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"Thats what you have to believe. Its what I believe. The trouble with you is that you want everything done right away. Youre impatient. "
I sighed. The last thing I needed was another lecture about how I had no sense of the way the real vampire world worked.
Besides, I wasnt impatient. I was desperate.
"You just need to think of another plan. One we can help with. " Lexi glanced over as Buxton entered, carrying a silver tray laden with two mugs.
Buxton paused midstep. "Faut-il l'aider?" he asked in French.
"Nous l'aiderons," Lexi replied.
Neither Lexi nor Buxton knew that Id learned French at my mothers knee; it was odd to listen to them speakabout whether to help me free Damon. I stared at my hands, which were still covered with crusted blood from my hunt earlier in the evening.
Buxton banged the tray against the polished cherrywood table. "You will not put us in danger," he growled, his fangs inches away from my neck. He shoved me with all his might against the wall, and the back of my head cracked against the fireplaces marble mantle.
My Power took over, and I pushed his shoulders hard. But Buxton was older and stronger than I was, and he kept me pinned to the wall, his hands firmly against my chest. I could feel blood beginning to seep from my skull, where Id hit my head.
"You selfish, ungrateful monster," Buxton whispered, hatred dripping from his voice. "Ive seen vampires like you before. You think the world is yours for the taking. You dont care about others. You dont care who you kill. You give us a bad name. "
I twisted and writhed, trying to escape his grip, when suddenly I felt the pressure release from my chest, followed by an enormous crash as Buxton fell to the floor.
"Buxton," Lexi lectured, staring at the prone body lying at her feet. "How many more centuries will it be before you learn how to treat a guest? And, Stefan, wont you agree with me that human blood simply doesnt agree with you? That behavior wasnt necessary. " Lexi shook her head like an annoyed schoolmarm. "Now, Ill drink my blood in peace. Be nice, boys," she said as she glided out of the room, the mug of blood in her hands.
How could she walk away so casually, knowing that my brother was out there imprisoned and tortured? I had come to depend on Lexi for many things, and support in finding and saving Damon was my only priority now.
As if reading my mind, she paused at the archway to her quarters, glancing from one of us to the other. "If and when I say we help Damon, we will. Is that clear to both of you?"
"Yes, Miss Lexi," Buxton murmured as he slowly eased onto his knees then stood up.
I nodded, barely containing my scowl. If?
Buxton limped out of the room, but not before he threw one last glare in my direction.
Suddenly the house felt too small, as though the walls, floors, and ceilings were pressing in at me from all sides. Letting out one last growl, I flew through the parlor, out the door, and back down to Lake Road.
Chapter 20
The next morning, I woke as someone shook my shoulder.
"Go away," I murmured. But the shaking was insistent.
My eyes snapped open, and I realized I was lying curled up next to one of the tents at Gallaghers freak show.
"Did you sleep here?" Callie asked, crossing her arms over her chest. I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, thinking about the previous evening. Id returned to the circus grounds, unsure of where else to go and had fallen asleep there.
"Good morning, Miss Callie," I said, ignoring her question. I stood up and brushed dirt off the back of my pants. "How can I help you?"
She shrugged. She was clad in a pink cotton dress that showed her tiny waist and freckled arms. The color stood in contrast to her flowing red hair, and she reminded me of a wild rose. "Were going to take a few days off from the show. Father made so much money, he wants the next event to be even bigger. " Callie smiled. "The first rule of show business: Keep em wanting more. "
"Hows Da--the vampire?" I asked, shielding my eyes from the sun. While my ring protected me from the agony of the rays, the sun made me feel exposed and clumsy. The dark cloaked more than my fangs, and in the light of day, I constantly had to check to make sure I wasnt moving at lightning speed, responding to questions I shouldnt be able to hear, or following my urge to feed.
Callie tucked a loose strand of rust-colored hair behind her ear. "The vampire is okay, I suppose. Father has its handlers tending to it around the clock. They dont want it to die. Not yet, anyway. " Not yetwas a small comfort, but it was something. It meant I still had time.
She frowned slightly. "Of course, I hardly think they should let it die at all. What were doing to it, and to the animals it fights, is totally barbaric," she said softly, almost speaking to herself.
I looked up swiftly at the words. Was she more sympathetic to Damons plight than Id imagined? "Can I see him?" I asked, surprised at my boldness.
Callie swatted my arm. "No! Not unless you pay up, like everyone else. Besides, hes not here. "
