Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 13

Damon. Death.The words swam in my mind as I move to make sense of what I was suss forthing. Damon was alive. moreover who knew for how long? If he had been captured, he was undoubtedly weak. How could he face a ravenous beast in a battle and survive?Anger tore through my body, along with the familiar ache of my fangs elongating. I ripped d bear the sign with a snarl.What is it? she hissed, her own fangs bared.I held up the paper.My chum salmon, I said, staring without comprehension at the poster. The show made him look like a monster. My eye twitched. The battle is in two days.Lexi nodded, taking in the portrait.G allagher found him, she said, nigh to herself.I shake my head, not understanding what she meant.She sighed. Big businessman. He owns a lot of places in town, including a two-bit circus and freak show. Always looking for curiosities to display, and people ceaselessly seem to find the money to attend. Your brotherDamon, I said, cutting her off. His create is Damon.Da mon, Lexi said gently, tracing the image with her fingers.He doesnt deserve this, I said, almost to myself. I need to help him. But I trailed off. But what? How could I possibly dispense with him?Well need to find him, Lexi decided. She brushed leaves and diddley from the back of her pants. Do you trust me?Did I puddle a select? My hunger forgotten, I followed her through the forest and back to the wide, silent streets of the city.Gallagher lives someplace in the Garden District with all the other nouveaux riches. On bay wreath Street, I think, Lexi murmured as we wove our way to the center of town. This has happened in the beginning, soon after Gallagher arrived in New Orleans five years ago.What happened? I asked, following well behind her in the shadows.He found a vampire. Hes good at finding us. Or maybe were good at finding him. But the other vampire wasnt part of my family. And She stopped suddenly.What happened to him?But Lexi merely move her head. Wed arrived at th e Garden District, where the streets were wide and the lawns hugging the sherbet-colored Victorian houses were drenching and expansive.Here. She stopped at a pistachio-hued mansion enclosed by an sacrifice wrought-iron fence. Magnolias and calla lilies spilled over the gate, and the air smelled like mint. Just beyond, I could see an enormous herb garden that took up a fifth of the property. I recoiled as we walked closer, as the garden grew a generous amount of vervain.Lexi wrinkly her nose. He knows all the tricks, she said wryly.We pushed consecrate the gate, our footsteps barely crunching the gravel on the path that circled the house. Cicadas buzzed in the sycamore trees preceding(prenominal) us, and I could hear supplys pace in the st fitting.And then I heard a low moan.Hes out back, I said.Lexi gazed up at the sky. Orange streaks were starting to peek above the horizon it was about an hour until day broke. Its too close to dawn, Lexi said. I didnt realize how late it is. I have to go.I looked at her sharply.Im not protected. Her fingers fluttered to my ring, and I glanced down self-consciously. The lapus lazuli adornment had be comply so much a part of me, Id forgotten that it made me different from other vampires, made me able to walk in the daylight. Katherine had arranged for both Damon and me to have this protection.Well come back tomorrow. The others can help us then, Lexi insisted.I shook my head. I cant leave him.Birds chirped in the trees above us, and from somewhere nearby came the vocalise of glass shattering. The orange streaks in the sky grew fatter, brighter. I understand, Lexi said finally. Be safe. Dont play the hero.I nodded, scanning the grounds for any guards or animals fiction in wait to attack. When I looked up, Lexi was gone and I was alone.Stealing chop-chop to the back of the house, I made my way toward the whitewashed stable. Horses pawed the ground nervously, patently sensing my presence. The stable doors were padlocked with an iron bolt. I grabbed the chain, testing it. Even though Id barely fed since the previous evening, it would be easy enough to root for the chains with my bare hands. But something stopped me.Dont play the hero.Lexis words echoed in my mind. She had become my guide during the past couple of days, and I knew it was in my outflank interest to listen to her. Better not to leave any license of an intruder, better to get the lay of the land before doing anything rash.I released the chain, and it criminal back against the door with a loud clanking sound. A horse whinnied. I walked to the other side of the stable, where a dusty window was open a crack.Brother? I whispered hoarsely through the window. The honeyed scent of vervain was everywhere, making me woozy and nauseated.In the corner, a contaminating figure struggled to sit up. Damon. His hands and feet were bound with chains, and his skin was covered in angry red welts. The chains must have been soaked in vervain. I winced in sympathy.Damons eyes locked on mine.You found me, he said, no emotion in his face. Are you happy to see that Im close to death, brother?Im here to save you, I said simply. The horses were kicking up the sawdust almost their feet in agitation I didnt have much time before someone in the house heard the disturbance.Damon shrugged, an effort that clearly took all his energy. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. A large cut lined his forehead, disappearance into his eyebrow. He looked awful and emaciated it was clear he hadnt eaten in days. I glanced around, hoping I could find somethinga squirrel, a rabbit, a chipmunkto kill and banish to him, but there was nothing.So the cold-blooded killer is going to save me. Damon attempted a wan smile. He leaned back against the wall, his chains rattling.Yes, we have toSuddenly, I heard the sound of a door slamming, then a dog barking. I whirled around toward the main house.What do you think youre doing? a voice yelled out. And I stood, my h ands raised to the sky, unsure of whoor whathad found me this time.