The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 24

Dear Diary,Its the iniquity before the night of our number angiotensin-converting enzyme companionship or rather gala. still I dont feel very gala. I miss Stefan too much.Ive been brooding about savorless, too. How he walked away, so crazy at me, not even looking backside. He didnt understand how I couldc are forDamon, and yet still make out Stefan so much that it matt-up as if my heart was breaking.Elena put pop out the pen and stared at her diary dully. The heartbreak manifested itself in actual physical pains in her tit that would hold frightened her if she hadnt been sure of what it re tout ensembley was. She missed Stefan so desperately that she could hardly eat, could barely sleep. He was like a part of her mind that was constantly on fire, like a phantom limb that would never go away.Not even writing in her diary would encourage tonight. each(prenominal) she could write about were painfully tantalizing memories of the good multiplication she and Stefan had shared to directher. How good it had been when she could only if turn her head and slam that she would discriminate him what a privilege that had been And now it was g wizard, and in its place was racking confusion, guilt, and anxiety. What was misfortune to him, right now, when she no all-night had the privilege of turning her head and visual perception him? Were theyhurting him?Oh, God, if onlyIf only I had make him lock either the windows to his room at the boardinghouseIf only I had been more suspect of DamonIf only I had guessed he had some issue on his mind that last nightIf onlyif onlyIt became a pounding refrain in fourth dimension to her heart. She found herself breathing in sobs, her look tightly shut, clutching the rhythm to her and clenching her fists.If I restrict odor this way if I let it crush me equal Ill become an infinitesimal point in space. Ill be crushed into nullity and even that will be better than needing him so much.Elena lifted up her head and stared d take in at her head, resting on her diary.She gasped.Once more her first reaction was to imagine death. And then, slowly, because she was stupefied by so many tears, she established that shed d champion it again.She was out of her physical structure.This beat she wasnt even aware of a intended decision about w present to go. She was flying, so fast that she couldnt tell which way she was going. It was as if she were being pulled, as if she were the tail of a comet that was rapidly shooting downward.At virtuoso point she realized with familiar horror that she was passing done things, and then she was veering as if she were the end of the whip in a game of Crack the Whip and then she was catapulted into Stefans cell.She was still son of a bitch as she bring downed in the cell, unsure of whether she had solid form or gravity, and lumpen for the irregular. The only thing she had time to see was Stefan, very thin entirely smiling in his sleep and then she was dumped onto him, into him, and still crying as she bounced, as lightly as a feather, and Stefan woke.Oh, cant you let me sleep for a few minutes in peace? Stefan snapped, and added a couple of Italian words that Elena had never had reason to hear before.Elena had an immediate fit of the Bonnies, sobbing so hard that she couldnt listen to couldnt even hear any ease that was on forwarder. They were doing horrible things to him, and they were using her image, Elenas, to do them. It was in all too awful. They were condition Stefan to hate her. She hated herself. Everyone in the whole world hated her Elena Elena, dont cry, loveDully, Elena lifted herself up, getting a brief anatomical view of Stefans government agency before she was sobbing again, trying to wipe her nose on Stefans prison uniform, which looked as if it could only be improved by anything she might do to it.She couldnt, of course just as she couldnt feel the arm that was trying to gird her gently. She hadnt brought her body with her. only she had, somehow, brought her tears, and a cold, cable-wire-tough voice inside herself verbalize, Dont waste them, idiot Use those tears. If youre going to sob, sob over his face or his hands. And, by the way, everyone hates you.Even Matt hates you, and Matt likes everybody, the tiny cruel, productive voice went on and Elena gave way to a fresh gale of sobbing, absently noting the effect of each teardrop. for each one drop turned the white skin under it pink and the annotate spread in ripples outward, as if Stefan were a pool, and she was resting on him, water on water.Except that her tears were falling so fast that it looked like a rain beset on Wickery Pond. And that only made her mean about the time that Matt had fall into the pond, trying to rescue a little girl who had fallen through the ice, and how Matt hated her now.Dont, oh dont dont, lovely love, Stefan begged, so sincerely that anyone would piss believed he meant it. barely how could he? Elena k new what she must look like, face futile and blotched by tears no lovely love hither And hed have to be mad to want her to stop crying the teardrops were good-looking him new life wherever they touched his skin and perhaps the storm inside him had done best, because his telepathic voice was strong and sure.Elena, forgive me oh, God, just give me one moment with her Just a single moment I can bear anything then, even the true death. Just one moment to touch herAnd perhaps God did look down for a moment in pity. Elenas lips were hovering over, quivering over, Stefans, as if she could somehow steal a kiss like this as she used to when he was still asleep. But for just an instant it seemed to Elena that she felt warm flesh below hers and the ruffle up of Stefans lashes against her eyelids as his eyes flew open in surprise.Instantly they both froze, eyes wide open, neither of them foolish affluent to move in the slightest. But Elena couldnt help herself, as the bloom of warmth fr om Stefans lips sent a flush of warmth through her entire body. She melted into the kiss, and, magical spell griping her body carefully in the same position, felt her gaze go unfocused and her eyelids close.As her lashes swept against something with substance, the moment swept quietly to an end. Elena had two choices she could wow and rail telepathically at Il Signore for only giving them what Stefan had asked for, or she could profit her courage and smile and maybe comfort Stefan.Her better nature won out and when Stefan opened his eyes, she was leaning over him, pretending to be resting on her elbows and his chest, and smiling at him as she time-tested to straighten out her hair.Relieved, Stefan smiled back at her. It was as if he could bear anything, as long as she was unhurt.Now, Damon would have been practical, she teased him. He would have kept me crying, because in the end, his wellness would be the most important thing. And hed have prayed for She paused and finally be gan laughing, which made Stefan smile. I have no estimate, Elena said finally. I dont think Damon prays.Probably not, Stefan said. When we were new-fashioned and human the town priest walked with a cane that he seemed to wassail using on young delinquent boys more than as a source of support.Elena thought of the delicate child chained to the huge and sober boulder of secrets. Was religion one of the things locked away, put behind doors closed one after an separate in secret there, like a chambered nautilus until almost everything he cared about was inside?She didnt ask that of Stefan. Instead, she said, baleful her voice to the tiniest telepathic whisper, the barest disturbance of neurons in Stefans receptive brain What other practical things can you think of that Damon might have thought of? Things relating to a jailbreak?Wellfor a jailbreak? The first thing I can think of is for you to see your way around the urban center. I was brought here blindfolded but since they do nt have the power to embrace the curse off vampires and make them human, I still had all my senses. Id say its a city about the size of New York and Los Angeles combined.Big city, Elena noted, taking notes in her head.But fortunately the only bits that would interest us are in the southwestern section. The citys supposed to be ruled by the Guardians but theyre from the Other emplacement and the demons and vampires here long ago realized that people were more xenophobic of them than the Guardians. Its set up now with about twelve to fifteen feudalistic castles or estates, and each of those estates has control of a considerable amount of land outside the city. They grow their own unique products and sell them in deals made here. For instance, its the vampires who cultivate Clarion Loess Black Magic.I see, said Elena, who had no idea what he was talking about, except the Black Magic wine. But all we really need to know is how to get to the Shi no Shi your prison.Thats true. Well, the easiest way would be to find the kitsune sector. The Shi no Shi is a cluster of buildings, with the largest one the one without a top, although its curved, and you may not be able to tell from the ground The one that looks like a coliseum? Elena interrupted eagerly. I get a sort of birds-eye view of the city whenever I come here.Well, the thing that looks like a coliseum is a coliseum. Stefan smiled.He really smiled hes feeling well enough to smile, now, Elena rejoiced, but silently.So to get you in and out, we just head from below the coliseum to the gate back to our world, Elena said. But to get you free there are some things we need to collect and those are probably going to be in different parts of the city. She tried to remember if she had ever described the twin fox key to Stefan or not. It was probably better not to do it if she hadnt already done it. accordingly Id hire a native guide, Stefan said immediately. I dont really know anything about the city, except what the guards tell me and Im not sure if I would reliance them. But the little people the ordinary ones will probably know the things you want to know.Thats a good idea, Elena said. She drew invisible designs with a liquid finger on his chest. I think Damon really plans to do everything he can to help us.I honor him for coming, Stefan said, as if he were view things out. Hes keeping his covenant, isnt he?Elena nodded. Deep, deep in her consciousness floated the thoughts His word to me that he would take care of you. His word to you that he would take care of me. Damon continuously keeps his word.Stefan, she said, again in the innermost recesses of his mind, where she could share information she hoped in secret, you should have seen him, really. When I did Wings of Redemption and every bad thing that had change him or made him cruel came undone. And when I did Wings of Purification and all the stone covering his mortal came away in chunks. I dont think you could imagine how he was. He was so perfect and so new. And afterward when he criedElena could feel inside Stefan three layers of emotion succeed one other almost instantaneously. Dis look that Damon could cry, despite all that Elena had been telling him. Then, belief and astonishment as he absorbed her pictures and her memories. And finally, the need to console her as she stared at a Damon forever trapped in penitence. A Damon that would never exist again.He saved you, whispered Elena, but he wouldnt save himself. He wouldnt even bargain with Shinichi and Misao. He just let them take all his memories of that time.Maybe it hurt too much.Yes, said Elena, deliberately gruelling her barriers so that Stefan could feel the hurt that the new and perfect creature shed created had felt upon learning that he had committed acts of cruelty and treachery that well, that would make the strongest soul flinch. Stefan? I think he must feel very lonely.Yes, angel. I think youre right.This time Elena thought a go od deal longer before venturing, Stefan? Im not sure he understands what its like to be loved. And while he thought out his response, she was on tenterhooks.Then he said very softly, very slowly again, Yes, angel. I think youre right.Oh, she did love him. He always understood. And he was always most brave and gallant and trust just when she needed him to be.Stefan? Can I stay again tonight?Is it nighttime, lovely love? You can stay unless They come to take me somewhere. All at once Stefan was very solemn, holding her gaze. But if They come youll promise me to leave then, wont you?Elena looked straight into his green eyes and said, If thats what you want, Ill promise.Elena? Do youdo you keep your promises or not? Suddenly, he sounded very sleepy, but the right mixed bag of sleepy, not worn out, but someone who has been refreshed and is being lulled into a perfect slumber.I keep them close to me, Elena whispered. But I keep you closer, she thought. If someone came to hurt him, they would find out what a bodiless antagonist could do. For instance, what if she just reached inside their bodies and managed to make contact for an instant? Long enough to squeeze a heart between her pretty white fingers? That would be something.I love you, Elena. Im so gladwe kissedIts not the last time Youll see I swear it She dropped new healing tears down on him.Stefan just smiled gently. And then he was asleep.In the morning Elena woke up in her grand bedroom in Lady Ulmas house, alone. But she had another memory, like a pressed rose, to put away in its own special place inside her.And somewhere, deep in her heart, she knew that these memories might be all she had of Stefan someday. She could imagine that these sweet-scented, fragile mementoes would be something to hold on to and nurture if Stefan never came home.