The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Twelve

A sound spoke as Elena reached for a can on the store shelf.Cranberry sauce already?Elena looked up. Hi, dull. Yes, aunt Judith handles to do a take in the Sunday before Thanksgiving, remember? If she practices, theres less chance shell do something terrible. the uniform forgetting to buy the cranberry sauce until fifteen minutes before dinner?Until louver minutes before dinner, say Elena, consulting her watch, and Matt laughed. It was a good sound, and virtuoso Elena hadnt hear for too long. She moved on toward the check- f each out stand, single if after shed spread out for her purchase she hesitated, looking brook.Matt was rest by the magazine rack, forgathermingly absorbed, except there was something about the slope of his shoulders that made her want to go to him.She poked a finger at his magazine. What areyou doing for dinner? she see. When he glanced uncertainly toward the trend of the store, she added, mediocres waiting out in the car shell be there. Other than that its still the family. And Robert, of course he should be there by now. She meant that Stefan wasnt coming. She still wasnt sure how things were between Matt and Stefan these days. At least they spoke to each other.Im fending for myself this night Moms not feeling so hot, he express. moreover then, as if to de grapheme the subject, he went on, Wheres Meredith?With her family, visiting some relatives or something. Elena was vague because Meredith had been Aunt Judiths preparation?For old times sake?For oldfriends sake, said Elena after a moments hesitation, and smiled at him.He blinked and looked a direction. How can I refuse an invitation like that? he said in an oddly muted region. scarce when he put the magazine fannyrest and followed her out he was smiling, too. sightly greeted him cheerfully, and when they got home Aunt Judith looked pleased to pull in him come into the kitchen.Dinners almost ready, she said, taking the grocery bag from Elena. Robert got he re a few minutes ago. Why dont you go straight on back to the eat room? Oh, and get another chair, Elena. Matt makes seven.Six, Aunt Judith, said Elena, amused. You and Robert, me and Margaret, Matt and bonny.Yes, dear, but Roberts brought a guest, too. Theyre already seance d deliver.Elena registered the words respectable as she dance stepped with the dine room door, but there was an instants moderate before her mind reacted to them. Even so, sheknew stepping through that door, she somehow knew what was waiting for her.Robert was standing there, fiddling with a bottle of uncontaminating wine and looking jovial. And sitting at the table, on the far side of the autumn centerpiece and the steep lighted candles, was Damon.Elena realized shed halt moving when Bonnie ran into her from behind. Then she agonistic her legs into action. Her mind wasnt as obedient it remained frozen.Ah, Elena, Robert said, holding out a hand. This is Elena, the missy I was telling you about, he sa id to Damon. Elena, this is Damon ahSmith, said Damon.Oh, yes. Hes from my alma mater, William and Mary, and I well(p) ran into him outside the drugstore.Since he was looking for some place to run through, I invited him on here for a home-cooked meal. Damon, these are some friends of Elenas, Matt and Bonnie.Hi, said Matt. Bonnie equitable stared then, she swung enormous eyeball on Elena.Elena was trying to get a grip on herself. She didnt agnise whether to shriek, march out of the room, or keep the glass of wine Robert was pouring in Damons face. She was too angry, for the moment, to be f remediateened.Matt went to bring in a chair from the living room. Elena wondered at his day-after-day acceptance of Damon, and then realized he hadnt been at Alarics party. He wouldnt know what had happened there between Stefan and the visitor from college.Bonnie, though, looked ready to panic. She was gazing at Elena imploringly. Damon had risen and was in the lead Elena could come up w ith a response, she hear Margarets high little voice in the doorway.Matt, do you want to see my kitty? Aunt Judith says I can keep her. Im going to c totally in all her Snowball.Elena off, fired with an idea.Shes cute, Matt was saying obligingly, bending everyplace the little mound of white fur in Margarets arms. He looked startled as Elena unceremoniously grabbed the kitten from under his nose.Here, Margaret, lets suggest your kitty to Roberts friend, she said, and thrust the fluffy bundle into Damons face, all but throwing it at him.Pandemonium ensued. Snowball swelled to twice her normal size as her fur stood on end. She made a resound like wet dropped on a red-hot griddle and then she was a snarling, spew cycl iodine that clawed Elena, swiped at Damon, and ricocheted off the surrounds before tearing out of the room.For an instant, Elena had the gladness of seeing Damons night black look slightly wider than usual. Then the lids drooped d let, hooding them again, and Ele na off-key to face the reaction of the other occupants of the room.Margaret was just opening her mouth for a steam engine wail. Robert was trying to forestall it, hustling her off to find the cat. Bonnie had her back pressed flat against the wall, looking desperate. Matt and Aunt Judith, who was peering in from the kitchen, just looked appalled.I guess you dont accept a way with animals, she said to Damon, and took her seat at the table. She nodded to Bonnie who reluctantly peeled herself off the wall and scuttled for her own seat before Damon could touch the chair. Bonnies browned eyes slid virtually to follow him as he sat waste in turn.after a few minutes, Robert reappeared with a tear-stained Margaret and frowned sternly at Elena. Matt pushed his own chair in silently although his eyebrows were in his hair.As Aunt Judith arrived and the meal began, Elena looked up and down the table. A bright haze seemed to lie over everything, and she had a feeling of unreality, but the sc ene itself looked almost unbelievably wholesome, like something out of a commercial. Just your ave cacoethes family sitting down to eat turkey, she thought. unrivaled slightly flustered maiden aunt, brainsick that the peas will be mushy and the rolls burnt, one comfortable uncle-to-be, one golden-haired teenage niece and her tow- motioned baby sister. unitary blue-eyed boy- abutting-door type, one spritely daughterfriend, one gorgeous vampire passing the dulcorate yams. A typical American fellowshiphold.Bonnie spent the first fractional of the meal telegraphing What do I do? messages to Elena with her eyes. But when all Elena telegraphed back was Nothing, she apparently decided to abandon herself to her fate. She began to eat.Elena had no idea what to do. To be confine tike this was an insult, a humiliation, and Damon knew it. He had Aunt Judith and Robert dazzled, though, with compliments about the meal and light chat about William and Mary. Even Margaret was smiling at hi m now, and in brief enough Bonnie would go under.Fells Church is having its Founders Day celebration next week, Aunt Judith informed Damon, her thin cheeks faintly pink. It would be so handsome if you could come back for that. Aunt Judith looked pleased. And this course Elena has a big part in it. Shes been chosen to represent the Spirit of Fells Church.You must be elevated of her, said Damon.Oh, we are, Aunt Judith said. So youll try to come then?Elena broke in, buttering a roll furiously. Ive heard some news about Vickie, she said. You remember, the girl who was attacked. She looked pointedly at Damon.There was a short silence. Then Damon said, Im hangdog I dont know her.Oh, Im sure you do. About my height, brown eyes, light brown hair anyway, shes getting worse. Oh, dear, said Aunt Judith.Yes, apparently the doctors cant understand it. She just keeps getting worse and worse, as if the attack was still going on. Elena kept her eyes on Damons face as she spoke, but he displa yed plainly a courteous interest. Have some more(prenominal) stuffing, she finished, propelling a bowl at him.No thank you. Ill have some more of this, though. He held a spoonful of jellied cranberry sauce up to one of the candles so that light shone through it. Its such a tantalizing color.Bonnie, like the rest of the people at the table, looked up at the candle when he did this. But Elena noticed she didnt look down again. She remained gazing into the dancing flame, and slowly all expression disappeared from her face.Oh,no , thought Elena, as a tingle of apprehension crept through her limbs. Shed seen that look before.She tried to get Bonnies attention, but the other girl seemed to see nothing but the candle. and then the elementary children put on a pageant about the towns history, Aunt Judith was saying to Damon. But the ending notice is done by older students. Elena, how many seniors will be doing the readings this year? Just three of us. Elena had to turn to address her aun t, and it was while she was looking at Aunt Judiths smiling face that she heard the voice.Death.Aunt Judith gasped. Robert paused with his fork center(a) to his mouth. Elena wished, wildly and absolutely hopelessly, for Meredith.Death, said the voice again. Death is in this house.Elena looked about the table and truism that there was no one to help her. They were all staring at Bonnie, motionless as subjects in a photograph.Bonnie herself was staring into the candle flame. Her face was blank, her eyes wide, as they had been before when this voice spoke through her. Now, those sightless eyes turned toward Elena. Your death, shoulders, lifting her. Bonnies skin had departed bluish-white, her eyes were closed. Aunt Judith fluttered more or less her, dabbing at her face with a break napkin. Damon watched with thoughtful, narrowed eyes.Shes all right, Robert said, looking up in obvious relief. I reckon she just fainted. It must have been some kind of hysteric attack. But Elena did nt breathe again until Bonnie opened groggy eyes and asked what everyone was staring at.It put an effective end to the dinner. Robert insisted that Bonnie be taken home at once, and in the activity that followed Elena found time for a whispered word with Damon.Get outHe raised his eyebrows. What?I said, get out Now Go. Or Ill tell them youre the killer.He looked reproachful. Dont you think a guest deserves a little more consideration? he said, but at her expression he shrugged and smiled.Thank you for having me for dinner, he said aloud to Aunt Judith, who was walking past carrying a blanket to the car. I hope I can return the kick upstairs sometime. To Elena he added, Be seeing you.Well,that was clear enough, Elena thought, as Robert drove away with a obscure Matt and a sleepy Bonnie. Aunt Judith was on the phone with Mrs. McCullough.I dont know what it is with these girls, either, she said. First Vickie, now Bonnie and Elena has not been herself lately plot of ground Aunt Judit h talked and Margaret searched for the missing Snowball, Elena paced.She would have to call Stefan. That was all there was to it. She wasnt worried about Bonnie the other times this had happened hadnt seemed to do permanent damage. And Damon would have better things to do than harass Elenas friends tonight.He was coming here, to collect for the favor hed done her. She knew without a doubt that that was the meaning of his final words. And it meant she would have to tell Stefan everything, because she needed him tonight, needed his protection.Only, what could Stefan do? Despite all her pleas and arguments last week, he had refused to take her blood. Hed insisted that his Powers would return without it, but Elena knew he was still vulnerable right now. Even if Stefan were here, could he stop Damon? Could he do it without being killed himself?Bonnies house was no refuge. And Meredith was departed. There was no one to help her, no one she could trust. But the thought of waiting here alo ne tonight, knowing that Damon was coming, was unbearable. She heard Aunt Judith click down the receiver. Automatically, she moved toward the kitchen, StefansShe looked at the floor to jacket windows and at the elaborate fireplace with its beautifully scrolled molding. This room was part of the lord house, the one that had almost whole burned in the Civil War. Her own bedroom was just above.A great light was beginning to dawn. Elena looked at the molding around the ceiling, at where it joined the more modern dining room. Then she almost ran toward the stairs, her heart beating fast.Aunt Judith? Her aunt paused on the stairway. Aunt Judith, tell me something. Did Damon go into the living room?What Aunt Judith blinked at her in distraction.Did Robert take Damon into the living room? Please think, Aunt Judith I need to know.Why, no, I dont think so. No, he didnt. They came in and went straight to the dining room. Elena, what on earth? This last as Elena impulsively threw her arms ar ound her and hugged her.Sorry, Aunt Judith. Im just happy, said Elena. Smiling, she turned to go back down the stairs.Well, Im gladsomeones happy, after the way dinner turned out. Although that nice boy, Damon, seemed to enjoy himself. Do you know, Elena, he seemed quite taken with you, in spite of the way you were acting.Elena turned back around. So?Well, I just thought you might give him a chance, thats all. I thought he was very pleasant. The kind of tender man I like to see around here.Elena goggled a moment, then swallowed to keep the hysterical laughter from escaping. Her aunt was suggesting that she take up Damon instead of Stefan because Damon was safer. The kind of nice young man any aunt would like. Aunt Judith, she began, gasping, but then she realized it was useless.She shook her head mutely, throwing her hands up in defeat, and watched her aunt go up the stairs.Usually Elena slept with her door closed. But tonight she left it open and lay on her bed gazing out into th e darkened dormway. Every so often she glanced at the luminous poetry of the clock on the nightstand beside her.There was no danger that she would fall asleep. As the minutes crawled by, she almost began to wish she could. Time moved with agonizing slowness. cardinal oclock eleven thirty midnight. integritya.m. One thirty. Two.At 210 she heard a sound.She listened, still lying on her bed, to the faint whisper of noise downstairs. Shed known he would find a way to get in if he wanted. If Damon was that determined, no lock would keep him out.The hallway was dark, but her eyes had had a long time to adjust. She could see the darker silhouette devising its way up the stairs. When it reached the top she saw the swift, deadly glimmer of his smile.She waited, unsmiling, until he reached her and stood approach her, with only a yard of hardwood floor between them. The house was completely silent. Across the hall Margaret slept at the end of the passage, Aunt Judith lay draped in dream s, unaware of what was going on outside her door.Damon said nothing, but he looked at her, his eyes taking in the long white nightgown with its high, lacy neck. Elena had chosen it because it was the most modest one she owned, but Damon obviously thought it attractive. She forced herself to stand quietly, but her mouth was ironical and her heart was thudding dully. Now was the time. In another minute she would know.She plunk for up, without a word or gesture of invitation, leaving the doorway empty. She saw the quick flare in his bottomless eyes, and watched him come eagerly toward her. And watched him stop.He stood just outside her room, plainly disconcerted. He tried again to step forward but could not. Something seemed to be preventing him from moving any farther. On his face, awe gave way to puzzlement and then anger.He looked up, his eyes raking over the lintel, scan the ceiling on either side of the threshold. Then, as the full realization hit him, his lips pulled back fro m his teeth in an animal snarl.Safe on her side of the doorway, Elena laughed softly. It had worked.My room and the living room below are all thats left of the old house, she said to him. And, of course, that was a different dwelling place. One you werenot invited into, and never will be.His chest was heaving with anger, his nostrils dilated, his eyes wild. Waves of black rage emanated from him. He looked as if he would like to tear the walls down with his hands, which were twitching and clenching with fury.Triumph and relief made Elena giddy. Youd better go now, she said. Theres nothing for you here.One minute more those menacing eyes blazed into hers, and then Damon turned around. But he didnt head for the stairway. Instead, he took one step across the hall and laid his hand on the door to Margarets room.Elena started forward before she knew what she was doing. She stopped in the doorway, grasping the casing trim, her own breath coming hard.His head whipped around and he smiled a t her, a slow, cruel smile. He misshapen the doorknob slightly without looking at it. His eyes, like pools of liquid ebony, remained on Elena.Your choice, he said.Elena stood very still, feeling as if all of winter was interior her. Margaret was just a baby. He couldnt mean it no one could be such a monster as to hurt a four-year-old.Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. She saw Damons hand on the doorknob she saw those merciless eyes. She was walking through the doorway, leaving behind the only safe place she knew.Death was in the house, Bonnie had said. And now Elena had gone to meet Death of her own free will. She bowed her head to curb the helpless tears that came to her eyes. It was over. Damon had won.She did not look up to see him dispose on her. But she felt the air stir around her, making her shiver. And then she was enfolded in soft, endless blackness, which wrapped around her like a great birds wings.