Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 25

Excitement coursed through my veins as I stole out of the house, across the dew-dropped lawn, and toward the carriage house. I slid past Emily, who held the door open for me, and move up the stairs. I no longer needed the candle to find my way to Katherine. There, in the bedroom, she was wearing her simple cotton nightdress and absentmindedly blacken a crystallization necklace that sparkled in the moonlight.I think nonplus may be persuaded to call off the siege. At least hes willing to talk. I go Ill be able to change his mind, I exclaimed, twirling her around the room.I expected her to clap with glee, for her smile to mirror my own. But instead Katherine disengaged herself from my grip and placed the crystal on her nightstand.I knew you were the man for the job, she said, not looking at me.Better than Damon? I asked, unable to resist.Finally Katherine smiled. Y need to stopou comparing yourself to Damon. She stepped circumferent to me and grazed my cheek with her lips. I shive red with pleasure as Katherine pulled my body toward hers. I held her tightly, feeling her back through the thin cotton of her nightdress.She kissed my lips, then my jaw, running her lips, join light, down the curve of my neck. I moaned and pulled her even closer, needing to feel all of her against all of me. Then she plunged her teeth into my neck. I let out a strangled gasp of pain and ecstasy as I felt her teeth inside my skin, felt her draw blood from me. It felt as though a grand piano knives were piercing my neck. Still I held her more tightly, wanting to feel her mouth on my skin, wanting to fully submit myself to the pain that fed her.Just as suddenly as she bit me, Katherine broke away, her dark eyes on fire, agony etched on her face. A pure stream of blood trickled from the time out of her lip, and her mouth twisted in excruciating pain. Vervain, she gasped, stepping backward until she collapsed on the bed in pain. What have you done?Katherine I put my hands to her ch est, my lips to her mouth, trying urgently to heal her the way she had healed me back in the forest. But she pushed me away, writhing on the bed, clutching her hands to her mouth. It was as if she were being tortured by an un suckn hand. divide of agony spilled from her eyes.Why did you do this? Katherine clutched her throat and closed her eyes, her breath slowing into guttural gasps. Every anguished cry from Katherine felt like a small stake in my own heart.I didnt arrest I shouted as the dizzying events of that evening occurred to me. My brandy. Father. He knew .There was a clatter from downstairs, and then Father burst in.Vampire he roared, holding up a crudely made stake. Katherine writhed on the floor in pain, shrieking in a high-pitched tone Id never heard before.Father I shouted, holding my hands up as he used his boot to prod Katherine. She moaned, her blazon and legs kicking in opposite directions.Katherine I fell to my knees and held Katherines body close in my arms. Sh e shrieked, her eyes rolling back so all I could see was white. Foam appeared at the corner of her blood-caked lips, as though she were a rabid animal. I gaped in horror and let go, her body falling to the floor with a sickening thud.I inched back, sitting on my heels and gazing at the ceiling as if in prayer. I couldnt face Katherine, and I couldnt face Father.Katherine let out some other high-pitched wail as Father prodded her with his stake. She reared up foaming at the mouth, her fangs bared, her eyes wild and unseeingbefore falling back in a writhing pile.Bile rose in my throat. Who was this monster?Get up. Father dragged me to my feet. Dont you see, Stefan? Dont you see her true nature?I gazed down at Katherine. Her dark curls were flat to her forehead by sweat, her dark eyes were wide and bloodshot, her teeth were covered with foam, and her entire body was shaking. I didnt recognize any part of her.Go draw a bead on Sheriff Forbes. Tell him we have a vampire.I stood transfi xed in horror, unable to take a step in any direction. My head pounded, my thoughts whirled in a confused tangle. I loved Katherine. Loved her. Right? So why now did this creature disgust me?I did not raise my sons to be weak, Father roared, shoving a bundle of vervain in my shirt pocket. Now goMy breath came in deep rasps. The heat was suddenly stifling, unbearable. I couldnt breathe, couldnt think, couldnt do anything. alone I knew was that I couldnt stand being in that room for one second longer. Without a backward glance at my father or at the vampire writhing on the floor, I rushed out of the house, taking the steps three at a time, and raced for the road.