50

"I know." Dennis submitted her head in a submissive manner for a moment. Then she turned her head and flashed a smile. "However, in that case you wouldn't have visited, and we wouldn't be eating Death by Chocolate."

"And that makes everything that's gone before worthwhile?"

"Well, I guess that helps," Dennis said, giving the impression that he was being reasonable. "And to tell you the truth, it probably won't be that terrible.

It's lovely that Caroline is making an effort to be pleasant, and it's good for Vee to get out of the home every once in a while..."

Merit stated her opinion in a direct manner, "It does not seem to be beneficial for her." It would seem that she is on the verge of having a heart attack.

"Well, she's probably just anxious," the other person said. Dennis was of the view that Vee had valid grounds for her apprehension. She had spent the most of the previous autumn in a trance, slowly being pushed out of her head by a force that she could not comprehend. Nobody had predicted that she would emerge from it in as good shape as she did.

Merit was still looking bad. Dennis offered some consolation by saying, "At least, it isn't your actual birthday."

Merit took the camera in her hands and rotated it in her hands many times. She continued to speak while staring at her hands, and she said,

"However, it is."

"What?" Dennis glanced at him for a while before asking in a louder voice, "What did you say?"

"I said that it is in fact my birthday. Caroline's mother must have mentioned it to her; a very long time ago, her mother and my mother were good friends."

"Merit, what exactly are you referring to here? Your birthday was last week, May 30."

"Absolutely not the case. It is the 6th of June today. It's true; my driver's license and other official documents confirm it. Because June 6 was such a difficult day for them, my mother and father decided to begin the celebrations one week earlier. It was on that day when someone assaulted my grandpa, and he subsequently went insane." She continued quietly, "While Dennis gulped and was unable to talk," "You should know that he made an attempt to murder my grandma. He also made an attempt to take my life." Merit carefully positioned the camera so that it was centered in the middle of the coffee table. "I think it would be best if we went into the kitchen," she whispered. "I smell chocolate."

Even while Dennis was physically paralyzed, her mind was starting to make progress toward recovery. She had a hazy recollection of Merit discussing this topic in the past, but she knew that she hadn't given her the whole truth back then. And she did not mention the time when it had taken place.

Dennis spoke forward and said, "Assaulted—you mean like Vee was attacked, right?" She was unable to utter the term "vampire," but she was certain that Merit would understand.
Merit has verified that an assault took place on Like Vee. "Come on," she said, her voice becoming even more subdued. "They are now awaiting our arrival. I'm sorry if I made you feel annoyed."


Dennis had the notion, as he poured hot fudge over the chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream, that Merit does not want me to be unhappy, so therefore I will not be upset. despite the fact that we have known one other since kindergarten, she has never confided this information in me before.

Instantaneously, a cold ran through her whole body, and words began to emerge from the deepest recesses of her consciousness. Nobody is quite what they seem to be. That had been foretold to her by the voice of Honoria Fell speaking through her the previous year, and it had horrifyingly come to pass just as it had been predicted. What if it wasn't over until much later?

After then, Dennis gave a resolute shake of her head. She had a party to worry about, so she couldn't even consider thinking about this right now. She reasoned that she would see to it that the party was enjoyable and that everyone got along with one another in some fashion.

Surprisingly, it wasn't even that difficult to do. Even though Merit and Vee didn't communicate much at first, Dennis made an extra effort to be polite to Vee, and even Merit couldn't resist the pile of colorfully wrapped gifts that was sitting on the coffee table. When she finally got around to opening the last one, everyone was already chatting and laughing. As they walked upstairs into Caroline's bedroom to investigate her clothing, CDs, and picture books, they maintained their stance of nonviolence and tolerance toward one another. They continued their conversation as the clock approached midnight while lounging on sleeping bags.

"Where does Alaric stand in all of this at the moment?" Sue asked Merit.

It may be said that Alaric Saltzman was Merit's boyfriend. When the assaults on vampires first started happening a year ago, he was a graduate student at Duke University who had studied in parapsychology. He had been summoned to Fell's Church at that time. In spite of the fact that he had begun as a foe, he had ultimately shown to be both an ally and a friend.

Merit informed me that he was in Russia. "Perestroika, you know? He is now investigating what, if anything, was done with psychics during the Cold War at that location."

Caroline questioned, "What are you going to tell him when he comes back?" in anticipation of his return.

Dennis believed that the best person to answer this issue was Merit herself. Because Alaric was over four years older than Merit, she encouraged him to postpone their conversation about their future until after she had completed her education. Dennis reminded herself that Merit had reached the age of eighteen today, and that her graduation was approaching in only two weeks. After that, what were the next steps going to be?

"I haven't decided," Merit replied. "Even though I've been told that I can attend Duke University and that Alaric wants me to do so, I'm still not convinced. I need some time to consider."

Dennis felt the same level of joy. She did not want Merit to get married or even be engaged, but rather to continue their education together at Boone Junior College. It was foolish to base our decision on one person who was so young. Dennis was infamous for pursuing many romantic relationships at once, moving freely between the different men in her life. She was easily crushed, but she was also readily able to get over her crushes.

She said at this time, "I haven't found the person so far who is worth keeping committed to."

Everyone turned their attention swiftly to her. As she inquired, "Not even Katherine?" Sue supported her chin with her hands as she spoke.

It was incumbent upon Dennis to be aware. It was unavoidable for the topic of discussion to shift to Katherine and Elizabeth given that the only source of illumination was a faint bedroom lamp and the only sound was the rustling of fresh leaves on the weeping willows located outside.

As if they were Romeo and Juliet, Katherine Salvatore and Elizabeth Gilbert had already become something of a legend in the community.

When Katherine had first gone to Fell's Church, all of the other girls desired him. Katherine was the only one who got him. And Elizabeth, the most beautiful, the most popular, and the most inaccessible girl in the school, had also desired him. She did not become aware of the potential risk until after she had already captured him. Katherine was not what he looked to be; he had a secret that was far more sinister than anybody could have anticipated. In addition to this, he had a brother named Dominic who was even more enigmatic and lethal than he was.
Elizabeth had loved Katherine but found herself pulled inexorably to Dominic because of his wildness. She found herself torn between the two brothers. She had to give her life in the end in order to rescue both of them and to restore their love.

Dennis mumbled, "Maybe Katherine—if you're Elizabeth," which indicated that he was conceding the argument. The vibe has shifted significantly. It had become quiet, even melancholy, and was ideal for sharing secrets in the wee hours of the night.

Sue murmured, "I still can't believe she's gone," while shaking her head and closing her eyes. "I still can't believe she's gone." "When compared to other individuals, she had a considerably more vibrant presence."

Merit stated this as she looked up at the patterns that the rose-and-gold light produced on the ceiling. "Her flame flared hotter," she murmured. Dennis thought that those phrases suited Elizabeth better than anything else she had ever heard, and her voice had a gentle quality to it, but it had an intense quality as well.

Caroline's eyes became green and narrowed as she reflected on the past and said, "There were moments when I loathed her, but I could never ignore her." "She was not the kind of person you could just look past."

"Sue stated, "If I've learnt anything from her passing, it's that any of us are vulnerable to the same fate." Because you never know how much time you have left, there is no use in squandering any part of your life."

Vee nodded her head in agreement as she said, "It may be sixty years or sixty minutes." "Tonight, any one of us may pass away."

Dennis wriggled, disturbed. But before she could say anything, Sue repeated, "But before she could say anything" "I still find it hard to comprehend that she has passed away. There are moments when I get the impression that she is around."

"Oh, the same goes for me," responded Dennis, who was sidetracked. She had a fleeting mental picture of Warm Springs, and for a split second, it appeared more vivid to her than the gloomy room that Caroline was in. "I had a dream about her last night, and I got the distinct impression that it was really her, and that she was attempting to communicate with me in some way. I am still left with the impression "She told Merit what she thought.

The others just looked at her in silence as she passed by. If Dennis had said anything supernatural in the past, everyone would have scoffed at him, but times have changed. Her telepathic abilities were undeniable, incredible, and a little bit unnerving.

Vee exhaled a breath and said, "Do you really?"