Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 8

I found Damon dancing with Hilda, ushering her most the t line of descent the light fantastic floor with the lightest touch. Wherever his fingers touched she bent, curling into him a trifle to a greater extent than was acceptable and falling against him more than was necessary. Other girls looked on enviously, clearly hoping to bounce with him next. He pretended to devote all his attention to the poor girl, constitutionally glanced up sound massive full to shoot me a daze smile.I waited impatiently for the dance to end, wishing I could compel the musicians to stop. further whatever Damons powers of compulsion, mine were severely lac powerfulness thanks to my meager diet.As soon as the last beat was played, I marched up to my brother.Oh, Im sorry, did you relish to ? he asked, innocently, indicating Hilda. Because Im sure she will. If youd like her to.Hilda studied her dance card, the picture of confusion.Lets go get a drink, I said, taking him by the elbow.Exactly what I was believeing, he agreed, sc absent-seriously. He snapped his fingers, as if at a dog. Hilda ?Leave her al angiotensin-converting enzyme, I ordered.Damon rolled his eyes. Fine. A waiter will do scarcely as well. however he allowed me to stern an iron grip on his artillery and guide him through the crowd, past the refreshment room, through a program library and into a poorly lit study.What the hell are you doing here? I de human raceded the moment we were alone.Trying to enjoy myself, Damon said, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. He dropped his accent immediately. Did you see the spread? The salmons from Scotland. And Adelina Patti is here, too Father would lead fair(a) died. Oh wait. He snapped his fingers. He did die. You murdered him, in event.Only aft(prenominal) he tried to kill us, I pointed out, clenching my fists.Correction after he succeeded in shooting both of us. Were dead, brother. Damon grinned at me.He was circling me. Casually, as if he didnt mea n to, as if he was just walking around idly, do conversation while admiring the decor. It reminded me of how hed paced the ring at the circus keep going in New siege of Orleans, when Gallagher had forced him to fight the mountain lion. Damon picked up a venial statuette and turned it oer in his hands, but his eyes stayed locked on mine. I squared my shoulders, feeling the predators response as he challenged my person-to-person space.Im asking you again, Damon What are you doing here?Same social occasion as you, brother. outset a new life sentence, far from mob, and war, and tragedy, and all of those other things immigrants like us are escaping. New York is where the action is. I write in coded if its good enough for my brother, its good enough for me, too.So you did hail me, I said. How?You stink, Damon said. Dont act strike Its not just you. Everyone stinks. Were hunters, Stefan. About half charge up the coast, it wasnt hard to figure out where you decided to go after Ne w Orleans. I just made sure I got here first. There isnt a select tho that can beat me on a horse. Well, several horses. A couple of them died of exhaustion. exchangeable your poor, poor Mezzanotte. wherefore, Damon? I said, ignoring his casual cruelty. wherefore follow me here?Damons eyes narrowed and a flash of rage throw through them, exploding from the hidden depths of his soul.I told you I was going to torment you for the infinity you blessed me with, Stefan. Did you think I would break my promise so chop-chop?I was used to Damons fits of pique. His anger had always been like a summertime storm, quick and violent, causing damage to anyone or anything nearby and therefore it was over and he was buying a round at the tavern. just now this wildness was new, and it was all because of me.I averted my eyes so he couldnt see the suffering and guilt written there. What do you want with Lydia? What does she arouse to do with anything?Ah, Lydia, Damon sighed, infusing his jun cture with pretend longing. Charming, isnt she? Definitely the best catch of the three sisters. Not that Margaret doesnt have her own charms, of form, but shes a bit sarcastic for my tastes, and, well, married. He agitate his head. But then theres Bridget. such(prenominal) a lively girl Such verve anyone seen Stefan? As if on cue, we could both pick out her whining, girlish soprano from four rooms away. and such an irritating voice, Damon faultless, wincing. First thing I would do, brother, is compel her to silence. Youd be doing the world a favor.I seize my jaw. You were obviously involved with the Sutherlands long before we crossed paths here.Oh was I? Damon asked. He put down the small statue he had been holding and turned it this way and that on the desk, as if deciding which way it looked best. Poor girl was acquire soaked did she tell you the story? She loves it. For all of her pretending to be hard-nosed, shes a weak-kneed romantic as bad as the rest of them. A sudden storm out of nowhere, a dry cab for Lydia loaded, rich Lydia with a sheltered upbringing and open, welcoming family.Oh, you are a traverse of subtlety. Controlling mens fates, I said, rolling my eyes at Damons preening.I am a master. Who do you think left Bridget for you to find? he demanded. He stuck his face toward my own so that our noses almost touched. Who do you think wounded her just enough for poor, old, predictable Stefan to find? Stefan, whos sworn away drinking from humans, who I just knew would rescue the damsel in distraint rather than finish her off.A cold chill crept up my spine.And then of course I compelled the entire family to welcome you and do you in, he finished with a careless wave of his hand, as if it had been nothing.A sense of patience and understanding flooded my body. Of course he had compelled the family. The Sutherlands easy acceptance of me into their home had rankled me, and I should have realized earlier that something was hugely amiss. How d id a man of Winfields stature let a stranger, a vagrant, into his home, and never ask anything just about his family or acquaintances? A man of his kind of wealth had to be diligent about whom he allowed to get close. And Mrs. Sutherland she was such a cautious mother, yet she allowed me to escort her and her daughter on a walk in the park. though this was hardly the time, I couldnt help but wonder if her seeming meat for me had been true, or if it all had been due to Damons Power.What do you want, Damon? I asked again. Here we were, back in the thick of it, but this time I understood just how dangerous my brother was and just how far hed go to get revenge on me.Nothing terrible, Stefan he said, grinning and stepping back, throwing his hands in the air. But think of it Me with Lydia wrapped around my finger. You with the adoring Bridget. Well marry the sisters and, just as you always hoped, well be brothers again for eternity or at least as long as they live.Im not marrying Br idget, I blurted out.Yes, you are, Damon said.No, Im not, I repeated. Im loss New York. Tonight.You are staying here and marrying Bridget, Damon said, coming to within an inch of my face, or I will start to kill all the people in this place, one by one.He was deadly serious, all traces of cavalier, joking, devil-may-care Damon gone. The smoldering anger was back.You cant do that, I growled. Even you arent strong enough to take down an entire ballroom.Oh really? He snapped his fingers over his shoulder. A wetnurse appeared from the next room, as if waiting for his signal. She already had a kerchief tied around her neck from where he had fed on her previously. He gestured with his chin at the window, and she gamely went over and began to unbolt the latches.I can compel Bridget and her entire stupid entourage in there to go jump off a balcony, Damon growled.I dont believe you, I said as sedately as I could. Only Lexi seemed able to control more than one person at once. And Damon was nt nearly as old as she.Or I can stalk them one by one and rip their throats out, he offered instead. It makes no difference to me.The maid stepped up onto the sill and began to climb onto the rail.Bastard, I murmured, rushing over to grab the poor girl before she killed herself. catch up with out of here, I growled at her, unsure if I was compelling her or not. Suddenly she looked confused and scared, the spell broken. She bolted out of the room, sniffling.why? I demanded when she had gone. Why do you want to marry Lydia? Why is it so important that I marry her sister?If I have to live forever, I exponent as well do it in style, Damon said, shrugging. Im sick of living from person to person, meal to meal, having no place to call home. When I marry Lydia, Ill be rich. A houseful of servants to attend to my every whim to feed my every need, he leered. I wasnt sure he was just talking about blood. Or, I could just take the money and run. Either way, Ill be a visual sense better off than I am now. Winfield is swimming in money.Why involve me? I asked, feeling weary. Why not just go off and do whatever it is you need to do, ruining peoples lives?Lets just reckon I have my reasons. Damon flashed me a harlequins grin.I shook my head in exasperation. Just past the door of the study, a couple walked arm in arm through the library, in search of a quiet place to talk. Beyond them were the happy noises of the dancing throng, laughing conversations, the tap of heels on the floor. I watched distractedly, picking out Winfields booming voice as he lectured person on the basic tenets of capitalism.What will you do with them? I asked. With Damon as son-in-law, Winfield Sutherlands life expectancy had just been drastically reduced and Lydias as well.in one case I have their money? Pfff. I dont know, Damon said, throwing his hand up in the air. I hear San Francisco is fairly exciting or maybe Ill just go and take that grand tour in Europe youd always daydream of.Damon I began.Or I could just live here, like the king I do so want to be, he continued, cutting me off. Enjoying myselfI had a horrible image of Damon satisfying his every carnal desire in the Sutherland household.I wont let you do this, I said urgently.Why do you care? Damon asked. I mean, it wasnt me tearing through New Orleans. What was your body count toward the end there, brother?Ive changed, I pointed out, looking him in the eye.Yes, of course, he said. Just like that. Whatever could have oh He grinned. Its Lydia, isnt it? Once again following in my footsteps, brother. Everything I have you just want. Like Katherine.I never loved Katherine. Not the way you did.I was attracted to her, of course who wouldnt have been? She was beautiful, charming, and a terrible flirt. Damon hadnt minded her dark side, and in fact seemed to appreciate it. But when I was with her under her heady spell, I just wanted to ignore her lamia side. And when the vervain cleared my thoughts I was repelled by what she was. All of my feelings, deep feelings, for her, had been the stuff of glamour. For Damon, it was all real.And I dont love Lydia, I said. But that doesnt mean I want to see her or anyone hurt. hence you do exactly as I say, brother, and everyone will be fine. But if you step out of line, even once Damon dragged a finger crosswise his throat. Then their blood will be on your hands.For a long moment, all was silent as Damon and I glared at each other. I had vowed to never harm a human again, to never allow a human to come to harm because of me. I was trapped as neatly and as permanently as if I were still a sideshow vampire at a circus, tied with vervain ropes and Damon knew it.I heaved a sigh. What do you want me to do?