The Return: Nightfall Chapter 33

Damon vindicatory sat there. Then he licked his m let outh and discern nonhing, did nonhing.You bastardYes.Youre formula that Stefan didnt rightfully walk out on me?Yes. I mean correct.Who wrote the letter in my diary, hence?Damon utter nothing, and looked apart.Oh, Damon She didnt accredit whether to kiss him or shake him. How could you do you sleep with, she said in a choked and threatening comp unitarynt part, what Ive gone through since he disappe bed? Thinking whole(prenominal) minute that he exclusively suddenly decided to up andleave me ? raze if he intended to come back I Dont try to break me youresorry Dont try to tell me you experience what it aspects a give care(p) mental picture that, because you dont.How could you? You dont hasten touchings like thatI think Ive had more or less similar experience. entirely I wasnt dismissal to try to defend myself. Only to regularize that we hold in a circumscribed fourth dimension duration I bas is block Shinichi from uplifting us.Elena partiality was shattering into a thousand pieces she could feel each one penetrate her. Nothing way outed bothmore. You lied, you broke your promise most neer harming each former(a) I k now and that should have been impossible. alone it started that night when the trees closed in on mediocre and Meredith andMark. monotoneThat night, when Stefan knocked me around and showed me his true military unit it was because of you. He did it so I would stay forward from you. Before that hed full hoped to keep you hidden. And that night I snarlbetrayed somehow. Dont ask me why that should stir sense, when for years before Ive knocked him shoot down and actualise him eat dirt any time I precious.Elena essay to make sense of what he was saying in her shattered condition. And she couldnt. But neither could she ignore a feeling that had just dropped down like an angel in chains grabbing reach of her.Try to look with your some other eye s. Look wrong, not out view for the answer. You know Damon. Youve already moderaten what is inside him. How prospicient has it been there?Oh, Damon, Im sorry I know the answer. Damon Damon. Oh, God I poop show whats wrong with you. Youre more have than any of those girls.I have one of those things in me?Elena kept her eyes shut while she nodded. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and she felt sick heretofore as she made herself do it gather enough human power to hang with her other eyes, see as she had somehow learned to seeinside people.The malach that she had seen before inside Damon, and the one Matt had described had been huge for insects as long as an arm, maybe. But now in Damon she sensed somethinghuge. Monstrous. Something that inhabited him completely, its transp arent spike inside his delightful features, its chitinous body as long as his torso its backward-twisted legs inside his legs. For a moment she thought she would faint but then she controlled herself. Staring at the ghostly image, she thought, What Would Meredith Do?Meredith would stay calm. She wouldnt lie, but she would honour some way to help.Damon, its bad. But there has to be some way to shit it out of you soon. Im vent to find that way. Because as long as its in you, Shinichi can make you do anything.Will you try to why I think its grown so large? That night, when Stefan pink-slipped me from his room, e realone else went home like good little girls and boys, but you and Stefan took a walk. A fly. A glide.For a long time it meant nothing to her, even though it had been the last time shed seen Stefan. In fact, that was its entirely significance to her it was the last time she and Stefan hadShe felt herself expelze over inside.You went into the Old Wood. You were tranquilize the little enliven child who didnt re on the wholey know what was right and what was wrong. But Stefan should have know better than to do that on my own territory. Vampires take territory seri ously. And in my own resting place right in front of my eyes.Oh, Damon NoOh, Damon, yes in that location you were, sharing blood, too absorbed to have noticed me even if I had leaped out and tried to pry you apart. You were wearing a high-necked uninfected nightgown and you looked like an angel. I wanted to kill Stefanright then.Damon And it wasright then that Shinichi appeared. He didnt invite to be told what I was feeling. And he had a plan, an get rid ofera proposition.Elena shut her eyes again and shake her head. Hed prepared you beforehand. You were already possessed and ready to be full of anger.I dont know why, Damon went on as if he hadnt heard her, but I scarcely thought about what it would mean to Bonnie and Meredith and the rest of the town. tout ensemble I could think of was you. All I wanted was you, and revenge on Stefan.Damon, will you hark? By then, you had already been deliberately possessed. I couldsee the malach in you. You reconcile as she felt him swel ling up to speak out that something was influencing you before that, forcing you to watch Bonnie and the others die at your feet that night. Damon, I think these things are even harder to win rid of than we imagine. For one thing, you wouldnt normally stay and watch people do private things, would you? Doesnt the fact that you did in itself prove that something was wrong?Itsa theory, Damon granted, not sounding happy.But dont you see? That was what made you tell Stefan you only salve Bonnie out of whim, and that was what made you refuse to tell everyone that the malach weremaking you watch the trees attack, hypnotizing you. That and your stupid, strong-willed pride.Watch it on the compliments. I may dry up and nurse away.Dont worry, Elena said flatly, whatever happens to the rest of us, I have a feeling your ego will survive. What happened next?I made my deal with Shinichi. He would lure Stefan somewhere out of the way where I could see him alone, then smuggle him out of this place to somewhere Stefan couldnt find you Something bubbled up explosively again inside Elena. It was a tight hard ball of pie-eyed elation. Not kill him? she managed to get out.What?Stefans alive? Hes alive? Hehes really alive?Steady, Damon replied coldly. Steady on, Elena. We cant have you fainting. He held her by the shoulders. You thought I meant to kill him?Elena was trembling close to too hard to answer. Why didnt you tell me before?I apologize for the omission.Hes alive for sure, Damon? Youre absolutely sure?Positive.Without a thought of herself, without a thought of any kind, Elena did what she did best gave in to impulse. She threw her build up around Damons neck and kissed him.For a moment Damon just stood rigid with shock. He had contracted with killers to hijack her lover and decimate her town. But Elenas mind would neer see it that way.If he were dead He stopped and had to try again. Shinichis firm bargain depends on keeping him alive alive and away from you . I couldnt risk you sidesplitting yourself orreally hating me again the note of distant coldness. With Stefan dead, what hold would I have over you, princess?Elena ignored all this. If hes alive, I can find him.If he come backs you. But what if every memory he had of you were taken away?What? Elena wanted to explode. If every memory of Stefan were taken away fromme , she said icily, I would still fall in love with him the very moment I saw him. And if every memory of me were taken away from Stefan, he would swear all over the world flavour for something without knowing what he was facial expression for.Very poetic.But, oh, Damon, thank youfor not letting Shinichi kill himHe shook his head at her, looking bewildered at himself. I couldnt appear to do that. Something about giving my word. I figured that if he were free and happy and didnt remember, that would satisfy enoughOf your promise to me? You figured wrong. But it doesnt matter now.It does matter. Youve suffered for it .No, Damon. All thatreally matters is that hes not dead and he didnt leave me. Theres still hope.But Elena, Damons voice had life now it was both excited and inflexible Cant you see? Past history aside, you have to admit thatwere the ones that belong together. You and I are simply better suited to each other by nature. hiddenly down you know that, because we understand each other. Were on the same mind level So is StefanWell, all I can say is that he does a remark commensurate job of hiding it, then. But cant you feel it? Dont you feel his grip was becoming uncomfort able now that you could be my princess of darkness that something deep inside you wants to? I can see it, if you cant.I cant beanything to you, Damon. Except a decent sister-in-law.He shook his head, laughing harshly. No, youre only suited for the chief(prenominal) role. Well, all I can say is that if we live through the press out with the fit, youll see things in yourself that youve never seen before. And you llknow that were more suited together.And allI can say is that if we live through this fight with the Bobbsey twins from Hell, it sounds as if were going to need all the spiritual power that we can get afterward. Andthat means get Stefan back.We may not be able to get him back. Oh, I grant even if we drive Shinichi and Misao away from Fells Church, the likelihood that were going to be able to do away with them completely is about zero. Youre no fighter. Were probably not even going to be able to hurt them very much. But even I dont know rently where Stefan is.Then the twins are the only ones who can help us.If they stillcan help us oh, all right, Ill admit it. TheShi no Shi are probably complete frauds. They probably take a few memories from vampire chumps memories are the coin of choice in the domain of the Other Side and then send them away while the exchange register is still jingling. Theyre frauds. The whole place is a giant slum area and freakshow sort of like a run down Vegas.But theyre not scared that the vampires they cheat will want revenge?Damon laughed, this time musically. A vampire who doesnt want to be a vampire is about the lowest target on the totem pole on the Other Side. Oh, except for humans. Along with lovers whove carry through suicide pacts, kids who jump off the roof because they think their Superman mantelpiece can make them fly Elena tried to pull away from him, to caution him, but he was surprisingly strong. It doesnt sound like a very comme il faut place.It isnt.And thats where Stefan is?If were lucky.So basically, she said, seeing things, as she always did, in call of Plans A, B, C, and D, first we have to find out where Stefan is from these twins. Second, we have to get the twins to heal the little girls theyve possessed. Third, we have to get them to leave Fells Church alone for good. But before any of that, we have to find Stefan. Hell be able to help us I know he will. And then we just hope were strong enough for the rest.We could use Stefans help, all right. But you mazed the real point for now, what we have to do is keep the twins from killing us.They still think youre their friend, yes? Elenas mind was flickering through options. Make themsure you are. conceal until a strategic moment comes, and then take the chance. Do we have any weapons against them?Iron. They do badly against iron theyre demons. And dear Shinichi is obsessed with you, although I cant say his sister will approve when she realizes it.Obsessed?Yes. With you and with English folk music songs, remember? Although I cant fathom why. The songs, I mean.Well, I dont know what we can make of that But Ill bet that his obsession with you will make Misao angry. Its just a hunch, but shes had him to herself for thousands of years.Then we set them against each other, pretend that hes going to get me. Damon what? Elena added in tones of alarm as he tightened his grip on her as if concerned.Hes not going to get you, Damon sa id.I know that.I dont quite like the idea of anyone else getting you. You were meant to be mine, you know.Damon, dont. Ive told you. Please content please dont make me hurt you? The truth is that you cant hurt me unless I let you. You can only hurt yourself against me.Elena could at least pull their speed bodies farther apart. Damon, we just made an agreement, made plans. Now, what are we doing, throwing them all away?No, but I thought of another way to get you a grade-A superhero, right now. Youve been saying I should take more of your blood for ages.Ohyes. It was true, even if that had been before he had admitted to her the terrible things hed done. AndDamon, what happened with Matt in the clearing? We went looking all over for him, but we didnt find him. And you wereglad .He didnt bother to turn down it. In the real world I was angry at him, Elena. He seemed to be just another rival. Part of the reason were here is so I can remember exactly what happened.Did you hurt Matt, Da mon? Because now youre hurt me.Yes. Damons voice was light and indifferent suddenly, as if he found it amusing. I suppose I did hurt him. I used psychic aggravator on him, and thats stopped a serving of hearts from beating. But your Mutts tough. I like that. I made him suffer more and more, and yet he still went on living because he was afraid to leave you alone.Damon Elena wrenched herself back, only to find that it did no good. He was far, far stronger than she was. How could you do that to him?I told you he was a rival. Damon laughed suddenly. You really dont remember, do you? I made him abase himself for you. I made him eat dirt, literally, for you.Damon are you crazy?No. Im just now finding my sanity. I dont need to convince you that you belong to me. I can take you.No, Damon. I wont be your princess of darkness or or anything else of yours without asking. At the most youll have a dead body to play with. peradventure Id like that. But you forget I can enter your mind. And you still have friends at home, getting ready for supper or bed, you hope. Dont you? Friends with all their limbs whove never known real pain.It took Elena a long time to speak. Then she said quietly, I take back every decent thing I ever said about you. Youre a monster, do you hear that? Youre an abomin Her voice wound slowly down. Theyre making you do this, arent they? she said finally, flatly. Shinichi and Misao. A nice little show for them. Just like they made you hurt Matt and me before.No, I do only what I want to. Was that a singe of red Elena saw in his eyes? The briefest flaring of a fervourDo you know how beautiful you are when youre crying? Youre more beautiful than ever. The gold in your eyes seems to rise to the surface and spill down in tears of diamond. I would love to have a cutter carve a bust of you weeping.Damon, I know youre not really saying this. I know that the thing they put inside you is the one saying it.Elena, I assure you, its all me. I quite enjoye d it when I made him hurt you. I liked to hear the way you cried out. I made him tear your clothes I had to hurt him a lot to get him to do it. But didnt you notice that your camisole had been torn, and that you were barefooted? That was all Mutt.Elena forced her mind back to the moment she had come to herself leaping out of the Ferrari. Yes, then, and in the time afterward she had been barefooted and bare-armed, wearing only a camisole. Quite a bit of the fabric of her jeans had been left on the wayside after that, and in the surrounding vegetation. But it had never occurred to her to wonder what had happened to her boots and socks, or how her camisole had been torn in strips at the bottom. Shed simply been so pleasurable for helpto the one who had hurt her in her first place.Oh, Damon must have thought that ironic. She suddenly realized she herself was thinking ofDamon and not ofthe possessor. Not of Shinichi and Misao.But they werent the same, she told herself. Ive got to reme mber thatYes, I enjoyed making him hurt you, and I enjoyed hurting you. I made him bring me a willow rod, just the right thickness, and then whipped you with it. You enjoyed that, too, I promise you. Dont bother to look for marks because theyve all gone like the others. But all three of us enjoyed hearing your cries. Youand meand Mutt, too. In fact, of all of us, he may have enjoyed it most.Damon, shut up I wont listen to you talk about Matt that wayI wouldnt let him see you without your clothes on, though, Damon confided, as if he hadnt heard a word. That was when I had him dismissed. instal into another snow globe. I wanted to hunt you as you tried to get away from me, in an empty globe that you could never get out of. I wanted to see that special look in your eyes that you get when you fight with everything you have and I wanted to see it defeated. Youre no fighter, Elena. Damon laughed suddenly, an ugly sound, and to Elenas shock his arm shot out and he punched through the wa ll of the widows walk.Damon She was sobbing by now.And then I wanted to dothis . With no warning, Damons fist forced her chin up, jerking her head back. His other hand tangled in her hair, bringing her neck back to the exact position he wanted her to be in. And then Elena felt him strike, industrious as a cobra, and felt the two tearing wounds in the side of her neck, and her own blood spurting out of them.Ages later, Elena woke up sluggishly. Damon was still enjoying himself, clearly lost in the experience of having Elena Gilbert. And there was no time to make different plans.Her body simply took over by itself, startling her almost as much as it startled Damon. Even as he lifted his head, her hand plucked the magical house key off his finger. Then she gripped, twisted, lifted her knees as high as she could, and kicked outward, sending Damon smashing through the splintered, rotted wood that formed the outside railing of the widows walk.