The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 37

The adjoining morning found them al hazard at the boardinghouse. After the precedent nights rain, the sunshine had a fresh quality to it, and e genuinelything felt bright and breach and clean, despite the smel of smoke that permeated the boardinghouse and the charred remains of the garage that could be glimpsed through with(predicate) the windows of the den.Elena sat on the couch, leaning against Stefan. He traced the burn lines, nearly simply faded, on the back of her hand. How do they feel, heroine? he asked.They hardly hurt at al , thanks to Damon.Damon, on the opposite side of Stefan, gave her a brief, blatant smile but say nothing.They were al being motorcareful of wizard another, Elena thought. She felt and she thought every nonpareil else probably did, too deal the day looked reflect and freshly washed, but slightly fragile. There was a lot of allay murmuring back and forth, exchanged smiles, comfortable pauses. It was like they had completed a long journey or a difficult task together, and straight mode it was time to rest.Celia, dressed in pale linen trousers and a silk dove-gray top, bonny and poised as always, cleared her throat. Im leaving today, she utter when they al looked up at her. Her bags sat neatly on the floor beside her feet. Theres a motif to Boston in forty-five minutes, if someone wil drive me to the station.Of course Il throw you, Alaric state promptly, getting to his feet. Elena glanced at Meredith, but Meredith was frowning at Celia in concern.You dont construct to go, you do, she told her. Wed al like it if you stayed.Celia shrugged expressively and gave a little sigh. convey you, but it is time I get going. Despite the fact that we unmake a priceless rare book and I wil probably never be al owed on the Dalcrest campus again, I wouldnt have missed this livelong experience for the world.Meredith grinned at her and embossed one eyebrow. Even the brushes with cobblers last?Celia raised an eyebrow of her own. Was there a part that wasnt a brush with death?They laughed, and Elena was grateful to see that the tension amid them had evaporated.Wel be glad to have you anytime you privation to come back, dear, Mrs. Flowers said to Celia earnestly. I wil always have a room for you.Thank you, Celia said, looking touched. I hope I buttocks come back and see you al again someday. She and Alaric left the room, and shortly the rest of them heard the sounds of the outside door shutting and a car starting up.Good-bye, Celia, sightly chirped. She enlistmented out to be okay in the end, though, didnt she? She went on without waiting for an answer. What are we going to do today? We choose to have an peril before summer ends.You havent had enough adventure that? Matt asked her disbelievingly from where he was sprawled on a rocking chair in the corner.I mean a fun, summery kind of adventure, she said. Not al doom and gloom and battles to the death, but fun-in-thesun stuff. Do you realize weve got only most three weeks before its time to start school again? If we dont want our only real memories of this summer in Fel s Church to be one disastrous picnic and a horrific battle with a phantom, wed better get started. I vote we go out to the county median(a) today. Come on she urged them, bouncing in her oceant.Rol er coasters Fun houses deep-fried dough Cotton glass overDamon can win me a vast stuffed animal and take me through the Tunnel of Love Itl be an adventure She fluttered her eyelashes at Damon flirtatiously, but he didnt take her up on her teasing. In fact, he was gazing down into his lap with a strained expression.Youve done very wel , children, said Mrs. Flowers approvingly. You certainly deserve some time to relax.No one answered. Damons tense silence was fil ing the room, drawing everyones eyes to him. Final y, Stefan cleared his throat. Damon? he asked cautiously. Damon clenched his jaw and raised his eyes to meet theirs. Elena frowned. Was that guilt on Damons face?Damon didnt do guilt remorse wasnt one of his many qualities. Listen, he said abruptly. I realized while I was making my way back from the Dark Dimension He stopped again.Elena exchanged an vile glance with Stefan. Again, stammering and having trouble finding the words to say what he cherished to say were not typical of Damon. Damon shook his head and col ected himself. age I was remembering who I was, while I was barely alive(p) again, and then while I was getting ready to come back to Fel s Church, and everything was so painful and difficult, he said, al I could cypher of was how we how Elena had moved heaven and human beings to find Stefan. She wouldnt wear up her hunt, no matter what obstacles she faced. Id helped her Id risked everything to do so and we were successful. We found Stefan and we brought him home, safe and sound. hardly when it was my turn to be lost, you al left me on that moon alone.But Damon, said Elena, reaching out to him, we thought you were dead.And we did try to move heaven and earth to save you,Bonnie said earnestly, her big brown eyes fil ing with tears.You know that. Elena tried everything to bribe the Guardians to get you back. She almost went crazy with grief. They serious unplowed saying that when a vampire died, he or she was gone for good.I know that now, Damon said. Im not angry anymore. I havent been angry about it for what seems like ages. Thats not why Im tel ing you this. He glanced guiltily at Elena. I need to apologize to al of you.There was a tiny col ective gasp. Damon just didnt apologize. Ever.Elena frowned. What for?Damon shrugged, and the ghost of a smirk passed over his face. What not for, my princess. He sobered. The honor is, I didnt deserve saving. Ive done terrible things to you al as a vampire, and even when I became human again. I fought Meredith I endangered Bonnie in the Dark Dimension. I endangered al of you. He looked nigh the room. Im sorry, he said to everyone, a note of sincerity and regret in his voice.Bonnies lips trembled then she threw her arms just about Damon. I forgive youDamon smiled and awkwardly patted her hair. He exchanged a solemn nod with Meredith that seemed to indicate that she also forgave him this time.Damon, said Matt, shaking his head. Are you sure youre not possessed? You seem a little off. Youre never polite to any of us but Elena.Wel , said Damon, looking relieved at having gotten the confession off his chest, dont get use to it. Matt.Matt looked so startled and pleased that Damon had cal ed him the right get a line for a change, instead of Mutt or nothing at al , that Damon might as wel have given him a present. Elena saw Stefan give his brother a sly, affectionate nudge, and Damon elbowed him back. No, she wouldnt get used to it. Damon, temporarily beat(p) of his jealousies and resentments, was as beautiful and intriguing as ever, but a heck of a lot easier to get along with. It wouldnt last, but she could enjoy it for now. She took a aftermath to real y look at them, the Salvatore brothers. The vampires she loved. Stefan with his soft dark curls and sea green eyes, his long limbs and the sensitive curve of his mouth that she always longed to kiss. confection and solidity and a sorrow shed had a hand in lightening. Damon, leather and silk and fine chiseled features. Mercurial and devastating. She loved them both. She couldnt be sorry, couldnt be anything other than sincerely, whol y grateful for the fate that had thrown them in her path.But it wouldnt be easy. She couldnt imagine what would happen when this new comfort and friendliness between the brothers, between al of them, ended. She didnt doubt that it would dissolve. Irritations and jealousies were just a part of life, and they would build up again. She squeezed Stefans hand in hers and smiled past him at Damon, whose dark eyes warmed.Inwardly, she sighed a little, then smiled more widely. Bonnie was right Col ege was just around the corner, a whol e new adventure. Until then, they should take their pleasures where they could find them.Cotton candy? she said. I cant remember the last time I had cotton candy. Im unquestionably up for Bonnies idea of adventure.Stefan brushed his lips against hers in a kiss that was as sweet and light as cotton candy itself, and she leaned into the comfort of his arms.It couldnt last. Elena knew it. But she was very happy. Stefan was himself again, not angry or fearful or grieving, but himself, the one she loved. And Damon was alive, and safe, and with them. Al her friends were around her. She was truly home at last.