The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 3

conviction stopped. Elena found that she was instinctively groping for the mind of the one who was kissing her so sweetly. She had neer sincerely appreciated a kiss until she had died, become a olfactory sensation, and then been re rancid to earth with an melodic phrase that revealed the hidden meaning of new(prenominal) flocks thoughts, words, and as yet their minds and souls. It was as if she had gained a beautiful new sense. When two auras mingled as deeply as this, two souls were laid b atomic number 18 to each other.Semi-consciously, Elena permit her aura expand, and met a mind almost at once. To her surprise, it recoiled from her. That wasnt right. She managed to snag it before it could adjourn behind a great hard stone, worry a boulder. The but things left outside the boulder which reminded her of a picture of a meteorite she had inspectn, with a pocked, charred surface were rudimentary brain functions, and a little boy, chained to the swing by some(prenominal ) wrists and both ankles.Elena was shocked. Whatever she was seeing, she knew it was a metaphor single, and that she should not judge too quickly what the metaphor meant. The images before her were really the symbols of Damons sore soul, but in a form that her feature mind could say and interpret, if only she looked at it from the right perspective.Instinctively, though, she knew that she was seeing something important. She had come through the dyspneal delight and dizzying sweetness of joining her soul to anothers. And now, her inherent love and business sector drove her to try to communicate.Are you cold? she asked the tike, whose chains were yen sufficiency to allow him to wrap his arms tightly about his drawn-up legs. He was enwrapped in ragged black.He nodded silently. His huge dark eye seemed to capture stamp out up his face.Where do you be long? Elena express doubtfully, thinking of routes to posit the child warm. non inside that? She made a gesture toward th e jumbo stone boulder.The child nodded once more(prenominal). Its warmer in there, but he wont let me inside anymore.He? Elena was of all time on the lookout for signs of Shinichi, that malicious corn dodger spirit. Which he, darling? She had already knelt and taken the child in her arms, and he was cold, drinking glass cold, and the iron was freezing.Damon, the little ragamuffin boy whispered. For the firstborn time the boys eyes left her face, to glance veneratefully around him.Damon did this? Elenas illustration started loud and stop up as soft as the boys whisper, as he turned pleading eyes on her and desperately patted at her lips, the like a velvet-clawed kitten.This is all near symbols, Elena reminded herself. Its Damons mind his soul that youre looking at. merely atomic number 18 you? an analytical part of her asked suddenly. Wasnt there a time before, when you did this with soul and you cut a world inside them, entire landscapes full of love and moony be auty, all of it symbolizing the normal, healthy workings of an ordinary, extraordinary mind. Elena couldnt remember the detect of the person now, but she remembered the beauty. She knew that her own mind would use such symbols to stupefy itself to another person.No, she realized abruptly and definitively she was not seeing Damons soul. Damons soul was someplace inside that huge, heavy ball of rock. He lived cramped inside that dread(a) thing, and he cherished it that way. All that was left outside was some past memory from his childhood, a boy who had been banished from the rest of his soul.If Damon put you here, then who ar you? Elena asked slowly, testing her theory, while taking in the black-on-black eyes of the child, and the dark sensory hair and the features she knew as yet if they were so young.Im Damon, the little boy whispered, blanched around the lips. by chance even revealing that much was painful, Elena thought. She didnt emergency to hurt this symbol of Damo ns childhood. She wanted him to feel the sweetness and cling to that she was feeling. If Damons mind had been like a house, she would take a crap wanted to tidy it up, and fill ein truth room with flowers and starlight. If it had been a landscape she would have put a halo around the full white moon, or rainbows amongst the clouds. besides instead it presented itself as a starving child chained to a ball that no one could breach, and she wanted to comfort and soothe the child.She cradled the little boy, rubbing his arms and legs hard and nestling him against her spirit body.At first he felt tense and wary in her arms. But after a little time, when nothing terrible happened as a result of their contact, he relaxed and she felt his small body go warm and drowsy and heavy in her arms. She herself felt a crushingly sweet protectiveness about the little creature.In skilful a a couple of(prenominal) minutes, the child in her arms was asleep, and Elena thought that there was the fainte st ghost of a smile on his lips. She cuddled his little body, rocking him lightly, smiling herself. She was thinking of someone who had held her when shed cried. someone who was was not forgotten, never forgotten but who made her throat abide with sadness. Someone so important it was desperately important that she remember him now, now and that sheshe had toto findAnd then suddenly the peaceful night of Damons mind was dispel open by wholesome, by light, and by energies that even Elena, young as she was in the ways of Power, knew had been kindled by the memory of a individual(a) name.Stefan.Oh, God, she had forgotten him she had actually, for a few minutes allowed herself to be drawn into something that meant c flake out upting him. The bruise of all those lonely late-night hours, sitting and pouring out her grief and fear to her diary and then the peace and comfort that Damon had offered had actually made her forget Stefan to forget what he might be suffering at thi s very moment.No no Elena was struggling alone in darkness. Let go I have to find I mintt believe that I forgot Elena. Damons character was calm and gentle or at least unemotional. If you keep goosey around like that youre passing play to get free and its a long way to the ground.Elena open her eyes, all her memories of rocks and little children flying away, scattering like white dandelion silk in every direction. She looked at Damon accusingly.You you Yes, Damon utter composedly. fault it on me. why not? But I did not settle you, and I did not bite you. I merely kissed you. Your Powers did the rest they may be uncontrollable, but theyre extremely compelling all the same. Frankly, I never intended to get sucked in so deeply if youll for fail a pun.His vo chicken feed was light, but Elena had a sudden inner vision of a weeping child, and she wondered if he were really as indifferent as he seemed.But thats his speciality, isnt it? she thought, suddenly bitter. He giv es out dreams, fancies, pleasure that stays in the minds of hisdonors. Elena knew that the girls and young women that Damonpreyed onadored him, their only complaint being that he didnt visit them oft enough.I understand, Elena said to him as they drifted closer to the ground. But this cant happen again. in that locations only one person that I can kiss, and thats Stefan.Damon opened his mouth, but just then there was the sound of a voice that was as furious and accusing as Elena had been, and which didnt care about the consequences. Elena remembered the other person shed forgotten.DAMON, YOU BASTARD, BRING HER DOWN flavourless.Elena and Damon came to a twirling, elegant stop, right beside the Jaguar. gym mat immediately ran to Elena and snatched her away, examining her as if she had been in an accident, with particular attention to her neck. Once again Elena was uncomfortably aware of being dressed in a webbed white nightgown in the presence of two boys.Im fine, honestly, she sa id to Matt. Im just a little bit dizzy. Ill be better in a few minutes.Matt let out a breath of relief. He might not still be in love with her as he once had been, but Elena knew he cared deeply about her and always would. He cared about her as his friend Stefans girlfriend, and also on her own merits. She knew he would never forget the time they had been together.More, he believed in her. So right now, when she promised that she was all right, he believed that. He was even willing to give Damon a look that wasnt completely hostile.And then both of the boys headed for the fightrs side limen of the Jag.Oh, no, Matt said. You drove yesterday and look what happened You said it yourself there are vampires trailing us Youre saying its my fault? Vampires are tracing this fire-engine-red-paint-job giant star and its somehow my doing?Matt simply looked stubborn his jaw clenched, his tanned tegument flushed. Im saying we should take turns. Youve had your turn.I dont recall anything eve r being said about taking turns. Damon managed to give the word an inflection that made it sound like some rather wicked activity. And if I go in a car, I drive the car.Elena open her throat. N each of them even spy her.Im not getting into a car if youre driving Matt said furiously.Im not getting into a car if youre driving Damon said laconically.Elena cleared her throat more loudly, and Matt finally remembered her existence.Well, Elena cant be expected to drive us all the way to wherever were difference, he said, before she could even suggest the possibility. Unless were going to get there today, he added, looking at Damon sharply.Damon shook his dark head. No. Im taking the scenic route. And the fewer wad who know where were going the safer were going to be. You cant tell if you dont know.Elena felt as if someone had just lightly touched the hairs on the back of her neck with an ice cube. The way Damon said those wordsBut theyll already know where were going, wont they? she as ked, vibration herself back to practicality. They know we want to rescue Stefan, and they know where Stefan is.Oh, yes. Theyll know were onerous to get into the Dark Dimension. But by what gate? And when? If we can lose them the only thing we need to worry about is Stefan and the prison guards.Matt looked around. How many render are there?Thousands. Wherever three ley lines cross, theres the dominance for a gate. But since the Europeans drove the Native Americans out of their homes, most of the gates arent used or maintained as they were in the old days. Damon shrugged.But Elena was tingling all over with excitement, with anxiety. Why dont we just find the adjacent gate and go through it, then?Travel all the way to the prison underground? Look, you dont understand at all. First of all, you need me with you to get you into a gate and even then it isnt going to be pleasant.Not pleasant for who? Us or you? Matt asked grimly.Damon gave him a long, blank look. If you act on your o wn it would be briefly and terminally unpleasant for you. With me, it should be uncomfortable but a matter of routine. And as for what its like travelling for even a few days down there well, youll see for yourselves, eventually, Damon said, with an odd smile. And it would take much, much longer than going by a main gate.Why? Matt demanded always ready to ask questions that Elena really, really didnt want to know the answers to.Because its either jungle, where five-foot leeches dropping from the trees are going to be the least of your worries, or wasteland, where any enemy can spot you and everyone is your enemy.There was a pause while Elena thought hard. Damon looked serious. Clearly, he really didnt want to do it and not many things bothered Damon. He liked fighting. More, if it would only waste timeAll right, Elena said slowly. Well go on with your plan.Immediately, both boys reached for the drivers side door handle again.Listen, Elena said without looking at either of them. I am going to drive my Jaguar down to the beside town. But first I am going to get in it and get changed into real clothes and maybe even catch a few minutes of sleep. Matt will want to find a brook or something where he can clean up. And then Im going to whatever town is closest for some brunch. After that the bickering can begin anew, Damon finished for her. You do that, darling. Ill meet you at whatever smarmy spoon youve selected.Elena nodded. Youre sure youll be able to find us? I am trying to hold my aura down, really.Listen, a fire-engine-red Jaguar in whatever flyspeck of a town you find down this path is going to be as conspicuous as a UFO, Damon said.Why doesnt he just come with Matts voice trailed off. Somehow, although it was his deepest grievance against Damon, he often managed to forget that Damon was a vampire.So youre going to go down there first and find some young girl walking to spend school, Matt said, his blue eyes seeming to darken. And youre going to swoop down on her and take her away where no one can let out her screaming and then youre going to pull her head back and youre going to sink your teeth into her throat.There was a fairly long pause. so Damon said in a slightly injured tone, Am not.Thats what you people do. You did it to me.Elena saw the need for really drastic intervention the truth. Matt, Matt, it wasnt Damon who did that. It was Shinichi. You know that. She gently took Matt by the forearms and turned him until he was facing her.For a long moment Matt wouldnt look at her. Time stretched and Elena began to fear that he was beyond her reach. But then at last he move his head so that she could look into his eyes.All right, he said softly. Ill go along with it. But you know that hes going off to drink tender-hearted blood.From a willing donor Damon, who had very good hearing, shouted.Matt detonate again. Because you make them willing You hypnotize them No, I dont. or Influence them, or whatever. How would you like it Behind Matts back, Elena was now making furious go-away motions at Damon, as if she were shooing a flock of chickens. At first Damon just raised an eyebrow at her, but then he shrugged elegantly and obeyed, his form blurring as he took the shape of a crow and rapidly became a dot in the rising sun.Do you think, Elena said quietly, that you could get rid of your stake? Its just going to make Damon completely paranoid.Matt looked everywhere but at her and then finally he nodded. Ill dump it when I go descending(prenominal) to wash, he said, looking at his muddy legs grimly.Anyway, he added, you get in the car and try to get some sleep. You look like you need it.Wake me up in a couple hours, Elena said without the first idea that in a couple hours she was going to regret this more than she could say.