"Absence from those we love is self from self – a deadly banishment."
-William Shakespeare
Day Four.
Pain awoke her. A horrible, agonizing pain that started in her chest and echoed throughout the shell she called a body. Eva sat up clinching her chest so hard that her fingernails dug into the sensitive skin above her breast to the point she almost drew blood. What the hell was wrong with her?! Her mind immediately thought 'Heart attack' but she dismissed it. She was awfully young to be having a heart attack! She calmed her breathing and tried her best to get a grip on herself. She wasn't having any shooting pain up either of her arms so that was further proof that it wasn't a heart attack. So what was it? It felt like someone had dropped a giant stone slab on her chest that she just couldn't break free from.
Each step to the bathroom grew heavier and heavier; by the time she reached her destination she had to grip onto the sink for support. She let herself slide to the floor without restraint. Once her face met the linoleum floor; it cooled her skin and eased her pain slightly. Eva hadn't even realized that she was burning up nor did she notice the sweat that rolled down her forehead until it began to sting her eyes. She hissed and pushed herself over until she was lying on her back with what felt to be a herculean force. She panted and tried to catch her breath again but even when she did; the pain didn't lessen. External pain was manageable. She was used to such assaults as was her body. But this incredible agony that she felt in her chest was new and absolutely terrifying.
She should cry out; scream for help. Maybe Charlie was still home or maybe Bella had returned home after her stay at the Cullens. Only as Eva took in a sharp breath to do so, she stopped herself. As afraid as she was with the constant pain that crippled her body, her critical mind couldn't help but imagine her as she was now. A weak little girl in distress mere minutes away from passing out on the bathroom floor. If she was so adamantly against anyone seeing her cry; she sure as hell wouldn't allow anyone to see her like this. Someone so weak, they couldn't even stand on their own!
Eva slowly formed her right hand into a fist and cursed at herself. Get up, damn you! She ordered but her body feebly responded. Any time she tried to move her legs, she'd be welcomed with a fresh wave of pain. Her vision blurred and she felt her body tremble spastically. Things seemed to get worse by the minute but she wasn't about to give up! Very well, if she couldn't stand, she'd improvise. She rolled back onto her stomach and forced her arms to drag her forward, back towards her bedroom. Hot tears fell from her eyes but they weren't formed out of sorrow. Instead the sensation stemmed from her humiliation. If anyone walked in and saw her crawling on her belly like this, completely helpless; she may sincerely contemplate jumping off a cliff. Every little inch she managed to crawl was filled with the countless ridicule of the past in her subconscious. The words "worthless" and "weak" circled around in her head like angry hornets but it only fueled Eva to her destination. Slut, bitch, whore; these were the words that were meant to cause the most degradation weren't they? They were nothing to Eva. She'd rather be called a bitch than a coward or worthless any day. If only she wasn't the first to name herself in such a way; perhaps she would know peace.
When Eva made it to her room, she clenched onto her mattress with an impressive grip but no matter how many attempts she made; she couldn't hoist herself onto the bed. It felt like all her energy had been zapped from her, so much so she was probably on par with a newborn kitten in terms of strength. Eva grit her teeth and let out a scream of frustration; the pain escalating its volume to heights she didn't know she was capable of. Her legs just couldn't hold her up anymore. A new thought came to Eva's tortured mind, a thought that caused her to reach for her pillow in desperation. If she managed to force her phone just a bit closer to her, she'd hopefully be able to reach it. Having to guess the location of her phone caused her to weakly swat at her bed blindly with the pillow. When she felt the corner of her pillow connect with her cellphone, she used her very weight to push it from the bed. The movement caused her to fall backwards onto the floor but the faintest smile came across her full lips when she heard the clanking sound of her cellphone hitting the floor along with her. Her hair was damp with sweat and stuck to the floor but she didn't notice. Her entire world was now revolving around the pain.
She sat up and hissed in anger when she saw that the back of her phone had popped off in the process. She sincerely feared that she didn't have the time to put it together if it refused to function correctly for her. Eva let the phone remain on the floor in hopes that in doing so would keep the battery in place and she praised the stars when she saw her phone light up at the touch of a button. Good, it was working. But who should she call? An ambulance? 911? Charlie even? Eva had hoped that the pain would lessen but while it didn't increase; it was still one of the worst pains she had ever experienced. When she was about to dial 911, she stopped herself yet again. Jasper's words to Charlie and the description of Carlisle as 'Doctor Cullen' rung in her ears causing her to shake her head. No, no doctors. Not when she could end up in his care considering how small this town was. She'd sooner die on her bedroom floor than ask anything of the Cullens after all the misery they had put her through! So, she opted to do the only thing that felt right.
She tested to see if she could force out a few strangled words but with her mouth dry and the extreme exhaustion she was feeling; she could only get out the first few syllables coherently. So she scrolled through her contacts until she found Jasper's number and texted her one word plea to him. Help. She wanted to be in a dignified position when he found her but she let herself fall to her back the moment she pressed send. Eva didn't know what 'dying' felt like for certain. She had been close to it a handful of times but this, this had to be it. Everything aside from the pain and her determination was stripped from her. There was no hope, no happiness or even sorrow. Just pain. Like she was just…existing.
It only took a few seconds for Jasper to find Eva after her cry for help. From the look on his face, Eva assumed he felt her pain the moment he stepped inside the house. His eyes displayed a mixture of fear and sadness that she would have appreciated were she not still riddled with agony. He effortlessly lifted Eva onto her bed and sat next to her. His arm around her waist was the only thing keeping her in place because Eva still couldn't sit up for very long. Slowly but surely Eva felt her pain disappear and it was replaced with the warm feeling of comfort and cheerfulness. It was all centered in her head however. While most of her body had recovered; a small, dull ache centered in her chest and now that the pain had dissipated, she felt a truly hopeless depression hit her. The sensation seemed to battle against Jasper's wonderful gift. She didn't even know the source of the wicked sadness that continued to try and overthrow her false joy. Yes, she was immensely sad when she fell asleep the previous night but it wasn't anything like this.
"What happened, Eva? Are you alright?" Jasper spoke calmly to her. His eyes betrayed him however. While his voice was calm and collected; his eyes perfectly depicted his panic. She did not know this vampire's eyes for she had only peered into their amber beauty a select amount of times. Yet she just knew. He was more afraid than she was.
"I don't know, I woke up like this…" Eva explained. Her own hazel eyes begged him to fix whatever it was that was wrong with her, even though she knew he was probably powerless to do so. Eva's eyes would always express things her stubborn tongue refused to. He studied her for a few moments and she watched him let out a heavy sigh. Only she did not expect to hear the words that left his mouth after his examination.
"I think it's best that you call your mates and ask them to come to you." The urgency in his words was chilling. Eva looked at him dumbfounded. She did not understand where that comment had come from.
"Why?"
"Your mates are ancient and incredibly powerful creatures. The mating bond between you four has to be just as powerful. I believe their absence is starting to affect you too." Jasper explained.
"No, I'm still human. That can't be it." Eva replied like she was now an expert on vampire knowledge. She had been fine the past three days, even longer if you consider the journey back to Forks. It was irrational to think she could be afflicted with it now. Her mates had even assured her that her humanity kept her from feeling such pain. Besides, surely the loss of your mate couldn't hurt this bad…right?
"Yes and in normal circumstances that would most likely protect you from feeling the negative effects of the bond. However, you are bonded to three vampires instead of the usual one. Because of this, you could fall victim to it, perhaps even more so than your mates. I also think that the major plummet of your emotions from last night may have sparked it. By nature, we seek our mates when we feel grief. The comfort of your mate can do wonders to soothe you with just a touch or kind word. I think you're calling out to them without even realizing it."
Eva could only look at him. Being alone for as long as she had been made her reluctant to believe his words, no matter how much sense they seemed to make. She always took care of herself, it was just what she did. Eva had lived by a simple policy all her life that worked as a flawless defense. A lesson she learned from her most beloved author. "Listen to many, speak to few." Being lonely was something her mind craved but her soul detested. Having such contradicting ambitions made her the complex creature she was. Eva always put more stock in her mind than her heart, which made her doubt Jasper's theory. How could she…call out to them without realizing? How deep was this union between the four of them? Eva looked away from Jasper and cursed herself. No…she couldn't. She had made it this long on her own, she wouldn't go crying for help now. Yet a special part of her heart ached at a thought. Was this what her kings had been feeling ever since she left Volterra?
"I can't." Eva murmured for no real intention. It wasn't to argue, there was no argument. Eva wouldn't show her weakness to them. They would think better of her even if it was a lie.
"Why not?"
"Charlie…I can't disappear now. I saw it in his eyes…he doesn't want me to leave." Lord, had it ever been so difficult to form words before? Maybe in her hospital bed after her last incident because Rick had severely damaged her windpipe but otherwise, Eva couldn't conceive having such an inability to speak.
"Just because the Kings are here, doesn't mean you have to travel back to Volterra with them. I'm sure they would be happy to let you finish out your week."
"No, they can't be away from Volterra that long, it's too risky. If they aren't there…bad things could happen to their coven." That somewhat made sense, didn't it? Why was she so tired? She had gone to bed so early.
"Trust me when I say that even without the Kings or their best guard, the Volturi Coven can handle themselves. Very few would choose to stand against them. All the work and dedication they put into their craft has earned them that right. An extra couple of days won't hurt them. Especially if they learned what you were going through."
"It's not worth the risk." Eva commented firmly, her voice now sounding as it normally did and not the strained one. The longer Jasper was near her, the more he was able to dull the pain. She was starting to really appreciate that perk.
"As you said, they became kings of your world because of a lot of time and effort devoted to doing so. I will not be the reason they lose that power." No she wouldn't be. She wouldn't have any of them compromise themselves for her.
"Then one of them? Allow one of them to stay with you. That would still benefit you both and you would no longer need me to hold you up so you can sit properly." He commented while looking down at Eva's disposition. "Come now Eva, look at yourself. Can you focus your worry on your own well-being if you insist on worrying at all?" Jasper said sweetly but urgently. He was afraid…worried about her. That was a nice surprise. But in all her stubborn glory, Eva allowed herself to smile.
"Know your audience." Eva replied and was all she was going to say on the matter. If his pitch was her own safety or comfort; he still didn't know her all that well. Eva could care less about what inconvenienced her as long as those she cared about had everything they needed. It was just her nature. A born doormat but a selective one. Anyone she cared about could have anything they wanted of her if they only knew to ask. May that list of select loved ones forever be short because of this indisputable truth. Jasper let out a sigh of defeat but decided to focus on fixing her current needs.
"I'm going to get you some water and make you some toast. Hopefully that will sustain you even though I know you don't feel like eating." He got up to go to the kitchen but not before letting Eva stabilize herself so that she wouldn't fall over.
"Wow…you can work a toaster?" Eva asked in her weakened state, a little proud to see her sarcasm was still fully functional. It seemed to lighten Jasper's mood too which was an added bonus.
"Well, I haven't truly tried but I assume it's fairly easy to do. Insert bread, push down button and wait." Jasper said proudly as if he had cracked a secret code of some sort.
"If the house catches fire just be sure to carry me outta here, okay?" Eva smirked though of course she was in no way worried. Charlie was the one who used the toaster the most and he always had it set to a decent number to where it wasn't too browned and it wasn't just heated bread either. Eva never really messed with the dial so as far as she knew it remained on that setting all the time.
"Do me a favor though, Eva." Jasper said in gentle tone which made Eva inclined to listen. "Talk to them. You don't have to tell them that you're unwell but talk to them. It may be more helpful than you think."
She wasn't given the chance to argue, (not that she wanted to) because he disappeared at the end of his sentence. Maybe he's right. Talking to them wouldn't be a punishment or anything. She always enjoyed speaking to her kings. She knew talking to them on the phone was out because her voice would give her away. Texting seemed too annoying having to wait forever for a reply and it might prompt them to call her to spare the trouble. So, she decided to try and check her messenger just in case Caius or Aro was online though she doubted they would be without knowing she was beforehand.
Unexplainable guilt washed over her when Aro's name crossed her mind. She talked to him maybe a total of ten minutes yesterday and didn't speak to him at all the day before aside from their brief texting back and forth. She and Marcus had spoken a lot on the phone, even yesterday when she dismissed them to wallow in her own depression; she still managed to talk to Marcus for close to a half hour each time he called. She and Caius had even spoken on her messenger where she hadn't done so with Aro aside from the night she was angry with him. Now she felt terribly…terrible. So early in their relationship and she was already neglectful. Oh, what he must think of her! She had probably made him feeling miserable! Like he was less appealing to her in comparison to his brothers or something. With only that in mind she asked Jasper to grab her laptop for her and to take her toast and water to the living room so that he could at least be somewhat entertained by the TV if he insisted on watching over her.
Once she was settled and took a few bites from her toast (Jasper even buttered it for her) she fired up her laptop and signed into her messenger. She quickly looked for Aro's name and saw that his status was set to 'Away'. Knowing he would hopefully get the message at some point she began to write to him.
Eva: Aro, I'm so very sorry if I made you feel neglected or if I led you to believe that I didn't care about you. Things have been hectic here and I've been dealing with some snags in the road but I think it's safe to say I have everything under control now. I guess I'm a pretty lousy mate, huh? I want you to know that even though I didn't get the chance to speak to you; you were always on my mind. I miss you… Please forgive me.
She must have looked over her message a dozen times before she actually sent it to him and after she did, she worried it came off wrong. She didn't want to sound clingy but the point of the message was to show she cared. Maybe she should just give in and call him…no…that was clingy. Or was it? Oh, she didn't know! She just needed to buy the "Relationships for Dummies" book and see if she could make sense of all this! They could have a polygamist chapter, you never know! Luckily, Eva didn't have to ask Jasper to fetch her cellphone for her because he had initially brought it with them when he helped her hobble to the living room. Eva nibbled on her lip nervously and after about five minutes that felt more like twenty and no response from Aro she picked up her phone and dialed his number before she had the chance to talk herself out of it. Her pain seemed less crippling but her worry and anxiety had gotten unbearable. If she heard him, heard his tone, she would know if he was upset with her or not. That's all she needed to know and she'd fine to be alone for the rest of the day…
It rang a total of three times before he answered and the very second she heard that incredible voice she began to calm.
"Hello, dearest. It's a pleasant surprise to hear from you at this hour, it must be rather early in the morning for you. Nothing disagreeable has occurred has it?" He said in his usual courteous tone and Eva sighed audibly. She took that as a sign that he wasn't upset with her but now…what was she supposed to say? Use your words, Eva!
"No, I'm okay. I um…I just wanted to let you know that I sent you a message on MSN Messenger. When you have a moment, read it for me. I should be online all day." Even she thought that sounded desperate.
"How very kind of you, Eva. I look forward to reading your electronic letter at my earliest convenience. Is there anything you wish to discuss in the meantime?" It really was a joy just hearing him. She hadn't realized just how much she had missed him until she heard his voice. It really was one of his best features. He had the type of voice that could get him whatever he desired with minimum effort. Eva could listen to it for hours without growing bored.
"Oh um, aren't you busy?" Eva said nervously. He had said that, hadn't he? Or did she just assume? His status had said 'Away' but that didn't mean he was busy necessarily.
"In a matter of speaking but nothing that can't be put on hold for you." Aro assured her and Eva concentrated hard to see if she could make out the small commotion in the background.
"What are you up to?" Surely he wasn't sitting in the throne room leisurely speaking to her on his cellphone while some poor vampires were knelt before him?
"Just a bit of tidying." He said casually and Eva's eyebrows formed a confused scowl when she heard the perplexing sound of what she guessed to be broken glass followed by a muffled scream. Hm, someone must have broken something. Did they oversee the maids work or something?
"Ah, look at that dearest, I am suddenly available to speak without distraction. Would you prefer to communicate through your preferred method or would you like for me to remain on the phone with you?" Aro said so cheerfully, she felt herself perking almost so that she could match his enthusiasm.
"Um, I can just message you back once you've read it. I should be online for the majority of the day." Eva answered. Something about their brief conversation made her nervous to talk to him. It was as though she had been reminded of her mate's importance and more so, she remembered that she was a wheezing, weak little mortal that couldn't even hold herself up properly at the moment. It felt like she was unworthy to speak to someone that carried as much influence as he and the rest of her mates did. Perhaps it was the sickness that plagued her that caused her to feel this way? Or the fact that Aro didn't act like he even noticed their lack of personal communication…god, she had just made a fool of herself.
"Of course dearest, until then." Aro said in his goodbye but Eva hung up before she could say something else stupid. How arrogant to think that she affected him in such a way. She knew there was no way she could delete a message after it was sent but she tried desperately to once she found the courage to look back down at her computer screen. Her stomach tightened into knots when she saw that Aro was already typing out his response. Great. Now on top of feeling like she already had one foot through death's door, she was completely humiliated. Again.
Aro: My dearest Eva, I beg you to cease your apologetic tendencies if not only in regards to my brothers and myself. I assure you mia stella, you did nothing to stir any ill feelings within me. I know you have an unfortunate task before you and I would never be so selfish as to demand your attention; when I am blessed to have it every day for the rest of our existence. Spend the remainder of your time in Forks enjoying yourself, it's all I could wish for you. If you only knew the mere pleasure it was to see your name spelled out in this tiny, unflattering font you would know that having you apart of my existence is everything I could ever desire.
It pains me to think that you're suffering from this arrangement when the deal was struck purely to avoid such a catastrophe. Though I cannot help but wonder the cause of your disharmony. Instantly my mind turns to Carlisle's band of rouges and your less than desirable cousin. I know that they are making this difficult for you and for that my opinion of them has vastly changed, not that it was particularly flattering before. Don't blame yourself for whatever befalls them and know that I understand your silence. It's understandable that you would shun the responsibility that inevitably comes with your position when it's been thrust upon you so unexpectedly. I only wish that this week with your family would've been a blissful one without the stain of the Cullen's influence.
And no, my love, you are not a "lousy mate". I would go into great and intricate detail as to why you are quite the opposite but I fear that now is not the time. As I overheard you say to Marcus in his most treasured of memories; such things should be explored in a more intimate setting and not through a computer screen. It leaves a bitter taste, however. For even if I had the time I am unsure if I could provide the words needed to describe such loveliness. Nor could I properly express the feelings you provoke in me. Perhaps in time I will seem less like a blathering imbecile and more like the man you deserve.
And lastly, I will reiterate that you needn't apologize to me. Knowing that you long for me as I long for you; warms my darkened heart and put's my cynical mind back into perspective. You've been my entire world before you were even born, Eva dearest. It may seem like a peculiar and perhaps even false sentiment but it reigns true. Therefore I no longer wish to keep such a sentiment to myself. The desire to see you in my arms conquers all desires before it. Coming from possibly the greediest man that's ever walked the earth, I hope knowing this will bring forth some clarity.
By the time Eva finished reading what Aro had graciously sent to her she was nearly in tears. That annoyingly persistent pain in her chest had loosened its grip tremendously and no matter how Eva's mind tried to come up with a rational response for this; she knew what Jasper had said was true. She needed to see her mates. It was getting harder and harder to ignore her feelings for them. She wasn't even sure if she wanted to anymore. How…how was she supposed to reply to that lovely message? Eva prided herself with the ability to express herself through the written word but she knew whatever she responded with would be a pale comparison to what Aro had shared with her. As she was about to respond, Jasper cleared his throat which brought her back to reality. When she looked over to him she watched him nod towards her plate of unfinished toast and she rolled her eyes. With a piece of toast hanging gracefully from her mouth she began to write back to him.
Eva: I'll work on my apologies, my king. I just…everything about this is so new to me. Strange but not necessarily in a bad way. Good things have never come into my life for very long. And the idea of losing you or either of your brothers because of my own foolishness would be a hard pill to swallow. I'm trying to be something that you can be proud of. Something that makes fate's choice of me justified. You've already seen the pathetic little girl I really am. So I am trying to become a better woman. That is why I don't wish to speak of the Cullens when I feel I can handle the situation on my own. I have never had someone to run to and because of that I have learned to depend on myself. Even though I let myself down just as often as others do. And…If you believe yourself to be an imbecile I cannot imagine what I am because I can't think of an eloquent response to such inspiring words. So, I'll keep it simple. I cannot wait to see you again and I too cannot express the joy I feel simply talking to you. I wish you were here.
Aro: Of course it is, my love. Unlike us, you haven't had the past three thousand years to prepare yourself for this. We're patient creatures, Eva. Well, that's not strictly true but it is when it comes to anything pertaining to you. Don't worry yourself about losing us. The only way you could is if you asked us to forsake you. Even then you'd find difficulty. Eva Hawkins you are the woman of my everlasting daydreams. You needn't prove yourself to me or anyone. I know how incredible you are. I only wish that you knew as well but give me time. Soon you will see yourself the way I do. The way we all do.
Eva: Thanks for your patience. For the first time I believe someone when they say they won't forsake me. It's a wonderful feeling and I thank you for it. Now, before I get too mushy, I'll change the topic. How has your day been today? Did I hear you in the courtroom earlier?
Aro: Correct, business as usual I'm afraid but I will not bore you with the details. Once you know the laws as flawlessly as we do, you'll see such affairs for yourself. Though it is unusual that you've broken your sleeping habits. Did Caius awake you again? I reminded him how important it was to check the time thoroughly to ensure that he doesn't disturb you.
Eva blushed furiously and bit her lip. She cursed her mate's ability. You truly couldn't get much past him could you? Had he seen…what could he have…ugh! That and the fact that he didn't seem to care about the man he called brother and the woman he claimed to adore having a rather intimate but odd moment themselves was still unbelievable to her. Had this been any other situation you'd think it would end with one of them in a ditch.
Eva: No, I just got up a bit earlier than normal, that's all. And learning your laws? You plan to have me rule beside you?
Aro: Is there any other place for you? We cannot be expected to rule our world fairly without our queen now can we?
Eva: You've managed it for the past three thousand years…
Aro: True. However, I know you will be a breath of fresh air in the courtroom. Trust me when I say that there is no other place for you aside a throne. Whatever the Volturi was before knowing you is but a memory.
Eva: I do hope your faith in me isn't misplaced. I really don't like the idea of making a wrong decision and end up condemning a virtuous man.
Aro: Some rise by sin and some by virtue fall. Don't under estimate your intuition, dearest. It told you to mistrust Edward, which is a notion not even his beloved 'family' has had the sense to consider.
She smiled at every line of his response but her heart sped up a little when she saw that Aro had used a quote from Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.Yet another one of his plays she had read a dozen times. She wondered if it was intentional or not but she was fairly positive that it was. If he had read her mind thoroughly, she was sure a rather large portion of it was devoted to Shakespeare.
Eva: Been brushing up on your Shakespearian plays? I rather enjoyed your use of the quote.
Aro: Knowing how dear these tales are to you; I have. It's been a wonderful distraction during our time of separation. It makes me feel closer to you. Though even this joy is tainted in the most juvenile of ways. I have never found myself envious of any mortal or immortal alike in all my existence but instead it is ink and paper that draws forth such jealousy in me. If not only because I wish you felt the same fondness for me as you do for your literature.
Eva: I'm fond of you…
There was more to that sentence but she couldn't say it. She was very fond of him. She cared a lot about the three kings and her admiration for them seemed to grow every day, if not every minute. But that couldn't be. They were still getting to know each other so to jump and say she liked him more than any story she had ever read was preposterous. So why did every word they had to say to her have to feel so full of love? To love her so soon was just impossible. Hell, she doubted her own mother truly loved her before she passed away, so how could they?
Aro: Forgive me dearest one, I spoke out of turn. In short, this separation has been a battle that's difficult to overcome. I'll refrain from reciting the quotes I long to utter for now but I will not be able to hold my tongue for very long, dearest. You will know how loved you are. You deserve to know.
If this wasn't the perfect time for Eva to mention her agony from earlier, she didn't know when would be. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she contemplated telling him the full truth of the situation but her hand balled into a fist yet again. She was the one that asked for this. If the pain came from being away from her Kings it was entirely by her own doing. It was just something that came with the territory and if her mates had suffered this for an even greater amount of time than she had; she'd suffer with them.
Eva's pride also prevented her from urging him to continue about his romantic words but in a way, it was okay. He'd see how she felt soon enough. If he knew her well, he must know how shy and introverted she was. Seeing how much she adored him in her mind was actually far more intimate than anything she could say aloud. But for Marcus and Caius who were not blessed with such a gift…she'd work on it. She didn't know why she was still afraid to express her emotions. Possibly because her mind still scolded her for feeling them in the first place. They shouldn't act like madly in love fools so soon. For how could she act that way when she wasn't even sure if it was love that she was feeling? Was there a sign? Some beacon that would flash before her eyes that would tell her when she was head over heels? She hoped so. Being blind to her own heart was a troubling notion.
They spoke for only a short while after that because Charlie had returned home unexpectedly again. She gave Aro a quick but heartfelt goodbye, waited for his beautiful response then closed her laptop. When she looked up, she realized that after her little fiasco this morning, she was still wearing her Mickey Mouse pajama pants and matching Mickey Mouse T-shirt she had worn to bed. And her humiliation continued.
"Hello again, Jasper." Charlie said to him kindly. Eva at last looked up at the clock to see that it was only 9:00 in the morning. No wonder Aro kept mentioning the time, why, oh why did she have to keep waking up so early?!
Charlie smiled at her and Eva noticed he wasn't in uniform. Odd, she would have bet money on him having to work today but when she saw the grocery bags sitting on the kitchen counter she supposed that explained why he was gone during her dilemma. Which she was thankful for, really.
"No work today?"
"Not this morning, no. I had someone fill in for me and decided I'd work the late shift tonight since, I'd most likely have to anyway. Figured this way I could at least have the day with you before you left for Italy. Unfortunately my only other day off this week is Sunday and you're leaving that day."
Eva shot a sideways glance at Jasper who subtly nodded and excused himself. As he left Eva told him she'd get in contact with him again later. She braced but was astounded that she still felt fine after his departure. She was fairly sure he was the reason her pain wasn't crippling anymore but now there was just a random throb every now and again. Maybe she should go to the hospital with all these strange and inconsistent symptoms.
"If you'd rather be with your friend, I understand." Charlie quickly added once Jasper walked out the front door. Eva shook her head and smiled up at him.
"No, I can catch up with him later, no worries." She assured him. Charlie brightened up at this and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"Alright, well do you want to hit the lake one last time? Our fishing day was usually Sunday but…"
Damn, that's right. She hadn't even thought about that aspect of her moving away from Forks. Wonderful. Everything about this just seemed to be set up to be a miserable experience. Well, she'd make the best of it then!
"Sure Uncle Charlie, let me get changed and we can head out." Who needed to eat and sleep? Maybe some Tylenol would help if that pain came back…you know if she took half the bottle. She got up from the couch to walk to her bedroom but Charlie stopped her.
"Hey Kiddo, actually, can you wait here for a second? I got something I've been meaning to give you since you came to Forks." He asked politely and Eva nodded in agreement. Her curiosity was almost too much to bear when she watched Charlie walk out of his bedroom with a little wooden lock box. His smile broadened when he opened the box and peered down at the items unseen to her inside. When he pulled out the object and held it to her eye level, Eva covered her mouth in shock.
It couldn't be. She thought…she thought she'd never see that again. In between Charlie's index finger and thumb was a golden, engraved ring. A ring Eva knew from her memory and instantly recognized it. It was her father's ring. Her true father. It was his firefighter's ring and it had the emblem of fire helmet and two crossed ladders engraved in the center, above it was the number of the fire department he had worked for. On one side of the ring was etched his name and on the opposite side was their surname. Her father had worn that ring for as long as she could remember and how it was in Charlie's possession she didn't know or care. She just couldn't believe it was in front of her! Eva had nothing that had previously belonged to her father or anything to remind her of him save a handful of pictures she had to hide from Rick. Upon marrying her mother Rick had demanded that she got rid of everything that had belonged to her father and like the fool she was; her mother obliged. Pride be damned, the sheer shock of seeing something so small but so irreplaceably valuable that she had thought to be lost, made tears fall from Eva's eyes freely.
Charlie cleared his throat to hide his own emotions and focused his sight on the ring instead of Eva so that he wouldn't join her in tears. Only a family trait seemed to be that their eyes always displayed their emotions despite how they tried to keep them concealed.
"I found this on the bathroom sink after your last visit here. I called Joseph to see if he wanted me to mail it back to him but he told me to hang onto it for him. Said it only guaranteed that he'd have to come back for another visit and that I couldn't come up with an excuse to tell him no." Charlie laughed and Eva clenched her mouth tighter when she saw the tears form in Charlie's eyes. He too didn't care enough to hide them in this moment. The harsh, unspoken story being that her father had perished before he had the chance to come back for that visit weighed Charlie down strongly and prevented him from speaking for a moment. She knew her father and Charlie had been close; which was another reason her family had visited the Swans as often as they did in the past. Before her father had lost his never ending fight all too soon. Charlie looked Eva in the eyes and swallowed before continuing.
"So, I kept this safe for him like I promised. I know he would want you to have it." He extended his arm farther and Eva let out a shaky breath as she walked over to him. She gingerly took it from his hand as if she was afraid it would break or disappear if she mishandled it. She took the time to flip the ring from one side to the other to read his first and last name. The ring was designed similarly to a class ring, the gold it was made of was cheap and flawed but to Eva it was worth more gold than this world could possibly bear. She tried to slip it onto one of her fingers but it was ungodly big on her. Knowing that this ring's place was once on her father's noble hand made it so precious. She had no words. Anytime she thought about her father, she remembered him with this ring and having a solid, real, tangible reminder of him was a gift she could never express her gratitude for.
"Uncle Charlie…thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me! I can't…thank you so much. You are the only family I need." Eva stammered. Even with the ring in her hands it was hard for her to believe it was real. She'd be eternally thankful for Charlie. He had done so much for her during her stay at Forks. Spending time with her, driving all the way to Florida just to get her junky car for her and now this. She sincerely hoped Bella knew what she had.
"Don't mention it, kiddo. Like I said, it's been yours all along, I've just been looking after it. It was bound to make it to your hands at one time or another. I thought I'd give it to you now as a going away present. It seemed like the perfect time. Now, I have one more thing I wanted to give you." He reached into the box once again and this time…he pulled out…a knife?
"Yeah, I know it's a funny transition." Charlie chuckled when she saw Eva's scrunched up expression. "It was actually my father's. He collected knives. Pocket knives, hunting knives, you name it. I managed to collect this one and a few others from him after he passed away. I always thought I'd pass them along to my son but as you can see it didn't work out that way. So I thought you might appreciate it." Charlie smiled handing the knife over to her.
Eva took the knife from his hand and in the process she accidentally pressed the little button on the handle, releasing the blade. A switchblade knife, really?! Those are illegal, officer!
"Woah, careful." Charlie tsked but luckily it had avoided making contact with either of their hands. "It's got a sensitive trigger and it's still very sharp. But hey, you may need it if any of those Italian boys get a little too friendly, huh? I'm sure you will have two or three of them in love with you in no time." Charlie joked with a chuckle.
You have no idea Eva commented in her head. She did like the idea of owning something that could be used to defend herself but it didn't feel right. If the knife had belonged to Charlie's father surely there were others before her that should have it.
"I can't take this if it was grandpa's, Charlie. Shouldn't you give it to Bella?" She had never actually met her grandfather on her mother's side. From what she gathered from her mother he passed away when she was in her early twenties but that's all she knew.
"Hey, I have plenty of stuff I can leave behind for Bella when my time comes and I know how much she hates knives or anything that could produce violence, so I doubt she'd appreciate it. Plus, I figured after all you went through, maybe you'd feel a little safer with it. Trust me Eva, if you don't take it, it will just sit around in this box. At least with you it might have some sentimental value." Charlie explained and Eva nodded absentmindedly. Wow, now it really did feel like a goodbye even though they still had some time. At least she had something to remind her of Charlie too. Charlie coughed and straightened up, clearly having his fill of their heartfelt moment.
"Alright, now, let's get going. Maybe if we're lucky we can actually get you to catch something decent before you leave."
After that, Eva's day improved tremendously. She and Charlie spent hours on the lake and it wasn't as frigid as it normally was; which was a nice change. She even caught a grand total of five fish to Charlie's three! She released hers after they were caught but it was still kind of fun to beat her own personal score and even out fish Charlie! When they made it back home she fixed them both some sandwiches and they watched movies on the TV until Charlie had to leave for his shift. During that time she'd randomly text her kings so they knew all was well but they were understanding. They were extremely supportive of her spending today with her family. She did rather enjoy her conversation with Aro earlier and when she let her mind drift it automatically went to one of the three of them. As sad as this was, it was exciting in many ways too. Living in Italy, having her Kings with her at all times; all and all it wasn't going to be an unpleasant experience. She just hated leaving Charlie behind. It wasn't like she could include him. Something told her immortality wouldn't suit Charlie the way it would her or Bella. All well…she could always write to him at the very least.
When Charlie left for work she called Jasper. The pain in her chest had started mounting again but he managed to keep it tamed for her. Jasper wasn't quiet about his displeasure in seeing her in such state however. He kept insisting that she tell her mates what was happening with her and she kept dismissing him. She could make it another three days without crying for help. Jasper may have to attach himself to her at the hip during the end of that time but she could do it nonetheless! That way Aro would see that she was strong, better than the crying little girl that got the hell beat out of her on a regular basis that he had already seen. After watching more boring TV Eva perked up when she realized she had a little bit of money left! Well, sort of. She knew Charlie had snuck in dropped some cash in her purse as though she wouldn't know that he had. He didn't even put it in her wallet, he just left it loose in her purse. She could see why he never became a detective but she was so happy at the idea of shopping for once, she accepted the gift.
Now that she had a proper escort, she asked Jasper to accompany her to a clothing store and at long last she got herself a pair of jeans! No more shorts and hoodies for her! Now it would be…jeans and hoodies! She also found a sturdy silver chain while she was shopping that she decided to use to hold onto her father's ring properly. It couldn't fit around her finger but it could easily be used as a necklace and Eva much preferred it that way anyway. At least she still had a part of him with her. It was a tremendous feeling.
After Eva dug out her wallet from her purse she asked Jasper to hold it for her while she waited in the ridiculously long line to the cash register. She was already wearing one of her new pairs of blue jeans and placed her cellphone in her purse during the changing process. If one of the Kings called her she wanted him to answer for her because she felt a little awkward talking to one of her vampiric mates while surrounded by so many people. At least he was off on his own and Eva wouldn't put it past herself to exclaim the word "Vampire" or "My King" aloud which would surely provoke curiosity.
When she finally made it through the extremely long line of impatient people, she looked around to find Jasper but he wasn't standing where she had left him. Uh oh…had, had she been found by some vampire in the store or something?! That would be a fun headline in tomorrow's paper! "Crazy Monster Fight breaks out in local store!" Eva nervously searched for her companion once she checked out, only to roll her eyes when she found him trying on different hats in the men's section. She walked up to him and gave him a firm slap on his arm.
"Give me a heart attack, why don't you! I thought something had happened!" She scolded and Jasper laughed in response.
"You were taking forever, so I thought I'd have a bit of fun, milady."
"You're a lousy guard then." Eva murmured.
"Please, my kind wouldn't come here. It's too crowded and it's already past nightfall. If they were trying to find someone to feed on they'd try a bar or the park. Easier to drag your victims away without discovery." Jasper smirked and handed her purse back to her. It was a little disturbing to talk about vampire feeding habits as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Even more disturbing that Eva wasn't…disturbed. Eva looked at her phone and saw it was already 10:00 at night! Where had all the time gone, it was only 8:00 when they arrived. Still, Eva wasn't about to give up her argument.
"Yes, well, someone out to assassinate me would find it a perfect opportunity to attack, wouldn't they?" She asked with her hands on her hips.
"Perhaps but I maintain that even if they did track you here, somehow getting past my senses mind you; they would still have to wait to grab you after you made it outside. And we're still inside. See, we're perfectly safe, aren't I clever?" Jasper smirked and placed a black and white baseball cap on his head in victory then plopped a similar baseball cap on her head in jest.
"Yeah well…that hat looks stupid." Eva grinned. Victory! She did think of him as a friend even though she tried not to. It was just hard not to like the guy when he helped take care of her and made her laugh. Jasper pouted his lip and sighed,
"Aw, I like this one!"
Eva gestured for them to leave after she put her hat back on the rack and she was a little remorseful again. She doubted she could continue her friendship with Jasper…what with their covens being on not-so-good terms. Could he visit her? Occasionally at the very least? She still had his phone number so maybe she could call him and talk every now and then? That would just have to be a majority of her relationships now. Over the phone.
"So where are we headed now?" Jasper asked now that they had made it back to her car. He was already altering her mood back to a cheerful one and she smiled at this. She couldn't hide much from him either. It was probably good for her to be around people she couldn't bullshit.
"Probably home. After all of today's excitement, I'm kinda sleepy. Might as well go to bed at a decent time." Eva answered.
"Would you like me to watch over you a little more closely in case I sense you struggling? I fear for you, Eva. It may only get worse as time goes on." Jasper said and the real concern in his voice baffled Eva. Did he consider her a friend too and not an obligation?
"I'm no stranger to pain, Jasper but thank you for your concern." Eva stated firmly and the car ride was silent after that. Eva did fear that she would feel that pain again but at least now she was prepared for it. It was always easier to cope with such sensations if you saw it coming. Her body may not know how to brace for it but she could give it a try. When she made it home, she invited Jasper inside once more but he refused her, saying it was best that she got some sleep which was probably true. Oddly enough as she unlocked the front door and was about to walk inside, Jasper had one last remark for her.
"Forgive me, my friend but I was left with no other choice." The power behind his use of the word 'friend' was awe worthy yet Eva had no idea what he was referring to.
"Forgive you for wh-" but he was gone. Leaving Eva with a sense of curiosity and joy all at once. She had made a friend. Even out of these horrible circumstances someone liked her for who she was. Even the heinous bitch she could be at times. Huh…who'd have thought?
Eva sighed and went inside. Too weary to truly contemplate Jasper's words for the time being. After she changed back into her Pajama's she texted all her mates another goodnight and briefly told them all about her day in the process. Except when she got to Caius, she made it a bit more…personal. She had seen a variety of paintings on the walls of the store, which Eva assumed was to give the place a 'fancy' feel but all she could think of was Caius' extraordinary painting he had shown her and how his work blew these paintings out of the water. It made her curious as to what other brilliant work he had locked away that the world would never see. It was a pity, really. She ended her text to Caius with a whiny but sincere message she contemplated deleting before having the guts to send it.
I really, really miss you. I can't wait to see you.
It only took about five minutes for him to respond and Eva smiled widely when she read what he sent back to her.
I yearn for your company as well, amare. Don't fret dearest one, I am doing everything I can to make this loss bearable. Stay strong.
And she would. Being strong was the only option Eva ever had but being strong for someone beside herself was a welcome change. If only she could keep her pain from Aro so he would never know; that would be perfect. All well, at least he'd see that she managed it, that she wasn't made of glass as most people thought her to be. After reading Caius' message a few more times, Eva laid down and drifted to sleep with a smile on her face instead of tear stained cheeks as she did the night before. Only Eva was destined to have very little sleep that night once again.
(XxxX)
A text message at one in the morning was what awoke her this time. Her extremely loud ringtone luckily helped alert her any time she got a message since she knew missing an important one would bear extreme consequences. Her heart raced uncontrollably when she read the text. It wasn't from one of her mates but her newly named friend.
Eva, the worst has happened! You are no longer safe, you are in GRAVE danger! Please, I need your help! I can't fight them off forever! Please meet me at La Push immediately! There isn't much time! Please HELP me, Eva! I need you!
Eva panicked and her first reaction was to call him to get more information about his vague message. She was in danger…he was in danger?! Fight off who?! What was going on?! It rang and it rang but he didn't answer. She called again, no answer. With her heart pounding in her chest, Eva threw off her pajamas and put on her newly purchased jeans and a T-Shirt along with one of her warmer hoodies in what had to be record breaking time. Was he not answering because…no! No, he was okay, he had to be okay! She tried to think of some things she would need and she thanked Charlie aloud when she remembered the knife he had given her, not that it would be any good against vampires. Being too panicked to think of much else, Eva grabbed her cellphone and rushed out the front door.
She remembered La Push from her sightseeing her first month in Forks but she hadn't actually visited there before. The entire drive there she kept calling Jasper's phone but still she got no response.
"Come on, Jasper!" Eva urged and cursed a loud "Fuck!" after the eighteenth call had been ignored. Please be okay, please be okay! But what could she do?! If he was fighting vampires, she would be more a hindrance than an asset! Well, he said he needed her so she would do what she could for him! Maybe he had a clever plan he was waiting to fill her in on when she found him.
Once she made it to the beach, she got out of her car and began to search for him. It was a large area and she couldn't even spot any recent tracks in the sand! How was she supposed to find him?! She decided to venture into the forest by the beach, knowing if a battle was raging on, it would most likely be somewhere deep in the woods; away from human sight.
"Jasper!" She whispered fiercely. She hoped his vampire ears would hear her without alerting any others to her. But Eva was too worried about Jasper to give herself any extra thought. If something had happened to him while he was trying to protect her, she'd never forgive herself. "Jasper, I'm here! Where are you, how can I help?!"
It was so dark, Eva could barely see her own hand in front of her face. She resorted to pulling out her cellphone for a small amount of light, but knowing it would draw attention to her, she only used it in short bursts. After about twenty minutes of searching, she decided to give calling him one last try as she crouched low to the ground to wait. She jumped out of her skin when she heard the sound of Jasper's phone ringing from behind her but sighed in relief that she had found him.
"Jasper-" Eva started while turning around to face him. But what she saw wasn't her wavy honey-blonde vampire…but a scowling, auburn one.
"Edward." Eva gulped but kept her composure. It was truly a sinister sight to see Jasper's cellphone lit up in Edward's front shirt pocket; the sound of his ringtone still blaring and the light of the phone illuminating Edward's face menacingly. Eva slowly ended the call and the sound ceased. She swallowed hard and ignored the fear that was consuming her. Okay…no big deal…maybe Jasper had lent his phone to Edward…after his plea for help…shit.
"Where's Jasper?!" Eva demanded and she watched a small smile curve on Edward's face. His skin looked so much paler in the dark night under the light of the moon.
"He's fighting a vampire named Victoria, currently. She has a personal vendetta against Bella and myself. She even brought a few newborn vampires with her to overpower us. So Alice went to him once she was spotted, seeking his assistance. Like the good brother he is, he went to defend his family instantly, knowing that all of Forks, including yourself would be in danger. While Alice was with him, she managed to retrieve this from him without his notice." He pulled out Jasper's phone from his pocket before letting it fall to the forest floor without another thought.
Edward began to take slow, short steps towards her and Eva instinctively took two steps back to his one. She knew her heart was beating obscenely loud for a being like him but she couldn't calm it. That same look he gave her the previous day was alive and well, intimidating her to the point that her voice shook at her next question.
"Is...Is he okay?"
"I assume so, he has the family with him. They would have either destroyed them or drove them away by now. We have done so before. Her appearance couldn't have come at a better time, I am actually indebted to her for that. I needed to lure you away from him. I knew you would come without question if you thought he was in danger." Edward explained calmly and Eva closed her eyes tight when she felt her back meet a tree trunk. She couldn't move away from him any longer. So she was right, he had set a trap for her. And Jasper had no idea…
"And why did you need that?" Eva questioned. She couldn't take her eyes away from him and though her quickened heartbeat betrayed her, she made sure not an ounce of fear was displayed on her face. Was this it…?
"He was determined to follow the Volturi's ruling, thinking it was the only way. But I have a better plan. One that keeps both you and Bella alive in the end." He slammed both of his hands on either side of her on the tree's base; keeping her in place. Eva was shaking uncontrollably but she kept her hate filled eyes on his all the while, still refusing to look away from him.
"Ahead of us are two shape-shifters that are willing to journey with me to get you and Bella out of Forks. They have a unique effect on vampires; they cloud their abilities. Even Alice's gift is useless in this regard, she can't see anything revolving around shape-shifters. So even when the Volturi come, they will have no way to track you. Alice helped me lure you away but has no idea where we are going. None of my family members know. I'm taking you away from here and away from the Volturi, Eva. I will not subject my kind to the brutality of the Volturi once you are turned! You're not going back to them. I'll make sure you stay far away from the supposed 'Kings' if it's the last thing that I do!"
Eva felt her heart shatter as she tried to process what Edward was saying to her. She was leaving Forks…she'd never see the kings again? At the thought she realized just how much she had come to care for them in such a short time. They couldn't find her? She was powerless to stop this…no, it couldn't be!
"Why…? Why are you doing this? If you want to take Bella, go. I won't tell them where you went, just don't take me with you!" Eva exclaimed.
"Because, you are too powerful for your own good, Eva. Such a power being nurtured by destructive hands is something I cannot allow. Nor will I watch another human willingly become something they can't fathom! You were born human, you will die human. This is the law of nature. And after what Bella did, I have no choice. Aro will not forgive her if he sees what she did to you; I know his mind. Vampire or not, he or one of your beloved mates will take my world from me. I can't let that happen! If by some chance they do catch up to us and I sincerely doubt they will, I can always offer a deal they cannot refuse with you in my possession." He grabbed both of her shoulder's to show his urgency and Eva winced slightly at the pain his desperate touch brought forth.
"Her life for yours." At that he tossed her away from him and she almost toppled over from the power behind it. "Now let's go. There is no need to linger here any longer."
"Edward, I...I get that you're trying to save Bella but let me talk it over-"
"Enough!" Edward interrupted and Eva jumped at the volume of his voice. "It's over Eva. Even if your mates left this very moment, it takes ten hours to get from Volterra to Forks. I assure you that we will be long gone by then. Leaving behind an untraceable trail with no means of knowing where you are. We can easily outlast them; long enough for the mating bond to eliminate the threat for me. Even if the Volturi find Alice, she doesn't know where we're headed and with the shifters by our side, she'll never have a vision of it either. If Alice can't see us, nor will Demetri. Now you and Bella are free to live out your mortal lives without worry. You'll thank me when you are no longer influenced by the mating bond."
It truly felt like her heart was ripping to shreds. This…this wasn't fair! Not when she was finally opening herself up to them, just for her to be ripped from them against her will? Oh gods…they'd die, wouldn't they? That was Edward's main goal, to have her kings die so they would no longer be a threat to him! He was using her as a weapon! The bastard! How could he? What could she do? She had to reason with him, she had to! Knowing that her kings would die because of her, she'd never forgive herself. She couldn't live with herself!
"You are putting your entire family in jeopardy if you do this! If you want to take Bella, I won't say a word. Just go, you'll have almost three whole days to get away! Just let me stay here." Eva pleaded and hated herself even more for doing so but she was desperate.
"They know the risks. Many of them are leaving Forks as we speak, a couple may join us later on, its undecided. You see Eva, all we have to do is outlive and out run your mates and we'll be the victors in the end." Edward said firmly and Eva could see that he wasn't going to budge. Now, when it was probably too late she realized that she had already fallen for her kings. The idea of never seeing them again was more agonizing then the pain she encountered earlier. She felt like she was falling down an endless pit of despair and this time she knew she couldn't climb out of it alone. If Eva needed any further proof of her devotion to the Volturi Kings, her next actions were all that was needed.
"Please," She begged with hot tears running down her face. She'd even beg him if she had to. Her pride this time was a lot easier to swallow if it meant she could go free. She couldn't even stop herself from crying even though she hated anyone seeing her that way. None of it mattered to her anymore. All that mattered was being where she belonged.
"Please, don't take me from them. I'll convince them to let Bella live, I'll do something, just don't keep me from them! I can finally feel my heart again!"
"I could just kill you, Eva." Edward said coldly to her pleas. It made Eva clench her eyes shut tight which forced the last of her tears to fall. "You may not see it now but I am giving you life. The only thing you would taste with the Volturi is death. I'm the hero of this tale whether you acknowledge it or not."
Eva slowly reached for her cellphone in her jacket pocket and knew she had to try and get ahold of her mates somehow. She summoned up the rest of her courage and looked up at Edward from under her eyebrows.
"Anyone that would willingly tear apart love, could never be a hero!" Eva said without a crack in her voice or a tear in her eye. He needed to know how serious she was and how true her statement was. Edward took two steps towards her and breezily replied with,
"Good thing the Volturi are incapable of love." The same cold, lifeless look in his eyes no longer haunted her but fueled her. She had to get away. "Now come on, Bella and the others are waiting for us."
Eva followed him for a minute before she turned on her heel and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. She screamed for help as she pulled out her cellphone but just as she opened her address book, Edward caught her. Now the scream she let out was in pain, his grip on her arms was bruising and caused her to drop her cellphone onto the ground. She continued to cry out for help as Edward drug her away. Hoping against hope that it wasn't too late.
Please, please find me…
Curlykisses: Told you guys a lot was going down. I have way too much to say to make a comment so I'll just anxiously await to see your predictions and reactions to this. Please review. I write so much faster when I see your reviews. Consider them my muse. Thanks again for reading. You guys are the best!