The Hunters: Phantom Chapter 12

Its going to be a lovely day perfect for a picnic, Meredith observed calmly. comme il faut had tactful y only firmly steered Celia into Matts car instead of Merediths, and so Meredith was alone with Alaric at ex xd for the first age since hed arrived. Half of her plainly wanted to pul off the road, overtake Alaric, and kiss him and kiss him, she was so glad that he was final y here. Al through the insanity of the last few months, shed wished that he were there to fight by her side, to depend on. But the other half of her wanted to pul off 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 pl back breakerly, hands at ten and two on the steering wheel, making smal talk close the weather. She felt like a coward, and Meredith Suarez was no coward. But what could she say? What if she was only if paranoid, and making a ridiculous fuss about a rigorously professional relationship?She glanc ed at Alaric out of the corner of her eye.So she said. Tel me more about your research in Japan.Alaric ran his hands through his already tousled hair and grinned at her. The trip was fascinating, he said. Celias so intel igent and experienced. She just puts to pass waterher al these clues about a civilization. It was a real eye-opener for me to watch her decipher so more from the evidence in the graves there. I never knew much about forensic anthropology before, exclusively she was competent 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 notice it. He smiled a little. It took quite a while for her to take my tele highwayic research seriously, he said rueful y. Parapsychology isnt particularly wel regarded by the experts in other scientific disciplines. They estimate people like me who choose to spend their lives studying the supernatural are charlatans, or naive. Or a little crazy.Meredith made herself speak pleasantly. You were able to change over 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 lot more believable after the one day shes spent here, though. He gave a wry smile. She tried to hide it, but she was blown away 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 find out Stefan if hel let her.I would imagine so, said Meredith dryly, resisting the urge to ask Alaric why he conception Stefan would meet when he had seemed so displeased that Alaric had told Celia about him.Alaric slid a hand across the car seat until he was close 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 relate about whats going on right now in Fel s Church.You mean this lowering john that is supposedly rising here? Meredith asked.I mean the dark magic that seems to be targeting you and Celia, Alaric said forcible y. Im not sure either of you is taking it seriously enough.Me and Celia, archetype Meredith. Hes just as worried about her as he is about me. Maybe more.I know weve faced 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 off 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 feeling 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 bank check. Meredith, I know how strong you are. But its terrifying to me that this doesnt seem to be the kind of enemy were used to. How set up we fight what we cant withal see?Al we can do is be vigilant, Meredith said. Her training had been comprehensive, but even she didnt understand this new evil. Yet 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 then he turned to her and said, Celias putting on a brave 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 betraying her feelings. Inside, though, she was raging at how the conversation kept coming back 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 background as Meredith clutched the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles whitened. substantial 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 magnetic 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 strength? Or would he turn away from her, scared of her abilities, and toward someone more academic, like Celia?A black bubble of ill fil ed Merediths chest.Im beginning to think I should take Celia away from here if I can get her to leav e. Alaric sounded reluctant, but Meredith could hardly hear him. She felt as 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 maybe 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 boiling 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 believe in the danger.Besides, she added serious-minded y, the threat to Celia may be over. Maybe once the attack is averted, it moves on to someone else. My name didnt protrude 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 campaign 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 overcareful 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. Only inches from Merediths front bumper, Celia was frozen, her pretty face gray with fear, her let loose a perfect O.One more second, and Meredith would have kil ed her.