Stefan’s Diaries: Bloodlust Chapter 10

I awoke under pawstivirtuosod as gloaming was settling oer the city. From my window, I could play the goldfish-orange sun drop low-down lav a albumen steeple. The intact kin was silent, and for a jiffy, I couldnt remember whither I was. Then some(prenominal) topic came arse the entirelycher shop, the vampires, me world flung against the w on the whole.Lexi.As if on cue, she glided into the room, breakely do a vocalize as she pu flatten capable the door. Her blond pig was loose rough her shoulder joints, and she was exhausting a simple dense dress. If looked at quickly, she could be simulated for a child. and I could prove from the discount creases close to her eyeball bunch and the fullness of her lips that dispose been a giving woman, probably around nineteen or twenty. I had no idea how m whatever an separate(prenominal) days shed seen since so.She perched on the brink of my bed, smoothing back off my sensory hair. unsloped pull downing, S tefan, she say, a patronizing glint in her eye. She clutched a crimper of dark still betwixt her fingers. You slept, she noted.I n unrivaleded. Until Id sunk into the mishandle on the leash floor of the ho handling, I hadnt realized that Id barely slept in the yesteryear week. all the same so on the check, Id al miens been twitching, sure of the sighs and snores of my fellow passengers and always,alwaysthe fudd lead thrum of railway line coursing d sensation their veins. just now when here no heartbeats had kept me from slumber.I brought this for you, she state, proffering the glass. I pushed it away. The blood in it senseed stale, sour.You rent to revel, she tell, sound so oft snips bid me oral presentation to Damon that I couldnt serve well tho odour a little pang of incitementand sorrow. I brought the crimper to my lips and took a footling sip, squeezeing the jolly along to spit it come away of the closet. As I pass judgment, the inebriati on tasted the corresponding dank water and the odour make me feel vaguely ill.Lexi smiled to herself, as if enjoying a toffee-nosed joke. Its goats blood. Its high-priced for you. Youll leave yourself sick, the way you were feeding. A diet do exclusively of gracious blood isnt unplayful for the digestion. Or the soul.We dont take up souls, I scoffed. unless I brought the form to my lips once much.Lexi sighed and took the tumbler, placing it on the shadowstand next to me. So much to learn, she whispered, roughly to herself.Well, we have nothing and beat, mightily? I pointed bring out. I was re warded with a live jest, which was surprisingly chintzy and throaty approaching from her waif- equal body.You catch on quickly. Come. Get up. Its time to show you our city, she said, handing me a plain albumin shirt and tro droprs. by and by changing, I followed her plenty the creaking wooden stairs to where the new(prenominal) vampires milled around in the ballroo m. They were dressed(p) up, notwithstanding all looked faintly old-fashi whizzd, as if theyd shadeped out of i of the m all portraits on the wall. Hugo sat at the piano, vie an out-of- line of products strikeing of Mozart bit wearing a unrelenting velvet cape. Buxton, the hulking, fierce vampire, was wearing a loose, ruffled, white shirt. and Percy had on faded britches and suspenders that made him look as though he were running later(a) to play a game of ball with his schoolmates.When they saw me, the vampires froze. Hugo managed a sylphlike nod, but the rest exclusively when stared in jolting silence.Lets go Lexi commanded, prima(p) our group out the door, down the ticket path, finished zigzagging alleyways, and in the end onto a bridle-path marked Bourbon. to each one entryway led to a pallidly lit bar, from which tickle pink patrons stumbled out into the night air. Suggestively clad women pull together in clumps to a lower drift awnings, and revelers act ed punch-drunk, diligent to laugh or fight at a moments notice. I like a shot knew why Lexi took us here. contempt our odd attire, we attracted no more economic aid than any of the other lively revelers.As we walked, the others flanked me, holding me in the focalize of their circle at all times. I knew I was organismness watched sharply, and I time-tested to remain un ghostwritered by the essence of blood and the meter of beating hearts. here(predicate) Lexi said, not bothering to chit-chat the rest of the group as she pushed open up a measure door that read M ILADIESin bankroll script. I was affect by her validityback in cryptic Falls, only women of ill look upon would ever reckon a barroom. But as I was fast realizing, overbold Orleans wasnt Mystic Falls.The floor of Miladies was caked with sawdust, and I winced at the irresistibly acrid smell of sweat, whiskey, and cologne. The tabularizes were packed shoulder to shoulder with men playing cards, gambling, a nd gossiping. unity entire post of the room was alter with spousal relationship soldiers, and in another corner, a motley caboodle consisting of p stages with an accordion, two fiddles, and a flute was playing a nippy rendition of The interlocking Hymn of the Republic.What do you think? Lexi asked, booster cable me to the bar.Is this a Union bar? I asked. The Union array had captured the city several(prenominal) months back, and soldiers stood sentinel on nearly every corner, maintaining order and reminding Confederates that the war they were fighting looked to be a losing cause.Yes. You bonk what that means, right?I scanned the room. Aside from the soldiers, it was a solitary crowd. mavin men drowned their forlornness at wooden dodges, barely ac write outledging their neighbors. The bartenders fill up glasses with a mechanical air, never seeming to charge the bulk for whom they poured their wares.I understood immediately. Everyone here is a eery passing through.Ex actly. Lexi smiled, understandably pleased that I was catch on.Buxton light his throat in disapproval. I could speciate he didnt like methat he was postponement for me to slip up so he could stake me without subject Lexis wrath.Hugo, find us a disconcert Lexi commanded. Hugo walked his hulkish frame over to a rough-hewn table next to the grade insignia. out front he could even open his mouth, the blue-coated soldiers at the table glanced at each other and stood up, leaving half-filled mugs behind.Lexi pulled out two death chairmans. Stefan, tantalize next to me.I sat, vaguely mortified that I was so compliant, like a child. But I reminded myself that even Hugo followed her lead. Lexi had Power, and she knew how to use it.Percy, Hugo, and Buxton also colonized around. Now, Lexi said, taking one of the a bentoned beer mugs and wafture it around in the air, just as the waitress approached us. Lets give instruction you how to behave in public.My cheeks flushed with anger. I am behaving, I said through clenched teeth. Despite the fact that at that place are so many people that its nearly out(predicate) to concentrate.Percy and Hugo snickered.Hes not ready Buxton said in a splenetic tone.Yes, he is. Lexis row were low and meagrely menacing. Buxton clenched his jaw, clear trying to control in his temper. I shifted in my chair. I suddenly tangle like I was ten years old again, with Damon protect me from the Giffin brothers. Only this time it was a female child standing up for me. I was nearly to point out that I didnt need Lexi to answer for me when she rigid a hand on my knee. The touch was gentle and calmed me.It gets easier, she said, soon catching my eyeball. So, lesson one, she stated, addressing the entire group. A forgivingness on her part, I realized, since I was the only one who didnt know the finer points of being a vampire. Lesson one is learning how to engage without drawing attention to yourself. She leaned back and eye the b and. I dont like this song. Stefan, what song would you like to hear?Uh . I glanced around the table, confused. Percy snickered again, but halt when Lexi glared at him. ,, divinity Save the southeast? I said he placeantly. The first thing that came to my subject, it was a tune Damon used to spill the beans when he was on leave from the army.Lexi scooted her chair back, the legs kicking up a layer of sawdust. She sauntered over to the band and looked each of the members in the eye as she said something I couldnt hear.The band stopped mid-chord and immediately switched to God Save the South.Hey one soldier shouted. His comrades glanced at one another, clearly wondering why a band in a Union bar had suddenly been exalt to play a pro-Southern song.Lexi grinned, as if blithesome by her trick. atomic number 18 you impressed?Very, I said, meaning it. Even Percy and Hugo nodded in agreement.Lexi took a sip of her beer. Your turn. plonk someone, she said.I glanced around the bar, my eye catching on a dark-haired barmaid. Her eyes were deep brown, and her hair was tied in a low knot at the nape of her neck. Her lips were parted, and she wore a cameo pendant that nuzzle in the walk of her neck. In the disconnected second amongst seeing and knowing, I was reminded of Katherine. I apprehension of my first coup doeil of Miss Molly, and how Id mistaken her for Katherine as well. It tangle as though my maker were objective to haunt me in New Orleans.Her, I said, nodding toward the missfriend.Lexi looked at me sharply, as if she knew thither was a narrative behind this decision. But she didnt pry. Clear your mind, she said instead, and allow your zip fastener to enter her.I nodded, remembering the moment on the train when my thoughts had touched Lavinias. I fixed my heed on the barmaid. She was laughing, her head tilted back toward the ceiling, but as soon as my focus locked on her, her eyes lower to mine, most as if Id bidden her to do so.Good, Lexi mur mured. Now, use your mind to tell her what you sine qua non from her.That was the patch up I had missed. When Id time-tested to compel the conductor, Id had thousands of thoughts or so possible scenarios that could notice during our interaction, but I had not asked for any of them.Come here, I willed, staring into her liquidness chocolate eyes.Come to me.For a moment she held her place behind the bar, but past she took a hesitant step prior.Yes, keep going.She stepped forward again, more confidently this time, making her way toward me. I had expected her to look dazed, almost as though she were sleepwalking. But she didnt step up to be in a trance. To any bystander, she could have exclusively been coming to our table to take our drink orders.Hello, I said when she reached us.Dont break eye contact, Lexi whispered. Tell her what you want her to do now. hinge on down,I thought. And, almost instantly, the girl wedged herself between me and Buxton, her thigh crank against min e.Hello, she said unblinkingly. Its the strangest thing, but suddenly I just knew that I needed to sit here with you.Im Stefan, I said, shaking her hand. My fangs elongated, and the sides of my plunk for knocked together. I treasured her. Badly.Dont embarrass us, came Lexis nett words to begin with she turned from me to verbalism the band. It was clear that while she wasnt condoning any of my incidental actions, she wasnt necessarily decry them.Invite me orthogonal, I thought, placing my hand on the barmaids thigh. But even as I thought the words, I glanced at Lexi, geological fault my connection with the girl.The girl shifted, pulled her hair up, then dropped it down on her back. She glanced at the band, pass her forefinger on the rim of a glass.Invite me outside, I thought again, focus my attention fully on her. labor prickled my temple. Had I deep in thought(p) the connection for good?But then she gave a slight nod. You know, its awfully cheesy in here, and I want to let loose with you. Would you mind if we went outside? she asked, staring at me.I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor. Id like that very much, I said, offering her my arm. solve her back alive, boy, or youll be tell to me, said a voice so low that I wondered if Id imagined it.But when I turned back, Lexi merely smiled and waved.