The Return: Midnight Chapter 14

The next morning Elena noticed that Meredith stil looked pale and languid, and that her eyes slid away if Stefan happened to glance at her. But this was a time of crisis, and as soon as the breakfast dishes were washed, Elena cal ed a meeting in the parlor. There she and Stefan explained what Meredith had missed during the visit from the sheriffs.Meredith smiled wanly when Elena t grey-headed how Stefan had banished them like stray dogs.Then Elena told the accounting of her out-of-body experience. It proved champion thing, at least(prenominal), that fairish was alive and relatively well. Meredith bit her lip when Mrs. Flowers said this, for it only made her compliments to go and put up middling out of the Dark Dimension personal y.But on the other hand, Meredith wanted to stay and wait for Alarics photographs. If that would save Fel s ChurchNo wiz at the boardinghouse could foreland what had happened on the Island of Doom. It was happening here, on the other side of the worl d. Already a couple of p bents in Fel s Church had had their children interpreted away by the Virginia Department of Child Protective Services.Punishments and retaliations had begun. How much longer would it be before Shinichi and Misao turn al the children into lethal weapons or let cozy those already turned? How long before some hysterical parent kil ed a kid?The group sitting in the parlor discussed plans and methods.In the end, they decided to make jars identical to those Elena and Bonnie had seen, and prayed that they could reproduce the writing. These jars, they were sure, were the means by which Shinichi and Misao were original y sealed rancid from the rest of the Earth.Therefore Shinichi and Misao had at a time forgather into the rather cramped accommodations of the jars. But what did Elenas group suck up now that could lure them back inside?Power, they decided. Only an amount of Power so great that it was supine to the kitsune twins. That was why the priestess had t ested to lure them back with her own blood. instantaneouslyit meant either the liquid in a ful star bal or blood from an extraordinarily reigning vampire. Or two vampires.Or three.Everyone was sober, thinking of this. They didnt know how much blood would be needed besides Elena feared that it would be more than they can afford to lose. It had for sure been more than the priestess could afford.And so in that respect was a silence that only Meredith could fil . Im sure youve al been wondering about this,she said, producing the staff thing from thin air, as cold as Elena could see. How did she do that? Elena wondered. She didnt pitch it with her and then she did.They al stared in the bright sunlight at the sleek beauty of the weapon.Whoever made that,Matt said, had a worm imagination.It was one of my ancestors,Meredith said. And I wont contest that.I have a question,Elena said. If youd had that from the beginning of your training if youd been raised in that kind of world, woul d you have tried to kil Stefan? Would you have tried to kil me when I became a vampire?I wish I had a good answer to that,Meredith said, her dark gray eyes pained. But I dont. I have nightmares about it. But how can I ever say what I would have done if Id been a different person?Im not enquire that. Im request you, the person you are, if youd had the training The training is brainwashing, Meredith said harshly. Her composed fa?ade seemed about to break.Okay, forget that. Would you have tried to kil Stefan, if youd provided had that staff?Its cal ed a fighting stave. And were cal ed people like my family, except that my parents dropped out hunter-slayers.There was a sort of gasp around the table. Mrs. Flowers poured Meredith more herbal tea from the sess sitting on a trivet.Hunter-slayers,repeated Matt with a certain relish. It wasnt hard to tel who he was thinking about.You can just cal us one or the other,Meredith was saying.Ive heard that out west theyve got hunter-kil ers. But we hang on to tradition here.Elena curtly felt like a lost little girl. This was Meredith, her big sis Meredith, saying al of this. Elenas voice was almost pleading. But you didnt take down tel on Stefan.No, I didnt. And, no, I dont think Id have had the courage to kil anyone unless Id been brainwashed. But I knew Stefan love you. I knew he would never make you into a vampire.The problem was I didnt know enough about Damon. I didnt know that you were fooling around so much. I dont think anybody knew that.Merediths voice was anguished, too.Except me,Elena said, flushing, with a lopsided smile.Dont look so sad, Meredith. It worked out.You cal having to leave your family and your town because everyone knows youre dead, working out?I do,Elena replied desperately, if it means I get to be with Stefan.She did her best not to think about Damon.Meredith looked at her blankly for a moment, then put her face in her hands. Do you want to tel them or should I?she asked, coming up for ai r and facing Stefan.Stefan looked startled. You remember?Probably as much as you got from my mind. Bits and pieces. Stuff I dont want to remember.Okay.Now Stefan looked relieved, and Elena felt frightened. Stefan and Meredith had a secret together?We al know that Klaus made at least two visits to Fel s Church. We know that he was completely vileness and that on the second visit he planned to be a serial murderer. He kil ed Sue Carson and Vickie Bennett.Elena interrupted quietly. Or at least he helped Tyler Smal wood to kil Sue, so that Tyler could be initiated as a werewolf. And then Tyler got Caroline pregnant.Matt cleared his throat as something occurred to him. Uh does Caroline have to kil psyche to be a ful werewolf, too?I dont think so,Elena said. Stefan says that having a werewolf litter is enough. Either way, blood is spil ed.Caroline wil be a ful werewolf when she has her twins, scarcely shel probably begin changing involuntarily before that.Right?Stefan nodded. Right. But getting back to Klaus What was it he was supposed to have done on his head start visit? He attacked without kil ing an old man who was a ful hunter-slayer.My grandfather,Meredith whisper.And he supposedly messed with Merediths grandfathers mind so much that this old man tried to kil his wife and his three-year-old granddaughter. So what is wrong with this picture?Elena was truly frightened now. She didnt want to hear whatever was coming. She could taste bile, and she was glad that shed only had toast for breakfast. If only there had been someone to produce care of, like Bonnie, she would have felt better.I give up. So what is wrong?Matt asked bluntly.Meredith was staring into the distance again.Final y Stefan said, At the risk of exposure of sounding like a bad soap operaMeredith had, or has, a twin brother.Dead silence fel over the group in the parlor. horizontal Mrs.Flowerss Ma ma didnt put in a word.Had or has?Matt said final y, breaking the silence.How can we know?Stef an said. He may have been kil ed.Imagine Meredith having to watch that. Or he could have been kidnapped. To be kil ed at a later time or to become a vampire.And you rattling y think her parents wouldnt tel her?Matt demanded. Or would try to make her forget? When she was what, three already?Mrs. Flowers, who had been quiet a long time, now spoke sadly. unspoilt Meredith may have decided to block out the truth herself. With a child of three its hard to say. If they never got her professional helpShe looked a question at Meredith.Meredith shook her head. Against the code,she said. I mean, strictly speaking, I shouldnt be tel ing any of you this, and especial y not Stefan. But I couldnt stand it anymorehaving such good friends, and constantly deceiving them.Elena went over and hugged Meredith hard. We understand,she said. I dont know what wil happen in the future if you decide to be an active hunter I can betoken you my friends wont be on my list of victims,Meredith said. By the way,she added, Shinichi knows. Im the one whos kept a secret from my friends al my life.Not any longer,Elena said, and hugged her again.At least there are no more secrets now,Mrs. Flowers said gently, and Elena looked at her sharply. Nothing was ever that simple. And Shinichi had made a whole handful of predictions.Then she precept the look in the spiritless blue eyes of the old woman, and she knew that what was important right then was not truth or lies, or even reckonings, but simply comforting Meredith. She looked up at Stefan while stil hugging Meredith and saw the same look in his eyes.And that made her feel better somehow. Because if it was truly no secretsthen she would have to figure out her feelings about Damon. And she was more afraid of that than of facing Shinichi, which was saying quite a lot, real y.At least weve got a potters wheel somewhere,Mrs.Flowers was saying. And a kiln in the back, although its al grown over with Devils Shoestring. I used to make flowerpot s for outside the boardinghouse, but children came and smashed them. I think I could make an urn like the ones you saw if you can draw one for me. But perhaps wed better wait for Mr. Saltzmans pictures.Matt was mouthing something to Stefan. Elena couldnt make it out until she heard Stefans voice in her mind. He says Damon told him once that this house is like a swap meet, and you can find anything here if you look hard enough.Damon didnt make that up I think Mrs. Flowers said it first, and then it sort of got around, Elena returned heatedly.When we get the pictures,Mrs. Flowers was saying brightly,we can get the Saitou women to translate the writing.Meredith final y moved back from Elena. And until then we can pray that Bonnie doesnt get into any trouble,she said, and her voice and face were composed again. Im starting now.Bonnie was sure she could stay out of trouble.Shed had that strange dream the one about shedding her body, and release with Elena to the Island of Doom.Fortunat ely, it had seemed to be a real out-of-body experience, and not something she had to ponder over and try to find hidden meanings in. It didnt mean she was doomed or anything like that.Plus, shed managed to live with another night in this brown room, and Damon had to come and get her out soon.But not before she had a sugarplum. Or two.Yes, she had gotten a taste of one in the spirit level last night, but Marit was such a good girl that she had waited for dinner to have any more. Dinner was obtained in the next story about the Dustbins, which shed plunged into this morning. But that contained the horror of little Marit tasting her first hand-caught piece of raw liver, fresh from the hunt. Bonnie had hastily pul ed the little star bal off her temple, and had determined not to do anything that could possibly get her on a human hunting range.But then, compulsively, she had counted up her money. She had money. She knew where a shop was. And that meantshoppingWhen her ass break came aro und, she managed to get into a conversation with the boy who usual y led her to the outdoor privy. This time she made him blush so hard and column at his earlobe so often that when she begged him to give her the key and let her go by herself it wasnt as if she didnt know the way he had relented and let her go, asking only that she hurry.And she did hurry across the street and into the little store, which smel ed so much of melting fudge, toffee being pul ed by hand, and other appetising smel s that she would have known where she was blindfolded.She also knew what she wanted. She could picture it from the story and the one taste Marit had had.A sugarplum was round like a real plum, and shed tasted dates, almonds, spices, and honey and there may have been some raisins, too. It should cost five soli, according to the story, but Bonnie had taken fifteen of the smal coppery-looking coins with her, in case of a confectionary emergency.Once inside, Bonnie glanced warily around her. T here were a lot of customers in the shop, maybe six or seven. One brown-haired girl was wearing sacking just like Bonnie and looked exhausted. Surreptitiously, Bonnie inched toward her, and pressed five of her copper soli into the girls chapped hand, thinking, there now she can get a sugarplum just like me that ought to exhort her up. It did the girl gave her the sort of smile that Mother Dustbin often gave to Marit when she had done something adorable.I wonder if I should talk to her?It looks pretty busy,she whispered, ducking her head.The girl whispered back, It has been. Al yesterday I kept hoping, but at least one noble came in as the last one left.You mean you have to wait until the shops empty to ?The brown-haired girl looked at her curiously. Of course unless youre buying for your mistress or master.Whats your name?Bonnie whispered.Kelta.Im Bonnie.At this Kelta burst into silent but convulsive giggles.Bonnie felt offended shed just given Kelta a sugarplum or the price of one, and now the girl was laughing at her.Im sorry,Kelta said when her contentment had died down. But dont you think its funny that in the last year there are so many girls changing their names to Alianas and Mardeths, and Bonnas some slaves are even being allowed to do it.But why?Bonnie whispered with such obvious genuine bewilderment that Kelta said, Why, to fit into the story, of course. To be named after the ones who kil ed old Bloddeuwedd while she was rampaging through the city.That was such a big deal?You real y dont know? After she was kil ed al her money went to the fifth domain where she lived and there was enough left over to have a holiday. Thats where Im from. And I used to be so frightened when I was sent out with a message or anything after dark because she could be right above you and youd never know, until Kelta had put al her money into one pocket and now she mimed claws go on an innocent hand.But you real y are a Bonna,Kelta said, with a flash of w pisse teet h in rather dingy skin. Or so you said.Yeah,Bonnie said feeling vaguely sad. Im a Bonna, al rightThe next moment she cheered up. The shops emptyIt is Oh, youre a good-luck Bonna Ive been waiting two days.She approached the income tax return with a lack of fear that was very encouraging to Bonnie. Then she asked for something cal ed a blood jel y that looked to Bonnie like a smal mold of strawberry Jel -O, with something darker deep inside. Kelta smiled at Bonnie from under the curtain of her long, unbrushed hair and was gone.The man who ran the sweetshop kept looking hopeful y at the door, clearly hoping a free person a noble would come in.No one did, however, and at last he turned to Bonnie.And what is it you want?he demanded.Just a sugarplum, please?Bonnie tried hard to make sure her voice didnt quaver.The man was bored. Show me your pass,he said irritably.It was at that point that Bonnie suddenly knew that everything was going to go horribly wrong.Come on, come on, snap it up Stil looking at his accounting books, the man snapped his fingers.Meanwhile Bonnie was running a hand over her sack-cloth smock, in which she knew perfectly well there was no pocket, and certainly no pass.But I thought I didnt need a pass, except to cross sectors,she babbled final y.The man now leaned over the counter. Then show me your freedom pass,he said, and Bonnie did the only thing she could think of. She turned and ran, but before she could reach the door she felt a sudden stinging pain in her back and then everything went blurry and she never knew when she hit the ground.