Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 27

I ran out onto the lawn. Fire was everywhere, and I noticed that the servants quarters had burst into flames. Right now, the main house looked safe, barely who knew how long that would last? I aphorism glimpses of flames in the woods, and a large group converged around the police wagon. But all I cared about was finding Damon. Finally, I spotted a figure wearing a blue coat, sprinting toward the pond. I turned on my heel and followed him through the field. Stefan I perceive my epithet and stopped, looking about wildly. Over here I turned and saw Jonathan Gilbert, his eyes wild, standing at the edge of the forest, a state and arrow in one hand, his compass in the other. Jonathan looked down at his invention almost in disbelief. Theres a vampire in the forest. My compass is pointing, but I extremity help with a lookout.Jonathan I yelled, panting. I cant I have to find Suddenly, I saw a flash of white from the forest. Jonathan turned and raised his bow to his shoulder. Who goes there? he called, his voice ringing like a clarion bell. Instantly, he released the arrow. I saw the beginning of its arc as it flung into the darkness. Then we heard a scream, followed by a thud.Jonathan ran into the forest, and I heard a long, low moan. Jonathan I called wildly, then stopped short. I saw Jonathan kneeling over a prone figure. He turned up to me, his eyes shining with tears.Its Pearl, he said dully.There was an arrow stuck under her shoulder. She moaned, and her eyes fluttered under her lids.Pearl Jonathan said, angrily this time, as he roughly yanked out the arrow. I turned in horror, not wanting to watch.Instead, I ran with all my might toward the pond, hoping against hope that Damon was still there.Damon? I called tentatively, as I picked my way around tree roots. My eyes took a moment to adjust to the wooded darkness and relative quiet of the forest. I saw a figure perched on a felled tree branch. Damon? I called quietly.The figure turned around, and I gasped. Damons face was white, and his dark hair was sticking to his forehead. The gash at his temple was bordered by crusted blood, and the whites of his eyes were cloudy.Y coward, he hissed, drawing his knifeou from his pocket.No. I held my custody up and took a ill-use back. Dont hurt me.Dont hurt me he mocked in a high-pitched voice. I knew youd tell Father eventually. I just dont know why Katherine trusted you with her secret. wherefore she believed you wouldnt turn her in. Why she loved you. His voice broke on the word love, and he dropped the knife. His face crumpled in anguish, and he didnt look dangerous or hateful. He looked broken.Damon, no. No. No. I kept repeating the word as my pass whirled. Had Katherine loved me? I remembered the moments shed stare at me, her hands on my shoulders. You must love me, Stefan. Tell me well be together forever. You have my heart. Id always felt the same woozy, heady sensation running through my limbs and up to my brain, wanting to do anythin g for her. But now, when I thought of her true nature, all I could do was shudder. She didnt love me, I said finally. Shed compelled me, and she made me hurt everyone I loved. I felt hatred rise up from the depth of my soul, and I wanted to lead the charge against Katherine.Until I looked at my brother.Damon rested his head in his hands, staring at the ground. It was then that I realized Damon loved Katherine. He loved her despite, or maybe because of, her dark side. When Id seen Katherine lying bound on the floor, foamy at the mouth, Id felt a stomach-turning revulsion. But Damons love for Katherine transcended her current state. Damon loved Katherine so much that hed accept the vampire side of her, instead of pretending it didnt exist. And in order to be truly happy, Damon needed to be with her. Now I understood. I needed to allay Katherine to save Damon.In the distance, wails and cries filled the gunpowder-scented air. Damon. Damon. I restate his name, each time with an increa sing urgency. He looked up, and I saw tears in his eyes, threatening to spill out. Not since Mother died had I seen Damon cry.Ill help you save her. I know you love her. I will help. I kept repeating the word help, as if it were some sort of charm. Please, I pleaded in my mind as I looked at Damons eyes. There was a moment of silence. Finally, Damon offered an almost imperceptible nod.Okay, he said in a ragged voice, clasping my wrist and draw me to the edge of the forest.