The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Six

Stefan sat in the Gilbert living room, agreeing politely with whatever it was auntie Judith was saying. The older woman was uncomfortable having him present you didnt need to be a mind reader to k straight that. But she was trying, and so Stefan was trying, too. He wanted Elena to be happy.Elena. Even when he wasnt spirit at her, he was awargon of her more(prenominal) than of anything else in the room. Her living presence beat against his skin exchangeable sunlight against unappealing eyelids. When he actually let himself turn to face her, it was a sweet shock to all his senses.He loved her so much. He never see her as Katherine any more he had most forgotten how much she looked like the dead girl. In any case, there were so many differences. Elena had the comparable pale gold hair and creamy skin, the same delicate features as Katherine, but there the resemblance ended. Her eyeball, looking violet in the excitementlight just now but normally a blue as dark as lapis lazu li, were neither timid nor childlike as Katherines had been. On the contrary, they were windows to her soul, which sh genius like an eager blaze up behindhand them. Elena was Elena, and her image had replaced Katherines gentle ghost in his heart.But her very strength made their love dangerous. He hadnt been able to resist her conk out calendar week when shed bump offered him her blood. Granted, he might have died without it, but it had been far too soon for Elenas own safety. For the hundredth time, his eyes moved over Elenas face, searching for the telltale signs of change. Was that creamy skin a little paler? Was her expression slightly more remote?They would have to be careful from now on. He would have to be more careful. Make sure to feed often, satisfy himself with animals, so he wouldnt be tempted. Never let the need get too strong. Now that he plan of it, he was hungry right now. The dry ache, the burning, was spreading along his upper jaw, whispering through his veins and capillaries. He should be out in the woods senses wondrous to catch the slightest crackle of dry twigs, muscles ready for the chase not here by a fire watching the tracery of pale blue veins in Elenas throat.That slim down throat turned as Elena looked at him.Do you want to go to that party tonight? We can take Aunt Judiths car, she utter.But you ought to stay for dinner party first, express Aunt Judith quickly.We can dissipate up something on the way. Elena meant they could pick up something for her, Stefan scene. He himself could chew and swallow ordinary food if he had to, though it did him no good, and he had long since lost any taste for it. No, his appetites were more particular now, he thought. And if they went to this party, it would mean hours more before he could feed. But he nodded agreement to Elena.If you want to, he said.She did want to she was set on it. Hed seen that from the beginning. All right then, Id better change.She glanced through the doorway, to the empty living room, and said, Its all right. Theyre almost healed already. See? She tugged her lacy collar down, twisting her head to one side.Stefan stared, mesmerized, at the two round marks on the fine-grained skin. They were a very light, straightforward burgundy color, like much-watered wine. He set his teeth and forced his eyes away. Looking much longer at that would drive him crazy.That wasnt what I meant, he said brusquely.The gleaming veil of her hair miss over the marks again, hiding them. Oh.Come inAs they did, walking into the room, conversations stopped. Elena looked at the faces turned toward them, at the curious, furtive eyes and the wary expressions. Not the kind of looks she was used to getting when she made an entrance.It was another student whod opened the door for them Alaric Saltzman was nowhere in sight. But Caroline was, set on a bar stool, which showed off her legs to their best advantage. She gave Elena a mocking look and then made some remark to a boy on her right. He laughed.Elena could feel her smile start to go painful, while a flush crept up toward her face. Then a familiar voice came to her.Elena, Stefan Over here.Grate completey, she spotted decorous sitting with Meredith and Ed Goff on a loveseat in the corner. She and Stefan settled on a large ottoman opposite them, and she heard conversations start to pick up again around the room.By tacit agreement, no one mentioned the awkwardness of Elena and Stefans arrival. Elena was determined to pretend that everything was as usual.And Bonnie and Meredith were backing her. You look great, said Bonnie warmly. I just love that red sweater.She does look nice. Doesnt she, Ed? said Meredith, and Ed, looking vaguely startled, agreed.So your class was invited to this, too, Elena said to Meredith. I thought maybe it was just seventh period.I dont know ifinvited is the word. replied Meredith dryly. Considering that participation is half our grade.Do you think he was serious to the h ighest degree that? He couldnt be serious, effect in Ed.Ray? Oh, Ray. I dont know, around somewhere, I suppose. Theres a lot of people here.That was true. The Ramsey living room was packed, and from what Elena could see the crowd flowed into the eat room, the front parlor, and believably the kitchen as well. Elbows kept brushing Elenas hair as people circulated behind her.What did Saltzman want with you after class? Stefan was saying.Alaric, Bonnie corrected primly. He wants us to scrub him Alaric. Oh, he was just being nice. He mat up awful for making me relive such an agonizing experience. He didnt know hardly how Mr. Tanner died, and he hadnt realized I was so sensitive. Of course, hes incredibly sensitive himself, so he understands what its like. Hes an Aquarius.With a moon rising in pickup lines, said Meredith under her breath. Bonnie you dont believe that garbage, do you? Hes a teacher he shouldnt be trying that out on students.He wasnt trying anything out He said exactl y the same thing to Tyler and Sue Carson. He said we should form a support group for each other or write an essay about that night to get our feelings out. He said teenagers are all very impressionable and he didnt want the tragedy to have a lasting usurpation on our lives.Oh, brother, said Ed, and Stefan turned a laugh into a cough. He wasnt amused, though, and his question to Bonnie hadnt been just idle curiosity. Elena could tell she could feel it radiating from him. Stefan matte up about Alaric Saltzman the way that most of the people in this room felt about Stefan. Wary and mistrustful.Itwas strange, him acting as if the party was a spontaneous persuasion in our class, she said, responding unconsciously to Stefans unspoken words, when obviously it had been planned.Whats even stranger is the idea that the school would hire a teacher without telling him how the previous teacher died, said Stefan. Everyone was talking about it it must have been in the papers.But not all the det ails, said Bonnie firmly. In fact, there are things the police cool it havent let out, because they think it might help them catch the protrudeer. For instance, she dropped her voice, do you know what Mary said? Dr. Feinberg was talking to the guy who did the autopsy, the medical examiner. And he said that there was no blood left in the body at all. Not a drop.Elena felt an icy wind blow through her, as if she stood erst again in the graveyard. She couldnt speak. But Ed said, Whered it go?Well, all over the floor, I suppose, said Bonnie calmly. All over the altar and everything. Thats what the police are investigating now. But its unusual for a corpse not to haveany blood left usually theres some that settles down on the underside of the body. Postmortem lividity, its called. It looks like big purple bruises. Whats wrong?Your incredible sensitivity has me ready to throw up, said Meredith in a strangled voice. Could we possibly talk about something else?You werent the one with bl ood all over you, Bonnie began, but Stefan interrupted her.I dont know, said Bonnie, and then she brightened. Thats right, Elena, you said you knew Shut up, Bonnie, said Elena desperately. If there ever were a placenot to discuss this, it was in a crowded room surrounded by people who hated Stefan. Bonnies eyes widened, and then she nodded, subsiding.Elena could not relax, though. Stefan hadnt killed Mr. Tanner, and yet the same bear witness that would lead to Damon could as easily lead to him. Andwould lead to him, because no one but she and Stefan knew of Damons existence. He was out there, somewhere, in the shadows. Waiting for his next victim. Maybe postponement for Stefan or for her.Im hot, she said abruptly. I think Ill go see what kinds of refreshmentsAlaric has provided.Stefan started to rise, but Elena waved him back down. He wouldnt have any use for potato chips and punch. And she wanted to be alone for a few minutes, to be moving instead of sitting, to calm herself.Be ing with Meredith and Bonnie had given her a false sense of security. go forth them, she was once again confronted by sidelong glances and suddenly turned backs. This time it made her angry. She moved through the crowd with deliberate insolence, holding any eye she by chance caught. Im already notorious, she thought. I might as well be brazen, too.She was hungry. In the Ramsey dining room someone had set up an assortment of finger foods that looked surprisingly good. Elena took a paper plate and dropped a few carrot sticks on it, ignoring the people around the bleached oak table. She wasnt handout to speak to them unless they spoke first. She gave her full attention to the refreshments, leaning past people to select cheese wedges and Ritz crackers, reaching in front of them to pluck grapes, ostentatiously looking up and down the full-length array to see if there was anything shed missed.Shed succeeded in riveting everyones attention, something she knew without raising her eyes. She puss delicately down on a scar stick, holding it between her teeth like a pencil, and turned from the table.Mind if I have a bite?Shock snapped her eyes wide open and froze her breath. Her mind jammed, refusing to acknowledge what was red ink on, and leaving her helpless, vulnerable, in the face of it. But though rational thought had disappeared, her senses went right on recording mercilessly dark eyes dominating her acting area of vision, a whiff of some kind of cologne in her nostrils, two long fingers tilting her chin up. Damon leaned in, and, neatly and precisely, bit off the other end of the bread stick.In that moment, their lips were only inches apart. He was leaning in for a second bite before Elenas wits revived enough to throw her backward, her hand grabbing the bit of crisp bread and tossing it away. He caught it in midair, a virtuoso display of reflex.His eyes were still on hers. Elena got in a breath at last and opened her mouth she wasnt sure what for. To scre am, probably. To warn all these people to run out into the night. Her heart was pounding like a triphammer, her vision blurred.What are you doing here? she thought. The scene around her seemed eerily bright and unnatural. It was like one of those nightmares when everything is ordinary, just like waking life, and then suddenly something grotesque happens. He was going to kill them all.Elena? Are you okay? Sue Carson was talking to her, gripping her shoulder.I think she choked on something, Damon said, releasing Elenas wrist. But shes all right now. Why dont you introduce us?He was going to kill them allElena, this is Damon, um Sue spread an apologetic hand, and Damon finished for her.Smith. He lifted a paper cup toward Elena. La vita.What are you doing here? she whispered.Hes a college student, Sue volunteered, when it became apparent that Damon wasnt going to answer.From University of Virginia, was it? William and Mary?Among other places, Damon said, still looking at Elena. He had nt glanced at Sue once. I like to travel.The world had snapped into place again around Elena, but it was a chilling world. There were people on every side, watching this exchange with fascination, guardianship her from speaking freely. But they were alsokeeping her safe. For whatever reason, Damon was playing a game, pretending to be one of them. And while the masquerade went on, he wouldnt do anything to her in front of a crowd she hoped.A game. But he was making up the rules. He was standing here in the Ramseys dining room playing with her.Hes just down for a few days, Sue was continuing helpfully. Visiting friends, did you say? Or relatives?Yes, said Damon.Youre lucky to be able to take off whenever you want, Elena said. She didnt know what was possessing her, to make her try and unmask him.Luck has very little to do with it, said Damon. Do you like dancing?Whats your major?He smiled at her. American folklore. Did you know, for instance, that a mole on the neck means youll be w ealthy? Do you mind if I check?I mind. The voice came from behind Elena. It was clear and cold and quiet. Elena had heard Stefan But do you matter? he said.The two of them faced each other under the faintly flickering xanthous light of the brass chandelier.Elena was aware of layers of her own thoughts, like a parfait. Everyones staring this must be better than the movies I didnt realize Stefan was taller Theres Bonnie and Meredith wondering whats going on Stefans angry but hes still weak, still hurting If he goes for Damon now, hell loseAnd in front of all these people. Her thoughts came to a clattering halt as everything fell into place. That was what Damon was here for, to make Stefan attack him, apparently unprovoked. No matter what happened after that, he won. If Stefan drove him away, it would just be more proof of Stefans tendency toward violence. much evidence for Stefans accusers. And if Stefan lost the fightIt would mean his life, thought Elena. Oh, Stefan, hes so much st ronger right now please dont do it. Dont play into his hands.Hewants to kill you hes just looking for a chance.She made her limbs move, though they were stiff and awkward as a marionettes. Stefan, she said, taking his cold hand in hers, lets go home.She could feel the tension in his body, like an electric current running underneath his skin. At this moment, he was completely focused on Damon, and the light in his eyes was like fire reflecting off a dagger blade. She didnt recognize him in this mood, didnt know him. He frightened her.Stefan, she said, calling to him as if she were lost in fog and couldnt find him. Stefan,please. And slowly, slowly, she felt him respond. She heard him breathe and felt his body go off alert, clicking down to some lower energy level. The deadly concentration of his mind was diverted and he looked at her, and saw her.All right, he said softly, looking into her eyes. Lets go.She kept her hands on him as they turned away, one clasping his hand, the other t ucked interior his arm. By sheer force of will, she managed not to look over her shoulder as they walked away, but the skin on her back tingled and crawled as if expecting the stab of a knife.Instead, she heard Damons low ironical voice And have you heard that kissing a red-haired girl cures fever blisters? And then Bonnies outrageous, flattered laughter.On the way out, they finally ran into their host.Leaving so soon? Alaric said. But I havent even had a chance to talk to you yet.He looked both eager and reproachful, like a dog that knows absolutely well its not going to be taken on a walk but wags anyway. Elena felt worry blossom in her stomach for him and everyone else in the house. She and Stefan were leaving them to Damon.Right now she had enough to do getting Stefan out of here before he changed his mind.Im not feeling very well, she said as she picked up her purse where it lay by the ottoman. Sorry. She increased the pressure on Stefans arm. It would take very little to get him to turn back and head for the dining room right now.Im sorry, said Alaric. Good-bye.They were on the threshold before she saw the little slip of violet paper stuck into the side pocket of her purse. She pulled it out and unfolded it almost by reflex, her mind on other things.There was writing on it, plain and bold and unfamiliar. Just three lines. She read them and felt the world rock. This was too much she couldnt deal with anything more.What is it? said Stefan.Nothing. She thrust the bit of paper back into the side pocket, pushing it down with her fingers. Its nothing, Stefan. Lets get outside.They stepped out into driving needles of rain.