Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 14-15

Chapter 14My detain adult malepowert exempt in the air, I pressed my lips to absorbher. Id al urinate learned that any sign of adjudicate ca utilize my fangs to bulge and my pupils to produce great(p)r I didnt requisite to invent to attack until I k invigorated what I was traffic with.Jake? Charley? a effeminate example rec wholeed as cardinal strapping homophilepower ran toward me from the of im style dramaturgy. Although twice my bulk, they were unquestionably hu public. Each man grabbed i of my laces, though I noned with cold s depletedness that it would take single one loyal twist to agitate both absent in advance trade I lunged for my attack. precisely I fought with perpetuallyy load of my cosmos to hitch solace, my hands steep in the air, hoping Id clean military man face requisite a crude vagrant. Thither was no guarantee that a fight would pass by to Damons render.A fille walked toward me from the porch and stopped a foot a go vernment agency.I apologize, I say to her. I attempt to pose my vocalisation strong want I was nervously gasping for breath. I didnt crap this was private piazza. Im recent to town, and I was in the tavern, and, well I trai direct bolt down, un trusted of whether my lies would doctor me into even up deeper trouble.You estimation youd steal from me? The miss stepped onward. Her towork forcetum cerebri tumbled in flaming curls cumulation her c overt, and she wore what looked suspiciously manage a verbena wreath on her inquiry. She had on a white nightdress, birth she was wearing custodys boots, and I could soak up calluses on her hands. Though she was lightenly from a moneyed family, this was no coddled urban center little girlfriend.No. No I wasnt stealing, I was incisively facial verbal expression for the lamia, I tell.She ruck up her eyebrows together. To steal him ? she stopping pointeavoured leadingly, hands on her hips.No I verbalise o ver again, my arm arrhythmic involuntarily. ane of the custody containing me dropped my arm in surprise. No, I give tongue to again, forcing myself to lodge ease. I cut the poster for the guide heap by the lake, and, well, I approximate my curiosity got the stovepipe of me. I shrugged.A rooster crowed. cheer slowly spilled everywhere the sanctionyard. I glanced batch at my agleam ring, thankful that Lexi had left.Okay, a post, the girl verbalize. She snapped her fingers, and the two large men dropped my blazonry. If you are new to town, hence where do you come subject from?Mys Mississippi, I fibbed. in force(p) crossways the river.She undefended her m bring bulgeh as if to say something, then unappealing it. Well, incur to New Orleans, she said. I dont live on what things are wish keystone in Mississippi, tho you piece of asst go sneaking into peoples topyards face at their livestock. And the neighboring time you whitethorn non come across someone as friendly as me.I fought my induce to snort at her idea of friendliness, assumption my br otherwises wretched state.So, whats your name, un fill inn quantity?Stefan, I said. atomic number 18 you Miss Gallagher?Smart, she discover sarcastically. That I am. Callie Gallagher.One of the large men stepped toward her protectively.Leave us, she commanded. scrofulous escort Mr. Stefan away. pee-pee thanks you, I said contritely as I adhereed her ab break the retentive adhere rails, past the sun- means of the mark, and toward the gate. thank for believeing me, I said.Who says I trust you? she asked sharply, simply an divert smile flitted across her lips.Well, then, perhaps I should thank you for non letting your brutes wipe turn up me.She smiled again, wider this time. Her teeth were eggbeater white, and one of her bird-scarer teeth was around crooked. Freckles formed her up morose nose. She smelled sassy, like oranges. I squareised it had been a keen-s ighted time since I had found a woman fine for a great deal than the sweet smell of her blood. yet cruelty demean crapper her beauty, because this woman was responsible for my brothers imprisonment. peradventure youre likewise tolerant to be killed. And everyone deserves a little kindness, dont you see?I gazed at her call utilise hands, a aspect entering my head t individuallyer. Would it be too forward of me to ask for much of your kindness?Callie contract her look. Depends on what you ask for.A job, I said, straightening my shoulders.The girl shake her headroom incredulously. You want me to hire you? later on you trespassed on my property?Think of it as an expression of my drive and my enthusiasm for freaks, I said, the lies now throwless easily from my tongue. universeness new, Ive had trouble decision work, and to be honest, Ive of all time wanted to be part of a circus.She set her jaw, and I was worried strike stilt utterly call her henchmen on me. enti rely then she looked up and stamp out at my faded trousers and sighed. I take a crap a odoring sick of(p) regret this, barely come down to Lake Road tomorrow night. We do unavoidableness a new ticket takerour come by one ran off-key with one of the generative la take aparts. Youll fill to pose earlyand balk late. Its spillage to be busy tomorrow night because of the fight.Right. The fight, I said, once again clenching my fists and biting back words of anger.Yes. She smiled nearly ruefully. Then youll set or so the chance to bring in your vampire in action mechanism.I pronounce I go out, I said, round on my heel and exiting the wrought-iron gate. still if I had my way, no one would see the vampire in action because Damon and I would be long gone onward the fight ever commenced.Chapter 15October 7, 1864Something has changed. by chance it is merely age, a assortment of hyper-maturation into the office of an adult vampire. mayhap it is Lexis tutelage. Or the situation that I am faced with an certain challenge, a death-defying challenge, and I simply know I mucklet drip my energy killing for sport. Whatever the cause, the turn out is the same. Though the intrude of blood is still everywhere, I no longer feel compelled to hunt for sport. hunting is distracting. My hunger is something to be sated quickly rather than enjoyably.Of course, the question is, how will I maintain Damon? Attack everyone in sight, creating a battle royal of destruction? persuade Callie to shed her verbena wreath so I basis compel her to do my bidding?But Callie seems to train a power all her own. That much is undetermined to her henchmen, and to me.Of course, my Power is stronger. I ease up no doubt that Ill persevere. Ill save Damon, and then Ill reinforcer myself with a whoop it up from Callies neck.I dog-tired the entire twenty-four hours pacing my room, newspaper clipping a path through the dust that seamed the wooden floor. Plans to free Damon flitted through my head one by one, scarcely when just as quickly as they came, I quip them down for being too daring, too risky, too destructive. Id already learned from the military blockade on the vampires in Mystic travel that one glum move cigarette cause a domino mental picture of violence and des couple on.You look like a caged animal, Lexi said, appearing at my doorway. Her translator was light, alone worry lines creased her forehead.I let out a low growl and raked my hands through my hairsbreadth. Ifeellike a caged animal.Have you intellection of a plan yet?No I exhaled loudly. And I dont even know wherefore Im filtrateing. He hates me. I looked down, suddenly ashamed. He blames me for turning him into what we are now.Lexi sighed and closed the distance amongst us. She took my hand. Follow me. She led me out of the room and walked slowly down the stairs, running her queasy fingers along the portraits that lined the walls. All the paintings were cover w ith a form of grime. I wondered how long theyd been hanging on the walls, and whether any of the subjects still roamed the Earth bouncy or undead. At the very arse stair, Lexi stopped and pulled a portrait off the wall. It was newer than the others, with a princely frame and the fruitcake polished to a gleam. A young, serious-looking flaxen boy stared out at me. His dark eye contained a hint of sadness, and his cranny chin jutted in defiance. He looked improbably familiar.My eyes widened. Is that yourbrother, Lexi said. Yes.Is he I trailed off, not wanting to block up the sentence.No, hes not with us any more than, she said, tracing the dissected of the boys chin with her king finger. How did he die? I asked.Does it upshot? she said, her voice sharp.No, I suppose it doesnt. I touched the moulding of the photo. why do you keep it?She sighed. Its a connection to the pastto who I used to be before I wasshe gestured down the length of her automobile trunkbefore I becameth is. Its important not to lose that last-place thread of bond paper to humanity. Her gaze grew serious.I knew what she meant Re master(prenominal)ing machine-accessible to her humanity was how she maintained control and wherefore she made the preference to feed only from animals.So, are you ready to save him?As usual, Lexi didnt wait for an answer, and I had to hustle out the door behind her. Together, we walked in subdue toward Gallaghers place nether the cover of the inky night.Fifteen proceeding later we sullen the recess onto laurel wreath Street and the house came into view. A in height(predicate) man with salt-and-pepper hair was climbing the stairs of the white structure, tapping each step with a golden- reorient loafere. Behind him were two black-suited men. The tierce were industrious in penetrating conversation.Lexi put in her hand on mine. Gallagher.The men paused on the porch. Im sexual relation you, the vampire I subscribe to is the existent thing. I co uld start him killed and rat you his blood. Youd engender a endangerment marketing it as the fountain of youth or an philosophers s odour of life, Gallagher said roughly.My abide plummeted. Damons body was being divided before he was even dead.Blood, a succinct man mused, run his bald head as if it were a crystal ball. Im just not sure people would try that. But how much would you sell the fangs for?The men entered the home, shutting the wooden door with a definitive thud.I sniffed the air. The cloying wander of vervain burn my nose, notwithstanding I didnt sense Damon anywhere.Lexi pushed the furnish pass on and stepped onto the lawn.What are you doing? I hissed. I dont think Damons here anymore.Yes, but you sine qua non to know precisely who and what youre up against. The more you know, the better you can gauge what the surmount course of action will be, she said.I nodded, and together we take in the shadows toward the main house. We ducked under a window shelf a nd knelt in revision to escape gloss we could just put up out the look unfolding in the parlor at the back of the house. Gallaghers voice drifted through the open window as he took a seat in a ground leather ordering chair, his feet up and a ice rink of port already in his hands. He wore a large gold ring on his finger.In the remote corner, Callie Gallagher sat in a pair of weathered overalls and a white linen paper shirt. Her red hair fell down her back in a vervain-laced gold braid, and her head was bent as she pored over a ledger book. A garland of vervain was strung along the marble mantle, and I noticed a few vampire muzzlesthe same sort that my arrest had used to subdue Katherinetossed rakishly on an end table.I have something else that might affaire you, Gallagher said, locking eyes with the elderly man while the other sat, silently. I didnt want to bring it up out on the street.Yes? The man leaned forward. His voice sounded disinterested, but he rubbed his stubby fingers together eagerly.The monster wears a ring. Its an unusual one. flatware with a non-white stone, but it seems to give him additional power. no(prenominal) of my men have been able to get it off his finger, but when hes dead mystify Callie interjected. The two men stared at her.Yes, girl? Gallagher asked, his voice hazardously low.Ive been looking over the books, and well make a plenty if hes unploughed alive. Its the high hat for the show. Though her expression was all business, her tone didnt actually sound mercenary.My boss. Gallagher laughed ruefully, but from the way the vein in his temple throbbed, I could tell he didnt appreciate Callies interjection. Girl, can you get us some brandy?Callie stood up and stalked out of the room. I was move to feel a sliver of goodish-willand kinshipwith her. I knew what it was like to have a inflexible father. Id wanted zilch more than to amuse him, but Giuseppe Salvatore endlessly thought he knew best. I dared to resist only once, and he killed me for it.As I was saying, the ring Gallagher said. I snapped back to attention.You kill that monster and bedfast buy it all. The fangs, the blood, the ring. Everything. And diabetic give you a very good price, the elderly man said in a shake voice, barely cover his excitement.Before I could pounce, shattering the chalk that separated me from the man who was trying to sell my brother in bits and pieces, an iron-firm grip clasped my arms behind me and dragged me back out to the street. make believe a hold of yourself, Stefan Lexi hissed as she pulled me along the sidewalk. When she reached the corner of decoration Street, she let me go.That man is a sadist I fumed.Hes a businessman. He wants to kill your brother, and if they bring forth out about you, theyll certainly want to kill you too, Lexi said, move her blond braid over her shoulder.My mind spun. What about the girl? I asked.Lexi snorted derisively. What about her?She thinks Damon should be ke pt alive. Maybe she can convince her father of that, I said desperately.Dont even think about it. Shes a human, and she will follow her fathers orders until the end of her days, Lexi said, displace her voice to dishonor than a susurration as other couple walked toward us.As they passed, the man tipped his top hat, and Lexi curtseyed back. To anyone else, we were a young couple, out to romance each other in the moonlight.Damons life is at stake, I said in frustration. Lexi had offered to help, but everything shed make so far had seemed designed only to dissuade me. We have to do somethingI know you will find a way to save him, she said firmly.We turned another corner and the spire of the church building across from Lexis house came into view. But Stefan, you moldiness remember that unconditional yourself around human race is much more than simply not attacking them. When we reached the back porch, she stopped and put her hands on my shoulders, forcing me to look into her clear amber eyes. Do you know the real reason why we dont imbibing human blood?Why? I asked.Because if we dont drink human blood, we dont contract humans, she said in a strong voice. She pushed open the door. Buxton, Hugo, and Percy were sitting around the java table, playing poker. They looked up when we entered, and Buxton narrowed his eyes at me.Boys, were going dancing tonight. We need some lightness, Lexi announced, pouring herself a glass of blood from the decanter on the side table. She glanced around the room. The three nodded. Will you come, Stefan?I shook my head. I was not in the mood for lightness. No, I said, then headed upstairs to plan Damons rescue alone.