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Elena pulled over onto the shoulder and turned off the engine Cli out of the car, she felt her heart beat faster at the sight of the tall woman with smooth blond hair

Mylea herself stepped out of the SUV, the Celestial Guardian who had initiated Elena into her own Guardianship, and who had bound her and Daether

Celestial Guardians were not her favorite people, not by a long shot Self-righteous, judght words for them But they were also Powerful If Mylea had coive Elena Power that would help her defeat thee for Stefan She could protect Damon

Elena took a deep breath and walked toward the Guardian, roadside gravel crunching beneath her feet

"Elena Gilbert," the tall, golden-haired Guardian said levelly as soon as they were face-to-face Her eyes, the sa "The Celestial Court requires your service It is ti for Jack Daltry," Elena told her "He killed Stefan, and countless others, and we don’t knohere he’s hiding Can you help us?"

Mylea’s forehead creased slightly, a s between her perfectly arched brows "That is not why I’ve come Jack Daltry is not your concern," she said

"Not e flooded over Elena, and she clenched her fists involuntarily Biting back her anger, she tried to speak as calmly as Mylea did "He killed Stefan That makes him my concern"

Mylea’s frown deepened "It is not your place to avenge the death of vampires," she said "Your duty is to protect the human race from the supernatural, not the other way around"

"I know!" Elena’s voice was almost a shout, and she took a deep breath and forced her fists to unclench E to influence Mylea "But Jack is a danger to hu them into vampires And he feeds on humans, just like any other va, in Elena’s experience--it was too huave the saht be true, but it was irrelevant "Everything in the universe balances eventually, but Jack Daltry and his creations are not your responsibility," she said "They are not supernatural"

"They’re vaain

"They are an imitation of true varitted her teeth and glared at the Celestial Guardian "I had forgotten how fixated Guardians are on technicalities"

Mylea ignored this "You have other duties," she said

She took Elena’s hand--her own hand was cold, as cold as any vampire’s, Elena realized--and turned it pal ainst the pale skin of her paler was ebbing under Mylea’s touch, she realized, and wondered if Mylea was using her oer to calrip

"You swore a blood oath," Mylea said, her gold-flecked blue eyes fixed on Elena’s, "to obey the Celestial Court’s instructions"

"I know" Elena sighed, resigned There was no use in fighting Mylea This hat she was made for, to protect people It didn’tJack as well "Tell me what you want"

"An old va on hu the tiets She kills for pleasure now, not just for food, and she needs to be stopped Her name is Siobhan" She abruptly fell silent, and Elena’s pal

Elena waited a moment, but Mylea see else?"

Mylea tilted her head again "What would you like to know?"

"Anything Where she is? What she looks like?"

Turning to walk back toward her car, Mylea spoke back over her shoulder "You’ll have the Power to find her and to defeat her when you need to Have faith in yourself" When she reached her SUV, she glanced at Elena again "One thing I will tell you Siobhan is very clever, and, unlikeyears of her life have not driven the htened her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly "I’ to hunt Jack"

"It’s not necessary, but we know you will pursue your oay," Mylea said calmly "Your attention should, however, be elsewhere Use caution, Elena Re the door of her SUV open As she stepped into the car, there was a bright flash of white light and Elena closed her eyes against it autoain a second later, the SUV, and Mylea with it, were gone The side of the highas ens of autu absently at her scar

Chapter 7