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  Sixth, the three little girls that most definitely did get it were all under the orders of Misao, from what Shinichi said. They say that they don’t remember anything about decorating themselves or propositioning strangers. They don’t seem to remember anything about the time of their possession, and they act like very different little girls now. Nice. Calm. If I thought Misao gave up easily then I would be sure they’ll be all right.

  Worse is the thought of Caroline. She was a friend once and now—well, now I think she needs help more than ever. Damon got to her diaries—she kept her own diary by recording herself on video, and we watched her talk to the mirror…and watched the mirror talk back. Mostly it was her own image that showed, but sometimes, at the beginning or end of a session, it was Shinichi’s face. He’s good-looking, if a little wild. I can see how Caroline might fall for him and agree to be his carrier of malach in the town.

  That’s all over. I used the last of whatever Power I know I have taking the malach out of those girls.

  Caroline, of course, wouldn’t let me near her.

  And then there were those fateful words of Caroline’s: “I need a husband!” Any girl knows what that means. Any girl feels sorry for another who says it, even if they’re unfriends.

  Caroline and Tyler Smallwood were going together until about two weeks ago. Meredith says Caroline dropped him, and that kidnapping her for Klaus was Tyler’s revenge. But if before that they’d been sleeping together with no protection (and Caroline is dumb enough to do it), she could certainly have known she was pregnant and been looking for another guy by the time Shinichi turned up. (Which was just before I—returned to life.) Now she’s trying to pin it on Matt. It was pure bad luck that she said it happened on the same night the malach attacked Matt and that that old man from the Neighborhood Watch saw Matt drive home and pass out at the steering wheel as if he were drunk or on drugs.

  Or maybe it wasn’t just luck. Maybe that was all part of Misao’s game, too.

  I’m going to sleep now. Too much thinking. Too much worry. And, oh, I miss Stefan! He would help me deal with the worry in his own gentle but keen-sighted way.

  I’m sleeping inside the car with the doors locked. The guys are sleeping outside it. At least, that’s how we’re starting—at their insistence. At least they agreed on that.

  I don’t think Shinichi and Misao will stay away from Fell’s Church for long. I don’t know if they’ll leave it alone for a few days, or weeks, or a few months, but Misao will heal and they’ll come back for us eventually.

  That means that Damon, Matt, and I—we’re fugitives in two worlds.

  And I have no idea what’s going to happen tomorrow.

  Elena

  About the Author

  L. J. SMITH has written more than two dozen books for children and young adults. She lives in the Bay Area of California, but is happiest in a little cabin near Point Reyes National Park, which has lots of trees, lots of animals, lots of beaches to walk on, and lots of places to hike. Please visit her online at www.ljanesmith.net for new stories about old characters, and even sneak peeks of upcoming books.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  Also by L. J. Smith

  THE SECRET CIRCLE:

  THE INITIATION AND THE CAPTIVE PART I

  THE SECRET CIRCLE:

  THE CAPTIVE PART II AND THE POWER

  THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

  THE AWAKENING AND THE STRUGGLE

  THE VAMPIRE DIARIES:

  THE FURY AND DARK REUNION

  Credits

  Jacket art © 2009 by Carrie Schechter

  Jacket design by Jennifer Heuer

  Copyright

  THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: THE RETURN: NIGHTFALL. Copyright © 2009 by L. J. Smith. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

  Adobe Digital Edition February 2009 ISBN 978-0-06-190410-3

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