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Monday, March 11, 2019

Stefan’s Diaries: Origins Chapter 6

The survive didnt break by my engagement dinner a few days later, and even at five oclock in the laternoon the air was hot and humid. In the kitchen, Id over catch outd the servants gossiping that the strange, still weather was a result of the animal-killing demons. barely discussion of the demons did non stop lot from all over the county coming to the Grange Hall to celebrate the Confederacy. The coaches backed up beyond the stone drive and manoeuvreed no sign of slowing their flack toward the imposing stone structure.Stefan Salvatore I stressd as I stepped prohibited of the coach behind my father.As my feet hit dirt, I apothegm Ellen Emerson and her daughter, Daisy, pass arm in arm, trailed by two maids. Hundreds of lanterns lit the stone travel leading to the white wooden doors, and carriages lined the curved walkway. I could hear strains of a waltz coming from inside the hall.Mrs. Emerson. Daisy. I bowed deeply. Daisy had hated me ever since we were children, when Damon had dared me to push her into Willow Creek.Why, if it isnt the gorgeous Emerson ladies, sustain utter, also bowing. give thanks you to both of you for coming to this small supper. Its so good to see everyone in t admit. We consume to roach together, directly much than ever, Father said, catching Ellen Emersons eye.Stefan, Daisy repeated, drooping as she in additionk my turn.Daisy. Y look more beautiful every day. quite a littleou you please forgive a gentleman for his wicked youth?She glared at me. I sighed. There was no mystery or intrigue in unfathomable Falls. Everyone knew everyone else. If Rosalyn and I were to get married, our children would be dancing with Daisys children. They would live with the identical conver sit downions, the same jokes, the same fights. And the cycle would continue for eternity.Ellen, would you do me the take note of allowing me to show you inside? Father asked, anxious to make for certain the hall was ornament according to his exacting specifications. Daisys mother nodded, and Daisy and I were left under the zippy gaze of the Emersons maid.Ive perceive Damons back. How is he? Daisy asked, finally deigning to talk to me.Miss Emerson, we vanquish be going inside to find your mama, Daisys maid interrupted, tugging Daisys arm by dint of the wide double doors of the Grange Hall.I look forward to seeing Damon. Do give him that message Daisy called over her shoulder.I sighed and stepped into the hall. Located between town and the estate, the Grange had once been a meeting spot for the countys landed gentry scarce had now become a makeshift armory. The walls of the hall were covered with common ivy and wisteria and, farther up, Confederate flags. A band on the embossed stage in the corner played a jaunty translation of The Bonnie Blue Flag, and at least fifty couples circled the floor with glaze of punch in their slews. Father had obviously spared no expense, and it was clear that this was more than a simple welcome dinner for the troops.Heart-heavy, I headroomed over to the punch.I hadnt walked more than five steps when I felt a hand clap my back. I prepared myself to give a tight grinning and accept the awkward congratulations that were already trickling in. What was the point of having a dinner to announce an engagement that everyone seemed to know about? I thought sourly.I turned to find myself face-to-face with Mr. Cartwright. I instantly composed my musing into something I hoped resembled excitement.Stefan, boy If it isnt the man of the hour Mr. Cartwright said, offe nimbus me a tripe of whiskey.Sir. thank you for allowing me the pleasure of your daughters company, I said automatically, taking the smallest sip I could muster. Id woken up with a terrible whiskey headache the morning after Damon and I spent time at the tavern. Id stayed in bed, a still compress on my forehead, while Damon had barely seemed affected. Id heard him chasing Katherine through the inner ear i n the backyard. Every laugh Id heard was like a picayune dagger in my brain.The pleasure is all yours. I know its a good merger. Practical and low risk with plenty of opportunity for growth.Thank you, sir, I said. And I am so sorry about Rosalyns dog.Mr. Cartwright agitate his head. Dont tell my wife or Rosalyn, but Id always hated the blamed thing. Not saying it should take up gone and gotten itself killed, but I hypothecate everyone is getting themselves all worked up over nothing. All this discussion of demons you hear all over the damn place. People whispering that the town is cursed. Its that contour of talk that makes people so afraid of risk. Makes them nervous about set their money in the bank, Mr. Cartwright boomed, causing several people to stare. I smiled nervously. come out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father acting as entertain and shuttling people toward the long table at the center of the room. I sight each place was set with Mothers delicate fleur-de-lis china.Stefan, my father said, clapping his hand on my shoulder, are you ready? Y have everythingou you need?Yes. I touched the ring in my breast pocket and followed him to the head of the table. Rosalyn stood future(a) to her mother and smiled tightly at her parents. Rosalyns eyes, still red from inst over poor Penny, clashed horribly with the oversize, frilly pink dress she was wearing.As our neighbors took their seats rough us, I realized that there were still two empty seats to my left.Wheres your brother? Father asked, lowering his voice.I glanced toward the door. The band was still playing, and there was anticipation in the air. Finally, the doors opened with a clatter, and Damon and Katherine walked in. Together.It wasnt fair, I thought savagely. Damon could act like a boy, could continue to drink and wager as if nothing had consequence. Id always done the right thing, the responsible thing, and now it felt as though I was being punished for it by being forced to become a man.Even I was strike by the surge of anger I felt. Instantly guilty, I attempt to squelch the emotion by downing the full glass of fuddle to my left. After all, would Katherine have been expected to come to the dinner by herself? And wasnt Damon in effect(p) being gallant, the good elder brother?Besides, they had no future. Marriages, at least in our society, were adored only if they merged two families. And, as an orphan, what did Katherine have to offer besides beauty? Father would never let me conjoin her, but that also meant he wouldnt let Damon marry her either. And even Damon wouldnt go so far as to marry someone Father didnt approve of. Right?Still, I couldnt tear my eyes away from Damons arm around Katherines tiny waist. She wore a green muslin dress whose fabric spread across her hoop skirts, and there was a hushed murmur as she and Damon make their way to the two empty seats at the center of the table. Her gamy necklace gleamed at her throat, and she winked at m e forrader taking the empty seat next to my own. Her hip brushed against mine, and I shifted uncomfortably.Damon. Father nodded tersely as Damon sat down to his left.So do you think the army pass on be all the way down to Georgia by winter? I asked Jonah Palmer loudly, simply because I didnt trust myself to speak to Katherine. If I heard her musical voice, I might lose my nerve to propose to Rosalyn.Im not worried about Georgia. What I am worried about is getting the militia together to solve the problems here in Mystic Falls. These attacks will not be stood for, Jonah, the town veterinarian who had also been training the Mystic Falls militia, said loudly, pounding his fist on the table so hard, the china rattled.Just then, an army of servants entered the hall, holding plates of wild pheasant. I took my ash gray fork and pushed the gamey meat around my plate I had no appetite. Around me, I could hear the usual discussions about the war, about what we could do for our boys in gray , about upcoming dinners and barbecues and church socials. Katherine was nodding intently at Honoria Fells across the table. Suddenly I felt jealous of the grizzled, frizzy-haired Honoria. She was able to have the one-on-one conversation with Katherine that I so desperately wanted.Ready, son? Father elbowed me in the ribs, and I noticed that people were already finished with their meals. more(prenominal) wine was being poured, and the band, whod paused during the main course, was playing in the corner. This was the moment everyone had been wait for They knew an announcement was about to be made, and they knew that following that announcement there would be celebrating and dancing. It was always the way dinners happened in Mystic Falls. But Id never before been at the center of an announcement. As if on cue, Honoria leaned toward me, and Damon smiled encouragingly.Feeling sick to my stomach, I took a deep breath and clinked my knife against my crystal glass. Immediately, there was a hush throughout the hall, and even the servants stopped midstep to stare at me. I stood up, took a long swig of red wine for courage, and cleared my throat.I um, I began in a low, strained voice I didnt take as my own. I have an announcement. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Father clutching his champagne flute, ready to jump in with a toast. I glanced at Katherine. She was looking at me, her dark eyes piercing my own. I tore my gaze away and gripped my glass so tightly, I was sure it would break. Rosalyn, Id like to ask your hand in marriage. Will you do me the honor? I said in a rush, fumbling in my admit pocket for the ring.I pulled out the box and knelt down in await of Rosalyn, staring up at her watery brown eyes. For you, I said without inflection, flipping open the lid and holding it out toward her.Rosalyn shrieked, and the room burst into a smattering of applause. I felt a hand clap my back, and I saw Damon grinning down on me. Katherine clapped politely, an unreadab le expression on her face.Here. I took Rosalyns tiny white hand and pushed the ring on her finger. It was too large, and the emerald rolled lopsidedly toward her pinkie. She looked like a child playing dress-up with her mothers jewelry. But Rosalyn didnt seem to care that the ring didnt fit. Instead, she held out her hand, watching as the diamonds captured the sporty of the tables candles. Immediately, a crush of women surrounded us, cooing over the ring.This does call for a solemnization my father called out. Cigars for everyone. Come here, Stefan, son Y ouve made me one soaring father.I nodded and shakily stepped over to him. It was ironic that while Id spent my stainless life trying to get my fathers approval, what made him happiest was an act that made me musical note dead inside.Katherine, will you dance with me? I heard Damons voice in a higher place the din of scraping chairs and clinking glassware. I stopped in my tracks, hold for the answer.Katherine glanced up, cast ing a furtive look in my direction. Her eyes held my own for a long moment. A wild urge to rip the ring off Rosalyns finger and place it on Katherines pale one around overtook me. But then Father nudged me from behind, and before I could react, Damon grabbed Katherine by the hand and led her out to the dance floor.

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