Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 8

Im non sure how long we stayed in the room together. The minutes ticked away on the grandfather clock in the corner, but altogether I was aware of was the rhythmic grave of Katherines breath, the way the light caught her angular jaw, the readily flick of the page as we looked by dint of the book. I was dimly conscious of the fact that I needed to leave, soon, but whenever I thought of the music and the dancing and the plates of heat up chicken and Rosalyn, I found myself literally unable to move.Youre not reading Katherine bug at ace point, glancing up from The Mysteries of hugger-mugger Falls.No, Im not.Why? Are you distracted? Katherine rose, her clarified shoulders stretching as she reached up to take the book back on the shelf. She wander it in the wrong spot, next to catchs military personnel geography books.Here, I murmured, reaching freighter her to take the book and place it on the high shelf w present it belonged. The smell of scum bag and ginger surrounde d me, making me quality wobbly and dizzy. She turned toward me. Our lips were mere inches apart, and perfectly the scent of her became nearly unbearable. Even though my head knew it was wrong, my heart screamed that Id never be complete if I didnt kiss Katherine. I closed my eyes and leaned in until my lips graze hers.For a moment, it matte as though my entire life had clicked into place. I byword Katherine running barefoot in the field behind the guest house, me chasing after her, our recent son slung over my shoulder. nevertheless then, tout ensemble unbidden, an image of Penny, her throat torn out, floated by dint of my mind. I pulled back instantly, as if stricken by lightning.Im sorry I said, careen back and tripping against a gloomy end table, stacked high with Fathers volumes. They shed to the floor, the sound muffled by the eastern rugs. My mouth tasted uniform iron. What had I meet done? What if my father had come in, anxious to open the humidor with Mr. Car twright? My brain whirled in horror.I flip to I have to go. I have to go find my fianc&65533e. Without a backward glance at Katherine and the stunned expression that was sure to be on her face, I fled the study and ran through the unemployed conservatory and toward the garden.Twilight was in effect(p) start-off to fall. Coaches were setting off with mothers and young children as well as cautious revelers who were frightened of the animal attacks. Now was when the liquor would flow, the echo would play more loudly, and daughters would outdo themselves waltzing, endeavor to capture the eyes of a accessory soldier from the nearby camp. I felt my breath returning to normal. No one knew where Id been, much less what I had done.I strode purposefully into the center of the party, as if Id but been refilling my glass at the bar. I saw Damon sitting with other soldiers, vie a round of poker on the corner of the porch. Five girls were squeezed onto the porch swing, giggling and t alking loudly. Father and Mr. Cartwright were walking toward the labyrinth, each holding a whiskey and gesturing in an animated fashion, no doubt talking about the benefits of the Cartwright-Salvatore merger.Stefan I felt a hand set my back. We were wondering where the guests of honor were. No compliance for their elders, Robert said jovially.Rosalyns still not here? I asked.Y know how girls are. They have to look justou right, especially if theyre celebrating their impending marriage, Robert said.His words rang true, yet an unexplainable handshake of fear rushed down my spine.Was it just me, or had the sun set signally quickly? The revelers on the lawn had changed to shadowy figures in the five minutes since Id been outside, and I couldnt brace out Damon within the group in the corner.Leaving Robert behind, I elbowed my way erstwhile(prenominal) the party guests. It was odd for a girl to not show up at her own party. What if, somehow, shed come into the house and shed colli de withn barely that was impossible. The door had been closed, the shades drawn. I walked briskly toward the servants quarters near the pond, where the servants were having their own party, to see if Rosalyns coachman had arrived.The moon reflected off the water, casting an eerie, greenish glow on the rocks and willow channelizes surround the pond. The grass was wet with dew, and still trampled from the magazine when Damon, Katherine, and I had played football there. The knee-deep mist made me wish I were wearing my boots instead of my dress shoes.I squinted. At the base of the willow direct, where Damon and I had spent hours climbing as children, was a shadowy lump on the ground, like a large, gnarled tree root. precisely I didnt remember a tree root in that spot. I squinted again. For a moment, I wondered if it could be a duet of intertwined lovers, trying to escape prying eyes. I smiled despite myself. At least soul had found love at this party.But then the clouds shifted , and a shaft of lunation illuminated the treeand the form down the stairs it. I realized with a offensive jolt that the shape wasnt two lovers in mid-embrace. It was Rosalyn, my betrothed, her throat torn out, her eyes half open, staring up at the tree branches as if they held the secret to a cosmea she no longer inhabited.