I am having so much fun writing this…thank you for your encouragement and for continuing to read it. Now we're getting to the good stuff. Let me know if you agree!
Syzygy by twilighterpated
Chapter Seven: Encounter
Stepping from one side of the heavy double doors to the other was like entering a different world. I felt slightly intoxicated – or what I imagined it would feel like, anyway. There was calmness in the air. I felt nurtured just standing there.
I decided to get Alice's assignment out of the way, so I asked a clerk where I could find books with wedding vows. She immediately left her shelving and walked me to the correct section, chatting along the way about what I was looking for, and pulling out three selections when we arrived that she thought might meet my needs. I browsed through them – I had no idea there were so many ways to say "I do" – and chose two. The first listed vows by century, the second by religious traditions.
Lutheran had numerous selections. Vampire actually was listed in the back. It said, "Vampire: see Pagan."
I wonder what Carlisle would say about that.
I put away the third book and turned to try to find my way back to the main part of the store. It was then I saw the flags posted on the top of the bookshelf, the flags used to direct patrons to the correct location. There were three, in alphabetical order. Wedding. Werewolves. Vampires.
I snorted in disbelief. As if I needed any reminders.
Hours later I sighed in contentment and stretched my legs out from the little nook I had curled myself into, one of the many you could find in the wooden walls of the bookstore. I had a pile perched precariously on the strategically positioned little table – its true purpose probably for holding lightweight lattes or teas.
I had wandered for a good hour, becoming more relaxed as each minute ticked by, picking up whatever books caught me eye and traveling in whatever direction I felt pulled in. The store was like a mystery house. There seemed to be no end to its rooms. Certain rows led you to nooks like mine, or around a sudden corner to an entirely new section, or just to a dead end.
I had stared at one dead end for a while, just convinced that if I could pull out the right book, it would open the shelves of books to reveal a hidden tunnel. But though I pulled a few out of their place, no door swung open, no tunnel appeared.
Eventually I was maxed out on the number of books I could carry – which included a Marcus Stone biography – and had landed in the nook, adjusted the convenient overhead lamp, and lost myself in reading for several hours.
I still had a good amount of time before Alice was expected, so I thought I'd pay for the books and maybe grab something to eat at the little café downstairs. Rather, down several sets of stairs.
Now, how to get out of this labyrinth.
After a few false turns and with the aid of signs that appeared as if by magic exactly when I needed them, I was at the register with about half of the books I started out with, those that I felt I just couldn't pass up. I could read them on the honeymoon, I reasoned.
While I was waiting in line I noticed the sign hanging from the ceiling for the "Rare and Out-of-Print" Section, with an arrow pointing toward a staircase more towards the middle of the room.
I mentally added that to the list of sections to explore.
Perhaps I was distracted by thoughts of the new section, but when the clerk at the register told me the total, I just pulled out the card that I could feel sitting in my back pocket, forgetting which card it was, and laid it on the counter. My eyes were still on the sign.
Everything went still around me, so I looked at the clerk.
She was staring at the card. So was the person waiting next in line.
I blushed heartily.
The clerk looked at me with disbelief – which, surprisingly, made me feel a little bit indignant. I straightened and returned her stare.
Then it was her turn to blush. She collected herself, turned and paged overhead for a "Ms. Harrington, courtesy assistance to the front desk, please", then turned back to me. "Thank you for waiting, Ms. Swan. It will be just one moment."
"Uh…is there a problem?" I asked nervously. Maybe you couldn't use that card to buy books? How was I to know?
Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh no, no problem at all. She reached over and turned off the miniature tiffany lamp on the front of the register, used to indicate if a lane was open. "I can help you over here," she instructed the next person in line.
As the line was moving over one lane, another clerk appeared. She glanced swiftly at the card and smiled at me.
"Good evening, Ms. Swan. Were you able to find everything you needed?"
"Probably more than I needed," I admitted.
"Excellent. Ah, yes, the latest Jane mystery. Have you enjoyed the series so far?" and with skill she drew me into an easy conversation about the various books I was buying, suggesting other authors I might enjoy and jotting their names down in a little notebook she had pulled from under the counter.
She handed the card back to me – this time I made sure it went into the wallet, back behind the library card. It struck me that, as in the jewelry store, I was neither told the total nor asked to sign a receipt. I wondered about that.
The clerk pulled a large canvas bag with leather handles from under the counter-it had the store logo on one side- and loaded it up with the books, the little notebook, the pen she had taken out of the drawer at the same time and a few large bookmarks with various charms on the ends of the velvet tassels. She handed me a gift card.
"Please enjoy a treat from our café. We use only local and organic ingredients, and they are made on site daily."
"Thank you. I was, um, actually thinking of heading down there."
"I'd be glad to keep your bag here, and you can pick it up on your way out, if you'd like."
"That would be great." I really didn't want to lug it around with me – I'd probably drop it on my foot and break it and be in a cast for the wedding. Alice would love that.
"Is there anything else at all I can assist you with, Ms. Swan?"
"Actually…." I had already had good luck today. Maybe... I let my gaze stray to the rare sign. "I'm looking for a special gift…"
Her eyes followed mine. "Oh, have you seen our Rare and Out of Print section? It's really wonderful. I'd love to show you personally." She pushed the bag under the counter and headed toward the staircase.
I trailed my hand down the curved railing as we traveled down one floor, careful to make sure I did not slip and fall. The steps creaked as we progressed, the clerk recalling several items that might be of interest to me.
The staircase continued to a lower floor, but we stopped in the middle of it, where it branched off to a level on either side. To the right was marked "employees only". To the left was the Rare and Out of Print section.
"Now, what can I help you find?" she asked.
"Well…" I hesitated. "I'm looking for something special for my…fiancé."
"Congratulations! I'm sure we'll be able to find something suitable. What kind of interests does your fiancé have?"
Blood, I replied in my head. Mine, in particular. But aloud I said, "He is an avid outdoorsman."
"Oh, yes. Wonderful. Let's look over here."
Thirty minutes later, after looking at countless nature books, biographies, autographed picture books, and a John Muir journal reproduction, I had not really found anything that said "Edward."
I suddenly had an idea. How had Alice done it…
I sighed, and tried to imitate her disappointed face. "I'm not really seeing anything that meets my needs."
The clerk looked almost devastated.
"Maybe something more exclusive than what's already out on the floor…" I hinted. "Of course, it would be understandable if you didn't have what I was looking for." Then a flash occurred to me. "He is also an accomplished pianist."
Her eyes widened and lit up. "Oh! What an amazing coincidence. Yes. Right this way."
She took me over to the other side of the staircase and unlocked the door. Contrary to the rainbow of books on the previous floors, the overwhelming majority of books in this room were varying shades of brown. The smell of leather and parchment from the obviously old books and sheaves tickled my nose, like a musky perfume.
"Our buyers just finished cataloging this estate. We are going to present it at a special event in coordination with the Seattle orchestra. The gentleman who it belonged to was quite a patron of ours. I'm sure he could have sold it for much more, but he wanted to support our local, independent bookstore."
She continued with a smile. "He was greatly interested in the Baroque composers, especially Handel, who I'm sure you know composed the timeless 'Water Music' and the eternal 'Hallelujah Chorus.''
I didn't know that, but I nodded, trying to look as if I did.
"As most of the titles and writing are in German, we've taken the liberty of translating the titles. You'll find the title, publisher, year and any other significant information on the gold bookmark in the front of each book. I'm certain we'll be able to find something in this collection, Ms. Swan." she finished.
I felt like she was waiting for some kind of reaction from me. "This is… um...amazing." I tried to sound enthusiastic.
The clerk beamed.
"I…I don't even know where to begin. Would it be possible to just look for a little while?" I asked, totally overwhelmed.
"Absolutely. We only ask that you wear gloves when handling the items-" she walked over to a wooden cabinet and opened a drawer – "I'm sure a small will fit you nicely. I'll check back shortly before closing."
"Thank you so much," I said, taking the gloves.
"It's my pleasure." She grinned. "We pride ourselves in being able to find what the client is looking for."
She left the door slightly ajar and I proceeded to look around the room. It had a small window at one end; of course, it was already dark outside. Cedar bookshelves, more ornate than most in the store, lined the walls.
The section that she had directed me too had a good number of books. I certainly hoped one would just jump out at me, since I had no musical talent to speak of. Each of these books was placed with the front displayed, not stowed sideways in a bookshelf. I picked up the first one.
Georg Friedrich Händel. Ein biographischer Roman des Barock.
by Eugen Ortner
München, Piper, 1942.
Wow. 1942.
Georg Friedrich Händel: Sein Leben und seine Werke
August Reißmann.
Berlin u. Leipzig J. Guttentag. 1882.
I did a double take. Eighteen- eighty two?
Der junge Händel: Ein dramatische Spiel
Arnold Schering
Erben: Breitkopf und Härtel, 1918
Nineteen-eighteen. Edward would have been seventeen…the year his life was forever changed.
I closed the cover of that one rather abruptly. The books were not grabbing me. I turned to the other wall, lined with music stands. Each stand had an obviously ancient sheave of music on it, covered in plastic, with an information sheet on the front of the plastic. The whole ensemble was tied with a red velvet ribbon.
I looked at the first one.
Händel-Handbuch, herausgeben vom Kuratorium der Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Stiftung Volume 2: Oratorios, Cantatas, Sacred works, etc.
There was a small price tag attached to the music stand. Ten thousand dollars.
I suddenly felt dizzy, and leaned against the edge of one of the sturdy bookcases. The scent of cedar filled my nostrils.
What was I doing? Why was I even in this room, looking at music that I couldn't read at prices also beyond my understanding? I had to pretend to even know what "Water Music" was! My life did not include being treated like some V. I. P. This wasn't me.
I stayed there for a moment or two, feeling very tired.
Suddenly, I felt like I was being watched.
I jumped more than just a little as I opened my eyes. My heart started pounding so loud I was sure it was audible outside of my chest.
Sam Uley leaned against the door frame, arms folded across his chest.
The conflict inside me was raging so hard I was sure he could sense it. What was he doing here? How was Jacob? I felt a bit shaken, a little bit confused.
And a new emotion. Fear.
Sam's eyes narrowed. Could he sense that?
"Bella," he said quietly, with his usual calm demeanor.
"Sam," I managed, sounding uncertain at that.
He took a couple of steps into the room, looking at me curiously.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine," I responded automatically. "What are you doing here?" I blurted out.
He laughed. "Here, as in this room, or here, as in, Seattle?"
"Uh…both." I finished, still a bit confused.
He paused. "I was in Seattle taking care of business for the wedding."
I felt the blood drain from my face. Oh my god. They were going to try to stop our wedding. Did I really believe it was going to be so easy for us?
He must have read my face. "For our wedding. I had some business to take care of for Emily."
"Oh." I gasped. "That's. Great. Congratulations."
"Thank you," he said stiffly.
"And, uh, do you enjoy reading?" I asked, feeling completely unnerved.
He looked at me for a long moment. "I picked up some familiar scents, so I followed them," he paused. "I would never forget your scent, Bella," he finished quietly.
I knew what he was saying. From searching the night I was lost in the woods.
His eyes scanned the room briefly. "But there was more than one of you."
"I'm with Alice. She, uh, had some different errands."
"So you're alone right now?" He had an intense look in his eyes that I didn't like.
"Yes." I said, unable to lie. Why was I afraid? Sam had no reason to hurt me. Did he?
All I could see was the image of the scars. If he changed in the store…there was nowhere to run.
"Good," he said. "I've wanted to talk to you."
"You could have just called me at home."
He gazed at me, curiously. "Do you realize how little you are alone, Bella?"
I just stared at him.
"When you are home, it's when Charlie is home. If Charlie's not home, one of the Cullens is there. If you're not at your house, you're at the Cullen's house, or with one of them."
"I'm not being babysat anymore." I said defensively.
He just raised his eyebrows, and let the evidence hang in the air.
"I just wanted to make sure you could speak…freely," he explained.
Now I was feeling irritated. "I'm not being brainwashed either. What do you want to know?"
He leveled a gaze at me. "Are there more vampires coming?"
I was unsure of what he meant. "More…coming.."
"To Forks," he concluded.
I was confused again. Was he referring to me becoming a vampire? The wedding wasn't in Forks, so... "Uh, not that I know of."
"Would you know?" he asked.
"Yes," I snapped. "I would. Anything else?"
He sighed. "Yes. Emily – I mean, we would like to send you a wedding invitation."
That caught me off guard. "Oh, that's so nice of you." I hesitated. "When is it?"
"The last Friday in August," he said, then added, "Charlie told Billy you aren't leaving for college until September."
Yes, but that's because I'm not really going to college, I thought. Maybe Sam knew college actually started in August? Maybe. At any rate, there went that excuse.
"I'd love to be able to come, but, um…" I wasn't sure how to say it. Sam waited. "I'm not sure Jacob would…I mean, it might make it difficult…" I trailed off at the look on Sam's face.
"We're not expecting Jacob to be there," he said quietly.
My heart started racing – here it was, what I really wanted, information about Jacob.
"But…why?"
He looked away. "Jacob is…gone."
I felt sick again. "What do you mean, gone?"
He shrugged. "He's gone."
"Where is he? How long has he been gone?" I demanded. He seemed awfully unconcerned about this. I felt like I was a few heartbeats away from panic.
"We think Canada," he said. I wondered if he meant him and Emily, or if he was using the pack plural. Then his stare grew more intense. "He left right after he got the wedding invitation."
I wondered what about Sam and Emily getting married bothered Jake so much that he'd have to leave. I knew in my heart of hearts that's what he had wanted for the two of us. Maybe it was just too much to handle.
I felt bad about this.
"I'm sorry your wedding bothered him so much," I mumbled. I didn't really know what to say about it. I just knew that it was my fault, so some kind of apology was necessary.
There was a long moment of silence.
Finally, Sam spoke. "I meant your wedding invitation, Bella." He was looking at me with a curious expression on his face.
I stared back at him, feeling dumb. The information clicked slowly in my brain.
Jacob was gone. No one knew where. He could be dead, for all we knew.
Dead. I felt an icy trickle in my chest.
And he had left after he received…
"I…I didn't send him a wedding invitation," I said plaintively.
"No," said Sam slowly. "You didn't."
Slowly, ever so slowly it started to make sense. I had left Jacob off the list, on purpose, for his sake and for mine. But despite my decision, someone had sent him one…
Edward.
Did Edward know this would be Jacob's response? That he would run, run from the pain that I was causing him? Did he want him to run, so that he would be alone, away from the pack?
My heart almost stopped.
Is that why they were all gone– all of them, except Alice? Edward had said they didn't know where they were hunting, when I'd asked him.
I couldn't breathe. No, I thought. No. He wouldn't…he wouldn't…
"So it would be fine for you to be there," Sam was watching me closely. There was a slight emphasis on the "you".
I waited. My mind was still racing. Surely Edward wasn't jealous enough…I'd made it clear enough…
"So we hope you can come." Sam said. Again, the slight inflection on "you".
I finally got what he was trying to say. I was invited, but Edward was not. Despite my current state of mind, it still offended me.
"So I'm invited, but not my husband?" I clarified.
"The wedding is on Quileute land. It's part of the treaty." he shrugged.
"Forget the treaty," I hissed, suddenly angry. "It's not written in stone."
"Forget the treaty?" Sam repeated quietly, his eyes flashing. "Forget the reason for why I am what I am? Forget the rules that have kept us all alive for the last 70 years? Perhaps it's easy for you to toss it aside, Bella, but I live with the consequences of it every single day."
His voice had taken on a hard edge. He had taken a step closer. I couldn't tell, but were his hands shaking? Sam had the best control of them all, but still…
A picture of Emily came to mind, unbidden, and again I was filled with fear.
"I'm…I'm sorry Sam, I didn't mean to upset you." My voice was shaky.
He took another step closer, towering over at me, peering at me. "Are you afraid, Bella?" he asked quietly.
I didn't answer. I knew my voice would give me away.
He stared at me for a long time. "What have they done to you?"
"Nothing," I said, as firmly as I could, the anger escalating again. "It's not some sort of…of cult. Unlike the pack, I can still think for myself." I said acidly. "And I think it's time for you to go, because Alice will be here any second to pick me up, and it might be breaking the treaty for you to be in the same room." My emotions were wound up tight.
He continued to stare at me, his eyes probing mine, asking questions. I returned his stare, trying hard to not break eye contact.
"You didn't used to be afraid of us," he said quietly. Then he turned left the room as silently as he came.
