The Return: Midnight Chapter 17

Meredith and mo nononous were sitting at the break fast(a) table, which seemed sadly fatuous with out(p) bonnie. It was amazing how a lot space that s motiveless body had seemed to fil , and how much much serious e truly wholeness was without her. Meredith knew that if Elena had d hotshot her best, she could have offset it. more(prenominal)oer she also knew that Elena had one social occasion on her mind above al others, and that was Stefan, who was stricken with offense for al owing his brother to abduct Bonnie. And meanwhile Meredith knew that both she and monotonic were feeling guilty too, because today they would be leaving the other three, purge if only for the leveling. They apiece had been summoned home by parents who demanded to see them for dinner.Mrs. Flowers clearly didnt compulsion them to feel too badly. With the help youve given, I can make our urns,she express. Since Matt has found my wheel I didnt exactly go through it,Matt give tongue to under his breath. It was in that location in the storage room al the clip and it fel on me. and since Meredith has received her pictures a hanker, Im sure, with an email from Mr. Saltzman perhaps she could grow them enlarged or what of all time.Of course, and show them to the Saitous, too, to make sure that the symbols say the things we want them to,Meredith promised. And Bonnie can She broke off short. Idiot She was an idiot, she thought.And, as a hunter-slayer, she was vatic to be clear-minded and at al times maintain control. She felt terrible when she looked at Matt and saw the naked pain in his face.Dear Bonnie wil surely be home soon,Mrs. Flowers finished for her.And we al know thats a lie, and I dont have to be psychic to detect it, Meredith thought. She noticed that Mrs. Flowers hadnt weighed in with anything from Ma ma.Wel al be retributive fine here,Elena give tongue to, final y picking up the bal as she realized that Mrs. Flowers was looking at her with refined distres s. You two theorize were some kind of babies who need to be interpreted care of,she express, smiling at Matt and Meredith, just youre just babies too Off you go But be careful.They went, Meredith giving Elena one give way glance. Elena nodded very slightly, thus(prenominal) sullen stiffly, mimicking h dodderying a bayonet. It was the changing of the guard.Elena permit Stefan help her clean up the dishes they were al letting him do curt things now because he looked so much regardter. They spent the morning move to contact Bonnie in different ways. But wherefore Mrs. Flowers asked if Elena could scorecard up the pull round few of the basement windows, and Stefan couldnt stand it. Matt and Meredith had already done a far more dangerous job. Theyd hung two tarps from the houses ridgepole, each one hanging down one side of the main roof.On each tarp were the characters that Isobels mother point on the Post-it Note amulets she ceaselessly gave them, painted at an enormous scale in black paint. Stefan had been al owed only to watch and give suggestions from the widows walk above his attic manageroom. But nowWel nail up the boards together,he verbalise firmly, and went off to get a hammer and nails.It wasnt real y such a impenetrable 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, remunerate now, and if Damon was taking care of her properly or at al . She seemed futile to shake off her worries these last days over Stefan, over Bonnie, and over a curious feeling that she had to know what was red ink on in town. by chance she could disguise herselfGod, no Stefan said voicelessly. When she turned he was spew out nails and looking both horrified and ashamed.Apparently shed been projecting.Im sorry,he said in advance Elena could get the nails o ut of her mouth, only when you know better than anyone why you cant go.But its maddening 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 top of his feet. He danced her a little, whirled her a couple of times in the air, and then nabbed her coming down again.I know your problem,he said soberly.Elena looked up quickly. You do?she said, alarmed.Stefan nodded, and to her further alarm said, Its Love-itis.Means the patient has a whole slew of people she cares more or less, and she cant be happy unless each and every one of them is safe and happy themselves.Elena deliberately slipped off his shoes and looked up at him. Some more than others,she said hesitantly.Stefan looked down at her and then he took her in his arms.Im not as good as you,he said while Elenas heart pounded in shame and remorse for ever having call forthed Damon, ever having danced with him, ever having touched him. If you are happy, thats al I want, afterwards that prison. I can live I can die self-possessed y.If were happy,Elena corrected.I wont tempt the gods. Il settle 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 spacious as Stefan was with her she could stand anything.They sat and cuddled, sound under the open sky, fifty-fifty with a maple tree and a clump of sl annuler waving beeches nearby.She extend her aura a little and felt it touch Stefans.Peace fill up into her, and al the dark thoughts were left behind. Almost al .Since I premier saw you, I loved you but it was the wrong kin d of love. visualize how long it took me to figure 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 kindred a ghost in a dream. But you put me straight pretty quickly,Stefan said, obviously glad that he could brag almost her. And weve survived everything. They say long-distance relationships can be pretty difficult,he added, laughing, and then he stopped, and she could feel al his faculties fixed on her absolutely, breath taenia so he could hear her better.But then, theres Bonnie and Damon,he said before she could say or hypothesise a word. We have to find them soon and theyd damn well better be together or it had better have been Bonnies decision to part.Theres Bonnie and Damon,agreed Elena, glad that she could make out even her darkest thoughts with individual. I cant think about them. I cant not think about them. We do have to find them, and very fast but I pray that theyre with La dy Ulma now. by chance Bonnie is going to a bal or gala. by chance Damon is hunting with that Black Ops program.As long as nobodys real y hurt.Yes.Elena tried 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 drop down into him.But of course, with regular bodies, they couldntBut of course they could. Now. Her extractionElena real y didnt know which of them thought of it first. She looked away, embarrassed 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 gulp a little first.No,Elena said.No,Stefan said firmly, and then right in the middle of her echoing 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 accused a moment later. I felt it.Stefan was too much of a gentleman to accuse her of world 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 remembered about poor 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 inwardly 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 meditation and set about to Contact by Out-of-Body Experience From nine 30 to ten thirty A.M.,Stefan said. And meanwhile I was trying al frequency telepathic cal s. No response.Then we tried with the Ouija board.For half an hour and al we got was nonsense.It did tel us the remains was coming.I think that was me bumping it toward yes.Then I tried to tap into the ley lines beneath us for Power From eleven to around eleven thirty,Stefan recited. While I tried to go into hibernation to have a prophetic dream.We in truth 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 single 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 definitely not strong enough 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 link 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 go far 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 eer torn. But how dare he be torn about this?She turned around 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 debar 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 be an hour alone dangerously .A whole hour?Stefans conspirative whisper made an hour sound like eternity.We do deserve it,Elena said, enthral ed. She began to tow him again.No.Stefan pul ed her back, lifted her bridal-style and suddenly they were going straight up, fast. They shot up three stories and a little more and landed on the platform 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 dust 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 find 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 blood.Oh, yeah,he said, as if hed forgotten. 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 gracious abilities, and he wouldnt forget that.Theyre smarter, she thought.Stefan, its not supposed to be like this Im supposed to parade in front of you in a golden peignoir 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 bubble bowls and white vanil a candles.Elena,Stefan said, come here.She went into his arms, and let herself breathe in the fresh smel of him, warm and spicy, with a trace of rusty 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 notes can provide. Butkiss me?Elena kissed him wil ingly, so gla d that he was wil ing to wait.The kiss was warm and comforting and she didnt mind the slight taste 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 odontiasis on Stefans lip, order of payment 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 acidulous down hard.Elena almost cried out. She almost then and there unleashed the Still-undefined Wings of ravaging on him. But two things stopped her. One, Stefan had never, ever hurt her before. And, two, she was existence haggard into something so ancient and mystical that she couldnt stop now.A arcsecond of finessing and Stefan had the two little wounds aligned. Blood surged from Elenas bleeding lip and, in instantly 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 bead 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 ignore staggering power of how much he loved her.She herself was concentrating on one single tiny feeling, somewhere in the center of this storm theyd cal ed up. This kind of exchange of blood she was sure as she could be this was the old way, the way that two vampires could share 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, weeping from his past, joy from the present, al open without a trace of a cuticle from her.She felt her own soul lift to meet his, herself unshielded 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 accessible as rest, as gentle as evensong, wrapping black defensive wings around herStefan, ILoveI knowThat was when someone knocked on the door.