The Vampire Diaries: The Struggle Chapter Fifteen

Elena, youre being rude Aunt Judith seldom got angry entirely she was angry forthwith. Youre in any(prenominal) case old for this kind of behavior.Its not rudeness You dont understand I understand perfectly. Youre acting in force(p) the look you did when Damon came to dinner. Dont you destine a guest deserves a micro more consideration?Frustration flooded all over Elena. You dont even know what youre talking ab parenthesis, she said. This was overly much. To hear Damons words coming from Aunt Judiths lips it was unbearable. Elena A color flush was creeping up Aunt Judiths cheeks. Imshocked at you And Ihave to saythat this childish behavior only started since youve been freeing taboo with that boy. Oh, that boy. Elena glared at Damon.Oh, really? Elena felt as if she were talking to Damon and Aunt Judith at once, and she looked back and forth between the two of them. every last(predicate) the emotions shed been suppressing for the last days for the last weeks, for the months since Stefan had come into her life were surging forward. It was desire a bang-up tidal wave inside her, over which she had no control.She realized she was shaking. Well, thats too bad because youre passing to have to tolerate it. I am never going to give Stefan up, not for anyone. Certainly not foryou This last was meant for Damon, simply Aunt Judith gasped.Thats enough Robert snapped. Hed appeared with Margaret, and his face was drear. Young lady, if this is how that boy encourages you to speak to your aunt Hes not that boy Elena took another step back, so she could face all of them. She was making a spectacle of herself, everyone in the courtyard was looking. But she didnt aid. She had been keeping a lid on her feelings for so long, shoving heap all the anxiety and the fear and the anger where it wouldnt be seen. All the worry ab come to the fore Stefan, all the terror over Damon, all the outrage and humiliation shed suffered at school, shed buried it deep. But now it was coming back. All of it, all at once, in a maelstrom of impossible violence. Her heart was power hammer crazily her ears rang. She felt that nothing mattered ask out to hurt the people who stood in front of her, to show them all.Hes not that boy, she said again, her voice deadly cold. Hes Stefan and hes all I care about. And I happen to be engaged to him.Oh, dont be ridiculous Robert thundered. It was the last straw.Is this ridiculous? She held up her hand, the ring toward them. Were going to get marriedYou arenot going to get married, Robert began. Everyone was furious. Damon grabbed her hand and stared at the ring, then let goed abruptly and strode away, every step entire of barely leashed savagery. Robert was spluttering on in exasperation. Aunt Judith was fuming.Elena, I absolutely forbid you Yourenot my mother Elena cried. Tears were trying to force themselves out of her eyes. She needed to get away, to be alone, to be with someone who loved her. If Stefan asks, tell him Ill be at the boarding house she added, and broke away done the crowd.She half expected Bonnie or Meredith to follow her, but she was glad they didnt. The parking lot was full of cars but almost empty of people. Most of the families were staying for the afternoon activities. But a battered Ford sedan was parked nearby, and a familiar figure was unlocking the door. matte Are you leaving? She made her decision instantly. It was too cold to walk all the way to the boarding house.Huh? No, Ive got to help Coach Lyman take the tables down. I was simply putting this away. He tossed the Outstanding Ath permite placard into the front seat. Hey, are you okay? His eyes widened at the sight ofYes no. I will be if I can get out of here. Look, can I take your car? Just for a little while?Well sure, but I know, why dont you let me drive you? Ill go tell Coach Lyman.No I just want to be alone Oh, please dont ask any questions. She almost snatched the keys out of his hand. Ill bring it back soon, I promise. Or Stefan will. If you see Stefan, tell him Im at the boarding house. And thanks. She slammed the door on his protests and revved the engine, pulling out with a clash of gears because she wasnt used to a stick shift. She left him standing in that respect staring after her.She drove without really seeing or hearing anything outside, gripeing, locked in her own spinning tornado of emotions. She and Stefan would run away They would elope They would show everyone. She would never set foot in Fells Church again.And then Aunt Judith would be sorry. Then Robert would see how wrong hed been. But Elena would never forgive them. Never.As for Elena herself, she didnt need anybody. She certainly didnt need stupid old Robert E. Lee, where you could go from being mega-popular to being a social pariah in one day just for loving the wrong person. She didnt need any family, or any friends, either retardent down to cruise up the winding driveway of the boarding house, Elena fe lt her thoughts slow down, too.Well she wasnt mad at all her friends. Bonnie and Meredith hadnt done anything. Or Matt. Matt was all right. In fact, she might not need him but his car had come in pretty handy.In spite of herself Elena felt a strangled giggle well up in her throat. Poor Matt. People always borrowing his clunking dinosaur of a car. He must think she and Stefan were nuts.The giggle let loose a few more tears and she sat and wiped them off, shaking her head. Oh, perfection, how did things turn out this way? What a day. She should be having a victory festivity because theyd beaten Caroline, and instead she was crying alone in Matts car.Carolinehad looked pretty damn funny, though. Elenas body shook gently with slightly hysterical chuckles. Oh, the look on her face. mortal better have a video of that.At last the sobs and giggles both abated and Elena felt a wash of tiredness. She leaned against the steering wheel trying not to think of anything for a while, and then sh e got out of the car.Shed go and wait for Stefan, and then theyd both go back and deal with the mess shed made. It would take a lot of clean up, she thought wearily. Poor Aunt Judith. Elena had yelled at her in front of half the town.why had she let herself get so upset? But her emotions were unagitated close to the surface, as she found when the boarding house door was locked and no one answered the bell.Oh, wonderful she thought, her eyes stinging again. Mrs. Flowers had gone off to the Founders Day celebration, too. And now Elena had the choice of sitting in the car or standing out here in this windstormIt moaned through the branches of the oak trees, bust off the remaining generates and move them down in showers. The sound was rising steadily now, not just a moan but a howl.And there was something else. Something that came not just from the wind, but from the air itself, or the space around the air. A feeling of pressure, of menace, of some unimaginable force. It was gather ing power, drawing nearer, closing in.Elena spun to face the oak trees.There was a stand of them behind the house, and more beyond, blending into the forest. And beyond that were the river and the graveyard.Something was out there. Something very badNo, whispered Elena. She couldnt see it, but she could feel it, like some great shape seating up to stand over her, blotting out the sky. Shefelt the evil, the hatred, the animal fury.Bloodlust. Stefan had used the word, but she hadnt understood it. Now she felt this bloodlust focused on her.NoHigher and higher, it was towering over her. She could still see nothing, but it was as if great wings unfolded, stretching to touch the horizon on either side. Something with a Power beyond comprehension and it wanted tokill No She ran for the car just as it stooped and dived for her. Her hands scrabbled at the door handle, and she fumbled frantically with the keys. The wind was screaming, shrieking, tearing at her hair. Gritty ice sprayed into h er eyes, blinding her, but then the key sour and she jerked the door open.Safe She slammed the door shut again and brought her fist down on the lock. Then she flung herself across the seat to check the locks on the other side.The wind roared with a thousand voices outside. The car began rocking.Stop it Damon, stop it Her thin cry was lost in the cacophony. She put her hands out on the dashboard as if to balance the car and it rocked harder, ice pelting against it.Then she saw something. The rear window was clouding up, but she could discern the shape through it. It looked like some great bird made of mist or snow, but the outlines were hazy. All she was sure of was that it had huge sweeping wings and that it was coming for her. conk the key in the ignition. Get it in Now go Her mind was rapping orders at her. The antiquated Ford wheezed and the tires screamed louder than the wind as she took off. And the shape behind her followed, getting larger and larger in the rearview mirror.I f she hadnt been skidding and braking already, the tree would have crashed down on her. As it was, the uncivilized impact shook the car like an earthquake missing the front right fender by inches. The tree was a mass of heaving, pitching branches, its ashes blocking the way back to town completely.She was trapped. Her only route home cut off. She was alone, there was no escape from this terrible PowerPower. That was it that was the key. The stronger your Powers are, the more the rules of the dark bind you.Running waterThrowing the car into reverse, she brought it around and then slammed into forward. The white shape banked and swooped, missing her as narrowly as the tree had, and then she was speeding down Old Creek Road into the worst of the storm.It was still after her. Only one thought pounded in Elenas brain now. She had to cross running water, to leave this thing behind. There were more cracks of lightning, and she glimpsed other trees falling, but she swerved around them. I t couldnt be far now. She could see the river flickering past on her left side through the driving ice storm. Then she saw the bridge.It was there shed made it A gust threw sleet across the windshield, but with the wipers next stroke she saw it fleetingly again. This was it, the turn should be abouthere.The car lurched and skidded onto the wooden structure. Elena felt the wheels grip at slick planks and then felt them lock. Desperately, she tried to turn with the skid, but she couldnt see and there was no roomAnd then she was crashing through the guardrail, the rotted wood of the footbridge giving way under weight it could no longer support. There was a sicken feeling of spinning, dropping, and the car hit the water.Elena heard screams, but they didnt seem to be connected with her. The river welled up around her and everything was noise and confusion and pain. A window bust as it was struck by debris, and then another. Dark water gushed across her, along with glass like ice. She w as engulfed. She couldnt see she couldnt get out.And she couldnt breathe. She was lost in this hellish tumult, and there was no air.She had to breathe. She had to get out of hereStefan, help me she screamed.But her scream made no sound. Instead, the icy water rushed into her lungs, invading her. She thrashed against it, but it was too strong for her. Her struggles became wilder, more uncoordinated, and then they stopped.Bonnie and Meredith were hunting around the perimeter of the school impatiently. Theyd seen Stefan go this way, more or less coerced by Tyler and his advanced friends. Theyd started to follow him, but then that business with Elena had started. And then Matt had informed them that shed taken off. So theyd set out after Stefan again, but nobody was out here. There werent even any buildings except one lonely Quonset hut.And now theres a storm coming Meredith said. Listen to that wind I think its going to rain.Or snow Bonnie shuddered. Where did theygo?I dont care I ju st want to get under a roof. Here it comes Meredith gasped as the first yellow journalism of icy rain hit her, and she and Bonnie ran for the nearest shelter the Quonset hut.And it was there that they found Stefan. The door was ajar, and when Bonnie looked in she recoiled.Tylers goon squad she hissed. Look outStefan had a semicircle of guys between him and the door. Caroline was in the corner.He must have it He took it somehow I know he did she was saying.Took what? said Meredith, loudly. Everyone turned their way.Carolines face contorted as she saw them in the doorway and Tyler snarled. Get out. he said. You dont want to be involved in this.Meredith ignored him. Stefan, can I talk to you?In a minute. Are you going to answer her question? Took what? Stefan was concentrating on Tyler, totally focused.Sure, Ill answer her question. Right after I answer yours. Tylers beefy hand thumped into his fist and he stepped forward. Youre going to be dog meat, Salvatore.Several of the tough g uys snickered.Bonnie opened her mouth to say, Lets getout of here. But what she actually said was, The bridge.It was supernatural enough to make everyone look at her.What? said Stefan.The bridge, said Bonnie again, without meaning to say it. Her eyes bulged, alarmed. She could hear the voice coming from her throat, but she had no control over it. And then she felt her eyes go wider and her mouth drop open and she had her own voice back. The bridge, oh, my God, the bridge Thats where Elena is Stefan, weve got to save her Oh, hurryYes, oh, God thats where shes gone. Shes drowningHurry Waves of thick blackness broke over Bonnie. But she couldnt faint now they had to get to Elena.Stefan and Meredith hesitated one minute, and then Stefan was through the goon squad, brushing them aside like tissue paper. They sprinted through the field toward the parking lot, dragging Bonnie behind. Tyler started after them, but stopped when the full force of the wind hit him.Why would she go out in thi s storm? Stefan yelled as they sprang into Merediths car.She was upset Matt said she took off in his car, Meredith gasped back in the comparative low-key of the interior. She pulled out fast and turned into the wind, speeding dangerously. She said she was going to the boarding house.No, shes at the bridge Meredith, drive faster Oh, God, were going to be too previous(a) Tears were running down Bonnies face.Meredith floored it. The car swayed, buffeted by wind and sleet. All through that nightmare ride Bonnie sobbed, her fingers clutching the seat in front of her.Stefans sharp warning kept Meredith from running into the tree. They piled out and were immediately lashed and punished by the wind.Its too big to move Well have to walk, Stefan shouted.Of course it was too big to move, Bonnie thought, already scrambling through the branches. It was a full-grown oak tree. But once on the other side, the icy gale whipped all thought out of her head.Within minutes she was numb, and the road s eemed to go on for hours. They tried to run but the wind beat them back. They could scarcely see if it hadnt been for Stefan, they would have gone over the riverbank. Bonnie began to weave drunkenly. She was ready to fall to the ground when she heard Stefan shouting up ahead.Merediths arm around her tightened, and they broke again into a stumbling run. But as they neared the bridge what they saw brought them to a halt.Oh, my God Elena screamed Bonnie. Wickery Bridge was a mass of splintered rubble. The guardrail on one side was gone and the planking had given way as if a giant fist had smashed it. Beneath, the dark water churned over a sickening pile of debris. Part of the debris, entirely underwater except the headlights, was Matts car.Meredith was screaming, too, but she was screaming at Stefan. No You cant go down thereHe never even glanced back. He dived from the bank, and the water closed over his head.Later, Bonnies stock of the next hour would be mercifully dim. She remember ed waiting for Stefan while the storm raged endlessly on. She remembered that she was almost beyond caring by the time a round-shouldered figure lurched out of the water. She remembered feeling no disappointment, only a vast and yawning grief, as she saw the limp thing Stefan laid out on the road.She remembered how he looked as they tried to do something for Elena. Only that wasnt really Elena lying there, that was a wax doll with Elenas features. It was nothing that had ever been animate and it certainly wasnt alive now. Bonnie thought it seemed silly to go on poking and prodding at it like this, trying to get water out of its lungs and so on. get up dolls didnt breathe. She remembered Stefans face when he finally gave up. When Meredith wrestled with him and yelled athim, saying something about over an hour without air, and brain damage. The words filtered in to Bonnie, but their meaning didnt. She just thought it odd that while Meredith and Stefan were screaming at each other t hey were both crying.Stefan stopped crying after that. He just sat there holding the Elena-doll. Meredith yelled some more, but he didnt listen to her. He just sat. And Bonnie would never forget his expression.And then something seared through Bonnie, manner of speaking her to life, waking her to terror. She clutched at Meredith and stared around for the source. Something bad something terrible was coming. Was almost here.Stefan seemed to feel it, too. He was alert, stiff, like a wolf picking up a scent.What is it? shouted Meredith. Whats wrong with you?Youve got to go Stefan rose, still holding the limp form in his arms. Get out of hereWhat do you mean? We cant leave you Yes, you can Get out of here Bonnie, get her outNo one had ever told Bonnie to take care of someone else before. People were always taking care of her. But now she seized Merediths arm and began pulling. Stefan was right. There was nothing they could do for Elena, and if they stayed whatever had gotten her would g et them.Stefan Meredith shouted as she was unaccountably dragged away.Ill put her under the trees. The willows, not the oaks, he called after them. Why would he tell us that now? Bonnie wondered in some deep part of her mind that was not taken up with fear and the storm.The answer was simple, and her mind promptly gave it back to her. Because he wasnt going to be around to tell them later.