The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirty-Three

Ethan was, savourless observed, totaly freaking out. The guys usual cheerful composure had worn off, and he was supervising the initiation arrangements with the intensity of a dril sergeant.No he problematical from across the room. He darted over and slapped the leg of a girl who was standing on a chair and weaving roses through the welded metal V at the top of the central arch.Ouch she yel ed, dropping the roses to the floor.Ethan, what is your problem?We dont put anything on the V, Lorelai, he told her coldly, and bent to pick up the flowers. You must respect the symbols of the Vitale Society. Its a matter of honor.When our loss leader final y joins us, we must demonstrate to him that we are discip terminationd, that we are capable. He shoved the roses back into her hold. We dont do that by draping garbage al over the symbol of our organization. Lorelai stared at him. Im sorry. But I thought you were the leader of the Vitale Society, Ethan. Everyone had stopped working to watch Ethans melt-d protest. Noticing that he was the center of attention, Ethan breathed deeply, clearly trying to regain his composure.Final y he addressed them al , biting off his words sharply. I am trying to prepare you al , and to prepare this chamber, for the initiation ceremony. For you. His voice was steady rising as he glared around at them. And this is when I learn that, despite al your promise, youre a bunch of incompetents. You cant even place a cd or mix some herbs without my help. Were running out of time, and I might as Welljust be doing everything myself. Matt glanced around at the other pledges. Their faces were shocked and wary. uniform him, al along they had been looking up to Ethan and were flattered and encouraged by his praise. Now their role model had turned on them, and no one fascinatemed to know how to react. Chloe, place out candles by the arch, was anxious, her lips pressed to bring downher tightly. She looked quickly at Matt and then out, back toward E than.Just tel us what you want us to do, Ethan, Matt said, stepping forward. He tried to keep his voice level and soothing. Wel do our best to grow everything perfect. Ethan glowered at him. You couldnt even get your friend Stefan to join us, he said bitterly. genius simple task, and you failed.Hey, Matt said, offended. Thats not fair. I got Stefan to come talk to you. If hes not interested, thats his decision. He doesnt affirm to join us.I question your commitment to the Vitale Society, Matt, Ethan said flatly. And the conversation with Stefan Salvatore is not over. He walked straight past Matt, glancing briefly at the rest of the pledges gathered around him. Theres not much time, everyone. Get back to work. Matt could relish the beginnings of a headache starting at his temples. For the first time, he wondered if maybe he didnt want to join the Vitale Society after al .I could have this door afford in a single second, Damon said irritably. Instead we stand here, waiting. Mered ith sighed and careful y wiggled the bobby pin in the intertwine. If you force the door open, Damon, theyl know right away that someone broke into the campus security office. By picking the lock instead, we can keep a low pro archive. Okay? The bobby pin caught on something, and she careful y slid it upward, trying to turn it to catch the pins of the lock so she could move the tumbler. Then the bobby pin bent, and she lost the angle. She groaned and dug into her bag for another bobby pin. twenty-seven weapons, she grumbled. I brought twenty-seven separate weapons to col ege and not a single lock pick.Well, you couldnt be prepared for everything, Elena said. What about using a credit mailing?Being prepared for everything is sort of my job description, Meredith muttered. She sat back on her heels and stared at the door. The lock was pretty flimsy not only Damon scarce any she or Elena could have easily forced it open. And yes, a credit card or something similar probably would wor k just fine. Dropping the bobby pin into her open bag, she took out her wal et instead and found her student ID.The ID slid right into the crack between the door and the doorjamb, she gave it a careful little wiggle, and, bingo, she was able to easily slide the lock back and pul the door open. Meredith smiled over her shoulder at Elena, arching one eyebrow. That was strangely satisfying, she said.Once they were inside and the door was locked again behind them, Meredith checked to make sure the windows were covered, then flicked on the lights.The security office was simply furnished white wal s, two desks, each with a computer, one with a forgotten fractional cup of coffee on top, and a filing cabinet. There was a dying plant on the windowsil , its leaves dry and browning.Were sure that none of the officers are passage to show up and catch us? Elena asked nervously.I told you, I checked their routine, Meredith answered.After eight oclock, al but one of the security guards on oblig ation is patrol ing the campus. The one who isnt is sitting in the downstairs lobby of the administration building, keeping in radio contact with the others and helping students who lock themselves out of their dorms and stuff.Well, lets get it over with, Damon said. I dont particularly relish the idea of spending the whole evening in this dismal little hole.His voice sounded two Wellbred and bored, as usual, but there was something different about him. He was standing very close to Elena, so close that his arm was brushing against hers, and, as Meredith watched, his hand came up to blot Elenas back very lightly, just with his fingertips. There was a slight secretive curve to his mouth, almost as if Damon was even more pleased with himself than usual.Well? he asked, gazing back at Meredith. What now, hunter?Elena stepped away from him and knelt in front of the filing cabinet before Meredith could answer, sliding the top drawer open. What was Samanthas last name? Her rouses probab ly under that. Dixon, Meredith told her, pushing away the little shock she kept get whenever anyone referred to Samantha in the past tense. It was just shed been so ful of life. And Christophers was Nowicki.Elena rifled through the files in both drawers, pul ing out first one thick folder and then a second. Got them. She opened Samanthas folder and make a sick little sound in her throat. Theyre worse than I thought, she said, her voice shaking as she looked at pictures from the murder scene. She turned over a few pages. And heres the coroners report. It says she died from blood loss.Let me see, Meredith said. She took the file and made herself study the crime scene pictures to see if she had missed anything when she was there. Her eyes kept flinching away from Sams poor defenseless body, so she swal owed hard and focused on the areas away from the body, the floor, the wal s of Samanthas room. Blood loss because she was kil ed by a vampire? Or because theres so much blood everywhe re else? She was proud of how steady her own voice was, steadier than Elenas anyway.She held out the folder toward Damon. What do you depend? she asked.Damon took the folder and studied the photos dispassionately, flipping a few pages to read the coroners report. Then he held out his hand to Elena for Christophers file and looked through that one as Well.I cant tel anything for certain, he said after a few minutes. Just akin with the bodies I found, they could have been kil ed by werewolves, who are primitive like this. Or it could have been sloppy vampires. Demons, easily. Even humans could do this, if they were sufficiently motivated. Elena made a soft sound of denial, and Damon flashed his bril iant abrupt grin at her. Oh, dont forget that humans can come up with far more creative means of violence than some simple empty monsters do, sweetheart. Serious again, he looked down at the photographs once more. I can tel you, though, that more than one creature or person was respo nsible.His finger traced a line across one of the pictures, and Meredith forced herself to look. Bloodstains were spattered in wide arcs across the room, beyond Samanthas outstretched arms. See the way the blood sprayed here? Damon asked. Someone held her hands and someone else held her feet, and at least one other, maybe more, kil ed her. He flipped open Christophers folder again.Same thing. This might be evidence that werewolves are the culprits, since they like to travel in packs, but it isnt firm proof. You can get groups of almost anything. Even vampires theyre not al as self-sufficient as I am.Matt saw only one person or whatever near Chriss body, though, Elena pointed out. And he got there real y soon after Christopher screamed.Damon waved a pick apart hand. So they were fast, he said. A vampire could do it before a human had time to even react to the scream. Almost anything supernatural could. Speed comes with the package.Meredith shuddered. A whole pack of something, she said numbly. One would have been bad enough.A packs much worse, Damon agreed. Are you ready to go now?Wed better check and see if theres anything else and then clean up, Elena said. Do you want to stand guard outside? I feel like were real y tempting fate by staying here so long. You could give some kind of signal if you see someone coming or use your Power to get rid of them. enrapture?Damon smiled at her flirtatiously. Il be your watchdog, princess, but only because its you.Meredith waited until he left to say dryly, Speaking of dogs, remember when Damon kil ed Bonnies pet pug? Elena opened the top file drawer again and started going through it methodical y. I dont want to talk about this, Meredith. It was Katherine who kil ed Yangtze, anyway.I just dont think you realize what youre getting into here, Meredith said. Damons not terrific blood material.Elenas hands faltered in their efficient progress. I dont its not like that, she said. Its not a relationship, I dont want a rela tionship with anyone but Stefan. Meredith frowned, confused. Well, then, what Its complicated, Elena said. I care about Damon, you know that. Im seeing where things might go with him.Theres something between us, there always has been.With Stefan gone her voice cracked I have to give it a chance. Just just let it alone for now, okay? She picked up Samanthas folder to put it back in the drawer. Her lips were trembling, and Meredith was about to keep an eye on the subject she wasnt going to let it alone. Not when Elena was upset and somehow involved more involved than she had been before with Damon the dangerous vampire. But Elena interrupted her. Huh, she said. What do you think this means?Meredith craned to see what she was talking about, and Elena pointed. On the inside front of Samanthas file was written a large black V. She picked up Christophers file.This one, too, she said, showing Elena.Vampires? Elena asked. The Vitale Society? What else starts with V and might have to do with these murders?I dont know, Meredith started to say, when they suddenly heard the rumble of a car engine pul ing up outside the building. A raucous utter came through the window.Thats Damon, Elena said, shoving Christophers file back into the cabinet. If we dont want him to have to compel the whole security force, wed better get out of here fast.