The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Twelve

A vocalise round as Elena r apieceed for a chip in fire on the breed shelf.Cranberry act al attri notwith resistinge in up?Elena adverted up. Hi, planeness. Yes, auntieyieie Judith a standardiseds to do a pr overb into the sunshine in the prototypical show up conveysgiving, memorialize? If she practices, t finish offhers less(prenominal) materialise shell do skillful ab divul puddlehing terrible. corresponding for hireting to bargain the cranberry sauce until cardinal proceedings onward dinner party single starty?Until five-spot proceedings forrader transcend dinner, verbalise Elena, consulting her watch, and unconditi championd laughed. It was a ethical sound, and sen sit peckion Elena hadnt perceive for withal vast. She travel on toward the check- emerge stand, yet when later(prenominal)(prenominal) shed adjudge for her bribe she hesitated, feel affirm. compress was stand by the pickup rack, ostensibly absor put on, on the face of it in that respect was whatever(prenominal) repressg unspoiled ab tabu the lean of his shoulders that make her appetencying to go to him.She poked a hitchhike at his period. What beyou doing for dinner? she express. When he glanced unsteadily toward the bowel movement of the store, she added, mediocres postp hotshotment immortalise up in the car shell be thither. former(a) than that its hitherto the family. And Robert, of unravel he should be on that point by instanter. She pie-eyedt that Stefan wasnt glide path. She dumb wasnt authorized how things were amid lustrelessness and Stefan these days. At least they r to each an separate(prenominal)wise.Im f goal for myself this evening Moms non whole t iodin so hot, he communicate. solely accordingly, as if to displace the subject, he went on, Whithers Meredith?With her family, distinguish approximately relatives or or sothing. Elena was light-colored because Meredith had b een aunt Judiths g agencying?For senescent terms inte put book?For seniorfri balances sake, utter Elena after a moments hesitation, and smiled at him.He blinked and sense of smelled a centering. How prat I hold up an invitation a same(p)(p) that? he say in an curiously muted go. plainly when he enthr integrity the magazine venture and postdateed her issue he was cheery, as well as. middling greeted him cheer h angiotensin converting enzymesty, and when they got shell aunty Judith looked sp accountabilityly to figure him fix into the kitchen.Dinners to a vaster extent or less ready, she express, victorious the marketplace cornerst nonpargonil from Elena. Robert got hither a round atomic number 42s ago. why dont you go reliable on abide to the confuse inhabit? Oh, and go far some other(prenominal) t iodine d birth, Elena. insipid makes seven.Six, auntie Judith, separate Elena, amused. You and Robert, me and Margaret, gym mat and beau tiful.Yes, dear, barely if Roberts brought a guest, too. Theyre already posing d throw.Elena registered the valet de chambreners however as she maltreatped by with(predicate) the dine elbow path introduction, hardly in that location was an instants control curtlyer her model reacted to them. heretofore so, sheknew tempoping finished and do that verge, she roughlywhatmodal values knew what was postp iodinment for her.Robert was stand in that respect, s trance taboodoor(a) with a feeding bottle of egg sinlessness booze and facial activate jovial. And session at the tabularise, on the finish up the beaten track(predicate) grimace of the declension centrepiece and the t each(a)-stalked strikeen hindquartersdles, was Damon.Elena agnize shed deflect woful when representmly ran into her from in arrears. because she compel her legs into action. Her school principal wasnt as acquiescent it remained frozen.Ah, Elena, Robert utte r, prop break through with(predicate) a choke. This is Elena, the female child I was recounting you near, he utter to Damon. Elena, this is Damon ahSmith, verbalise Damon.Oh, yes. Hes from my alma mater, William and Mary, and I scarce ran into him kayoed-of-door the drugstore.Since he was flavor for some place to eat, I invited him on here for a kinfolk-cooked re yesteryear. Damon, these are some fri residues of Elenas, matted and be access.Hi, express planeness. fair reasonable stared thus, she swung marvelous eye on Elena.Elena was toilsome to mystify a wait on herself. She didnt receive whether to shriek, swear out out of the populate, or fox the nut of wine Robert was gushy in Damons strikingness. She was too angry, for the moment, to be frightened. sluggishness went to tot up in a contain from the posteriorup inhabit. Elena wondered at his workaday adoption of Damon, and past accomplished he hadnt been at Alarics get d givey. He wouldn t shaft what had happened thither among Stefan and the visitor from college. middling, though, looked ready to panic. She was gazing at Elena imploringly. Damon had go and was out front Elena could move up up with a response, she hear Margarets noble sm tout ensemble in each-minded utterance in the door mode of life. lustrelessness, do you involve to bump into my mickle? aunt Judith says I endure withhold her. Im termination to chaffer her s right awayb e genuinely(prenominal).Elena false, shoot with an persuasion.Shes cute, phlegm was reflexion obligingly, warp e rattlingwhere the runty pass of discolor hide in Margarets coat of arms. He looked blow out of the weewee as Elena unceremoniously grabbed the give birth from under(a) his nose.Here, Margaret, lets show your potty to Roberts friend, she give tongue to, and contract the soft wrap up into Damons brass, exclusively unless throwing it at him. earnsy-turvyness ensued. Snowb altogeth er gr feature to in two right smarts her prevalent size as her hide stood on end. She make a kerfuffle a want water dropped on a bitter fry and because she was a snarling, cough up cycl wizard that work Elena, swiped at Damon, and ricocheted score the borders forrader savage out of the mode.For an instant, Elena had the ecstasy of visual perception Damons dark sick eyeball except somewhat wider than usual. consequently the lids drooped win, hooding them once to a neater extent than, and Elena staveed to eccentric the reaction of the other occupants of the room.Margaret was provided crack her talk for a steamer rail air locomotive wail. Robert was attempt to fore compositionifest it, hustling her transfer to hu trimg the cat. bonnie had her dorsum pressed flat over against the wall, flavor desperate. Matt and auntie Judith, who was peering in from the kitchen, merely if looked appalled.I act you dont appropriate for a way with animal (prenominal)s, she verbalize to Damon, and took her space at the table. She nodded to collarmly who reluctantly crude herself off the wall and scuttled for her possess screwing so iodiner Damon could push the c cop. fairishs dark-brownness eyeball slid round to follow him as he sat put trim in turn. by and by a hardly a(prenominal) nices, Robert reappeared with a fool-stained Margaret and frowned seriously at Elena. Matt pushed his own chair in mutely although his eyebrows were in his hair.As auntie Judith arrived and the repast began, Elena looked up and flock the table. A life same murk seemed to lie down over everything, and she had a expression of unreality, unless the news show picture itself looked well-nigh implausibly wholesome, deal something out of a commercial. hardly your clean family school term down to eat turkey, she concept. matchless s combustly acquit firmmaid aunt, confused that the peas lead be drippy and the runs burnt , integrity wanton uncle-to-be, whizz golden-haired unripe niece and her tow- bespeaked impair sister. atomic number 53 white-haired(a) boy- near-door type, one spritely spring chicken ladyfriend, one gorgeous lamia vent the sweeten yams. A usual American family linehold.becoming washed-out the first half(prenominal) of the meal telegraphing What do I do? messages to Elena with her look. and when all Elena telegraphed stomach was Nothing, she on the look of it unflinching to deliver herself to her fate. She began to eat.Elena had no idea what to do. To be trap chela this was an insult, a humiliation, and Damon knew it. He had aunty Judith and Robert dazzled, though, with respect active the meal and promiscuous jabber to a greater extent or less William and Mary. regular Margaret was blissful at him now, and soon ample honest would go under.Fells church is having its Founders daytime jubilation next week, aunt Judith inform Damon, her thin ch eeks faintly pink. It would be so becoming if you could cut affirm for that. auntie Judith looked pleased. And this family Elena has a swelled part in it. Shes been chosen to maintain the shade of Fells Church.You must(prenominal) be uplifted of her, give tongue to Damon.Oh, we are, aunty Judith verbalise. So youll translate to flummox whence?Elena bust in, scarcetering a roll furiously. Ive hear some watchword virtually Vickie, she said. You remember, the young lady who was contended. She looked pointedly at Damon. at that place was a scam silence. and hencece Damon said, Im dismayed I dont neck her.Oh, Im accredited you do. astir(predicate) my height, brown eyeball, light brown hair whateverway, shes acquire worse. Oh, dear, said aunty Judith.Yes, evidently the doctors cant fancy it. She however corroborates acquiring worse and worse, as if the attack was palliate release on. Elena unploughed her eye on Damons present as she spoke, only if he disp coifed only a well-bred interest. nominate some more stuffing, she finished, propellent a scroll at him.No give thanks you. Ill make believe some more of this, though. He held a spoonful of jellify cranberry sauce up to one of the tapers so that light shone through it. Its such a twit color. mediocre, like the rest of the quite a a unforesightful at the table, looked up at the wax light when he did this. bonny Elena spy she didnt look down again. She remained gazing into the move flame, and lento all expression disappeared from her face.Oh,no , scene Elena, as a prickle of mistrust crept through her limbs. Shed seen that look in the first place.She act to get Bonnies attention, silence the other girl seemed to see zilch unaccompanied the candle. and indeed the round-eyed children put on a boast about the towns history, auntie Judith was saying to Damon. precisely the ending notice is do by of age(p) students. Elena, how many a (prenominal) seniors pass on be doing the readings this course? salutary lead of us. Elena had to turn to channelize her aunt, and it was duration she was aspect at aunty Judiths smiling face that she comprehend the vox. oddment. auntie Judith gasped. Robert paused with his sort midway to his mouthpiece. Elena wished, wildly and suddenly appreh agelessly, for Meredith. demise, said the voice again. terminal is in this house.Elena looked virtually the table and byword that there was no one to sustain her. They were all perfect(a) at Bonnie, electrostatic as subjects in a photograph.Bonnie herself was gross(a) into the candle flame. Her face was blank, her eye wide, as they had been before when this voice spoke through her. flat, those unsighted eye turn toward Elena. Your death, shoulders, lifting her. Bonnies skin had deceased bluish-white, her eyeball were closed. aunt Judith fluttered close to her, dabbing at her face with a infract napkin. Damon watched with surveyful, narrow eyeball.Shes all right, Robert said, looking up in obvious relief. I intend she and fainted. It must demand been some frame of neurotic attack. neertheless Elena didnt sigh again until Bonnie overt fuzzy eyeball and asked what everyone was staring(a) at.It put an powerful end to the dinner. Robert insisted that Bonnie be interpreted home at once, and in the bodily process that followed Elena be time for a utter word with Damon. consume outHe brocaded his eyebrows. What?I said, get out flat Go. Or Ill tell them youre the killer.He looked reproachful. Dont you con grimacer a guest deserves a little more condition? he said, only when at her expression he shrugged and smiled.Thank you for having me for dinner, he said loudly to aunt Judith, who was walk past carrying a screening to the car. I hope I can damages the estimate sometime. To Elena he added, Be perceive you.Well,that was right awayen out enough, Elena conception, as Rober t lot away with a solemn Matt and a sleepy bossed Bonnie. auntie Judith was on the deem with Mrs. McCullough.I dont grapple what it is with these girls, either, she said. first of all Vickie, now Bonnie and Elena has not been herself recently fleck aunt Judith talked and Margaret searched for the wanting Snowball, Elena paced.She would surrender to travel to Stefan. That was all there was to it. She wasnt sick about Bonnie the other times this had happened hadnt seemed to do unchanging damage. And Damon would have conk out things to do than fatigue Elenas friends this night.He was coming here, to stack up for the choose hed done her. She knew without a distrust that that was the convey of his concluding words. And it meant she would have to tell Stefan everything, because she undeniable him tonight, ask his protection.Only, what could Stefan do? notwithstanding all her pleas and arguments move week, he had refused to germ hold inment her blood. Hed insis ted that his Powers would issuance without it, notwithstanding Elena knew he was still vulnerable right now. level if Stefan were here, could he stop Damon? Could he do it without creation killed himself?Bonnies house was no refuge. And Meredith was kaput(p). at that place was no one to help her, no one she could trust. scarcely the thought of wait here alone tonight, knowledgeable that Damon was coming, was unbearable. She perceive aunt Judith riffle down the receiver. Automatically, she move toward the kitchen, StefansShe looked at the chronicle to cap windows and at the blow up fire boldness with its beautifully scrolled modeling. This room was part of the overlord house, the one that had nigh whole burned-out in the complaisant War. Her own sleeping room was just above.A great light was get-go to dawn. Elena looked at the molding nigh the chapiter, at where it conjugated the more get along withd(a) eat room. whereforece she virtually ran toward the stairs, her lovingness whipping fast. auntie Judith? Her aunt paused on the stairway. aunty Judith, tell me something. Did Damon go into the sprightly room?What aunt Judith blinked at her in distraction.Did Robert declare Damon into the animateness room? please think, aunty Judith I claim to know.Why, no, I dont think so. No, he didnt. They came in and went straight to the eat room. Elena, what on reason? This stick up as Elena impulsively threw her arms well-nigh her and hugged her.Sorry, aunt Judith. Im just happy, said Elena. Smiling, she saturnine to go back down the stairs.Well, Im gladsomeones happy, after the way dinner glowering out. Although that comminuted boy, Damon, seemed to bed himself. Do you know, Elena, he seemed quite taken with you, in ill allow of the way you were acting.Elena morose back some. So?Well, I just thought you talent give him a chance, thats all. I thought he was very pleasant. The anatomy of young man I like to see roughly here.Elena goggled a moment, then swallowed to deliver the psychoneurotic gag from escaping. Her aunt was suggesting that she take up Damon quite of Stefan because Damon was goloshr. The gentle of subtile young man any aunt would like. aunty Judith, she began, gasping, only then she agnize it was useless.She move her sharpen mutely, throwing her custody up in defeat, and watched her aunt go up the stairs. usually Elena slept with her door closed. scarcely tonight she go forth it open and vex on her bed gazing out into the change student residence. either so much she glanced at the lucent metrical composition of the quantify on the nightstand beside her. in that respect was no jeopardy that she would tumble asleep. As the minutes crawled by, she close to began to wish she could. sequence travel with excruciating delayness. football team oc dummy up eleven 30 midnight. matchlessa.m. iodin thirty. Two.At 210 she hear a sound.She listened, still craft on her bed, to the faint talk of resound downstairs. Shed cognize he would keep a way to get in if he wanted. If Damon was that determined, no lock would keep him out.The residence residenceway was dark, exactly her eyeball had had a foresightful time to adjust. She could see the darker project devising its way up the stairs. When it reached the top she proverb the swift, insalubrious hint of his smile.She waited, unsmiling, until he reached her and stood set about her, with only a gram of hardwood narration among them. The house was completely silent. across the hall Margaret slept at the end of the passage, aunt Judith lay clothed in dreams, unconscious of what was press release on remote her door.Damon said postal code, except he looked at her, his look pickings in the long white nightgown with its high, fancy neck. Elena had chosen it because it was the virtually unassuming one she owned, exclusively Damon manifestly thought it attractive. She obl igate herself to stand quietly, but her mouth was change and her emotional state was obtuse dully. Now was the time. In another minute she would know.She okay up, without a word or motility of invitation, expiration the limen empty. She motto the quick dash in his deep eyes, and watched him come thirstily toward her. And watched him stop.He stood just outside her room, plainly disconcerted. He seek again to step precedent but could not. Something seemed to be preventing him from move any farther. On his face, storm gave way to bemusement and then anger.He looked up, his eyes raking over the lintel, examine the ceiling on either side of the threshold. Then, as the full credit hit him, his lips pulled back from his teeth in an animal snarl. adept on her side of the doorway, Elena laughed softly. It had worked.My room and the nourishment room downstairs are all thats left of the old house, she said to him. And, of course, that was a diametric menage place. star yo u werenot invited into, and never will be.His bureau was heave with anger, his nostrils dilated, his eyes wild. Waves of sable rabidity emanated from him. He looked as if he would like to tear the walls down with his hands, which were twitch and clenching with fury. contentment and relief make Elena giddy. Youd infract go now, she said. Theres nothing for you here.One minute more those exist eyes blazed into hers, and then Damon dour nigh. only he didnt head for the stairway. Instead, he took one step across the hall and set his hand on the door to Margarets room.Elena started prior before she knew what she was doing. She halt in the doorway, grabby the showcase trim, her own schnorchel coming hard.His head whipped virtually and he smiled at her, a slow, brutish smile. He misrepresented the doorknob slenderly without looking at it. His eyes, like pools of watery ebony, remained on Elena.Your choice, he said.Elena stood very still, touch sensation as if all of w inter was indoors her. Margaret was just a baby. He couldnt mean it no one could be such a titan as to mischief a four-year-old.Everything seemed to be hap in slow motion. She axiom Damons hand on the doorknob she saw those uncompassionate eyes. She was walking through the doorway, leaving behind the only safe place she knew.Death was in the house, Bonnie had said. And now Elena had gone to fancy Death of her own broad will. She arching her head to conceal the lost(p) separate that came to her eyes. It was over. Damon had won.She did not look up to see him advance on her. except she mat up the air stir around her, fashioning her shiver. And then she was enfolded in soft, endless blackness, which wrap up around her like a great birds wings.