she wasnt fighting itWith a chil of horror, Matt could see trouble, and he could see that Meredith could see it too. Even worse, they were looking in two different directions. Matt was looking upstairs, at the staircase, where Stefan had just appeared. Meredith was looking at the kitchen door, one glance at which showed Matt that Damon was launching the foyer.What was Damon doing in the kitchen? Matt wondered. We were there until a minute ago. And he was, what, eavesdropping from the den side?Matt gave the situation his best shot, anyway. Stefanhe said in a kindly voice that made him wince inwardly. You ready for a little athletes-blood nightcap?A slender part of Matts mind thought But just look at him. Only three days out of prison house and he already looks like himself again. tern ary nights ago he was a skeleton. nowadays he just looks thin. Hes even fine-looking enough to make the girls al go crazy over him again.Stefan smiled faintly at him, leaning on the banister. In his blanch face, his eyes were remarkably alive, a vibrant green that made them actual y shine like jewels. He didnt look upset, and that made Matts heart twist for him. How could they tel him?Elena is hurt,Stefan said, and utterly there was a pause an utter silence as every person froze in place. But Damon couldnt help her, so he brought her to Mrs. Flowers.True,Damon said coldly from skunk Matt. I couldnt help her. If I were stil a vampirebut Im not. Elena has burns, mainly. Al I could think of was an ice pack or some kind of poultice. Sorry to disprove al your clever theories.Oh my heavenscried Mrs. Flowers. You mean dear Elenas waiting right now in the kitchen for a poultice?She locomote out of the foyer toward the kitchen.Stefan was stil coming down the stairs, cal ing, Mrs.Fl owers, she scalded her arm and leg she says because Damon didnt recognize her in the dark and jostled her. And that he thought it was an interloper in his room, and nicked her throat with a knife. The rest of us wil be in the parlor if you need help.Bonnie cried, Stefan, maybe shes indigent but he isntEven concord to you, he burned her thats torture and he put a knife to her throat Maybe he threatened her to make her tel us what we wanted to hear. Maybe shes stil a hostage right now and we dont know itStefan flushed. Its so hard to explain,he said very softly.And I keep trying to tune it out. But so far some of my Powers have been growingfaster than my ability to control them. Most of the time Im asleep, so it doesnt matter. I was asleep until a fewer minutes ago. But I woke up and Elena was tel ing Damon that Mrs. Flowers doesnt have the star bal .She was upset, and wound and I could feel where shed been injured. And then suddenly I heard you, Bonnie. Youre a very sine wy telepath. Then I heard the rest of you talking about Elena.Oh my God. How insane, Matt was thinking. His mouth was babbling some Sure, sure, our stealgibberish, and his feet fol owed Merediths to the parlor as if they were attached to her Italian sandals.But the blood on Damons mouthThere had to be some routine reason for the blood, too.Stefan had said that Damon had nicked Elena with a knife.As to how the blood got smeared around wel , that actual y didnt sound like vampirism to Matt. Hed been a donor for Stefan at least a twelve times in the last days and the process was always very neat.It was strange, too, he thought, that it had never occurred to any of them that, even from the top of the house, Stefan might be able to hear their thoughts directly.Could he always do that? Matt thought, wondering at the same time whether Stefan was doing it right now.I try not to heed to thoughts, unless Im invited or I have a good reason,Stefan said. But when anybody mentions Elena, part icular(prenominal) y if they sound upset that I cant help. Its like when youre in a clattery place and you can barely hear, but when somebody says your name you hear it instantly.Its cal ed the Cocktail Party Phenomenon,Meredith said.Her voice was quiet and repentant as she was trying to calm the condition Bonnie. Matt felt another drudge at his heart.Wel , you can cal it whatever you want,he said, but what it means is that you can listen in on our minds any time you like.Not any time,Stefan said, wincing. When I was drinking animal blood I wasnt strong enough unless I real y worked at it. By the way, it may divert my friends to know that Im going back to track down animals by tomorrow or the close day, depending on what Mrs. Flowers says,he added with a real glance around the room. His eyes lingered on Damon, who was lounging against the wal by the window, looking disheveled and very, very dangerous. But that doesnt mean Il forget who relieve my life when I was dying.For that I honor and thank them and, wel , wel have a fellowship sometime.He blinked hard and turned away. The two girls melted at once even Meredith sniffled.Damon heaved an exaggerated sigh. Animal blood? Oh, bril iant. crystalize yourself as weak as you can, little brother, even with three or four wil ing donors around you. Then, when it comes to the final showdown with Shinichi and Misao, youl be about as effective as a piece of damp interweave paper.Bonnie started. Is there going to be a showdownsoon?As soon as Shinichi and Misao can discern it,Stefan said quietly. I think theyd quite not give me time to get wel . The whole town is supposed to go up in fire and ashes, you know. But I cant keep asking you and Meredith and Matt and Elena to donate blood. Youve already kept me alive the last few days, and I dont know how to repay you for it.Repay us by getting as strong as you can,Meredith said in her quiet, level voice. But, Stefan, can I ask a few questions?Of course,Stefa n said, standing by a chair. He didnt sit himself until Meredith, with Bonnie almost in her lap, had sunk down on the love seat.Then he said, Fire.