The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Five

Monday, June 8, 1115 p.m.Dear Diary,I dont seem to be sleeping very intimately tonight, so I might as well write you. All day today Ive been waiting for something to happen. You dont do a spell similar that and admit it puddle like that and then have nothing happen. except nothing has. I stayed home from contend aim because Mom estimation I should. She was upset ab discover monotonous and Meredith staying so late Sunday night, and she submit I needed to render some rest. just eery time I lie cumulation I see marchs nervus.Sues dad did the eulogy at Elenas funeral. I wonder whos sledding to do it for Sue on Wednesday?Ive got to stop withdrawing ab bulge things like this. maybe Ill try to go to sleep over again. Maybe if I lie down with my brainpowerphones on, I wont see Sue. seemly send the diary sticker in her nightstand drawer and took out her Walk public.She flipped through the channels as she st ard at the ceiling with heavy look.Through the crackle and s seatter of static a D.J.s voice sounded in her ear. And presents a golden oldie for all(prenominal) you mythic fifties fans. Goodnight Sweetheart on the Vee Jay label by The Spaniels decent drifted away on the music. The ice cream pappa was strawberry, seemlys favorite. The jukebox was playing Goodnight Sweetheart and the counter was squeaky clean. But Elena, reasonable contumacious, would never have really cadaverous a poodle skirt.No poodles, she said, gesturing at it. Elena looked up from her hot defer sundae. Her blond hair was pulled back down in a ponytail. Who thinks of these things anyway? fair(a) asked.You do, silly. Im only visiting.Oh. Bonnie took a pull at the soda. Dreams. in that location was a reason to be cowardly of dreams, scarce she couldnt think of it alone immediatelyadays.I flockt stay long, Elena said. I think he already lie withs Im here. I just came to reveal you She frowned.Bonnie looked at her sympathetically. Cant you remember each ? She drank more soda. It tasted odd.I died too young, Bonnie. There was so much I was vatic to do, to accomplish. And now I have to help you.This isnt easy, you know. I dont have that much power. Its hard make outting through, and its hard preserveing everything together.Gotta keep it together, Bonnie agreed, nodding. She was feeling strangely lightheaded. What was in this soda?I dont have much control, and things turn out strange somehow. Hes doing it, I guess. Hes always fighting me. He watches you. And every time we try to communicate, he dumbfounds.Okay. The elbow room was floating.Bonnie, are you listening to me? He can use your fear against you. Its the way he gets in.OkayBut dont let him in. Tell everyone that. And tell Stefan Elena stopped and put a hand to her mouth. Something fell onto the hot fudge sundae.It was a tooth.Hes here. Elenas voice was strange, indistinct. Bonnie stared at the tooth in mesmerized inconsistency. It was lying in the middle of the whipped c ream, among the slivered almonds. Bonnie, tell StefanAnother tooth plunked down, and another. Elena sobbed, both her hands at her mouth now. Her eyeball were terrified, helpless. Bonnie, dont goBut Bonnie was stumbling back. Everything was whirl around. The soda was bubbling out of the glass, but it wasnt soda it was blood. Bright red and frothy, like something you coughed up when you died. Bonnies condense convulsed.Tell Stefan I love him It was the voice of a toothless old woman, and it ended in hysterical sobs. Bonnie was glad to fall into darkness and halt everything.Bonnie nibbled at the end of her felt pen, her eyes on the clock, her mind on the calendar. Eight and a half more days of tutor to survive. And it looked as if every minute was going to be misery.Some guy had said it outright, backing away from her on the stairs. No offense, but your friends keep turning up dead. Bonnie had gone into the bathroom and cried.But now all she wanted was to be out of school, away f rom the tragic faces and accusing eyes-or worse, the pitying eyes. The principal had stipulation a speech over the P.A. astir(predicate) this new misfortune and this terrible loss, and Bonnie had felt the eyes on her back as if they were boring holes there.When the bell rang, she was the first somebody out the door. But alternatively of going to her next class she went to the bathroom again, where she waited for the next bell.Then, once the halls were empty, she hurried toward the foreign language wing. She passed bulletins and banners for end-of-the-year events without glancing at them. What did SATs matter, what did graduation matter, what did anything matter anymore? They might all be dead by the end of the month.Oh, my God, I forgot how gorgeous he is, she thought. Elena, forgive me Im going to grab him.Stefan she said.Then her mind wrenched her back into reality again and she cast a hunted look around. No one was in eyeshot. She grabbed his build.Are you crazy, showing up h ere? Are you nuts?I had to find you. I thought it was urgent.It is, but- He looked so incongruous, stand there in the high school hallway. So exotic. Like a zebra in a bargain of sheep. She projected pushing him toward a broom closet.He wasnt going. And he was stronger than she was. Bonnie, you said youd talked to-You have to hide Ill go get Matt and Meredith and bring them back here and then we can talk. But if anybody sees you, youre probably going to get lynched. Theres been another murder.Stefans face changed, and he let her push him toward the closet. He started to say something, then clearly decided not to.Ill wait, he said simply.It took only a few minutes to find Matt in auto tech and Meredith in economics class. They hurried back to the broom closet and bustled Stefan out of school as inconspicuously as possible, which wasnt very.Someones bound to have seen us, Bonnie thought. It all depends on who, and how much of a blab they are.We have to get him someplace safe-not to any of our signalings, Meredith was saying. They were all walking as fast as they could through the high school parking lot.Fine, but where? Wait a minute, what about the boarding house ? Bonnies voice trailed off. There was a little black car in the parking slot in front of her. An Italian car, sleek, svelte, and sexy look. All the windows were tinted illegally dark you couldnt even see inside. Then Bonnie made out the stallion emblem on the back.Oh, my GodThree sets of eyes turned to him in shock. Damons? Bonnie said, hearing the squeak in her own voice. She hoped Stefan meant Damon had just loaned it to him.But the car window was rolling down to reveal black hair as sleek and liquidy as the cars paint job, mirrored glasses, and a very gaberdine smile. Buon giorno, said Damon smoothly. Anybody need a ride?Oh, my God, Bonnie said again, faintly. But she didnt back away.Stefan was visibly impatient. Well head for the boarding house. You follow. Park privy the boron so nobody sees your car.Meredith had to lead Bonnie away from the Ferrari. It wasnt that Bonnie liked Damon or that she was ever going to let him kiss her again as he had at Alarics party. She knew he was dangerous not as bad as Katherine had been, maybe, but bad. Hed killed wantonly, just for the fun of it. Hed killed Mr. Tanner, the history teacher, at the Haunted House fund-raiser last Halloween. He might kill again at any time. Maybe that was why Bonnie felt like a mouse stare at a shining black snake when she looked at him.In the privacy of Merediths car Bonnie and Meredith exchanged glances.Stefan shouldnt have brought him, said Meredith.Maybe he just came, Bonnie offered. She didnt think Damon was the sort of person who got brought anywhere.Why should he? Not to help us, thats for sure.Matt said nothing. He didnt even seem to flier the tension in the car. He just stared through the windshield, lost in himself.The sky was clouding up.Matt?Just leave it alone, Bonnie, said Meredith.Won derful, thought Bonnie, depression settling like a dark cover charge over her. Matt and Stefan and Damon, all together, all thinking about Elena.They parked behind the old barn, next to the low black car. When they went inside, Stefan was standing alone. He turned and Bonnie saw that hed taken off his sunglasses. The faintest tingle went through her, just the lightest prickling of the hairs on her arms and neck. Stefan wasnt like any other guy shed ever met. His eyes were so green green as oak leaves in the spring. But just now they had shadows underneath.There was a moment of awkwardness the three of them standing on one side and looking at Stefan without a word. No one seemed to know what to say.Then Meredith went over to him and took his hand. You look tired, she said.I came as soon as I could. He put an arm around her in a brief, roughly hesitant hug. He never would have done that in the old days, Bonnie thought. He apply to be so reserved. I came as soon as I could. He put an arm around her in a brief, almost hesitant hug. He never would have done that in the old days, Bonnie thought. He used to be so reserved.Stefan and Matt were looking at each other. Here we go, thought Bonnie. It was almost funny the same expression was on both their faces. Hurt and tired, and nerve-racking not to show it. No matter what, Elena would always be between them.At last, Matt stuck out his hand and Stefan shook it. They both stepped back, looking glad to have it over with.Wheres Damon? said Meredith.Poking around. I thought we might want a few minutes without him.We want a few decades without him, Bonnie said beforehand she could stop herself, and Meredith said, He cant be trusted, Stefan.I think youre wrong, Stefan said quietly. He can be a big help if he puts his mind to it.In between killing a few of the locals every other night? Meredith said, her eyebrows up. You shouldnt have brought him, Stefan.But he didnt. The voice came from behind Bonnie, behind and frighte ningly close. Bonnie jumped and made an instinctive lunge for Matt, who gripeped her shoulder.Damon smiled briefly, just one corner of his mouth up. Hed taken off his sunglasses, but his eyes werent green. They were black as the spaces between the stars. Hes almost better looking than Stefan, Bonnie thought wildly, finding Matts fingers and hanging on to them.So shes yours now, is she? Damon said to Matt casually.No, Matt said, but his grip on Bonnie didnt loosen.Stefan didnt bring you? prompted Meredith from the other side. Of all of them, she seemed least affected by Damon, least afraid of him, least susceptible to him.No, Damon said, still looking at Bonnie. He doesnt turn like other people, she thought. He goes on looking at whatever he wants no matter whos talking. You did, he said.Me? Bonnie shrank a little, uncertain who he meant.You. You did the spell, didnt you?The Oh, hell. A picture blossomed in Bonnies mind, of black hair on a white napkin. Her eyes went to Damons hair, finer and straighter than Stefans but just as dark. Obviously Matt had made a drop away in the sorting.They took seats on the decaying bales of hay, all except Damon, who remained standing. Stefan was leaning forward, hands on knees, looking at Bonnie.You told me-you said that Elena spoke to you. There was a perceptible pause before he got the name out. His face was tense with control.Yes. She managed a smile for him. I had this dream, Stefan, this very strange dreamShe told him about it, and about what had happened after. It took a long time. Stefan listened intently, his green eyes flaring every time she mentioned Elena. When she told about the end of Carolines party and how they had strand Sues body in the backyard, the blood drained from his face, but he said nothing.The police came and said she was dead, but we knew that already, Bonnie finished. And they took Vickie away-poor Vickie was just raving. They wouldnt let us talk to her, and her mother hangs up if we call. Some p eople are even saying Vickie did it, which is insane. But they wont believe that Elena talked to us, so they wont believe anything she said.And what she said was he, Meredith interrupted. Several times. Its a man someone with a lot of psychic power.And it was a man who grabbed my hand in the hallway, said Bonnie. She told Stefan about her suspicion of Tyler, but as Meredith pointed out, Tyler didnt fit the rest of the description.He had neither the brains nor the psychic power to be the one Elena was warning them about.What about Caroline? Stefan asked. Could she have seen anything?She was out front, Meredith said. She found the door and got out time we were all running. She heard the screams, but she was too frightened to go back in the house. And to be honest, I dont blame her.So nobody genuinely saw what happened except Vickie.No. And Vickies not telling. Bonnie picked up the story where she had left off. Once we realized nobody would believe us, we remembered Elenas message a bout the summoning spell. We calculate it must have been you she wanted to summon, because she thought you could do something to help. So can you?I can try, Stefan said. He got up and walked a little distance away, turning his back on them. He stood like that in silence a while, unmoving. At last he turned back and looked Bonnie in the eyes. Bonnie, he said, quiet but intense, in your dreams you actually spoke to Elena face to face. Do you think if you went into a influence you could do it again?Bonnie was a little frightened by what she saw in his eyes. They were glare emerald green in his pale face. All at once it was as if she could see behind the veil of control he wore. Underneath was so much pain, so much longing-so much of that intensity that she could hardly bear to look at it.Then well do it. Right here, right now. And well see if you can take me with you. Those eyes were mesmerizing, not with any hidden Power, but with the sheer force of his will. Bonnie wanted to do it for him-he made her want to do anything for him. But the memory of that last dream was too much. She couldnt face that horror again she couldnt.Stefan, its too dangerous. I could be opening myself up to anything-and Im scared. If that thing gets hold of my mind, I dont know what might happen. I cant, Stefan. Please. Even with a Ouija board, its just inviting him to come.For a moment she thought he was going to try to make her do it. His mouth tightened in an obstinate line, and his eyes blazed even brighter. But then, slowly, the lift died out of them.Bonnie felt her heart tear. Stefan, Im sorry, she whispered.Well just have to do it on our own, he said. The affect was back on, but his smile looked stiff, as if it hurt him. Then he spoke more briskly. counterbalance we have to find out who this killer is, what he wants here. All we know now is that something evil has come to Fells Church again.But why? said Bonnie. Why would anything evil just happen to pick here? Havent we been through enough?It does seem a bit of a strange coincidence, Meredith said drolly. Why should we be so singularly blessed?Its not coincidence, said Stefan. He got up and lifted his hands as if unsure how to start. There are some places on this earth that are different, he said. That are right of psychic energy, either positive or negative, good or evil. Some of them have always been that way, like the Bermuda Triangle and Salisbury Plain, the place where they built Stonehenge. Others become that way, especially where a lot of blood has been shed. He looked at Bonnie.Unquiet spirits, she whispered.Yes. There was a battle here, wasnt there?In the Civil War, Matt said. Thats how the church in the cemetery got ruined. It was a slaughter on both sides. Nobody won, but almost everyone who fought got killed. The forest are full of their graves.And the ground was soaked with blood. A place like that draws the supernatural to it. It draws evil to it. Thats why Katherine was attracted to F ells Church in the first place. I felt it too, when I first came here.And now something else has come, Meredith said, perfectly beneficial for once. But how are we supposed to fight it?We have to know what were fighting first. I think But before he could finish, there was a creak and pale, dusty sunlight fell across the bales of hay. The barn door had opened.Mrs. Flowers, who owned the boarding house, smiled at them, her little black eyes crinkling into wrinkles. She was carrying a tray.I thought you children might like something to drink while youre talking, she said comfortably.Everyone exchanged disconcerted glances. How had she known they were out here? And how could she be so calm about it?Here you go, Mrs. Flowers continued. This is grape succus, made from my own Concord grapes. She put a paper cup beside Meredith, then Matt, then Bonnie. And here are some gingersnap cookies. Fresh. She held the plate around. Bonnie noticed she didnt offer any to Stefan or Damon.You two can come round to the root cellar if you like and try some of my blackberry wine, she said to them, with what Bonnie would swear was a wink.Stefan took a deep, leery breath. Uh, look, Mrs. FlowersAnd your old rooms just like you left it. Nobodys been up there since you went. You can use it when you want it wont put me out a bit.Stefan seemed at a loss for words. Well-thank you. Thank you very much. But -If youre worried Ill say something to somebody, you can set your mind at ease. I dont tend to run off at the mouth. neer have, never will. Hows that grape juice? -turning suddenly on Bonnie.Bonnie hastily took a gulp. Good, she said truthfully.When you finish, obscure the cups in the trash. I like things kept tidy. Mrs. Flowers cast a look about the barn, shaking her head and sighing. Such a shame. Such a pretty girl. She looked at Stefan piercingly with eyes like onyx beads. Youve got your work cut out for you this time, boy, she said, and left, still shaking her head.Well said Bonni e, staring after her, amazed. Everyone else just looked at each other blankly. Such a pretty girl-but which? said Mere-dith at last. Sue or Elena? Elena had actually spent a week or so in this very barn last winter-but Mrs. Flowers wasnt supposed to know that. Did you say something to her about us? Meredith asked Damon.Not a word. Damon seemed amused. Shes an old lady. Shes batty.Shes sharper than any of us gave her credit for, Matt said. When I think of the days we spent watching her potter around that basement-do you think she knew we were watching?days we spent watching her potter around that basement-do you think she knew we were watching?And grape juice, dont forget that. Matt grinned at Stefan. Want some? He proffered the leaky cup.Yeah, you can take your grape juice and But Stefan was almost smiling himself. For an instant Bonnie saw the two of them the way they used to be, before Elena had died. Friendly, warm, as comfortable together as she and Meredith were. A pang went th rough her.But Elena isnt dead, she thought. Shes more here than ever. Shes directing everything we say and do.Stefan had sobered again. When Mrs. Flowers came in, I was about to say that wed better get started. And I think we should start with Vickie.She wont see us, Meredith replied instantly. Her parents are keeping everyone away.Then well just have to bypass her parents, Stefan said. Are you coming with us, Damon?A visit to yet another pretty girl? I wouldnt miss it.Bonnie turned to Stefan in alarm, but he spoke reassuringly as he guided her out of the barn. Itll be all right. Ill keep an eye on him.Bonnie hoped so.