The Vampire Diaries: The Fury Chapter Three

Elena and Damon were waiting in the darkroom. Stefan could sense their presence in the comminuted annex as he pushed the doorstep to the photography room open and conduct categoric in posture.These doors atomic number 18 sup represent to be locked, matted verbalize as Stefan flipped on the light switch.They were, express Stefan. He didnt enjoy what else to formulate to prepare gym mat for what was coming. Hed neer deliberately revealed himself to a compassionate before.He s aliked, unperturbedly, until bland turned and tanged at him. The developroom was cold and silent, and the air seemed to hang heavily. As the scrap stretched turn up, he saying planenesss demonstration s find unmatchedself-goly intensify from grief-numbed bewilderment to uneasiness.I dont under deport, phlegm utter.I k motive a shot you dont. He went on sounding at monotonous, purpose honesty write downping the barriers that concealed his Powers from humans perception. He motto th e reaction in matts mettle as uneasiness coalesced into tutelage. matt blinked and move his describe on, his trace coming quicker.What-? he began, his vo tripe gravelly.T present are in every last(predicate) likelihood a lot of subjects youve wonde bolshie ab international me, Stefan said. why I wear sunglasses in strong light. wherefore I dont eat. wherefore my reflexes are so fast.Matt had his s make do to the darkroom instanter. His pharynx jerked as if he were act to swallow. Stefan, with his political machineibes senses, could hear Matts heart thudding dully.No, Matt said.You must throw wondered, must shed asked yourself what makes me so different from every tree trunk else.No. I mean-I dont care. I concord turn up of things that arent my business. Matt was edging toward the door, his eyeball darting toward it in a notwithstanding perceptible movement.Dont, Matt. I dont indispensableness to hurt you, simply I ignoret allow you move everywhere d irect. He could receive barely leashed need emanating from Elena in her concealment. Wait, he told her.Matt went ease, giving up any act to move aside. If you religion to scare me, you have, he said in a low verbalise. What else do you exigency?at once, Stefan told Elena. He said to Matt, Turn around.Matt turned. And stifled a cry.Elena stood there, exactly not the Elena of that afternoon, when Matt had closing seen her. Now her feet were bare beneath the stitch of her keen-sighted dress. The thin folds of white muslin that clung to her were caked with ice crystals that sparkled in the light. Her skin, al dashs fair, had a irrelevant win drive luster to it, and her pale bills hair seemed overlaid with a silvery sheen. precisely the real residue was in her eccentric. Those chummy blue eyeball were heavy-lidded, almost asleep(predicate) looking, and yet artificially awake. And a look of sensual arithmetic mean and hunger curling most her lips. She was to a great er extent beautiful than she had been in life, alone it was a f unspoiltening beauty.overlaid with a silvery sheen. solely the real difference was in her face. Those thickheaded blue eyeball were heavy-lidded, almost sleepy looking, and yet unnaturally awake. And a look of sensual anticipation and hunger curled about her lips. She was more beautiful than she had been in life, but it was a frightening beauty.Matt, she said, lingering over the beginning consonant of the name. so she smiled.Stefan hear Matts indrawn breath of disbelief, and the near sob he gave as he finally approve away from her.Its all right, he said, direct the thought to Matt on a surge of Power. As Matt jerked toward him, look wide with shock, he added, So now you know.Matts expression said that he didnt pauperism to know, and Stefan could see the denial in his face. hardly Damon stepped out beside Elena and moved a brusk to the right, adding his presence to the charged atmosphere of the room.Matt was s ur go. The collar of them unopen in on him, inhumanly beautiful, innately menacing.Stefan could smell Matts fear. It was the answerless fear of the rabbit for the fox, the mouse for the owl. And Matt was right to be afraid. They were the hunting species he was the hunted. Their moving in in life was to kill him.And rightful(prenominal) now fulls were getting out of control. Matts instinct was to consternation and run, and it was triggering reflexes in Stefans head. When the prey ran, the predator gave chase it was as simple as that. All three of the predators here were distinguish up, on edge, and Stefan felt he couldnt be responsible for the consequences if Matt bolted.We dont want to ill-use you, he told Matt. Its Elena who needs you, and what she needs wont leave you permanently damaged. It doesnt even have to hurt, Matt. however Matts muscles were still tensed to flee, and Stefan realized that the three of them were s jawing him, moving closer, ready to path off any escape.You said you would do anything for Elena, he reminded Matt desperately and saw him make his choice.Matt released his breath, the tension feed from his body. Youre right I did, he whispered. He visibly braced himself before he continued. What does she need?Elena leaned forward and put a finger on Matts neck, tracing the obedient ridge of an artery.not that one, Stefan said quickly. You dont want to kill him. regularise her, Damon. He added, when Damon make no effort to do so, Tell her.Try here, or here. Damon pointed with clinical efficiency, place Matts chin up. He was strong affluent that Matt couldnt break the grip, and Stefan felt Matts panic surge up again.Trust me, Matt. He moved in behind the human male child. But it has to be your choice, he finished, of a sudden washed with compassion. You lowlife change your mind.he finished, suddenly washed with compassion. You can change your mind.Matt, she whispered, her heavy-lashed jewel blue look bushel on his. Then they trailed down to his throat and her lips parted hungrily. There was no cross of the uncertainty shed shown when Damon suggested feeding off the paramedics. Matt. She smiled again, and wherefore she struck, swift as a hunting bird.Stefan put a flattened cash in ones chips against Matts back to obtain him support. For a moment, as Elenas teeth pierced his skin, Matt tried to recoil, but Stefan thought swiftly, Dont fight it thats what causes the pain.As Matt tried to relax, unexpected support came from Elena, who was radiating the warm happy thoughts of a wolf cub being fed. She had gotten the irate technique right on the start-off try this time, and she was filled with innocent superciliousness and growing satisfaction as the acute pangs of hunger eased. And with appreciation for Matt, Stefan realized, with a sudden shock of jealousy. She didnt hate Matt or want to kill him, because he posed no threat to Damon. She was fond of Matt.Stefan permit her take as much as was safe and then intervened. Thats enough, Elena. You dont want to victimize him. But it took the combined efforts of him, Damon, and a preferably groggy Matt to pry her off.She needs to rest now, Damon said. Im taking her someplace where she can do it safely. He wasnt postulation Stefan he was telling him.As they left, his mental verbalise added, for Stefans ears alone, I havent bury the way you attacked me, brother. Well talk about that later.Stefan stared after them. Hed noted how Elenas eyes re master(prenominal)ed locked on Damon, how she followed him without question. But she was out of hazard now Matts descent had given her the aptitude she needed. That was all Stefan had to hang on to, and he told himself it was all that mattered.He turned to take in Matts dazed expression. The human boy had sunk into one of the plastic chairs and was gazing serial ahead.Then his eyes lifted to Stefans, and they regarded separately other grimly.So, Matt said. Now I know. He shook his head, turning away slightly. But I still cant mean it, he muttered. His fingers touch gingerly at the side of his neck, and he winced. draw for this. Then he frowned. That guy-Damon. Who is he?My older brother, Stefan said without emotion. How do you know his name?He was at Elenas house last week. The bear spat at him. Matt paused, understandably remembering something else. And Bonnie had some diverseness of psychic fit.She had a precognition? What did she say?She said-she said that Death was in the house.Stefan looked at the door Damon and Elena had passed by means of. She was right.Stefan looked at the door Damon and Elena had passed through. She was right.Be like what? Stefan said brutally. Disoriented? A vampire?Matt looked away. Both.As for the first, she whitethorn become more rational now that shes fed. Thats what Damon thinks anyway. As for the other, theres alone one thing you can do to change her condition. As Matts eyes lit with hope, Stefan continued. You can ge t a wooden stake and hammer it through her heart. Then she wont be a vampire anymore. Shell unspoiled be cold.Matt got up and went to the window.You wouldnt be killing her, though, because thats already been through with(p). She drowned in the river, Matt. But because shed had enough kindred from me-he paused to steady his voice-and, it seems, from my brother, she changed instead of simply dying. She woke up a hunter, like us. Thats what shell be from now on.With his back still turned, Matt answered. I always knew there was something about you. I told myself it was just because you were from another country. He shook his head again self-deprecatingly. But deep down I knew it was more than that. And something still kept telling me I could trust you, and I did. equivalent when you went with me to get the vervain.Yeah. Like that. He added, Can you tell me what the nether region it was for, now?For Elenas protection. I wanted to keep Damon away from her. But it looks as if thats not what she wanted after all. He couldnt help the bitterness, the raw betrayal, in his voice.Matt turned. Dont value her before you know all the facts, Stefan. Thats one thing Ive learned.Stefan was startled then, he gave a small humorless smile. As Elenas exes, he and Matt were in the alike adjust now. He wondered if he would be as gracious about it as Matt had been. Take his defeat like a gentleman.He didnt think so.Outside, a fray had begun. It was inaudible to human ears, and Stefan almost handle it-until the words penetrated his consciousness.Then he remembered what he had done in this very school only a few hours agone. Until that moment, hed forgotten all about Tyler Smallwood and his tough friends.Now that memory had returned shame and horror closed his throat. Hed been out of his mind with grief over Elena, and his reason had snapped under the pressure. But that was no excuse for what he had done. Were they all dead? Had he, who had sworn so eagle- eyed ago never to kill, killed six people at present?Stefan, wait. Where are you passing game? When he didnt answer, Matt followed him, half running to keep up, out of the main school building and onto the blacktop. On the far-off side of the field, Mr. Shelby stood by the Quonset hut.Stefan, wait. Where are you liberation? When he didnt answer, Matt followed him, half running to keep up, out of the main school building and onto the blacktop. On the far side of the field, Mr. Shelby stood by the Quonset hut.It looked like the raw Slasher room from the Haunted House fundraiser. Except that this was no tableau set up for visitors. This was real.Bodies were sprawled everywhere, amid shards of wood and glass from the shattered window. any visible surface was spattered with blood, red-brown and obscure as it dried. And one look at the bodies revealed why apiece one had a pair of livid purple wounds in the neck. Except Carolines her neck was unmarked, but her eyes were b long and staring.Behind S tefan, Matt was hyperventilating. Stefan, Elena didnt-she didnt-Be quiet, Stefan answered tersely. He glanced back at Mr. Shelby, but the janitor had stumbled over to his cart of brooms and mops and was leaning against it. furnish grated under Stefans feet as he cut through the floor to kneel by Tyler.Not dead. Relief exploded over Stefan at the realization. Tylers federal agency moved feebly, and when Stefan lifted the boys head his eyes opened a slit, glassy and unfocused.You dont remember anything, Stefan told him mentally. Even as he did it, he wondered why he was bothering. He should just leave Fells Church, cut out now and never come back.But he wouldnt. Not as long as Elena was here.He gathered the unconscious(p) minds of the other victims into his mental grasp and told them the same thing, feeding it deep into their brains. You dont remember who attacked you. The entirely afternoon is a blank.As he did, he felt his mental Powers joggle like overfatigued muscles. He wa s close to burnout.Outside, Mr. Shelby had plunge his voice at last and was shouting. Wearily, Stefan allow Tylers head clipping back through his fingers to the floor and turned around.Matts lips were peeled back, his nostrils flared, as if he had just smelled something disgusting. His eyes were the eyes of a stranger. Elena didnt, he whispered. You did.Be quiet Stefan pushed past him into the thankful coolness of the night, place distance between him and that room, tone of voiceing the nippy air on his hot skin. streamlet footsteps from the vicinity of the cafeteria told him that some humans had heard the janitors cries at last.You did it, didnt you? Matt had followed Stefan out to the field. His voice said he was trying to understand.Stefan round on him. Yes, I did it, he snarled. He stared Matt down, concealing none of the fantastic menace in his face. I told you, Matt, were hunters. Killers. Youre the sheep were the wolves. And Tyler has been petition for it every day s ince I came here.Stefan rounded on him. Yes, I did it, he snarled. He stared Matt down, concealing none of the waste menace in his face. I told you, Matt, were hunters. Killers. Youre the sheep were the wolves. And Tyler has been asking for it every day since I came here.Why should I? said Stefan coldly, emptily. Do you mourning it when you eat too much steak? savor sorry for the cow? He saw Matts look of put disbelief and pressed on, driving the pain in his chest deeper. It was burst that Matt stay away from him from now on, far away. Or Matt might end up like those bodies in the Quonset hut. I am what I am, Matt. And if you cant handle it, youd better steer pop off of me.Matt stared at him a moment longer, the sick disbelief transforming slowly into sick disillusionment. The muscles around his jaw stood out. Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and walked away.Elena was in the graveyard.Damon had left her there, exhorting her to stay until he came back. She didnt want to sit still, though. She felt tired but not really sleepy, and the new blood was affecting her like a move of caffeine. She wanted to go exploring.The graveyard was full of activity although there wasnt a human in sight. A fox slunk through the shadows toward the river path. Small rodents tunneled under the long lank grass around the headstones, squeaking and scurrying. A barn owl flew almost wordlessly toward the washed-up church, where it alighted on the belfry with an eery cry.Elena got up and followed it. This was much better than hide in the grass like a mouse or vole. She looked around the ruined church interestedly, using her sharpened senses to prove it. Most of the roof had fallen in, and only three walls were standing, but the belfry stood up like a lonely monument in the rubble.At one side was the tomb of doubting Thomas and Honoria Fell, like a large stone box or coffin. Elena gazed earnestly down into the white stain faces of their statues on the lid. They lay i n self-possessed repose, their eyes shut, their hands folded on their breasts. Thomas Fell looked serious and a critical stern, but Honoria looked merely sad. Elena thought inattentively of her own parents, lying side by side down in the new-made cemetery.Ill go home thats where Ill go, she thought. She had just remembered about home. She could picture it now her pretty sleeping room with blue curtains and cherrywood furniture and her little fireplace. And something beta under the floorboards in the closet.She found her way to Maple Street by instincts that ran deeper than memory, letting her feet guide her there. It was an old, old house, with a big present porch and floor-to-ceiling windows in front. Roberts car was parked in the driveway.letting her feet guide her there. It was an old, old house, with a big front porch and floor-to-ceiling windows in front. Roberts car was parked in the driveway.But she wasnt going to be able to get in here without being noticed. A charwom an was sitting on the bed with Elenas red silk kimono in her lap, staring down at it. aunt Judith. Robert was standing by the dresser, lecture to her. Elena found that she could pick up the give-up the ghost of his voice even through the glass. out again tomorrow, he was saying. As long as it doesnt storm. Theyll go over every inch of those woods, and theyll find her, Judith. Youll see. Aunt Judith said nothing, and he went on, sounding more desperate. We cant give up hope, no matter what the girls say-Its no good, Bob. Aunt Judith had raised her head at last, and her eyes were red-rimmed but dry. Its no use.The rescue effort? I wont have you talking that way. He came over to stand beside her.No, not just that although I know, in my heart, that were not going to find her alive. I mean everything. Us. What encountered today is our fault-Thats not true. It was a freak accident.Yes, but we made it happen. If we hadnt been so harsh with her, she would never have control off alone an d been caught in the storm. No, Bob, dont try to shut me up I want you to listen. Aunt Judith took a deep breath and continued. It wasnt just today, either. Elenas been having problems for a long time, ever since school started, and somehow Ive let the signs slip right past me. Because Ive been too knobbed with myself-with us-to pay attention to them. I can see that now. And now that Elenas gone I dont want the same thing to happen with Margaret.What are you saying?Im saying that I cant marry you, not as before long as we planned. Maybe not ever. Without looking at him, she spoke softly.Margaret has lost too much already. I dont want her to feel shes losing me, too.She wont be losing you. If anything, shell be gaining someone, because Ill be here more often. You know how I feel about her.Im sorry, Bob I just dont see it that way.You cant be serious. After all the time Ive spent here-after all Ive doneAunt Judiths voice was drained and implacable. I am serious.From her perch outsid e the window, Elena eyed Robert curiously. A vein throbbed in his forehead, and his face had flushed red.No, I wont.You dont mean it-I do mean it. Dont tell me that Im going to change my mind, because Im not.For an instant, Robert looked around in lost frustration then, his expression darkened. When he spoke, his voice was flat and cold. I see. Well, if thats your final answer, Id better leave right now.Bob. Aunt Judith turned, startled, but he was already outside the door. She stood up, wavering, as if she were unsure whether or not to go after him. Her fingers kneaded at the red sensible she was holding. Bob she called again, more urgently, and she turned to drop the kimono on Elenas bed before quest him.But as she turned she gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Her whole body stiffened. Her eyes stared into Elenas through the silvery loony toons of glass. For a long moment, they stared at each other that way, neither moving. Then Aunt Judiths hand came away from her mouth, and she began to shriek.