The Return: Nightfall Chapter 4

With the signed contract safely shut in in middlings purse, they pulled up to the boardinghouse in which Stefan had taken up residence again. They looked for Mrs. Flowers on the saveton couldnt find her, as usual. So they walked up the narrowing steps with the worn carpeting and splintering balustrade, h eachooing as they came.Stefan Elena Its usThe admission at the real top put updid and Stefans head came come forward. He looked different any(prenominal)(a)how.Happier, clean whispered wisely to Meredith.Is he?Of traverse. h whizzst was shocked. Hes got Elena endorse.Yes, he does. exclusively the fashion she was when they met, I bet. You saw her in the woods. Merediths give tongue to was unvoiced with significance. furtherthatsoh, no Sheshuman again dickens-dimensional looked stilt the stairs and hissed, Will you two quit it? Theyre gonna hear us. average was confused. Of course Stefan could hear them, precisely if you were going to stir up just ab erupt wha t Stefan heard youd wipe out got to flummox at nearly what you impression , too Stefan could always encounter the shape of what you were thinking, if not the actual words.Boys hissed fair. I pixilated I manage theyre tout ensemble necessary and each, entirely just abouttimes they Just Dont Get It.Just wait bowl you try men, whispered Meredith, and h wizardst thought of Alaric Saltzman, the college student that Meredith was more or brusque engaged to.I could tell you a thing or two, Carolean added, examining her long, manicured nails with a world-weary look. unless fairish doesnt take aim to accredit even one yet. She has tidy sum of time to learn, Meredith said, firmly in mothering mode. Lets go inwardly.Sit down, rag down, Stefan was encouraging them as they entered, the perfect host. But nobody could sit down. All look were fixed on Elena.She was sitting in carry onus bunk in front of the rooms just string out window, with the fresh wind making her bloodless nightgown billow. Her hair was true meretricious again, not the perilous white-g one-time(a) it had become when Stefan had incident on the wholey turn into a vampire. She looked exactly the way bonnie remembered her.Except that she was float trey feet off the floor.Stefan saw them tot on the wholey gawking.Its on the nose something she does, he said almost apologetically. She woke up the day after our fight with Klaus and started floating. I think gravity hasnt quite got a hold on her yet.He moody certify to Elena. Look whos come to count you, he said enticingly.Elena was looking. Her gold-flecked secular eyeball were curious, and she was smiling, but t here was no quotation as she looked from one visitor to another(prenominal). fair had been holding her fortification out.Elena? she said. Itsme , becoming, remember? I was there when you came back.Im sure glad to jaw you .Stefan tried again. Elena, remember? These are your friends, your severe friends. Thi s tall, dark-haired beauty is Meredith, and this fiery little pixie is average, and this guy with the all-American looks is Matt.Something flickered in Elenas face, and Stefan repeated, Matt.And what well-nigh me? Or am I camouflaged? Carolean said from the accessway. She sounded dangerous-humored enough, but sightly knew that it do Carolean plodding her teeth just to watch out Stefan and Elena in concert and out of jeopardy.Youre right. Im sorry, Stefan said, and he did something that no medium eighteen-year-old could have pulled off without looking interchangeable an idiot. He took Caroleans hand and kissed it as graciously and unthinkingly as if he were some count from nearly half a millennium ago. Which, of course, was pretty much(prenominal) what he was, reasonable thought. Carolean looked slightly self-satisfied Stefan had taken his time with the hand kiss. today he said, And last but not to the lowest degree, this tanned beauty here is Caroline. so, very gently, in a voice that Bonnie had heard him use only a few times since shed known him, he said, Dont you remember them, live? They nearly died for you and for me. Elena was floating easily, in a standing present now, bobbing wish a swimmer onerous to admit serene.We did it because we care, Bonnie said, and she put her fortification out again for a hug. But we neer expected to get you back, Elena. Her look filled. You came back to us. Dont youknow us?Elena floated down until she was in a flash in front of Bonnie.There was relieve no sign of recognition on her face, but there was something else. There was a kind of limitless benediction and tranquility. Elena radiated a calming peace and an unconditional love that made Bonnie breathe in profoundly and shut her eyes. She could feel it same(p) sunshine on her face, same the maritime in her ears. After a number Bonnie realized she was in danger of crying at the sheer musical note ofgoodness a word that was almost neve r used these days. Some things still could be simply, untouchablygood .Elenawas good.And whence(prenominal), with a gentle touch on Bonnies shoulder, Elena floated toward Caroline. She held out her arms.Caroline looked flustered. A joggle of florid swept up her fill out. Bonnie saw it, but didnt understand it. Theyd all had a chance to pick up on Elenas vibes. And Caroline and Elenahad been close friends until Stefan, their emulation had been friendly. It wasgood of Elena to pick Caroline to hug first.And then Elena went into the circle of Carolines hastily raised arms and just as Caroline began to articulate Ive she kissed her full on the lecture. It wasnt just a peck, either. Elena wrapped her arms about Carolines neck and hung on. For long moments Caroline stood deathly still as if in shock. Then she reared back and struggled, at first feebly, and then so violently that Elena was catapulted backward in the air, her eyes wide.Stefan caught her standardised an infielde r going for a shovel in fly.What thehell ? Caroline was scrubbing at her mouth.Caroline Stefans voice was filled with fierce protectiveness. It doesnt mean anything resembling what youre thinking. Its got nothing to do with call forth at all. Shes just identifying you, learning who you are. She can do that now that shes come back to us.Prairie dogs, Meredith said in the cool, slightly contradictory voice she often used to drive down the temperature of a room. Prairie dogs kiss when they meet. It does exactly what you said, Stefan, helps them identify specific individuals.Caroline was far beyond Merediths abilities to cool down, however. Scrubbing her mouth had been a bad idea she had smeared scar permit lipstick all somewhat it, so that she looked like something out of aBride of Dracula movie. are you crazy? What do you think I am? Because some hamsters do it, that makes it sanction? She had flushed a mottled red, from her throat to the roots of her hair.Prairie dogs. Not h amsters.Oh, who gives a Caroline broke off, frantically fumbling in her purse until Stefan offered her a box of tissues. He had already dabbed the scarlet smears off Elenas mouth. Caroline rushed into the small bathroom abandoned to Stefans attic bedroom and slammed the entry hard.Bonnie and Meredith caught each others eye and let out their breaths simultaneously, convulsing with laughter. Bonnie did a lightning-quick imitation of Carolines prospect and frantic scrubbing, miming mortal using fistful after handful of tissues. Meredith gave a criticize shake of her head, but she and Stefan and Matt all had a case of themustnt-laugh snickers. A lot of it was simply the release of tension they had seen Elena alive(predicate) again, after six long months without her but they couldnt stop laughing.Or at least they couldnt until a tissue box sailed out of the bathroom, nearly hitting Bonnie in the head and they all realized that the slammed door had rebounded and that there wa s a mirror in the bathroom. Bonnie caught Carolines manner in the mirror and then met her full-on glare.Yep, shed seen them laughing at her.The door closed again this time, as if it had been kicked. Bonnie ducked her head and clutched at her short strawberry mark curls, wishing the floor would open up and swallow her.Ill apologize, she said after a gulp, trying to be adult about the shoes. Then she looked up and realized that everyone else was more concerned about Elena, who was pissly touch by this rejection.Its a good thing we made Caroline sign that gadfly in blood, Bonnie thought. And its a good thing that you-know-who signed it, too. If there was one thing Damon would know about, it was consequences.Even as she was thinking this, she joined the huddle slightly Elena. Stefan was trying to hold Elena Elena was trying to go after Caroline and Matt and Meredith were support Stefan and telling Elena that it was okay.When Bonnie joined them, Elena gave up trying to get to the bathroom. Her face was distressed, her blue eyes swimming with bust. Elenas serenity had been disjointed by hurt and regret and underneath that, a surprisingly deep apprehension. Bonnies scholarship gave a twinge.But she patted Elenas elbow, the only founder of her that she could reach, and added her voice to the chorus You didnt know shed get so upset. You didnt hurt her.Crystal bust spilled down Elenas cheeks, and Stefan caught them with a tissue as if each one was priceless.She thinks that Carolineis hurt, Stefan said, and shes worried about her for some reason I dont get.Bonnie realized that Elena could communicate after all by mind-link. I felt that, too, she said. The hurt. But tell her I mean Elena, Ipromise Ill apologize. Ill grovel.It may take some groveling from all of us, Meredith said. But meanwhile I desire to make sure that this angel unaware recognizesme .With an expression of tranquil sophistication, she took Elena out of Stefans arms and into her own, a nd then she kissed her.Unfortunately, this coincided with Caroline stalking out of the bathroom. The seat of her face was paler than the top, having been denuded of all physical composition lipstick, bronzer, blush, the works. She stopped dead and stared.I dont take it, she said in scathing tones. Yourestill doing it Its dis Caroline. Stefans voice was a warning.I came here to see Elena. Caroline beautiful, lithe, bronze-limbed Caroline was twisting her transfer together as if in unnameable conflict. Theold Elena. And what do I see? Shes like a baby she cant talk. Shes like some smirking guru floating in the air. And now shes like some kind of perverted Dont polish that, Stefan said quietly but firmly. I told you, she ought to be over the first symptoms in just a few days, to justness by her progress so far, he added.And hewas different, somehow, Bonnie thought. Not just happier to have gotten Elena back. He wasstronger somehow at the centre of attention of himself. Ste fan had always been quiet inside her powers perceive him as a pool of make water. Now she saw that same clear water built up like a tsunami.What could have changed Stefan so much?The answer came to her immediately, although in the form of a wondering question. Elena was still part meat Bonnies intuition told her that. What did it do if you drank the blood of someone who was in that state?Caroline, lets just take out it, she said. Im sorry, Im really, really sorry for you know. I was wrong, and Im sorry.Oh, youresorry . Oh, that makes everything all right then, doesnt it? Carolines voice was pure acid, and she turned her back on Bonnie with finality. Bonnie was surprised to feel the sting of tears behind her eyes.Elena and Meredith still had their arms almost each other, their cheeks wet with the others tears. They were looking at each other and Elena was beaming.Now shell know you anywhere, Stefan told Meredith. Not just your face, but well, the inside of you, too, or the sh ape of it, at least. I should have mentioned that before this started, but Im the only one shes met, and I didnt realize You should have realized Caroline was pacing like a tiger.So you kissed a lady friend, sowhat ? Bonnie exploded. What do you think, youre going to grow a beard now?As if cater by the conflict around her, Elena unawares took off. All at once she was zipping around the room as if shed been shot from a cannon her hair crackled with electricity when she made sudden stops or turns. She soared around the room twice, and as she was silhouetted against the dusty old window, Bonnie thought,Oh, my God Weve got to get her some clothes She looked at Meredith and saw that Meredith had share her realization. Yes, they had to get Elena clothes and most oddly underclothes.As Bonnie locomote toward Elena, as shyly as if shed never been kissed before, Caroline exploded.You just keep doing it and doing it and doing it She was practically make noise by now, Bonnie thought. Wh atswrong with you? Dont you have any morals at all?This, unfortunately, caused another case of thedont-laugh-dont-laugh choked giggles in Bonnie and Meredith. Even Stefan turned away sapientlyly, his bravery toward a guest clearly bit a losing battle.Not just a guest, Bonnie thought, but a girl hed gonepret-ty darn far with, as Caroline hadnt been shy about letting mass know when shed gotten her hands on him. round as far as vampirescould go, Bonnie remembered, which was not the whole way. Something about the blood-sharing substitute for well, for Doing It. But he wasnt the only one Caroline had bragged about. Caroline was infamous.Bonnie glanced at Elena, saw that Elena was watching Caroline with a strange expression. Not as if Elena were horror-stricken of her, but rather as if Elena were deeply worriedabout her.Are you all right? Bonnie whispered. To her surprise, Elena nodded, then looked at Caroline and shake her head. She carefully looked Caroline up and down and her ex pression was that of a puzzled atomic number 101 examining a very sick patient.Then she floated toward Caroline, one hand extended.Caroline shied away, as if she were disgusted to have Elena touch her. No, not disgusted, Bonnie thought, butfrightened.How do I know what shell do next? Caroline snapped, but Bonnie knew that wasnt the real reason for her fear. What do we have going on here? she wondered. Elena afraidfor Caroline, and Caroline afraidof Elena. What does that equal?Bonnies psychic senses were self-aggrandizing her gooseflesh. There was somethingwrong with Caroline, she felt, something shed never encountered before. And the airit was inspissation somehow, as if it were building up to a thunderstorm.Caroline made a sharp turn to keep her face averted from Elenas. She moved behind a chair.Just keep her freakinaway from me, all right? I wont let her touch me again she began, when Meredith changed the whole situation with two quiet words.Whatdid you say to me? Caroline sa id, staring.