Midnight

"Okay – but everyone on your guard. We don’t want anything to go wrong now,"Stefan said.

They went into the Gatehouse of the Seven Treasures in this order: Bonnie, who found that the great black doors swung open at a touch, but that she could see nothing, coming in from bright sunlight; Stefan and Elena, hand in hand; and Damon, who waited outside for a long time in the hopes, Elena thought, of being deemed "a different party."

Meanwhile the others were having the most pleasant shock since they’d taken the Master Keys from the kitsune.

"Sage – Sage!"Bonnie shril ed as soon as her eyes adjusted. "Oh, look, Elena, it’s Sage! Sage, how are you?

What’re you doing here? Oh, it’s just so good to see you!"

Elena blinked twice, and the dim interior of the octagonal room came into focus. She went around the only piece of furniture in the room, the large desk in the middle. "Sage, do you know how long it seems? Did you know that Bonnie almost got sold for a slave at a public auction? Did you know about her dream?"

Sage looked as he always had to Elena’s eyes. The bronzed, terminal y fit body, like a model of a Titan, the bare chest and bare feet, the black Levi’s, the long spiraling tangles of bronze hair, and the strange bronze eyes that could cut steel, or be as gentle as a pet lamb.

"Mes deux petits chatons," Sage was saying. "My two little kittens, you have astounded me. I have been fol owing your adventures. The Gatekeeper is not provided with much entertainment and is not al owed to leave this fortress, but you were most brave and amusing. Je vous felicite."He kissed first Elena’s hand and then Bonnie’s, then embraced Stefan with the Latin two-cheeked kiss. Then he resumed his seat.

Bonnie was climbing Sage as if she were a real kitten. "Did you take Misao’s star bal ful of Power?"she demanded, kneeling on his thigh. "Did you take half of it, I mean? To get back here?"

"Mais oui, I did. But I also left Madame Flowers a little – "

"Do you know that Damon used the other half to open the Gate again? And that I fel in too, even though he didn’t want me? And that because of that I almost got sold as a slave?

And that Stefan and Elena had to come after me, to make sure I was okay? And that on the way here Elena almost fel off the bridge, and we’re not sure if the thurgs are going to make it? And do you know that in Fel ‘s Church the Last Midnight is coming, and we don’t know – "

Stefan and Elena exchanged a long, meaningful glance and then Stefan said, "Bonnie, we have to ask Sage the most important question."He looked at Sage. "Is it possible for us to save Fel ‘s Church? Do we have enough time?"

"Eh bien. As far as I can tel from the chronological vortex, you have enough time and a little to spare. Enough for a glass of Black Magic to see you off. But after that, no dawdling!"

Elena felt like a crumpled piece of paper that had been straightened and smoothed. She took a long breath. They could do it. That allowed her to remember civilized behavior.

"Sage, how did you get stuck way out here? Or were you waiting for us?"

"Helas, no – I am assigned here as punishment. I got an Imperial Summons that I could not ignore, mes amis."He sighed and added, "I am just Out of Favor again. So now I am the ambassador to the Nether World, as you see."He waved a languid hand around the room. "Bienvenue."

Elena had a sense of time ticking away, of precious minutes being lost. But maybe Sage himself would do something for Fel ‘s Church. "You real y have to stay in here?"

"But assuredly, until mon père – my father" – Sage said the word savagely and resentful y – "relents and I am al owed to return to the Infernal Court, or, much better, to go my ways without ever returning. At least until someone takes the pity on me and kil s me."He looked inquiringly around the group, then sighed, and said, "Saber and Talon, they are well?"

"They were when we left,"Elena said, itching to get on with their real business here.

"Bien," Sage said, looking at her kindly, "but we should have your entire group in here for the viewing, no?"

Elena glanced at the doors and then again at Stefan, but Sage was already cal ing – both with voice and telepathy –  "Damon, mon poussinet, do you not want to come in with your comrades?"

There was a long pause, and then the doors opened and a very sul en Damon stepped in. He wouldn’t reply to Sage’s friendly, "Bienvenue," instead saying, "I didn’t come here to socialize. I want to see the treasures in time to save Fel ‘s Church. I haven’t forgotten about the damned hick town, even if everyone else has."

"Alors maintenant," Sage said, looking wounded. "You have al passed the tests in your way and may look upon the treasures. You may even use magic again, although I am not sure that it wil help you. It al depends upon which treasure you seek. Felicitations! "

Everyone but Damon made some gesture of embarrassment.

"Now,"Sage continued, "I must show each gate to you before you can pick. I wil try to be quick, but be cautious, s’il vous pla?t. Once you choose a treasure, that is the only door that wil open again for any of you."

Elena found herself clutching at Stefan’s hand – which was already reaching for hers – as one by one the doors shone with a faint, silvery light.

"Behind you,"said Sage, "is the very gate you entered to get into this room, yes? But next to it, ah…"A door brightened to show an impossible cavern. Impossible because of the gems lying on the ground or sticking out of the cave wal s.

Rubies, diamonds, emeralds, amethysts…each one as big as Elena’s fist, lying thick in great piles for the taking.