The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Two

Stefans articulation was quietly savage. Thats what you wanted, wasnt it, Damon? And immediately youve got it. You had to make her wish us, comparable you. It wasnt plenteous notwithstanding to kill her.Damon didnt gaze back at him. He was looking for at Elena intently through those hooded eyes, chill aside rest t present holding her chin. Thats the third snip youve tell that, and Im getting a little tired of it, he commented softly. Disheveled, still few unwrap of breath, he was yet self-composed, in control. Elena, did I kill you?Of cast not, Elena verbalise, winding her fingers in those of his free softwood. She was getting impatient. What were they talking or so besides? Nobody had been killed.I neer thought you were a liar, Stefan tell to Damon, the insolence in his voice unchanged. Just about everything else, entirely not that. Ive never heard you try to c everyplace up for yourself earlier.In another minute, said Damon, Im passing play to lose my t emper.What more butt joint you possibly do to me? Stefan re turned. cleanup position me would be a mercy.I ran out of mercy for you a coulomb ago, Damon said aloud. He permit go, finally, of Elenas chin. What do you remember about instantly? he asked her.Elena spoke tiredly, like a child reciting a despised lesson. Today was the Founders Day celebration. Flexing her fingers in his, she looked up at Damon. That was as far- aside as she could get on her own, but it wasnt enough. Nettled, she tried to remember something else. in that respect was some bingle in the cafeteria Caroline. She sullenered the name to him, pleased. She was going to read my diary in front of everyone, and that was bad because Elena fumbled with the memory and lost it. I dont remember why. further we tricked her. She smiled at him warmly, conspiratorially.Oh, we did, did we?Yes. You got it away from her. You did it for me. The fingers of her free hand crept under his jacket, searching for the square-cor nered roughness of the little book. Because you distinguish me, she said, governing it and scratching at it lightly. You do love me, dont you?There was a faint sound from the center of the clea plurality. Elena looked and cut that Stefan had turned his expression away.Elena. What happened next? Damons voice called her back.Next? Next Aunt Judith started logical argument with me. Elena pondered this a moment and at last shrugged. Over something. I got angry. Shes not my mother. She put forwardt tell me what to do.Damons voice was dry. I dont think thats going to be a problem anymore. What next?Damons voice was dry. I dont think thats going to be a problem anymore. What next?And where did you go in monotonouss car?To Wickery Bridge, Stefan said, bout back toward them. His eyes were desolate.No, to the boardinghouse, Elena corrected, irritated. To wait for mm I close up. Anyway, I waited thither. wherefore and so the storm started. Wind, rain, all that. I didnt like it. I g ot in the car. exactly something came after me.Someone came after you, said Stefan, looking at Damon.Some thing, Elena insisted. She had had enough of his interruptions. Lets go away somewhere, just us, she said to Damon, kneeling up so that her boldness was close to his.In a minute, he said. What amiable of thing came after you?She settled back, exasperated. I dont know what kind of thing It was like naught Ive ever collide withn. Not like you and Stefan. It was Images frilly through her mind. Mist flowing along the ground. The wind shrieking. A shape, white, enormous, looking as if it were made out of mist itself. Gaining on her like a wind-driven cloud. possibly it was just part of the storm, she said. But I thought it wanted to pique me. I got away though. Fiddling with the zipper to Damons leather jacket, she smiled on the Q.T. and looked up at him through her lashes.For the first time, Damons face showed emotion. His lips twisted in a grimace. You got away.Yes. I remem bered what someone told me about running water. Evil things cant deny it. So I drove toward Drowning Creek, toward the bridge. And then She hesitated, frowning, trying to find a solid memory in the new confusion. Water. She remembered water. And someone screaming. But nothing else. And then I crossed it, she concluded finally, brightly. I must have, because here I am. And thats all. Can we go now?Damon didnt answer her.The cars still in the river, said Stefan. He and Damon were looking at each other like two adults having a discussion over the head of an uncomprehending child, their hostilities hang for the moment. Elena felt a surge of annoyance. She opened her mouth, but Stefan was continuing. Bonnie and Meredith and I found it. I went underwater and got her, but by thenBy then, what? Elena frowned.Damons lips were curved mockingly. And you gave up on her? You, of all people, should have suspected what powerfulness happen. Or was the judgement so repugnant to you that you coul dnt dismantle consider it? Would you quite a she were really shortly?people, should have suspected what might happen. Or was the idea so repugnant to you that you couldnt even consider it? Would you rather she were really dead?Elena opened her mouth again, but Damon laid two fingers on it to deliver her quiet. He said smoothly, And thats the problem now-or are you likewise blind to see that, too? You told me to look at her look at her yourself. Shes in shock, irrational. Oh, yes, even I admit that. He paused for a blinding smile before going on. Its more than just the normal confusion after changing. Shell read blood, human blood, or her body wont have the strength to finish the change. Shell die.What do you mean irrational? Elena thought indignantly. Im fine, she said around Damons fingers. Im tired, thats all. I was going to sleep when I heard you two fighting, and I came to help you. And then you wouldnt even let me kill him, she finished, disgusted.Yes, why didnt you? said Stefan. He was look at Damon as if he could bore holes through him with his eyes. Any property of cooperation on his part was gone. It would have been the easiest thing to do.Damon stared back at him, perfectly furious, his own animosity flooding up to meet Stefans. He was respire quickly and lightly. Maybe I dont like things easy,he hissed. Then he seemed to regain control of himself at a time more. His lips curled in mockery, and he added, roll it this way, dear chum if anyones going to have the satis occurrenceion of killing you, it volition be me. No one else. I plan to take carry off of the job personally. And its something Im very good at I promise you.Youve shown us that, Stefan said quietly, as if each word sickened him.But this one, Damon said, turning to Elena with appear eyes, I didnt kill. Why should I? I could have changed her any time I liked.Maybe because she had just gotten engaged to marry someone else.Damon lift Elenas hand, still twined with his. On the third finger a gold ring glittered, set with one deep blue air stone. Elena frowned at it, vaguely retention having seen it before. Then she shrugged and leaned against Damon wearily.Well, now, Damon said, looking down at her, that doesnt seem to be often of a problem, does it? I think she may have been glad to forget you. He looked up at Stefan with an unpleasant smile. But well find out once shes herself again. We can ask her then which of us she chooses. Agreed?Stefan agitate his head. How can you even suggest that? After what happened His voice trailed off.With Katherine? I can say it, if you cant. Katherine made a foolish choice, and she paid the price for it. Elena is contrastive she knows her own mind. But it doesnt matter if you agree, he added, overriding Stefans new protests. The fact is that shes weak now, and she admits blood. Im going to see that she gets it, and then Im going to find who did this to her. You can come or not. Suit yourself.He stood, drawing Elena up with him. Lets go.She recognized the place where they left the wood. She had been there earlier today. Now, however, there was some sort of frenzied activity going on red and blue lights flashing on cars, spotlights framing the dark huddled shapes of people. Elena looked at them curiously. some(prenominal) were familiar. That woman, for instance, with the thin harrowed face and the anxious eyes-Aunt Judith? And the tall man beside her-Aunt Judiths fianc.., Robert?There should be someone else with them, Elena thought. A child with hair as pale as Elenas own. But try as she might, she could not conjure up a name.The two girls with their arms around each other, standing in a circle of officials, those two she remembered though. The little red-haired one who was crying was Bonnie. The taller one with the deny of dark hair, Meredith.But shes not in the water, Bonnie was saying to a man in a uniform. Her voice trembled on the edge of hysteria. We saw Stefan get her out. Ive told you and told you.And you left him here with her?We had to. The storm was getting worse, and there was something coming- neer mind that, Meredith broke in. She sounded only slightly calmer than Bonnie. Stefan said that if he-had to render her, hed leave her lying under the willow trees.And just where is Stefan now? another furnish man asked.We dont know. We went back to get help. He probably followed us. But as for what happened to-to Elena Bonnie turned back and buried her face in Merediths shoulder.Theyre rugged about me, Elena realized. How silly of them. I can clear that up, anyway. She started forward into the light, but Damon pulled her back. She looked at him, wounded.Not like that. Pick the ones you want, and well draw them out, he said. inadequacy for what?For feeding, Elena. Youre a hunter now. Those are your prey.Elena pushed her tongue against a canine tooth doubtfully. energy out there looked like food to her. Still, because Damon said so, she was inclined to open him the benefit of the doubt. Whichever you think, she said obligingly.Damon tilted his head back, eyes narrowed, scanning the position like an expert evaluating a famous painting. Well, how about a cope with of keen paramedics?Damon tilted his head back, eyes narrowed, scanning the scene like an expert evaluating a famous painting. Well, how about a couple of nice paramedics?Damon barely glanced over his shoulder at Stefan. Why not?Because thereve been enough attacks. She may need human blood, but she doesnt have to hunt for it. Stefans face was shut and hostile, but there was an air of grim determination about him.Theres another way? Damon asked ironically.You know there is. Find someone whos willing-or who can be influenced to be willing. Someone who would do it for Elena and who is strong enough to supervise with this, mentally.And I suppose you know where we can find such a paragon of virtue?Bring her to the school. Ill meet you there, Stefan said, and disappeared.They left th e activity still bustling, lights flashing, people milling. As they went, Elena noticed a strange thing. In the nerve center of the river, illuminated by the spotlights, was an automobile. It was completely submerged except for the front fender, which stuck out of the water.What a stupid place to park a car, she thought, and followed Damon back into the woods.Stefan was low gear to feel again.It hurt. Hed thought he was through with hurting, through with feeling anything. When hed pulled Elenas exanimate body out of the dark water, hed thought that nothing could ever hurt again because nothing could match that moment.Hed been wrong.He stopped and stood with his good hand braced against a tree, head down, breathing deeply. When the red mists cleared and he could see again, he went on, but the burning ache in his dressing table continued undiminished. Stop thinking about her, he told himself, keen that it was useless.But she wasnt truly dead. Didnt that count for something? Hed t hought he would never hear her voice again, never feel her touchAnd now, when she stirred him, she wanted to kill him.He stopped again, doubling over, afraid he was going to be sick. eyesight her like this was worse torture than seeing her lying cold and dead. Maybe that was why Damon had let him live. Maybe this was Damons revenge.And maybe Stefan should just do what hed think to do after killing Damon. Wait until dawn and take off the silver ring that protected him from sunlight. Stand bathing in the ferocious embrace of those rays until they burned the flesh from his bonesand stopped the pain once and for all.Stefan detoured toward the boardinghouse. He needed to clean up before he could let humans see him. In his room, he washed the blood from his face and neck and examined his arm. The healing process had already begun, and with concentration he could race it still further. He was burning up his Powers fast the fight with his brother had already weakened him. But this was i mportant. Not because of the pain-he scarcely noticed that-but because he needed to be fit.Damon and Elena were waiting outside the school. He could feel his brothers pettishness and Elenas wild new presence there in the dark.This had better work, Damon said.Stefan said nothing. The school auditorium was another center of commotion. People ought to have been enjoying the Founders Day stumble the light fantastic in fact, those who had remained through the storm were pacing around or poised in small groups talking. Stefan looked in the open door, searching with his mind for one particular presence. He found it. A blond head was hardening over a table in the corner.Matt.Matt straightened and looked around, puzzled. Stefan willed him to come outside. You need some fresh air, he thought, insinuating the suggestion into Mattssubconscious. You feel like just stepping out for a moment.To Damon, standing invisible just beyond the light, he said, Take her into the school, to the photogra phy room. She knows where it is. Dont show yourselves until I say. Then he plump for away and waited for Matt to appear.Matt came out, his drawn face turned up to the moonless sky. He started violently when Stefan spoke to him.Stefan Youre here Desperation, hope, and horror struggled for strength on his face. He hurried over to Stefan. Did they-bring her back yet? Is there any news?What have you heard?Matt stared at him a moment before answering. Bonnie and Meredith came in saying that Elena had gone off of Wickery Bridge in my car. They said that she He paused and swallowed. Stefan, its not true, is it? His eyes were pleading. Stefan looked away.Oh, God, Matt said hoarsely. He turned his back on Stefan, pressing the heels of his detainment into his eyes. I dont believe it I dont. It cant be true.Matt He touched the other boys shoulder.Im sorry. Matts voice was rough and ragged. You must be going through hell, and here I am making it worse.His only other choice was to tell Matt t he truth. Let Matt make his own choice, knowing everything.If there were something you could do for Elena right now, he said, would you do it?Matt was too lost in emotion to ask what kind of idiotic wonder that was.Anything, he said almost angrily, rubbing a sleeve over his eyes. Id do anything for her. He looked at Stefan with something like defiance, his breathing shaky.Congratulations, Stefan thought, feeling the abrupt yawning pit in his stomach. Youve just won yourself a trip to the Twilight Zone.Come with me, he said. Ive got something to show you.