Chapter 4 – Remains of a Legacy
Today seemed like any other day Annabel was just watching Bella. All seemed well, but Annabel had the feeling again like something would go wrong. She watched Bella walk to the truck, and as she had her hand on the handle. Another student's car went out of control. Annabel nearly dashed over, but before she could even move a familiar face pushed the van out of the way. It was Edward and Annabel's heart dropped. The look on his face was full of passion and lust. She couldn't believe her husband looked to be infatuated with their great… great… great… granddaughter.
Annabel needed to clear her mind and she took a stroll through the forest. The smell of the trees and the cold air relaxed her. She had found Edward, but now the question was when to confront him. Did he still remember her? Did he even love her anymore? Annabel decided not to interfere too quickly. She wanted to wait for the right moment to approach Edward. After all it had been about ninety years since they had last seen one another.
She wandered through the forest to attempt to clear her mind, but all she could think about was waking up in the morgue all alone. She remembered the fear and panic that she felt. While she strolled alone in the silence she began to have revelations about her life and all the things she had seen and done. She sat alone wonder if she had done any real good in her life, well she thought she was alone.
"Well… well… well… back again."
She turned to see James standing behind her, and she became very defensive. Annabel was about ready to get up and leave, but something forced her to stay.
"What do you want Mr. Robertson?" She sighed.
"Why so formal?" He played. "I just want to talk."
"So talk." She replied bluntly.
"I know your secret." He smiled.
"What secret." She replied immediately thinking of Bella.
"You're alone in the world." He added. "So just to feel as if you belong you follow your family, and watch them have the life you could never have."
"I swear if you hurt my family you will regret it."
"I have no reason to harm them." He assured. "I didn't track you to make threats I tracked you to make an offer."
"What kind of offer?" She asked puzzled.
"You are to venerable alone." He began. "Why don't you join Laurent and myself."
"I've been by myself for almost a century, so I think I can defend myself." She responded.
"Suit yourself…" He said with a trace of frustration. "Just to let you know your precious Edward is getting a little to close to your great… great… great… granddaughter."
"How do you know who my grandchild is?" She asked with anger.
"I've been following you the same way you've been following her." He said smugly.
"Well James I think you should leave her and myself alone." She responded haughtily.
"You always were a little spit fire." He smirked.
"And I never could drive you away." She added.
"It will take more that rudeness to get rid of me Miss Rothchild." He smiled trying to hide his lust.
"Oh dear Mr. Robertson, I am no longer a Rothchild, and I haven't been for nearly ninety years." She smirked. "It would be more accurate if you referred to me as Mrs. Masen."
"Well that still won't stop me." He whispered in her ear still with lust in his voice. "Until we meet again… Mrs. Masen."
Annabel still seemed confused about James she began to take a liking to him, but nothing near her love for Edward. However with the new information it would soon be time to confront her husband.
It had been a couple weeks since she had run into James in the forest. Annabel waited outside of Bella's home, and just sat up in a tree. She just watched her sleep from the lonely tree branch. She would just sit there, sometimes with a book or something to keep her occupied. However tonight was different. She felt a strange yet familiar presence in the air. She thought nothing of it and continued to read her book. Suddenly a swift breeze past her and seemed to go in through Bella's window.
She looked in and saw Edward. She looked in the window almost frozen. She didn't want to jump in and cause a big scene, but she knew she would have to confront Edward before he got to serious about Bella. She watched closely and gazed at her husband, and their grandchild. She watched him walk towards her and she wanted to listen in, but she feared if she did she would hear something that would break her heart.
"So I was right?" A voice snuck up behind her.
She turned around and her eyes met James's and she wanted to push him off the branch. She opened her mouth to speak, but right before she could utter a word James lips crashed upon hers.
"What are you doing?" She tried to keep her voice down.
"What I should have done ninety years ago."
"James I'm married to Edward."
"Well he thinks you're dead." He began. "Look at him, lusting over his own flesh and blood."
Annabel stayed silent she knew James was right Edward had forgotten her, and as much as she wanted to jump in and tell him the truth. She could even fathom how to confront Edward it had been ninety years, but she still wasn't ready. While she pondered her thoughts Edward left in less than a blink of the eye, and Annabel knew her shot to talk to him would have to happen some other time.
"Annabel come with me." James said almost as if he was instructing her.
Strangely Annabel obeyed and followed James back to the forest. She seemed confused deep inside she didn't want to go with James, but she went anyway.
Meanwhile Edward had just arrive back home, and something was troubling him he went to Carlisle. Since they had returned back to Forks he felt different. Like someone was watching him.
"Carlisle can we talk?"
"Sure Edward what is it?"
"Lately I feel like someone's watching me." Edward announced. "Just being back here brings back memories."
"Annabel?" Carlisle speculated.
"Yes…" He stated. "I never fully got to say goodbye."
"What do you mean Edward?" Carlisle asked with confusion. "You where the one to buried her."
"No… after she died I ran away for a week then came back."
"Edward yes you did." Carlisle stated. "I put her in the morgue that night she died, and the next morning she was gone."
"Carlisle what happened to my wife." He became agitated.
"One of two things." He began. "Either someone stole her body, or…"
"Or what." Edward responded.
"She's one of us."
Edward began to think could his beloved Annabel still be alive, and if she was how he would ever find her.
"James I have to go." Annabel sighed.
"Why so you can watch your beloved Edward lust over your grandchild?" He spat.
"Why does it matter to you?" She added.
"Do you know how long I've been like this, how lonely I've been?" He began. "I have found others like us, but they do not satisfy my needs."
"Well where do I fit into all of this."
"Annabel become my mate, or…" He paused gritting his teeth.
"Or what?" She asked wirily.
"I'll kill the two people you love most." He said emotionless.
"You'll have to kill me first." She spat.
James lunged towards Annabel and pinned her against the tree, and he grabbed her by the neck.
"Why must you be so difficult?" He murmured while caressing the cold flesh of her neck.
"Isn't that the reason you keep following me?" She smirked. "Now threats aren't very convincing, maybe you should find me when you have a better approach."
James released Annabel and she took off, and rushed back to Bella's window side. She sat back in the tree just thinking of what was now going on. James's threat and how he longed for her they way he did.
Another day went by then a week and she hadn't seen any trace of Edward. She followed Bella to town. She was going shopping with some girls from school the other girls seemed rather excited, but Bella seemed as if it were torture.
It had been a couple hours and Bella seemed bored and it was late. She was talking with the other girls then left the shop alone. Annabel followed Bella closely and watched her in the darkness. Bella seemed lost and tried to find a familiar place, and then four men came up to her. They all seemed drunk and one lunged towards Bella. Annabel was about ready to come to her rescue, but right as she was about to jump in to action. Edward showed up in his car and without a single word scared the four drunks off. Bella got in the car, and he drove her home.
Annabel knew it was now or never she had to tell Edward the truth. Edward walked Bella to the door and she entered the house as he walked back to his car Annabel jumped in front of his door.
"Hello Edward." She greeted shyly.
"Annabel…"