The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Two

And thats either I remember, bonny concluded as she and Meredith walked set d makeSunflower Street between the rows of t either Victorian signalings.solely it was unquestionably Elena?Yes, and she was assay to tell me close to matter at the reverse. But thats the part that wasnt clear, except that it was important, horribly important. What do you minutek?Mouse sandwiches and open graves? Meredith arched an dandyish eyebrow. I think youre poseting Stephen King mixed up with Lewis Carroll.becoming thought she was probably right. But the dream quench bo on that pointd her it had bo on that pointd her all day, abounding to beat her earlier worries out of her mind. straight, as she and Meredith approached Carolines house, the venerable worries re cancelled with a vengeance.She substantially should capture told Meredith about this, she thought, casting an uneasy obliquely glance at the taller girl. She shouldnt allow Meredith safe walk in there unpreparedMeredith nu merateed up at the started windows of the Queen Anne House with a sigh. Do you really need those earrings tonight?Yes, I do yes, absolutely. in deal manner late now. Might as well make the best of it. Youll go to sleep them when you see them, she added, hearing the note of hopeful desperation in her own voice.Meredith paused and her keen blue(a) look searched reasonables face curiously. Then she knocked on the door. I scarcely hope Carolines not staying home tonight. We could end up stuck with her.Caroline staying home on a Saturday night? Dont be ridiculous. just had been holding her breath too long she was starting to feel light qualifyinged. Her tinkling laughter came out brittle and false. What a concept, she continued just aboutwhat hysterically as Meredith tell, I dont think anybodys home, and tried the knob. Possessed by some disquieted impulse seemly added, Fiddle-dee-dee.Hand on doorknob, Meredith stopped dead and sullen to tang at her. fair, she say quiet ly, shoot you g i completely by means of the oz sensation?No. Deflated, Bonnie grabbed Merediths arm and sought her eyes urgently. The door was hatch focal point on its own. Oh, God, Meredith, please dont buck meSurprise shouted three voices.Smile, Bonnie hissed, shoving the suddenly scornant body of her friend by with(predicate) the door and into the brilliant room full of noise and showers of foil confetti. She beamed wildly herself and spoke through clenched teeth. Kill me later-I deserve it - exactly for now just smile. there were balloons, the big-ticket(prenominal) Mylar kind, and a cluster of presents on the c get rid ofee table. There was fifty-fifty a flower arrangement, although Bonnie find the orchids in it matched Carolines ill green fuck off exactly. It was a Hermes silk with a goal of vines and leaves. Shell end up wearing one of those orchids in her whisker, Ill bet, Bonnie thought.There were balloons, the expensive Mylar kind, and a cluster of present s on the chocolate table. There was change surface a flower arrangement, although Bonnie 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. postcode I cant break with an iron crowbar, Meredith replied. But she smiled back with wry rut and Bonnie relaxed. Sue had been a Homecoming Princess on Elenas court, along with Bonnie, Meredith, and Caroline. She was the besides girl at school besides Bonnie and Meredith whod stood by Elena when everyone else had turned against her. At Elenas funeral shed tell that Elena would always be the real queen of Robert E. Lee, and shed abandoned up her own nomination for Snow Queen in Elenas memory. cipher could hate Sue. The worst was over now, Bonnie thought.I want to get a picture of us all on the couch, Caroline said, view them behind the flower arrangement. Vickie, take it, will you?Vick ie Bennett had been standing by quietly, unnoticed. Now she said, Oh, sure, and nervously flicked long, light brown hair out of her eyes as she picked up the camera.Just like shes some kind of servant, Bonnie thought, and accordingly the flashbulb blinded her.As the Polaroid developed and Sue and Caroline laughed and talked virtually Merediths dry politeness, Bonnie noticed something else. It was a good picture Caroline looked stunning as ever with her auburn hair gleaming and the pale green orchids in front of her. And there was Meredith, tone resigned and ironic and darkly beautiful without even trying, and there she was herself, a head shorter than the others, with her red curls tousle 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, besides for a moment the fair hair and blue eyes seemed to belong to someone else. Someone looking at her urgently, on the verge of saying something importan t. Bonnie frowned at the photo, nictate rapidly. The image swam in front 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 require her.Ill take the next one, she said, springing up. Sit pull down, Vickie, and lean in. No, farther, farther-there All of Vickies movements were quick and light and nervous. When the flashbulb went off, she started like a scared animal ready to bolt.Caroline scarcely glanced at this picture, getting up and heading for the kitchen or else. Guess what were having instead of cake? she said. Im making my own version of Death by Chocolate. pick out on, youve got to help me melt the postpone. Sue followed her, and afterwards an uncertain pause, so did Vickie.The plump traces of Merediths pleasant expression evaporated and she turned to Bonnie. You should induce told me.And that makes it all worthwhile?Well, it helps, Bonnie said, with an air of existence reasonable. And really, it probably wont be so bad. Carolines actually trying to be nice, and its good for Vickie to get out of the house for onceIt doesnt look like its good for her, Meredith said bluntly. It looks like shes spill to have a heart attack.Well, shes probably just nervous. In Bonnies opinion, Vickie had good reason to be nervous. Shed spent just about of the previous fall in a trance, being slowly driven out of her mind by a forcefulness she didnt understand. Nobody had expected her to progress out of it as well as she had.Meredith was still looking bleak. At least, Bonnie said consolingly, it isnt your real birthday.Meredith picked up the camera and turned it over and over. Still looking down at her hands, she said, But it is.What? Bonnie stared and so said louder, What did you say?I said, it is my real birthday. Carolines mom must have told her she and my mom used to be friends a long period ago.Meredith, what are you talking about? Your birthday was stick out week, May 30.No, it wasnt. Its today, June 6. Its true its on my drivers license and everything. My parents started celebrating it a week primeval because June 6 was too upsetting 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 kill my grandmother, you chouse. He tried to kill me, too. Meredith put the camera down carefully in the exact digest of the coffee table. We really should go in the kitchen, she said quietly. I taste chocolate.Bonnie was still paralyzed, entirely her mind was beginning to work again. Vaguely, she remembered Meredith verbalize about this in the first place, only if she hadnt told her the full truth hence. And she hadnt said when it had happened.Attacked-you mean like Vickie was attacked, Bonnie got out. She couldnt say the term lamia, unless she k smart Meredith understood.Like Vickie was attacked, Meredith con firmed. Come on, she added, even more quietly. Theyre waiting for us. I didnt mean to upset you.Meredith doesnt want me to be upset, so I wont be upset, Bonnie thought, pouring hot pull strings over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. in time though weve been friends since starting time grade and she never told me this secret before.pouring hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. Even though weve been friends since first grade and she never told me this secret before.Then Bonnie shake 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 even that baffling. Meredith and Vickie didnt talk much at first, however 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 opened the last one they were all talking and laug hing. The mood of truce and toleration continued as they moved up into Carolines bedroom to picture her clothes and CDs and photo albums. As it got near midnight they flopped on sleeping bags, still talking.Whats going on with Alaric these days? Sue asked Meredith.Alaric Saltzman was Merediths boyfriend-sort of. He was a potassium alum student 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 finding out what they were doing with psychics during the Cold War.What are you going to tell him when he gets back? asked Caroline.It was a question Bonnie would have liked to ask Meredith herself. Because Alaric was almost four years older, Meredith had told him to wait until after she graduated to talk about their future. But now Meredith was eighteen-today, Bonnie reminded he rself-and commencement was in two 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 wanted Meredith to go to Boone Junior College with her, not go off and get married, or even engaged. It was stupid person to decide on one poke fun 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 faithful to, she said now.Everyone looked at her quickly. Sues chin was resting on her fists as she asked, Not even Stefan?Bonnie should have known. With the only light the dim bedside lamp and the only sound the rustle of new leaves on the weeping willows outside, it was inevitable that the conversation would turn to Stefan-and to Elena.Stefan Salvatore and Elena gigabit 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 offish 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, agreeable Stefan but drawn irresistibly to Damons wildness. In the end she had died to save them both, and to lay aside 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 people.Her flare out burned brighter, said Meredith, gazing at the patterns the rose-and-gold lamp made on the ceiling. Her voice was well-heeled but intense, and it seemed to Bonnie that those words described Elena better than anything shed ever comprehend.There were times when I hated her, but I could never dilute her, Caroline admitted, her green eyes narrowed in memory. She wasnt a mortal 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 six ty years or sixty minutes, Vickie agreed in a low voice. Any 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 feel as if shes somewhere near.Oh, so do I, said Bonnie, distracted. An image of Warm Springs flashed through her mind, and for a moment it seemed more vivid than Carolines dim room. Last 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 any-thing supernatural, but not now. Her psychic powers were undisputed, awesome, and a flyspeck scary.Do you really? hard 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 silence. At last Sue said hesitantly, with the faintest catch up with 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 dismissed the dream, but now she met Bonnies eyes seriously.Is that the only way to communicate with dead people? What about a Ouija board or something? Sue asked.My parents have a Ouija board, Caroline said a dinky too loudly. Suddenly the hushed, low-key mood was broken and an indefinable emphasis filled the air. Everyone sat up straighter and looked at each other with speculation. Even Vickie looked intrigued on top of her scaredness.Would it work? Meredith said to Bonnie.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. wherefore not? she said. What have we got to lose?Caroline turned to Vickie. Vickie, theres a insistency at t he bottom of the stairs. The Ouija board should be in spite of appearance, on the top shelf with a bunch of other games.She didnt even say, Please, will you get it? Bonnie frowned and opened her mouth, but Vickie was already out the door.You could be a subatomic 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 shrill and it fell off weakly at the end, but there was no mistaking 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 running out into the hallway and down the stairs.Vickie Meredith, with her long legs, reached the bottom first. Vickie w as standing in front of the closet, arms extended as if to protect her face. She clutched at Meredith, still screaming.Vickie, what is it? Caroline demanded, sounding more angry than afraid. There were game boxes scattered across the floor and Monopoly markers and trivial Pursuit cards strewn everywhere. What are you yelling about?It grabbed me I was stretch up to the top shelf and something grabbed me round the waistNo From inside the closet.Startled, Bonnie looked inside the open closet. Winter coats hung in an impenetrable 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 give out the bare cedarwood of the closet wall.You see? Nobody there, she said lightly. 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 forrader, 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 plastic planchette. Shed never actually used a Ouija board, but she knew how it was done. The planchette moved to point at garner and spell out a message-if the spirits 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 painted lustrous 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. cypher her. If shes out there, we want to draw her here. The big room was silent. In the dark behind her closed 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 manoeuver it they were all applying pressure from different points. Nevertheless, the little triangle of plastic was skid 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 living 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 m atte unready and a little stupid addressing the empty air directly. But she was the expert she had to do it. Is that you, Elena? she said.The planchette made a little circle 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 capability was flowing through it. She no longer felt stupid. Tears 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 horse 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 every last(predicate)Thats 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. decent THERES NO cartridge clip STOP SNIVELING AND GET DOWN TO BUSINESS And that was Elena too. Bonnie sniffed and went on. I had a dream about you last night.TEAYes. Bonnies heart was tiresome faster than ever. I wanted to talk to you, but things got weird and then we kept losing contact-BONNIE DONT enamour NO TRANCE NO TRANCEAll right. That answered her question, and she was relieved to hear it.CORRUPTING INFLUENCES DISTORTING OUR COMMUNICATIONTHERE are BAD THINGS VERY BAD THINGS OUT HERELike what? Bonnie leaned closer to the board. Like what?NO TIMEThe planchette seemed to add the exclamation point. It was dork violently from letter to letter as if Elena could barely contain her impatience. insecurity? Vickie repeated, looking as if she might jump off the chair and run. turn back LISTEN FIRST THE WHOLE TOWN IS IN DANGERWhat do we do? said Meredith instantly.YOU NEED HELP HES OUT OF YOUR LEAGUE implausibly STRONG NOW LISTEN 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. some other MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSE ANOTHER MOUSEWhats happening? Sue cried, eyes astray open now.Bonnie was frightened. The planchette was pulsing with energy, a dark and ugly energy like boiling black tar that stung her fingers. But she could alike feel the quivering silver thread that was Elenas presence fighting 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, slaughter out from under Bonnies fingers and beyo nd 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.