The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Nine

Well, at least I didnt devil taken over, decent tell. and Im sick of this psychic stuff anyway Im tired of the whole thing. That was the last cadence, absolutely the last. solely right, said Elena, turning away from the mirror, all(prenominal) in allows talk ab emerge something else. Did you find anything out today?I talked with Alaric, and hes having some other get-together next week, Bonnie replied. He asked Caroline and Vickie and me if we deficiencyed to be hypnotized to help us entertain out with whats been happening. But Im sure he isnt the Other Power, Elena. Hes too nice.Elena nodded. Shed had second feelings nigh her suspicions of Alaric herself. Not because he was nice, tho because she had spent four days in his attic asleep. Would the Other Power really obligate let her stay there unharmed? Of course, Damon had said hed influenced Alaric to forget that she was up there, but would the Other Power develop succumbed to Damons influence? Shouldnt it be far to o strong?Unless its Powers had temporarily burned out, she thought suddenly. The way Stefans were intense out now. Or unless it had only been pretending to be influenced.Well, we wont cross him off the list dependable yet, she said. Weve got to be political machineeful. What astir(predicate) Mrs. Flowers? Did you find out anything to the highest degree her?No luck, said Meredith. We went to the boardinghouse this morning, but she didnt answer the en see. Stefan said hed try to track her down in the afternoon.If somebody would only invite me in there, I could check up on her, too, Elena said. I feel alike(p) Im the only one not doing anything. I think She paused a moment, con brassring, and and then said, I think Ill go by home-by Aunt Judiths, I mean. Maybe Ill find Robert hanging nigh in the bushes or something.Well go with you, Meredith said.No, its better for me to do it alone. Really, it is. I can be very inconspicuous these days.Then take your own advice and be c ato mic number 18ful. Its still coulombing hard.Elena nodded and dropped over the windowpanesill.As she approached her house, she saw that a machine was just pulling out of the driveway. She melted into the after parts and guideed. The headlights illuminated an eerie winter sight the neighbors black locust tree tree, like a bare-branched silhouette, with a white owl sitting in it.As the car roared past, Elena recognized it. Roberts blue Oldsmobile.Now, that was interesting. She had an urge to follow him, but a stronger urge to check the house, make sure everything was all right. She circled it stealthily, examining windows.The yellow chintz curtains at the kitchen window were looped concealment, revealing a bright section of kitchen inside. Aunt Judith was shutting the dishwasher. Had Robert buzz off to dinner? Elena wondered.The yellow chintz curtains at the kitchen window were looped back, revealing a bright section of kitchen inside. Aunt Judith was closing the dishwasher. Ha d Robert come to dinner? Elena wondered.Elena wished she could see more than just her aunts profile in the flickering light of the TV. It gave her a strange feeling to look at this room, knowing that she could only look and not go in. How coherent had it been since she realized what a nice room it was? The old mahogany whatnot, crowded with china and glassware, the Tiffany lamp on the put over next to Aunt Judith, the needlepoint pillows on the couch, all seemed precious to her now. Standing away, feeling the feathery fondle of the snow on the back of her neck, she wished she could go in just for a moment, just for a myopic while.Aunt Judiths head was tilting back, her eyes shutting. Elena leaned her forehead against the window, then slowly turned away.She climbed the quince tree exterior her own bedroom, but to her disappointment the curtains were shut tight. The maple tree outside Margarets room was fragile and harder to climb, but formerly she got up she had a good view the se curtains were wide dissipate. Margaret was asleep with the bedcovers drawn up to her chin, her mouth open, her queasy hair spread out like a fan on the pillow.Hello, baby, Elena thought and swallowed back tears. It was such(prenominal) a sweetly innocent scene the nightlight, the little girl in bed, the stuffed animals on the shelves keeping watch over her. And here came a little white kitten padding through the open door to complete the picture, Elena thought.Snowball jumped onto Margarets bed. The kitten yawned, showing a tiny pink tongue, and stretched, disp gear uping miniature claws. Then it walked daintily over to stand on Margarets chest.Something tingled at the roots of Elenas hair.She didnt know if it was some new hunters sense or sheer intuition, but suddenly she was afraid. at that place was danger in that room. Margaret was in danger.The kitten was still standing(a) there, tail swishing back and forth. And all at once Elena realized what it looked like. The dogs. I t looked the way Chelsea had looked at Doug Carson before she lunged at him. Oh, God, the town had quarantined the dogs, but nobody had thought just about the cats.Elenas mind was working at authorise speed, but it wasnt helping her. It was only flashing pictures of what a cat could do with curved claws and needle-sharp teeth. And Margaret just lay there breathing softly, oblivious to any danger.The fur on Snowballs back was rising, her tail swelling like a bottle brush. Her ears flattened and she opened her mouth in a silent hiss. Her eyes were frosty on Margarets face just the way Chelseas had been on Doug Carsons.Margarets face just the way Chelseas had been on Doug Carsons.But the snow, settling like a blanket around her, seemed to deaden the words into nothingness. A low, discordant scream was started in Snowballs throat as it flicked its eyes toward the window and then back to Margarets face.Margaret, wake up Elena shouted. Then, just as the kitten pulled back a curved paw , she threw herself at the window.She never knew, later, how she managed to hang on. There was no room to kneel on the sill, but her fingernails sank into the soft old wood of the casing, and the toe of one blossom jammed into a foothold below. She banged against the window with her body weight, shouting.Get away from her Wake up, MargaretMargarets eyes flew open and she sat up, throwing Snowball backward. The kittens claws caught in the eyelet spread head as it scrambled to right itself. Elena shouted again.Margaret, get off the bed Open the window, quickMargarets four-year-old face was full of sleepy surprise, but no fear. She got up and stumbled toward the window while Elena gritted her teeth.Thats it. Good girl now say, Come in. Quick, say itCome in, Margaret said obediently, split second and stepping back.The kitten sprang out as Elena fell in. She made a grab for it, but it was too fast. erst outside it glided across the maple branches with taunting ease and leaped down in to the snow, disappearing.A small hand was tugging at Elenas sweater. You came back Margaret said, hugging Elenas hips. I missed you.Oh, Margaret, I missed you- Elena began, and then froze. Aunt Judiths give tongue to sounded from the top of the stairs.Margaret, are you awake? Whats going on in there?Elena had only an instant to make her decision. Dont tell her Im here, she whispered, move to her knees. Its a secret do you understand? Say you let the kitty out, but dont tell her Im here. There wasnt time for any more Elena dived under the bed and prayed.From under the dust ruffle, she watched Aunt Judiths stocking feet come into the room. She press her face into the floorboards, not breathing.Margaret What are you doing up? Come on, lets get you back in bed, Aunt Judiths voice said, and then the bed creaked with Margarets weight and Elena collectd the noises of Aunt Judiths fussing with the covers. Your hands are freezing. What on earth is the window doing open?And now theres sno w all over the floor. I cant believe this Dont you open it up again, do you hear me? A little more bustling and the stocking feet went out again. The door shut.Elena squirmed out.Good girl, she whispered as Margaret sat up. Im proud of you. Now tomorrow you tell Aunt Judith that you have to give your kitty away. verbalize her it panicky you. I know you dont want to-she put up a hand to stop the wrawl that was gathering on Margarets lips-but you have to. Because Im telling you that kitty will wounded you if you keep it. You dont want to get hurt, do you?No, said Margaret, her blue eyes filling. But-And you dont want the kitty to hurt Aunt Judith, either, do you? You tell Aunt Judith you cant have a kitten or a puppy or point a skirt until-well, for a while. Dont tell her that I said so thats still our secret. Tell her youre scared because of what happened with the dogs at church. It was better, Elena reasoned grimly, to give the little girl nightmares than to have a nightmare p lay out in this bedroom. Margarets mouth drooped sadly. Okay.Im sorry, sweetie. Elena sat down and hugged her. But thats the way it has to be.Youre cold, Margaret said. Then she looked up into Elenas face. Are you an holy person?Uh not exactly. merely the opposite, Elena thought ironically.Aunt Judith said you went to be with Mommy and Daddy. Did you see them yet?I-its enlighten of hard to explain, Margaret. I havent seen them yet, no. And Im not an angel, but Im going to be like your guardian angel anyway, all right? Ill watch over you, even when you cant see me. Okay?Okay. Margaret played with her fingers. Does that mean you cant go bad here anymore?Elena looked around the pink-and-white bedroom, at the stuffed animals on the shelves and the little writing desk and the rocking horse that had once been hers in the corner. Thats what it means, she said softly.When they said you went to be with Mommy and Daddy, I said I wanted to go, too.Elena blinked hard. Oh, baby. Its not tim e for you to go, so you cant. And Aunt Judith loves you very a good deal, and shed be lonely without you.Margaret nodded, her eyelids drooping. But as Elena eased her down and pulled the bedspread over her, Margaret asked one more question. But dont you love me?Oh, stupid, stupid, Elena thought, forging through the banked snow to the other side of Maple Street. Shed missed her chance to ask Margaret whether Robert had been at dinner. It was too late now.Robert. Her eyes narrowed suddenly. At the church, Robert had been outside and then the dogs had gone mad. And tonight Margarets kitten had gone feral-just a little while after Roberts car had pulled out of the driveway.Robert has a lot to answer for, she thought.But melancholy was pulling at her, tugging her thoughts away. Her mind unbroken returning to the bright house shed just left, going over the things shed never see again. solely her garment and knickknacks and jewelry-what would Aunt Judith do with them? I dont own anythi ng anymore, she thought. Im a pauper.Elena?With relief, Elena recognized the mental voice and the distinctive shadow at the end of the street. She hurried toward Stefan, who took his hands out of his jacket pockets and held hers to warm them.Meredith told me where youd gone.I went home, Elena said. That was all she could say, but as she leaned against him for comfort, she knew that he understood.Lets find someplace we can sit down, he said, and stopped in frustration. All the places they used to go were either too dangerous or closed to Elena. The police still had Stefans car. in the end they just went to the high school where they could sit under the overhang of a roof and watch the snow sift down. Elena told him what had happened in Margarets room.Im going to have Meredith and Bonnie spread it around town that cats can attack, too. batch should know that. And I think somebody ought to be watching Robert, she concluded.Well tail him, Stefan said, and she couldnt help smiling.Its f unny how much more American youve gotten, she said. I hadnt thought about it in a long time, but when you world-class came you were a lot more foreign. Now nobody would know you hadnt lived here all your life.We adapt quickly. We have to, Stefan said. There are always new countries, new decades, new situations. Youll adapt, too.Youll learn, in time. If there is anything good about what we are, its time. We have plenty of it, as much as we want. Forever. Joyous companions forever. Isnt that what Katherine said to you and Damon? Elena murmured.She could feel Stefans stiffening, his withdrawal. She was talking about all three of us, he said. I wasnt.Oh, Stefan, please dont, not now. I wasnt even thinking about Damon, only about forever. It scares me. Everything about this scares me, and sometimes I think I just want to go to sleep and never wake up againIn the shelter of his arms she felt safer, and she entrap her new senses were just as amazing close up as they were at a distance. S he could hear each separate pulse of Stefans heart, and the rush of blood through his veins. And she could smell his own distinctive odor mingled with the scent of his jacket, and the snow, and the wool of his clothes.Please trust me, she whispered. I know youre angry with Damon, but try to give him a chance. I think theres more to him than there seems to be. And I want his help in determination the Other Power, and thats all I want from him.At that moment it was completely true. Elena wanted nothing to do with the hunters life tonight the darkness held no appeal for her. She wished she could be at home sitting in front of a fire.But it was sweet just to be held like this, even if she and Stefan had to sit in the snow to do it. Stefans breath was warm as he kissed the back of her neck, and she sensed no kick upstairs withdrawal in Stefans body.No hunger, either, or at least not the kind she was used to perceptual experience when they were close like this. Now that she was a hunt er like he, the need was different, a need for togetherness quite an than for sustenance. It didnt matter. They had lost something, but they had gained something, too. She understood Stefan in a way she never had before. And her understanding brought them closer, until their minds were touching, almost web with each others. It wasnt the noisy chatter of mental voices it was a deep and wordless communion. As if their spirits were united.I love you, Stefan said against her neck, and she held on tighter. She understood now why hed been afraid to say it for so long. When the thought of tomorrow scared you sick, it was hard to make a commitment. Because you didnt want to drag someone else down with you. particularly someone you loved. I love you, too, she made herself say and sat back, her peaceful mood broken. And will you try to give Damon a chance, for my sake? Try to work with him?Ill work with him, but I wont trust him. I cant. I know him too well.I followed Mrs. Flowers today. St efans lip quirked. All afternoon and evening. And you know what she did?What?Three oodles of wash-in an ancient machine that looked like it was going to explode any minute. No clothes dryer, just a wringer. Its all down in the basement. Then she went outside and filled about two dozen bird feeders. Then back to the basement to wipe off jars of preserves. She spends most of her time down there. She talks to herself.Just like a dotty old lady, said Elena. All right maybe Merediths wrong and thats all she is. She noticed his change of expression at Merediths name and added, What?Well, Meredith may have some explaining to do herself. I didnt ask her about it I thought maybe it was better coming from you. But she went to talk to Alaric Saltzman after school today. And she didnt want anyone to know where she was going.Disquiet uncoiled in Elenas middle. So what?So she lied about it afterward-or at least she evaded the issue. I tried to probe her mind, but my Powers are just about burnt-o ut out. And shes strong-willed.And you had no right Stefan, listen to me. Meredith would never do anything to hurt us or betray us. some(prenominal) shes keeping from us-So you do admit that shes hiding something.Yes, Elena said reluctantly. But its nothing that will hurt us, Im sure. Meredith has been my friend since the first grade Without knowing it, Elena let the sentence slip away from her. She was thinking of other friend, one whod beenclose to her since kindergarten. Caroline. Who last week had tried to destroy Stefan and humiliate Elena in front of the wide-cut town.And what was it Carolines diary had said about Meredith? Meredith doesnt do anything she just watches. Its as if she cant act, she can only react to things. Besides, Ive perceive my parents talking about her family-no wonder she never mentions them.Elenas eyes left the snowy landscape to seek Stefans time lag face. It doesnt matter, she said quietly. I know Meredith, and I trust her. Ill trust her to the end .I hope shes worthy of it, Elena, he said. I really do.