The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 43

Elena had a feeling she couldnt quite describe. It wasnt let go across. It waslet up. For what seemed want some of her look she had been searching for Stefan.But now she had him back again, quite safe and make clean (hed had a long bath while she insisted on scrubbing him climb down with all(a) sorts of brushes and pumice stones, and then a shower, and then a sort of cramped shower with her). His hair was drying into the silky soft racy reverse a little longer than he usually unploughed it that she knew. He hadnt had energy for frivolities like keeping his hair short and clean before. Elena tacit that.And nowthere were no obliges or kitsune approximately to spy on them. There was nonhing to keep them from severally other. They had been playful in the shower, splattering for each one other, Elena always making sure to keep her feet on the no-slip guard and ready to try to support Stefans lanky weight. But they could non be playful now.The showers spray had been trul y helpful, too at concealing the teardrops that kept flowing tweak Elenas cheeks. She could oh, dear heaven count and feel each one of his ribs. He was just bones and skin, her beautiful Stefan, but his greenness eyes were a die, sparkling and dancing in his pale case.After they were dress in nightclothes they simply sat on the bed for a little while. Sitting in concert, some(prenominal) breathing Stefan had got into the habit from being around humans so untold and, recently, from trying to eke out the small tot of nutrition he received in synchronicity, and both feeling the others prompt body beside themit was almost too much. then(prenominal), almost tentatively, Stefan groped for Elenas hand, and catching it, held it in both of his, turning it over wonderingly.Elena was swallowing and swallowing, trying to make a start in a conversation, mat up herself practically radiating bliss. Oh, I never essential anything more, she image, although she knew that soon nice s he would want to talk, and to hold, and to kiss, and to feed Stefan. But if someone had asked her if she would vex accepted just this, sitting to layher, communicating by touch and issue alone, she would have accepted it.Before she knew it, she was talking, words that came like bubbles out of molasses, just these were bubbles from her soul. I thought that somehow I might lose this time. That Id won so many times, and that this time something would teach me a lesson and youwouldnt make it.Stefan was flat-tempered wondering over her hand, bending industriously to kiss each tell finger. You call winning dying in pain and sunlight to save my superfluous life and my even more worthless brothers?I call this a give out kind of winning, Elena admitted. Any time we get to be together is winning. Any moment even in that dungeonStefan winced, but Elena had to give the sack her thought. Even there, to look in your eyes, to touch your hand, to bed that you were look at me and touchi ng me and that you were happy well, thats winning, in my book.Stefan lifted his eyes to hers. In the heavy light, the green looked suddenly dark and mysterious. And one more thing, he whispered. Because I am what I amand because your crowning glory isnt that glorious grand cloud of hair, but an aura that isineffable. Indescribable. Beyond any wordsElena had thought they would sit and simply gaze at each other, drowning in each others eyes, but that wasnt happening. Stefans expression had slipped and Elena realized how close to bloodlust and to death he unchanging really was.Hurriedly, Elena pulled her damp hair to one side of her neck, and then she leaned back, know Stefan would catch her.He did this, but although Elena atilt her chin back, he tilted it down in his two hands to look at her.Do you know how much I love you? he asked.His entire face was masked now, enigmatic and strangely thrilling. I dont think you do, he whispered. Ive watched and watched how you were free t o do anything, anything to save mebut I dont think you know how much that love has been building up, Elena.Delicious shivers were going down Elenas spine.Then youd better show me, she whispered. Or I might not believe that you destine it Ill show you what I signify, Stefan whispered back. But when he bent down it was to kiss her softly. The feelings inside Elena that this starving creature wanted to kiss her sort of of going at once for her throat, contributeed a peak that she could not beg off in thoughts or words, but only by drawing Stefans mental capacity so that his mouth rested on her neck.Please, she said. Oh, Stefan, please.Then she felt the brisk sacrificial pains, and then Stefan was drinking her blood, and her intelligence, which had been fluttering around like a bird in a lighted room, now saw its come near and its mate and swooped up and up and up to at last reach unity with its best-beloved.After that there was no need for clumsy things like words. They comm unicated in thoughts as pure and clear as shimmering gems, and Elena rejoiced because all of Stefans consciousness was open to her, and none of it was walled off or dark and there were no boulders of secrets or chained and weeping electric shaverrenWhat she heard Stefan exclaim voicelessly. A child in chains? A mountain-sized boulder? Who could have that in their mind ? Stefan broke off, knowing the answer, even before Elenas lightning-swift thought could tell him. Elena felt the clear green wave of his pity, spiced by the natural anger of a young man who has gone through the depths of hell, but untainted by the terrible black poison of hatred of brother for brother.When Elena had finished explaining all she knew about Damons mental processes, she said, And I dont know what to do Ive done allthing I could, Stefan, Ive Ive even loved him. I gave him everything that wasnt yours alone. But I dont know if its make even the slightest difference.He called Matt Matt instead of Mutt, S tefan interrupted.Yes. I observe that. Id kept asking him to, but it never seemed to matter.It mattered this way you managed to change him. not many people cornerstone.Elena wrapped him in a tight embrace, stopped, disturbed that it was too tight, and glanced at him. He smiled and shook his head. He was already looking like a person rather than a death summer camp survivor.You should keep using it, Stefan said voicelessly. Your influence over him is strongest.I bequeath without any artificial Wings, Elena promised. Then she worried that Stefan would think her too forward or too attached.But one look at Stefan was enough to assure her that she was doing the right thing.They clung to each other.It wasnt as hard as Elena had imagined it would be handing Stefan over to other humans to be bled. Stefan had a clean duad of pajamas on, and the first thing he said to all three donors was, If you get frightened or change your mind, just say so. I can hear perfectly well, and Im not in bloodlust. And anyway, Ill probably sense it if youre not enjoying it before you do, and Ill stop. And finally thank you thank you all. Ive decided to break my fellow tonight because theres still some little chance that if I slept I wouldnt wake up tomorrow without you.Bonnie was horrified and indignant and furious. You mean you couldnt sleep all that time because you were afraid to to?I did fall unconscious from time to time, but thank fortune thank God I always woke up again. There were times when I didnt dare fall to conserve energy, but somehow Elena kept finding ways to come to me, and every single time she came, she brought me some kind of sustenance. He gave Elena a look that sent her heart spinning out of her chest and graduate(prenominal) into the stratosphere.And then she set up a schedule, with Stefan being fed every hour on the hour, and then she and the others left the first volunteer, Bonnie, alone, so as to be more comfortable.It was the next morning. Damon had already been out to visit Leigh, the antiques-sellers niece, who had seemed very glad to see him. And now he was back, to look with scorn at the slug-a-beds who were distributed all around the boardinghouse.That was when he saw the bouquet.It was heavily sealed down with wards amulets to help get it through the dimensional gap. There was something powerful in there.Damon cocked his head to one side.HmmI wonder what?Dear Diary,I dont know what to say. Were home.Last night we each had a long bathand I was half-disappointed, because my favorite long-handled back-scrubbing brush wasnt there, and there was no star orb to make dreamy music for Stefan and the water supply was LUKEWARM And Stefan went to see if the water heater was turned on all the way and met Damon going to do the same thing Only, they couldnt because were home again.But I woke up a couple of hours ago for a few minutes to see the most beautiful sight in the worlda sunrise. Pale knock and eerie green in the east, with nighttime still full dark in the west. Then deeper rose in the sky, and the trees all wreathed in dew clouds. Then a shiny glory from the edge of the horizon and dark rose, cream, and even a green melon color in the sky, Finally, a ancestry of fire and in an instant all the colors change. The line becomes an arc, the western sky is deepest deepest blue devil, and then up comes the sun bringing warmth and light and color to the green trees and the sky begins to become supernal blue celestial just means heavenly, although somehow, I have a delicious scarey feeling when I say it. The sky becomes a gemlike, celestial, cerulean blue and the golden sun begins to pour energy, love, light, and every good thing onto the world.Who could not be happy to watch this while Stefan held her?We who are so prosperous as to be born into the light who see it every mean solar day and never think about it, were blessed. We could have been born shadow souls who live and die in crimson darkne ss, never even knowing that someplace there is something better.