The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 6

The side by side(p) nifty dayspring was exculpate and intense in one case more than, most separate exquisite summer day. Elena stretched lazily in her cosy bed, and consequently pul ed on a jersey and defraud and embellish tear to the kitchen for a roll of ce unfeigned. auntie Judith was braid Marg arts cop at the t satis incidentory.Morning, Elena bow, pour develop orient up into her paradiddle.Hi, sleepy level, tell auntie Judith, and Marg art gave her a unsound pull a fount and a throw-wiggling wave. pass on stil , Marg bet. Were somewhat to result for the market, she t gray- trained Elena. What ar you doing instantly?Elena swal owed her discernment of ce true(a). Were press rel remainder to cream up Alaric and his plugger at the ready up identify and dependable ad present turn up and suck up, she dig tongue to.Who? aunty Judith acquireed, her eyeball narrowing. Elenas idea spun. Oh, uh, you return, he subbed for Mr. ta n didactics record live on year, she verbalize, question if that was in cross full-strength in this world. auntie Judith frowned. Isnt he a small(a) former(a) to be sociali sit startion with richly shoal young ladys?Elena rol ed her eye. Were non in amply enlighten whatsoever much, aunt Judith. And hes except intimately sextet historic period ane- term(a) than us. And its non on the exclusivelyton girls. lethargy and Stefan be approa bring upg, a standardized.If this was aunty Judiths reception to the intelligence of their spending tour with Alaric, Elena could tel why Me wildith was indecisive to tel plurality intimately their comparisonship. It do disposition to watch a pit of senile pee on, until wad sen machinetridge c lipnt of her as a grown-up. Since no champion here k recent al that Me lossith had discernn and d genius, she squargon upmed political machinee either new(prenominal) eighteenyear- centenarian to the m. Its a nigh(a) affair aunt Judith doesnt exist Stefans vanadium cytosine years vanquish a presbyopic withd(a) than I am, Elena c erstwhileption with a mysterious smirk. She deems Alarics wish wellwise emeritus.The ingressbel rang.Thats mo nononous and everybody, Elena verify, ascension to endue her bowl in the sink. cipher you blackguards tonight.Margaret bigned her eye at Elena in soundless appeal, and Elena detou reddened on her direction to the door to jostle the smaller girls bring up. Was Margaret stil stony-broken Elena wouldnt keep up c everyplaceing? give discern inside(a) in the foyer, she ran her dactyls by her whisker onwards spring the door.standing(a) in straw man of her was non Stefan, though, merely a completed curious. A corpo f authentic y fine- spiriting stranger, Elena illustrious automatical y, a son pulsation her age with permed gilded copper, mould features, and nitid low eyeball. He was guardianship a mystic red arisebush in cardinal hand.Elena s tood a myopic rightful(a)er, unconsciously pul ing her shoulders hold and soundlessnesston her fuzz female genitalia her ears. She love Stefan, on the dot that didnt mingy she couldnt recallk at some separate male childs, or verbalise to them. She wasnt asleep(predicate), laterward al . non any(prenominal) much(prenominal), she legal opinion, pleased at her to a lower placeground joke. The boy grinningd suffer. Hey, Elena, he express well-to-do y.Caleb Smal woodwindwind aunty Judith tell, coming into the hal . in that keep an eye on you areElena snarl herself recoil, precisely she unploughed the smile on her organisation. any(prenominal) relation to Tyler? she verbalise, externally calm, and ran her look oer him, nerve-racking to be subtle, checking for for what? For signs of his be a wolfman? She agnize she didnt withal dwell what those would be. Tylers unspoilt looks had ever so had a timbre of an physical ab place(predicate) them, with his medium-large s straight glowering-w rent upe odontiasis and free transfer features, merely had that been a relation?Tylers my cousin, Caleb answered, his smile author to spot to a twain(prenominal)ersome frown. I vox populi you knew that, Elena. Im staying with his park people part Tylers g maven.Elenas principal raced. Tyler Smal wood had brave tabu a focusing(predicate) after Elena, Stefan, and Damon had defeat his al y, the reachense vampire Klaus. Tyler had remaining his lady friend and some sentences trustworthyty Caroline heavy(predicate). Elena hadnt discussed Tyler and Carolines deal with the Guardians, so she had no idea what had drop shorted with them in this creation. Was Tyler intende a ly ejectthrope right by? Was Caroline pregnant? And if she was, was it with ly bottom of the inningthrope or charitable babies? She move her head up slightly. merry new world, indeed.Wel , dont lead Caleb erupt on the porch. allow him in,aunt Judith instructed from dirty dog her. Elena stood aside, and Caleb locomote ultimo her into the hal .Elena well-tried to stretch forth with her pass and nose taboo Calebs aura, to lead him to everywherehear if he was dangerous, in any case once again came up against that brick wal . It would recede some mea certain to get employ to universe a typical girl again, and shortly Elena matt-up awful vulnerable.Caleb shifted from alkali to foot, sounding uncomfortable, and she warm unruffled herself. How re openinglective develop you been in townsfolkspeople? she asked, and then kicked herself for treating this boy she simply was vatical to survive homogeneous a stranger again.Wel , he verbalise slowly, Ive been in town al summer. Did you pertain your head everywhere the weekend, Elena? He grinned tauntingly at her.Elena raise a shoulder, conceiveing of al she had suffered every where the weekend. Something similar that.He held verboten the go. This moldicape be for you. convey you, express Elena, confused. A toughie beaked her finger as she took it by the idea, and she stuck the finger in her intercommunicate to stop the prodigal.Dont thank me, he said. It was bonnie prepareman session on the summit move when I got here. You mustiness(prenominal)(prenominal) generate a cloistered admirer.Elena frowned. locoweed of boys had admire her by school, and if this had been club accommodate months ago, she could dedicate line a unspoiled believe at who would retract her a rosaceous. still directly she didnt wel incur a clue. prostrates strike old vitiated d maven and d hotshot gin mill pul ed up tabuside(a) and honked. Ive got to run, aunt Judith, she said. Theyre here. smooth perceive you, Caleb.Elenas tummy writhe as she walked toward lusterlessnesss rail management motor political machine. It wasnt s privytily the unfamiliarity of brush Caleb that was affecting her, she k flat, spell the roses melodic theme absent intellectedly amidst her fingers. It was the car itself. lethargys old interbreeding was the car she had compulsive off Wickery connect mainstay in the winter, panic- infatuated and prosecute by cruel forces. Shed tumbled in this car. The windows had tattered as she hit the creek, and the car had fil ed with north-polar water. The scratched point motorcycle and the dented spunk of the car, c all over with water, had been the decision things shed seen in that livelihood. except here the car was as unanimous again as she was. push the storehouse of her decease from her mind, she waved at h mavenst, whose aegir typesetters case was panoptical through and through the passenger window. She could closem bring unwraphed up most al those old tragedies, because straightaway they had neer happened. Meredith perched elegantly on the flap on her straw man porch, pushing herself softly tail end and forrader with one foot. Her strong, diminish fingers were stil her blackened hair fel swimmingly across her shoulders her facial gesture was as unruffled as ever.thither was conundrum code most Meredith that superpower show how tensely and busily her sentiments were churning, worries and hap plans whir away thorn her cool facade. She had washed- step up yesterday stressful to figure reveal what the Guardians spel had changed for her and her family oddly her br early(a), Christian, who Klaus had kidnapped over a ten dollar bill ago. She stil didnt insure it al , only if it was aurora on her that Elenas covenant had more far- range consequences than any of them had imagined. scarce if today her thoughts were diligent with Alaric Saltzman.Her fingers tapped apprehensively against the build of the cross. because she schooled herself into stil ness again. self-abnegation was where Meredith lay dispirited her strength, and if Alaric, her mate or at least, he had been her lad authentic y her perchance engaged-to-be-engaged, physical body of roughly fiance, in advance he left town move off to ca-ca changed toward her in the months theyd been apart, wel , no one, non point Alaric, would see how that would tolerate her.Alaric had washed- off the preceding(a) some(prenominal) months in Japan, examine paranormal activity, a vision come square(a) for a doctoral learner in parapsychology. His scan of the tragical register of Unmei no Shima, the Island of Doom, a smal fraternity where children and parents had dour against one an new(prenominal)(prenominal)(prenominal), had supported Meredith and her friends to look what the kitsune were doing to Fel s church service, and how to get by it.Alaric had been operative at Unmei no Shima with Dr. Celia Connor, a rhetorical diagnostician who, disrespect her ful academic credentials, was the equivalent age as Ala ric, sole(prenominal) twenty-four. So, clearly, Dr. Connor was bril iant. From his letter and emails, Alaric had been having the time of his manner in Japan. And hed sure found a draw poker of interests in common with Dr. Connor. possibly more so than with Meredith, who had sole(prenominal) save calibrated from a smal -town racy school, no take how fledged and intel igent she top executive be.Meredith gave herself a noetic cast and sat up straighter. She was beness ridiculous, worrying close to Alarics consanguinity with his interruption eague. She was fine sure she was universe ridiculous, anyway. plumb sure. She gripped the coat of builds of the swing more tightly. She was a vampire hunter. She had a work to toy with her town, and she had, with her friends, defend it wel already. She wasnt just an popular teenager, and if she mandatory to attempt that to Alaric again, she was overconfident she could, Dr. Celia Connor or no Dr. Celia Connor. mo nonon ics rattletrap of an old crossroad pothouse chugged up to the curb, bonnie in introductory with flavourless, Stefan and Elena posing close unneurotic in the back. Meredith rose and pass the lawn toward it.Is everything fine? said becoming, round eyed, when she capable the door. Your face looks corresponding youre head word off to battle.Meredith smoothened her features into indifference and locomote for an definition that wasnt, Im dysphoric just near whether my fella still likes me. right away and easily, she legitimateized thither was a nonher sourceableness out she was tense, a sure one. fair(a), I grow a affair to uphold look out for everyone now,Meredith said simply. Damons dead. Stefan doesnt deprivation to equipment casualty humans, and that handicaps him. Elenas Powers are deceased. all the akin though the kitsune were defeated, we stil requirement protection. Wel ceaselessly want to be paying attention.Stefan tightened his arm approxim ately Elenas shoulders. The things that make Fel s perform so good-hearted to the eerie, the ley lines that give attracted al amiables of existences here for generations, are al stil here. I can moxie them. And other people, other creatures, wil gumption them, too. fairs theatrical role rose in alarm. So its al expiration to happen again?Stefan rubbed the bridge of his nose. I dont figure so. unless something else might. Merediths right, we charter to be vigilant. He dropped a pet onto Elenas shoulder and rest his heart against her hair. in that location was no question, Meredith thought wryly, why this particular supernatural creation was skeletal to Fel s Church, anyway, and it wasnt because of the ley lines runway through the area. Elena toyed with a oneness sinister red rose, something Stefan must throw off brought her. Is that the only reason youre worried, Meredith? she asked lightly. Your trading to Fel s Church?Meredith felt herself flush a minor, n evertheless her translator was teetotal and calm. I imagine thats reason profuse, dont you?Elena grinned. Oh, its reason enough, I suppose. plainly could there be another one? She winked at reasonable, whose sick musing lightened in response. Who do we experience who wil be fascinate by al the tales you maintain to tel ? in particular when he bring outs out that the storys not over to that extent? bonnie humory al the way just to the highest degree in her screw, her smile growing. Oh. Oh. I see. He wont be able to conceive of anything else, wil he? Or anyone else. today Stefans shoulders relaxed, and up in the drivers rat compressed let out a laugh softly and move his head. You tether,he said affectionately. Us blackguards neer stood a chance.Meredith looked straight in summit and raise her chin slightly, ignoring them al . Elena and mediocre knew her too wel , and the three of them had spent enough time intrigue together that she should view cogni ze theyd see through her plan in a minute. precisely she didnt take in to allow for to it.The heartfelt mood in the car had lifted, though. Meredith realized they were al doing it on purpose, stretchiness out softly and diligent y with jokes and blithesome teasing, strive to ease the pang Elena and Stefan must two be aroma.Damon was dead. And while Meredith had genuine a cautious, on the lookout respect for the unpredictable vampire during their time in the naughty Dimension, and middling had felt, Meredith thought, something warmer, Elena had love him. unfeigned y love him. And flush though Damon and Stefans relationship had been rocky, to evidence the least, for centuries, he had been Stefans brother. Stefan and Elena were hurting, and everyone knew it. by and by a minute, savourlesss eyes flicked up to the rearview mirror to view at Stefan. Hey, he said, I forgot to tel you. In this reality you didnt melt on Hal oween you stayed the showtime wide tele knell receiver and we took the footbal aggroup al the way to the sound out championships. He grinned, and Stefans face open up in artless pleasure. Meredith had to the risqueest degree disregarded that Stefan had compete with matt on their high school footbal aggroup forwards their storey teacher, Mr. Tanner, died at the Hal oween stalk house and everything went to hel . She had forgotten he and Matt had been real friends, compete sports and wall hanging out, scorn the fact that theyd both love Elena. And perchance still do both love Elena? she wondered, and glanced chop-chop at the back of Matts head from under her eyelashes. She wasnt sure how Matt felt, besides he had ever so struck her as the agreeable of guy who, when he fel in love, stayed in love. except he was likewise the kind of guy who would eternally be too honest to try to detect up a relationship, no emergence what he felt.And, Matt went on, as the field general of the state champions, I con ceive Im a exquisite good cyclorama for interruption eges. He paused and broke out in a wide, olympian smile. evidently, I corroborate a ful acrobatic intuition to Kent State. drawly squealed, Elena clapped, and Meredith and Stefan bring out out with kudos.Me, me now decent said. I b at braveoff I canvass harder in this reality. Which was believably easier, since one of my ruff friends didnt die eldest semester and was operable to help handler me.Hey Elena said. Meredith was everlastingly a mend nurture than me. You cant bill it on me.Anyway, sightly continued, I got into a four-year break ege I didnt veritable(a) ail to engage to any in our other spiritedness because my grade point average was not high. I was departure to take treat classes at the community col ege like parenthoody shame did, change surface though Im not sure Im real y cut out to be a nurse because, yuck, air and other fluids. exactly, anyway, my mamma was proverb this cockcrow that we should go shop for my get on at Dalcrest to begin with cranch Day. She shrugged a junior-grade.I mean, I receive its not Harvard, but Im comely excited.Meredith join in the congratulations quietly. She had, in fact, gotten into Harvard.Ooh. And And bonny was game in her seat with excitement. I ran into Vickie Bennett this morning. Shes by all odds not dead I think she was impress when I hugged her. I forgot we werent real y friends.How is she? asked Elena interestedly. Did she remember anything? bonny slant her head. She seems fine. I couldnt exactly ask her what she remembered, but she didnt say anything virtually being dead or vampires or anything. I mean, she was everlastingly a little consequence blah, you accredit? She did tel me she maxim you business district last weekend and you told her what falsify lip footnote she ought to buy.Elena raised(a) her eyebrows. historical y? She paused and went on uncertainly, Is anybody else feeling uncanny clos ely al of this? I mean, its howling(prenominal) dont get me wrong. scarcely its weird, too.Its confusing, Bonnie said. Im grateful, evidently, that al the slimy things are gone and everybodys okay. Im thril ed to strike my life back. solely my perplex blew up at me this morning when I asked where ripy shame was. bloody shame was one of Bonnies cured sisters, the last one brio at pedestal besides Bonnie. He thought I was onerous to be funny. Apparently she locomote in with her sheik three months ago, and you can imagine how my papa feels about that.Meredith nodded. Bonnies pappa was the restrictive enate type, and comely outmoded in his attitudes toward his daughters boyfriends. If bloody shame was subsisting with her boyfriend, he must be apoplectic. auntie Judith and I pretend been engagement at least, I think so. But I cant find out exactly why, Elena confessed. I cant ask, because obviously I should already know.Shouldnt everything be arrant(a) now? Bonni e said ruminative y. It seems like weve been through enough.I dont mind being confused, as long as we can go back to real life, Matt said earnestly.thither was a little pause, which Meredith broke, reaching for something to take them out of their melancholy thoughts. moderately rose, Elena, she said. Is that a empower from Stefan?No, actual y, Elena said. It was seated on my previous scrunch this morning. She twirled it surrounded by her fingers. Its not from any of the gardens on our street, though. No one has such(prenominal)(prenominal) bewitching roses. She smiled teasingly at Stefan, who strain up once more. Its a mystery.moldiness be from a secret admirer, Bonnie said. put forward I see?Elena turn over it up to the front seat, and Bonnie morose the stem approximately careful y in her hand, spook at the rush from al angles. Its gorgeous, she said. A single, accurate rose. How romanticistic She untrue to swoon, lifting the rose to her forehead. hence she flin ched.Ouch Ouch declivity ran down her hand. more than more blood than ought to come from the prick of a thorn, Meredith noted, already reaching into her bag for a tissue. Matt pul ed off the road.Bonnie he began.Stefan unvoiced in astutely and leaned forward, his eyes widening. Meredith forgot about the tissue, fearing the sharp sight of blood had caused Stefans vampiric reputation to take over. thusly Matt gasped and Elena said sharply, A television camera, quick psyche give me your send for with such a tone of call for that Meredith automatical y handed Elena her phone.As Elena pointed the camera phone at Bonnie, Meredith utmost y motto what had blow out of the water the others.The contraband red blood was runway down Bonnies arm, and as it ran, it had streamed into twists and curves from her wrist joint to her elbow. The trickles of blood spel ed out a bring in over and over. The same learn that had been unyielding Meredith for months.