The Return: Nightfall Chapter 35

Aprison, with filthy rushes on the floor and bars between her and the sleeping Stefan.between her andStefanIt was really him. Elena didnt inhabit how she could know. Undoubtedly they could twist and change your perceptions present. merely just now, perhaps because nobody had been expecting her to drop into a dungeon, no 1 was prepa reddish with anything to tell on her doubt her senses.Itwas Stefan. He was thinner than before, and his cheekbones stuck out. He was beautiful. And his promontory felt up just right, just the right mixture of honor and love and darkness and light and bank and grim understanding of the world he lived in.Stefan Oh,hold me He woke and half sat up. At least leave me my sleep. And meanwhile go away and put on a nonher face, bitchStefan LanguageShe saw muscles in Stefans shoulders freeze.Whatdid youenunciate?Stefanits really me.I dont blame you for cursing. I curse this whole place and the cardinal who put you present.Three, he say wearily, and flex his head. Youd know that if you were real. Go and let them teach you about(predi eructe) my traitor brother and his friends who sneak up on people with kekkai crownsElena couldnt live to debate about Damon now. Wont youlook at me, at least?She saw him turn slowly, look slowly, past saw him leap up from a pallet make of sickly-looking hay, and saw him stare at her as if she were an angel dropped down from the sky.Then he turned his back on her and put his hands over his ears.No bargains, he verbalise flatly. Dont so far mention them to me. Go away. Youve gotten better solely youre still a dream.StefanI said, go awayTime was wasting. And this was too cruel, subsequently what she had been through just to speak to him.You first saw me just exterior the principals scoreice the daytime you brought your papers into school and influenced the secretary. You didnt need to look at me to know what I looked care. Once I told you that I felt like a murderer because I said, Daddy, look a nd pointed to something outside just before the car accident that killed my parents. Ive never been able to remember what the something was. The first word I learned when I came back from the afterlife wasStefan . Once, you looked at me in the rearview mirror of the car and said that I was your soul.Cant you stop torturing me for one hour? Elena the real Elena would be too smart to gamble her life by coming here.Wheres here? Elena said sharply, frightened. I need to know if Im supposed to render you out.Slowly Stefan uncovered his ears. Even more slowly he turned close to again.Elena? he said, like a dying boy who has identifyn a gentle ghost in his bed. Youre not real. You substructuret be here.I dont think I am. Shinichi made a magic accommodate and it understands you wherever you want if you name it and open the door with this key. I said, Somewhere I can hear and see and come across Stefan. solely she looked down you say Icant be here. Maybe its all an illusion any way.Hush. Now Stefan was clenching the bars on his side of the cell.Is this where youve been? Is this theShi no Shi ?He gave a unretentive laugh not a real one. Not exactly what either of us expected, is it? And yet, they didnt lie in anything they said, Elena. Elena I said Elena. Elena, youre really hereElena couldnt bear to waste any time. She took the some steps through damp, crackly straw and scampering creatures to the bars that separated her from Stefan.Then she tilted up her face, clutching bars in either hand, and shut her eyes.I result touch him. I will, I will. Im real, hes real Ill touch himStefan leaned down to humor her, she plan and then warm lips touched hers.She put her arms through the bars because they were two weak at the knees Stefan in astonishment that she could touch him, and Elena in relief and sobbing joy.But there was no time.Stefan, egress my bloodnow take itShe looked desperately for something to burn off herself with. Stefan might need her s trength, and no matter what Damon had taken from her, she would forever pass water enough for Stefan. If it killed her, she would feature enough. She was glad, now, that in the tomb, Damon had persuaded her to take his.Easy. Easy, little love. If you mean it, I can bite your wrist, andDo itnow Elena Gilbert, the princess of Fells Church, ordered. She had even gotten the strength to pull herself off her knees. Stefan gave her half a guilty glance.NOWElena insisted.Stefan bit her wrist.It was an odd sensation. It hurt a little more than when he pierced the side of her neck as usual. But there were good veins down there, she knew she trusted Stefan to find the largest so that this would take the least amount of time. Her urgency had become his.But when he tried to pull back, she clutched a handful of his wavy dark hair and said, More, Stefan. You need it oh, I can tell, and we dont have time to argue.The voice of command. Meredith had told her once that she had it, that she could lead armies. Well, she might need to lead armies to get into this place to save him.Ill get an army somewhere, she thought fuzzily.The starving bloodfever that Stefan had been in they obviously hadnt fed him since she had last seen him was dying into the more normal blood-taking that she knew. His mind melted into hers.When you say youll get an army, I believe you. But its impossible. No ones ever come back.Well, you will. Im bringing you back.Elena, ElenaDrink,she said, feeling like an Italian mother.As much as you can without being sick.But how did no, you told me how you got here. That was the truth?The truth. I always tell you the truth. But Stefan, how do I getyouout?Shinichi and Misao you know them?Enough.They each have half a ring. Together it makes a key. Each half is shaped like a running fox. But who knows where they may have hidden the pieces? And as I said, just to get into this place, it takes an army.Ill find the pieces of the fox ring. Ill put them together. Ill get an army. Ill get you out.Elena, I cant keep drinking. Youll collapse.Im good at not collapsing. Please go on.I can hardly believe its you No kissing organise my bloodMaam But Elena, truly, Im full now. Overfull.And tomorrow?Ill still be overfull. Stefan pulled away, a thumb on the places where he had pierced veins. Truly, I cant , love.And the next day?Ill manage.You will because I broughtthis . Hold me, Stefan, she said, several decibels softer. Hold me through the bars.He did, looking bewildered, and she hissed in his ear, Act like you love me. Stroke my hair. Say gracious things.Elena, lovely little love He was still close enough mentally to say telepathically Actlike I love you? But while his hands were chance event and squeezing and tangling in her hair, Elenas own hands were busy. She was transferring from under her clothes to under his a flask full of Black Magic wine.But where did you get it? Stefan whispered, appear thunderstruck.The magic house has everything. Ive been waiting for my chance to give it to you if you needed it.Elena What?Stefan seemed to be struggling with something. At last, eyes on the ground, he whispered, Its no good. I cant risk you getting killed for the sake of an impossibility. Forget me.Put your face to the bars.He looked at her but didnt ask any questions, obeying.She slam-bangped him across the face.It wasnt a very hard slapalthough Elenas hand hurt from colliding with the iron on either side.Now,be ashamed she said. And before he could say anything else,ListenIt was the baying of hounds far away, but getting closer.Itsyou theyre after, Stefan said, suddenly frantic. You have to goShe just looked at him steadily. I love you, Stefan.I love you, Elena. Forever.I oh, Imsorry . Shecouldnt go that was the thing. Like Caro nervous strain talking and talking and never divergence Stefans a manment, she could stand here and speak about it, but she couldnt do it.Elena Youhave to. I dont want you to see what they do Ill kill themYoure no killer. Youre not a fighter, Elena and you shouldnt see this. Please? Remember once you asked me if Id like to see how many times you could make me say please? Well, each counts for a thousand now. Please? For me? leave behind you go?One more kiss Her heart was beating like a frantic bird inside her.PleaseBlind with tears, Elena turned nearly and grasped hold of the cell door.Anywhere outside the ceremony where no one will see me she gasped and wrenched the door to the corridor open and stepped through.At least shed seen Stefan, but for how wide that would last to keep her heart from shattering again oh, my God, Imfalling she didnt know.Elena realized that shewas outside the boardinghouse somewhere at least some eighty feet high and plummeting rapidly. Her first, fear conclusion was that she was going to die, and then instinct directioned in and she reached out with arms and hands and kicked in with legs and feet and managed to arrest her fall after twe nty agonizing feet.Ive illogical my flying wings forever, havent I? she thought, concentrating on a single spot between her shoulder blades. She knew just where they should be and nothing happened.Then, carefully, she inched her way closer to the trunk, pausing yet to move to a higher twig a caterpillar that was sharing the branch with her. And she managed to find a sort of place where she could sit by sidling and then pushing backward. It was far too high a branch for her personal taste.As it was, she found that she could look down and see the widows walk quite clearly, and that the overnight she looked at any particular thing the clearer her vision got. Vampire vision plus, she thought. It showed her that she was Changing. Or else yes, somehow here the sky was getting lighter.What it showed her was a dark and unemployed boardinghouse, which was sorry because of what Carolines father had said about the meeting and what she had learned telepathically from Damon about Shinichi s plans for this Moonspire night. Could this be not the real boardinghouse at all, but another narrow down?We made it reasonable cried as they approached the house. She knew her voice was shrill, was over-shrill, but somehow the sight of that brightly lit boardinghouse, like a Christmas tree with a star on top, comforted her, even if she knew that it was all incorrect. She felt she could cry in relief.Yes, we did, Dr. Alperts deep voice said. All of us. Isobels the one who needs the closely treatment, the fastest. Theophilia, get your nostrums doctor, and somebody else take Isobel and run her a bath.Ill do it, Bonnie quavered, after a brief hesitation. Shes going to stay tranquilized like she is now, right? Right?Illgo with Isobel, Matt said. Bonnie, you go with Mrs. Flowers and alleviate her. And before we go inside, I want to make one thing clear nobody goes anywhere alone. We all travel in twos or threes. there was the ring of authority in his voice.Makes sense, Meredith s aid crisply and took up a place by the doctor. Youd better be careful, Matt Isobel is the most dangerous.That was when the high, thin voices began outside the house. It sounded like two or three little missys singing.Isa-chan, Isa-chan,Drank her tea and ate her gran.Tami? Tami Bryce? Meredith demanded, opening the door as the tune began again. She darted forward, then she grabbed the doctor by the hand, and dragged her along beside her as she darted forward again.And, yes, Bonnie saw, there were three little figures, one in pajamas and two in nightgowns, and they were Tami Bryce and Kristin Dunstan and Ava Zarinski. Ava was whole about eleven, Bonnie thought, and she didnt live move up either Tami or Kristin. The three of them all giggled shrilly. Then they started singing again and Matt went after Kristin.Help me Bonnie cried. She was suddenly hanging on to a bucking, kicking bronco that lashed out in every direction. Isobel seemed to have gone crazy, and she went crazier every time that tune was repeated.Ive got her, Matt said, closing in on her with a bear hug, but even the two of them couldnt hold Isobel still.Im getting her another sedative, Dr. Alpert said, and Bonnie saw the glances between Matt and Meredith glances of suspicion.No no, let Mrs. Flowers make her something, Bonnie said desperately, but the hypodermic needle was already almost at Isobels arm.Youre not giving her anything, Meredith said flatly, dropping the charade, and with one chorus- misfire kick, she sent the hypodermic flying.Meredith Whats wrong with you? the doctor cried, wringing her wrist.Its whats wrong withyou thats the matter. Who are you? Where are we? This cant be the real boardinghouse.Obaasan Mrs. Flowers Cant you help us? Bonnie gasped, still trying to hold on to Isobel.Ill try, Mrs. Flowers said determinedly, headland toward her.No, I meant with Dr. Alpert and maybe Jim. Dont you know any spells to make people take on their true forms?Oh Obaasan said. I can help w ith that. Just let me down, Jim dear. Well have everyone in their true forms in no time.Jayneela was a sophomore with large, dreamy, dark eyes that were generally garbled in a book. But now, as it neared midnight and gramma grass still hadnt called, she shut her book and looked at Ty. Tyrone seemed big and fierce and mean on the playing field, but off it he was the nicest, kindest, gentlest big brother a girl could want.You think Grammas okay?Hm? Tyrone had his nose in a book, too, but it was one of those help-you-get-into-the-college-of-your-dreams books. As a senior-to-be, he was having to make some in force(p) decisions. Of course she is.Well, Im going to check on the little girl, at least.You know what, Jay? He poked her teasingly with one toe. You worry too much.In moments he was lost again in Chapter Six, How to Make the Most of Your Community Service. But then the screams started coming from above him. Long, loud, high screams his sisters voice. He dropped the book and ra n.Obaasan? Bonnie said.Just a moment, dear, Grandma Saitou said. Jim had put her down and now she was facing him squarely she looking up, and he looking down. And there was somethingvery wrong about it.Bonnie felt a wave of pure terror. Could Jim have done something evil to Obaasan as he carried her? Of course he could. Why hadnt she thought of that? And there was the doctor with her syringe, ready to tranquilize anyone who got too hysterical. Bonnie looked at Meredith, but Meredith was trying to deal with two squirming little girls, and could only glance helplessly back.All right, then, Bonnie thought. Ill kick him where it hurts most and get the old lady away from him. She turned back to Obaasan and felt herself freeze.Just one thing I have to do, Obaasan had said. And she was doing it. Jim was bent at the waist, folded in half toward Obaasan, who was on her tiptoes. They were locked in a deep, intimate kiss.Oh, GodThey had met four people in a wood and assumed that two were sane and two insane. How could they tell which were the insane ones? Well, if two of them see things that arent thereBut the housewas there Bonnie could see it, too. Wasshe insane?Meredith, come on she screamed. Her typeface breaking completely, she began to run away from the house toward the forest.Something from the skies plucked her up as easily as an owl picks up a mouse and held her in an depressed iron grip.Going somewhere? Damons voice asked from above her as he glided in the last few yards to a stop, with her neatly tucked under one steely arm.DamonDamons eyes were slightly narrowed, as though at a joke only he could see. Yes, the evil one himself. Tell me something, my fiery little fury.Bonnie had already exhausted herself trying to make him let go. She hadnt even succeeded in tearing his clothes.What? she snapped. Possessed or not, Damon had last seen her when she had Called him to save her from Carolines insanity. But harmonize to Matts reports, he had done something awful to Elena.Why do girls love to convert a sinner? Why can you feed them almost any line if they feel that theyve reformed you?Bonnie didnt know what he was talking about, but she could guess. What did you do with Elena? she said ferociously.Gave her what she wanted, thats all, Damon said, his black eyes twinkling. Is there anything so awful about that?Bonnie, frightened by that twinkle, didnt even try to run again. She knew it was no use. He was faster and stronger, and he could fly. Anyway, she had seen it in his face a sort of distant remorselessness. They were not just Damon and Bonnie here together. They were natural predator and natural prey.And now here she was back with Jim and Obaasan no, with a boy and girl shed never seen before. Bonnie was in time to watch the transformation. She saw Jims body shrink and his hair turn black, but that wasnt the striking thing about it. The striking thing was that all around the edges, his hair was not black but crimson. It was as if flames were licking up from the tips into darkness. His eyes were golden and smiling.She saw Obaasans doll-like old body grow younger and stronger and taller. This girl was a beauty Bonnie had to admit it. She had gorgeous sloe-black eyes and silky hair that fell almost to her waist. And her hair was just like her brothers only the red was even brighter, scarlet instead of crimson. She was wearing a barely-there laced black halter that showed how delicately built she was on top. And, of course, low-rise black leather gasp to show the same thing on the bottom. She was wearing expensive-looking black high-heeled sandals, and her toenails were enameled the same brilliant red as the tips of her hair. At her belt, in a sinuous circle, was a curled-up whip with a scaly black handle.Dr. Alpert said slowly, My grandchildren?They dont have anything to do with this, the boy with the strange hair said charmingly, smiling. As long as they mind their own business, you dont have to worry about them a bit.Its suicide or an attempted suicide or something, Tyrone told the police dispatcher, almost weeping. I think it was a guy named Jim who went to my high school last year. No, this is nothing to do with any drugs I came here to watch my little sister Jayneela. She was baby-sitting look, just come over, will you? This guys chewed off most of his fingers, and as I came in, he said, Ill always love you, Elena, and he took a pencil and no, I cant tell if hes alive or dead. But theres an old lady upstairs and Im sureshes dead. Because shes not breathing.Who the hell are you? Matt was saying, eyeing the strange boy belligerently.Im the and what the hell are you doing here?Im the hell Shinichi, the boy said in a much louder voice, looking annoyed to be interrupted. When Matt just stared at him, he added in an annoyed voice, Im the kitsune the were-fox, you could say whos been messing with your town, idiot. I came central around the world to do it, and Id think youd at least hav e heard of me by now. And this is my lovely sister, Misao. Were twins.I dont care if youre triplets. Elena said somebody anyhow Damon was behind this. And so did Stefan before he hey, what did you do to Stefan?What did you do to Elena? While the two strange males were bristling at each other quite literally in Shinichis case, since his hair was almost standing on end Meredith was picking out Bonnie, Dr. Alpert, and Mrs. Flowers by eye. Then she glanced at Matt and touched herself lightly on the chest. She was the only one strong enough to womanhandle him, although Dr. Alpert gave a quick nod that said she would be helping.And then, while the boys were working up to shouting volume, Misao was giggling at the ground, and Damon was leaning against a door with his eyes shut, they moved. With no signal at all to unite them, they were running, instinctively, as one group. Meredith and Dr. Alpert grabbed Matt from either side and simply lifted him off his feet, just as Isobel quite une xpectedly jumped on Shinichi with a guttural scream.They hadnt expected anything from her, but it was certainly convenient, Bonnie thought as she hurtled over obstacles without even seeing them. Matt was still shouting and trying to run the other way and take out some primitive frustration on Shinichi, but he couldnt quite manage to get free to do it.Bonnie could scarcely believe it when they made it into the Wood again. Even Mrs. Flowers had kept up and most of them still had their flashlights.It was a miracle. They had even escaped Damon. The thing now was to be very quiet and to try to get through the Old Wood without disturbing anything. Maybe they could find their way back to the real boardinghouse, they decided. Then they could figure out how to save Elena from Damon and his two friends. Even Matt finally had to admit that it was unbelievable that they would be able to overcome the three supernatural creatures by force.Bonnie just wished theyd been able to take Isobel with th em.Well, we have to go to the real boardinghouse anyway, Damon said, as Misao finally got Isobel subdued and semi-conscious. Thats where Caroline will be.Misao stopped glaring at Isobel and seemed to start slightly. Caroline? Why do we want Caroline?Its all part of the fun, isnt it? Damon said in his most charming, flirtatious voice. Shinichi immediately stopped looking martyred and smiled.That girl shes the one youve been using as a carrier, right? He looked naughtily at his sister, whose smile seemed slightly strained.Yes, but The more the merrier, Damon said, more cheerful with every minute. He didnt seem to notice Shinichi smirking at Misao behind his back.Dont sulk, darling, he said to her, tickling her under the chin while his golden eyes gleamed. Ive never set eyes on the girl. But of course, if Damon says itll be fun, itwill be. The smirk became a fledged gloating smile.And theres no chance of any of them actually getting away at all? Damon said, almost absently, staring into the darkness of the Old Wood.Give me a little credit, please, the kitsune snapped. Youre a damned a vampire, arent you?Youre not supposed to hang out in the woods at all.Its my territory, along with the cemetery Damon was beginning mildly, but Shinichi was determined to finish first this time. Ilive in the woods, he said. I control the bushes, the trees and Ive brought a few of my own little experiments along with me. Youll all see them short enough. So, to answer your question, no, not one of them is going to escape.That was all I asked, Damon said, still mildly, but locking gazes with the golden eyes for another long moment. Then he shrugged and turned away, eyeing the moon that could be seen between swirling clouds on the horizon.Weve got hours before the ceremony yet, Shinichi said, behind him. Were hardly going to be late.Wed better not, Damon murmured. Caroline can do an awfully good impression of that pierced girl in hysterics when people are late.As a matter of fa ct, the moon was riding high in the sky as Caroline drove her mothers car to the porch of the boardinghouse. She was wearing an evening dress that looked as if it had been painted on her, in her favorite colors of bronzy and green. Shinichi looked at Misao, who giggled with one hand covering her mouth and looked down.Damon walked Caroline up the porch steps to the front door and said, This way to the good put.There was some astonishment as people got themselves sorted out. Damon spoke cheerfully to Kristin and Tami and Ava The peanut gallery for you three, Im afraid. That means you sit on the ground. But if youre good, Ill let you come sit up with us the next time.The others followed him with more or less exclamation, but it was Caroline who looked annoyed, saying, Why do we want to goinside ? I thought they were supposed to beoutside .Closest seats not in danger, Damon said briefly. We can get the best view from up there. Royal box seats, come on, now.The fox twins and the human girl followed him, switching on lights in the darkened house all the way up to the widows walk on the roof.And now where are they? Caroline said, peering down.Theyll be here any minute, Shinichi said, with a glance that was both puzzled and reproving. It said Who does this girl think she is? He didnt spout any poetry.And Elena? Shell be here, too?Shinichi didnt answer that at all, and Misao just giggled. But Damon put his lips close to Carolines ear and whispered.After that, Carolines eyes shone green as a cats. And the smile on her lips was the one of a cat who has just put its paw on the canary.