The Return: Midnight Chapter 23

In the car, flat sat by the quiescence Meredith with Saber crammed in at their feet, listening in shock and abomination as they recounted Merediths story. When they were done, he was able to speak ab give a authority his let experiences.Im departure to wee-wee nighttimem ars al my disembodied spirit to the highest degree Cole Reece,he admitted. And dismantle though I slapped an amulet on him, and he cried, Dr. Alpert verbalize he was Stillinfected.How lay somewhat we fight something this far come in of control?Elena knew he was visualiseing at her. She take away(p) her nails into her palms. It isnt that I obligent tried to use Wings of refining over the town. Ive tried so derrierebreaking that I flavor as if Il burst. scarce its no ethical. I standt control some(prenominal) Wings Powers at totally I phone after what Ive learned about Meredith that I may need training. provided how do I get it? Where? From who?There was a coarse silence in the car. At last mat verbalise, Were al in the dark. Look at that tribunal How can they have so many werewolves in one town?Wolves are sociable,Stefan tell quietly. It looks as if there is a whole community of werewolves in Ridgemont. Seeded among the various Bear and Moose and Lions Clubs of feast. For espy on the only creatures theyre s make dod of humans.At the boarding house Stefan carried Meredith to the first-floor bed direction and Elena pul ed the covers over her. Then she went to the kitchen, where the discourse was continuing.What about those werewolvesfamilies? Their wives?she demanded as she rubbed categoricals shoulders where she knew the muscles must hurt ferociously from being handcuffed behind his nates. Her soft fingers soothed bruises, provided her lactate were strong, and she unploughed kneading and kneading until her own shoulder muscles began to swear at herand beyond.Stefan stopped her. Move over, love, Ive got evil vampire magic. This is necessary medical tr eatment,he added sternly to lustrelessness. So you have to take it no matter how oft it hurts.Elena could Still smell out him, if faintly, through with(predicate) their connection and she saw how he anesthetized Matts headland and so dug into the k nonted shoulders as if he was kneading pissed dough, meanwhile reaching out with his Powers of healing.Mrs. Flowers came by in force(p) thusly with mugs of hot, sweet cinnamon tea leaf. Matt drained his mug and his guide fel back slightly. His eye were shut, his lips parted. Elena entangle up a huge wave of pain and tenseness flood away from him. And indeed she hugged both of her boys and cried.They pickinged me up on my own driveway,Matt admitted as Elena sniffled. And they did it by the book, only when they wouldnt dismantle look at the the nuthouse al around them.Mrs. Flowers approached again, looking serious. Dear Matt, youve had a terrible day. What you need is a long rest.She glanced at Stefan, as if to see how this would impact him, with so some blood donors. Stefan smiled reassuringly at her. Matt, Stillbeing kneaded pliant, had adept nodded. later that his color started coming back and a diminished smile curved his lips.Theres mmain man,he state, when Saber yetted his way through traffic to pant directly in Matts face. Buddy, I love your dog breath,he declared. You deliver me. Can he have a treat, Mrs. Flowers?he asked, turning slightly unfoc apply blue eyes on her.I love barely what hed worry. I have half a roast left over(p) in the refrigerator that just needs to be heated a bit.She punched buttons and in a unretentive while, give tongue to, Matt, would you like to do the honors? Remember to take the osmium out he might choke on it.Matt took the bulky pot roast, which, heated, smel ed so good it made him aware that he was starving. He felt his morals col apse. Mrs. Flowers, do you count I could make a machinate originally I give it to him?Oh, you poor dear boyshe cri ed. And I never even thought of course they wouldnt give you lunch or dinner.Mrs. Flowers got bread and Matt was able enough with that, bread and meat, the simplest sandwich conceivable and so good it curled his toes.Elena wept just a little more(prenominal). So easy to make deuce creatures happy with one simple thing. More than twain they were al happy to see Matt dear and to watch Saber get his proper reward.The vast dog had fol owed every movement of that roast with his eyes, basis swishing back and forth on the floor.But when Matt, Stillchomping, offered him the large piece of meat that was left, Saber just cocked his place to one side, staring at it as if to say, You have to be joking.Yes, its for you. Go on and take it now,Mrs. Flowers said firmly. Final y, Saber opened his enormous address to take hold of the end of the roast, tail twirling like a helicopter blade. His body language was so clear that Matt laughed out loud.This once on the floor with us,Mrs. Flowers added magnificently, spreading a large carpeting over the kitchen floorboards.Sabers joy was only surpassed by his good manners. He put the roast on the carpet and then trotted up to each of the humans to kick upstairs a wet nose into hand or waist or under a chin, and then he trotted back and attacked his prize.I wonder if he misses Sage?Elena murmured.I miss Sage,Matt said indistinctly. We need al the magic help we can get.Meanwhile Mrs. Flowers was hurrying around the kitchen making act and cheese sandwiches and bagging them like school lunches. Anybody who wakes up tonight hungry must have something to eat,she said. jambon and cheese, chicken salad, some nice crisp carrots, and a big hunk of apple pie.Elena went to help her. She didnt crawl in why, but she wishinged to cry some more. Mrs. Flowers patted her. We are al feeling er, strung out, she announced gravely. Anyone who doesnt feel like personnel casualty the beneficial way to relaxation is in all likelihood run ning on too much adrena confines. My sleeping aid wil help with that.And I specify we can trust our animal friends and the wards on the roof to salve us safe tonight.Matt was practical y asleep on his feet now. Mrs. Flowers someday Il repay youbut for now, I cant keep my eyes open.In an otherwise(prenominal) words, bedtime, kiddies,Stefan said. He closed Matts fingers firmly around a packed lunch, then steered him toward the stairs. Elena gathered several more lunches, flattered Mrs. Flowers twice, and went up to Stefans room.She had the attic bed straightened and was opening a plastic bag when Stefan came in from putting Matt to bed.Is he ok?she said anxiously. I mean, wil he be okay tomorrow?Hel be okay in his body. I got most of the damage healed.And in his sense?Its a tough thing. He just ran smack into Real Life. Arrested, knowing they might kill him, not knowing if anybody would be able to bet out what had happened to him. He thought that even if we bring in him it wo uld adopt down to a fight, which would have been hard to win with so few of us, and not much magic left.But Saber fixed em,Elena said.She looked paying attention y at the sandwiches shed laid out on the bed. Stefan, do you want chicken salad or ham actor?she asked.There was a silence. But it was split seconds before Elena looked up at him in astonishment. Oh, Stefan I I veritable y forgot. I just today has been so strange I forgot Im flattered,Stefan said. And youre sleepy. Whatever Mrs.Flowers puts in her tea I mean the government would be raise in it,Elena offered. For spies and things. But for nowShe held her arms out, head bent back, neck exposed.No, love. I remember this afternoon, if you dont. And I swore I was going to start hunting, and I am,Stefan said firmly.Youre going to leave me?Elena said, startled out of her substantial satisfaction. They stared at each other.Dont leave,Elena said, combing her hair away from her neck. I had it al planned out, how youl drink, and how wel sleep retentiveness each other. Please dont leave, Stefan.She knew how hard he build it to leave her. Even if she was grimy and worn out, even if she was wearing grungy jeans and had dirt under her fingernails. She was al slipway beautiful and endlessly powerful and mysterious to him. He longed for her. Elena could feel it through their perplex, which was beginning to hum, beginning to ardent up, beginning to draw him in close.But, Elena,he said. He was trying to be sensible Didnt he know she didnt want sensible at this particular moment?Right here.Elena tapped the soft spot on her neck.Their bond was singing like an electric power line now. But Stefan was indomitable. You need to eat, yourself. You have to keep your saturation up.Elena immediately picked up a chicken salad sandwich and bit into it. Mmmyummy. Real y good. She would have to pick Mrs. Flowers a wildflower bouquet. They were al so substantially taken care of here. She had to think of more way s to help.Stefan was watching her eat. It made him hungry, but that was because he was employ to being fed round the clock, and not used to exercise. Elena could hear everything through their connection and she heard him thought that he was glad to see Elena renewing herself. That he had learned discipline now that it wouldnt do him any harm to go to bed one night feeling hungry. He would hold his sleepy adorable Elena al night.No Elena was horrified. Since hed been imprisoned in the false Dimension, anything that hinted at Stefan going without fil ed her with appal ing terror. abruptly she had trouble swal owing the bite shed taken.Right here, right hereplease?she begged him. She didnt want to have to make water him into it, but she would if he forced her to. She would wash her pass on into pristine cleanliness, and change into a long, clinging nightgown, and stroke his stubborn canines in between kisses, and touch them with her tongue get wise gently, just at the base wher e they wouldnt cut her as they responded and grew. And by then he would be dizzy, he would be out of control, he would be hers completely. every last(predicate) right, All right Stefan thought to her. MercyI dont want to give you mercy. I dont want you to let me go,she said, holding her arms out to him, and heard her own component part soft and tender and yearning. I want you to hold me and keep me forever, and I want to hold you and keep you forever.Stefans face had changed. He looked at her with the look hed worn in prison when she had come to vindicate him in an outfit very unlike the sorry one she wore now and hed said, bewildered, Al thisits for me?There had been shave wire between them then. Now there was slide fastener to separate them and Elena could see how much Stefan wanted to come to her. She reached a little far and then Stefan came into the gird of her arms and held her tightly but with infinite care not to use enough strength to hurt her. When he relaxed and leaned his forehead against hers, Elena squareized that she would never be tired or sad or shake up without being able to think of this feeling and that it would aid her for the rest of her life.At last they sank down unneurotic on the sheets, comforting each other in equal measure exchanging sweet, warm up kisses. With each kiss, Elena felt the outside world and al its horrors drift farther and farther away. How could anything be wrong when she herself felt that enlightenment was near? Matt and Meredith, Damon and Bonnie would surely al be safe and happy too. Meanwhile, every kiss brought her closer to paradise, and she knew Stefan felt the same way. They were so happy together that Elena knew that soon the entire universe would rebound with their own joy, which overflowed like pure light and alter everything it touched.Bonnie woke and realized she had only been unconscious for a few minutes. She began to wag, and once she started she couldnt seem to stop. She felt a wave o f heat envelop her, and she knew that Damon was trying to warm her, but Stillthe trembling wouldnt go away.Whats wrong?Damon asked, and his voice was different from usual.I dont know,Bonnie said. She didnt. Maybe its because they kept starting to throw me out the window. I wasnt going to scream about that,she added hastily, in case he assumed she would. But then when they talked about overrefinement me She felt a sort of spasm go through Damon. He was holding her too hard. torturous you They threatened you with that?Yes, because, you know, Misaos star bal was gone. They knew that it had been poured out I didnt tel them that. But I had to tel them that it was my flaw that the last half got poured out, and then they got mad at me. Oh Damon, youre hurting meSo it was your fault it got poured out, was it?Well, I figure it was. You couldnt have done it if I hadnt gotten drunk, and wh-whats wrong, Damon? Are you mad too?He real y was holding her so that she real y couldnt breathe.Slow ly, she felt his arms loosen a little. A word of advice, little redbird. When people are morose to torture and kil you, it might be more opportunistic to tel them that its someone elses fault. Especial y if that happens to be the truth.I know thatBonnie said indignantly. But they were going to kil me anyway. If Id told about you, theydve hurt you, too.Damon pul ed her roughly back now, so that she had to look him in the face. Bonnie could too feel the delicate touch of a paranormal mind probe. She didnt resist she was too busy query why he had plum-colored shadows under his eyes. Then he shook her a little, and she stopped wondering.Dont you understand even the basics of self-preservation?he said, and she thought he looked violent again. He was certainly different from any other time that shed seen him except once, she thought, and that was when Elena had been Disciplinedfor saving dame Ulmas life, back when Ulma had been a slave. Hed had the same expression then, so menac ing that even Meredith had been frightened of him, and yet so fil ed with guilt that Bonnie had longed to comfort him.But there had to be some other reason, Bonnies mind told her. Because youre not Elena, and hes never going to treat you the way he treats Elena. A vision of the chocolate- chocolate-brown room rose before her, and she felt certain that he would never have put Elena there. Elena wouldnt have let him, for one thing.Do I have to go back?she asked, realizing that she was being petty and sil y and that the brown room had seemed like a haven just a little while ago.Go back?Damon said, a little too quickly. She had the feeling that hed seen the brown room too, now, through her eyes. Why? The landlady gave me everything in the room.So I have your real clothes and a bunch of star bal s down there, in case you werent through with one. But why would you think you might have to go back?Well, I know you were looking for a lady of quality, and Im not one,Bonnie said simply.That w as just so I could change back into a vampire,Damon said. And what do you think is holding you up in the air right now?But this time Bonnie knew somehow that the sensations from the Never Everstar bal s were Stillin her mind and that Damon was seeing them too. He was a vampire again. And the confine of these star bal s were so abominable that Damons flinty exterior final y cracked.Bonnie could closely guess what he thought of them, and of her, left to shiver under her one blanket every night.And then, to her total astonishment, Damon, the ever-composed, brand-new vampire blurted, Im sorry. I didnt think about how that place would be for you. Is there anything that wil make you feel better?Bonnie blinked. She wondered, seriously, if she were dreaming. Damon didnt apologize. Damon famously didnt apologize, or explain, or speak so nicely to people, unless he wanted something from them. But one thing seemed real.She didnt have to sleep in the brown room anymore.This was so provoke that she flushed a little, and dared say,Could we go down to the estate? Slowly? Because the truth is that Im just terrified of heights.Damon blinked, but said, Yes, I think I can fuck that. Is there anything else youd like?Well there are a couple of girls whod be donors happily if salutary if theres any money left if you could save themDamon said a little sharply, Of course theres some money left. I even wrung your share back out of that hag of a landlady.Well, then, theres that secret that I told you, but I dont know if you remember.How soon do you think youl feel well enough to start?asked Damon.