Elena's heart was pounding now. If he'l talk sense to any of us, he'l talk to me, she thought. "Shouldn't you be getting ready for the Last Midnight, Shinichi?"she asked in a friendly tone, inwardly trembling in case he should say, "It's already over."
"She doesn't need me. She wouldn't protect Misao. Why should I help Her?"
For a moment Elena couldn't speak. She? She? Other than Misao, what other She was involved in this?
Damon had a crossbow out now, with a quarrel loaded in it.
But Shinichi just went rambling on.
"Misao couldn't move anymore. She had put al her Power into her star bal , you see. She never laughed or sang any longer - never made up any plots with me. She just...sat.
"Final y she asked me to put her into myself. She thought we'd become one that way. So she dissolved and merged right into me. But it didn't help. Now...I can barely hear her.
I've come to get my star bal . I've been using its energy to travel through the dimensions. If I put Misao into my star bal , she'l recover. Then I'l hide it again - but not where I left it last. I'l put it farther up where no one else wil ever find it."He seemed to focus on his listeners. "So I guess it's Misao and I who are talking to you right now. Except that I'm so lonely - I can't feel her at all."
"You wil not touch Elena,"Stefan said quietly.
Damon was looking grimly at the rest of the group at Shinichi's words, "...I'l put it farther up..."
Elena let Bonnie go some feet ahead before saying telepathical y, We can't break up, Stefan; there's only one compass.
Watch out, Elena! He might hear you! came Stefan's voice, and Damon added flatly, Shut up!
"Don't bother tel ing her to shut up,"Shinichi said. "You're mad if you think that I can't just pick your thoughts right out of your minds. I didn't think you were that stupid."
"We're not stupid,"Bonnie said hotly.
"No? Then did you figure out my riddles for you?"
"This is hardly the time for that,"Elena snapped. It was a mistake, for it caused Shinichi to focus on her again.
"Did you tel them what you think about the tragedy of Camelot, Elena? No, I didn't think you'd have the courage. I'l tel them, then, shal I? I'l read it as you put it in your diary."
"No! You can't have read my diary! Anyway - it's no longer applicable! "Elena flared.
"Let me see...these are your own words now."He assumed a reading voice. 'Dear Diary, one of Shinichi's riddles was what I thought of Camelot. You know, the legend of King Arthur, Queen Guinevere, and the knight she loved, Lancelot.
And here's what I thought. A lot of innocent people died and were miserable because three selfish people - a king, a queen, and a knight - couldn't behave in a civilized way.
They couldn't understand that the more you love, the more you find to love. But those three couldn't give in to love and just share - al three of them...'"
"Shut up!"screamed Elena. "Shut up!"
My God, Damon said, my life just lapped itself.
So did mine. Stefan sounded dizzy.
Just forget about all of it, Elena told them. It's not true anymore. Stefan, I'm yours forever, and I always was. And right now w e've got to get rid of this bastard, and run for the trunk.
"Misao and I used to do that,"Shinichi said. "Talk alone together on a special frequency. You're certainly a good manipulator, Elena, to keep them from kil ing each other over you."
"Yes, it's a special frequency I cal the truth,"Elena said. "But I'm not half as good a manipulator as Damon is. Now attack us or let us go away. We're in a hurry!"
"Attack you?"Shinichi seemed to be thinking over the idea.
And then, faster than Elena could track it, he went for Bonnie.
The vampires, who had been expecting him to try to get to Elena, were caught off guard, but Elena, who had seen the flicker of his eyes toward the weaker girl, was already diving for him. He moved back so quickly that she found herself heading for his legs, but then she realized she had a chance to throw him off balance. She deliberately went for a headbutt with his kneecap, at the same time stabbing deep into his foot with her knife.