Stefan’s Diaries: The Craving Chapter 7

E genuinely muscle in my body tensed. Time agreemed to stop as we stared into each others eye, both of us silently ch solelyenging the other to put across himself by. My chest felt tight as anger coiled by means of my body.The last time Id seen Damon, hed been standing over me with a stake, yet after hed killed Callie. His cheeks had been sunken, his body gaunt from his time in captivity. Now he looked alike his human self, the young man who charmed all(prenominal) whiz from barmaids to grandmothers. Clean-s drawn, dressed smartly, and licentiousnessing the jump of an Italian count flawlessly. Acting human. He had bothone in the room fooled.Damon brocaded one eyebrow at me and the twitch of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. To any onlooker, it would have seemed just like he was dexterous to meet a new acquaintance.I knew better. Damon was enjoying his charade and waiting to see how I reacted.Stefan Salvatore, may I introduce Count Damon DeSangue, Lydia verbalis e.Damon gave a accurate bow, just barely bending at the waist.DeSangue . . . I repeated.Count DeSangue, Damon change by reversal in good humor, affecting an Italian accent. He smiled, revealing a straight set of gleaming white teeth.No, not here, I prospect furiously. Not here in rude(a) York, not here among these innocent, well-intentioned Sutherlands. Had Damon followed me here, or had he arrived first? He had been here long passable to attach himself to poor Lydia. And long enough to trick all of New York society. Is it mathematical that, in this teeming city, we both managed to become involved with the Sutherland family exclusively by coincidence?Damon was regarding me now, although the icy twinkle of sardonic humor was neer far from his eyes, as if he guessed at what I was thinking.Stefan, Damon I just agnize you two are going to be like brothers, Bridget gushed to me. strong then, Damon verbalize, a smirk pulling the corner of his mouth. Hello, brother And where ar e you from, Stefan?Virginia, I answered shortly.Oh really? Because I was recently in New Orleans and could have sworn I met a gentleman who looked just like you. live with you been there?Lydia leaned in closer, her eyes bright with pride. Bridget nodded eagerly at every word Damon tell. Even Bram and Hilda looked entranced. I gripped my champagne glass so tightly I was surprised it didnt shatter. No. I cant say Ive ever been.The smart tinkle of silverware from the refreshment table suddenly rose to the foreground. Hundreds of mint, hundreds of blades, and one very angry, unpredictable brother before me.Interesting, he said. Well, perhaps we will go back there, together. I hear they have a magnificent circus.The orchestra began to play again, another fast-paced trip the light fantastic. But that was noise in the background. The ball and its participants vitiated away. discipline now, Damon and I had our eyes locked on each other.If you even return something, I said low enough that only he could hear, squaring my shoulders and unconsciously tensing for a fight.Dont think you can best me, Damon said, rolling to the balls of his feet.The group of people we were with looked back and forth at us, clearly aware that something was going on, that unsure what exactly.Im feeling a bit thirsty, I finally said aloud, not moving my eyes from his, move to think of how to get Damon away from my new friends. Care to join me for a drink?Smashing, Id love one, said Bram eagerly, hoping to break the tension.Love to, Damon said, mocking Brams tone. But duty and the mazurka calls. He turn to Hilda and bowed. May I?Oh, Id love to, but Bram . . . She started to hold up the dance card that hung around her wrist from a pink ribbon. Then her eyes widened, dilating, and she was staring but no longer at the card. I looked at Damon. He was also staring, compelling her. Showing off, in front of everyone in front of me just how positionful he was.He was sending me a message. Oh, he wont mind, Hilda decided and took Damons arm. He led her off, smiling back at me. The tips of his fangs glittered.I wish I had his charm, Bram said a little wistfully. Hes got all you ladies wrapped around his finger.Lydia blushed prettily. She did not look after Hilda with a disquieted expression. She had the calm confidence of someone who knew exactly where her lover stood in his relation to her. Damon had no doubt compelled her to act as such. He had amassed a capacious amount of Power, very quickly.Where exactly did you two meet? I asked, trying to sound casual.Oh, it was so romantic, Bridget answered quickly. Almost as romantic as you decision me, helpless, in the park. . . .Let your sister speak, Bridgey, Bram interrupted.Lydia smiled, all of her studied politeness and mannered behavior melting away. It really was a bit like a fairy tale. It was rainfalling, a sudden downpour. I remember very specially that the sun had been shining just moments earlier. Unprepared for the change of weather, Mother and I became soaked. My new hat was ruined, and all my packages were dripping wet. I swear a dozen carriages must have passed us by without stopping. And then one of them paused, and the door opened, and there he was, extending his hand to me.Her eyes grew soft. He offered to go across up his seat, but we got in with him. . . .Bram made tsk-tsking noises Lydia smiled, shrugging prettily.I know, I know . . . taking a ride with a strange man. Very grownup of us. But he was so polite, and charming . . . and we had such a lovable ride . . . and then the sun came out and we hardly noticed. . . .My mind raced. Had Damon compelled every carriage driver in Manhattan to avoid Lydia and her mother? Was it even possible to compel that many people at once? And what about the rain? Had that been luck . . . or something else entirely? Damon wasnt capable of compelling the weather. If that were a power available to vampires, I would have heard of it from Lexi or even Katherine. Right?I studied Lydia. She wore a simple, narrow ribbon around her distinguish with a single pearl dangling from the front. The skin there was smooth, finished and unbitten. If Damon wasnt feeding on Lydia, then what did he want from her?Someone said something about being thirsty . . . ? Bram said hopefully, rubbing his hands together. I have a terrible desire for more champagne.Yes, thirst is a terrible thing, I said, but youll have to excuse me. Then I turned and cut my way through the merrily dancing crowd, refractory to search out my brother before he had the chance to motherfucker anyones throat.