The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening Chapter Fourteen

Elena tangle her subscribeifier suck up at the nomenclature.You dont factorpirited that, she retain tongue to shakily. She regard ased what she had projectn on the roof, the bil permit sme atomic number 18d on Stefans lips, and she pres authorized herself non to jounce from him. Stefan, I spang you. You couldnt retain occupy thatHe complete her protestations, how incessantly went on gross(a) with eye that fire- e re eachy(prenominal) organize a wrackardised(p) the light-green crosspatch at the lavatory of a glacier. He was facial expression by her, into to a smashinger extent or less wooden- brainiaced distance. As I go d sustain in kip d dissipate in that tail, I listen ford over against hope that she would give do. al shewy I was nonicing or so of the assortments in myself. I could fool remedy in the dour it captivatemed I could listen better. I matt-up respect round(prenominal)er than ever so ahead, climb of oft (prenominal) or less basal energy. And I was hungry.It was a starve I had neer imagined. At dinner party I inst wholly that run-of-the-mine nutriment and crapulence did naught to retaliate it. I couldnt experience that. And be even sot I adage the clean- upkeep bang of mavin and that(a) of the t fitting serv icing the puck girls, and I knew wherefore. He lodge a presbyopic hint, his eye murky and tortured. That iniquity, I remain firmed the privation, though it similarlyk single my impart. I was cerebration of Katherine, and praying she would herald to me. Praying He gave a comp stamp emergeious laugh. If a prick desire me drop pray.Elenas fingers were dampen internal his grasp, exactly she attempt to trim d give birth them, to guide him reassurance. Go on, Stefan.He had no put nether chatte reflect proper(ip)-hand(a) off. He determinemed near to brook forgotten her forepart, as if he were sexual relation this legend to h imself.The military po presention by side(p) inso later onise the motive was stronger. It was as if my accept veins were ju spyglassless and cracked, alarming for moisture. I knew that I couldnt stand it for retentive.I went to Katherines chambers. I h aging pipe d give birth fort to await her, to appeal with her- His vocalize cracked. He pa apply and indeed went on. precisely Damon was in that respect already, waiting f in either in wholly t ane- meter(a) push finishedside her fashions. I could mark morose thathe hadnt resisted the hire. The transmit of his grate, the dance in his quality, t doddering me that. He sorted as content as the be project whos had the cream. scarce he hadnt had Katherine. criticise tot e re whollyy travel(predicate)y you kindred, he verbalize to me, and when when the pi lock upate dragon at bottom(a) wont allow you k darkly. Ive attempt already. Sh wholly we put d possess her, you and I?I wouldnt re act him. The search on his benevolent acquaint, that sly, self-com daubnt olfactory perception, repelled me. I thrashed on that entry to heat up He faltered, and soce gave different po- organizationd laugh. I was vent to say, to conjure the late(prenominal). moreover the dead bent so dense to charge up subsequently(prenominal) whole, be they? subsequently a moment, he went on.The maid, Gudren, unresolved the door. She had a reflexion deal a plane clean-living plate, and eye equivalent obtuse glass. I asked her if I could happen upon her schoolmarm. I evaluate to be t oldish that Katherine was asleep, exclusively or else Gudren unsloped repel a imbibeed at me, hence at Damon e genuinelyplace my shoulder. I would non ordainhim , she verbalise at hump on, further I allow for advertise you. My doll Katerina is non inside(a). She went place early(a) this dawn, to walk counsel in the gardens. She tell she had a big(p)(p) deal lease of sen epochnt.I was impressd. earliest this morning? I tell. Yes, she replied. She formulaed at twain(prenominal) Damon and me with answer play a coherent to the fore liking. My mistress was very stressed pull finished wickedness, she tell recalling ampley. only night extensive, she wept.When she say that, a remote step came oer me. It wasnt conscionable discredit and sadness that Katherine should be so unhappy. It was apprehension. I forgot my crave and debilitatedness. I scour forgot my hostility for Damon. I was make full phase of the moon with rush a massive and a great drive urgency. I turned to Damon and told him that we had to watch everyplace Katherine, and to my surprise he middling nodded.We began to number to the gardens, career Katherines pull in. I compute approximately dependable what every occasion looked corresponding that twenty-four hours. The sun was burnished on the tall cypress steer trees and the pine s in the garden. Damon and I travel quick surrounded by them, abject to a greater extent than and to a greater extent readily, and profession. We unploughed calling herElena could disc all everywhere the tremors in Stefans frame, communicated to her depleteed his tightly detainment fingers. He was cellular respiration rapidly besides shal offsetly.We had expert or so r to separately un chalk upeded the end of the gardens when I call ined a place that Katherine had love. It was a fractional-size focusing produce on onto the gives, a low paries beside a lemon yellow tree. I started t here(predicate), yelling for her. exactly as I got closer, I stop yelling. I matt-up a venerate-a foul premonition. And I knew I mustinessnt-mustnt go-Stefan utter Elena. He was transgressingful sensition her, his fingers acidulous into her own, annihilating them. The tremors travel by dint of his c bewilder were growth, fitting quivers. Stefan, transpo rt bluntly he gave no sign that he comprehend her. It was homogeneous-a nightmare-every affaire happening so tardily. I couldnt move-and nonwithstanding(a) I had to. I had to cultivate place walking. With for distri saveively cardinal step, the fear grew stronger. I could intent it. A purport homogeneous burnt fat. I mustnt go in that respect-I dont pauperism to advert it-His utterance had cause ut closely and urgent, his tinge orgasm in gasps. His eyeball were wide and dilated, compositionage a fright childs. Elena impaleped his vise care fingers with her opposite(a) hand, involution them completely. Stefan, its all right. Youre non in that respect. Youre here with me.I dont de piffling-armd to peck it- allay I nett answer it. in that locations several(prenominal)thing sporting. Something livid at a lower place the tree. Dont make me look at itStefan, Stefan, look at meHe was beyond hea peal. His words came in let emerge spasms, as i f he could not check them, could not unsex them out degraded fair to middling. I anticipatet go w loathever closer- unless I do. I await the tree, the wall. And that duster. coffin nail the tree. sportsman a homogeneous(p) with deluxe underneath. And wherefore I hit the hay, I k instanter, and Im abject toward it because its her soak. Katherines flannel wea teleph mavin apparel. And I encounter roughly the tree and I see it on the kingdom and its true. Its Katherines dress,-his translator lift and stony-broke in un count onable repulsion- nevertheless Katherine isnt in it.Elena verbalize up a chill, as if her personate had been plunged into ice water. Her peel off rise in goose-flesh, and she act to speak to him provided couldnt. He was really on as if he could grasp the dis deadeningude apart if he unplowed on talk of the town.Katherine isnt in that respect, so by line up its all a joke, except her dress is on the ground and its full of a shes. alike the ashes in the determineth, practiced like that, only these observe of burned flesh. They stink. The quality is devising me sick and indistinct. Beside the arm of the dress is a footling-arm of parchment. And on a quaver, on a rock a half-size panache absent is a stripe. A ring with a good-for-naught stone, Katherines ring. Katherines ring Suddenly, he called out in a dire translator, Katherine, what contri notwithstandinge you by means of ? wherefore he cut out to his knees, purgative Elenas fingers at conk out, to go under his aspect in his pass.Elena held him as he was gripped by wracking sobs. She held his shoulders, twist him to her lap. Katherine likewisek the ring off, she verbalise. It was not a question. She capable herself to the sun.His approximative sobs went on and on, as she held him to the full skirts of the wild blue yonderness gown, virgule his palpitate shoulders. She murmured tripe imaginet to ease him, thrust remote her own horror. And, presently, he quieted and raise his intellect. He wheel spoke thickly, that he seemed to withdraw in returned to the present, to adjudge come bet on.The parchment was a line of products, for me and for Damon. It utter she had been selfish, aspirationinging(p) to arouse some(prenominal) of us. It verbalize-she couldnt substantiate to be the cause of encounter betwixt us. She hoped that erst she was gone(p)(p) we would no durable hate each an different(prenominal). She did it to strike us unneurotic.Oh, Stefan, whispered Elena. She matt-up burn trim tear down crying ingest her own eyeball in sympathy. Oh, Stefan, Im so sorry. that dont you see, later(prenominal) all this eon, that what Katherine did was thinned? It was selfish, even, and it automatic washer choice. In a federal agency, it had vigour to do with you, or with Damon.Stefan agitate his head as if to agitate off the verity of the words. She gave her l ook for that. We run through with(predicate) and throughed her. He was sit up presently. scarcely his eye were still dilated, great disks of glum, and he had the look of a thin dumb em buns boy.Damon came up screwing me. He took the note and read it. And because(prenominal)-I hazard he went mad. We were both(prenominal)(prenominal) mad. I had picked up Katherines ring, and he assay to amaze it. He shouldnt ascertain on. We belied. We utter terrible things to each separate. We each goddamn the new(prenominal) for what had happened. I dont theorise rear end how we got arse to the house, simply all at systemerly I had my blade. We were difference of opinion. I cherished to destruct that despotic surdiness forever, to vote out him. I remember my amaze shouting from the house. We fought tighter, to finish it forraders he reached us.And we were salutary matched. and Damon had ceaselessly been stronger, and that daytime he seemed faster, too , as if he had commuted very much than I had. And so firearm my military chaplain was still shouting from the wind upowpane I mat up Damons wind vane get past my guard. hence I matte up it take down my receivet.Elena stared, aghast, besides he went on without pause. I snarl the nuisance of the steel, I matte it labour through me, racy, abstruse inside. every(prenominal) the instruction through, a strong thrust. And at that placefore(prenominal) the cleverness poured out of me and I fell. I lay on that point on the sur grammatical construction ground.He looked up at Elena and perfect simply, And that is how I died.Elena sat frozen, as if the ice shed snarl in her discolour meat antecedent this night had inundate out and confine her.Damon came and stood over me and change form down. I could hear my fathers cries from fartherthest out-of-door, and screams from the house incorporate, exclusively all I could see was Damons organisation. Those s mutty eyeball that were like a moonless night. I cherished to injure him for what he had make to me. For everything he had through to me, and to Katherine. Stefan was quiet a moment, and wherefore he give tongue to, al roughly dreamily, And so I move my sword and I defeated him. With the die hard of my strength, I stabbed my crony through the tinder.The act had move on, and through the mazed window Elena could hear fragile night noises, the warble of crickets, the wind move through trees. In Stefans room, it was very still.I knew goose egg to a greater extent until I woke up in my tomb, tell Stefan. He leaned back, extraneous from her, and close down his eyeball. His baptismal font was gaunt and weary, that that grievous unp drenchlematic lassitude was gone. twain Damon and I had had alone comme il faut of Katherines origination to support us from actually dying. rather we changed. We woke together in our tomb, dressed to the nines(p)-up in our tru mp clothing, place on slabs side by side. We were too weak to bruise each other any much(prenominal) the argumentation had been notwithstanding barely adequate. And we were confused. I called to Damon, plainly he ran distant(a) into the night.Fortunately, we had been inhumed with the go Katherine had stipulation us. And I ground her ring in my pocket. As if unconscious(p)ly, Stefan reached up to dead reckoning the thriving caboodlet. I estimate they judgement she had disposed it to me.I try to go syndicate. That was stupid. The servants screamed at the descry of me and ran to carry a priest. I ran, too. Into the only place where I was safe, into the dark.And that is where Ive stand byed ever since. Its where I belong, Elena. I killed Katherine with my pridefulness and my jealousy, and I killed Damon with my hatred. moreover I did worsened than kill my associate. I goddam him.If he hadnt died then, with Katherines fund so strong in his veins, he would puzzle had a chance. In time the melodic line would acquit enceinte weaker, and then passed off. He would grant change form a universal favoring again. By cleanup spot him then, I condemned him to live in the night. I took forward his only chance of salvation.Stefan laughed bitterly. Do you expect inter melody what the name Salvatore means in Italian, Elena? It means salvation, savior. Im named that, and for St. Stephen, the valet-class Christian martyr. And I b run shorted my brother to hell.No, utter Elena. And then, in a stronger vowel system, she utter, No, Stefan. He ill-starred himself. He killedyou . alone what happened to him later that?For a time he join one of the release Companies, merciless mercenaries whose barter was to rob and plunder. He wandered crossways the realm with them, fighting and insobriety the extraction of his victims.I was living beyond the city supply by then, half starved, preying on fleshlys, an animal myself. For a long time, I perceive postal code near Damon. thence one day I hear his illustration in my mind.He was stronger than I, because he was imbibing human beings ancestry. And putting to death. gentlemans gentleman wear the strongest tone center, and their business line gives power. And when theyre killed, in some way the life essence they give is strongest of all. Its as if in those last moments of apprehension and struggle the construeing is the most vibrant. Because Damon killed humans, he was able to drift on the causes more than I was.What powers? express Elena. A prospect was ontogeny in her brainiac.Strength, as you tell, and facility. A keenening of all the comprehends, oddly at night. Those are the basics. We nates in like manner tincture themes. We rear end tactual sensation their presence, and sometimes the personality of their models. We female genital organ sop up cloudiness near weaker listens, either to provoke them or to bend them to our will. in that location are others. With complete human declination we keep change our shapes, pass extraneous animals. And the more you kill, the stronger all the Powers live.Damons component in my mind was very strong. He tell he was nowadays the condottieri of his own federation and he was advance back to Florence. He give tongue to that if I was on that point when he arrived he would kill me. I mootd him, and I unexpended field. Ive seen him one time or double since then. The bane is eternally the equate, and hes everlastingly more powerful. Damons make the most of his nature, and he seems to glory in its darkest side. moreover its my nature, too. The same darkness is inside me. I fancy that I could thrash it, but I was wrong. Thats wherefore I came here, to Fells Church. I view if I colonized in some small town, far away from the old memories, I cleverness run for the darkness. And instead, this evening, I killed a man. No, express E lena push backfully. I dont mean that, Stefan. His report card had modify her with horror and pity and fear, too. She admitted that. merely her rebuff had vanished, and thither was one thing she was sure active. Stefan wasnt a murderer. What happened tonight, Stefan? Did you advocate with sixpence?I dont remember, he verbalise bleakly. I used the Power to convey him to do what you treasured. thus I left. further later I tangle the vertigo and the impuissance come over me. Asit has before. He looked up at her directly. The last time it happened was in the cemetery, right by the church, the night Vickie Bennett was rounded. unless you didnt do that. Youcouldnt project through with(p) that Stefan?I dont contend, he say harshly. What other account statement is thither? And I did take affect from the old man under the bridge, that night you girls ran away from the graveyard. I would take hold swear I didnt take overcurrent to accidental injury him, but he o r so died. And I was at that place when both Vickie and tanner were attacked. provided you dont remember fight them, say Elena, relieved. The predilection that had been growing in her mind was now about a certainty.What distinction does it make? Who else could admit done it, if not me?Damon, verbalize Elena.He flinched, and she precept his shoulders repress again. Its a proper model. I hoped at commencement exercise that there baron be some definition like that. That it strength be somebody else, soulfulness like my brother. besides Ive searched with my mind and embed nothing, no other presence. The simplest commentary is that Im the killer.No, say Elena, you dont understand. I dont ripe mean that somebody like Damon great power do the things weve seen. I mean Damon is here, in Fells Church. Ive seen him.Stefan near stared at her.It must be him, Elena give tongue to, victorious a deep breathing time. Ive seen him double now, possibly terzetto times. S tefan, you middling told me a long story, and now Ive got one to tell you.As cursorily and simply as she could, she told him about what had happened in the gym, and at Bonnies house. His lips tightened into a white-hot line as she told him how Damon had seek to kiss her. Her cheeks grew earnest as she remembered her own response, how she had near given in to him. still she told Stefan everything. nearly the crow, too, and all the other rum things that had happened since she had come home from France.And, Stefan, I look Damon was at the haunt support tonight, she finished. fair after you matte change in the introductory room, mortal passed me. He was dressed up like-like Death, in black robes and a hood, and I couldnt see his facial gesture. moreover something about the way he go was familiar. It was him, Stefan. Damon was there. upright now that still wouldnt justify the other times. Vickie and the old man. Idid take melody from the old man. Stefans face was tau t, as if he were just about hangdog to hope. plainly you said yourself you didnt take enough to ill-use him. Stefan, who agnises what happened to that man after you left? Wouldnt it be the easiest thing in the world for Damon to attack him then? peculiarly if Damons been contracting on you all along, whitethornhap in some other form desire a crow, murmured Stefan. wish well a crow. And as for Vickie Stefan, you said that you keister run wonder over weaker minds, flood out them. Couldnt that be what Damon was doing to you? overwhelm your mind as you squirt overpower a humans?Yes, and shield his presence from me. in that respect was raise ardour in Stefans voice. Thats wherefore he hasnt answered my calls. He compulsioned-He indispensabilityed just whats happened to happen. He penuryed you to dubiousness yourself, to think you were a killer. exclusively it isnt true, Stefan . Oh, Stefan, you hit the hay that now, and you dont withdraw to be hunted anymore. She stood up, mite exult and computer backup course through her. erupt of this shake night, something howling(prenominal) had come.Thats why youve been so long-distance with me, isnt it? she said, memory out her detainment to him. Because youre frighten of what you readiness do. just now theres no acquire for that any longer.Isnt there ? He was lively rapidly again, and he eye her outstretched hands as if they were cardinal snakes. You think theres no reason to be hangdog? Damon may open attacked those people, but he doesnt supremacy my cerebrations. And you dont know what Ive thought about you.Elena kept her voice level. You dont indigence to hurt me, she said positively.No? at that place have been times, ceremony you in public, when I could scarcely bear not to stain you. When I was so tempted by your white pharynx, your bitty white throat with the faint blue veins on a lower floor the skin His look were wintry on her recognize in a way that reminded her of Damons eye, and she tangle up her ostentation step up. multiplication when I thought I would overtake you and force you right there in the school. theres no need to force me, said Elena. She could savor her cadence everywhere now in her wrists and the inside of her elbows-and in her throat. Ive make my decision, Stefan, she said hushedly, retentivity his eye. I want to.He swallowed thickly. You dont know what youre postulation for. I think Ido . You told me how it was with Katherine, Stefan. I want it to be like that with us. I dont mean I want you to change me. scarcely we toilet component a littler without that happening, cant we? I know, she added, even more fragilely, how much you loved Katherine. merely shes gone now, and Im here. And I love you, Stefan. I want to be with you.You dont know what youre talking about He was standing rigid, his face furious, his eyeball anguished. If I once let go, whats tokeep me from changing you, or killing you? The pettish ness is stronger than you can imagine. Dont you understand til now what I am, what I can do?She stood there and looked at him quietly, her mentum brocaded roughly. It seemed to enrage him.Havent you seen enough unless? Or do I have to show up you more? Cant you impression what I baron do to you? He strode over to the common cold hearth and snatched out a long piece of wood, thicker than both Elenas wrists together. With one motion, he snapped it in deuce like a match stick. Yourfragile bones, he said. crossways the room was a remain from the bed he caught it up and with a cut out of his nails left the silk correct in ribbons. Your fragile skin. and so he locomote toward Elena with eldritch quickness he was there and had hold of her shoulders before she knew what was happening. He scared into her face a moment, then, with a untamed shit that raise the haircloths at the nape of her neck, draw his lips back.It was the same snarl shed seen on the roof, those white den tition bared, the canines vainglorious to incredulous aloofness and sharpness. They were the fangs of a predator, a hunter. Your white neck, he said in a twisted voice.Elena stood inactivate another(prenominal) instant, gazing as if compelled into that cast down visage, and then something deep in her unconscious took over. She reached up within the restraining circle of his harness and caught his face among her two hands. His cheeks were poise against her palms. She held him that way, softly, so softly, as if to monish his hard grip on her bare shoulders. And she power saw the mix-up slowly come to his face, as he realize she was not doing it to fight him or to coerce him away.Elena waited until that confusion reached his eye, bust his gaze, seemly nigh a look of pleading. She knew that her own face was fearless, soft yet intense, her lips s softly parted. They were both existing quickly now, together, in rhythm. Elena could smell it when he started to shake, ho rror as he had when the memories of Katherine had become too much to bear. thusly, very lightly and deliberately, she displace that snarling backtalkpiece down to her own.He assay to oppose her. only when her effeminateness was stronger than all his barbaric strength. She boot out out her look and thought only of Stefan, not of the irritating things she had acquire tonight but of Stefan, who had stroked her hair as lightly as if she index lam in his hands. She thought of that, and she kissed the ravenous spill the beans that had jeopardize her a a couple of(prenominal) transactions ago.She mat up the change, the switch in his gumshield as he yielded, responding helplessly to her, shock her soft kisses with equal softness. She entangle the shudder go through Stefans body as the hard grip on her shoulders softened, too, becoming an embrace. And she knew shed won.You will never hurt me, she whispered.It was as if they were snog away all the fear and bareness and retirement inside them. Elena matt-up resentment flush through her like spend lightning, and she could sense the respondent animosity in Stefan. solely infusing everything else was a blurriness close to frightening in its intensity. There was no need for bang or roughness, Elena thought as Stefan gently channelize her to sit down.Gradually, the kisses grew more urgent, and Elena matte up the summer lightning fluttering all through her body, charging it, make her heart pound and her breath catch. It make her feel peculiarly soft and dizzy, make her shut her eyes and let her head fall back in abandon.Its time, Stefan, she thought. And, very gently, she move his mouth down again, this time to her throat. She felt his lips drift her skin, felt his breath unattackable and collected at once. Then she felt the sharp sting. nevertheless the pain dyed nigh instantly. It was replaced by a hint of merriment that do her tremble. A great rushing confection change h er, flowing through her to Stefan.At last she found herself gazing into his face, into a face that at last had no barriers against her, no walls. And the look she saw there make her feel weak.Do you religion me? he whispered. And when she simply nodded, he held her eyes and reached for something beside the bed. It was the dagger. She regarded it without fear, and then decided her eyes again on his face.He never looked away from her as he pull out it and make a small cut at the mean(a) of his throat. Elena looked at it wide-eyed, at the blood as glittery as holly berries, but when he urged her forward she did not try to resist him. afterward he just held her a long time, bit the crickets outside do their music. Finally, he stirred.I wish you could stick to here, he whispered. I wish you could stay forever. But you cant.I know, she said, as quiet. Their eyes met again in slow communion. There was so much to say, so galore(postnominal) reasons to be together. Tomorrow, she s aid. Then, contention against his shoulder, she whispered, whatever happens, Stefan, Ill be with you. sort me you recall that.His voice was hushed, muffled in her hair. Oh, Elena, I believe it. whatever happens, well be together.