The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Five

Dear Diary,I laughingstockt believe what a fool I am, what a faithless, worthless fool.I should never learn kissed Damon, or let him kiss me.The look on Stefans face when he found us was heartbreaking. His features were so stiff and pale, as if he was made of ice, and his look were shining with tears. And whence it seemed like a light went come to the fore inside him, and he looked at me like he hated me.Like I was Katherine. nonematter what happened between us, Stefan never looked at me like that earlier.I wont believe it. Stefan could never hate me.Every beat of my heart tells me that we belong together, that nothing can tear us apart.Ive been such a fool, and Ive hurt Stefan, although that was the one thing I never wanted to do. But this isnt the end for us. in one case I excuse and explain what a moment of madness he witnessed, hell forgive me. Once I can strive him over again, hell see how sorry I am.It was only the adrenaline from coming so close to death, from that c ar chasing aft(prenominal) us. Neither Damon nor I really wanted the other one, that kiss was just us clinging hard to life.No. I cant lie. Not here. I have to be honest with myself, even if I pretend with everyone else. I wanted to kiss Damon. I wanted to touch Damon. I always have.But I dont have to. I can stop myself, and I leave alone. I dont want to cause Stefan any more pain.Stefan will understand that, will understand that Ill do anything I can to make him happy again, and then hell forgive me.This cant be the end. I wont let it be.Elena closed her ledger and dialed Stefans number erstwhile more, letting the phone ring until it went to voicemail and then hanging up. Shed cal ed him several times last night, then over and over again this morning. Stefan could see her cal ing, she knew. He always kept his phone on. He always answered, too he seemed to feel some obligation to be available since he had the phone with him.The fact that he wasnt answering meant he was avoiding her on purpose.Elena shook her head fiercely and dialed again. Stefan was going to listen to her. She wasnt going to let him turn her away. Once she explained and he forgave her, everything could go back to normal. They could end this separation that was making them both so unhappy clearly, it hadnt worked out the way she intended.Except, what exactly was she going to say? Elena sighed and flopped put through backward onto her bed, her heart sinking. Adrenaline from the cars pursuit aside, al she could real y say was that she hadnt meant for the kiss with Damon to happen, that she didnt want him, not real y. She wanted Stefan. Al she could tel him was that it wasnt something she had anticipate or planned. That Damon wasnt the one she wanted. Not truly. That she would always choose Stefan.That would have to be enough. Elena dialed again.This time, Stefan picked up.Elena, he said flatly.Stefan, please listen to me, Elena said in a rush. Im so sorry. I never I dont want to talk ab out this, Stefan said, cutting her off. Please stop cal ing me.But, please, Stefan I love you, yet Stefans voice was soft but cold. I dont think we can be together. Not if I cant trust you. The line went dead. Elena pul ed the phone away from her ear and stared at it for a moment, puzzled, before she realized what had happened. Stefan, dear, darling Stefan who had always been there for her, who loved her no matter what she did, had hung up on her.Meredith pul ed one foot up behind her back, held it in both hands, breathing timeed deep, and slowly pul ed the foot higher, stretching her quadriceps muscle.It felt good to stretch, to get a little blood flowing after her late night. She was looking forward to sparring with Samantha. There was a new move Meredith had figured out, a little something kickboxing inspired, that she thought Sam was going to love, once she got over the shock of being knocked down by Meredith once again. Samantha had been getting faster and more sure of hers elf as they kept working out together, and Meredith definitely wanted to keep her on her toes.That was, it would be terrific to spar with Samantha, if Samantha ever actual y arrived. Meredith glanced at her watch. Sam was almost twenty minutes late.Of course, theyd been out late the night before. But stil , it wasnt like Samantha not to show up when she said she was going to. Meredith turned on her phone to see if she had a message, then cal ed Samantha. No answer.Meredith left a quick voicemail, then hung up and went back to stretching, trying to ignore the faint quiver of unease running through her. She circled her shoulders, stretched her arms behind her back.Maybe Samantha just forgot and had her phone turned off. Maybe she overslept. Samantha was a hunter she wasnt in danger from whoever or whatever was stalking the campus.Sighing, Meredith gave up on her workout routine. She wasnt going to be able to focus until she checked on Samantha, even though the other girl was probab ly fine.Undoubtedly fine. Scooping up her backpack, she headed for the door. She could get in a run on the way over.The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and Merediths feet pounded the paths in a regular rhythm as she wove between quite a little wandering around campus. By the time she reached Samanthas dorm, she was thinking that maybe Sam would want to go for a nice long run with her instead of sparring today.She tapped on Samanthas door, cal ing, Rise and shine, sleepyhead The door, not latched, drifted open a little.Samantha? Meredith said, pushing it open farther.The smel hit her first. Like rust and salt, with an underlying odor of decay, it was so strong Meredith staggered backward, hand clapping a hand over her nose and mouth.Despite the smel , Meredith couldnt at first understand what was al over the wal s. Paint? she wondered, her brain feeling sluggish and slow. wherefore would Samantha be painting? It was so red. She walked through the door slowly, although somethin g in her was starting to scream.No, no, get away.Blood. Bloodbloodbloodblood. Meredith wasnt feeling slow and sluggish anymore her heart was pounding, her head was spinning, her breath was coming hard and fast.There was death in this room.She had to see. She had to see Samantha. Despite every nerve in her body urging her to run, to fight, Meredith kept moving forward.Samantha destroy on her back, the bed beneath her soaked red with blood. She looked like she had been ripped apart.Her open eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, unblinking.She was dead.