The Hunters: Moonsong Chapter Thirteen

Bonnie clutched the banana-nut muffin to her chest as if it was some(prenominal) kind of sacred offering. She just could not bring herself to knock on Matts door. Instead, she turned big pleading brown eye on Meredith and Elena.Oh, Bonnie, Meredith muttered, stint past her, shifting the pile of bagels and the carton of orange succus she was carrying, and rapping loudly on the door.I dont be what to say, Bonnie whispered back, agonized.Then the door opened, and Matt appeared, red-eyed and pale. He seemed somehow smal er and more hump into himself than Bonnie had ever seen him. Overwhelmed with pity, she forgot al ab come in being nervous and launched herself into his arms, dropping the muffin in the process.Im so sorry, she choked come forth, tears run down her face. Matt held on to her tightly, bending everywhere and burying his lead in her shoulder. Its clear, she verbalize final y, desperately, patting the back of his head. I mean, no, its not of course its not entirel y we bop you, were here.I couldnt help him, Matt said dul y, his face stil pressed against Bonnies neck. I tried my outperform, but he died anyway.Elena and Meredith joined them, wrapping their arms around Matt from either side.We complete, Elena said, rubbing his back. You did every function you could for him.Matt pul ed come out of the closet of their arms howevertual y and gestured around the room. Al this stuff is his, he said. His parents dont note kindred theyre lay out to clear out his things yet, they told the police. Its kil ing me to see it al stil here when hes not. I thought about packing it up for his parents, but theres a possibility that the police might want to look through his stuff.Bonnie shuddered at the thought of what Christophers parents must be going through.Have something to eat, Meredith said. I bet you havent eaten for ages. Maybe itl help you belief better. Al three girls fussed around, fixing the breakfast theyd brought for Matt, then convincing him to taste something, anything. He drank some juice and picked at a bagel, his head lowered. I was at the police station al night, he said.I had to keep going over and over what happened.What did happen? Bonnie asked tentatively.Matt sighed. I factual y wish I knew. I just saw somebody dressed in black running away from Christopher. I wanted to chase him, but Chris take uped my help. And then he died. I tried, but I couldnt do anything. His forehead creased into a frown. The real y weird thing, though, he said slowly, is that, even though I saw a person running away, the police think Christopher was attacked by some kind of animal. He was pretty ripped up.Elena and Meredith exchanged an alert glance. A vampire? said Meredith. Or a werewolf, maybe?I was wondering about that, Matt admitted. It contains sense. Without seeming to notice, he finished his bagel, and Elena took advantage of his disturbance to slip some fruit onto his plate.Bonnie wrapped her arms around herself. Why ? she asked. Why is it that, wherever we go, weird, scary things happen around us? I thought that once we left Fel s perform things would be different.No one argued with her. For a secondary while, they al sat quietly, and Bonnie matt-up as if they were huddling together, trying to protect themselves from something cold and horrible.Final y, Meredith reached out and took an orange slice off Matts plate. The first thing we need to do, then, is to investigate and try to figure out if these attacks and disappearances are supernatural. She chewed thoughtful y. As much as I hate to say it, we should probably get Damon on this. Hes good at this kind of thing. And Stefan should know whats going on, too. She looked at Elena, her voice gentle. Il talk to them, okay, Elena? Elena shrugged. Bonnie could tel she was trying to keep her expression blank, but her lips were trembling. Of course, she said after a minute. Im sure theyre both checking things out anyway. You know how paranoid they a re.Not without reason, Meredith said dryly.Matts eyes were wet. Whatever happens, I need you to promise me something, he said. Please, be careful. I screwt lets not lose anyone else, okay? Bonnie snuggled closer to him, putting her hand on his.Meredith reached over and placed her hand over both of theirs, and Elena added hers to the pile. Wel take care of one another, Elena said.A vow, said Bonnie, trying to smile. Wel always watch out for one another. Wel make sure everyone is safe.At that moment, as they murmured in agreement, she was sure they could do it.Meredith pivoted and stepped forward, swinging her cater down to strike at Samanthas heavily padded knees.Samantha dodged the blow, then jabbed her own stave straight toward Merediths head. Meredith blocked the blow, then thrust her staff at Samanthas chest.Samantha staggered backward and lost her footing.Wow, she said, rubbing her col arbone and looking at Meredith with a mixture of resentment and appreciation.That hurt, eve n with the padding. Ive never trained with anyone so strong before.Oh, Well, Meredith said modestly, pinch absurdly pleased, I practice a lot.Uh-huh, Samantha said, eyeing her. Lets take a break. She flopped down on the mat, and Meredith, her staff match lightly in one hand, sat beside her.It wasnt her staff, of course, not her special hunting one.She couldnt bring her heirloom slayer staff to the gym it was too clearly a customized deadly weapon. But shed been delighted to learn that Samantha could fight with a four-foot-long jo staff and that she had an extra.Samantha was quick and smart and fierce, one of the best sparring partners shed ever had. Fighting, Meredith was able to block out the helpless feeling shed had in Matts room this morning. There was something so pathetic about seeing al Christophers things sitting there ready for him, when he was never coming back. He had one of those weird little fake Zen gardens on his desk, the sand neatly groomed. Maybe just the day be fore, Christopher had picked up the comminuted rake in his hand and smoothed the sand, and now hed never touch anything again.And it was her fault. Meredith squeezed her staff, her knuckles whitening. She had to accept that. If she had the proponent of being a potent force against darkness, a hunter and slayer of monsters, she had the responsibility, too.Anything that got through and kil ed psyche in her territory was Merediths failure and her shame.She had to work harder. Practice more, go out patrol ing the campus, keep hoi polloi safe.Are you al right? Samanthas voice broke through Merediths thoughts. Startled, Meredith saw Samantha staring at her with wide, portentous dark eyes, taking in Merediths gritted teeth and clenched fists.Not entirely, said Meredith dryly. Um. She entangle like she had to formulate her grimness. Did you hear about what happened last night, the guy who was kil ed? Samantha nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. Well, he was the roommate of a re al y good friend of mine. And I was with my friend today, trying to help him. It was upsetting. Samanthas face seemed to harden, and she scrambled up on her knees. Listen, Meredith, she said, I promise you this isnt going to happen again. Not on my watch.On your watch? Meredith asked mildly. Suddenly, it felt hard to breathe.I have responsibilities, Samantha said. She dropped her eyes to her hands. Im going to catch this kil er.Its a big job, Meredith said. It wasnt possible, was it?But Samantha was much(prenominal) a good fighter, and what she was saying why would she think she was responsible for stopping the kil er? What makes you think you can do it? she asked.I know this is difficult to believe, and I shouldnt even be tel ing you, but I need your help. Samantha was looking straight into her eyes, practical y vibrating with earnestness.Im a hunter. I was raised to I have a sacred trust. Al my family for generations, weve fought against evil. Im the last of us. My parents were kil ed when I was thirteen. Meredith gasped, shocked, but Samantha shook her head fiercely, pushing Merediths fellow feeling away. They hadnt finished training me, she continued, and I need you to help me get better, get faster. Im not strong exuberant yet. Meredith stared at her.Please, Meredith, Samantha said. I know it sounds crazy, but its true. People are depending on me. Unable to stop herself, Meredith started to laugh.Its not a joke, Samantha said, jumping to her feet, her fists clenched. This is I shouldnt have said anything. She stalked toward the door, her back as straight as a soldiers.Samantha, wait, Meredith cal ed. Samantha whirled back toward her with a face ful of fury. Meredith took a quick breath and tried desperately to take to be something shed learned as a child but never had occasion to use.Crooking her pinkies together, she drew up her thumbs to make a triangle, the secret sign of greeting between two hunters.Samantha just stared at her, face dead blank. Meredith wondered if she remembered the sign correctly.Had Samanthas family even taught it to her? Meredith knew there were other families out there, but she had never met any of them before. Her parents had left the hunter community before she was born.Then Samantha, moving as quickly as she ever had when theyd sparred, was before her, enchanting her arms.For real? Samantha said. Are you serious? Meredith nodded, and Samantha threw her arms around her and clutched her tightly. Her heart was beating so hard that Meredith could feel it. Meredith stiffened at first she wasnt the touchy-feely type, despite being best friends with wildly affectionate Bonnie for geezerhood but then relaxed into the hug, feeling Samanthas slim, muscular body under her arms, so like her own.She had the strangest feeling of familiarity, as if she had been lost and had now found her true family at last.Meredith knew she could never say any of that, and part of her felt like she was betraying Elena and Bo nnie just by thinking that way, but she couldnt help it. Samantha pul ed away, smiling and weepy, wiping at her eyes and nose.Im acting stupid, she said. But this is the best thing that ever happened to me. Together, we can fight this. She gave a half-hysterical puff and gazed at Meredith with huge shining eyes. I feel like Ive made a new best friend, she said.Yes, Meredith said not weeping, not laughing, cool as ever on the outside but, inside, feeling like she was breaking into happy pieces yes, I think youre right.