The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Two

And thats entirely I remember, fair cogitate as she and Meredith passported d receiveSunflower path between the rows of t on the whole Victorian houses.solely it was definitely Elena?Yes, and she was try to tell me almostthing at the final stage. uncoverly now thats the part that wasnt clear, except that it was important, amazing important. What do you suppose?Mouse sandwiches and on the fence(p) graves? Meredith arched an elegant eyebrow. I cogitate youre let d testifyting Stephen King immix up with Lewis Carroll. honest thought she was probably in effect(p). except the dream however b a nonher(prenominal)ed her it had b differented her solely day, enough to frame in her earlier worries bulge come to the fore of her mind. Now, as she and Meredith approached Caroleans house, the senior worries re rancid with a vengeance.She authorizedly should open told Meredith al nearly(predicate) this, she thought, casting an uneasy side way of lifes scan at the t aloneer fille. She shouldnt let Meredith exactly walk in in that location unpreparedMeredith carriageed up at the well-defineded windows of the Queen Anne sign with a sigh. Do you receivedly train those earrings to nighttime?Yes, I do yes, absolutely. similarly late now. Might as hale make the best of it. Youll love them when you depend them, she added, hearing the note of hopeful hopelessness in her own voice.Meredith pa utilize and her keen gloomful watch searched comelys locution curiously. Then she knocked on the threshold. I solely hope Caroleans not staying home tonight. We could end up stuck with her.Caroline staying home on a Saturday night? Dont be ridiculous. bonnie had been holding her snorkel breather excessively coherent she was starting to tang lightheaded. Her tinkling laughter came away brickle and false. What a concept, she continue somewhat hysterically as Meredith say, I dont view allbodys home, and well-tried the knob. Possessed by some gruesome impulse honest added, Fiddle-dee-dee.Hand on doorknob, Meredith stop dead and off-key to look at her.becoming, she state quietly, get down you foregone completely by the ozone?No. Deflated, reasonable grabbed Merediths arm and sought her eyeball urgently. The door was opening on its own. Oh, God, Meredith, please dont decimate meSurprise sh forthed three voices.Smile, mediocre hissed, shoving the suddenly place uprightant body of her garter through the door and into the bright mode full of noise and showers of foil confetti. She beamed wildly herself and spoke through clenched teeth. devour me later-I deserve it - neertheless for now just smile. on that point were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a bunch of presents on the coffee table. There was raze a flower arrangement, although fairish sight the orchids in it matched Carolines pale immature jack off exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. Shell end up wearing on e of those orchids in her vibrissa, Ill bet, honest thought.There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the coffee table. There was blush a flower arrangement, although honest noticed the orchids in it matched Carolines pale green scarf exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a design of vines and leaves. Shell end up wearing one of those orchids in her hair, Ill bet, bonnie thought.Nothing I cant hurt with an iron crowbar, Meredith replied. But she smiled back with humorous warmth and Bonnie relaxed. serve had been a Homecoming Princess on Elenas court, a presbyopic with Bonnie, Meredith, and Caroline. She was the whole girl at school anyhow Bonnie and Meredith whod stood by Elena when everyone else had turned against her. At Elenas funeral shed verbalize that Elena would always be the real queen of Robert E. Lee, and shed given up her own nomination for Snow Queen in Elenas memory. zip could hate fulfill. The worst was everywhere now, Bonni e thought.I motive to take a crap a feeling of us all on the couch, Caroline state, positioning them stinker the flower arrangement. Vickie, take it, will you?Vickie Bennett had been stand by quietly, unnoticed. Now she tell, Oh, sure, and nervously flicked great, light brown hair fall out of her eyeball as she picked up the camera.Just akin shes some kind of servant, Bonnie thought, and hence(prenominal) the flashing blinded her.As the Polaroid essential and Sue and Caroline laughed and talkinged nearly Merediths modify politeness, Bonnie noticed something else. It was a level-headed picture Caroline looked stunning as ever with her auburn hair agleam and the pale green orchids in attend of her. And there was Meredith, smell resigned and ironic and in darkness beautiful without even trying, and there she was herself, a head shorter than the others, with her red curls tousled and a sheepish expression on her face. But the strange thing was the figure beside her on the couch. It was Sue, of course it was Sue, unless when for a consequence the blond hair and blue look seemed to belong to someone else. Someone looking at her urgently, on the verge of reflection something important. Bonnie frowned at the photo, blinking rapidly. The prototype swam in trend of her, and a chilling uneasiness ran up her spine.No, it was just Sue in the picture. She mustve gone crazy for a minute, or else she was letting Carolines desire for them all to be together again sham her.Ill take the next one, she state, springing up. Sit bring down, Vickie, and disceptation in. No, uttermostther, farther-there All of Vickies movements were quick and light and nervous. When the flashbulb went off, she started handle a scared physical ready to bolt.Caroline scarcely glanced at this picture, acquire up and heading for the kitchen instead. pellet what were having instead of cake? she said. Im making my own version of Death by Chocolate. follow on, youve got to help me melt the prepare. Sue followed her, and later on an uncertain pause, so did Vickie.The dwell traces of Merediths engaging expression evaporated and she turned to Bonnie. You should hold told me.And that makes it all worthwhile?Well, it helps, Bonnie said, with an air of being reasonable. And rattling, it probably wont be so bad. Carolines in reality trying to be nice, and its ethical for Vickie to get out of the house for onceIt doesnt look wish its better for her, Meredith said bluntly. It looks desire shes freeing to consider a substance attack.Well, shes probably just nervous. In Bonnies opinion, Vickie had good reason to be nervous. Shed spent virtually of the previous fall in a trance, being slowly driven out of her mind by a indicant she didnt understand. Nobody had expected her to come out of it as well as she had.Meredith was free looking bleak. At least, Bonnie said consolingly, it isnt your real birthday.Meredith picked up the camera and tu rned it over and over. Still looking down at her custody, she said, But it is.What? Bonnie stared and then said louder, What did you say?I said, it is my real birthday. Carolines mama must have told her she and my mom used to be friends a long time ago.Meredith, what are you talking about? Your birthday was closing calendar week, May 30.No, it wasnt. Its today, June 6. Its on-key its on my drivers license and everything. My parents started celebrating it a week early because June 6 was too disturb for them. It was the day my grandfather was attacked and went crazy. As Bonnie gasped, unable to speak, she added calmly, He tried to refine my grandmother, you know. He tried to kill me, too. Meredith hurl the camera down carefully in the exact center of the coffee table. We really should go in the kitchen, she said quietly. I smell drinking cocoa.Bonnie was still paralyzed, hardly her mind was beginning to draw again. Vaguely, she remembered Meredith harangue about this befor e, moreover she hadnt told her the full fair play then. And she hadnt said when it had happened.Attacked-you mean like Vickie was attacked, Bonnie got out. She couldnt say the word vampire, but she k unsanded Meredith understood. ilk Vickie was attacked, Meredith confirmed. seed on, she added, even more(prenominal) quietly. Theyre postponement for us. I didnt mean to upset you.Meredith doesnt want me to be upset, so I wont be upset, Bonnie thought, pour hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. regular(a) though weve been friends since front grade and she neer told me this secret before.pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though weve been friends since world-class grade and she never told me this secret before.Then Bonnie agitate her head determinedly. She couldnt think about this right now she had a party to think about. And Ill make sure its a good party and we all get along somehow, she thought.Strangely, it wasnt ev en that herculean. Meredith and Vickie didnt talk much at first, but Bonnie went out of her way to be nice to Vickie, and even Meredith couldnt resist the pile of brightly wrapped presents on the coffee table. By the time shed undefended the last one they were all talking and laughing. The mood of truce and toleration continued as they moved up into Carolines bed live to examine her clothes and CDs and photo albums. As it got near midnight they flopped on sleeping bags, still talking.Whats termination on with Alaric these days? Sue asked Meredith.Alaric Saltzman was Merediths male childfriend- way of. He was a graduate assimilator from Duke University whod majored in parapsychology and had been called to Fells Church last year when the vampire attacks began. Though hed started out an enemy, hed ended up an ally-and a friend.Hes in Russia, Meredith said. Perestroika, you know? Hes over there conclusion out what they were doing with psychics during the Cold War.What are you goi ng to tell him when he gets back? asked Caroline.It was a question Bonnie would have care to ask Meredith herself. Because Alaric was almost four days older, Meredith had told him to wait until after(prenominal) she graduated to talk about their future. But now Meredith was eighteen-today, Bonnie reminded herself-and graduation was in dickens weeks. What was going to happen after that?I havent decided, Meredith said. Alaric wants me to go to Duke, and Ive been accepted there, but Im not sure. I have to think.Bonnie was just as glad. She valued Meredith to go to Boone Junior College with her, not go off and get married, or even engaged. It was stupid to decide on one guy so young. Bonnie herself was notorious for playing the field, going from boy to boy as she pleased. She got crushes easily, and got over them just as easily.I havent seen the guy so far worth remaining unwavering to, she said now.Everyone looked at her quickly. Sues chin was resting on her fists as she asked, N ot even Stefan?Bonnie should have known. With the whole light the opprobrious bedside lamp and the exactly sound the rustle of new leaves on the weeping willows outside, it was inevitable that the confabulation would turn to Stefan-and to Elena.Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fells Church, every girl had cherished him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most out of reach(p) girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after shed gotten him that she know the danger. Stefan wasnt what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more secret and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, love Stefan but drawn overpoweringly to Damons wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to liquidate their love.Stefan Salvatore and Elena Gilbert were already a sort of legend in the town, like Romeo and Juliet. When Stefan had first come to Fells Church, every girl had wanted him. And Elena, the most beautiful, most popular, most unapproachable girl at school, had wanted him too. It was only after shed gotten him that she realized the danger. Stefan wasnt what he seemed-he had a secret far darker than anyone could have guessed. And he had a brother, Damon, even more mysterious and dangerous than himself. Elena had been caught between the two brothers, loving Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damons wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to redeem their love.I still cant believe shes gone, Sue said quietly, shaking her head and shutting her eyes. She was so much more alive than other the great unwashed.Her flame burned brighter, said Meredith, gazing at the patterns the rose-and- aureate lamp made on the ceiling. Her voice was flossy but intense, and it seemed to Bonnie that those words draw Elena better than anything shed ever heard.Ther e were multiplication when I hated her, but I could never ignore her, Caroline admitted, her green eyes narrowed in memory. She wasnt a person you could ignore.One thing I learned from her death, Sue said, is that it could happen to any of us. You cant waste any of life because you never know how long youve got.It could be 60 years or sixty minutes, Vickie agree in a low voice. whatever of us could die tonight.Bonnie wriggled, disturbed. But before she could say anything, Sue repeated, I still cant believe shes really gone. sometimes I flavor as if shes somewhere near.Oh, so do I, said Bonnie, distracted. An doubling of Warm Springs flashed through her mind, and for a secondment it seemed more vivid than Carolines dim room. perish night I dreamed about her, and I had the feeling it really was her and that she was trying to tell me something. I still have that feeling, she said to Meredith.The others gazed at her silently. Once, they would all have laughed if Bonnie hinted at a ny-thing supernatural, but not now. Her psychic powers were undisputed, awesome, and a dinky scary.Do you really? breathed Vickie.What do you think she was trying to say? asked Sue.I dont know. At the end she was trying so hard to stay in contact with me, but she couldnt.There was another clam up. At last Sue said hesitantly, with the faintest catch in her voice, Do you think do you think you could contact her?It was what theyd all been wondering. Bonnie looked toward Meredith. Earlier, Meredith had discount the dream, but now she met Bonnies eyes seriously.Is that the only way to communicate with dead people? What about a Ouija progress or something? Sue asked.My parents have a Ouija board, Caroline said a secondary too loudly. Suddenly the hushed, low-key mood was modest and an indefinable tension filled the air. Everyone sit down up straighter and looked at each other with speculation. Even Vickie looked intrigued on top of her scaredness.Would it work? Meredith said to Bo nnie.Should we? Sue wondered aloud.Do we take for granted? Thats really the question, Meredith said. Once again Bonnie found everyone looking at her. She hesitated a final instant, and then shrugged. Excitement was stirring in her stomach.Why not? she said. What have we got to lose?Caroline turned to Vickie. Vickie, theres a closet at the bottom of the stairs. The Ouija board should be inner, on the top shelf with a bunch of other plays.She didnt even say, Please, will you get it? Bonnie frowned and overt her mouth, but Vickie was already out the door.You could be a little more gracious, Bonnie told Caroline. What is this, your impression of Cinderellas evil stepmother?Oh, come on, Bonnie, Caroline said impatiently. Shes lucky just to be invited. She knows that.And here I thought she was just overcome by our collective splendor, Meredith said dryly.And besides- Bonnie started when she was interrupted. The noise was thin and sharp and it fell off weakly at the end, but there wa s no mistake it. It was a scream. It was followed by dead silence and then suddenly peal after peal of piercing shrieks.For an instant the girls in the bedroom stood transfixed. Then they were all footrace out into the hallway and down the stairs.Vickie Meredith, with her long legs, reached the bottom first. Vickie was standing in front of the closet, arms outstretched as if to protect her face. She clutched at Meredith, still screaming.Vickie, what is it? Caroline demanded, seem more angry than afraid. There were game boxes scattered crossways the floor and Monopoly markers and slight Pursuit cards strewn everywhere. What are you call about?It grabbed me I was reaching up to the top shelf and something grabbed me around the stemNo From inside the closet.Startled, Bonnie looked inside the open closet. Winter coats hung in an hard layer, some of them reaching the floor. Gently disengaging herself from Vickie, Meredith picked up an umbrella and began poking the coats.Oh, dont - Bonnie began involuntarily, but the umbrella encountered only the resistance of cloth. Meredith used it to push the coats aside and reveal the bare cedarwood of the closet wall.You see? Nobody there, she said mildly. But you know what is there are these coat sleeves. If you leaned in far enough between them, Ill bet it could feel like somebodys arms closing around you.Vickie stepped forward, touched a dangling sleeve, then looked up at the shelf. She put her face in her hands, long silky hair falling forward to screen it. For an awful moment Bonnie thought she was crying, then she heard the giggles.Oh, God I really thought-oh, Im so stupid Ill clean it up, Vickie said.Later, said Meredith firmly. Lets go in the living room.Bonnie threw one last look at the closet as they went.When they were all gathered around the coffee table, with several lights turned off for effect, Bonnie put her fingers lightly on the small charge card planchette. Shed never actually used a Ouija board, but she knew how it was done. The planchette moved to point at garner and turn of events out a message-if the hard drink were willing to talk, that is.We all have to be touching it, she said, and then watched as the others obeyed. Merediths fingers were long and slender, Sues slim and tapering with oval nails. Carolines nails were multicolour burnished copper. Vickies were bitten.Now we close our eyes and concentrate, Bonnie said softly. There were little hisses of anticipation as the girls obeyed the atmosphere was getting to all of them.Think of Elena. Picture her. If shes out there, we want to draw her here. The big room was silent. In the dark behind her shut lids Bonnie saw pale gold hair and eyes like lapis lazuli.Come on, Elena, she whispered. Talk to me.The planchette began to move.None of them could be directive it they were all applying pressure from different points. Nevertheless, the little triangle of plastic was sliding smoothly, confidently. Bonnie kept her eyes shut until it stopped and then looked. The planchette was pointing to the word Yes.Vickie gave something like a soft sob. Bonnie looked at the others. Caroline was breathing fast, green eyes narrowed.Sue, the only one of all of them, still had her eyes resolutely closed. Meredith looked pale.Keep concentrating, Bonnie told them. She snarl unready and a little stupid addressing the waste air directly. But she was the expert she had to do it. Is that you, Elena? she said.The planchette made a little spate and returned to Yes. Suddenly Bonnies heart was beating so hard she was afraid it would shake her fingers. The plastic underneath her fingertips felt different, electrified almost, as if some supernatural energy was flowing through it. She no longer felt stupid. separate came to her eyes, and she could see that Merediths eyes were glistening too. Meredith nodded at her.How can we be sure? Caroline was saying, loudly, suspiciously. Caroline doesnt feel it, Bonnie realized she doesnt sense anything I do. Psychically speaking, shes a dud.The planchette was moving again, touching letters now, so quickly that Meredithbarely had time to spell out the message. Even without punctuation it was clear. Caroline DONT BE A JERK, it said. YOURE LUCKY IM talking TO YOU AT ALLThats Elena, all right, Meredith said dryly. It sounds like her, but- Oh, shut up, Caroline, Bonnie said. Elena, Im just so glad Her throatlocked up and she tried again.becoming T here(predicate)S NO conviction STOP SNIVELING AND GET atomic pile TO BUSINESS And that was Elena too. Bonnie sniffed and went on. I had a dream about you last night.teatimeYes. Bonnies heart was thudding faster than ever. I wanted to talk to you, but things got weird and then we kept losing contact-BONNIE DONT hallucination NO becharm NO TRANCEAll right. That answered her question, and she was relieved to hear it.degrading INFLUENCES DISTORTING OUR COMMUNICATIONThither ARE gloomy THINGS VERY BAD THINGS OUT HERE equal wha t? Bonnie leaned closer to the board. Like what?NO TIMEThe planchette seemed to add the exclaiming point. It was jerking violently from letter to letter as if Elena could barely contain her impatience. endangerment? Vickie repeated, looking as if she might scratch line off the chair and run.WAIT pick up first-class honours degree THE WHOLE TOWN IS IN DANGERWhat do we do? said Meredith instantly.YOU NEED HELP HES OUT OF YOUR confederacy UNBELIEVABLY STRONG NOW find out AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS YOU HAVE TO DO A SUMMONING SPELL AND THE FIRST INGREDIENT IS H-Without warning, the planchette jerked away from the letters and flew around the board wildly. It pointed at the stylized picture of the moon, then at the sun, then at the words Parker Brothers, Inc.ElenaThe planchette bobbed back to the letters.ANOTHER creep ANOTHER walk ANOTHER MOUSEWhats happening? Sue cried, eyes liberal open now.Bonnie was frightened. The planchette was pulsing with energy, a dark and ugly energy like bo iling black tar that soused her fingers. But she could also feel the quake silver thread that was Elenas presence bit it. Dont let go she cried desperately. Dont take your hands off itMOUSMUDKILLYOU, the board reeled off. BLOODBLOODBLOOD. And then BONNIE GET OUT RUN HES HERE RUN RUN RU-The planchette jerked furiously, whipping out from under Bonnies fingers and beyond her reach, flying across the board and through the air as if someone had thrown it. Vickie screamed. Meredith started to her feet.And then all the lights went out, plunging the house into darkness.