The Return: Midnight Chapter 23

In the car, Matt sat by the sleeping Meredith with Saber crammed in at their feet, listening in shock and mutual exclusiveness as they recounted Merediths story. When they were done, he was able to speak just about his take experiences.Im outlet to prolong nightm bes al my life about Cole Reece,he admitted. And counterbalance though I slapped an amulet on him, and he cried, Dr. Alpert said he was Stillinfected.How derriere we fight something this far out of control?Elena knew he was spiriting at her. She take a modality her nails into her palms. It isnt that I havent tried to use Wings of Purification over the town. Ive tried so hard that I odour as if Il burst. only its no good. I cant control any Wings Powers at all I look at after what Ive learned about Meredith that I may need training. But how do I get it? Where? From who?There was a long silence in the car. At last Matt said, Were al in the dark. Look at that court of law How can they have so many werewolves in o ne town?Wolves are sociable,Stefan said 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 course. For spying on the only creatures theyre scared of humans.At the boardinghouse Stefan carried Meredith to the first-floor bed manner and Elena pul ed the covers over her. Then she went to the kitchen, where the dialogue was continuing.What about those werewolvesfamilies? Their wives?she demanded as she rubbed Matts shoulders where she knew the muscles must hurt fiercely from being handcuffed behind his rearward. Her soft fingers soothed bruises, yet now her hands were strong, and she kept 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 treatment,he added sternly to Matt. So you have to take it no matter how much it hurts.Elena could Stillfeel him, if faintly, with their connection and she saw how he anesthetized Matts take heed and then dug into the knotted shoulders as if he was kneading stiff dough, meanwhile reaching out with his Powers of healing.Mrs. Flowers came by save then with mugs of hot, sweet cinnamon tea leaf. Matt drained his mug and his head fel back slightly. His eyes were shut, his lips parted. Elena felt a huge wave of pain and tension flood apart from him. And then she hugged both of her boys and cried.They picked me up on my own driveway,Matt admitted as Elena sniffled. And they did it by the book, but they wouldnt even so look at the the sanatorium 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 a few(prenominal) blood donors. Stefan smiled reassuringly at her. Matt, Stillbeing kneaded pliant, had just nodded. After that his color started coming back and a little smil e curved his lips.Theres mmain man,he said, when Saber butted his way through traffic to pant directly in Matts face. Buddy, I love your dog breath,he declared. You saved me. Can he have a treat, Mrs. Flowers?he asked, turning slightly unfocuse blue eyes on her.I know just what hed equal. I have half a roast left hand in the refrigerator that just needs to be heated a bit.She punched buttons and in a short while, said, Matt, would you like to do the honors? Remember to take the ivory out he might choke on it.Matt took the large 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 calculate I could make a sandwich before I give it to him?Oh, you poor dear boyshe cried. And I never even thought of course they wouldnt give you lunch or dinner.Mrs. Flowers got bread and Matt was happy enough with that, bread and meat, the simplest sandwich conceivable and so good it curled his toes.Elena wept just a lit tle more than. So easy to make ii creatures happy with one simple thing. More than two they were al happy to see Matt safe and to watch Saber get his proper reward.The enormous dog had fol owed every movement of that roast with his eyes, throne 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 head 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 mouth 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 carpet over the kitchen floorboards.Sabers joy was only surpassed by his good manners. He put the roast on the rug and then trotted up to each of the humans to publicize a wet nose into hand or waist or under a chi n, 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 overplay and cheese sandwiches and bagging them like school lunches. Anybody who wakes up tonight hungry must have something to eat,she said. Ham and cheese, chicken salad, some nice crisp carrots, and a big hunk of apple pie.Elena went to help her. She didnt know why, but she cute to cry some more. Mrs. Flowers patted her. We are al feeling er, strung out, she announced gravely. Anyone who doesnt feel like acquittance right to sleep is probably running on too much adrenaline. My sleeping aid wil help with that.And I think we can trust our animal friends and the wards on the roof to keep 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 other words, bedtime, kiddies,Stefa n said. He closed Matts fingers firmly around a packed lunch, then steered him toward the stairs. Elena gathered several more lunches, embraceed 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 okay?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 mind?Its a tough thing. He just ran smack into Real Life. Arrested, knowing they might lynch him, not knowing if anybody would be able to figure out what had happened to him. He thought that even if we bring in him it would come 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 careful y at the sandwiches shed laid out on the bed. Stefan, do you want chicken salad or ham?she asked.There was a silence. But it was scraps before Elena looked up at him in astonishment. Oh, Stefan I I actual 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 think the government would be interested 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 torrid 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 holding each other. Please dont leave, Stefan.She knew how hard he found 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 endlessly beautiful and endlessly powerful and mysterious to him. He longed for her. Elena could feel it through their bond, which was beg inning to hum, beginning to tippy 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 stubborn. You need to eat, yourself. You have to keep your metier 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 tumefy taken care of here. She had to think of more ways to help.Stefan was watching her eat. It made him hungry, but that was because he was used to being fed round the clock, and not used to exercise. Elena could hear everything through their connection and she heard him thinking 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 gamey Dimension, anything that hinted at Stefan going without fil ed her with appal ing terror. Suddenly she had trouble swal owing the bite shed taken.Right here, right hereplease?she begged him. She didnt want to have to get him into it, but she would if he forced her to. She would wash her hands into pristine cleanliness, and change into a long, clinging nightgown, and stroke his stubborn canines in between kisses, and touch them with her tongue wind instrument gently, just at the base where 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. all told 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 voice 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 visit him in an outfit very unlike the grubby one she wore now and hed said, bewildered, Al thisits for me?There had been razor wire between them then. Now there was nothing to separate them and Elena could see how much Stefan wanted to come to her. She reached a little farther and then Stefan came into the dress circle 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 strongized that she would never be tired or sad or frightened without being able to think of this feeling and that it would uphold her for the rest of her life.At last they sank down unitedly on the sheets, comforting each other in equal measure exchanging sweet, warm 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 heaven 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 echo with their own joy, which overflowed like pure light and transform everything it touched.Bonnie woke and realized she had only been unconscious for a few minutes. She began to shiver, and once she started she couldnt seem to stop. She felt a wave of 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 torturing me She felt a sort of spasm go through Damo n. He was holding her too hard. Torturing 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 fault 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.Slowly, she felt his arms loosen a little. A word of advice, little redbird. When people are large(p) to torture and kil you, it might be more expedient 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 also feel the delicate touch of a extrasensory mind probe. She didnt resist she was too busy wondering 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 angry 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 gentlewoman Ulmas life, back when Ulma had been a slave. Hed had the same expression then, so menacing 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 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 was 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 contents of these star bal s were so abominable that Damons stony exterior final y cracked.Bonnie could near guess what he thought of them, and of her, left to shiver und er 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 exciting that she flushed a little, and dared say,Could we go down to the world? Slowly? Because the truth is that Im just terrified of heights.Damon blinked, but said, Yes, I think I can manage that. Is there anything else youd like?Well there are a couple of girls whod be donors happily if well if theres any gold 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.Wel l, 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.