The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 12

Its overtaking to be a lovely day utter(a) for a picnic, Meredith observed calmly.Bonnie had tactful y still unwaveringly steered Celia into Matts gondola car instead of Merediths, and so Meredith was alone with Alaric at last for the premier(prenominal) time since hed arrived. Half of her just wanted to pul dispatch the highway, grab Alaric, and pamper him and kiss him, she was so glad that he was final y hither(predicate). Al through the insanity of the last few months, shed wished that he were there to argue by her side, to depend on. scarce the separate half of her wanted to pul onward the road, grab Alaric, and demand that he explain to her exactly what his relationship was with Dr. Celia Connor.Instead, here she was, driving placidly, work force at ten and two on the counseling wheel, making smal talk ab stunned the weather. She felt like a coward, and Meredith Suarez was no coward. But what could she say? What if she was just paranoid, and making a ridiculous bunco game astir(predicate) a strictly professional relationship?She glanced at Alaric out of the corner of her eye.So she verbalise. Tel me much more or less your research in Japan.Alaric ran his come abouts through his already tousled hair and grinned at her. The trip was fascinating, he give tongue to. Celias so intel igent and experienced. She just puts to get ather al these clues about a civilization. It was a real eye-opener for me to watch her decipher so much from the evidence in the graves there. I never knew much about forensic anthropology before, still she was able to reconstruct an amazing amount about the culture of Unmei no Shima.Sounds like shes simply amazing, Meredith said, hearing the acid in her tone.Apparently Alaric didnt honour it. He smiled a little. It took quite a while for her to take my telepathic research seriously, he said rueful y. Parapsychology isnt particularly wel regarded by the experts in other scientific disciplines. They think peopl e like me who study to spend their lives studying the supernatural are charlatans, or naive. Or a little crazy.Meredith made herself speak pleasantly. You were able to incline her at last, though? Thats good.Sort of, Alaric answered. We got to be friends, anyway, so she stopped thinking I was a complete fraud. I think shes found it al a piling more believable after the one day shes spent here, though. He gave a wry smile. She tried to hide it, but she was blown external yesterday when Stefan saved her. The existence of a vampire makes it clear that theres a lot conventional science knows nothing about. Im sure shel want to screen Stefan if hel let her.I would imagine so, said Meredith dryly, resisting the urge to ask Alaric why he thought Stefan would cooperate when he had seemed so displeased that Alaric had told Celia about him.Alaric slid a hand across the car seat until he was cultivation enough to run a finger gently along Merediths arm. I learned a lot while I was gone, he said earnestly, but Im real y more concerned about whats going on right now in Fel s Church.You mean this sombre magic that is supposedly rising here? Meredith asked.I mean the nighted magic that seems to be targeting you and Celia, Alaric said forceful y. Im not sure every of you is taking it seriously enough.Me and Celia, thought Meredith. Hes just as worried about her as he is about me. Maybe more.I know weve approach danger in the past, but I feel responsible for Celia, Alaric went on. I brought her here, and Id never be able to forgive myself if something happened to her. Definitely more, Meredith thought bitterly, and shrugged get through Alarics hand.She instantly regretted the motion. What was the matter with her? This wasnt who she was. Shed always been the calm, rational one. Now here she was view like, wel , like a jealous girlfriend.And now its threatening you, too, Alaric went on. He tentatively touched her knee, and this time Meredith let his hand stay. Meredit h, I know how self-colored you are. But its terrifying to me that this doesnt seem to be the kind of enemy were utilise to. How after part we fight what we cant even see?Al we can do is be vigilant, Meredith said. Her training had been comprehensive, but even she didnt understand this new evil. to date she knew how to protect herself much better than Alaric realized. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. His window was open a crack, and the breeze ruffled his sandy hair. They knew each other so wel , yet he stil didnt know her biggest secret. For a moment she considered tel ing him, but thus he turned to her and said, Celias putting on a barefaced face, but I can tel shes scared. Shes not as tough as you are.Meredith stiffened. No, this wasnt the right time to tel Alaric that she was a hunter-slayer. Not when she was driving. Not when she was this angry. Suddenly his hand felt heavy and clammy on her knee, but she knew she couldnt push it off again without betrayin g her feelings. Inside, though, she was raging at how the conversation kept coming nates to Celia. Alaric had thought of her first. And even when he was talking about the danger to Meredith, he couched it in terms of what had happened to Celia. Alarics voice became a buzz in the minimize as Meredith clutched the counsel wheel so tightly her knuckles whitened. hearty y, why was she surprised that Alaric had feelings for Celia? Meredith wasnt blind. She could be objective. Celia was smart, accomplished, beautiful. Celia and Alaric were in the same place in their lives. Meredith hadnt even started col ege yet. She was attractive she knew that and certainly intel igent. But Celia was al that and more She was Alarics equal in a way Meredith couldnt be just yet. Sure, Meredith was a vampire hunter. But Alaric didnt know that. And when he did know, would he admire her speciality? Or would he turn away from her, scared of her abilities, and toward someone more academic, like Celia?A bl ack bubble of misery fil ed Merediths chest.Im starting signal to think I should take Celia away from here if I can get her to leave. Alaric sounded reluctant, but Meredith could hardly hear him. She felt as common cold as if she were being enveloped in a fog. Maybe I should get her back to Boston. I think you should leave Fel s Church, too, Meredith, if you can convince your family to let you go away for the rest of the summer. You could come with us, or perhaps theres a relative you could stay with if your family wouldnt like that. Im worried that you arent safe here.Nothings happened to me yet, said Meredith, surprised by the calm of her own voice, when such dark emotions were simmering inside her. And I have a responsibility to be here and protect the town. If you think Celia wil be safer away from here, do what you and she think is best. But you know theres no guarantee that whatevers threatening us wont fol ow her somewhere else. And at least here there are people who believ e in the danger.Besides, she added thoughtful y, the threat to Celia may be over. Maybe once the round is averted, it moves on to someone else. My name didnt appear until after Stefan saved Celia. If so, then the danger is only to me.Not that you care, she thought viciously, and was surprised at herself. Of eat Alaric cared. It was just that he seemed to care about what happened to Celia more.Her fingernails cut into her palms around the steering wheel as she careful y fol owed Stefans car off the road and toward the parking lot for Hot Springs.Stop Alaric shouted, panic in his voice, and Meredith automatical y slammed on the brakes. The car squealed to a halt.What? Meredith gasped. What is it?And then she saw her.Dr. Celia Connor had gotten out of Matts car to cross to the path up to the springs. Meredith had come speeding right toward her. completely inches from Merediths front bumper, Celia was frozen, her pretty face gray with fear, her mouth a staring(a) O.One more second, and Meredith would have kil ed her.