The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 1

Elena Gilbert stepped onto a smooth expanse of grass, the spongy blades gap apsing beneath her feet. Clusters of scarlet roses and violet delphiniums pushed up from the ground, while a ogre ca noney hung above her, twinkling with glowing lanterns. On the terrace in front of her stood two curving white marble fountains that shot sprays of water system high into the air. Everything was beautiful, elegant, and somehow familiar.This is Bloddeuwedds palace, a voice in her head say. provided when she had been here last, the field had been vauntded with laughing, dancing partygoers. They were gone now, although signs of their presence remained untenanted glasses littered the tables set around the boundary lines of the lawn a silken shawl was tossed everywhere a chair a lone high-heeled shoe perched on the edge of a fountain. Something else was odd, too. Before, the scene had been lit by the hel ish red light that il uminated everything in the Dark Dimension, turning blues to purples , whites to pinks, and pinks to the velvety color of blood. like a shot a clear light shone over everything, and a ful white bootleg sailed calmly overhead.A whisper of movement came from behind her, and Elena realized with a start that she wasnt alone after al . A dark cipher was suddenly there, approaching her. Damon.Of course it was Damon, Elena thought with a smile. If anyone was going to emerge unexpectedly before her here, at what felt like the end of the human race or at least the hour after a trusty party had ended it would be Damon. God, he was so beautiful. Black on somber soft black hair, eyes black as midnight, black jeans, and a smooth leather jacket. As their eyes met, she was so cheering to see him that she could hardly breathe. She threw herself into his embrace, clasping him around the neck, feeling the lithe, hard muscles in his blazonry and chest.Damon, she said, her voice trembling for some reason. Her body was trembling, too, and Damon stroked her arm s and shoulders, calming her.What is it, princess? Dont tel me youre afraid. He smirked lazily at her, his hands strong and steady.I am afraid, she answered. and what are you afraid of?That left her puzzled for a moment. Then, slowly, putting her face against his, she said, Im afraid that this is just a dream.Il tel you a secret, princess, he said into her ear. You and I are the only real things here. Its everything else thats the dream.Just you and me? Elena echoed, an uneasy thought quetch at her, as though she were forgetting something or someone. A fleck of modify landed on her dress, and she absently brushed it away.Its just the two of us, Elena, Damon said sharply.Youre mine. Im yours. Weve loved each other since the beginning of time. Of course. That must be wherefore she was trembling it was joy. He was hers. She was his. They belonged together. She whispered one word Yes.Then he kissed her.His lips were soft as silk, and when the kiss deepened, she tilted her head back , exposing her throat, anticipating the double white Anglo-Saxon Protestant sting hed delivered so many times. When it didnt come, she opened her eyes questioningly. The moon was as bright as ever, and the scent of roses hung heavy in the air. But Damons chisel features were pale under his dark hair, and more ash had landed on the shoulders of his jacket. Al at once, the little doubts that had been niggling at her came together.Oh, no. Oh, no.Damon. She gasped, looking into his eyes despairingly as tears fil ed her own. You cant be here, Damon. Youre dead.For more than five hundred years, princess. Damon flashed his blinding smile at her. more(prenominal) ash was fal ing around them, like a fine gray rain, the equivalent gray ash Damons body was buried beneath, worlds and dimensions away.Damon, youre dead now. Not undead, besides gone.No, Elena He began to flicker and fade, like a dying lightbulb.Yes. Yes I held you as you died Elena was sobbing helplessly. She couldnt feel Damo ns arms at al now. He was fade into shimmering light.Listen to me, ElenaShe was holding moonlight. Anguish caught at her heart.Al you need to do is cal for me, Damons voice said.Al you needHis voice faded into the sound of enwrap rustling through the trees.Elenas eyes snapped open. Through a fog she registered that she was in a room fil ed with sunlight, and a huge crow was perched on the sil of an open window. The bird tilted its head to one side and gave a croak, watching her with bright eyes.A cold chil ran down her spine. Damon? she whispered.But the crow just spread its wings and flew away.