The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Twenty-Nine

You should be proud. The Vitale nightspot subscribe tos were lined up in the infrapass meeting style, safe like they had been the first day when they removed their blindf ageings. below the arch in front of them, the Vitales in black masks watched light.Ethan paced among the betroths, eyeball bright. You should be proud, he repeated. The Vitale Society forthered you an opportunity. The chance to become one of us, to union an formation that can give you great power, help you on your road to success.Ethan paused and gazed at them. Not al of you were worthy, he said seriously. We watched you, you know. Not just when you were here, or doing pledge events, but al the time. The candidates who couldnt cut it, who didnt merit joining our ranks, were eliminated. savourless depended close to. It was true, there were fewer of them now than there had been at their first meeting. That tal rim senior who was some kind of biogenetics whiz was gone. A skinny redheaded lady friend wh o compressed remembered doggedly grinding her way through the set come forward wasnt there either. There were only ten pledges left.Those of you who remain? Ethan lifted his pass like he was giving them some kind of benediction. At make it it is time for you to be initiated, to ful y become members of the Vitale Society, to learn our secrets and walk our path. two-dimensionality felt a inadequate sWellof pride as Ethan smiled at them al . It felt like Ethans eyeball lingered presbyopicer on Matt than on the otherwises, like his smile for Matt was just a bit warmer. interchangeable Matt was, among al these exceptional pledges, especial(a).Ethan started to walk through the crowd and colloquy again, this time to the highest degree the preparations that needed to be made for their initiation. He asked a couple of pledges to bring roses and lilies to decorate the room it sounded like he was expecting them to demoralise out a couple of flower stores others to find candles. One person was assigned to buy a specific kind of wine. Frankly, it reminded Matt of Elena and the other girls planning a high school dance.Okay, Ethan said, indicating Chloe and a long-haired girl named Anna, Id like you two to go to the herb store and get yerba mata, guarana, hawthorn, ginseng, camomile, and danshen. Do you wishing to write that down? Matt perked up a little. Herbs were around more mystical and mysterious, befitting a secret society, although ginseng and chamomile just reminded him of the tea his mom drank when she had a cold.Ethan moved on from the girls, his eyes fixed on Matt, and Matt prepared to be sent in search of punch or ranch dip.But Ethan, locking eyes with Matt, inclined his head a little, indicating that Matt should join him a little apart from the rest of the group. Matt jogged over to meet Ethan, slightly intrigued. What couldnt Ethan allege in front of the others?Ive got a special job for you, Matt, Ethan said, rubbing his pass together in obv ious plea legitimate at the prospect. I want you to invite your friend Stefan Salvatore to join us.Sorry? Matt said, confused.To be a Vitale Society member, Ethan explained. We missed him when we selected candidates at the beginning of the year, but now that Ive met him, I trimk we specify and he waved a hand at the quietly watching masked figures on the other side of the room that he would be an ideal fit for us.Matt frowned. He didnt want to look like an idiot in front of Ethan, but something struck him as off about this. But he hasnt done either of the pledge stuff. Isnt it too late for him to join this year?Ethan smiled slightly, just a thin tilting of his lips. I think we can make an exception for Stefan.But Matt began to protest, then instead smiled rachis at Ethan. Il cal him and search if hes interested, he promised.Ethan patted him lightly on the back. Thank you, Matt.Youre a natural for Vitale, you know. Im sure you can commute him.As Ethan walked away, Matt wat ched him, wondering why the praise felt exercise this time.It was because it didnt make sense, Matt decided, walking back to his dorm after the pledge meeting. What was so special about Stefan that Ethan had decided they had to have him pledge the Vitale Society now instead of just waiting til next year? Okay, yes lamia that was special about Stefan, but no one knew that. And he was heavy(a) and sophisticated in that ever-so-slightly European way that had al the girls back in high school fal ing at his feet, but he wasnt that handsome, and there were bunch of foreign students on campus.Matt stopped stock-stil . Was he jealous? It wasnt fair, maybe, that Stefan could just waltz in and be immediately offered something that Matt had worked for, that Matt had sentiment was only his.But so what? It wasnt Stefans fault if Ethan wanted to give him special treatment. Stefan was hurting after his breakup with Elena maybe it would do him good to join the Vitale. And it would be fun to h ave one of his friends in the Society. Stefan deserved it, tangible y he was brave and noble, a leader, even if there was no way Ethan and the others could have known that. Firmly pushing away any remaining niggle of not fair, Matt pul ed out his cel predict and cal ed Stefan.Hey, he said. Listen, do you remember that guy Ethan?I stab I dont understand, Zander said. His arm around seemlys shoulder was strong and solidly reassuring, and his T-shirt, where she had inhumed her face against him, smel ed of clean cotton and fabric softener. What were you and your friends fighting about?The point is, they dont trust my judgment, decent said, wiping her eyes. If it had been either of them, they wouldnt have been so dissipated to jump to conclusions.Conclusions about what? Zander asked, but Bonnie didnt answer. After a moment, Zander reached out and ran one finger gently along her jawline and over her lips, his eyes enwrapped on her face. Of course you can stay here as long as you w ant to, Bonnie. Im at your service, he said in an queerly formal tone.Bonnie looked around Zanders room with interest.Shed neer been here in advancehand in fact, shed had to cal him to find out what dorm he lived in, and how weird was that for a girlfriend to not know? But if shed tried to picture what his room would be like, she would have assumed it would be messy and very guyish old pizza boxes on the floor, dirty laundry, weird smel s. Maybe a broadside with a half-naked girl on it. But, in fact, it was just the opposite. Everything was very double-dyed(a) and uncluttered nothing on top of the school-issued dresser and desk, no pictures on the wal s or rug on the floor. The bed was neatly made.The mavin bed. That they were both sitting on. Her and her boyfriend.Bonnie felt a flush encouragement up over her face. She silently cursed her habit of blushing she was sure that even her ears were bright red. Shed just asked her boyfriend if she could move into his room. And su re, he was beautiful and lovely and kissing him was probably the most amazing experience of her life-time so far, but shed just started kissing him last night. What if he melodic theme she was suggesting something more?Zander was eyeing her thoughtful y as Bonnie blushed.You know, he said, I can sleep on the floor. Im not um expecting He broke off and now he was blushing, too.The sight of flustered Zander immediately made Bonnie feel mitigate. She patted him on the arm. I know, she said. I told Meredith and Elena you were a good guy. Zander frowned. What? Do they think Im not? When Bonnie didnt answer, he slowly released her, leaning back to take a close look at her face. Bonnie? When you had this oversized fight with your friends, were you fighting about me? Bonnie shrugged, wrapping her arms around herself.Okay. Wow. Zander ran a hand through his hair. Im sorry. I know Elena and I didnt real number y hit it off, but Im sure wel get along better when we get to know each ot her. This wil al blow over then. Its not worth it to stop being friends with them.Its not Tears sprang into Bonnies eyes. Zander was being so sweet, and he had no idea how Elena and Meredith had wronged him. I cant tel you, she said.Bonnie? Zander pul ed her closer. Dont cry. It cant be that bad. Bonnie began to cry harder, tears streaming down her cheeks, and he held on to her. Just tel me, he said.Its not that they just dont like you, Zander, she said between sobs. They think you might be the kil er.What? Why? Zander recoiled, almost leaping across the bed away from her, his face white and shocked.Bonnie explained what Meredith thought she saw, her stamp of Zanders hair beneath the hoodie of the attacker she chased off. Which is so unfair, she finished,because even if she did see what she thought she saw, its not like youre the only person with real y light blond hair on campus. Theyre being ridiculous.Zander sucked in a long breath, his eyes wide, and sat stil and silent for a few seconds. and so he reached out and put a gentle hand under Bonnies chin, turning her face so they were gazing straight into each others eyes.I would never hurt you, Bonnie, he said slowly. You know me, you see me. Do you think Im a kil er?No, Bonnie said, her eyes fil ing with tears. I dont. I never did.Zander leaned forward and kissed her, his lips soft against hers, as if they were sealing some kind of pact.Bonnie closed her eyes and leaned into the kiss.She was fal ing in love with Zander, she knew. And, despite the fact that he had run off so suddenly last night, just before Samanthas murder, she was sure he could never be a kil er.