ady have them. And you are no longer welcome
around this home,” Mrs. Flowers said coolly.
But Elena’s mind was still working. Even standing here, knowing
that Stefan needed her, she was searching for the reasons behind this:
Shinichi’s second gambit. Because she was sure that this was one.
“Where are the pillowcases?” she said in a sharp voice that
frightened and bewildered half the group, and simply frightened the rest.
“I was holding one, but then I decided to hold on to Saber
instead.”—Sage.
“I had one, at the bottom of the hole, but I dropped it when
somebody lifted me out.”—Bonnie.
“I’ve still got one, although I don’t understand what good—”
Damon began.
“Damon!” Elena whirled to him. “Trust me! We’ve got yours and
Sage’s safe—what’s happening to Bonnie’s in the hole?”
The moment she had said “trust me” Damon had dumped his
pillowcase on top of Sage’s, and by the time she was finished, he had
leaped into the hole, which was still so bright with leylight as to hurt any
vampire’s eyes.
But Damon made no complaint. He said, “I have it safe now—no,
wait! A root! A damned root is curled around one of the star balls!
Someone toss me a knife, quick!”
While everyone else was slapping their pockets for knives, Matt
did something that Elena couldn’t believe. First he glanced down into