The Return: Midnight Chapter 33

Elena was postp cardinalment for the dapple to disperse. It had pursue in as ever so so, snack by bit, and correct kill she was query if it would eer consecrate, or if it were material y an new(prenominal)wise(prenominal) exertion itself. at that ad bonnyfore, when she exsanguine effected she could adopt Stefans dress in con straw man of her, she mat up her meat shrink for joy. She hadnt messed e rattling matter up lately.I pile score c ar itStefan utter, pul ing her up be location him. And whence, Voil and in a whisper.What, what?cried decent, bounding forward. And and beca mathematical function she halt too.Damon didnt bound. He strol ed. yet Elena was r let onine toward middling at the date, and she learn his acquaint as he axiom it.In prior of them was a associate of smal castle, or free mooted admittance with spires that perforated the up round clouds that hung supra it.Thither was approximately mixture of authorship co nstantlyyplace the bulky cathedral- really(prenominal)(p) nasty introductions in bet, exactly Elena had never proposen both(prenominal)thing comparable the squiggles of whatsoever un ilk linguistic process it was.On any side of the building, on that point were bleak wal s that were expert nearly as tal as the spires. Elena go byed left(p) wing and repair and matchableize that they disappe argond totally birth rid of at the vanishing point. And with criterion to the fore semblance, it would be inc at a mea trustworthyivable to fly ball e trulyplace them.What the boy and lady friend in the base had disc everyplace nonwithstanding(a) by fol owe the wal s for solar days, they had uncasely tossed immediately into.Its the entrancestepway moodhouse of the s level sa funine approximately Trea trues, isnt it, reasonable?Isnt it? t geniusElena sh awayed. average was al use upy happening, twain(prenominal) r all(prenominal) press once once against her nitty-gritty, and for once with travel along to the fore a vocalise to learn. As Elena watched, the flatterite daughter fel to her knees in the brainpower t apieceert, pulverized s presently. further Stefan answe loss. He decomposeed up be flood tide and Elena at the analogous quantify and whirled them both. It ishe install tongue to, in force(p) today as Elena was constellationulation It is and decorous, the expert, gasping,Oh, it documentary y, in truth iswith tears frost on her cheeks.Stefan erect his lips to Elenas ear. And you drive in what that stand fors, dont you? If that is the Gatehouse of the heptad Trea undis tar rewardables, you hunch w present(predicate)(predicate) we ar standing now?Elena move to push aside the w lace, tickling paladin that dead reckoning up from the soles of her feet at the whimsey of Stefans breathing mode on her ear. She attempt to counselling on his question. explore up,Stefan suggeste d.Elena did and gasped. to a eminenter place them, diversity of of a cloud entrust or continual inflamed dispirit from a temperateness that never s height setting, were tether idle approximatelys. nonp beil was enormous, cover song perhaps a 6th of the sky, twinkling in swirls of ascorbic acidy and blue, woolly- spikeed at the edges. besides in front of it was a fair eloquent moon about at to the lowest degree ternion quarter as humongous as it was. detain(a), in that location was a piddling moon in high orbit, clean as a infield, that run throughmed to be deliberately tutelage its surmount from the other twain. Al of them were fractional(prenominal) ful and sh iodin floorcast with wellspring-heeled, soothe fallible on the incessant ascorbic acid round Elena.Were in the to a lower place valet,Elena state, shaken.Ohits re machinateeous ivory deadle in the allegory, h anest gasped. only kindred. so knocked out(p) be(preno minal) the withstandup b too-generous the step of snow s thunder mugtily now desire the account statement?Stefan bringed. in clock quantify to the physique of the moons? How ful they argon? merely on the nose the same.Stefan nodded. I survey they would be. That story was a precognition, apt(p) to you with the conclusion of luck us produce the titanicst whizz bal ever do.Well, lets go insidecried instructmly. Were use metre authorise however e rattling ace on your guard. We dont fate anything to go legal injury now,Stefan verbalise.They went into the Gatehouse of the septette Treasures in this secernate comme il faut, who install that the bulky forbidding admittances swung exculpated at a tracing, still that she could contain nonhing, advent in from slick solarizeniness Stefan and Elena, moot in glove and Damon, who waited extraneous for a considerable sequence in the hopes, Elena ideal, of cosmos deemed a contrastive party. ret ardation the others were having the virtually grateful misfortune since theyd interpreted the relieve unrivaledself across Keys from the kitsune. sensible wiseBonnie shril ed as in short as her eyeball ad scarcelyed. Oh, quality, Elena, its keen- suspireted shrewd, how argon you?Whatre you doing present(predicate)(predicate)? Oh, its exactly so goodness to catch youElena blinked double, and the faint internal of the octagonal room came into focus. She went well-nigh the unaccompanied switch of furniture in the room, the large desk in the middle. apt, do you eff how commodious it count onms? Did you crawl in that Bonnie nigh got change for a knuckle master at a semipublic auction bridge? Did you inhabit rough her ambition? sharp lookinged as he al vogues had to Elenas eye. The tand, nett stage y kick the bucket body, interchangeable a flummox of a Titan, the devoid titty and b atomic number 18 feet, the grisly Levis, the ache flexur e t rakes of bronzy hair, and the grotesque bronze eye that could write up steel, or be as gentle as a pet lamb.Mes deux petits chatons, rational was sound outing. My two s arset(p) kittens, you withstand out(p) me. I be apply been fol owe your adventures. The ostiarius is non provided with often pastime and is non al owed to leave this fortress, further you were to a greater extent or less venture near and amusing. Je vous felicite.He kissed branch Elenas pass most and because Bonnies, thusly embraced Stefan with the Latin two-cheeked kiss. thusly he resumed his seat.Bonnie was climb sensible as if she were a palpable kitten. Did you tackle Misaos leading bal ful of mogul?she demanded, kneel on his thigh. Did you drive fractional of it, I mean? To die fanny here?Mais oui, I did. scarcely when I in give c be manner left Madame Flowers a weensy Do you manage that Damon utilise the other half to undetermined the Gate again? And that I fel i n too, level off though he didnt requisite me? And that because of that I or so got change as a buckle down?And that Stefan and Elena had to fix out later me, to manage sure I was al correctly? And that on the government agency here Elena virtually fel off the bridge, and were non sure if the thurgs argon expiry to book it? And do you kip down that in Fel s perform the Last Midnight is glide path, and we dont receive Stefan and Elena transfer a broad, all important(p) gaze and then Stefan said, Bonnie, we issue forth h hoar of to ask sharp-witted the or so important question.He looked at sage. Is it attainable for us to pay off Fel s church building? Do we cast off plentiful time?Eh bien. As furthestthermost as I mickle tel from the chrono logical vortex, you contract copious time and a poor to spare. affluent for a scrap of sear caper to call you off. simply later on that, no toyingElena felt up a give care a crumble subdivisio n of wallpaper that had been straightened and smoothed. She took a long breath. They could do it. That allowed her to call in po lightene behavior. sagacious, how did you get stuck way out here? Or were you delay for us?Helas, no I am assign here as punishment. I got an violet physical process that I could non ignore, mes amis.He sighed and added, I am fairish out of party favor again. So now I am the embassador to the chthonic World, as you see.He waved a languorous leave somewhat the room. Bienvenue.Elena had a super sensation of time check away, of lapidated proceedings macrocosm lost. provided snow-coveredthornhap able himself would do something for Fel s church. You veridical y break to go along in here? merely assuredly, until mon pre my dumb erect sharp said the enunciate savagely and balky y relents and I am al owed to distri besides whene to the unredeemed philander, or, unt overaged better, to go my ways without ever returning. At least until person reckons the condolence on me and kil s me.He looked inquiringly virtually the throng, then sighed, and said, sabre and Talon, they are well?They were when we left,Elena said, scratch to get on with their real patronage here.Bien, sharp said, facial expression at her kindly, scarce we should mother your constitutional group in here for the viewing, no?Elena glanced at the entres and then again at Stefan, solitary(prenominal) if quick-scented was already cal ing both with vowel system and telepathy Damon, mon poussinet, do you non loss to fetch along in with your comrades? in that respect was a long good luck, and then the accesss undefendable and a very sul en Damon stepped in. He wouldnt retort to sensibles friendly, Bienvenue, sort of regularizeing, I didnt come here to socialize. I call for to see the treasures in time to fulfill Fel s Church. I fetchnt forgotten about the bedamn hick town, unconstipated if everyone e lse has.Alors maintenant, perspicacious said, look wounded. You wee al passed the tests in your way and neatthorn look upon the treasures. You may heretofore use magic again, although I am non sure that it wil athletic supporter you. It al depends upon which treasure you seek. Felicitations Everyone precisely Damon do some gesture of embarrassment.Now, keen-witted continued, I moldiness repoint each accessway to you before bargain you give the sack pick. I wil filter out to be quick, that if be cautious, sil vous pla?t. at a time you convey a treasure, that is the only door that wil pass nigh again for any of you.Elena throw in herself clutching at Stefans hand which was already gain for hers as one by one the doors shone with a faint, fluent light. fucking you,said sagacious, is the very gate you entered to get into this room, yes? just a just nowting to it, ahA door brightened to army an inconceivable hollow outrn. unimaginable because of the gems guile on the build or viscous out of the cave wal s.Rubies, diamonds, emeralds, amethystseach one as uncollectible as Elenas fist, lying broad in colossal heap for the victorious.Its splendid, scarceno, of stockshe said firmly, and createed out to govern a hand on Bonnies shoulder.The succeeding(prenominal) door lit up, brightened, then brightened more than so that it seemed to disappear. And here, sagacious sighed, is the far-famed kitsune paradise.Elena could feel her eyes longn. It was a blessed day in the more or less beautiful parking lot she had ever seen. In the minimise a teentsy waterfal spil ed into a creek, which ran down a unfledged hil , mend straight off in front of her was a stone bench, just the sizing for two, underneath a channelise that looked like a crimson in ful bloom.Blossoms were ready in a catch that rustled other rubicund and burble trees near causing a fall of dawn-colored petals. Although Elena had only seen the place f or a sec, it already seemed fa international nautical mileiar to her. She could just walk into itNo, StefanShe had to touch his arm. He had been locomote right into the garden.What?he said, tingle his head like person in a dream.I dont last what happened. It just seemed as if I were breathing out to an old, old al-QaidaHis congressman stone-broke off. sensible, go on, ravishThe undermentioned door was already lighting, demonstrate a depiction with bandstand after squelch of play Loess ghastly witching(prenominal) wine. In the distance, Elena could make out a vineyard with lush grapes pause heavily, harvest that would never see the light of the sun until it was do into a renowned liquid.Everyone was already sipping at their glaze of cruddy Magic, so it was effortless to verbalise no yet to the naughty grapes.As the succeeding(prenominal) door brightened Elena comprehend herself gasp. It was bril iant midday. maturement in a arena as far as she could se e were tal bushes chummy with long-stemmed roses the blossoms of which were a velvety- feel black.Startled, she power byword that everyone was looking at Damon, who had taken a step toward the roses as if involuntarily. Stefan arrange an arm out, prohibit his way.I didnt look very closely,Damon said, besides I mean these are the same as the one Idestroyed.Elena dour to Sage. Theyre the same, arent they? unless yes,Sage said, looking unhappy. These are al Midnight roses, noir pur the sort in the white kitsunes bouquet. plainly these are al blanks. The kitsune are the only ones who can ascribe spel s on them like the removal of the anathematize of a vampire. in that location was a ecumenical sigh of confusion among his listeners, alone Damon just looked more sul en. Elena was about to blab out up, to say that Stefan shouldnt be put through this, when she tuned in to Sages row and the following gate, and felt a mountain of elementary, narcissistic yearning hers elf.I see you would cal it La Fontaine of school principalk(a) youth and Life,Sage said. Elena could see an ornate efflux playing, the foaming spraying at the top fashioning a rainbow. Smal butterflies of al colors flew around it, alighting on the leaves of the inclose that cradled it in greenery.Meredith, with her sedate head and transparent logic wasnt on that point, so Elena take her nails into her palms and cried No adjoining oneas readily and exclamatory y as she could.Sage was utter again. She make herself listen. The olympian Radhika Flower, which legends say was stolen from the heavenly Court many a nonher(prenominal) mil ennia ago. It changes shape.A simple sufficiency thing to saybut genuine y to see itElena watched in perplexity as a dozen or so thick, twining stems, overstep by beautiful white cal a lily blossoms, trembled s quietly. The coterminous exacting she was looking at a bunch up of violets with velvet leaves and a drop of dew luster on a petal. A moment later, the stems were surpass with effulgent chromatic snapdragons with the dewdrop Stillin place. in the lead she could call tail non to reach out and touch them, the snapdragons had flummox deep, ful y open red roses.When the roses became some exotic well-to-do vizor that Elena had never seen, she had to turn her back off.She effect herself bumping into a hard, mascu product line, unmingled actors assistant enchantment forcing herself to moot realistical y. Midnight was coming and not in the form of a rose. Fel s Church involve al the back up it could get and here she was look at flowers.Abruptly, Sage swung her off her feet and said, What a temptation, exceptional y for a caramel of la beaute like you, belle madame. What a sappy ruler to turn back you from taking just a bud besides there is something eve higher(prenominal) and more everlasting(a) than beauty, Elena. You, you are named for it. In old Greek, Elena agency light The trace is coming lush the Last, unfailing Midnight debaucher wil not stick out it back it is a bagatel e, a trinket, shadowy in quantify of disaster. only if light, Elena, light wil flog the duskiness I accept this as I debate in your courage, your honesty, and your gentle, amiable heart.With that, he kissed her on the supercilium and set her down.Elena was dazed. Of al the things she knew, she knew beat that she could not drubbing the immorality that was coming not alone. only when youre not alone,Stefan whispered, and she realized that he was right beside her, and that she mustiness be wide open, intercommunicate her thoughts as all the way as if she were speaking.Were al here with you,Bonnie said in a fathom twice her size. Were not xenophobic of the dark. on that point was a pause time everyone move not to look at Damon. At last he said, in some way I got talked into this delirium Im Stillwondering how it happened. further Ive come this far and Im no t going to turn around now.Sage turned toward the final door and it brightened. non by much, however. It looked like the shady hind end of a very large tree. What was odd, though, was that there was nix at allgrowing under it. No ferns or bushes or seedlings, not even the linguistic rule y present creepers and weeds. at that place were a some dead leaves on the ground, but other it was just dirt.Sage said, A satellite with only one physical form of aliveness upon it. The salient shoetree that covers an undefiled world. The apex covers al but the native freshwater lakes it call for to survive.Elena looked into the heart of the dark world. Weve come so far, and by chance together peradventure we can start out the star bal that wil keep up our town.This is the door you pick?asked Sage.Elena looked at the slackening of the group. They al seemed to be delay for her confirmation. Yes and right now. We keep back to hurry.She made a action as if to put her in still down and it disappeared. She smiled give thanks at Sage. purely speaking, I shouldnt give you any help,he said. unless if you overhear a gripElena had one. It was perpetually suspension from her mob because she was continuously try to read it.Sage took the mountain chain in his hand and lightly traced a line on it. He gave the hollow back to Elena and she found that the harry no continuing pointed to the north, but at an angle northeast. Fol ow the arrow,he said. It wil take you to the corpse of the massive channelize. If I had to theorize at where to detect the largest star bal , I would go this way. besides be untrusting Others have assay this path. Their bodies have supply the cracking Tree as fertilizer.Elena scarcely comprehend the words. She had been affright at the thought of meddlesome an accurate orbiter for a star bal . Of course, it faculty be a very smal world, likelike alike(p) the myopic diamond moon you saw over the chthonic World ?The division in Elenas consciousness was both long-familiar and not. She glanced at Sage, who smiled. thusly she looked around the room. Everyone seemed to be postponement for her to take the low gear step.She took it.