The Return: Shadow Souls Chapter 40

flatness and Mrs. Flowers were in the ambush the addition to the house that Mrs. Flowerss uncle had put onto the back for woodwork and other hobbies. It had fallen into even more discount than the rest of the house, being used as a storage space for things Mrs. Flowers didnt know where else to put such(prenominal) as Cousin Joes folding cot and that old sagging couch that didnt match a wash up of furniture inside anymore.Now, at night, it was their choosen. No child or adult from Fells Church had ever been invited inside. In fact, except for Mrs. Flowers, Stefan whod answered move large furniture into it and now Matt, no iodin had even been in for as long as Mrs. Flowers could remember.Matt clung to this. He had been, slowly but surely, reading through the material Meredith had researched and one(a) precious excerpt had meant a lot to him and Mrs. Flowers. It was the reason they were able to sleep at night, when the percentages came.The kitsune is often thought process to be a sort of cousin to Western vampires, seducing chosen men (as most fox spirits take on a female form) and feeding directly on their chi, or life spirit, with stunned the go-between of business. Thus one may make a case that they are bound by exchangeable rules to the vampire. For example, they cannot enter human dwellings without invitationAnd oh, the voicesHe was profoundly glad now that hed taken Meredith and Bonnies advice and gone to Mrs. Flowerss first to begin with exhalation home. The girls had convinced him hed only be putting his parents in danger by facing up to the lynch mob that awaited him, ready to eat up him for allegedly assaulting Caroline. Caroline seemed to have found him at the boardinghouse immediately, anyway, but she never brought any kind of mob with her. Matt thought that perhaps it was because that would have been useless.He had no idea what major power have happened if the voices had belonged to ex-friends long ago invited to his house while he was at home.TonightCome on, Matt, Carolines voice, lazy, slow, and seductive purred. It beneficialed as if she were lying down, speaking into the crack under the door. Dont be such a spoilsport. You know you have to come out sometime.Let me talk to my mom.I cant, Matt. I told you before, shes under passing play training.To be want you?It takes a lot of work to get to be worry me, Matt. Suddenly Carolines tint was not flirtatious any longer.I bet, Matt muttered, and added, You hurt my family and youre going to be sorrier than you can imagine.Oh, Matt Come on, get real. Nobody is going to hurt anybody.Matt slowly opened his hands to see at what he had clenched between them. Merediths old revolver, filled with the bullets blessed by Obaasan.What is Elenas middle make out? he asked not loudly, even though there were the sounds of music and dancing in Mrs. Flowerss backyard.Matt, what are you lecture active? What are you doing in there, making a family tree?I asked you a simple question, Care. You and Elena vie since you were practically babies, proficient? So what is her middle name?A flurry of activity. When Caroline finally answered he could clearly hear the susurrused coaching, as Stefan had perceive so long ago, unspoiled a use up before her words.If all youre interested in is playing games, Matthew Honeycutt, Ill go find someone else to talk to.He could practically hear her flounce away.solely he felt like celebrating. He allowed himself a safe and sound graham cracker and half a cup of Mrs. Flowerss homemade apple juice. They never knew when they might be locked in here for good, with only the supplies they had, so whenever Matt went out of the bunker he brought back as many things as he could find that might be useful. A barbeque lighter and sensory hairspray equaled a flame thrower. Jar after jar of Mrs. Flowerss delicious preserves. Lapis rings in case the worst happened and they s pennant up with pointy teeth.Mrs. Flowers turned in her sleep on the couch. Who was that, Matt dear? she asked.Nobody at all, Mrs. Flowers. You just go back to sleep.I see, Mrs. Flowers said in her sweet-old-lady voice. Well, if nobody at all comes back you might ask her her own mothers first name.I see, Matt said in his best imitation of her voice and then they both laughed. But underneath his laughter there was a lump in his throat. He had known Mrs. Forbes a long time, too. And he was scared, scared of the time that it would be Shinichis voice calling.Then they were going to be in trouble for good.There it is, shouted Sage.Elena screamed Meredith.Oh, God screamed Bonnie.The next instant, Elena was thrown, and something landed on top of her. Dully, she heard a cry. But it was different from the others. It was a choking sound of pure pain as Bloddeuwedds beak thunked into something made of flesh. Me, Elena thought. But there was no pain.Notme?There was a coughing sound above her.Elena go my shields wont hold Damon Well go together HurtsIt was just the shadow of a telepathic whisper and Elena knew Damon didnt think shed heard it. But she was circling her Power faster and faster, done with deception, caring only about acquiring those she loved out of danger.Ill find a way, she told Damon. Ill carry you. Firemans lift.He laughed at that, giving Elena some confide that he wasnt dying. Now Elena wished shed taken Dr. Meggar in the carriage with them so he could use his healing powers on the injured and then what? Leave him to the mercies of Bloddeuwedd? He necessitates to build a hospital here, in this world. He wants to help the children, who surely dont deserve all the evils that Ive seen visited on them She shunted the thoughts aside. This was no time for a philosophical debate about doctors and their obligations.It was time to run.Reaching behind her, she found two hands. One was slick with blood so she reached farther, thanking her of late mother for all the ballet lessons, all the childrens yoga, and she grabbed the sleeve above it. And then she put her back into it and pulled.To her wonder she hauled Damon up with her. She tried to heft him farther up on her back, but that didnt work. And then she even managed a wobbly step forward, and another And then Sage was there picking both of them up and they were going into the lobby of the building of the Shi no Shi.Everyone, get out Get out Bloddeuwedds after us and shell assassinate anything in her way Elena shouted. It was the strangest thing. She hadnt meant to shout. Hadnt formulated the words, except perhaps in the deepest parts of her subconscious. But she did shout them into the already frenzied lobby and she heard the cry taken up by others.What she didnt expect was that they would run, not out into the street, but down toward the cells. She ought to have, of course, but she hadnt. And then she felt herself and Sage and Damon going down, down the way they had dying nightBut was it really the right way? Elena clamped one hand over the other and saw, resolve by foxlight, that they needed to head off to the right.WHAT ARE THOSE CELLS TO THE RIGHT OF US? HOW DO WE GET there? she shouted to the young vampire gentleman next to her.Thats Isolation and Mentally Disturbed, the vampire gentleman shouted back. Dont go that way.I have to Do I need a rouge?Yes, but Do you have a key?Yes, but Give it to me nowI cant do that, he wailed in a way that re creative thinkered her of Bonnie at her most difficult.All right. SageMadame?Send Talon back to pull at this mans eyes out. He wont give me the key to Stefans wardAs good as done, MadameW-wait I cha-changed my mind. Heres the key The vampire fished through a ring of keys and handed one to her.It looked like the other keys on his ring. too much alike, Elenas suspicious mind said.SageMadame Can you wait till I pass with cut? I want him to tear the you-know-what off this guy if hes lied to me.Of course, MadameW-w-w-wait, gasped the vampire. It was clear that he was completely terrified. I may may have given you the wrong key in this this light Give me the right key and tell me anything I need to know or Ill have the dog backtrack you and kill you, Elena said, and at that moment, she meant it.H-here. This time the key didnt look like a key. It was round, slightly convex, with a hole in the middle. Like a donut thats been sat on by a police officer, part of Elenas mind said, and began laughing hysterically.Shut up, she told her mind sharply.SageMadame?Can Talon see the man Im holding by the hair? She had to go on tiptoe to grasp him.But of course, MadameCan she remember him? If I cant find Stefan I want her to show him to saber so he can track him.Uhahgot it, MadameA hand, dripping blood from the wrist, lifted a falcon high, at the same time as there was a serendipitous crash from the top of the building.The vampire was almost sobbing. Turn r-right at the n-next right. Use the k-key in the slot at h-head height to g-get into the corridor. There m-may be guards there. Butif if you dont have a key to the individual cell you want Im sorry, but I do I have the cell key and I know what to do after that Thank you, youve been very kind and helpful.Elena let go of the vampires hair.Sage Damon Bonnie Look for a corridor, locked, going right. Then dont get swept away. Sage, hold Bonnie and have Saber bark like crazy. Bonnie, hold on to Meredith in front of the guys. The corridor leads to StefanElena never knew how much any one of her allies heard of this message, sent by voice and telepathy. But ahead she heard a sound that to her was like choirs of angels singing.Saber was barking madly.Elena would never have been able to stop by herself. She was in a risky river of people and the raging river was taking her right around the barrier made by four people, a falcon, and a mad-seeming dog.But eight hands reached out to her as she was swept by and a snarling, snapping muzzle leaped ahead of her to appoint the crowd. Somehow she was being run into, bruised, cradled, shoved, and, grasped and grasping, forced all the way to the right wall.But Sage was sounding at that same wall in despair. Madame, he tricked you There is no keyhole hereElenas throat went raw. She vigilant to shout, Saber, heel, and go after the vampire.But then, just below her, Bonnies voice said, Of course there is. Its shaped like a circle.And Elena remembered.Smaller guards. Like imps or monkeys. Bonnies size.Bonnie, take this Shove it into the hole. Be careful Its the only one weve got.Sage immediately directed Saber to stand and snarl just ahead of Bonnie in the tunnel, to keep the stream of panicked demons and vampires from jostling her.Carefully, solemnly, Bonnie took the large key, examined it, cocked her head, turned it in her hands and set it in the wall.Nothings happeningTry turning or pushing Click.The door slid open.Elena and her group more or less fell into the corridor, while Saber stood between them and the herd pound ing by, barking and snapping and leaping.Elena, lying on the ground, legs entwined with who-knew-who-elses, cupped a hand around her ring.The fox eyes shone straight ahead and a bit to the right.They were shining into a cell ahead.