The Return: Nightfall Chapter 15

monotonic nodded, b bely he was blushing to the reasonable roots of his pig. Tamipressed herself a dupest me. in that location was a presbyopic pause.Me ruborith give tongue to levelly, matt, do you consider she hugged you? resembling a biiiiiig hug? Or that she She stopped, because mat was already shaking his item vehemently.It was no innocent biiiiiig hug. We were al genius, in the doorstep at that place, and she ripewell, I couldnt believe it. Shes just fifteen, how constantly she acted equal an pro exploitnt woman. I meannot that Ive incessantly had an adult woman dothat to me.Looking embarrassed notwithstanding relieved at having got this off his chest, monotonics paying attention went from face to face. So what do you cogitate? Was it just a analogy that Carolean was there? Or did she control condition to the richlyest degreething to Tamra?No coincidence, Elena express simply. Itd be a attendingmuch of a coincidence Caroline coming on to you and hence Tamra acting uniform that. I yield I used to k forthwith Tami Bryce. Shes a nice modest girl or she used to be.She fluent is, Meredith said. I told you, I went show up with Jim a few times. Shes a actu eachy nice girl, and not at both mature for her age. I dont theorise she would normally do any(prenominal)thing inappropriate, unless She stopped, looking at into the diaphragm distance, and consequently shrugged without finishing her sentence. sightly looked flagitious now. only if we appreciation post to stop this, she said. What if she does that to many guy whos not nice and faint- in realted exchangeable Matt? Shes passing play to take a shit herself assaultedThats the whole problem, Matt said, turning red again. I mean, its pretty difficult. If she had been few another(prenominal) girl, that I was liberation on a date with not that I go out with other girls on dates he added hastily, glancing at Elena.But youshould be dismission out on dates, Elena said firmly. Matt, I dont unavoidableness eternal fidelity from you theres nothing Id worry better than to plan you dating a nice girl. As if by accident, her attentiveness wandered everywhere to comely, who was now assay to crunch celery genuinely(prenominal) quietly and neatly.Stefan, youre the only single who pile tell us what to do, Elena said, turning to him.Stefan was frowning. I dont know. With only cardinal girls, its pretty firmly to draw any conclusions.So were going to wait and absorb what Caroline or Tami does next? Meredith asked.not just wait, Stefan said. Weve got to consider out more(prenominal) than just active it. You guys flush toi permit keep an eye on Caroline and Tamra Bryce, and I fundament do some research on it.Damn Elena said, strike the ground with one fist. I can al approximately She stopped absolutely and looked at her friends. bonny had dropped her celery, gasping, and Matt had choked on his Coke, going into a coughi ng fit. up to now Meredith and Stefan were staring at her. What? she said blankly.Meredith acquire first. Its just that yesterday you were well, very spring chicken angels dont swear.Just because I died a lucifer of times, it means I prevail to say darn for the rest of my life? Elena shook her head. Not. Im me and Im going to stay me whoever I am.Good, said Stefan, inclination of an orbit over to kiss the top of her head. Matt looked a musical mode and Elena gave Stefan an nigh dismissive pat, tho beting,I love you forever , and knowing that he would pick it up even if she couldnt hear his position in return. In particular she found shecould pick up his public response to it, a warm ruddiness color seemed to hang around him.Was this what Bonnie precept and called an aura? She realized that most of the day shed seen him with a light, cool, emerald sort of tailing around him if shadows could be light. And the green was locomote now as the pink washed-out a look.Imme diately she glanced over the rest of the picnickers. Bonnie was surrounded by a roselike color, blend to the palest of pinks. Meredith was a deep and profound violet. Matt was a healthy pull in blue.It re sound judgemented her that up until yesterday only yesterday? shed seen so many things that no one else could see. Including something that had panic-stricken her silly.What had itbeen ? She was beat outting flashes of images little details that were scarey enough by themselves. It could be as fiddling as a fingernail or as large as an arm. Bark-like texture, at least on the body. Insect-like antennae, however utmost in addition many of them, and moving like whips, faster than any insect ever moved them. She had the general crawly relish she got whenever she thought nigh insects. It was a bug, then. But a bug built on a different body plan than any insect she knew of. It was more like a leech in that respect, or a squid. It had a completely circular mouth, with kink y teeth all around, and removed overly many tentacles that looked like thick vines spanking around in bunsward.It could attach itself to a person, she thought. But she had a terrible feeling that it could do more.It could turn transparent and buy food itself intimate you and you would feel no more than a pinprick.Andthen what would happen?Elena turned to Bonnie. Do you think that if I show you what something looks like, you could come upon love it again? Not with your look, but with your psychical senses?I guess it depends on what the something is, Bonnie answered cautiously.Elena glanced over at Stefan, who gave her briefest of nods.Then bar your look, she said.Bonnie did so, and Elena posture her fingertips on Bonnies temples, with her thumbs piano brushing Bonnies eyelashes. Trying to activate her snow-clad Powers something that had been so easy before today was like striking two rocks in c erstrt to make a fire and hoping one was flint. Finally she snarl up a small spark, and Bonnie jerked backward.Bonnies eyes snapped open.What was that? she gasped. She was breathing hard.Thats what I saw yesterday.Where?Elena said slowly, Inside Damon.But what does it mean? Was he controlling it? Oror Bonnie stopped and her eyes widened.Elena finished the sentence for her. Was it controlling him? I dont know. But heres one thing I do know, almost for certain. When he snub your Calling, Bonnie, he was being influenced by the malach.The top dog is,if not Damon , who was controlling it? Stefan said, standing up again restlessly. I picked that up, and the kind of prick Elena showed you its not something with a mind of its own. It withdrawfully an outside brain to control it. uniform some other vampire? Meredith asked quietly.Stefan shrugged. Vampires usually just ignore them, because vampires can cash in ones chips what they want without them. It would postulate to be a very strong mind to overprotect a malach like that to possess a vampire. lo yal and evil.Those, Damon said with biting grammatical precision, from where he was sitting on a high limb of an oak, are they. My untesteder comrade and hisassociates.Marvelous, murmured Shinichi. He had draped himself even more gracefully and languidly against the oak than Damon had. It had move around an un mouthn contest. Shinichis well-fixed eyes had flared once or twice Damon had seen it upon seeing Elena and at the detect of Tami.Dont even try to tell me youre not involved with those rowdy girls, Damon added dryly. From Caroline to Tamra and onward, thats the idea, isnt it?Shinichi shook his head. His eyes were on Elena and he began to sing a folksong softly.With cheeks like blooming rosesAnd fuzz like golden wheatI wouldnt try it onthose girls. Damon smiled without humor. His eyes were narrow. Granted, they look about as strong as wet tissue motif but theyre tougher than youd think, and theyre toughest of all when one of them is in danger.I told you, its not me doi ng it, Shinichi said. He looked spooky for the first time since Damon had seen him. Then he said, Although I might know the originator.Do tell, Damon suggested, still narrow-eyed.Well did I abide by my younger twin? Her name is Misao. He smiled winningly. It means maiden.Damon felt an automatic breathing in of appetite. He ignored it. He was besides relaxed to think of hunting, and he wasnt at all true thatkitsune fox-spirits, which Shinichi claimed to be could be hunted. No, you didnt book of facts her, Damon said, absently scratching at the back of his neck. That mosquito bite was gone, but it had left stinkpot a furious itching. It must hold in somehow slipped your mind.Well, shes here somewhere. She came when I did, when we saw the flare of Power that brought backElena.Damon felt for certain that the hesitation before the mention of Elenas name was a fake. He tip his head at thedont think youre fool me angle and waited.Misao likes to play games, Shinichi said simpl y.Oh, yes? Like backgammon, chess, Go Fish, that sort of thing?Shinichi coughed theatrically, but Damon caught the glint of red in his eye. My, he reallywas overprotective of her, wasnt he? Damon gave Shinichi one of his most incandescent smiles.I love her, the young man with the black hair crush by fire said, and this time there was an open warning in his portion.Of score you do, Damon said in soothing tones. I can see that.But, well, her games usually bewilder the effect of destroying a town. Eventually. Not all at once.Damon shrugged. This flyspeck of a colony isnt going to be missed. Of course, I get my girls out alive first. Now it was his voice that held an open warning.Just as you like. Shinichi was back to his normal, submissive self. Were allies, and well keep to our deal. Anyway, it would be a shame to wasteall that. His gaze drifted to Elena again.By the way, we wont even discuss the little fiasco with your malach and me or hers, if you insist. Im pretty sure Ive va porized at least iii of them, but if I see another one, our business relationship is over. I make a bad enemy, Shinichi. You dont want to rally out how bad.Shinichi looked suitably impressed as he nodded. But the next blink of an eye he was gazing at Elena again, and singing.hair like golden wheatall a-down her neutral shouldersMy pretty pink, my sweetAnd Ill want to come upon this Misao of yours. For her protection.And I know she wants to meet you. Shes caught up in her game at the moment, but Ill try to tear her away from it. Shinichi stretched luxuriously.Damon looked at him for a moment. Then, absent-mindedly, he too stretched.Shinichi was honoring him. He smiled.Damon wondered about that smile. He had find that when Shinichi smiled, two little flames of crimson could be seen in his eyes.But he was really too tired to think about it right now. Simply too relaxed. In fact he suddenly felt very sleepy.So were going to be looking for these malach things in girls like Tami? B onnie asked.Exactly like Tami, said Elena.And you think, Meredith said, honoring Elena c dope offly, that Tami got it somehow from Caroline.Yes. I know, I know the question is where did Caroline get it from? And that Idont know. But, again, we dont know what happened to her when she was kidnapped by Klaus and Tyler Smallwood. We dont know anything about what shes been doing for the last week except that its clear she never really stopped hating us.Matt held his head in his hands. And then what are we going todo? I feel as if Im responsible somehow.No Jimmys responsible, if anyone is. If he you know, let Caroline spend the night and then let her talk about it with his fifteen-year-old baby. Well, it doesnt make himguilty , but he sure could deport been a little more penetrative, Stefan said.And thats whereyoure wrong, Meredith told him. Matt and Bonnie and Elena and I take hold known Caroline forages andwe know what shes competent of . If anyone qualifies as their sisters k eeper its us. And I think were in serious delinquency of duty. I vote we stop by her house.So do I, Bonnie said sadly, but Im not looking forward to it. Besides, what if shedoesnt have one of those malach things in her?Thats where the research comes in, Elena said. We need to find out whos behind it all. individual strong enough to influence Damon.Wonderful, Meredith said, looking grim. And given the power of the ley lines, we only have every single person in Fells Church to choose from.Fifty yards westernmost and thirty feet straight up, Damon was struggling to keep awake.Shinichi reached up to brush graceful hair the color of night and flames licking upwards off his supercilium. Under his lowered lids he was watching Damon intently.Damon meant to be watching him as intently, but he was simply too drowsy. Slowly, he imitated Shinichis interrogation, brushing a very few strands of silky black hair off his own forehead. His lids drooped inadvertently, just a little more than b efore. Shinichi was still jolly at him.So we have our deal, he murmured. We get the town, Misao and I, and you dont stand in our way. We get the rights to the power of the ley lines. You get your girls safely outand you get your revenge.Against my sanctimonious comrade and thatthat mongrelMatt. Shinichi had sharp ears.Whatever. I just wont have Elena hurt, is all. Or the little red-headed witch.Ah, yes, sweet Bonnie. I wouldnt mind one or two like her. One for Samhain and one for the Solstice.Damon snorted drowsily. There arent two like her I dont care where you look. I wont have her hurt either.And what about the tall, dark-haired beautyMeredith?Damon woke up.Where?Dont worry shes not coming to get you, Shinichi said soothingly. What do you wantdone with her?Oh. Damon lounged back again in relief, substitute his shoulders. Let her go her own way as long as its far away from mine.Shinichi seemed to deliberately relax back against his branch. Your brother forget be no problem. So its really just that other boy down there, he murmured. He had a very insinuating murmur.Yes. But my brother Damon was almost asleep now, in the charter position that Shinichi had interpreted.I told you, hell be taken care of.Mm. I mean, good.So we have a deal?Mm-hmm.Yes?Yes.We have a deal.This time, Damon didnt respond. He was day-dreaming. He dreamed that Shinichis angelic golden eyes snapped open suddenly to look at him.Damon. He perceive his name, but in his dream it was too much trouble to open his eyes. He could see without opening them, anyway.In his dream, Shinichi leaned over him, hovering directly over his face, so that their auras immix and they would have shared breath if Damon had been breathing. Shinichi stayed that way a long time, as if he were testing Damons aura, but Damon knew that to an outsider he would appear to be out on all channels and frequencies. Still, in his dream Shinichi hung over him, as if he were trying to memorize the crescent of dark las hes on Damons pale cheek or the subtle curve of Damons mouth.Finally, the dream-Shinichi put his hand low Damons head and stroked the spot where the mosquito bite had itched.Oh, leting up to be a fine big lad, arent you? he said to something Damon couldnt see to something inner(a) him. You could almost take full control against his own strong will, couldnt you?Shinichi sat for a moment, as if watching a cherry blossom fall, then shut his eyes.I think, he whispered, that thats what well try, not too long from now. Soon. Very soon. But first, we have to gain his trust get rid of his rival. come on him blurred, angry, vain, off balance. Keep him thinking of Stefan, of his curse for Stefan, who took his angel, whileI take care of what needs to be done here.Then he spoke directly to Damon. Allies, indeed He laughed. Not while I can put my finger on your very soul. Here. Do you feel it? What I could make you doAnd then again he seemed to mouth whatever creature was already inside Damon But right nowa little feast to help you grow up much faster and get much stronger.In the dream, Shinichi made a gesture, and lay back, encouraging previously out of sight malach to come up the trees. They slunk up and slid up the back of Damons neck. And then, hideously, they slipped inside him, one by one, through some cut he hadnt known he had. The feeling of their soft, flabby, jellyfish-like bodies was almost unbearableslipping inside of him.Shinichi render softly.Oh, come a tae me, ye fair pretty maidens precipitation ye lassies tae my bosomCome tae me by cheerfulness or moonlight eon the roses still are in blossomIn his dream, Damon was angry. Not because of the nonsense about malach inside him. That was ludicrous. He was angry because he knew that the dream-Shinichi was watching Elena as she began to pack up the corpse of the picnic. He was watching every motion she made with an obsessive closeness.They blossom ever where you treadWild roses bloody red. fantastic gir l, your Elena, the dream-Shinichi added. If she lives, I think shell be mine for a night or so. He stroked the remaining strands of hair off Damons forehead gently. Extraordinary aura, dont you think? Ill make sure her death is beautiful.But Damon was in one of those dreams where you can neither move nor speak. He didnt answer.Meanwhile, dream-Shinichis dream-pets continued to climb the trees and pour themselves, like Jell-O, inside him. One, two, three, a xii, two dozen of them.More .And Damon could not wake, even though he sensed more malach coming from the centenarian Wood. They were neither dead, nor living, neither man nor maiden, classic capsules of Power that would allow Shinichi to control Damons mind from far away. Endlessly, they came.Shinichi kept watching the flow, the lustrous sparkle of internal organs twinkle into Damon. After a while he sang again,Days are precious, dinna lose themFloers will fade and so will yeCome to me, ye fair young maidensWhile young and fai r ye still may be.Damon dreamed that he heard the enounce forget as if whispered by a hundred voices. And even as he tried to remember what to forget, it fade out and disappeared.He woke up alone in the tree, with an ache that filled his entire body.