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"Im sorry," I said finally. I tried to imagine Lexi as a human, leaning on the arm of the man who had promised the world to her, just as Katherine had promised the world to me. I pictured him spiriting her away to a dark alley, taking just a little blood at first, asking her to drink his, then stabbing her through the heart to complete the transformation.
Lexi waved her hand, wiping away the image of herself as a young girl. "Dont be sorry. It was more than a century ago. Hed be dead anyway by now. " She appraised me. "That jacket looks good on you. "
"Thank you," I said. Suddenly the weight of my discussion with Callie felt heavy in my stomach. "I have a plan to save Damon," I blurted out.
Lexis head jerked up, her eyes flashing. "What?"
"Tomorrow night. Callies helping me. " I allowed my eyes to meet Lexis. "Damons back at Laurel Street. Her father will be out of the house at a card game, so well free Damon then. "
"Did you tell Callie what you are?" she asked, her voice low and hard.
I chewed on my thumb. "No. "
"Stefan!"
"She guessed," I said defensively. "And I trust her. "
"Trust!" Lexi spat. She stood up so abruptly the ottoman toppled over. "You dont know the meaning of the word. Callie is the daughter of Patrick Gallagher, who just forced your brother to fight a mountain lion to the death. How do you know this isnt some elaborate plan to imprison you, too?"
"How stupid do you think I am?" I challenged, stepping closer to Lexi. "I may be young, but I have good instincts. "
Lexi gave a derisive snort. "You mean the same instincts that landed you backed up in a butcher shop with three vampires surroun
ding you? The same instincts that led you to murder that woman on the train?"
"Im still here, arent I?"
"Because of me! And the boys back at the house. But I will not allow you to drag us into confronting Patrick Gallagher, of all people. "
"No ones dragging you into anything!" I yelled in frustration. "Just because you let your brother die doesnt mean Im going to let mine! I owe him that much. "
"You ungrateful child!" she spat, pushing me with all her force against a gold-framed mirror. I fell as the mirror shattered around me. One large shard cut a large gash across my arm, but it barely hurt. Instead, I was shocked by Lexis strength. Id seen it before, but Id never been on the receiving end.
Lexi towered above me, her eyes glittering. "You need to learn your place, and you need to learn it fast. Youre a vampire. And vampires donotconsort with humans. "
I leaped to my feet and pushed her away from me. She flew across the store and landed against the bolts of fabric.
"This one does, if it means saving Damon," I growled. Then I stalked out of the shop and into the blackness of the night.
Chapter 26
I spent the night at the lake again, but this time I didnt sleep. Instead I sat along the bank, listening to the world hum around me as though I was an audience member at a musical show. Frogs croaked melodically, blowing out their chests with proud puffs. Fish swam to the lakes surface to gulp down the water bugs that hovered there, then dived back down to the depths with soft flips of their tails. Birds flew overhead in V formation, and small animals rustled through the reeds, chasing one another as they ferreted out their next meal.
Then came the grand finale as the sun, an enormous, watery orb, rose to its place of prominence in the sky, signaling that it was the all-powerful king and Earth was its subject.
As I sat there, watching the one thing that could kill me in an instant if it werent for the ring Katherine gave me, a sense of calm rippled through my body. The world was beautiful and magical and I was lucky to still have a place in it.
Grabbing a perfectly round, flat stone, I stood and looked out over the water. I closed my eyes. If it skips four times, everything will be okay. Then I let the stone soar. It skipped once twice three times
"Four skips! Impressive!" a voice cheered, followed by enthusiastic clapping.
I turned around just as Callie leaped into my arms.
"Youre in a good mood," she said with a smile.
"I am. And its all thanks to you. "
She tucked her arm through mine. "In that case, I know just how you can thank me!"
