The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 41

Stefan Elena screamed and knew that she sounded interchangeable a madwoman when she screamed it. in that location was no answer.She was sackingning. Following the light. Stefan StefanAn empty cell.A yellowed mummy.A pyramid of dust.Somehow, subconsciously, she suspected unrivalled of these things. And any peerless would reach caused her to fiddle break through to fight Bloddeuwedd with her b be hands.Instead, when she reached the right cell, she saw a bore young man, whose face showed that he had given up all hope. He lifted a stick-thin arm, rejecting her utterly.They t emeritus me the truth. You were exported for aiding a pris unrivalledr. Im non susceptible to dreams anymore.Stefan She fell to her knees. Do we puddle to go through this every single time?Do you populate how often they re-create you, bitch?Elena was shocked. More than shocked. But the coterminous moment the hatred had faded from his face.At least I go away to look at you. I hadI had a picture. But they took that, of course. They shorten it up, very slow, making me watch. Sometimes they make me lash it. If I didnt cut it, they would Oh, darling Stefan, darling Look at me. Listen to the prison. Bloddeuwedd is destroying it. Because Ive stolen the new(prenominal) fractional of your pick out from her nest, Stefan, and I am not a dream. Do you mind this? Did they ever show you this? She held out the hand with the double fox face pack on it. Now straightaway where do I put it?You are warm. The bar are cold, Stefan verbalize, clutching her hand and speaking as if reciting out of a childrens book.Here Elena cried triumphantly. She didnt need to take the battalion off. Stefan was holding her different hand, and this curlicue worked care a seal ring. She placed it straight into a orotund depression in the wall. Then, when secret code happened, she turned it right. Nothing. Left.The cell bars slowly began to lift into the ceiling.Elena couldnt believe it and for an insta nt thought she was hallucinating. Then when she turned sagaciously to look at the consideration she saw that the bars were already at least a foot above it.Then she looked at Stefan, who was rest again.Both of them fell sticker to their knees. They would bring on both gotten down and wriggled like snakes if necessary, the need to touch was so great. The horizontal struts on the bars make it impossible for them to hold hands as the bars lifted.Then the bars were everyplace the top of Elenas head and she was holding Stefan she was holding Stefan in her ordnance appalled to feel bones under her hands, tho holding him, and no one could tell her he was a hallucination or a dream, and if she and Stefan had to die together, past they would die together. Nothing mattered scarce that they not be separated again.She covered the unfamiliar, bony face with kisses. Strange, no half- put forwardn, gone-to-the-wild b pinnuled, and vampires didnt grow beards unless they had them when t hey became vampires.And then in that location were author(a) people in the cell. Good people. quite a little laughing and crying and constituent her create a makeshift be out of stinking blankets and Stefans pallet and no one screamed when lice jumped on them because everyone knew that Elena would stand turned and ripped their throat out like Saber. Or rather, like Saber, but as Ms. Courtland had always tell, with feeling. To Saber it was alone a job.Then in round way things had begun to become disconnected Elena was watching Stefans be raged face and gripping his litter, and rails he didnt weigh anything up a different corridor than the one shed fought and shoulder and pushed and floundered in on her way in. Apparently all the Shi no Shis salmon had chosen the other corridor to swim up. Undoubtedly there was a inviolable place for them at the end on that side.And even as Elena wondered how a face could be so pure, and handsome, and perfect, even when it looked almo st like a skull, she was calling, I can run and stoop. And she bent over Stefan and her hair do a shield around them, so that it was mediocre the two of them within it. The entire outside homo was shut out, and they were alone, and she said in his ear Please, we need you to be strong. Please for me. Please for comely. Please for Damon. Plea She would have gone on naming all of them, and in all likelihood some over and over, but it was too much already. After his gigantic deprivation, Stefan was in no mood to be contrary. His head darted up and Elena felt more than the commonplace pain because he was at the wrong angle, and Elena was glad because Stefan had struck a vein down its length and blood was flowing into his mouth in a steady stream.They had to go a little more slowly now, or Elena would have tripped and colored Stefans face maroon like a demons, but they were still jogging. Someone else was guiding them.Then, very unawares they stopped. Elena, look shut, mind locked on to Stefans, would not have looked up for the world. But in a moment they were moving again, and there was a feeling of spaciousness all around Elena and she realized that they were in the residence and she had to make accepted everyone knew.Its on the left-hand(a) side of us now, she sent to Damon. Its close to the front. Its a accession with all sorts of symbols above.I believe Im familiar with the species, Damon sent back dryly, but even he couldnt hide two things from her. One was that he was glad, actually glad to feel Elenas elation, and to know that it was he, in the main part, that had brought it about.The other was simple. That if there was a choice between the life of himself and the life of his brother, he would give his own life. For Elenas sake, for his own pride.For Stefan.Elena didnt dwell on these secret things she had no right to know. She simply embraced them, let Stefan feel them in all their barren vibrancy, and made sure there was no feedback to tell Damon that Stefan knew. Angels were singing in heaven for her. Black Magic rose petals were scattering around her body. in that respect was a release of doves and she felt their wings. She was happy.But she was not safe.She only acquire it as she entered the lobby, but they were very lucky that the Dimensional Door was on the side it was. Bloddeuwedd had methodically destroyed the other side until it had collapsed into a slew that was nothing but splintered wood. Elena and Bloddeuwedds feud power have started out as a quarrel between a hostess who thought her knob had broken the house rules and a guest who just wanted to run away, but it had become a war to the death. And given the way vampires, werewolves, demons, and other folk down here in the Dark Dimension reacted, it had created a sensation. The Guardians had their hands full keeping people out of the building. Dead bodies stupefy strewn on the street.Oh, God, the people The poor people Elena thought, as this at con cluding came into her field of view. As for the Guardians, who were keeping this place clear and fighting Bloddeuwedd on her behalf God bless you for that, Elena thought, envisioning a standing-room-only lobby as they move to race with Stefan across the floor. As it was, they were alone.Now we need your key again, Elena, Damons voice, just above her, said.Elena gently pried Stefan off her throat. Just for a moment, my darling. Just for a moment.Looking at the room access, Elena was confounded for several moments. There was a hole, but nothing happened when she put the ring in it and pushed, jammed, or twisted left or right. Out of the corner of her eye she saw some bleak shadow above her, dismissed it as irrelevant, and then had it come shout out at her like a dive-bomber, steel talons reaching for her.There was no roof. Bloddeuwedds talons had methodically ripped it away.Elena knew it.Because somehow Elena suddenly saw the whole of the situation, not just her part in it, but as if she were someone outside her body, who tacit many more things than puny little Elena Gilbert did.The Guardians were here to foresee collateral damage.They could or would not stop Bloddeuwedd.Elena knew that, too.All the people hurry down the other corridor had been doing what an owls prey normally does. They had been dashing for the bottom of their burrow. There was an enormous safe room there.Somehow, Elena knew it.But now, blurrily but definitely, Bloddeuwedd saw the ones she had been later in the first place, the nest robbers, the ones who had forever put out one of her huge round orange far-seeing eyes, and cut her so deeply that the other eye was filling with blood.Elena could feel it.Bloddeuwedd could see they were the ones who had caused her to smash her beak. The criminals, the savages, the ones she would tear to pieces slowly, slowly, a limb at a time, switching from one to another as she clutched five or six in one set of claws, or as she watched them, futile to ru n from lack of limbs, writhing beneath her.Elena could reek it.Beneath her.Right nowthey were directly beneath Bloddeuwedd.Bloddeuwedd dove.Saber Talon yelled sagacious, but Elena knew that there would be no distraction now. There would be nothing but killing and tearing, slowly, and screams echoing off the single lobby wall.Elena could picture it.It wont open, damn it, shouted Damon. He was manipulating Elenas wrist to move the key in the hole. But no matter how he pulled or pushed, nothing happened.Bloddeuwedd was almost upon them.She accelerated, throwing telepathic images before her.Sinew stretching, joints cracking, bone splinteringElena knew NOOOOOElenas cupful of rage ran over.Suddenly she saw everything she needed to know in one great sweeping epiphany. But it was too late to get Stefan at bottom the door, so the first thing she shouted was Wings of ProtectionBloddeuwedd, notwithstanding six feet away, slammed into a barrier that a nuclear missile could not have harmed. She slammed into it at the speed of a racing car and with the slew of a medium-sized airplane.Horror exploded beak first against Elenas wings. They were clear light-green at the top, dotted with flashing emeralds, and shading into a dawn bump covered with crystals at the bottom. The wings enwrapped all six universe and two animals and they did not move by one millimeter when Bloddeuwedd fuddled into them.Bloddeuwedd had made herself roadkill.Shutting her eyes, and trying not to think of the maiden who had been made of flowers (and who had killed her husband Elena told herself desperately) with dry lips, and wetness trickling down her cheeks, Elena turned back to the door. Put the ring in. Made sure it was flush.And said, Fells Church, Virginia, USA, Earth. Near the boardinghouse, please.It was well after midwickedness. compressed was sleeping on the bunkers cot, while Mrs. Flowers slept on the couch, when they were suddenly wakened by a thump.What on earth? Mrs. Flowers got up and stared out the window, which should have been dark.Be careful, maam, Matt said automatically, but couldnt help adding, What is it? as always, expecting the worst and making sure the six-gun with the blessed bullets was ready.Itslight, Mrs. Flowers said helplessly. I dont know what else to say about it. Its light.Matt could see the light, throwing shadows on their bunker floor. There was no sound of thunder, and hadnt been since he woke up. Hastily he ran to join Mrs. Flowers at the window.Did you ever? exclaimed Mrs. Flowers, lifting her hands and falling them again. Whatever could it mean?I dont know, but I remember everybody lecture about ley lines. Lines of Power in the ground.Yes, but those run along the shape up of the earth. They dont point upward, like like a fountain Mrs. Flowers said.But I heard that wherever three ley lines come together I think Damon said they can form a Gate. A Gate to where they were going. dearly me, said Mrs. Flowers. You mean you thin k one of those Gateway things is out there? Maybe its them, coming back.It couldnt be. The time Matt had spent with this particular old woman had made him not only respect her, but love her. But I dont think we should go outside, anyway.Dear Matt. You are much(prenominal) a comfort to me, Mrs. Flowers murmured.Matt didnt really see how. It was all her stored nutrient and water they were using. Even the fold-up cot was hers.If he had been on his own he might have investi provided thisextraordinary thing. Three spotlights shining out of the ground at an angle so that they met just about at the tip of a human being. Bright lights. And getting brighter every minute.Matt sucked in his breath. Three ley lines, huh? God, it was probably an invasion of monsters.He didnt even dare to hope.Elena didnt know if she had needed to say USA or Earth, or even if the door could take her to Fells Church, or if Damon would have to give her the light upon of some gate that was close to it. Butsurely with all those ley linesThe door opened, revealing a small room like an elevator. intelligent said quietly, Can you quatern carry him if you have to fight, too? And after a second to function what this meant three shrieks of protest, in three different feminine tones, came.No Oh, please, no Oh dont leave us Bonnie, begging.Youre not coming home with us? Meredith, straight-from-the-shoulder.I order you to get in and make it quick Elena.Such a dominant woman, murmured Sage. Ah, well, it seems the Great Pendulum has swung again. I am only a man. I obey.What? Does that mean youre coming? Bonnie cried.It means I am coming, yes. Gently, Sage took Stefans floatd body in his arms and stepped into the little cubicle inside the door. Unlike the first keys Elena had used today, this one seemed to work more like a voice-activated elevatorshe hoped. After all, Shinichi and Misao had each only needed one key for themselves. Here, a number of people might want to go to the same place at o nce.She hoped.Sage back-kicked Stefans old bedding away. Something sound on the ground. Oh Stefan reached helplessly for it. Its my Elena diamond. I found it on the floor afterPlenty more where that came from, Meredith said.Its important to him, Damon, who was already inside, said. Instead of crowding further into the elevator, the little room that might disappear at any second, that might be gone for Fells Church before he could turn back, he walked out into the lobby, looked closely at the floor, and knelt. Then, quickly, he reached down and then got up and hurried into the little room again.Do you want to hold it or shall I?You hold itfor me. Take care of it.Anyone who knew of Damons track record, especially with regards to Elena or even an old diamond that had belonged to Elena, would have said Stefan had to be a madman. But Stefan wasnt mad.He clasped his hand over his brothers that held the diamond.And Ill hold on to you, he said with a faint, wry smile.I dont know if anyon e is interested, Meredith said, but there is a single passing on the inside of this contraption.Push it cried Sage and Bonnie, but Elena cried more loudly, No waitShed spotted something. Across the lobby, the Guardians had been unable to stop a single, apparently unarmed citizen from entering the room and crown of thorns the floor at a high-paced graceful glide. He moldiness have been over six feet tall, wearing an entirely white tunic and breeches, which matched his long white hair, alert foxlike ears, and the long flowing silky tail that waved tin can him.Shut the door bellowed Sage.Oh, my breathed Bonnie.Can someone tell me what the hell on earth is going on? snarled Damon.Dont worry. Its only a fellow prisoner. A silent fellow. Hey, you got out, too Stefan was smiling and that was enough for Elena. And the intruder was holding out something to him that well, it couldnt be what it looked like but it was getting quite close now and it looked like a bouquet of flowers.That i s a kitsune, is it not? Meredith asked, as if the world had gone mad around her.A prisoner said Stefan.A THIEF shouted Sage.Hush said Elena. He can probably hear even if he cant speak.By then the kitsune was upon them. He met Stefans eye, glanced at the others and held out the bouquet, which was heavily sealed in plastic wrap and some kind of long stickers with magical-looking inscriptions on them.This is for Stefan, he said.Everyone, including Stefan, gasped.Now I must deal with some tiresome Guardians. He sighed. And you must press the button to make the room go, Beauty, he said to Elena.Elena, who had momentarily been fascinated by the whisking of a fluffy tail around silken breeches suddenly blushed scarlet. She was remembering certain things. Certain things that had seemed very differentin a lonely dungeonin the dark of artificially formed night.Oh, well. Best to put a brave face on it. convey you, she said, and pushed the button. The doors began to close. Thank you again she added, bowing slightly to the kitsune. Im Elena.Yoroshiku. I am The door shut between them.Is it that you have gone crazy? Sage cried. taking a bouquet from a foxYoure the one who seems to know him, Monsieur Sage, Meredith said. Whats his name?I do not know his name I do know he stole three-fifths of the Seine Cloister Treasure from me I know that he is expert, but expert at cheating at the cards AhhThe last was not a cry of rage but an exclamation of alarm, for the little room was moving sideways, plunging downward, almost stopping, before it resumed its former steady motion.Will it really take us to Fells Church? Bonnie asked timidly, and Damon put an arm around her.Itll take us somewhere, he promised. And then well see. Were a pretty able set of survivalists.Which reminds me, Meredith said. I think Stefan looks better. Elena, who had been helping to buffer him from the dimensional elevators motion, glanced up at her quickly.Do you really? Or is it just the light? I think he sh ould be feeding, she said anxiously.Stefan flushed, and Elena pressed fingers to her lips to stop them trembling. Dont, darling, she said voicelessly. Every one of these people have been willing to give their life for you or for me for us. Im healthy. Im still bleeding. Please dont waste it.Stefan murmured, Ill stop the bleeding. But when she bent to him, as she had known he would, he drank.