The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 37

The next morning found them al gage at the boardinghouse. After the previous nights rain, the sunshine had a fresh quality to it, and everything felt bright and damp and clean, despite the smel of smoke that permeated the boardinghouse and the charred remains of the garage that could be glimpsed through the windows of the den.Elena sat on the couch, leaning once morest Stefan. He traced the burn lines, closely entirely 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 other side of Stefan, gave her a brief, fulgent smile provided say nothing.They were al being careful of one another, Elena thought. She felt and she thought everyone else in all probability did, too like the day looked shining and pertly washed, but slightly fragile. There was a lot of quiet murmuring back and forth, exchanged smiles, comfortable pauses. It was like they had completed a long move or a difficult task together, and now it was cartridge holder to rest.Celia, dressed in pale linen trousers and a silk dove-gray top, elegant and poised as always, unclutter her throat. Im leaving today, she said when they al looked up at her. Her bags sat neatly on the floor beside her feet. Theres a train to Boston in forty-five minutes, if individual wil drive me to the station.Of course Il take you, Alaric said promptly, getting to his feet. Elena glanced at Meredith, but Meredith was frowning at Celia in concern.You dont have to go, you know, she told her. Wed al like it if you stayed.Celia shrugged expressively and gave a little sigh.Thank you, but it is time I get going. Despite the fact that we destroyed a priceless rare book and I wil probably never be al owed on the Dalcrest campus again, I wouldnt have missed this whole experience for the world.Meredith grinned at her and raised one eyebrow. Even the brushes with death?Celia raised an eyebrow of her own. Was there a part that wasnt a brush with death?They la ughed, and Elena was grateful to see that the tension between them had evaporated.Wel be glad to have you anytime you extremity 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 can come back and see you al again someday. She and Alaric left the room, and soon the rest of them heard the sounds of the outside door shutting and a car starting up.Good-bye, Celia, decorous chirped. She sour 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 need to have an adventure before spend ends.You havent had enough adventure yet? Matt asked her disbelievingly from where he was sprawled on a rocking chair in the corner.I mean a fun, summery broad 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 about three weeks before its time to start school again? If we d ont 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 fair today. Come on she urged them, bouncing in her seat.Rol er coasters Fun houses Fried popsicle Cotton glazeDamon can win me a big 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 be some time to relax.No one answered. Damons tense silence was fil ing the room, drawing everyones eye 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 abrup tly. I realized while I was making my way back from the Dark Dimension He stopped again.Elena exchanged an anxious glance with Stefan. Again, stammering and having trouble finding the words to say what he wanted to say were not typical of Damon. Damon shook his head and col ected himself. While I was remembering who I was, while I was barely liveborn again, and consequently while I was getting ready to come back to Fel s Church, and everything was so painful and difficult, he said, al I could think of was how we how Elena had travel heaven and earth to find Stefan. She wouldnt give 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. But 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, fair(a) said earnestly, her big brow n 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 just kept 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 truth 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 around 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 around Damon. I forgive youDam on 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. atomic number 18 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 employ to it. Matt.Matt looked so startled and pleased that Damon had cal ed him the right name 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 drained 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 moment to real y look at them, the Salvatore brothers. The vampires she loved. Stefan wit h 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 dubiousness 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 whole new adventure. Until then, they should take their pleasures where they could find them.Cott on candy? she said. I cant remember the last time I had cotton candy. Im definitely 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.