Phantom (Page 40)

Alaric froze next to her. "What is it?" he asked, his voice wary.

"It’s going to sound unbelievable."

He gave a snort of laughter. "More unbelievable than everything else that’s happened since I met you?"

"Sort of," Meredith said. "Or, at least, it’s specifical y about me this time. I’ve been…" It was hard to say. "I come from a family of vampire hunters. Al my life, I’ve been training to fight. I guess taking care of people is a family trait." She smiled weakly.

Alaric stared at her.

"Say something," Meredith prompted after a moment. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and looked wildly around. "I don’t know what to say. I’m surprised you never told me this. I thought" – he paused – "that we knew each other real y wel ."

"My family…" said Meredith miserably. "They made me swear that I would keep our secret. I never told anybody until a few days ago."

Alaric closed his eyes for a minute and pressed his palms against them hard. When he opened them, he looked calmer. "I understand. I do."

"Wait," said Meredith. "There’s more." The cookie sheet was ful , and she cast about for something else to occupy her hands and eyes while she talked. She settled on a dish towel and twisted it nervously. "Do you remember that Klaus attacked my grandfather?"

Alaric nodded.

"Wel , I found out a few days ago that he also attacked me, and stole my brother – the brother I’d never known I had

– and took him away and made him a vampire. And he left me – I was only three – some kind of half vampire. A living girl, but one who needed to eat blood sausage and sometimes had… sharp teeth like a kitten’s."

"Oh, Meredith…" Alaric’s face was ful of compassion, and he moved toward her, hands out. Toward me, Meredith noted. Not away, not afraid.

"Wait," she said again. "Elena asked the Guardians to change things to the way they would have been if Klaus never came here." She put down the dish towel. "So it never happened."

"What?" Alaric said, staring at her.

Meredith nodded, a helpless, confused smile spreading over her face. "My grandfather died in a retirement home in Florida two years ago. I have a brother – one I don’t remember, unfortunately – he got sent away to boarding school when we were twelve and joined the military as soon as he turned eighteen. Apparently he’s the problem child of the family." She took a deep breath. "I’m not a vampire. Not even a half vampire. Not now."

Alaric was stil staring at her. "Wow," he said. "Wait a minute. Does that mean that Klaus is stil alive? Could he come here, come after your family now?"

"I thought of that," Meredith said, glad to address the practicalities. "I don’t think so. Elena asked the Guardians to change Fel ‘s Church so it was as if Klaus never came here. She didn’t ask them to change Klaus and his experience. For him, I think, logical y, he did come here, long ago, and now he’s dead." She smiled shakily. "I hope so, anyway."

"So you’re safe," Alaric said, "as safe as a vampire hunter might be. Is that al you needed to tel me?" When Meredith nodded, he reached for her and pul ed her back into his arms. Holding her tightly, he said. "I would have loved you with sharp teeth, too. But I’m so glad for you."

Meredith closed her eyes. She had needed to tel him, to know how he would have reacted if the Guardians hadn’t changed everything. A great warming gladness spread al through her.

Alaric pressed his lips against her hair.

"Wait," she said once more, and he released her, looking inquisitive.

"The cookies." Meredith laughed and put them in the oven, setting the timer for ten minutes.

They kissed until the buzzer rang.

"Are you sure you’l be okay alone?" Matt asked anxiously, standing by Bonnie’s bed. "I’l be right downstairs if you need anything. Or maybe I should stay here. I could sleep on your floor. I know I snore, but I’d try not to, I swear."

Bonnie gave him a brave little smile. "I’l be fine, Matt. Thank you so much."

With one last worried glance, Matt patted her hand awkwardly, then left the room. Bonnie knew he would toss and turn on his own bed, thinking of ways to keep her safe. Probably he would end up sleeping on the floor outside her door, she thought, giving a delighted little wriggle.

"Sleep wel , my dear," said Mrs. Flowers, taking his place by Bonnie’s bedside. "I have cast al the protective charms I know around you. I hope you like the tea. It’s my own special brew."

"Thank you, Mrs. Flowers," Bonnie said. "Good night."

"You are enjoying this way too much," said Meredith, who came in next carrying a plate of cookies. She was limping, but had insisted that she didn’t need a cane or crutch as long as her ankle was bandaged.

In fact… Bonnie took a closer look at Meredith. Her cheeks were flushed, and her usual y smooth hair was a little mussed. I think she’s very glad that Celia’s gone to UVA, Bonnie thought with a smirk.

"I’m just trying to keep my spirits up," Bonnie said with a mischievous smile. "And you know what they say: When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. My lemonade is having Matt trying to fulfil my every need. It’s too bad we don’t have more boys around here."

"Don’t forget about Alaric," said Meredith. "He helped make the cookies. And he’s downstairs researching everything he can that might be related to this."

"Ah, everyone catering to me, that’s what I like," Bonnie joked. "Did I tel you how much I enjoyed the dinner you made? Al my favorites… it was like my birthday. Or my last meal," she added more soberly.