The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Six

Vickies domicil was on a corner, and they approached it from the side street. By at a time the sky was filled with heavy purple clouds. The set down had an almost underwater quality.Looks equal its going to storm, matting give tongue to. decent glanced at Damon. Neither he nor Stefan worry bright light. And she could feel the Power emanating from him, like a low thrum dear under the step up of his skin. He smiled with proscribed fronting at her and give tongue to, How ab verboten snow in June? decent clamped down on a shiver.She had looked Damons way once or twice in the barn and found him minding to the story with an wrinkle of detached indifference. Unlike Stefan, his expression hadnt changed in the slightest when she menti geniusd Elena-or when she told about Sues death. What did he re altogethery feel for Elena? Hed called up a snowstorm once and left her to freeze in it. What was he feeling now? Did he all the same c atomic number 18 about catching the receiver?T hats Vickies bedroom, utter Meredith. The bay windowpane in the pole.Stefan looked at Damon. How legion(predicate) people in the house?Two. Man and woman. The womans drunk.Poor Mrs. Bennett, apprehension just.I take up them both asleep, Stefan said.In spite of herself, honest was fascinated by the surge of Power she felt from Damon. Her psychic abilities had never been arduous enough to sense its raw essence before, exclusively now they were. Now she could feel it as all the way as she could understand the fading violet light or smell the honeysuckle outside Vickies window.Damon shrugged. Theyre asleep.Stefan tapped piano on the glass.There was no response, or at least none beautiful could see. solely Stefan and Damon looked at each other.Shes half tranced already, Damon said.Shes scared. Ill do it she acknowledges me, said Stefan. He swan his palpatetips on the window. Vickie, its Stefan Salvatore, he said. Im here to do you. Come let me in.His vowelize was quiet, nonhing that should feed been heard on the other side of the glass. besides after a moment the curtains stirred and a face appeared. fair gasped aloud.Vickies long, light brown blursbreadth was disheveled, and her skin was chalky. There were huge black rings under her look. The eyeball themselves were fixed and glassy.Her lips were rough and chapped.She looks possessed, decent whispered buttocks, unnerved.Stefan just said, Vickie, open the window.Mechanically, like a windup doll, Vickie cranked one of the side panels of the bay window open, and Stefan said, Can I come in?Vickies glazed eyes swept over the group outside. For a moment Bonnie thought she didnt recognize any of them. But because she blinked and said slowly, Meredith Bonnie Stefan? Youre lynchpin. What are you doing here?Ask me in, Vickie. Stefans interpreter was hypnotic.Stefan There was a long pause and then Come in.She stepped back as he allot a ease up on the sill and vaulted through. mat followed him, then Meredith. Bonnie, who was corroding a mini, re-mained outside with Damon. She gazeed shed worn jeans to school today, but then she hadnt known shed be going on an expedition.You shouldnt be here, Vickie said to Stefan, almost calmly. Hes coming to get me. Hell get you similarly.Meredith put an arm around her. Stefan just said, Who?Him. He comes to me in my dreams. He killed Sue. Vickies matter-of-fact tone was more(prenominal) frightening than any hysteria could father been.Vickie, weve come to help you, Meredith said gently. Every subjects going to be all right now. We wont let him hurt you, I promise.Vickie swung around to stare at her. She looked Meredith up and down as if Meredith had suddenly changed into something unbelievable. Then she began to laugh.It was awful, a ill-humored burst of mirth like a hacking cough. It went on and on until Bonnie needinessed to cover her ears. at long last Stefan said, Vickie, stop it.The laughter died into something like sobs, and when Vickie lifted her guide again, she looked less glassy eyed but more genuinely upset. Youre all going to die, Stefan, she said, shaking her head. No one can fight him and live.We need to know about him so we can fight him. We need your help, Stefan said. reveal me what he looks like.I cant see him in my dreams. Hes just a shadow without a face. Vickie whispered it, her shoulders hunching.But you motto him at Carolines house, Stefan said insistently. Vickie, listen to me, he added as the girl turned away sharply. I know youre frightened, but this is strategic, more important than you can understand. We cant fight him unless we know what were up against, and you are the only one, the only one right now who has the information we need. You have to help us.Stefans voice was unyielding. I have a way to help you remember, he said. Will you let me try?Seconds crawled by, then Vickie gave a long, bubbling sigh, her body sagging. Do whatever you ask, she said indifferently. I dont c are. It wont attain any difference.Youre a brave girl. Now look at me, Vickie. I need you to relax. Just look at me and relax. Stefans voice dropped to a lulling murmur. It went on for a few minutes, and then Vickies eyes drooped shut.Sit down. Stefan guided her to sit on the bed. He sat beside her, looking into her face.Vickie, you feel calm and relaxed now. energy you remember bequeath hurt you, he said, his voice soothing. Now, I need you to go back to Saturday night. Youre upstairs, in the master bedroom of Carolines house. Sue Carson is with you, and someone else. I need you to see-No Vickie twisted back and forrad as if trying to escape something. No I cant -Vickie, calm down. He wont hurt you. He cant see you, but you can see him. Listen to me.As Stefan spoke, Vickies whimpers quieted. But she still thrashed and writhed.You need to see him, Vickie. abet us fight him. What does he look like?He looks like the devilIt was almost a scream. Meredith sat on Vickies other side and took her hand. She looked out through the window at Bonnie, who looked back capacious eyed and shrugged slightly. Bonnie had no idea what Vickie was talking about.Tell me more, Stefan said yetly.Vickies mouth twisted. Her nostrils were flared as if she were scent something awful. When she spoke, she got out each word separately, as if they were making her sick.He wears an old raincoat. It flaps around his legs in the wind. He makes the wind blow. His hair is blond. Almost white. It stands up all over his head. His eyes are so full-bodied-electric blue. Vickie licked her lips and s moleowed, looking nauseated. Blue is the color of death.Thunder rumbled and cracked in the sky. Damon glanced up quickly, then frowned, eyes narrowed.Hes tall. And hes laughing. Hes reaching for me, laughing. But Sue screams No, no and tries to pull me away. So he analyses her instead. The windows broken, and the balcony is right there. Sues crying No, please. And then I watch him-I watch him thr ow her Vickies breath was hitching, her voice rising hysterically.Oh, please, no-Sue Sue SueVickie, balk with me. Listen. I need just one more thing. Look at him. Tell me if hes wearing a blue jewel-But Vickie was whipping her head back and forth, sobbing, more hysterical each second. No No Im following Im next Suddenly, her eyes sprang open as she came out of the trance by herself, choking and gasping. Then her head jerked around.On the wall, a picture was rattling.It was picked up by the bamboo-framed mirror, then by perfume bottles and lipsticks on the pectus below. With a sound like popcorn, earrings began bursting from an earring tree. The rattling got louder and louder. A straw hat fell off a hook. Photos were showering down from the mirror. Tapes and CDs sprayed out of a rack and onto the floor like playing cards being dealt.Meredith was on her feet and so was Matt, fists clenched.Make it stop Make it stop Vickie cried wildly.But it didnt stop. Matt and Meredith looked aro und as advanced objects joined the dance. Everything movable was shaking, jittering, swaying. It was as if the room were caught in an earthquake.Stop Stop shrieked Vickie, her hands over her ears.Directly above the house thunder exploded.Bonnie jumped violently as she saw the zigzag of lightning run into across the sky. Instinctively she grabbed for something to hang on to. As the lightning bolt flared a poster on Vickies wall tore diagonally as if slashed by a phantom knife. Bonnie choked back a scream and clutched tighter.Then, as quickly as if someone had flicked a power switch off, all the noise stopped.Vickies room was still. The fringe on the bedside lamp swayed slightly. The poster had curled up in two untypical pieces, top and bottom. Slowly, Vickie lowered her hands from her ears.Matt and Meredith looked around rather shakily.Bonnie shut her eyes and murmured something like a prayer. It wasnt until she opened them again that she realized what she had been hanging on to. It was the supple coolness of a slash jacket. It was Damons arm.He hadnt moved away from her, though. He didnt move now. He was leaning forward slightly, eyes narrowed, reflection the room intently.Look at the mirror, he said.On the glass surface of the bamboo mirror two lyric poem were scrawled in Vickies hot coral lipstick.Goodnight, Sweetheart.Oh, God, Bonnie whispered.Stefan turned from the mirror to Vickie. There was something different about him, Bonnie thought-he was holding himself relaxed but poised, like a soldier whos just gotten confirmation of a battle. It was as if hed authentic a personal challenge of some kind.He took something out of his back pocket and unfolded it, revealing sprigs of a plant with long green leaves and tiny lilac flowers.This is vervain, fresh vervain, he said quietly, his voice even and intense. I picked it outside Florence its blooming there now. He took Vickies hand and pressed the packet into it. I want you to hold on to this and keep it. P ut some in every room of the house, and hide pieces somewhere in your parents clothes if you can, so theyll have it near them. As long as you have this with you, he cant take over your mind. He can scare you, Vickie, but he cant make you do anything, like open a window or door for him. And listen, Vickie, because this is important.Vickie was shivering, her face crumpled. Stefan took both her hands and made her look at him, speaking slowly and distinctly.If Im right, Vickie, he cant get in unless you let him. So talk to your parents. Tell them its important that they dont ask any stranger inside the house. In fact, I can have Damon put that suggestion in their mind right now. He glanced at Damon, who shrugged slightly and nodded, looking as if his assist was somewhere else. Self-consciously, Bonnie removed her hand from his jacket.Vickies head was bent over the vervain.Hell get in somehow, she said softly, with terrible certainty.No. Vickie, listen to me. From now on, were going to watch your house were going to be time lag for him.It doesnt matter, Vickie said. You cant stop him. She began to laugh and cry at the same time.Were going to try, Stefan said. He looked at Meredith and Matt, who nodded. Right. From this moment on, you will never be alone. There will always be one or more of us outside watching you.Vickie just shook her bent head. Meredith gave her arm a squeeze and stood as Stefan tipped his head toward the window.When she and Matt joined him there, Stefan spoke to all of them in a low voice. I dont want to leave her unguarded, but I cant stay myself right now. Theres something I have to do, and I need one of the girls with me. On the other hand, I dont want to leave either Bonnie or Meredith alone here. He turned to Matt. Matt, will youEveryone looked at him, startled.Well, its the logical solution, isnt it? Damon seemed amused. aft(prenominal) all, what do you expect one of them to do against him anyways?They can call for me. I can monitor th eir thoughts that far, Stefan said, not giving one inch.Well, Damon said whimsically, I can call for you too, little brother, if I get into trouble. Im getting bored with this investigation of yours anyway. I king as well stay here as anywhere.Vickie needs to be protected, not abused, Stefan said.Damons smile was charming. Her? He nodded toward the girl who sat on the bed, rocking over the vervain. From disheveled hair to bare feet, Vickie was not a exquisite picture. Take my word for it, brother, I can do better than that. For just an instant Bonnie thought those dark eyes flicked sideways toward her. Youre always saying how youd like to trust me, anyway, Damon added. Heres your chance to prove it.Stefan looked as if he treasured to trust, as if he were tempted. He also looked suspicious. Damon said nothing, merely smiled in that taunting, dubious way. Practically asking to be mistrusted, Bonnie thought.The two brothers stood looking at each other firearm the silence and the t ension stretched out between them. Just then Bonnie could see the family resemblance in their faces, one serious and intense, the other bland and faintly mocking, but both inhumanly beautiful.Stefan let his breath out slowly. All right, he said quietly at last. Bonnie and Matt and Meredith were all staring at him, but he didnt seem to notice. He spoke to Damon as if they were the only two people there. You stay here, outside the house where you wont be seen. Ill come back and take over when Im finished with what Im doing.Merediths eyebrows were in her hair, but she made no comment. Neither did Matt. Bonnie tried to quell her own feelings of unease. Stefan must know what hes doing, she told herself. Anyway, hed better.Dont take too long, Damon said dismissively.And that was how they left it, with Damon blending in with the darkness in the shadow of the black walnut trees in Vickies backyard and Vickie herself in her room, rocking endlessly.In the car, Meredith said, Where next?I nee d to test a theory, said Stefan briefly.That the orca is a vampire? Matt said from the back, where he sat with Bonnie. Stefan glanced at him sharply. Yes.Thats wherefore you told Vickie not to put on anyone in, Meredith added, not to be outdone in the reasoning department. Vampires, Bonnie remembered, couldnt enter a touch where humans lived and slept unless they were invited. And thats why you asked if the man was wearing a blue stone.An amulet against daylight, Stefan said, spreading his right hand. On the third finger there was a silver ring set with lapis lazuli. Without one of these, direct exposure to the sun kills us. If the murderer is a vampire, he keeps a stone like this somewhere on him. As if by instinct, Stefan reached up to briefly touch something under his T-shirt. After a moment Bonnie realized what it must be.Elenas ring. Stefan had minded(p) it to her in the first place, and after she died hed taken it to wear on a chain around his neck. So that part of her wou ld be with him always, hed said.When Bonnie looked at Matt beside her, she saw his eyes were closed.So how can we spot if hes a vampire? Meredith asked.Theres only one way I can think of, and it isnt very pleasant. But its got to be done.Bonnies heart sank. If Stefan thought it wasnt very pleasant, she was sure she was going to find it even less so. What is it? she said unenthusiastically.I need to get a look at Sues body.There was dead silence. Even Meredith, usually so unflappable, looked appalled. Matt turned away, leaning his forehead against the window glass. Youve got to be kidding, Bonnie said.I wish I were.But-for Gods sake, Stefan. We cant. They wont let us. I mean, what are we going to say? Excuse me turn I take care this corpse for holes?Bonnie, stop it, Meredith said.I cant help it, Bonnie snapped back shakily. Its an awful idea. And besides, the police already checked her body. There wasnt a mark on it except the cuts she got in the fall.The police dont know what to look for, Stefan said. His voice was steely. Hearing it brought something home to Bonnie, something she tended to forget. Stefan was one of them. One of the hunters. Hed seen dead people before. He great power even have killed some.He drinks blood, she thought, and shuddered.Well? said Stefan. Are you still with me?Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Merediths hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window.Bonnie tried to make herself small in the backseat. Merediths hands were tight on the steering wheel. It was Matt who spoke, turning back from the window.Theres a viewing of the body from seven to ten at the funeral home, Meredith added, her voice low.Well have to wait until after the viewing, then. After they close the funeral home, when we can be alone with her, said Stefan.This is the most gruesome thing Ive ever had to do, Bonnie whispered wretchedly. The funeral chapel was dark and cold. Stefan had sprung the lock s on the outside door with a thin piece of limber metal.The viewing room was thickly carpeted, its walls covered with somber oak panels. It would have been a depressing place even with the lights on. In the dark it seemed close and suffocating and crowded with grotesque shapes. It looked as if someone might be crouching slow each of the many standing flower arrangements.I dont want to be here, Bonnie moaned.Lets just get it over with, okay? Matt said through his teeth.When he snapped the flashlight on, Bonnie looked anywhere but where it was pointing. She didnt want to see the coffin, she didnt. She stared at the flowers, at a heart made of wiretap roses. Outside, thunder grumbled like a sleeping animal.Let me get this open-here, Stefan was saying. In spite of her resolve not to, Bonnie looked.The casket was white, lined with pale pink satin. Sues blond hair shone against it like the hair of a sleeping princess in a fairy tale. But Sue didnt look as if she were sleeping. She was too pale, too still. Like a waxwork.Bonnie crept closer, her eyes fixed on Sues face.Thats why its so cold in here, she told herself staunchly. To keep the wax from melting. It helped a little.Stefan reached down to touch Sues mellow-necked pink blouse. He undid the top button.For Gods sake, Bonnie whispered, outraged.What do you think were here for? Stefan hissed back. But his fingers paused on the second button.Bonnie watched a minute and then made her decision. Get out of the way, she said, and when Stefan didnt move immediately, she gave him a shove. Meredith drew up close to her and they formed a phalanx between Sue and the boys. Their eyes met with understanding. If they had to actually remove the blouse, the guys were going out.Bonnie undid the small buttons while Meredith held the light. Sues skin felt as waxy as it looked, cool against her fingertips. Awkwardly, she folded the blouse back to reveal a weblike white slip. Then she made herself push Sues shining gold hair of f the pale neck. The hair was stiff with spray.No, said Stefan oddly. But theres something else. Look at this. Gently, he reached around Bonnie to point out a cut, pale and bloodless as the skin around it, but visible as a faint line running from collarbone to breast. Over the heart. Stefans long finger traced the air above it and Bonnie stiffened, ready to smack the hand away if he touched.What is it? asked Meredith, puzzled.A mystery, Stefan said. His voice was still odd. If I saw a mark like that on a vampire, it would mean the vampire was giving blood to a human. Thats how its done. Human teeth cant pierce our skin, so we cut ourselves if we want to share blood. But Sue wasnt a vampire.She certainly wasnt said Bonnie. She tried to fight off the image her mind wanted to show her, of Elena plication to a cut like that on Stefans chest and sucking, drinkingShe shuddered and realized her eyes were shut. Is there anything else you need to see? she said, opening them.No. Thats all.Bo nnie did up the buttons. She rearranged Sues hair. Then, while Meredith and Stefan eased the lid of the casket back down, she walked quickly out of the viewing room and to the outside door. She stood there, arms wrapped around herself.A hand touched her elbow lightly. It was Matt.Youre tougher than you look, he said.Yes, well She tried to shrug. And then suddenly she was crying, crying hard. Matt put his arms around her.I know, he said. Just that. Not Dont cry or Take it light(a) or Everythings going to be all right. Just I know. His voice was as desolate as she felt. Theyve got hair spray in her hair, she sobbed. Sue never used hair spray. Its awful. Somehow, just then, this seemed the worst thing of all.He simply held her.After a while Bonnie got her breath. She found she was holding on to Matt almost painfully tightly and loosened her arms. I got your shirt all wet, she said apologetically, sniffling.It doesnt matter. Something in his voice made her step back and look at him. He looked the way he had in the high school parking lot. So lost, so hopeless.Matt, what is it? she whispered. Please.Im not so sure. Bonnie didnt even think she wanted to. It was too scary. But she was overwhelmed by an urge to comfort him, to wipe that lost look from his eyes. Matt, I-Were finished, Stefan said from behind them.As Matt looked toward the voice the lost look seemed to intensify. Sometimes I think were all finished, Matt said, moving away from Bonnie, but he didnt explain what he meant by that. Lets go.