The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirty-Two

Moonlight shone in the window, iluminating a long swath of Elenas bed. Meredith had tossed and turned for a while, but at a time Elena could hear her encounterer breathing. It was good that Meredith was sleeping. She was exhausting herself working tabu constantly, patrol ing every night, making sure al her weapons were in prime condition, wild with frustration that they werent able to contract any solid clues as to the kil ers identity.But it was lonely being the only one awake.Elena stretched her legs under the sheets and flipped over her pil ow to rest her head on the cooler side.Branches tapped against the window, and Elena wiggled her shoulders against the mattress, seek to calm her busy mind. She wished Bonnie would come home.The tapping on the window came again, then again, sharp peremptory raps.Slowly, it dawned on Elena, a little late, that there werent any trees whose branches stirred that window.Heart pounding, she sat up with a gasp.Eyes black as night peered in the window, skin as pale as the moonlight. It took Elenas brain a minute to start working again, but then she was out of bed and opening the window. He was so quick and graceful that by the time she turf out the window and turned nigh, Damon was seated on her bed, leaning back on his elbows and looking total y at ease.Some vampire hunter she is, he verbalise cool y, looking over at Meredith as she made a soft whuffling sound into her pil ow. His gaze, though, was almost affectionate.Thats not fair, Elena said. Shes exhausted.Someday her life business leader depend on her staying alert even when shes exhausted, Damon said pointedly.Okay, but today is not that day, Elena said. Leave Meredith alone and tel me what youve found out about Zander. Sitting complicate cross-legged on the bed next to him, she leaned forward to make Damon her ful attention.Damon took her go past, slowly interlacing his fingers with hers. I havent learned anything definite, he said, but I have suspicions.Wh at do you mean? Elena said, distracted. Damon was stroking her arm lightly with his other hand, feather touches, and she realized he was watching her closely, waiting to see if she would object. Inwardly, she shrugged a little. What did it matter, after al ? Stefan had remaining wing her there was no reason now to push Damon away. She glanced over at Meredith, but the dark-haired girl was stil deeply asleep.Damons dark eyes glittered in the moonlight. He seemed to sense what she was thinking, because he leaned closer to her on the bed, pul ing her snugly against him. I need to investigate a little more, Damon said. Theres definitely something off about him and those boys he runs around with. Theyre too fast, for one thing. But I dont think Bonnies in any immediate danger. Elena stiffened in his arms. What proof do you have of that? she asked. And its not just Bonnie. If anyones in danger, they have to be our top priority.Il watch them, dont worry. He chuckled, a dry, intimate soun d. He and Bonnie are certainly tranceting close. She seems besotted.Elena twisted away from his conscientious hands, feeling anxious. If he could be dangerous, if theres anything off about him the way you say, we have to warn her about him.We cant just sit by watching and waiting for him to do something wrong. By then, it might be too late. Damon pul ed her back to him, his hand flat and steady against her side. You already tried warning Bonnie, and that didnt work, did it? Why would she listen to you now that shes spent more time with him, bonding with him, and nothing bads happened to her? He shook his head. It wont work, princess.I just wish we could do something, Elena said miserably.If I had gotten a look at the bodies, Damon said thoughtful y, I might have more of an idea of what could be behind this. I suppose breaking into the morgue is out of the question?Elena considered this. I think theyve probably released the bodies by now, she said doubtful y, and Im not sure where theyd take them next. Wait She sat up straight.The campus security status would have something, wouldnt they? Records, or maybe even pictures of Christophers and Samanthas bodies? The campus officers were al over the crime scenes before the police got there.We can check it out tomorrow, certainly, Damon said casual y. If it wil apply you feel better. His voice and expression were almost disinterested, provokingly so, and once again, Elena felt the strange mixture of desire and irritation that Damon often sparked in her. She wanted to glut him away and pul him closer at the same time.She had almost decided on shoving him away when he turned to look her ful in the face. My poor Elena, he said in a soothing murmur, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. He ran a soft hand up her arm, shoulder, and neck, coming to rest gently against her jawline. You cant get away from the dark creatures, can you, Elena? No matter how you try.Come to a new place, find a new monster. He stroked her face with one finger. His actors line were almost mocking, but his voice was gentle and his eyes shone with emotion.Elena pressed her cheek against his hand. Damon was elegant and clever, and something in him spoke to the dark, secret part of her. She couldnt deny that she was drawn to him that shed forever been drawn to him, even when they first met and he scared her. And Elena had loved him since that winter night when she awoke as a vampire and he cared for her, protected her, and taught her what she needed to know.Stefan had left her. There was no reason why she shouldnt do this. I dont always want to get away from the dark creatures, Damon, she said.He was silent for a moment, his hand stroking her cheek automatical y, and then he kissed her. His lips were like cool silk against hers, and Elena felt as if she had been wandering for hours in a desert and had final y been disposed(p) a cold drink of water.She kissed him harder, letting go of his hand to twine her fingers through h is soft hair.Pul ing away from her mouth, Damon kissed her neck gently, waiting for permission. Elena dropped her head back to give him better access. She heard Damons breath hiss through his teeth, and he looked into her eyes for a moment, his face soft and more open than shed ever seen it, before he lowered his face to her neck again.The twin wasp stings of his fangs hurt for a moment, and then she was sliding through darkness, fol owing a ribbon of aching delight that led her through the night, led her to Damon. She felt his joy and wonder at having her in his arms without guilt, without reserve. In return she let him feel her happiness in him and her confusion over wanting him and stil loving Stefan, her pain at Stefans absence. There was no guilt, not now, but there was a huge Stefan-shaped hole in her heart, and she let Damon see it.Its all right, Elena, she felt from him, not quite in words, but in a rock-solid contentment, like the purr of a cat. All I want is this.