The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Thirteen

June 19, Fri twenty-four hours, 1145 p.m. Dear Diary,Oh, God, what are we discharge to do?This has been the longest week of my life. Today was the last day of school and tomorrow Stefan is leaving. Hes going to Europe to search for a vampire who got changed by Klaus. He says he doesnt want to cash in ones chips us unprotected. besides hes going to go.We cant find Tyler. His simple machine disappeared from the cemetery, but he hasnt dark up at school. Hes missed every final this week. no. that the rest of us are doing oftentimes better. I wish Robert E. Lee was comparable the schools that ascribe in up every last(predicate) their finals in the lead graduation. I dont know whether Im writing English or Swahili these days.I hate Klaus. From what I saw hes as crazy as Katherine-and crimson crueler. What he did to Vickie-but I cant even talk about that or Ill start crying again. He was adept playing with us at Caroleans party, like a cat with a mouse. And to do it on Mere diths birthday, too-although I suppose he couldnt perplex known that. He seems to know a lot, though. He doesnt talk like a foreigner, not like Stefan did when he showtime came to America, and he knows all about American social occasions, even songs from the fifties. Maybe hes been oer here for a while bonnie stopped writing. She thought desperately. All this time, they had been thinking of victims in Europe, of vampires. that from the way Klaus talked, he had manifestly been in America a long time. He didnt sound foreign at all. And hed chosen to attack the girls on Merediths birthdayBonnie got up, reached for the teleph unmatchable, and called Merediths number. A sleepyheaded male voice answered.Mr. Sulez, this is Bonnie. Can I speak to Meredith?Bonnie Dont you know what time it is?Yes. Bonnie thought chop-chop. plainly its about-about a final we had today. Please, I have to talk with her.There was a long fall apart, then a overweight sigh. Just a minute.Bonnie tapped he r fingers impatiently as she waited. At last in that location was the click of another phone being picked up.Bonnie? came Merediths voice. Whats wrong? No intimacy. I mean- Bonnie was excruciatingly conscious of the open line, of the fact that Merediths father hadnt hung up. He faculty be bear in minding. Its about-that German problem weve been working on. You remember. The one we couldnt figure out for the final. You know how weve been flavor for the one person who can help us figure it? Well, I think I know who it is.No, Bonnie verbalize, it doesnt. It hits a lot closer to home, Meredith. A lot. In fact, you could say its right in your own backyard, suspension on your family tree.The line was silent so long Bonnie wondered if Meredith was still there.Meredith?Im thinking. Does this solution have boththing to do with coincidence?Nope. Bonnie relaxed and smiled slightly, grimly. Meredith had it now. Not a thing to do with coincidence. Its more a case of history repeating its elf. Deliberately repeating itself, if you see what I mean.Yes, Meredith express. She sounded as if she were recovering from a shock, and no wonder. You know, I think you just may be right. But theres still the matter of persuading-this person-to actually help us.You think that may be a problem?I think it could. Sometimes people fail very rattled-about a test. Sometimes they even grade of lose their minds.Bonnies heart sank. This was something that hadnt occurred to her. What if he couldnt split up them? What if he were that faraway gone?All we can do is try, she verbalize, making her voice as optimistic as possible. Tomorrow well have to try.All right. Ill pick you up at noon. Good night, Bonnie.Night, Meredith. Bonnie added, Im sorry.No, I think it may be for the best. So that history doesnt continue to repeat itself forever. Good-bye.Bonnie pressed the disconnect button on the handset, clicking it off. Then she just sat for a few minutes, her finger on the button, staring a t the wall. Finally she replaced the handset in its cradle and picked up her daybook again. She put a period on the last sentence and added a new one.We are going to see Merediths grandfather tomorrow.Im an idiot, Stefan said in Merediths car the next day. They were going to West Virginia, to the cornerstone where Merediths grandfather was a patient. It was going to be a fairly long drive.Were all idiots. Except Bonnie, lusterlessness said. purge in the midst of her anxiety Bonnie matte up a warm glow at that.But Meredith was shaking her head, eyes on the road. Stefan, you couldnt have realized, so stop beating up on yourself. You didnt know that Klaus attacked Carolines party on the anniversary of the attack on my grandfather. And it didnt occur to Matt or me that Klaus could have been in America for so long because we neer saw Klaus or heard him speak. We were thinking of people he could have attacked in Europe. Really, Bonnie was the only one who could have put it all toget her, because she had all the information.I wont modesty is one of my most charming qualities, Bonnie replied.Matt snorted, but then he said, I still think it was pretty smart, which started the glow all over again.The institution was a terrible place. Bonnie tried as hard as she could to entomb her horror and disgust, but she knew Meredith could sense it. Merediths shoulders were stiff with defensive pride as she walked down the halls in front of them. Bonnie, who had known her for so many years, could see the necrosis underneath that pride. Merediths parents considered her grandfathers condition such a blot that they never allowed him to be mentioned to outsiders. It had been a shadow over the entire family.And now Meredith was showing that secret to strangers for the first time. Bonnie felt a rush of love and admiration for her friend. It was so like Meredith to do it without fuss, with dignity, letting nobody see what it cost her. But the institution was still terrible.It wasnt filthy or filled with raving maniacs or anything like that. The patients looked clean and well cared for. But there was something about the sterile hospital smells and the halls herd with motionless wheelc pigs and blank eyes that made Bonnie want to run.It was like a building full of zombies. Bonnie saw one old woman, her rap scalp showing through thin sporty hair, s juted with her head on the table next to a naked plastic doll. When Bonnie reached out desperately, she tack together Matts hand already reaching for hers. They followed Meredith that way, holding on so hard it hurt.This is his room.Inside was another zombie, this one with white hair that still showed an occasional number of black like Merediths. His face was a mass of wrinkles and lines, the eyes rheumy and rimmed with scarlet. They stared vacantly.Granddad, Meredith said, kneeling in front of his wheelchair, Granddad, its me, Meredith. Ive come to visit you. Ive got something important to bespeak you.The old eye s never flickered.Sometimes he knows us, Meredith said quietly, without emotion. But mostly these days he doesnt.The old man just went on staring.Stefan dropped to his heels. permit me try, he said. Looking into the wrinkled face he began to speak, softly, soothingly, as he had to Vickie.And no matter what Meredith or Stefan did, that was all the response they could elicit.Eventually Bonnie tried, development her psychic powers. She could sense something in the old man, some spark of life trapped in the imprisoning flesh. But she couldnt reach it.Im sorry, she said, sitting back and pushing hair out of her eyes. Its no use. I cant do anything.Maybe we can come another time, Matt said, but Bonnie knew it wasnt true. Stefan was leaving tomorrow there would never be another time. And it had seemed like such a good idea The glow that had warmed her earlier was ash treees now, and her heart felt like a lump of lead. She turned away to see Stefan already starting out of the room.Matt pu t a hand under her elbow to help her up and usher her out. And after standing for a minute with her head bent in discouragement, Bonnie let him. It was hard to summon up enough energy to put one foot in front of the other. She glanced back dully to see whether Meredith was following-And screamed. Meredith was standing in the center of the room, facing the door, discouragement written on her face. But behind her, the figure in the wheelchair had stirred at last. In a silent explosion of movement, it had reared above her, the rheumy old eyes open replete(p) and the mouth open wider. Merediths grandfather looked as if he had been caught in the act of leaping-arms flung out, mouth forming a silent howl. Bonnies screams rang from the rafters.Everything happened at once then. Stefan came charging back in, Meredith spun around, Matt grabbed for her. But the old figure didnt leap. He stood towering above all of them, staring over their heads, seeming to see something none of them could. S ounds were coming from his mouth at last, sounds that make one ululating word.Vampire VampiireAttendants were in the room, crowding Bonnie and the others away, restraining the old man. Their shouts added to the pandemonium.Vampire Vampire Merediths grandfather caterwauled, as if warning the township. Bonnie felt panicked-was he look at Stefan? Was it an accusation?Please, youll have to admit now. Im sorry, but youll have to go, a nurse was saying. They were being whisked out. Meredith fought as she was forced out into the hall.Granddaddy-And then White ash wood Vampire White ash wood-The door slammed shut.Meredith gasped, fighting tears. Bonnie had her nails dug into Matts arm. Stefan turned to them, green eyes wide with shock.I said, youll have to leave now, the harassed nurse was repeating impatiently. The four of them ignored her. They were all looking at each other, stunned confusion giving way to realization in their faces.Tyler said there was only one kind of wood that cou ld hurt him- Matt began.White ash wood, said Stefan.Well have to find out where hes hiding, Stefan said on the way home. He was driving, since Meredith had dropped the keys at the car door. Thats the first thing. If we rush this, we could warn him off.His green eyes were shining with a queer mixture of predominate and grim determination, and he spoke in a clipped and rapid voice. They were all on the ragged edge, Bonnie thought, as if theyd been gulping uppers all night. Their jumpiness were frayed so thin that anything could happen.She had a sense, too, of impending cataclysm. As if everything were coming to a head, all the events since Merediths birthday party gathering to a conclusion.Tonight, she thought. Tonight it all happens. It seemed strangely appropriate that it should be the eve of the solstice.The eve of what? Matt said.She hadnt even realized shed spoken aloud. The eve of the solstice, she said. Thats what today is. The day before the summer solstice.Dont tell me. Drui ds, right?They celebrated it, Bonnie confirmed. Its a day for magic, for marking the change of the seasons. And she hesitated. Well, its like all other feast days, like Halloween or the winter solstice. A day when the line between the visible world and the invisible world is thin. When you can see ghosts, they used to say. When things happen.Things, Stefan said, turning onto the main highway that headed back toward Fells Church, are going to happen.None of them realized how soon.Mrs. Flowers was in the back garden. They had driven true to the boarding house to look for her. She was pruning rosebushes, and the smell of summer surrounded her. softened down, slow down now, she said, peering at them from under the brim of her straw hat. What is it you want? White ash? Theres one just down beyond those oak trees in back. Now, wait a minute- she added as they all scrambled off again.Stefan ringed a subsection of the tree with a jack-knife Matt produced from his pocket. I wonder when he started carrying that? Bonnie thought. She also wondered what Mrs. Flowers thought of them as they came back, the two boys carrying the leafy six-foot bough between them on their shoulders.But Mrs. Flowers just looked without saying anything. As they neared the house, though, she called after them, A big money came for you, boy.Stefan turned his head, the branch still on his shoulder. For me?It had your name on it. A package and a letter. I found them on the front porch this afternoon. I put them upstairs in your room.Bonnie looked at Meredith, then at Matt and Stefan, meeting their bewildered, suspicious gazes in turn. The anticipation in the air heightened suddenly, almost unbearably.But who could it be from? Who could even know youre here- she began as they climbed the stairs to the attic. And then she stopped, dread fluttering between her ribs. Premonition was buzzing around inner(a) her like a nagging fly, but she pushed it away. Not now, she thought, not now.But there was no way to keep from seeing the package on Stefans desk. The boys propped the white ash branch against the wall and went to look at it, a longish, flattish parcel wrapped in frontal bonen paper, with a creamy envelope on top.On the front, in known crazy handwriting, was scrawled Stefan.The handwriting from the mirror.They all stood staring down at the package as if it were a scorpion.Watch out, Meredith said as Stefan slowly reached for it. Bonnie knew what she meant. She felt as if the whole thing might explode or belch poisonous gas or turn into something with teeth and claws.The envelope Stefan picked up was consecutive and sturdy, made of good paper with a fine finish. Like a princes invitation to the ball, Bonnie thought. But incongruously, there were several dirty fingerprints on the surface and the edges were grimy. Well- Klaus hadnt looked any too clean in the dream.Stefan glanced at front and back and then tore the envelope open. He pulled out a single piece of heavy statio nery. The other three crowded around, looking over his shoulder as he unfolded it. Then Matt gave an exclamation.What the its blankIt was. On both sides. Stefan turned it over and examined each. His face was tense, shuttered. Everyone else relaxed, though, making noises of disgust. A stupid practical joke. Meredith had reached for the package, which looked flat enough to be empty as well, when Stefan suddenly stiffened, his breath hissing in. Bonnie glanced quickly over and jumped. Merediths hand froze on the package, and Matt swore.Stefan-Shall we try to solve this like gentlemen? I have the girl. Come to the old farmhouse in the woods after glooming and well talk, just the two of us. Come alone and Ill let her go. Bring anyone else and she break aways.There was no signature, but at the bottom the words appeared This is between you and me.What girl? Matt was demanding, looking from Bonnie to Meredith as if to make sure they were still there. What girl?With a sharp motion, Meredit hs elegant fingers tore the package open and pulled out what was inside. A pale green scarf with a pattern of vines and leaves. Bonnie remembered it perfectly, and a vision came to her in a rush. Confetti and birthday presents, orchids and chocolate.Caroline, she whispered, and shut her eyes.These last two weeks had been so strange, so different from ordinary high school life, that she had almost forgotten Caroline existed. Caroline had gone off to an apartment in another town to escape, to be safe-but Meredith had said it to her in the beginning. He can follow you to Heron, Im sure.He was just playing with us again, Bonnie murmured. He let us get this far, even going to see your grandfather, Meredith, and thenHe must have known, Meredith agreed. He must have known all along we were looking for a victim. And now hes checkmated us. Unless- Her dark eyes lit with sudden hope. Bonnie, you dont think Caroline could have dropped this scarf the night of the party? And that he just picked it up?No. The premonition was buzzing closer and Bonnie swatted at it, trying to keep it away. She didnt want it, didnt want to know. But she felt certain of one thing this wasnt a bluff. Klaus had Caroline.What are we going to do? she said softly.I know what were not going to do, and thats listen to him, Matt said. Try to solve it like gentlemen-hes scum, not a gentleman. Its a trap.Of course its a trap, Meredith said impatiently. He waited until we found out how to hurt him and now hes trying to separate us. But it wont workBonnie had been notice Stefans face with growing dismay. Because while Matt and Meredith were indignantly talking, he had been quietly folding up the letter and putting it back in its envelope. Now he stood gazing down at it, his face still, untouched by anything that was going on around him. And the look in his green eyes scared Bonnie.I think, said Stefan carefully, concentrating on each word, that I am going out to the woods after dark.Matt nodded, and lik e the quarterback he was, began to chart out a plan. Okay, you go distract him. And meanwhile, the three of us-The three of you, Stefan continued just as deliberately, looking right at him, are going home. To bed.There was a pause that seemed endless to Bonnies taut nerves. The others just stared at Stefan.At last Meredith said lightly, Well, its going to be hard to catch him while were in bed unless hes kind enough to come visiting.That broke the tension and Matt said, drawing a long-suffering breath, All right, Stefan, I understand how you feel about this- But Stefan interrupted.Im bushed(p) serious, Matt. Klaus is right this is between him and me. And he says to come alone or hell hurt Caroline. So Im going alone. Its my decision.Its your funeral, Bonnie blurted out, almost hysterically. Stefan, youre crazy. You cant.Watch me.We wont let you-Do you think, Stefan said, looking at her, that you could stop me if you tried? This silence was acutely uncomfortable. Staring at him, Bonn ie felt as if Stefan had changed somehow before her eyes. His face seemed sharper, his posture different, as if to remind her of the lithe, hard predators muscles under his clothes.All at once he seemed distant, alien. Frightening.Bonnie looked away.Lets be reasonable about this, Matt was saying, changing tactics. Lets just rub calm and talk this over-Theres nothing to talk over. Im going. Youre not.You owe us more than that, Stefan, Meredith said, and Bonnie felt grateful for her cool voice. Okay, so you can tear us all limb from limb fine, no argument. We get the point. But after all weve been through together, we deserve more of a thorough discussion before you go running off.You said it was the girls fight too, Matt added. When did you decide it wasnt?No, it isnt Bonnie cried. Did you make Elena kill Katherine?I made Katherine go back to Klaus Thats how this got started. And I got Caroline involved if it wasnt for me, she would never have hated Elena, never have gotten in with Tyler. I have a responsibility toward her.You just want to believe that, Bonnie almost yelled. Klaus hates all of us Do you really think hes going to let you walk out of there? Do you think he plans to leave the rest of us alone?No, Stefan said, and picked up the branch leaning against the wall. He took Matts knife out of his own pocket and began to strip the twigs off, making it into a straight white spear.Oh, great, youre going off for single combat Matt said, furious. Dont you see how stupid that is? Youre walking right into his trap He advanced a measuring rod on Stefan. You may not think that the three of us can stop you-No, Matt. Merediths low, level voice cut across the room. It wont do any good. Stefan looked at her, the muscles around his eyes hardening, but she just looked back, her face set and calm. So youre determined to meet Klaus face to face, Stefan. All right. But before you go, at least(prenominal) be sure you have a fighting chance. Coolly, she began to unbutton the neck of her tailored blouse.Bonnie felt a jolt, even though shed offered the same thing only a week earlier. But that had been in private, for Gods sake, she thought. Then she shrugged. Public or private, what difference did it make?She looked at Matt, whose face reflected his consternation. Then she saw Matts brow crease and the beginning of that stubborn, bullheaded expression that used to terrify the coaches of op-posing football teams. His blue eyes turned to hers and she nodded, thrusting out her chin. Without a word, she unzipped the light wind-breaker she was eating away and Matt pulled off his T-shirt.Stefan stared from one to another of the three people grimly disrobing in his room, trying to conceal his own shock. But he shook his head, the white spear in front of him like a weapon. No.Dont be a jerk, Stefan, Matt snapped. Even in the confusion of this terrible moment something inside Bonnie paused to admire his bare chest. Theres three of us. You should be able to ta ke plenty without hurting any one of us.I said, no Not for revenge, and not to fight evil with evil Not for any reason. I thought you would understand that. Stefans look at Matt was bitter.I understand that youre going to die out there Matt shouted.Hes right Bonnie pressed her knuckles against her lips. The premonition was getting through her defenses. She didnt want to let it in, but she didnt have the loudness to resist anymore. With a shudder, she felt it stab through and heard the words in her mind.For a moment, just a moment, she thought he might listen to her. Then his face went hard again and he spoke coldly.It isnt your problem. Let me worry about it.But if theres no way to win- Matt began.That isnt what Bonnie said Stefan replied tersely.Yes, it is What the hell are you talking about? Matt shouted. It was hard to make Matt lose his temper, but once lost it wasnt easily gotten back. Stefan, Ive had enough-And so have I Stefan shot back in a roar. In a tone Bonnie had never heard him use before. Im sick of you all, sick of your bickering and your spinelessness-and your premonitions, too This is my problem.I thought we were a team- Matt cried.We are not a team. You are a bunch of stupid humans Even with everything thats happened to you, muddy down you just want to live your safe little lives in your safe little houses until you go to your safe little graves Im nothing like you and I dont want to be Ive put up with you this long because I had to, but this is the end. He looked at each of them and spoke deliberately, emphasizing each word. I dont need any of you. I dont want you with me, and I dont want you following me. Youll only spoil my strategy. Anyone who does follow me, Ill kill.And with one last smoldering glance, he turned on his heel and walked out.