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"I've given you latitude, son, and given you a roof. Now all I ask is that you do this," Father said, slamming his meaty fist into his palm so hard, I saw him wince. Thankfully, Damon, usually so quick to pounce at any sign of weakness, didn't notice.
"Fine, Father. " Damon shrugged easily and spread his arms as if in defeat. "I would be honored to wear your flower for you. "
Father's eyes flickered with rage, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he simply broke off another sprig and tucked it into Damon's coat pocket.
"Thank you," I mumbled as I accepted my own branch. My statement of thanks was less for the flower and more for Father showing mercy on Damon.
"Be careful, boys," Father said, before retreating to his study.
Damon rolled his eyes as we walked outside.
"Y shouldn't be so hard on him," I mumbled,
ou shivering in the night air. The summer-like day had become a chilly fall evening, but the mist that had been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a been everywhere last night had lifted, giving us a crystal-clear view of the moon.
"Why not? He's hard on us. " Damon snorted as he led the way to the stable. Mezzanotte and Jake were already bridled and stamping their hooves impatiently. "I had Alfred get everything ready. Thought we'd need a quick getaway. "
Damon swung his leg over Jake's back, then galloped him down the path and turned in the direction opposite of town. We rode in silence for at least a half hour. With just the sound of the hooves and the sight of the moon peeking through the dense foliage, it felt like we were riding into a dream.
Finally, we began to hear sounds of flutes playing and laughter and the occasional gunshot. Damon directed us up over a hill toward a clearing. Tents were set up all over, and a piper played in the corner. Men were walking around, and dogs were stationed at the entrance. It was as if we'd arrived at a mysterious, hidden party.
"Hello, sir?" Two Confederate soldiers came up to us, their rifles pointed toward us. Mezzanotte took a few steps back and whinnied nervously.
"Soldier Damon Salvatore, sir! Here on leave from General Groom's camp down in Atlanta. "
Immediately, the two soldiers relaxed their rifles and tipped their hats at us.
"Sorry 'bout that, soldier. We're gearin' up for battle, and we're losing our men like flies, before they even hit the battlefield," the taller soldier said, stepping up to pat Jake.
"Y and not because of typhus," the other,
es, smaller, mustachioed soldier said, obviously pleased to share this information with us.
"Killings?" Damon asked tersely.
"How'd you know?" the first guard asked, stroking his rifle. I glanced at the ground, unsure what to do. I felt that Damon was getting us into a dangerous situation, but I didn't know what I could do to fix it.
"My brother and I are coming from Mystic Falls," Damon said, jerking his thumb back as if to prove that was the direction we came from. "The next town over, past the forest. We've had some of our own trouble. People are saying it's some type of animal. "
"Not unless it's an animal that only goes for the throat and leaves the rest of the body untouched," the mustachioed soldier said knowledgeably, his tiny eyes flicking back and forth between us.
"Hmm," Damon said, sounding suddenly uninterested. But then he changed the subject. "Any good games of poker going on tonight?"
"Right there in that clearing by the oak trees. " The small soldier pointed a little ways off into the distance.
"Have a good evening, then. I thank you for your help," Damon said with exaggerated politeness. We walked in the direction the soldier pointed, until Damon stopped abruptly at a small circle of soldiers, huddled around a fire and playing cards.
"Hello! Soldier Damon Salvatore on leave from General Groom's boys," Damon said confidently as he slid off his horse and glanced around the faces lit up by the campfire. "This is my brother, Stefan. Can we be dealt in?"
One ginger-haired soldier glanced at an older, grand-fatherly type whose arm was in a sling. He shrugged and gestured for us to sit on one of the logs set up around the fire. "Don't see why not. "
Adrenaline seeped through my veins as we settled down and took our hands. Mine was good: two aces and a king. I immediately threw in some rumpled notes from my pocket, making a bet with myself. If I won money, then everything would be fine with Katherine. And if I didn't, then . . . well, I didn't want to think about it.
"All in," I said confidently.
After we settled the game, I wasn't surprised to emerge as the victor. I smiled as I took the pile of money and carefully put it in my pocket. I grinned in relief, finally feeling sure in my love for Katherine. I imagined what Katherine would say. Smart Stefan, maybe. Savvy Stefan. Or maybe she'd simply laugh, showing her white teeth, and allow me to take her into my arms and twirl her around and around the room. . . . We played several more hands after that, during which I lost the money I had won, but I didn't care. The first hand had been the test, and now my heart and mind felt remarkably light.
"What are you thinking?" Damon asked, taking a flask from his pocket. He held it toward me, and I took a long swig.
