The Return: Midnight Chapter 17

Meredith and categoric were sitting at the breakfast table, which seemed sadly empty with place Bonnie. It was abominable how of gotimes space that slight consistence had seemed to fil , and how much more(prenominal)(prenominal) serious e legitimate 1 was without her. Meredith knew that if Elena had through her best, she could pulsate killset it. and she in same manner knew that Elena had whiz subject on her promontory above al others, and that was Stefan, who was stricken with guilty conscience for al owing his brother to mulct Bonnie. And meanwhile Meredith knew that both she and matting were savour guilty in addition, because to daylight they would be difference the other three, so far out if only for the evening. They for each one had been summoned kin by parents who demanded to see them for dinner.Mrs. Flowers intelligibly didnt sine qua non them to feel too badly. With the do youve crumblen, I seat make our urns,she tell. Since flavourless has f ound my wheel I didnt on the nose find it,Matt said chthonic his breath. It was there in the storage means al the time and it fel on me. and since Meredith has current her pictures along, Im convinced(predicate), with an email from Mr. Saltzman perhaps she could get them exaggerated or what of all time.Of form, and show them to the Saitous, too, to make sure that the symbols introduce the things we neediness them to,Meredith promised. And Bonnie so-and-so She broke rancid short. Idiot She was an idiot, she conceit.And, as a hunter-slayer, she was conjectural to be clear- judicial decisioned and at al times maintain control. She felt terrible when she looked at Matt and byword the naked pain in his face. pricy Bonnie wil surely be home soon,Mrs. Flowers immerseed for her.And we al take place thats a lie, and I dont find to be psychical to detect it, Meredith thought. She noniced that Mrs. Flowers hadnt weighed in with anything from Ma ma.Wel al be just delight ful here,Elena said, final y picking up the bal as she realized that Mrs. Flowers was looking at her with ladylike distress. You two cipher were near kind of babies who need to be interpreted care of,she said, smiling at Matt and Meredith, exclusively youre just babies too run into you go only if be careful.They went, Meredith swelled Elena one fit glance. Elena nodded very slightly, therefore turned stiffly, mimicking holding a bayonet. It was the ever-changing of the guard.Elena let Stefan help her clean up the dishes they were al letting him do forgetful things now because he looked so much better. They spent the morning hard to achieve Bonnie in different ways. entirely past Mrs. Flowers asked if Elena could board up the withstand few of the basement windows, and Stefan couldnt stand it. Matt and Meredith had already done a out-of-the-way(prenominal)thermost more dangerous job. Theyd hung two tarps from the houses ridgepole, each one hanging d proclaim one side of the main roof.On each tarp were the characters that Isobels mother put on the Post-it Note amulets she invariably gave them, painted at an enormous scale in stark paint. Stefan had been al owed only to watch and give suggestions from the widows walk above his attic seam get on. notwithstanding nowWel nail up the boards in concert,he said firmly, and went off to get a pounding and nails.It wasnt real y much(prenominal) a substantial job anyway. Elena held the boards and Stefan wielded the hammer and she trusted him not to hit her fingers, which meant that they got on very quickly.It was a perfect day clear, sunny, with a slight breeze. Elena wondered what was happening to Bonnie, pay now, and if Damon was pickings care of her properly or at al . She seemed unable to shift off her worries these sustain days everyplace Stefan, oer Bonnie, and over a special(a) feeling that she had to receipt what was passing on in t accept. possibly she could disguise herselfGod, no Stefan said voicelessly. When she turned he was spit out out nails and looking both horrify and ashamed.Apparently shed been projecting.Im sorry,he said earlier Elena could get the nails out of her mouth, but you neck better than anyone why you canfult go.But its teasing not knowing whats happening,Elena said, having gotten rid of her nails. We dont know anything.Whats happening to Bonnie, what state the towns in Lets finish this board,Stefan said. And then let me hold you.When the last board was secure, Stefan raised her from the lower embankment where she was sitting, not bride-style, but kid-style, putting her toes on exonerate of his feet. He danced her a piddling, whirled her a equalise of times in the air, and then nab move back her climax down again.I know your problem,he said soberly.Elena looked up quickly. You do?she said, alarmed.Stefan nodded, and to her but alarm said, Its Love-itis.Means the patient has a whole slew of people she cares roughly, and she can t be talented unless each and every one of them is safe and happy themselves.Elena deliberately slipped off his enclothe and looked up at him. approximately more than others,she said hesitantly.Stefan looked down at her and then he took her in his munition.Im not as good as you,he said while Elenas heart pounded in shame and remorse for ever having stirred Damon, ever having danced with him, ever having kissed him. If you are happy, thats al I want, after that prison. I can live I can transgresspeaceful y.If were happy,Elena corrected.I wont tempt the gods. Il lapse for you.No, you cant Dont you see? If you disappeared again, Id worry and fret and fol ow you. To Hel if I had to.Il take you with me wherever I go,Stefan said hastily. If youl take me with you.Elena relaxed slightly. That would do, for now. As long as Stefan was with her she could stand anything.They sat and cuddled, right beneath the open sky, even with a maple steer and a clump of sl final stageer beckon bee ches nearby.She extended her aura a minuscular and felt it touch Stefans.Peace make full into her, and al the dark thoughts were left behind. nigh al .Since I initiative truism you, I loved you but it was the impairment kind of love. See how long it took me to persona that out?Elena whispered into the hol ow of his throat.Since I first saw you, I loved you but I didnt know who you real y were. You were like a ghost in a dream. But you put me on-key pretty quickly,Stefan said, obviously glad that he could brag most her. And weve survived everything. They say long-distance call relationships can be pretty difficult,he added, laughing, and then he stopped, and she could feel al his faculties fixed on her suddenly, breath fillet so he could hear her better.But then, theres Bonnie and Damon,he said out front she could say or speak out a word. We have to find them soon and theyd poop well better be together or it had better have been Bonnies decision to part.Theres Bon nie and Damon,agreed Elena, glad that she could contend even her darkest thoughts with fewone. I cant think about them. I cant not think about them. We do have to find them, and very fast but I supplicate that theyre with Lady Ulma now. Maybe Bonnie is going to a bal or gala. Maybe Damon is inquisition with that Black Ops program.As long as no tree trunks real y hurt.Yes.Elena move hard to tuck herself closer to Stefan. She precious to be closer to him, somehow. The way they had when she had been out of her body and she had just sunk into him.But of course, with fixity bodies, they couldntBut of course they could. Now. Her splitElena real y didnt know which of them thought of it first. She looked away, gangrenous at even having considered it and caught the tail end of Stefan looking away too.I dont think we have the right,she whispered. Not to be that happy when everyone else is miserable. Or doing things for the town or for Bonnie.Of course we dont,Stefan said firmly, but he had to guzzling a atomic first.No,Elena said.No,Stefan said firmly, and then right in the middle of her let loose no,he went and pul ed her up and kissed her breathless.And of course, Elena couldnt let him do that and not get even. So she demanded, Stillbreathless, but almost angry, that he say noagain, and when he did it she caught him and kissed him.You were happy,she incriminated a irregular later. I felt it.Stefan was too much of a gentleman to accuse her of being happy because of anything she might do. He said, I couldnt help it. It just happened by itself. I felt our minds together, and that made me happy. But then I recalled about vile Bonnie. And Poor Damon?Well, somehow I dont think we need to go so far as to cal him poor Damon.But I did remember him,he said.Well done,Elena said.Wed better go inner now,Stefan said. And then hastily,Downstairs, I mean. Maybe we can think of something more to do for them. Like what? Theres not a thing I can think of. I did medi tation and Attempt to Contact by Out-of-Body Experience From nine thirty to ten thirty A.M.,Stefan said. And meanwhile I was nerve-wracking al frequency telepathic cal s. No response. and then we tried with the Ouija board.For half an minute and al we got was nonsense.It did tel us the clay was coming.I think that was me bumping it toward yes.Then I tried to tap into the ley lines below us for indicator From eleven to nigh eleven thirty,Stefan recited. art object I tried to go into hibernation to have a prophetic dream.We sincerely tried hard,Elena said grimly.And then we nailed the last few boards up,Stefan added.Bringing us to a little after twelve thirty P.M.Can you think of a angiotensin converting enzyme Plan were down to G or H now that might al ow us to help them any more?I cant. I just honestly cant,Stefan said. Then he added, hesitantly, Maybe Mrs. Flowers has some housework for us.Or even more hesitantly, testing the waters we could go into town.No Youre defin itely not strong nice for thatElena said sharply. And theres no more housework,she added. Then she threw everything to the wind. Every responsibility. Every rationality. Just like that. She began to tow Stefan to the house so they could get there quicker.Elena Im burning my bridges Elena thought stubbornly, and suddenly she didnt care. And if Stefan cared she would bite him. But it was as if some spel had suddenly gravel over her so that she felt she would die without his touch. She wanted to touch him. She wanted him to touch her. She wanted him to be her mate.ElenaStefan could hear what she was thinking. He was torn, of course, Elena thought. Stefan was constantly torn. But how dare he be torn about this?She turned about to face him, blazing. You dont want toI dont want to do it and then find out Ive Influenced you into itYou were Influencing me?shouted Elena.Stefan threw out his hands and yel ed, How can I know when I want you so much?Oh. Well, that was better. There was a little glitter in Elenas side-eye and she looked at it and realized that Mrs. Flowers had quietly shut a window.Elena darted a glance at Stefan. He was trying not to blush.She doubled over, trying not to laugh. Then she stood on his shoes again.Maybe we deserve an hour merely dangerously.A whole hour?Stefans conspiratorial whisper made an hour full like eternity.We do deserve it,Elena said, transport ed. She began to tow him again.No.Stefan pul ed her back, displace her bridal-style and suddenly they were going straight up, fast. They go up three stories and a little more and landed on the course of study of the widows walk above his room.But its locked from inside Stefan stomped on the trapdoor hard. The door disappeared.Elena was impressed.They floated down into Stefans room amid a shaft of light and motes of besprinkle that looked like fireflies or stars.Im a little nervous,Elena said.She heeled her sandals off and slid out of her jeans and top and into bedonly to fi nd Stefan already there.Theyre faster, she thought. As fast as you think you are, theyre always faster.She turned toward Stefan in the bed. She was wearing a camisole and underwear. She was scared.Dont,he said. I dont even have to bite you.You do so. Its al that weird stuff about my fall.Oh, yeah,he said, as if hed disregarded. Elena would bet that he hadnt forgotten a word about her bloodal owing vampires to do things they couldnt otherwise. Her life energy gave them back al their adult male abilities, and he wouldnt forget that.Theyre smarter, she thought.Stefan, its not supposed to be like this Im supposed to display in front of you in a golden neglige designed by Lady Ulma, with jewels by Lucen and golden stilts which I dont own. And there are supposed to be scattered flower petals on the bed and roses in little round peach bowls and white vanil a candles.Elena,Stefan said, come here.She went into his arms, and let herself breathe in the uncontaminating smel of him, ni mble and spicy, with a describe of white-haired nails.Youre my life, Stefan told her silently. Were not going to do anything today. Theres not much time, and you deserve your golden negligee and your roses and candles. If not from Lady Ulma, from the finest Earth designers that silver can proffer. Butkiss me?Elena kissed him wil ingly, so glad that he was wil ing to wait.The kiss was warm and comforting and she didnt mind the slight savvy of rust. And it was wonderful to be with someone who would provide exactly what she needed, whether that was a slight mind probe, just to make her feel safer, orAnd then sheet lightning hit them. It seemed to come from both of them at once, and then Elena involuntarily clamped her teeth on Stefans lip, drawing blood.Stefan locked his arms around her, and barely waited for her to back off a little, before deliberately taking her lower lip in his own teeth andafter a moment of tension that seemed to last forever virulent down hard.Elena almost c ried out. She almost then and there unleashed the Still-undefined Wings of Destruction on him. But two things stopped her. One, Stefan had never, ever hurt her before. And, two, she was being draw into something so ancient and mystical that she couldnt stop now.A minute of finessing and Stefan had the two little wounds aligned. store surged from Elenas bleeding lip and, in range connection with Stefans less serious wound, caused a backflow. Her blood into his lip.And the same thing happened with Stefans blood some of it, rich with Power, rushed into Elena.It wasnt perfect. A drop cloth of blood swell ed and stood gleaming on Elenas lip. But Elena couldnt have cared less.A moment later the bead dropped down into Stefans mouth and she felt the cobwebby staggering power of how much he loved her.She herself was concentrating on one integrity tiny feeling, somewhere in the shopping center of this storm theyd cal ed up. This kind of commute of blood she was sure as she could be t his was the old way, the way that two vampires could divide blood and love and their souls. She was being drawn into Stefans mind. She felt his soul, pure and unconstrained, swirling around her with a thousand different emotions, tears from his past, ecstasy from the present, al open without a trace of a shield from her.She felt her own soul lift to meet his, herself unprotected and unafraid. Stefan had long ago seen any selfishness, vanity, over-ambition in her and forgiven it. Hed seen al of her and loved al of her, even the bad parts.And so she saw him, as darkness as tender as rest, as gentle as evensong, negligee black protective wings around herStefan, ILoveI knowThat was when someone knocked on the door.