So you were the werewolf in this room, thought Elena dazedly. But what were you doing here in the first place? You’re not on staff.
“Somebody who has a history of violence,” Tyler was continuing, his lips drawing back from his teeth. “Somebody who, for all we know, is a psychopath who came to Fell’s Church just to kill.”
“Tyler, what are you talking about?” Elena’s dazed feeling had burst like a bubble. Furious, she stepped toward the tall, husky boy. “You’re crazy!”
He gestured at her without looking at her. “So says his girlfriend — but maybe she’s a little prejudiced.”
“And maybe you’re a little prejudiced, Tyler,” said a voice from behind the crowd, and Elena saw a second werewolf pushing his way into the room. Matt.
“Oh, yeah? Well, why don’t you tell us what you know about Salvatore? Where does he come from? Where’s his family? Where did he get all that money?” Tyler turned to address the rest of the crowd. “Who knows anything about him?”
People were shaking their heads. Elena could see, in face after face, distrust blossoming. The distrust of anything unknown, anything different. And Stefan was different. He was the stranger in their midst, and just now they needed a scapegoat.
The girl in the kimono began, “I heard a rumor—”
“That’s all anybody’s heard, rumors!” Tyler said. “No one really knows a thing about him. But there’s one thing I do know. The attacks in Fell’s Church started the first week of school — which was the week Stefan Salvatore came.”
There was a swelling murmur at this, and Elena herself felt a shock of realization. Of course, it was all ridiculous, it was just a coincidence. But what Tyler was saying was true. The attacks had started when Stefan arrived.
“I’ll tell you something else,” shouted Tyler, gesturing at them to be quiet. “Listen to me! I’ll tell you something else!” He waited until everyone was looking at him and then said slowly, impressively, “He was in the cemetery the night Vickie Bennett was attacked.”
“Sure he was in the cemetery — rearranging your face,” said Matt, but his voice lacked its usual strength. Tyler grabbed the comment and ran with it.
“Yes, and he almost killed me. And tonight somebody did kill Tanner. I don’t know what you think, but I think he did it. I think he’s the one!”
“But where is he?” shouted someone from the crowd.
Tyler looked around. “If he did it, he must still be here,” he shouted. “Let’s find him.”
“Stefan hasn’t done anything! Tyler—” cried Elena, but the noise from the crowd overrode her. Tyler’s words were being taken up and repeated. Find him… find him... find him. Elena heard it pass from person to person. And the faces in the Stonehenge Room were filled with more than distrust now; Elena could see anger and a thirst for vengeance in them, too. The crowd had turned into something ugly, something beyond controlling.
“Where is he, Elena?” said Tyler, and she saw the blazing triumph in his eyes. He was enjoying this.
“I don’t know,” she said fiercely, wanting to hit him.
“He must still be here! Find him!” someone shouted, and then it seemed everyone was moving, pointing, pushing, at once. Partitions were being knocked down and shoved aside.
Elena’s heart was pounding. This was no longer a crowd; it was a mob. She was terrified of what they would do to Stefan if they did find him. But if she tried to go warn him, she would lead Tyler right to him.
She looked around desperately. Bonnie was still staring into Mr. Tanner’s dead face. No help there. She turned to scan the crowd again, and her eyes met Matt’s.
He was looking confused and angry, his blond hair ruffled up, cheeks flushed and sweaty. Elena put all her strength of will into a look of pleading.
Please, Matt, she thought. You can’t believe all this. You know it isn’t true.
But his eyes showed that he didn’t know. There was a tumult of bewilderment and agitation in them.
Please, thought Elena, gazing into those blue eyes, willing him to understand. Oh, please, Matt, only you can save him. Even if you don’t believe, please try to trust… please…
She saw the change come over his face, the confusion lifting as grim determination appeared. He stared at her another moment, eyes boring into hers, and nodded once. Then he turned and slipped into the milling, hunting crowd.
Matt knifed through the crowd cleanly until he got to the other side of the gym. There were some freshmen standing near the door to the boys’ locker room; he brusquely ordered them to start moving fallen partitions, and when their attention was distracted he jerked the door open and ducked inside.
He looked around quickly, unwilling to shout. For that matter, he thought, Stefan must have heard all the racket going on in the gym. He’d probably already cut out. But then Matt saw the black-clad figure on the white tile floor.
“Stefan! What happened?” For a terrible instant, Matt thought he was looking down on a second dead body. But as he knelt by Stefan’s side, he saw movement.
“Hey, you’re okay, just sit up slowly… easy. Are you all right, Stefan?”
“Yes,” said Stefan. He didn’t look okay, Matt thought. His face was dead white and his pupils were dilated hugely. He looked disoriented and sick. “Thank you,” he said.
“You may not thank me in a minute. Stefan, you’ve got to get out of here. Can’t you hear them? They’re after you.”
Stefan turned toward the gym, as if listening. But there was no comprehension on his face. “Who’s after me? Why?”
“Everybody. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve got to get out before they come in here.” As Stefan continued simply to stare blankly, he added, “There’s been another attack, this time on Tanner, Mr. Tanner. He’s dead, Stefan, and they think you did it.”
Now, at last, he saw understanding come to Stefan’s eyes. Understanding and horror and a kind of resigned defeat that was more frightening than anything Matt had seen tonight. He gripped Stefan’s shoulder hard.
“I know you didn’t,” he said, and at that moment it was true. “They’ll realize that, too, when they can think again. But meanwhile, you’d better get out.”
“Get out… yes,” said Stefan. The look of disorientation was gone, and there was a searing bitterness in the way he pronounced the words. “I will… get out.”
“Stefan…”
“Matt.” The green eyes were dark and burning, and Matt found he could not look away from them. “Is Elena safe? Good. Then, take care of her. Please.”
“Stefan, what are you talking about? You’re innocent; this will all blow over…”
“Just take care of her, Matt.”
Matt stepped back, still looking into those compelling green eyes. Then, slowly, he nodded.
“I will,” he said quietly. And watched Stefan go.
Chapter Thirteen
Elena stood within the circle of adults and police, waiting for a chance to escape. She knew that Matt had warned Stefan in time — his face told her that — but he hadn’t been able to get close enough to speak with her.
At last, with all attention turned toward the body, she detached herself from the group and edged toward Matt.
“Stefan got out all right,” he said, his eyes on the group of adults. “But he told me to take care of you, and I want you to stay here.”
“To take care of me?” Alarm and suspicion flashed through Elena. Then, almost in a whisper, she said, “I see.” She thought a moment and then spoke carefully. “Matt, I need to go wash my hands. Bonnie got blood on me. Wait here; I’ll be back.”