The Return: Nightfall Chapter 14

Elena woke up the next morning in Stefans narrow bed. She accept this before she was aboundingy awake and hoped to heaven that she had given Aunt Judith rough reasonable excuse last night. Last night the precise invention was extremely fuzzy. What had she been dreaming to scram this wakening watch breakm so grotesque? She couldnt remember jeez, she couldnt remember anythingAnd thusly she remembe ruddy boththing.Sitting up with a jolt that would make sent her flying off the bed had she attempted it yesterday, she searched her recollections.Daylight. She remembered daylight, full light on her and she didnt excite her ring. She took a frantic look at both men. No ring. And she was sitting up in a eff of sunlight and it wasnt hurting her. It wasnt possible. She knew, she remembered with a raw memory that pervaded every mobile phone of her body, that daylight wouldkill her. She had learned that lesson with a single touch of a sunray to her hand. She would never for ge t along the searing, scalding pain the touch had imprinted a behavior on her forever. Go this instanthere without the lapis lazuli ring that was beautiful in itself, provided more than beautiful in the cognizeledge that it was her savior. Without it, she might, shewouldOh.Oh. that she alreadyhad , hadnt she?Shed died.Not solely Changed as she had when shed become a vampire, precisely died the true death that no one came plunk for from. In her own personal philosophy, she ought to set out disinteg lay outd into anonymous atoms, or gone straight to hell.Instead she hadnt re alin concertygone anywhere. Shed had some dreams about fatherly or motherly people giving her advice and of wanting very a secure deal to help people, who were suddenly frequently easier to netherstand. School bully? She had watched sadly as his d take the fieldken father took his own outrages out on him night by and by night. That girl who never got her homework done? She was expected to raise ter zettosome young sisters and brothers while her mother lay in bed all day. Just getting the baby fed and cleaned took all the time she had. in that location was always a reason behind any behavior, and now she could reckon it.She had scour communicated with people through their dreams. And then one of the Old Ones had arrived in Fells Church, and it was all she could do to stand his interference in the dreams and not feast away. He caused the humans to call for Stefans help and Damon had accidentally been summoned, too. And Elena had helped them all she could even when it had been almost unbearable, because Old Ones knew about love and which buttons to push and how to make your enemies run in all the right directions. and they had fought him and they had won. And Elena, in trying to be restored Stefans mortal wounds, had somehow ended up mortal again herself naked, lying on the ground of the Old Wood, with Damons jacket everywhere her, while Damon himself had disappeared wi thout h senior for thanks.And that awakening had been of basic things things of the aces touch, taste, stressing, sight and of the heedt, but not of the mentality. Stefan had been so good to her.And now, what am I? Elena state aloud, staring as she turned her hands over and over, marveling at the material, mortal flesh that obeyed the laws of gravity. Shehad state that shed give up flying for him. Someone had taken her at her pronounce.Youre beautiful, Stefan answered absently, not moving. accordingly suddenly he rocketed up.Youre talkingI know I am.And qualification sensethank you kindly.And in objurgatesIve noticed.Go on, then, and put forward something long please, Stefan said as if he didnt believe it.Youve been hanging out too much with my friends, Elena said. That sentence has sightlys impudence, planenesss courtesy, and Merediths insistence on the facts.Elena, its youInstead of keeping up the silly negotiation with Stefan, itis me Elena leave officeped to es teem. Then, care richly she got out of bed and took a step. Stefan hastily looked away, handing her a robe.Stefan? Stefan?Silence.When Stefan turned solely about after a decent interval, he see Elena kneeling in the sunlight holding the robe.Elena? She knew that to him, she looked like a very young angel in meditation.Stefan. barely youre crying.Im human again, Stefan. She lifted a hand, let it fall into the clutches of gravity. Im human again. No more, no less. I guess it dear took me a few days to get fully back on track.She looked into his eyes. They were always suchgreen green eyes. Like green lechatelierite with some offside light behind them. Like a spend leaf held up before the sun.I can read your mind. exclusively I cant read yours, Stefan. I can only get a general sense, and even that may be goingwe cant count on anything.Elena, I have all I want in this room.He patted the bed.Sit by me and I can say all I want is on this bed.Instead she got up and threw herself at hi m, arms around his neck, legs tangled with his. Im alleviate very young, she whispered, holding him tightly. And if you count it in days, we havent had many days together like this, but Im still far too old for you. But to be able to look at you and seeyou looking back at me Tell me youll love me forever.Ill love you forever.No matter what happens.Elena, Elena Ive loved you as mortal, as vampire, as pure spirit, as spiritual child and now as human again.Promise well be together.Well be together.No. Stefan, this isme . She pointed to her head as if to emphasize that behind her gold-flecked blue eyes there was a bright active mind spinning in overdrive. Iknow you. Even if I cant read your mind I can read your face. All the old fears theyre back, arent they?He looked away. I will never leave you.Not for a day? Not for an hour?He hesitated and then looked up at her.If thats what you really want. I wont leave you, even for an hour. Now he was projecting, she knew, for she could hea r him.I release you from all your promises.But, Elena, I mean them.I know. But when you do go, I dont want you to have the guilt of breaking them looming over you as well.Even without telepathy, she could tell what he was look ating to the tiniest shade of a nuanceHumor her. After all, shed only when woken up. She was probably a bittie confused. And she wasnt interested in becoming less confused, or in making him less confused. That must be why she was nipping his chin gently. And kiss him. Certainly, Elena thought, one of the two of them was confused.Time seemed to stretch and then stop around them. And then nothing was confusing at all. Elena knew that Stefan knew what she treasured, and he wanted whatever she wanted him to do. middling stared at the numbers on her phone, concerned. Stefan was calling. Then she ran a hasty hand through her hair, fluffing the curls out, and took the video call.But kind of of Stefan it was Elena. Bonnie started to giggle, started to tell her n ot to play with Stefans grown-up toys and then she stared.Elena?Am I going to get this every time? Or only from my sister-witch?Elena? heat and good as new, Stefan said, getting in the picture. We called as soon as we woke up Ele but its noon Bonnie blurted out.Weve been occupied with this and that, Elena cut in smoothly, and oh, wasnt it good to hear Elena talk that way Half innocent and all smug about it, making you want to shake her and beg her for every wicked detail.Elena,Bonnie gasped, using the nearest wall for support, and then slue down it, and allowing an armload of socks, shirts, pajamas, and underwear to shower down onto the carpet, while tears began to bring out out of her eyes. Elena, they said youd have to leave Fells Church will you?Elena bridled. They saidwhat ?That you and Stefan would have to leave for your own good.Never in this worldLittle winning lo began Stefan, and then abruptly he stopped, opening and omitting his mouth.Bonnie stared. It had happe ned at the bottom of the screen, out of sight, but she could almost swear that Stefans microscopical pleasing love had just elbowed him in the stomach. Ground zero, two oclock? Elena was asking.Bonnie snapped back to reality. Elena never gave you time for reflection. Illbe there she cried.Elena, Meredith breathed. And then Elena like a half-chocked sob. ElenaMeredith. Oh, dont make me cry, this blouse is pure silkIts pure silk because its my pure silk sari blouse, thats whyElena suddenly looked as innocent as an angel. You know, Meredith, I seem to have grown much taller lately If the end of that sentence is so it really fitsme let on Merediths voice was clayey then Im warning you, Elena Gilbert She broke off, and both girls began to laugh and then to cry. You can have it Oh, you can have itStefan? matted waved his phone offshoot cautiously, then banging it into the wall of the garage. I cant see He stopped, swallowed. E-le-na? The word came out slowly, with a pause bet ween each syllable.Yes, unconditional. Im back. Even up here. She pointed to her forehead. Will you tack with us?mat, leaning on his newly purchased, almost-running car, was muttering, Thank God, thank God, over and over.Matt? I cant see you. Are you hunky-dory? Shuffling sounds. I think he fainted.Stefans voice Matt? Shereally wants to see you.Yeah, yeah. Matt lifted his head up, blinking at the phone. Elena, ElenaIm so sorry, Matt. You dont have to come Matt laughed shortly. Are yousure youre Elena?Elena smiled the smile that had broken a g-force hearts. In that case Matt Honeycutt, I insist that you come and meet with us at Ground Zero at two oclock. Is that more like it?I think youve almost got it down. The old Elena Imperial Manner. He coughed theatrically, sniffed, and said, Sorry Ive got a little cold or allergies, maybe.Dont be silly, Matt. Youre bellow like a baby and so am I, Elena said. And so were Bonnie and Meredith, when I called them. SoIve been crying nearly all day and at this rate Ill have to scramble to get a picnic ready and be on time. Merediths planning to pick you up. Bring something to drink or eat. hump yaElena put down the phone, breathing hard.Nowthat was tough.He still loves you.Hed rather that I stayed a baby all my life?Maybe he want the way you used to say ¡®hello and good-bye.Now youre teasing me. Elena quivered her chin.Never in this world, Stefan said softly. Then, suddenly, he grabbed her hand. Come on were going shopping for a picnic and a car, too, he said, pulling her up.Elena startled both of them by flying up so quickly that Stefan had to grab her by the shank to keep her from shooting toward the ceiling.I thought you had gravitySo did I What do I do?Think heavy thoughtsWhat if it doesnt work?Well obtain you an anchorAt two oclock Stefan and Elena arrived at the Fells Church graveyard in a brand-new red Jaguar Elena was wearing aristocratic specs under a scarf with all her hair pinned up under it, a muffler around her lower face, and black lace mitts borrowed from Mrs. Flowers younger days, which she admitted she didnt know why she was wearing. She made quite a picture, Meredith said, with the violet sari top and jeans. Bonnie and Meredith had already spread a cloth for a picnic, and the ants were sampling sandwiches and grapes and low-fat pasta salad.Elena told the story of how she had woken up this morning, and then there was more hugging and kissing and crying than the young-begetting(prenominal)s could stand.You want to see the woods around here? Check if those malach things are around? Matt said to Stefan.Theyd better not be, Stefan said. If the trees this far from where you had your accident are infested Not good? grave trouble.They were about to go when Elena called them back.You can stop looking all male and superior, she added. Suppressing your emotions isbad for you. Expressing them keeps you well balanced.Listen, youre tougher than I thought, Stefan said. Having picnics at a cemetery?We used to encounter Elena here all the time, Bonnie said, pointing to a nearby headstone with a celery stick.Its my parents gravesite, Elena explained simply. After the accident I always felt next to them here than anywhere. I would come here when things got bad, or when I needful to have a question answered.Did you ever get any answers? Matt asked, taking a home-preserved cucumber pickle from a glass jerk and passing the jar on.Im not sure, even now, Elena said. She had taken off the dark glasses, muffler, headscarf, and mitts. But it always made me feel better. Why? Do you have a question?Well yeah, Matt said unexpectedly. Then he flushed as he suddenly found himself the center of attention. Bonnie rolled over to stare at him, the stalk of celery at her lips, Meredith scooted in, Elena sit down up. Stefan, who had been leaning against an elaborate headstone with unconscious vampire grace, sat down.What is it, Matt?I was going to say, you dont look ri ght today, Bonnie said anxiously.Thankyou , Matt snapped.Tears pooled in Bonnies brown eyes. I didnt mean But she didnt get to finish. Meredith and Elena drew in protectively around her in the solid phalanx of what they called velociraptor sisterhood. It meant that anybody messing with one of them was messing with them all.Sarcasm instead of chivalry? Thats hardly the Matt I know. Meredith talk with one eyebrow raised.She was only trying to be sympathetic, Elena pointed out quietly. And that was a cheap comeback.Okay, okay Im sorry reallysorry, Bonnie he turned toward her, looking ashamed It was a nasty thing to say and I know you were only trying to be nice. I just I dont really know what Im doing or saying. Anyway, do you want to hear the thing, he finished, looking defensive, or not?Everyone did.Okay, here it is. I went to go through Jim Bryce this morning you remember him?Sure. I went out with him. Captain of the basketball game team. pure guy. A little bit young, but Meredith shrugged.Jims okay. Matt swallowed. Well, its just I dont want to gossip or anything, but Gossip the three girls commanded him in unison, like a Greek chorus.Matt quailed. Okay, okay Well I was supposed to be over there at ten oclock, but I got there a little early, and well, Caroline was there. She was leaving.There were three little shocked gasps and a sharp look from Stefan.You mean you think she spent the night with him?Stefan Bonnie began. This isnt how proper gossip goes. You never just outright say what you think No, Elena said evenly. Let Matt answer. I can remember enough from before I could talk to be worried about Caroline.More than worried, Stefan said.Meredith nodded. Its not gossip its necessary information, she said.Okay, then. Matt gulped. Well, yeah, that was what I thought. He said shed come early to see his little sister, but Tamra is only about fifteen. And he turned bright red when he said it.There were sober glances between the others.Carolines a lways beenwell, seedy began Bonnie.But Ive never heard that she even gave Jim a second glance, finished Meredith.They looked to Elena for an answer. Elena slowly shook her head. I certainly cant see any earthborn reason for her visiting Tamra. And besides she looked up quickly at Matt youre holding out on us somehow. What else happened?Somethingmore happened? Did Caroline flash her lingerie? Bonnie was laughing until she saw Matts red face. Hey cmon, Matt. This isus . You can tell us anything.Matt drew in a deep breath and shut his eyes.Okay, well as she was going out, I think I think Carolinepropositioned me.She didwhat ?She wouldnever How, Matt? Elena asked.Well Jim thought shed left, and he went to the garage to get his basketball, and I turned around and suddenly Caroline was back again, and she said well, it doesnt matter what she said. But it was about her liking football better than basketball and did I want to be a sport.And what did you say? Bonnie breathed, fasci nated.I didnt say anything. I just stared at her.And then Jim came back? Meredith suggested.No And then Caroline left she gave me this look, you know, that made things pretty clear as to what she meant and thenTami came in. Matts honest face was flaming by now. And then I dont know how to say it. Maybe Caroline said something about me to make her do it to me, because she sheMatt. Stefan had scarcely spoken until this point now he leaned forward and spoke quietly. Were not asking just because we want to gossip. Were trying to find out if theres something seriously wrong happening in Fells Church. So please just tell us what happened.