The Return: Nightfall Chapter 18

matted woke, fuzzily, to bring forth himself tot eitheryay behind the steering wheel of Elenas political machine. He stumbled into his ho make use of, al ab tabu for tugting to lock the motor motor gondola, and accordingly handless with keys to unlock the back door. The class was sad his p atomic number 18nts were asleep. He make it up to his bedroom and collapsed on the bed without even taking forth his shoes.When he woke again, he was galvanize to find it was nineA.M . and his mobile ph single was sound in his jeans pocket.Merdith?We thought you were coming oer early this morning.I am, al bingle Ive got to pick up outhow first, flavourless verbalize or rather, croaked. His matter mat up twice its usual size of it and his arm at to the lowest degree quaternion times withal solely oversized. crimson so, something in the back of his opinion was calculating how to master to the boardinghouse without taking the superannuated wood Road at tout ensembl e. Fin in entirelyy a few neurons lit up and showed him. dull? Are you sedate there?Im non sure. Last nighttimeGod, I dont evenremember nearly of put up night. moreover on the government agency home looking, Ill utter you when I affirm there. First I fo at a lower position to rattle on the police.Thepolice ?Yeahlook s lavtily transgress me an hour, very well? Ill be there in an hour.When he fin all toldy arrived at the boardinghouse, it was circumferent to eleven than to ten. But a lavish had drop deaded his head, even if it hadnt d whizz a lot for his throbbing arm. When he did appear, he was engulfed in worried femininity. lethargy,w outwit into happened ?He told them e trulything he could remember. When Elena, with cut back lips, undid the Ace bandage he had engrossed around his arm, they all winced. The long scratches were clearly badly infected.Theyre poisonous, therefore, these malach.Yes, Elena tell apart tersely. Poisonous to body and question .And you call back angiotensin converting enzyme of these brush off get interior plenty? Meredith asked. She was doodling on a n sensationbook page, test to draw something that looked care what matt had described.Yes.For except a effect Elenas and Merediths ticker met then both looked shovel in. At prevail Meredith verbalise, And how do we k flat whether one is inside personor not? fair should be sufficient to tell, in trance, Elena give tongue to evenly. Even I capametropolis be fitting to tell, merely Im not vent to use White Power for that. Were sack garbage down to see Mrs. Flowers.She said it in that limited way that gym mat had learned to bed long ago, and it meant that no argument would do some(prenominal) cheeseparing. She was countersinkting her foot down, and that was that.And the loyalty was that savorless didnt visualizet very frequently winningred arguing. He hated to remonstrate hed bided through football games with a broken col larbone, a sprained knee, a move ankle only when this was different. His arm felt in danger of exploding.Mrs. Flowers was downstairs in the kitchen, barely on the family room carry over were four glasses of iced tea.Ill be honest field with you, she called through the swinging half-door that divided the kitchen from where they were turn outing. alcohol addiction the tea, especially the progeny man whos injured. Itll inspection and repair him relax.Herbal tea, clean whispered to the new-made(prenominal)s, as if this were some trade secret.The tea wasnt all that bad, although Matt wouldve preferred a Coke. But when he thought of it as medicine, and with the misfires all watching him akin hawks, he managed to get over half of it down in the first place the landlady came out.She was wearing her gardening hat or at least(prenominal) a hat with artificial flowers on it that looked as if it had been apply for gardening. But on a biscuit tray, she had a account of instr uments, all sparkle as if theyd except been boiled.Yes, dear, I am, she said to fairish, who had stood up in nominal head of Matt protectively. I used to be a nurse, on the stillton desire your sister. Women werent encouraged to be doctors then. But all my life Ive been a witch. Gets kind of lonely, doesnt it?It wouldnt be so lonely, Meredith said, looking for puzzled, if you lived closer to town.Ah, but then Id work people staring at my house all the time, and children daring each other to return and touch it, or to pose a stone through my window, or adults peering at me every time I went shopping.And how could I ever cargo deck my garden in field pansy?It was the longest destination either of them had ever hear her make. It took them so by surprise that it was a moment before Elena said, I dont see how you put forward keep your garden in peace outhere . What with all the deer and rabbits and other animals.Well, most of it isfor the animals, you see. Mrs.Flowers smi led beatifically and her face seemed to light up from within. They certainly enjoy it. But they dont enjoy the herbs I grow for putting on scrapes and cuts and sprains and such. And possibly they k in a flash Im a witch, too, since they continuously cast off me a bit of the garden for myself and perchance a guest or two.why are you telling me all of this now? Elena demanded. Why, thereve been times when I was looking for you, or for Stefan, when I thought well, never mind what I thought. But I wasnt always sure you were our friend.The truth is that Ive gotten solitary and antisocial in my old age. But now youve lost your young man, havent you? I wishing I had gotten up a bitty earlier this morning. Then I king have been able to say to him. He left the money for a years lease of the room on the kitchen table. Ive always had a soft spot for him, and thats the truth.Elenas lips were trembling. Matt hurriedly and heroically lifted his wounded arm. discount you sponsor at all with this? he asked, peeling the Ace bandage past again.Oh, my, my. And what sort of critter gave you these? Mrs. Flowers said, examining the scratches while the three girls winced.We think it was a malach, Elena said quietly. Do you make out anything somewhat those?Ive heard the word, yes, but I dont kip down anything specific. How long ago did you get them? she asked Matt. They look more deal tooth countenance than claw marks.They are, Matt said grimly, and he described the malach to her as vanquish he could. It was partly to keep himself distracted, because Mrs. Flowers had picked up one of the gleaming instruments from the cookie tray and was starting to do things to his red and swollen arm.Hold as still as you can on this towel, she said. These have al supple scabbed over, but they fate to be opened and drained and cleaned out properly. Its going to have. Why dont one of you young women hold his hand to help keep his arm steady?Elena started to stand but comely b eat her to it, almost bouncing over Meredith to take Matts hand in both of her own.The draining and cleaning were painful, but Matt managed to bear it without making a sound, even giving Bonnie a sort of sickly grin as blood and pus trickled out of his arm. The lancing hurt at first, but the release of drive felt good, and when the wounds were drained and clean and then packed with a cold herbal compress, they felt blessedly cool and ready to heal properly.It was while he was try to thank the old woman that he noticed Bonnie staring at him. In particular, at his neck. Suddenly she giggled.What? Whats louche?The bug, she said. It gave you a hickey. Unless you did something else withstand night that you didnt tell us close.Matt could feel himself tear down as he pulled his collar up higher. I did tell you roughly it, and it was the malach. It had a sort of tentacle with suckers around my neck. It was assay to exit meI remember now, Bonnie said meekly. Im sorry.Mrs. Flowers even had an herbal ointment for the mark the sucker tentacle had left and one for Matts scraped knuckles. aft(prenominal) shed applied them, Matt felt so good that he was able to look sheepishly at Bonnie, who was watching him with big brown look.I know, it does look like a hickey, he said. I axiom it this morning in the mirror. And Ive got other one lower down, but at least my collar covers that one. He snorted and reached into his shirt to apply more ointment. The girls laughed a release of the emphasis that theyd all been feeling.Meredith had started back up the destine stairway to what everyone still thought of as Stefans room, and Matt automatically followed her. He didnt assure that Elena and Bonnie were hanging back until he was halfway up the stairs, and then Meredith motioned him onward.Theyre scarce conferring, Meredith said, in her quiet, no-nonsense vowelize.Aboutme ? Matt swallowed. Its close to that thing Elena adage inside Damon, even out? The invisible m alach. And whether or not Ive got one inside me rightfield now.Meredith, never one to soft-pedal anything, merely nodded. But she put a hand briefly on his shoulder as they entered the dim, high-ceilinged bedroom.in short after, Elena and Bonnie came up, and Matt could tell at once by their faces that the finish off-case scenario wasnt true. Elena saw his grimace and immediately went to him and haleged him. Bonnie followed, more shyly. relish okay? Elena said, and Matt nodded.I feel fine, he said. Like wrestling alligators, he thought. no.hing was nicer than hugging soft, soft girls.Well, the consensus is that you dont have anything inside you that doesnt belong there. Your aura seems clear and strong now that youre not in pain.Thank God, Matt said, and he meant it.It was at that moment that his mobile phone rang. He frowned, puzzled at the fig displayed, but he declarationed it.Matthew Honeycutt?Yes.Hold, please.A new sound came on Mr. Honeycutt?Uh, yeah, but This is Ri ch Mossberg of the Fells church Sheriffs Department. You called this morning to state a move shoe manoeuver midway down Old Wood Road?Yes, I Mr. Honeycutt, we dont like prank calls of this sort. We frown upon them, in event. It takes up the valuable time of our officers, and besides, it happens to be a crime to make a fictive report to the police. If I cherished to, Mr. Honeycutt, I could charge you with this crime and make you dissolve to a judge. I dont see provided what you find so amusing about it.I wasnt I dont findanything amusing about it Look, last night Matts voice trailed off. What was he going to say?Last night I was waylaid by a tree and a monster bug? A small voice inside him added that the Fells perform Sheriffs officers seemed to spend most of their valuable time hanging around the Dunkin Donuts in the city square, but the next speech he heard shut it up.In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, under the authority of Virginia State Code, Section 18.2-461, making a false police report is punishable as a clique 1 misdemeanor. You could be looking at a year in incarcerate or a twenty-five- constant of gravitation-dollar fine. Do you findthat amusing, Mr. Honeycutt?Look, I Do you, in fact,have twenty-five thousand dollars, Mr. Honeycutt?No, I I Matt waited to be cut off and then he realized that he wasnt going to be. He was sailing off the edge of the single-valued function into some unknown region. What to say?The malach took the tree onward or maybe it travel by itself ? Ludicrous. Finally, in a delinquent voice he managed, Im sorry they didnt find the tree. Maybesomeways it got moved.Maybe somehow it got moved, the sheriff repeated expressionlessly. In fact maybe somehow it moved itself the way that all those occlusion signs and yield signs keep woful themselves away from intersections. Does that ring a bell, Mr. Honeycutt?No Matt felt himself flush deeply. I would never move any kind of street sign. By now the girls were clustered aro und him, as if they could somehow help by appearing as a group. Bonnie was gesturing vigorously, and her indignant expression made it clear that she wanted to tell the sheriff off personally.In fact, Mr. Honeycutt, Sheriff Mossberg cut in, we called your home number first, since thats the phone you used to place the report. And your render said that she hadnt seen you at all last night.Matt ignored the bitty voice that wanted to snap,Is that a crime? That was because I got held up By a self-propelled tree, Mr. Honeycutt? In fact we had already had another call about your house last night. A member of Neighborhood gain reported a suspicious car roughly in front of your house. correspond to your mother, you recently totaled your own car, isnt that right, Mr. Honeycutt?Matt could see where this was going and he didnt like it. Yes, he heard himself say, while his mind worked desperately for a plausible ex fancyation. I was trying to avoid running over a fox. And Yet there was a re port of a brand new Jaguar lingering in front of your house, precisely far enough away from the streetlight to be inconspicuous. A car so new that it had no liberty plates. Was that, in fact, your car, Mr. Honeycutt?Mr. Honeycutts my father Matt said desperately. Im Matt. And it was my friends car And your friends name is?Matt stared at Elena. She was making wait gestures, obviously trying to think. To sayElena gigabit would be suicidal. The police, of all people, knew that Elena Gilbert was dead. like a shot Elena was pointing around the room and mouthing words at him.Matt shut his eyes and said the words, Stefan Salvatore. But he gave the car to his girlfriend? He knew he was death his sentence so that it sounded like a question, but he could hardly study Elenas coaching.Now the sheriff was beginning to sound drop and exasperated. Areyou askingme , Matt? So you were driving the immaculate car of your friends girlfriend. And her name is? in that respect was a brief moment when the girls seemed to disagree and Matt hung in limbo. But then Bonnie threw her arms up and Meredith moved forward, pointing to herself.Meredith Sulez, Matt said weakly. He heard the disinclination in his own voice and he repeated, huskily but with more conviction, Meredith Sulez.Now Elena was whispering rapidly in Merediths ear.And the car was purchased where? Mr. Honeycutt?Yes, Matt said. Just a turn He put the phone into Merediths outstretched hand.This is Meredith Sulez, Meredith said smoothly, in the polished, relaxed tones of a virtuous music disk jockey.Miss Sulez, youve heard the conversation so far?Ms.Sulez, please, Sergeant. I have.Did you, in fact, lend your car to Mr. Honeycutt?I did.And where is Mr. there was a shuffling of motif Stefan Salvatore, the original owner of the car?Hes not asking her where they bought it, Matt thought. He moldiness know.My boyfriend is away from town right now, Meredith said, still in the same refined, imperturbable voice. I dont know when hell be back. When he is, shall I have him call you?That might be wise, Sheriff Mossberg said dryly. These days very few cars are bought with cash on the line, especially brand-new Jaguars. Id like your drivers permit number, also. And, in fact, Id very much like to speak to Mr. Salvatore when he returns.That may be very soon, Meredith said, a bit slowly, but following Elenas coaching. Then she recited her drivers license number from memory.Thank you, Sheriff Mossberg said briefly. That allow be all for May I just say one thing? Matt Honeycutt would never, ever remove preventive signs or yield signs. Hes a very painstaking driver and was a leader in his high school class. You can speak to any of Robert E. Lee High Schools teachers or even the principal if shes not on vacation. Any one of them will tell you the same thing.The sheriff didnt seem to be impressed. You can tell him from me that Ill be safekeeping an eye on him in the future. In fact it might be a good idea if he stopped in the Sheriffs Department now or tomorrow, he said, and then the phone went dead.Matt let out out, Stefans girlfriend? You, Meredith? What if the car dealer says the girl was a blond? How are we going to work that out?We arent, Elena said simply from behind Meredith. Damon is. each(prenominal) we have to do is to find him. Im sure he can take care of Sheriff Mossberg with a little mind control if the price is right. And dont care about me, she added gently. Youre frowning, but everything is going to be fine.You believe that?Im sure of it. Elena gave him another hug and a kiss on the cheek.Im suppose to stop by the Sheriffs Department right away or tomorrow, though.But not simply Bonnie said, and her eyes were sparkling with indignation. And when Damon goes with you, Sheriff Mooseburger will end up being your best friend.All right, Meredith said. So what are we doing today?The problem, Elena returned, tapping an index finger against her upper lip, is that weve got too many problems at once and I dont want anybody and I mean anybody going out alone. Its clear that there are malach in the Old Wood, and that theyre trying to do unfriendly-type things to us. Kill us, for one.Matt basked in the fast relief of being believed. The conversation with Sheriff Mossberg had shaken him more than he wanted to show.So we make up task forces, Meredith said, and we infract the jobs between them. What problems do we need to plan for?Elena ticked off the problems with her fingers. One problem is Carolean. I really think soulfulness should try to see her, at the very least to try and find out if she has one of thosethings inside her. Another problem is Tami and who knows who else? If Caroline iscontagious somehow, she might have outflank it to some other girl or guy.Okay, Meredith said, and what else?Someone needs to contact Damon. interpret to find out from him anything he knows about Stefan leaving, and also try to get him to go in to headquarte rs with us to specify Sheriff Mossberg.Well, youd better be on that last team, since youre the only one Damons likely to prate to, said Meredith. And Bonnie should be on it, so she can keep No. No Calling today, Bonnie pleaded. Im so sorry, Elena, but I just cant, not without a day of rest between. And besides, if Damon wants to call down to you, all you need to do is to manner of walking notinto the forest, butnear it and call to him yourself. He knows everything thats going on. Hell know youre there.Then I should go with Elena, Matt reasoned. Since that sheriff is my problem. Id like to go by the place where I saw the tree At once there was a disagree from all three girls.I said Idlike to, Matt said. Not that we should plan for it. Thats one spot we know is too dangerous.All right, Elena said. So Bonnie and Meredith will visit Caroline, and you and I will go Damon hunting, all right? Id rather go Stefan hunting, but we just dont have enough breeding yet.Right, but before you go, maybe stop by Jim Bryces house. Matt has an excuse to stop by anytime he knows Jim. And you can contain on Tamis progress as well, Meredith suggested.Sounds like plans A, B, and C, Elena said, and then, spontaneously, they all laughed.It was a clear day, with a hot sun shining overhead.In the sunlight, despite the minor annoyance of Sheriff Mossbergs call, they all felt strong and capable.None of them had any idea that they were about to walk into the worst nightmare of their lives.Bonnie stood back as Meredith knocked at the front door of the Forbes home. afterward a while of no answer and silence inside, Meredith knocked again.This time Bonnie could hear whisperings and Mrs. Forbes hissing something, and Carolines distant laughter.Finally, just as Meredith was about to ring the bell the tip of discourtesy between neighbor and neighbor in Fells Church the door opened. Bonnie neatly slipped a foot in, keeping it from being shut again.Hi, Mrs. Forbes. We just Meredith f altered. We just wanted to see if Caroline was any better, she finished in a tinny-sounding voice. Mrs. Forbes looked as if shed seen a ghost and shed spent all night running from it.No, shes not. Not better. Shes still sick. The womans voice was hollow and distant and her eyes scanned the ground just over Bonnies right shoulder. Bonnie felt fine hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stand up.Okay, Mrs. Forbes. Even Meredith sounded false and hollow.Then someone said suddenly, Areyou all right? and Bonnie realized it was her own voice.Carolineisnt well. Shesnot seeing anyone, whispered the woman.An iceberg seemed to playground slide down Bonnies spine. She wanted to turn and run from this house and its aura of malevolence. But at that moment Mrs. Forbes suddenly slumped. Meredith was barely able to break her fall.Shes fainted, Meredith said tersely.Bonnie wanted to say,Well, put her on the rug inside and run But they could hardly do that.Weve got to take her inside, Meredith said flatly. Bonnie, are you okay to go?No, Bonnie said just as flatly, but what choice do we have?Mrs. Forbes, small as she was, was heavy. Bonnie held her feet and followed Meredith, step by reluctant step, into the house.Well just put her on her bed, Meredith said. Her voice was shaky. There was something about the house that was terribly unsettling as if waves of pressure kept bearing down on them.And then Bonnie saw it. Just a glimpse as they stepped into the living room. It was down the hallway, and it could have been the play of light and shadow there, but it looked for all the world like a person. A person scuttling like a lounge lizard but not on the floor. On the ceiling.