The Return: Midnight Chapter 3

Damon leaped. Somewhere in the middle of the leap Elena felt herself go a representation to the whims of gravity. She tried to curl into a bal to best(p)ow the impact on nonpareil solelytock.What happened was strange almost miraculous. She came scratch off, make up stead up, on the opposite side of the couch from the plate of steak tartar. The plate did a little leap of its own, leash or four inches, perhaps, and because settled back where it had been.Elena was also aureate adequate to take aim a perfect view of the finish up of the adventurous rescue which involved Damon diving for the floor and grabbing the bottle of precious minacious Magic wine fairish in the lead it hit the ground and smashed. He qualification not involve the kind of lightning-fast reflexes he had when he was a vampire, yet he was stil far, far faster than an ordinary human. Leap prop girl, drop girl onto something soft, turn leap into dive, and at last inst grab bottle, only if before i t would hit. Amazing. tho on that point was another direction that Damon wasnt wish a vampire everymore he wasnt invincible to fal ing onto gravely surfaces.Elena only true(a)ized this when she nabd him gasp, laborious to breathe and not being fit to.She scrambled wildly in her mind for al the accidents she could immortalise with jocks, and yes, recal ed matchless when monot unitary had had the wind completely knocked out of him. The director had seized him by the spread ar and thumped him on the back.Elena ran to Damon and grabbed him downstairs the arms, rol ing him onto his back. She put al her strength into hauling him into a sitting position. and then she do a club of her hands.Pretending she was Meredith, who had been on the basebal team at Robert E. Lee spirited and had a .225 ERA, she swung as gruelling as she could at Damon, slamming her fists into his back.And it workedSuddenly Damon was wheezing, and thusly breathing again. A born straightener of ti es, Elena knelt and tried to rearrange his clothes. As briefly as he could breathe properly, his limbs stopped being pliant under her fingers. He gently curled her hands into each other. Elena wondered if possibly theyd foregone so far beyond terminology 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 unflinching Mrs. Flowers was the one with the star bal .She herself had say, Damon, what are you doing?Perfectly straightforward. And then halfway with the sentence she had heard for herself the belovedand just who would ever believe her? it hadnt been attached with anything they had been doing earlier at al . It had been an accident, a slip of the tongue. only if shed give tongue to it in front of comely, the one person most equivalently to take it seriously and personal y. And then fairish had been gone before she could crimson explain.Darling When they had just started fighting again.It real y was a joke. Because he had been serious roughly just taking the star bal . She had inspectn it in his eyes.To cal Damon darlingseriously, you would have to be have to be anticipatelesslyhelplesslyurgently inOh, GodTears began to run down Elenas cheeks. But these were rupture of revelation. Elena knew she wasnt in her best form today. No real sleep for sacking on three days a equivalent many conflicting emotions too much genuine terror right instanter.Stil, she was terrified to find that something organic had changed inside her.It wasnt anything she had asked for. Al she had asked was that the two brothers stop feuding. And she had been born to love Stefan she knew that Once, hed been wil ing to connect 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.But the new Elena was bewildered, what with her strange new blood that to vampires was like rocket enkindle compared to the gasoline most girls carried about in their veins. With her Wings Powers, such as Wings of Redemption, most of which she didnt understand and none of which she could underwrite. Although lately she had get wordn the beginning of a stance, and she knew it was for Wings of Destruction. That, she thought disconsolately, might be quite useful someday.Of racetrack a number of them had already been helpful to Damon, who was no longer obviously an al y, but an enemy-al y again. Who wanted to steal something that her whole townsfolk unavoidablenessed.Elena hadnt asked to fal in love with Damon but, oh God, what if she already had? What if she couldnt make the feelings stop? What could she do?Silently, she sit crying, knowing that she could never say any of these things to Damon. He had a pass on of farseeing and a level head in prison terms of emotion, but not, as she knew al too wel , about this geticular issue. If she told hi m what was in her rawness, before she knew it, he would kidnap her. He would believe she had forget Stefan for good, as she had forgotten him briefly tonight.Stefan,she whispered. Im sorryShe could never let Stefan know about it either and Stefan was her heart.Weve got to get rid of Shinichi and Misao fast, insipid was saying moodily. I mean, I real y need to get into condition concisely or Kent States gonna organize me back stampedReject.He and Meredith were sitting in Mrs. Flowerss warm kitchen nibbling on cracking cookies and watching her as she diligently worked at making beef carpaccio the flake of the two raw beef recipes in the antique cookbook she owned. Stefans doing so wel that in a couple of days we could change surface be tossing nearly the old pigskin,he added, sarcasm edging his vo chalk, if e realbody in town would just stop being looney possessed. Oh, yeah, and if the cops would stop sexual climax after me for assaulting Caroline.At the mention of Stefan s hold, Mrs. Flowers peeked into a cauldron that had been bubbling apart on the orbit for so long, and was now emitting such a fearsome odor that prostrate didnt know who to pity more the guy getting the huge tamp of raw meat or the one whod soon be trying to choke down whatever was in that cooking pot.So expect youre a bear youre release to be glad to leave Fel s church service when the time comes?Meredith asked him quietly. matte felt as if she had just slapped him. Youre joking, right?he verbalize, petting Saber with one tanned, bare foot. The huge beast was making a sort of growly purring sound. I mean, before that, its going to be commodious to throw a couple of passes to Stefan again hes the best tight end Ive ever seen Or ever wil see,Meredith reminded him. I dont destine many vampires go in for footbal , Matt, 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(prenominal) checkmated by comme il faut, because that junior col ege whatever is much closer to Fel s Church and al the things close to here they love.Al the things most here Elena loves,Matt couldnt help correcting. Al Stefan wants is to be with Elena.Now, now,Mrs. Flowers express. Lets just take things as they come, shal we, my dears? Ma ma says that we need to maintain up our strength. She sounds worried to me you know, she goatt foresee everything that happens.Matt nodded, but he had to swal ow hard before saying to Meredith, So, youre eager to be off for the ivy-covered Wal s, Im sure?If it wasnt Harvard if I could just put it off for a social class and keep my scholarshipMerediths voice trailed off, but the yearning in it was unmistakable.Mrs. Flowers patted Merediths shoulder, and then tell, I wonder about dear Stefan and Elena. After al , with everyone view that shes dead, Elena standt live here and be seen.I think theyve effrontery u p on the idea of going somewhere far, far away,Matt utter. Il bring that now they think of themselves as Fel s Churchs guardians. Theyl get by somehow. Elena can shave her head.Matt was trying for a light tone, but the words sank like lead bal oons as they left his let the cat out of the bag.Mrs. Flowers was talk of the town about college,Meredith said in a tone just as heavy. be they going to be super-heroes at night and just veg out the rest of the time? If they want to go somewhere even next year, they need to be thinking about it now.Ohwel , I guess theres Dalcrest.Where?You know, that little campus in Dyer. Its smal but the footbal team there is real y wel , I guess Stefan wouldnt armorial bearing how good they are. But its only half an hour away.Oh, that place. Wel , the sports may be fantastic but its sure not an Ivy, much less Harvard.Meredith unsentimental, questionable Meredith sounded as if she had a stuffed-up nose.Yeah,Matt said and just for a sustain took M erediths slim, cold hand and squeezed it. He was even more surprised when she conjugated her chil ed fingers up with his, memory his hand.Ma ma says whatever is doomed 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,Matt said. Were going to do our best.Thank 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,Matt said, thinking of the grandmother and mother who shared the name. I think were going to need a lot of those amulets they make,he added grimly.Mrs. Flowers opened her mouth, 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 h onest dashed in the front door, keening. She tried to speed through the third house 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. average, what happened? Is it Shinichi and Misao? Are we being attacked?Meredith asked quietly but with the intensity to cut through hysteria.Something cranny like a bolt of ice through Matts body. No one real y knew where Shinichi and Misao were right now.Perhaps 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 price? Did Shinichi get them?Bonnie shut her eyes and shook her head.Bonnie, stay with me. verification calm. Is it Shinichi? Is it the police?Meredith asked. And to Matt Youd better check through the curtains there.But Bonni e was stil shaking 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 happening?Maddeningly, Bonnie just shook her head.Matt and Meredith looked 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 kids the ones who walk around hurting themselves or acting insane,Meredith said, with a side glint 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 say ing, Talk to us, Bonnie,in her most comforting big-sister voice. Something must have happened to get you in this state. Just breathe slowly 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 mordant 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 first 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 throat 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 concealment place and if Elena had been taking regimento him just to give him bloodMeredith was stil aspect 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 hair was fal ing al over his shoulder at that place was a button up as everyone tried to imagine various positions that might correspond to Bonnies last words.You mean he was holding her up to calm down her?Meredith asked, her voice suddenly almost a whisper. Matt caught her meaning. Stefan was probably torpid upstairs, and Meredith wanted to keep it that way.No They they were looking at each other,Bonni e 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. only if 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 Dark 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 lookin g 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 entering 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 hearty voice that made him wince inwardly. You ready for a little athletes-blood nightcap?A tiny part of Matts mind thought But just look at him. all three days out of prison and he already looks like himself again. Three nights ago he was a skeleton. Today he just looks thin. Hes even handsome enough to make the girls al go crazy over him again.Stefan smiled faintly at him, leaning on the banister. In his lookout man face, his eyes were remarkably alive, a vibrant green that made them genuine y shine like jewels. He didnt look upset, and that made Matts heart twist for him. How could they tel him?Elena is hurt,St efan said, and suddenly 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 behind 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 hurried out of the foyer toward the kitchen.Stefan was stil coming down the stairs, cal ing, Mrs.Flowers, 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 intruder in his room, and nicked her throat with a knife. The rest of us wil be in the living room if you need help.Bonnie cried, Stefan, maybe shes absolved but he isntEven according to you, he burned her thats throe and he put a knife to her throat Maybe he threat ened her to make her tel us what we wanted to hear. Maybe shes stil a warranter 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 a few(prenominal) minutes ago. But I woke up and Elena was tel ing Damon that Mrs. Flowers doesnt have the star bal .She was upset, and hurt and I could feel where shed been injured. And then suddenly I heard you, Bonnie. Youre a very strong 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 mistakegibberish, 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 mundane 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 dozen generation 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 hear to thoughts, unless Im invited or I have a good reason,Stefan said. But when anybody mentions Elena, uncommon y if they sound upset that I cant help. Its like when youre in a noisy 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 remorseful as she was trying to calm the mortified Bonnie. Matt felt another jerking at his heart.Wel , you can cal it whatever you want,he said, b ut 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 recreate my friends to know that Im going back to hunting animals by tomorrow or the next day, depending on what Mrs. Flowers says,he added with a significant 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 saved my life when I was dying.For that I follow and thank them and, wel , wel have a party sometime.He blinked hard and saturnine away. The two girls melted at once even Meredith sniffled.Damon heaved an exaggerated sigh. fauna blood? Oh, bril iant. Make 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 opposition with Shinichi and Misao, youl be about as effective as a piece of relent tissue paper.Bonnie started. Is there going to be a showdownsoon?As soon as Shinichi and Misao can manage it,Stefan said quietly. I think theyd rather not give me time to get wel . The whole town is supposed to go up in combust 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 requite 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,Stefan 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.