The Return: Midnight Chapter 24

Stefan woke early. He spent the time from dawn until breakfast just watching Elena, who even in sleep had an inside glow ilk a golden flame through with(predicate) a faintly rose-colored candle.At breakfast, e rattling integrity was more or less Stillwrapped up in thoughts of the day before. Meredith showed Matt the picture of her brother, Cristian, the lamia. Matt briefly told Meredith active the inner workings of the Ridgemont court system and painted her a picture of Caroline as werewolf. It was clear that some(prenominal) of them felt safer at the boardinghouse than eitherwhere else.And Elena, who had woken up with Stefans mind al around her, embracing her, and her own mind Stillful of light, was completely at a loss for a Plan A or all other letter. She had to be told gently by the others that only one thing make sense.Stefan,Matt state, draining a mug of Mrs. Flowerss pitch-black coffee. Hes the only one who exponent be able to use his mind instead of Post-it Notes on the kids.And, Stefan,said Meredith. Hes the only one Shinichi index be afraid of.Im no use at all,Elena said sadly. She had no appetite. She had gotten dressed with a feeling of love and benevolence toward al humankind and a desire to help protect her home town, further as everyone pointed out, she was probably exit to have to spend the day in the champt cel ar. Reporters might come to cal .Theyre right, Stefan sent to Elena. Im the only logical person to find out whats really going on in Fells Church.He actual y went eyepatch the rest of them were finishing breakfast. Only Elena knew why only she could feel him at the limits of her telepathic range.Stefan was hunting. He drove into the New Wood, got out, and final y sorcerertle a rabbit out of the brush. He Influenced it to rest and non be frightened. Surreptitiously, in this thin woodland without cover, he took a teensy-weensy blood from itand choked.It tasted like some kind of hideous liquid flavored with rodent.Was a r abbit a rodent? He had been lucky enough to find a rat one day in his prison cel and it had tasted vaguely like this.But now, for days, he had been drinking human blood. Not just that, and the rich, potent blood of strong, adventurous, and in several cases paranormal y talented individuals the crme de la crme. How could he have gotten used to it so quickly?It shamed him now, to think of what hed taken. Elenas blood, of course, was enough to drive any vampire wild. And Meredith, whose blood had the deep crimson taste of some primordial ocean, and Bonnie, who tasted like a telepaths dessert. And final y Matt, the Al -American red-blooded boy.Theyd provide him and fed him by the hour, far past what he needed to survive. Theyd fed him until hed begun to heal, and seeing that he was healing, theyd fed him more. And it had gone on and on, ending with Elena last night Elena, whose hair was taking on a silvery cast and whose blue eyes seemed almost radiant. Back in the Dark Dimension, Damon hadnt exercised any restraint at all. Elena hadnt exercised any on her own behalf.That silvery castStefans stomach clenched when he thought about it, about the last time hed seen her hair that mode. Shed been dead then. On her feet, precisely dead just the same.Stefan let the rabbit scamper out-of-door. He was taking another oath. He must not make Elena into a vampire again. That meant no significant blood exchange between the deuce of them for at least a week either giving or taking might tip her over the edge.He must once again adjust to the taste of animal blood.Stefan shut his eyes briefly, remembering the horror of the first time. The cramps. The shakes. The twinge that seemed to tel his entire bole that it wasnt getting fed. The feeling that his veins might explode into flame at any moment, and the pain in his jaws.He stood up. He was lucky to be alive. Luckier than he ever could have dreamed he would be in having Elena beside him. He would work through the readjus tment without some(prenominal)ering her by tel ing her, he decided.Just two hours later Stefan was back at the boardinghouse, limping slightly. Matt, who met him at the heavy expect verge, detect the limp. You okay? Youd better get in and ice it.Just a cramp,Stefan said briefly. Im not used to exercise.Didnt get any back in that respect in you know.He scented a flair, flushing. So did Matt, hot and cold and furious at the people who had enjoin Stefan in this condition. Vampires were fairly resilient, but he had the feeling no, he knew that Stefan had almost died in his prison cel . One day under lock and severalize had convinced Matt that he never wanted to be imprisoned again.He fol owed Stefan to the kitchen where Elena, Meredith, and Mrs. Flowers were what else? drinking mugs of tea.And Matt felt a twinge when Elena instantly noticed the limp and got up and went to Stefan, and Stefan held her tightly, running reassuring fingers through her hair. Matt couldnt help bu t wonder, though was that glorious golden hair turning lighter? much like the silvery gold it had been when Elena had first gone with Stefan and was on her way to turning into a vampire? Stefan certainly seemed to be inspecting it closely, turning each fistful as he raked his fingers through it.Any luck?Elena asked him, tension in her voice.Wearily, Stefan shook his head. I went up streets and complicate streets and wherever I found a a young lady friend who was contorted, or whirling round and round, or doing any other of the things the papers mentioned, I tried to Influence them.Well, maybe I shouldnt have bo thered with the whirling girls. I couldnt catch their eyes. But the final count is zero for eleven.Elena turned toward Meredith in agitation. What do we do?Mrs. Flowers busily began rummaging through bundles of herbs that hung above her stove. You need a nice cup of tea.And a rest,Meredith said, patting him lightly on the hand.Can I get you anything?Well Ive got a new vagary scrying. But I need Misaos brilliance bal to see if it wil work. Dont worry,he added, I wont use any of the Power in it I just need to look at the surface.Il bring it,Elena offered, getting up promptly from where she was sitting on his lap. Matt started slightly and looked at Mrs. Flowers as Elena went to the door of the root cel ar and pushed. null moved and Mrs. Flowers simply watched benignly. It was Stefan who rose to help her, Stilllimping. wherefore Matt and Meredith got up, Meredith asking, Mrs.Flowers, are you sure we should keep the star bal in that same safe?Ma ma says were doing the right thing,Mrs. Flowers answered serenely.After that things happened very fast.As if theyd re assuresed it, Meredith pressed the exact place to open the root cel ar door. Elena fel to her hands and knees.Faster than even he had imagined he could go, Matt went barreling toward Stefan with one shoulder down. Mrs.Flowers was frantical y pul ing great swaths of dried herbs down from w here they hung above the kitchen table.And then Matt was hitting Stefan with al the power in his body and Stefan was stumbling over Elena, his head going down and down and meeting no resistance on the way.Meredith was coming at him sideways and helping him do a complete forward flip in the air. As in brief as the flip took him out of the doorway and he was cartwheeling down the stairs, Elena got up and shut the door and Meredith leaned against it, as Matt shouted, How do you keep in a kitsune?These might help,gasped Mrs. Flowers, stuffing odiferous herbs into the crack under the door.And ironcried Elena, and she and Meredith and Matt al ran to the den where there was an enormous, tripartite iron fire screen. Somehow they bundled it back to the kitchen and set it upright against the root cel ar door. Just then the first crash came from the inside against it, but the iron was heavy and the second crash against the door was weaker.What are you doing? Have you al gone crazy?Stefan sh outed plaintively, but as the entire assembly began to cover the door in Post-it Note amulets, he cursed instead and became pure Shinichi. Youll be sorry, damn you Misaos not right. She cries and cries. Youll make it up to her with your blood, but not before I introduce you to some special friends of mine. The kind who know how to cause real painElena lifted her head, as if hearing something. Matt watched her frown. Then she cal ed to Shinichi, Dont even try to probe for Damon. Hes gone. And if you try to track him Il fry your brains.Sul en silence greeted her from the root cel ar.My goodness gracious, what next?murmured Mrs. Flowers.Elena simply nodded for the others to fol ow her, and they went al the way to the very top of the house Stefans room and spoke in whispers.How did you know?Did you use telepathy?I didnt know at first,Matt admitted, but Elena was playing as if the star bal was in the root cel ar. Stefan knows its not there. I guess,he added with a guilty start, that I invited him in.I knew as soon as he started groping my hair,Elena said with a shudder. Stefan and D I mean, Stefan knows I only like it touched lightly, and at the ends. Not mauled like that.Remember al Shinichis little songs about golden hair? Hes a nutcase. Anyway, I could tel from the feel of his mind.Matt felt ashamed. Al his wondering about Elena maybe changing into a vampireand this was the answer, he thought.I noticed his lapis ring,Meredith said. I saw him with it on his right hand as he went out earlier. When he came back he had it on his left hand. in that location was a brief pause as they al stared at her. She shrugged. It was part of my training, noticing little things. high-priced point,Matt said at last. Good point. He wouldnt be able to change it in sunlight.How did you know, Mrs. Flowers?Elena asked. Or was it just the way we were behaving?Goodness, no, youre al very good little actors. But as soon as he stepped over the threshold Ma ma fairly shrieked at me What are you doing, letting a kitsune into your house?So then I knew what we were in for.We beat himElena said, beaming. We actual y caught Shinichi off hold up I can hardly believe it.Believe it,Meredith said with a wry smile. He was off guard for a moment. Hel be thinking up revenge right now.Something else was worrying Matt. He turned to Elena. I thought that you said that both you and Shinichi had cites that could take you anywhere, anytime. So why couldnt he have just said, Take me inside the boardinghouse where the star bal is?Those were different keys from the Twin Fox key,Elena said, her brows drawn together. Theyre, like, the superscript Keys and Shinichi and Misao Stillhave them both. I dont know why he didnt use his. Although it would have given him away the moment he was inside.Not if he went inside the root cel ar, and stayed there the whole time,Meredith said. And maybe a Master Key can override the not invited insiderule.Mrs. Flowers said, But Ma ma Stillwould have tol d me. Also there are no keyholes in the root cel ar. at all.No keyholeswouldnt matter, I dont think,Elena answered.I think he just wanted to show how clever he was, and how he could fool us into giving him Misaos star bal .Before anyone else could say a word, Meredith held out her palm, with a shining key on it. The key was golden with diamonds inset and had a very familiar outline.Thats one of the Master Keyscried Elena. Its what we thought the Twin Fox key would look likeIt sort of came out of his jeans pocket when he did that flip,Meredith said innocently.When you were flipping him over me, you mean,said Elena.I suppose you picked his pocket too.So, right now, Shinichi doesnt have a key to escape withMatt said excitedly.No key to make keyholes,Elena agreed, dimpling.He can have fun changing into a mole and burrowing out of the root cel ar,Meredith said cool y. Thats if hes got his transforming gear or whatever with him.She added, with a troubled change in her voice, I wonderif we should have Matt tel one other person where hes actual y unfathomable the star bal . JustWell, just in case.Matt saw knitted brows al around him. But suddenly the realization hit him that he had to tel someone that hed hidden the star bal in his closet. The group including Stefan had picked him to hide it because he had so stubbornly resisted when Shinichi was using Damons body as a puppet to torture him a calendar month ago. Matt had proved then that he would die in hideous pain rather than endanger his friends. But if Matt were to die now, Misaos star bal might be lost to the group forever. And only Matt knew how close he had come today to tumbling down the stairs along with Shinichi.Far at a lower place they al heard a shout. Hel o Is anybody home? ElenaThats my Stefan,Elena said and then, without a shred of dignity, she ran to launch herself from the foyer into his arms.He looked startled, but managed to break her fal before they both went down on the porch.Whats been goi ng on?he said, his body vibrating infinitesimal y, as with the urge to fight. The whole house smel s like kitsuneIts All right,Elena said. bed and see.She led him upstairs to his room. Weve got him in the root cel ar,she added.Stefan looked confused. Youve got who in the root cel ar?With iron against the door,Matt said triumphantly. And herbs and amulets al over it. And, anyway, Meredith got his key.His key? Youre talking about Shinichi?Stefan turned on Meredith, green eyes wide. While Ive been gone?It was mostly an accident. I sort of stuck my hand in his pocket when he was upside down and off balance. And I lucked out and got the Master Key unless this is an ordinary house key.Stefan stared at it. Its the real thing. Elena knows that.Meredith, youre incredibleYes, its the right one,Elena confirmed. I remember the shape pretty elaborate, yes?She took it from Merediths hand.What are you going to Might as well test it,Elena said with a mischievous smile.She walked to the door of the room, shut it, said, The den downstairs,inserted the winged key in the lock, and opened the door, stepping through and shutting the door behind her.Before anyone could speak, she was back, with the poker from the den held aloft in triumph.It worksStefan cried.Thats amazing,Matt said.Stefan looked almost feverish. But dont you do what it means? It means we can use this key. We can go anywhere we like without using Power. Even to the Dark DimensionBut first while hes Stillhere we ought to do something about Shinichi.Youre in no condition to do that now, dear Stefan,Mrs.Flowers said, shaking her head. Im sorry, but the truth is that we have been very, very lucky. That wicked kitsune was off guard back then. He wont be now.I Stillhave to try,Stefan said quietly. Every one of you has been tormented or had to fight whether with your fists or your minds,he added, bowing slightly to Mrs. Flowers. Ive suffered but Ive never had a chance to fight him. I have to try.Matt said, just as quietly, Il go with you.Elena added, We can al fight together. Right, Meredith?Meredith nodded slowly, taking Stefans poker from his fireplace. Yes. It may be a low blow, but together.I say its a higher blow than letting him live and go on infliction people. Anyway, wel take care of ittogether,Elena said firmly. Right nowMatt started to get up, but his motion was frozen in midair as he stared in horror. Simultaneously, with the adorn of hunting lionesses or bal et dancers the two girls closed in on Stefan, and simultaneously they swung their separate pokers Elena hitting him in the head and Meredith hitting him squarely in the groin. Stefan reeled away from the blow to the head, but simply said, Owwhen Meredith hit him. Matt knocked Elena out of the way and then, turning as precisely as if he were on the footbal field, got Meredith out of Stefansway too.But this imposter had obviously decided not to fight back.Stefans form melted. Misao, green leaves woven into her scarlet-tippe d black hair, stood before them. To Matts shock, her face was pinched and pale. She was obviously very il , although Stilldefiant. But there was no mockery in her voice tonight.What have you done with my star bal ? And my brother?she demanded feebly.Your brothers safely locked up,Matt said, hardly discerning what he was tel ing her. Despite al the crimes Misao had committed he couldnt help feeling sorry for her. She was clearly desperate and il .I know that. I was going to say my brother wil kil you al not as a game, but in anger.Now Misao looked wretched and frightened. Youve never seen him really angry.Youve never seen Stefan angry either,Elena said. At least not when he had al his Power.Misao just shook her head. A dried leaf floated from her hair.You dont understandI doubt we understand anything. Meredith, have we searched this girl?No, but surely she wouldnt have brought the other one Elena said crisply, Matt, take a book and read it. Il tel you when were done.Matt was relu ctant to turn his back on a kitsune, even a sick one. But when even Mrs. Flowers nodded gently he obeyed.Still, back turned or not, he could hear noises. And the noises suggested that Misao was being held tightly and searched thoroughly. At first the sounds were al negative murmurs.Huh-uhhuh-uhhuh-uhhuh- oopsThere was a rattle of metal on wood.Matt only turned when Elena said, Okay, you can look. It was in her front pocket.She added to Misao, who was looking as if she might faint, We didnt want to have to hold you and search you. But this key where in heavens name did you get keys like this, anyway?A pink spot showed on Misaos cheeks. Heaven is right.Theyre the only two left of the Master Keys and they belong to Shinichi and me. I figured out how to steal them from the Celestial Court. That wasa long time ago.At that moment they heard a car on the road Stefans Porsche. In the dead silence that fol owed, they could also see the car through Stefans window as it swung into the drive way.No one goes down,Elena said tersely. No one invites him in.Meredith shot her a keen glance. Shinichi could have tunneled out like a mole by now. And hes already been invited in.My fault for not warning you al but anyway, if it is Shinichi and hes done anything to hurt Stefan hes going to see me when Im angry. The words Wings of remainder just popped into my head and something inside me wants to say them.There was a chil in the room.No one met Stefan, but in a moment they could al hear running footsteps. Stefan appeared at his door, burst through, and found himself confronted with a row of people al looking at him suspiciously.What the hell is going on?he demanded, perfect(a) at Misao, who was being held up between Meredith and Matt. Misao Elena took two steps toward him and wound herself around him, drawing him into a deep kiss. For a moment he resisted, but then, bit by bit, his opposition col apsed despite the roomful of observers.When Elena final y let go, she just lean ed against Stefan, breathing hard. The others were al crimson with embarrassment. Stefan, flushed as he was, held her tightly.Im sorry,Elena whispered. But youve already come hometwice. First, it was Shinichi and we locked him in the root cel ar. Then it was her.She pointed, without looking, toward the cowering Misao. I didnt know how to make sure that Shinichi hadnt escaped somehow And youre sure now?Oh, yes. I recognize you. Youre unceasingly ready to let me in.Matt realized that she was shaking and quickly stood up so she could sit, for at least a minute or two, in peace.The peace lasted less than a minute.I want my star bal Misao cried. I need to put Power in it or Il go on weakening and then youl have murdered me.Go on weakening? Is the liquid evaporating out of the star bal or something?Meredith asked. Matt was thinking about what hed seen on his home block before the Ridgemont sheriffs had got him.Youve gathered Power to put in it?he asked mildly. Power from yesterday, may be?Power from ever since you took it. But it isnt joined withme. With my star bal . Its mine, but not yet.Like maybe some Power from making Cole Reece eat his guinea pig while it was alive? From making kids burn off down their own houses?Matts voice was gravel y.What does it matter?Misao retorted sul enly. Its mine.They were my ideas, not yours. You cant keep me away Meredith, keep me away from her. Ive known that kid Cole since he was born. Il always have nightmaresMisao perked up like a wilting plant getting water. Have nightmares, have nightmares,she whispered.There was a silence. Then Meredith said, careful y and expressionlessly, as if she were thinking of the stave, Youre a nasty little thing, arent you? Is that your food? Bad memories, nightmares, fear of the future?Misao was plainly stumped. She couldnt see the catch. It was like asking a regular thirsty(p) teenager How about some pizza and a Coke? Is that what you want?Misao couldnt even see that her appetites were wrong , so she couldnt lie.You were right before,Stefan said forceful y. We have your star bal . The only way to make us give it back would be to do something for us. Were supposed to be able to control you anyway because we have it Old-ways thinking. Obsolete,Misao growled.There was a dead silence. Matt felt his stomach plummet.They had been betting on old-ways thinkingal along. To get Shinichis star bal by making Misao tel them where it was.Their ultimate intention had been to control Shinichi using his star bal .You dont understand,Misao said, pitiful y and yet angrily at the same time. My brother wil help me fil my star bal again.But what we did in this town it was an order, not just for fun.Coulda fooled me,Elena murmured, but Stefans head jerked up and he said, An order? From who?Idontknow Misao screamed. Shinichi gets the orders.Then he tel s me what to do. But whoever it is should be ingenious by now. The town is almost destroyed. He ought to give me some help hereShe glared a t the group, and they stared back.Without knowing that he was going to say it, Matt said, Lets put her in the root cel ar with Shinichi. Ive got this feeling that we might al be sleeping in the storage room tonight.