Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 8

I found Damon dancing with Hilda, ushe crime syndicate her around the dance floor with the lightest touch. Wherever his fingers stirred she bent, curling into him a trifle more than was acceptable and falling against him more than was necessary. Other girls looked on enviously, clear hoping to dance with him next. He pretended to devote all his attention to the poor girl, exactly glanced up only if long enough to shoot me a dazzling smile.I waited impatiently for the dance to end, wishing I could compel the musicians to stop. just now whatever Damons powers of compulsion, mine were severely lacking thanks to my meager diet.As in brief as the last beat was played, I marched up to my brother.Oh, Im sorry, did you fatality to ? he asked, innocently, indicating Hilda. Because Im sure she will. If youd like her to.Hilda analyse her dance card, the picture of confusion.Lets go beat a drink, I said, taking him by the elbow.Exactly what I was thinking, he agreed, mock-seriously. He snapped his fingers, as if at a dog. Hilda ?Leave her alone, I ordered.Damon rolled his eye. Fine. A host will do retributory as well. only when he freeed me to place an iron g line of descent on his arm and guide him through the crowd, past the refreshment room, through a library and into a indisposed lit study.What the hell be you doing here? I demanded 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 bring forth in effect(p) died. Oh wait. He snapped his fingers. He did die. You murdered him, in fact.Only after he tried to run through 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 mean to, as if he was scarce walking around idly, making conversation while adm iring the decor. It reminded me of how hed paced the ring at the circus back in newly Orleans, when Gallagher had forced him to fight the mountain lion. Damon hoof ited up a small statuette and turned it everywhere in his hands, but his look stayed locked on mine. I form my shoulders, feeling the predators response as he challenged my personal space.Im asking you again, Damon What are you doing here?Same affaire as you, brother. Starting a new breeding, far from home, and war, and tragedy, and all of those other things immigrants like us are escaping. New York is where the action is. I paradigmd if its good enough for my brother, its good enough for me, too.So you did personify me, I said. How?You stink, Damon said. Dont act surprised Its not just you. Everyone stinks. Were hunters, Stefan. About half agency up the coast, it wasnt hard to figure out where you decided to go after New Orleans. I just made sure I got here first. There isnt a train yet that can beat me on a hor se. Well, several(prenominal) horses. A check of them died of exhaustion. Like your poor, poor Mezzanotte.Why, Damon? I said, ignoring his casual cruelty. Why follow me here?Damons eyes narrowed and a flash of rage shot through them, exploding from the hidden depths of his soul.I told you I was sledding to torment you for the eternity you blessed me with, Stefan. Did you think I would break my promise so quickly?I was used to Damons fits of pique. His anger had always been like a summer storm, quick and violent, causing damage to anyone or anything nearby and and so it was over and he was buying a round at the tavern.But this exasperation was new, and it was all because of me.I averted my eyes so he couldnt see the pain and guilt written there. What do you want with Lydia? What does she piss to do with anything?Ah, Lydia, Damon sighed, infusing his interpreter with pretend longing. Charming, isnt she? Definitely the best catch of the three sisters. not that Margaret doesnt hav e her own charms, of course, but shes a bit sarcastic for my tastes, and, well, married. He shook his head. But then theres Bridget. Such a jazzly girl Such verve anyone seen Stefan? As if on cue, we could both pick out her whining, childish soprano from four rooms away. and such an irritating voice, Damon finished, wincing. First thing I would do, brother, is compel her to silence. Youd be doing the world a favor.I clenched my jaw. You were obviously involved with the Sutherlands long out front 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 getting soaked did she tell you the report card? She loves it. For all of her pretending to be hard-nosed, shes a weak-kneed romantic as bad as the eternal rest of them. A sudden storm out of nowhere, a dry cab for Lydia rich, rich Lydia with a furnish upbringing and open, welcoming family.Oh, y ou are a master 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 off drinking from humans, who I just knew would rescue the damsel in tribulation rather than finish her off.A cold chill crept up my spine.And then of course I compelled the integral family to welcome you and take you in, he finished with a careless wave of his hand, as if it had been nothing.A smack of resignation 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 did a man of Winfields stature let a stranger, a vagrant, into his home, and never ask anything nigh his family or acq uaintances? A man of his kind of wealth had to be careful 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 essence 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 captive 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 Bridget, I blurted out.Yes, you are, Damon said.No, Im not, I repeated. Im leaving 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 burn anger was back.You cant do that, I growled. Even you arent strong enough to take down an entire ballroom.Oh actually? He snapped his fingers over his shoulder. A maid appeared from the next room, as if waiting for his signal. She already had a kerchief tied(p) 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 calmly as I could. Only Lexi seemed able to control more than one person at once. And Damon wasnt 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 pinch the poor girl before she killed herself. Get out of here, I growled at her, unsure if I was induce 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 might as well do it in style, Damon said, shrugging. Im sick of living from person to person, repast to meal, having no place to call home. When I marry Lydia, Ill be rich. A houseful of servants to attend to my every image 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 lot 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, ruini ng peoples lives?Lets just say 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 someone 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.Once 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 dreamed 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 e very 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 violent 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 vampire side. And when the vervain absolved 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 do esnt mean I want to see her or anyone hurt.Then 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 crossways 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 for good 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?