L. J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries
The Return: Shadow Souls
1
“Dear Diary,” Elena whispered, “how frustrating is this? I left you in
The trunk of the Jaguar and it’s two o’clock in the morning.” She stabbed
Her finger on the leg of her nightgown as if she had a pen and was
Making a period. She whispered even more softly, leaning her forehead
Against the window, “And I’m afraid to go outside – in the dark – and
Get you. I’m afraid!” She made another stab and then, feeling tears slip
Down her cheeks, reluctantly turned her mobile on to record. It was a
Stupid waste of the battery, but she couldn’t help it. She needed this.
“So here I am,” she said softly, “sitting up in the backseat of the
Car. This has to be my diary entry for today. By the way, we made a rule
For this road trip – I sleep in the Jag’s backseat and it’s the Great
Outdoors for Matt and Damon. Right now it’s so dark outside that I
Can’t see Matt anywhere…. But I’ve been going crazy – crying and
Feeling lost – and so lonely for Stefan….
“We have to get rid of the Jaguar – it’s too big, too red, too flashy,
And too memorable when we’re trying not to be remembered as we
Travel to the place where we can free Stefan. After the car is sold, the
Lapis lazuli and diamond pendant Stefan gave me the day before he
Disappeared will be the most precious thing I have left. The day
Before…Stefan got tricked into going away, thinking he could become
An ordinary human being. And now…
“How can I stop thinking about what They might be doing to him,
At this very second – whoever ‘They’ are? Probably the kitsune, the evil
Fox spirits at the prison called
the Shi no Shi.”
Elena paused to wipe her nose on her nightgown sleeve.
“How did I ever get myself into this situation?” She shook her
Head, hit the seatback with her clenched fist.
“Maybe if I could figure that out, I could come up with Plan A. I
Always have a Plan A. And my friends always have a Plan B and C to
Help me.” Elena blinked hard, thinking of Bonnie and Meredith. “But
Now I’m frightened that I’ll never see them again. And I’m scared for
The entire town of Fell’s Church.”
For a moment she sat with her clenched fist on her knee. A small
Voice inside her was saying, “So stop whining, Elena, and think. Think.
Start from the beginning.”
The beginning? What was the beginning? Stefan?
No, she had lived in Fell’s Church long before Stefan came.
Slowly, almost dreamily, she spoke into her mobile. “In the first
Place: who am I? I’m Elena Gilbert, age eighteen.” Even more slowly,
She said, “I…don’t think it’s vain to say that I’m beautiful. If I didn’t
Know I was, I’d have to have never looked in a mirror or heard a
Compliment. It’s not something I should be proud of – it’s just
Something that was passed down from Mom and Dad.
“What do I look like? I have blond hair that falls in sort of waves
Past my shoulders and blue eyes that some people have said are like
Lapis lazuli: dark blue with splashes of gold.” She gave a half-choked
Laugh. “Maybe that’s why vampires like me.”
Then her lips tightened and, staring into the utter blackness around
Her, she spoke seriously.
“A lot of boys have called me the most angelic girl in the world.
And I played around with them. I just used them – for popularity, for
Amusement, for whatever. I’m being honest, all right? I considered them
To be toys or trophies.” She paused. “But there was something else.
(No Ratings Yet)