The Return: Midnight Chapter 6

clean couldnt give out to sleep after Damons words to her.She wanted to talk to Meredith, solely there was an unseeing, unhearing lump in Merediths bed.The only thing she could think of was to go down to the kitchen and huddle up with a cup of cocoa in the den, alone with her misery. Bonnie wasnt good at being alone with herself. only if as it turned out, when she got to the bottom floor, she didnt head for the kitchen after al . She went straight to the den. E reallything was dark and strange-looking in the silent dimness. Turning on one light would besides make everything else even darker. But she managed, with shaking fingers, to twist the switch of the standing lamp beside the couch. Now if only she could find a password or somethingShe was holding on to her pil ow as if it were a teddy bear, when Damons voice beside her said, Poor little redbird.You shouldnt be up so late, you know.Bonnie started and bit her lip.I hope youre not stil hurting,she said coldly, very much on her dignity, which she suspected was not very convincing.But what was she supposed to do?The truth was that Bonnie had utterly no chance of winning a duel of wits with Damon and she knew it.Damon wanted to say, Hurting? To a vampire, a human fleabite like that wasBut unfortunately he was a human too. And it did hurt.Not for long, he promised himself, looking at Bonnie.I thought you never wanted to see me again,she said, chin trembling. It almost seemed too barbarian to make use of a vulnerable little redbird. But what choice did he subscribe?Il make it up to her somehow, someday I swear it, he thought. And at least I can make it pleasant now.That wasnt what I said,he replied, hoping that Bonnie wouldnt remember exactly what he had said. If he could just function the trembling woman-child before himbut he couldnt. He was a human now.You told me you would kil me.Look, Id just been knocked down by a human. I dont suppose you know what that means, but it hasnt happened to me since I was twelve years old, and stil an original human boy.Bonnies chin kept trembling, but the tears had stopped. You are bravest when youre scared, Damon thought.Im more worried about the others,he said.Others?Bonnie blinked.In five hundred years of life, one tends to make a remarkable amount of enemies. I dont know by chance its just me. Or maybe its the simple little fact of being a vampire.Oh. Oh, noBonnie cried.What does it matter, little redbird? Long or short, life seems al too brief.But Damon Dont fret, kitten. Have one of Natures remedies.Damon pul ed out of his breast pocket a smal flask that smel ed unquestionably of Black Magic.Oh you saved it How clever of youTry a taste? Ladies strike that young women first.Oh, I dont know. I used to get awful y sil y on that.The world is sil y. Life is sil y. Especial y when youve been doomed six times before breakfast.Damon opened the flask.Oh, al rightClearly thril ed by the notion of drinking with Damon,Bonnie took a very dainty s ip.Damon choked to cover a laugh. Youd better take bigger swigs, redbird. Or its going to take al night before I get a turn.Bonnie took a deep breath, and then a deep draft. After about three of those, Damon decided she was ready.Bonnies giggles were nonstop now. I thinkDo I think Ive had enough now?What colors do you see out here?Pink? Violet? Is that right? Isnt it nighttime?Wel , perhaps the Yankee Lights are paying us a visit. But youre right, I should get you into bed.Oh, no Oh, yes Oh, no Nonono yesShh.SHHHHHHTerrific, Damon thought Ive overdone it.I meant, get you into a bed,he said firmly. Just you. Here, Il walk you to the first-floor bedroom.Because I might fal on the stairs?You might say that. And this bedroom is much nicer than the one you share with Meredith. Now you just go to sleep and dont tel anyone about our rendezvous.Not even Elena?Not even anybody. Or I might get angry at you.Oh, no I wont, Damon I swear on your lifeThats pretty accurate,Damon said. Good night .Moonlight cocooned the house. Fog misted the moonlight. A slender, hooded dark figure took advantage of shadows so skil ful y that it would have passed unnoticed even if someone had been watching out for it and no one was.