The War of Roses Read Online Free PDF Page B

death?” Elena burst out.
    “Just . . . just could everybody stop before someone starts asking
    why a raven is like a writing desk, and I have a complete nervous breakdown ,” Meredith said, with an intensity that was unlike her. 
“Oh!” Elena said.  “A raven—not a raven!  No, no, no, no—”
    “I believe you mean ‘nevermore,’” Damon said, distantly polite now, watching something that no one else could see the way lions in the savanna watch waterholes. 
    “No, I didn’t mean ‘nevermore.’  I meant—”
    “W ell, why is a raven like a—” Caroline began simultaneously.
    “Because Poe wrote on both,” Meredith said, dangerously quietly.  “Or maybe because the notes for which they are noted are not noted for being musical notes.  That’s not the question.  The question is why everybody has freaking lost their minds .”
    “Elena and I aren’t big enough to be everybody,” Bonnie offered absently, thinking about the white dog whimpering as he slept on a glacier.
    “Who is big enough to be everybody?” Caroline demanded, stiffening.  “Are you implying—”
    “You know, raven is ‘nevar’ backwards,” Matt interrupted.
    “It’s not just you and Elena,” Meredith said to Bonnie.  “I think he’s asleep, too, Matt is.  You are all freaking raving .”
    “ And by the way, you made me forget ,” Elena said to Meredith.  “I almost had something, but then you went and—”
    “And you’re not raving?” Bonnie asked Meredith as courteously as possible.
    “Am I invisible and inaudible?” Caroline demanded of Bonnie with no courtesy at all.  “Because my questions keep getting—”
    “SHUT UP . ALL OF YOU.  RIGHT NOW.”
Silence.
    Bonnie looked at Elena.  Elena was looking at Damon.  Damon was looking at the doorway.
    Bonnie turned to see who was there and fell fast asleep.
    * * *
    Stefan pulled his sweater, which had been hiding most of his face, down and stared at Damon.  There were bits of ragged leaves in his hair, Damon noted.  Not big ones, but still.  He knew that he had never looked as if he was living in a tree, but then his little brother had all that wavy, unmanageable hair.  He also probably didn’t carry a small comb along with a silver-edged switchblade in his jeans pocket.
    Stefan was already ranting.  “ Che diavolo pensi di fare? Sei pazzo? Guarda tutti questi matti! Hai completamente rovinato tutto quello che ho fatto io, idiota! Lo sapevo che non potevo fidarmi di te, deficiente pigro, senza cervello e inaffidabile!”
    There was a pause.  Even vampires had to breathe to speak.  Damon waited it out, and after a moment raised his eyebrows and tilted his head as if to say, “That’s all you’ve got?”
    Stefan opened his mouth as if to continue, but this time Damon jumped in.  “ Stai zitto bestia! In primo luogo, tu gridi come una ragazzina di sei anni. E poi, mezza sega, stupido come un asino ma infuocato come i demoni dell’inferno!  Terzo . . .
    “Third”—he switched to English—“I’m going to tell you what’s wrong with everything you’re thinking.  The most important thing is that I didn’t need to screw everything up.  You already did that very efficiently yourself.  I’ll explain more later.  For now watch these humans; keep them frozen that way for fifteen minutes.”
    “Why?  You—”
    “A, because they’re your responsibility; and, Two, because I am starving .  Ye gods, I had to Influence Elena and Bonnie both by burning life energy!  Right now, I’m going to find something soft and warm and I’m going to feed.  You can either go to hell or watch over the people whose lives you’ve ruined; your choice.”
    Stefan looked mutinous.  “Your noise woke me up when I’d finally just gotten to sleep, and now I find—”
    “I did not make noise.  Scan me.  I can hardly stand up and I couldn’t wake a flea.  I’ve been trying to keep Elena safe . . .”  Damon broke off.  “Fifteen