The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Nine

I know Im going to be sorry I asked this, Matt verbalize, twist red-rimmed eyes from their contemplation of I-95 to Stefan in the passenger seat beside him. But can you tell mewhy we want these extra-special, not-available-loc t bring away ensembley, semi-tropical weeds for Elena?Stefan looked into the abide seat at the results of their chase through hedgerows and rough grass. The plants, with their branching green stems and their sm al iodin-toothed leaves, did look more like weeds than anything else. The dried cadaver of blossoms at the ends of the shoots were almost invisible, and no cardinal could impress the shoots themselves were decorative.What if I said they could be used to make an all-natural eyewash? he offered, after a moments thought. Or an herbal tea?Why? Were you intending of say something like that?Good. Because if you did Id probably deck you.Without actually looking at Matt, Stefan smiled. There was something new stirring inside him, something he hadnt en tangle for nearly five centuries, tho with Elena. Acceptance. Warmth and friendship shared with a fellow being, who did not know the truth about him, exactly who trusted him anyway. Who was entrusting to take him on faith. He wasnt sure he deserved it, but he couldnt deny what it meant to him. It almost made him feel human again.Elena stared at her image in the mirror. It hadnt been a dream. non entirely. The wounds in her neck proved that. And now that shed seen them, she noticed the feeling of light-headedness, of lethargy.It was her own fault. Shed taken so much trouble to warn middling and Meredith not to draw any strangers into their houses. And all the while shed forgotten that she herself had invited Damon into Bonnies house. Shed d hotshot it that shadow she had set up the dumb supper in Bonnies dining room and called out into the darkness, Come in.And the invitation was slap-up forever. He could return any time he liked, unconstipated now. Especially now, while sh e was weak and might easily be hypnotized into unlocking a window again.Elena stumbled out of the bathroom, past Bonnie, and into the guest bedroom. She grabbed her tote bag and began stuffing things into it.Elena, you cant go homeI cant stay here, Elena said. She looked around for her shoes, spotted them by the bed, and started forward. and so she stopped, with a strangled sound. Lying on the dainty crumpled linen of the bed on that point was a single black feather. It was huge, horribly huge and rattling and solid, with a thick, waxy-looking shaft. It looked almost obscene resting there on the white percale sheets.Nausea swept over Elena, and she turned away. She couldnt breathe.Okay, okay, Bonnie said. If you feel that way about it, Ill yield soda pop to take you home.You have to come, too. It had middling dawned on Elena that Bonnie was no safer in this house than she was. Youand your loved ones , she remembered, and turned to grasp Bonnies arm. Youhave to, Bonnie. I mot ive you with me.And at give way she got her way. The McCulloughs thought she was hysterical, that she was overreacting, possibly that she was having a nervous break down. But finally they gave in. Mr. McCullough drove her and Bonnie to the Gilbert house, where, feeling like burglars, they unlocked the door and crept inside without open-eyed anyone up.Even here, Elena couldnt sleep. She lay beside Bonnies softly breathing form, staring toward her bedroom window, watching. Outside, the quince branches squeaked against the glass, but nothing else moved until dawn.Stefan She had never been so glad to see anyone in her life. She flung herself upon him before he could up to now shut the car door.He swayed backward with the force of her impact, and she could feel his surprise. She wasnt usually so demonstrative in public.Hey, he said, reversive the hug gently. Me, too, but dont crush the flowers.Flowers? She pulled back to look at what he was carrying then, she looked at his face. Then at Matt, who was emerging from the other side of the car. Stefans face was discolor and drawn Matts was puffy with tiredness, with bloodshot eyes.Youd better come inside, she said at last, bewildered. You both look awful.Its vervain, said Stefan, some time later. He and Elena were sitting at the kitchen table. Through the open doorway, Matt could be seen stretched out on the family room sofa, snoring gently. Hed flopped there after eating three bowls of cereal. Aunt Judith, Bonnie, and Margaret were calm down upstairs asleep, but Stefan unploughed his voice low just the same. You remember what I told you about it? he said.You said it helps keep your mind clear even when someone is using Power to influence it. Elena was proud of how steady her voice was.Right. And thats one of the things Damon might try. He can use the power of his mind even from a distance, and he can do it whether youre awake or asleep.Tears filled Elenas eyes, and she looked down to hide them, gazing at the lo ng slender stems with the dried remains of tiny lilac flowers at the very tips. Asleep? she said, afraid that this time her voice was not as steady.Yes. He could influence you to come out of the house, say, or to let him in. But the vervain should prevent that. Stefan sounded tired, but satisfied with himself.Oh, Stefan, if you only knew, Elena thought. The gift had come one night too late. In spite of all her efforts, a tear fell, dripping onto the long green leaves.Elena He sounded startled. What is it? Tell me.He was trying to look into her face, but she bowed her head, pressing it into his shoulder. He put up his arms around her, not trying to force her up again. Tell me, he repeated softly.This was the moment. If she was ever going to tell him, it should be now. Her throat felt burned and swollen, and she wanted to let all the words inside pour out.But she couldnt. No matter what, I wont let them fight over me, she thought.Its just that I was worried about you, she managed. I didnt know where youd gone, or when you were coming back.Thats all. in a flash she would have to swear Bonnie to secrecy about the genus Corvus. Why did one lie always lead to another? What should we do with the vervain? she asked, sitting back.Ill show you tonight. Once Ive extracted the oil from the seeds, you can rub it into your skin or sum it to a bath. And you can make the dried leaves into a sachet and carry it with you or put it under your pillow at night.Id better give them to Bonnie and Meredith, too. Theyll need protection.He nodded. For now He broke off a sprig and placed it in her hand. just take this to school with you. Im going back to the embarkation house to extract the oil. He paused a moment and then spoke. ElenaYes?If I thought it would do you any good, Id leave. I wouldnt expose you to Damon. But I dont trust hed follow me if I went, not any more. I think he might stay because of you.Dont eventhink about leaving, she said fiercely, looking up at him. Stefan, thats the one thing I couldnt stand. Promise you wont promise me.I wont leave you alone with him, Stefan said, which was not quite the same thing. But there was no point in pushing him further.Instead, she helped him wake up Matt, and saw them both off. Then, with a stem of dried vervain in her hand, she went upstairs to get ready for school.Bonnie yawned all the way through breakfast, and she didnt really wake up until they were outside, walking to school with a brisk breeze in their faces. It was going to be a cold-blooded day.I had a very weird dream last night, Bonnie said.Elenas heart jumped. Shed already tucked a sprig of vervain into Bonnies backpack, down at the bottom, where Bonnie wouldnt see it. But if Damon had gotten to Bonnie last nightWhat about? she said, bracing herself.About you. I saw you standing under a guide and the wind was blowing. For some reason, I was afraid of you, and I didnt want to go any closer. You looked different. Very pale but almost glo wing. And then a crow flew down from the tree, and you reached out and grabbed it in midair. You were so fast it was unbelievable. And then you looked over at me, with this expression. You were smiling, but it made me want to run. And then you twisted the crows neck, and it was dead.Elena had listened to this with growing horror. Now she said, Thats adisgusting dream.It is, isnt it? said Bonnie composedly. I wonder what it means? Crows are birds of ill omen in the legends. They can foretell a death.Yes, Bonnie said. Except for one thing. I had this dreambefore you woke us all up screaming.That day at lunchtime there was another piece of violet paper on the office publicize board. This one, though, read simplyLOOK IN PERSONALS. What personals? said Bonnie.Meredith, walking up at that moment with a copy of theWildcat Weekly , the school newspaper, provided the answer. Have you seen this? she said.It was in the personals section, completely anonymous, with neither salutation nor signa ture. Icant bear the thought of losing him. But hes so very unhappy about something, and if he wont tell me what it is, if he wont trust me that much, I dont see any hope for us.Reading it, Elena felt a burst of new energy through her tiredness. Oh, God, she hated whoever was doing this. She imagined shooting them, stabbing them, watching them fall. And then, vividly, she imagined something else. Yanking back a fistful of the thiefs hair and sinking her teething into an unprotected throat. It was a strange, unsettling vision, but for a moment it almost attended real.She became aware that Bonnie and Meredith were looking at her.Well? she said, feeling slightly uncomfortable.I could tell you werent listening, sighed Bonnie. I just said it still doesnt look like Da like the killers work to me. It doesnt seem like a murderer would be so petty.Much as I hate to agree with her, shes right, Meredith said. This smells like someone sneaky. Someone who has a scotch against you personally and who really wants to make you suffer.Saliva had collected in Elenas mouth, and she swallowed. Also somebody whos familiar with the school. They had to fill out a form for a personals centre in one of the journalism classes, she said.And somebody who knew you kept a diary, assuming they stole it on purpose. Maybe they were in one of your classes that day you took it to school. Remember? When Mr. sixpence almost caught you, Bonnie added.Ms. Halperndid catch me she even read some of it aloud, a bit about Stefan. That was right after Stefan and I got together. Wait a minute, Bonnie. That night at your house when the diary was stolen, how long were you two out of the living room?Just a few minutes. Yangtze had stopped barking, and I went to the door to let him in, and Bonnie pressed her lips together and shrugged.So the thief had to be familiar with your house, said Meredith swiftly, or he or she wouldnt have been able to get in, get the diary, and get out again before we saw them. A ll right, then, were looking for someone sneaky and cruel, probably in one of your classes, Elena, and most likely familiar with Bonnies house. Someone who has a personal grudge and will stoop to anything to get you Oh, my God.The three of them stared at one another.Were so stupid we should have seen it right away, said Meredith.For Elena, it meant the sudden realization that all the anger shed felt about this before was nothing to the anger she was capable of feeling. A candle flame to the sun.Caroline, she said, and clenched her teeth so hard her jaw appall.Caroline. Elena actually felt she could kill the green-eyed girl right now. And she might have rushed out to try if Bonnie and Meredith hadnt stopped her.After school, said Meredith firmly, when we can take her somewhere private. Just wait that long, Elena.But as they headed for the cafeteria, Elena noticed an auburn head disappearing down the art and music corridor. And she remembered something Stefan had said earlier this ye ar, about Caroline taking him into the photography room at lunchtime. For privacy, Caroline had told him.You two go on I forgot something, she said as soon as Bonnie and Meredith both had food on their cafeteria trays. Then she pretended to be deaf as she walked rapidly out and backtracked to the art wing.All the rooms were dark, but the photography rooms door was unlocked. Something made Elena turn the knob cautiously, and move quietly once she was inside, rather than marching in to start a confrontation as shed planned. Was Caroline in here? If so, what was she doing alone in the dark?The room appeared at first to be deserted. Then Elena heard the murmur of voices from a small alcove at the back, and she saw that the darkroom door was ajar.Silently, stealthily, she made her way until she stood just outside the doorway, and the murmur of sound indomitable itself into words.But how can we be sure shell be the one they pick? That was Caroline.My fathers on the school board. Theyll p ick her, all right. Andthat was Tyler Smallwood. His father was a lawyer, and on each board there was. Besides, who else would it be? he continued. The Spirit of Fells Church is supposed to be brainy as well as built.AndI dont have brains, I suppose?Did I say that? Look, if you want to be the one to parade in a white dress on Founders Day, fine. But if you want to see Stefan Salvatore run out of town on the evidence of his own girlfriends diaryBut why wait so long?Tyler sounded impatient. Because this way itll ruin the celebration, too. TheFells celebration. Why shouldthey get the course credit for founding this town? The Smallwoods were here first.Oh, who cares about who founded the town? All I want is to see Elena humiliated in front of the entireAnd Salvatore. The pure hate and malice in Tylers voice made Elenas flesh crawl. Hell be lucky if he doesnt end up hanging from a tree. Youre sure the evidence is there?How many multiplication do I have to tell you? First, it says she lost the ribbon on September second in the cemetery. Then, it says Stefan picked it up that day and kept it. Wickery Bridge is right beside the cemetery. That means Stefan was near the bridge on September second, the night the old man was attacked there. Everybody already knows he was on hand for the attacks on Vickie and Tanner. What more do you want?It would never stand up in court. Maybe I should get some corroborating evidence. Like ask old Mrs. Flowers what time he got home that night.Oh, whocares ? Most people think hes guilty already. The diary talks about some big secret hes hiding from everyone. People will get the idea.Youre keeping it in a safe place?No, Tyler, Im keeping it out on the coffee table. How stupid do you think I am?Stupid enough to send Elena notes tipping her off. There was a crackle, as of newspaper. Look at this, this is unbelievable. And its got to stop,now. What if she figures out whos doing it?Whats she going to do about it, call the police?I still want you to lay off. Just wait until Founders Day then youll get to watch the Ice Princess melt.And to say ciao to Stefan. Tyler nobodys really going to hurt him, are they?Whocares? Tyler mocked her earlier tone. You leave that to me and my friends, Caroline. You just do your part, okay?Carolines voice dropped to a throaty murmur. Convince me. After a pause Tyler chuckled.There was movement, rustling sounds, a sigh. Elena turned and slipped out of the room as quietly as she had come in.She got into the next hallway, and then she leaned against the lockers there, trying to think.It was almost too much to resume at once. Caroline, who had once been her best friend, had betrayed her and wanted to see her humiliated in front of the whole school. Tyler, whod always seemed more an annoying jerk than a real threat, was planning to get Stefan driven out of town or killed. And the worst thing was that they were using Elenas own diary to do it.Now she understood the begin of her dream last ni ght. Shed had a dream like it the day before she had discovered that Stefan was missing. In both, Stefan had looked at her with angry, accusing eyes, and then he had thrown a book at her feet and walked away.Not a book. Her diary. Which had in it evidence that could be deadly to Stefan. Three times people in Fells Church had been attacked, and three times Stefan had been on the scene. What would that look And there was no way to tell the truth. Supposing she said, Stefan isnt guilty. Its his brother Damon who hates him and who knows how much Stefan hates even the thought of hurting and killing. And who followed Stefan around and attacked people to make Stefan think maybe Stefan had done it, to drive him mad. And whos here in townsomewhere look for him in the cemetery or in the woods. But, oh, by the way, dont just search for a fine-looking guy, because he might be a crow at the moment.Incidentally, hes a vampire.She didnt even believe it herself. It sounded fuddled.A twinge from the side of her neck reminded her how serious the ludicrous story really was. She felt odd today, almost as if she were sick. It was more than just tension and lack of sleep. She felt slightly dizzy, and at times the ground seemed to be spongy, giving way under her feet and then springing back.Flu symptoms, except that she was sure they werent due to anyvirus in her bloodstream.Damons fault, again. Everything was Damons fault, except the diary. She had no one to blame for that but herself. If only she hadnt written about Stefan, if only she hadnt brought the diary to school. If only she hadnt left it in Bonnies living room. If only, if only.Right now all that mattered was that she had to get it back.