Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 13

Damon. Death.The rowing swam in my mind as I tried to make sense of what I was seeing. Damon was alive. and who knew for how spacious? If he had been captured, he was undoubtedly weak. How could he face a ravenous beast in a battle and survive?Anger tore through my body, along with the familiar ache of my fangs elongating. I ripped deal the sign with a snarl.What is it? she hissed, her own fangs bared.I held up the paper.My fellow, I utter, staring without comprehension at the poster. The design made him look same a monster. My eye twitched. The battle is in two days.Lexi nodded, taking in the portrait.Gallagher found him, she verbalize, almost to herself.I shook my head, not understanding what she meant.She sighed. Big businessman. He owns a hatful of places in town, including a two-bit circus and freak show. Al government agencys looking for curiosities to disp plant, and people always seem to fall out the money to attend. Your brotherDamon, I said, cutting her off. His name is Damon.Damon, Lexi said gently, tracing the image with her fingers.He doesnt be this, I said, almost to myself. I need to help him. But I trailed off. But what? How could I peradventure save him?Well need to find him, Lexi decided. She brushed leaves and dirt from the back of her pants. Do you trust me?Did I have a choice? My hunger forgotten, I followed her through the forest and back to the wide, silent streets of the city.Gallagher lives somewhere in the Garden District with all the other nouveaux riches. On Laurel Street, I think, Lexi murmured as we wove our way to the center of town. This has happened before, soon after Gallagher arrived in New Orleans five years ago.What happened? I asked, following closely behind her in the shadows.He found a vampire. Hes good at finding us. Or maybe were good at finding him. But the other vampire wasnt part of my family. And She stop suddenly.What happened to him?But Lexi merely shook her head. Wed arrived at the Garden District, where the streets were wide and the lawns hugging the sherbet-colored Victorian houses were lush and expansive.Here. She halt at a pistachio-hued mansion enclosed by an open wrought-iron fence. Magnolias and calla lilies spilled over the gate, and the air smelled like mint. Just beyond, I could see an enormous herb garden that withalk up a fifth of the property. I recoiled as we walked closer, as the garden grew a generous amount of vervain.Lexi wrinkled her nose. He knows all the tricks, she said wryly.We pushed open the gate, our footsteps exactly crunching the gravel on the path that circled the house. Cicadas buzzed in the sycamore trees above us, and I could examine horses pacing in the stable.And then I heard a low moan.Hes out back, I said.Lexi gazed up at the sky. Orange streaks were starting to peek above the horizon it was about an hour until day broke. Its too close to dawn, Lexi said. I didnt realize how late it is. I have to go.I looked at her sharply.Im not protec ted. Her fingers fluttered to my ring, and I glanced down self-consciously. The lapus lazuli adornment had be scram so much a part of me, Id forgotten that it made me contrasting from other vampires, made me able to walk in the daylight. Katherine had arranged for both Damon and me to have this protection.Well come back tomorrow. The others can help us then, Lexi insisted.I shook my head. I cant leave him.Birds chirped in the trees above us, and from somewhere nearby came the sound of glass shattering. The orange streaks in the sky grew fatter, brighter. I understand, Lexi said finally. Be safe. Dont play the hero.I nodded, scanning the grounds for any guards or animals lying in carry to attack. When I looked up, Lexi was gone and I was alone.Stealing quickly to the back of the house, I made my way toward the sleek over stable. Horses pawed the ground nervously, obviously sensing my presence. The stable doors were padlocked with an iron bolt. I grabbed the chain, testing it. Even though Id barely fed since the previous evening, it would be easy enough to rend the chains with my bare hands. But something stopped me.Dont play the hero.Lexis words echoed in my mind. She had become my guide during the past couple of days, and I knew it was in my shell interest to listen to her. Better not to leave any evidence of an intruder, better to get the lay of the land before doing anything rash.I released the chain, and it fell back against the door with a loud clanking sound. A horse whinnied. I walked to the other side of the stable, where a dusty window was open a crack. sidekick? I whispered hoarsely through the window. The cloying scent of vervain was everywhere, making me woozy and nauseated.In the corner, a filthy figure struggled to sit up. Damon. His hands and feet were bound with chains, and his skin was covered in untamed red welts. The chains must have been soaked in vervain. I winced in sympathy.Damons eyes locked on mine.You found me, he said, no emotion in his face. Are you happy to see that Im close to death, brother?Im here to save you, I said simply. The horses were kicking up the sawdust around their feet in agitation I didnt have much time before someone in the house heard the disturbance.Damon shrugged, an effort that clear took all his energy. His eyes were bloodshot and glassy. A large cut lined his forehead, slicing into his eyebrow. He looked awestruck and emaciated it was clear he hadnt eaten in days. I glanced around, hoping I could find somethinga squirrel, a rabbit, a chipmunkto kill and toss to him, but there was nothing.So the cold-blooded killer is going to save me. Damon seek a wan smile. He leaned back against the wall, his chains rattling.Yes, we have toSuddenly, I heard the sound of a door slamming, then a dog barking. I whirled around toward the main house.What do you think youre doing? a voice yelled out. And I stood, my hands raised to the sky, unsure of whoor whathad found me this time.