A/N: Haha, bet you didn't expect an update this soon, but I'm anxious to get this thing going. So, let's get this baby rolling again.
A special thanks to: BellaCullen01, GoodyGoody23, Kason08, My Love Is Never A Mistake, nellie bly, and ninjaonfire. Thanks for sticking with me, and for being wonderful reviewers, I have rewarded you with a brand new chapter! :pretends there's a huge applause: Thank you, thank you. You're too kind. :lifts brow at the silence: Humph, fine!
Disclaimer: All characters used in this story and major plot belongs to the talented author Stephenie Meyer.
Category: Books: Twilight
Genre: Romance/Drama
Rating: PG-13 (T)
Summary: Sometimes I wonder if the Fates aren't purposefully torturing me, and then I think long and hard on it, and come to the same conclusion every night...I was meant to be alone. E/B
Extra: Who do you think are going to be the ultimate bad guys in this story? Believe, me, there is going to be one. And how excited are you for Breaking Dawn? Oh my, I just preordered it from Barnes and Noble, and I'm dying to get it! EEK! Just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. I wonder what Bella will be able to do as a vampire, because there is no way she's becoming one in this book. Hmmm, I wonder, now this is just my theory mind you, that she won't crave human blood. I know it sounds strange, but Stephenie Meyer has made it a point to show us how incredibly sick she gets around the stuff. I mean she can smell it, that's strange. Just a thought!
My Immortal
by: Dark Huntress
Chapter 9: Facing the Past
"Ok, now calm yourself, it'll be alright," Angela said, patting my shoulder, it did little to comfort me, how was I supposed to be calm?
Taking in a deep breath, Richard, Angela, Edward, and I left the hotel, setting off on our trek through the woods. Once we hit the tree it would take us only a few minutes before we reached the house hiding in the forest. I wasn't prepared, not anywhere close to being prepared for what was coming, but I didn't really have a choice either. It was going to happen, I just had to suck it up.
"Alright," I said, nodding my head, we started walking, Edward had grabbed my hand, and I squeezed it, needing the reassurance.
Smiling at Edward, we made our way through the streets, trying to avoid the pedestrians as best as we could. It was cloudy out, so there was no hindrance in us walking out in the middle of the day, unfortunately it reminded me of Forks. It seemed like everything was doing that recently.
Skipping across the street, our group walked normally for a few more meters before the cover of the foliage finally covered us up. The others immediately took off, they weren't nervous, and it took me a few moments to build myself up again. I knew they were there, unsuspecting of the visitors that would come barreling out into their yard in a few minutes. It would cause them emotional turmoil, but in a way I yearned to see them again. I had spent my early years there, had learned from and shared with them stuff that the Cullens would never know of. I couldn't erase the emotions that would always be attached to them, I wasn't sure I wanted to either.
I could run.
The thought came out of nowhere, but I knew it was true. And for a few moments I considered it, considered taking off, they wouldn't be able to catch me. Edward would have the best shot, but by the time they realized I really wasn't going to come, I could be gone. It take me only moments to disappear, Edward wasn't a very good tracker, he'd said so himself. The other two were probably better, but I was sure I could get away. I had spent enough time running, I knew a few tricks.
"Don't run, you need this," his voice whispered, his hands pulled my back against his chest, his nose at the nape of my neck.
"I know, old habits die hard," I remarked, giggling as he hit a sensitive place on my neck, cold shivers raced down my spine.
"Mmm, yes, I agree," he murmured, his lips trailing around to my cheek before he nipped lightly at the corner of my jaw.
"Stop, you're just trying to distract me from the inevitable," I scolded, but only half heartedly, I was really enjoying this attention.
"Is it working?" he asked, and I rolled my eyes, knowing that he very well knew how well this form of distraction was working.
"Yes," I smiled, turning around in his arms and laying my head on the crook of his neck, he seemed just as happy to hold me there.
"Good," he breathed in my ear, rocking me back and forth as he hummed my lullaby, I smiled, feeling safe and at ease.
Well I did til he interrupted.
"Are you coming, or do you need some privacy?" a deep sarcastic voice quipped, and I huffed, unhappy that our moment was ruined.
Edward growled somewhat, but allowed me to pull away none the less. I didn't really understand the hatred that flowed between Edward and Richard, what made Immortals hate each other? They were of the same species, so unlike the Pack and the Cullens, they didn't have that reason. Neither one smelled real bad, and just because we didn't follow the same diet, didn't mean anything, we had met others like them. So it had to be some chemical thing, something inside of them that we couldn't see. It was strange.
Turning to Richard, I walked off, smiling at him as I passed his lounging figure. He smiled somewhat back, almost in an ornery fashion. Shaking my head I walked away, trusting that they would behave at least somewhat, Angela would kill him if he didn't.
Racing through the pines, I laughed, enjoying the whipping wind that flowed through my hair. It felt wonderful, the crisp bite of the air as it hit my skin, I could imagine the red tinge my skin would have taken if I had still been human. Another wistful thought, one that earlier I would have loved to live through again, now, as things were starting to turn, I wasn't so sure anymore.
Skidding to a halt, I cautiously walked towards Angela, who was crouched down and looking through the foliage on the edge of the house's clearing. I gulped, forming fists with my hands before releasing them, suddenly wishing that I had waited for Edward. We weren't positive that he was my Immortal yet, but the clues were adding up, and I was sure this was about to be an emotional roller coaster, one that I would need his strength in.
She moved her finger to her lips and waved me forward, I approached cautiously, hardly breathing in at all. Slowly lowering myself, I peeked through the gap that she had spread with her fingers. It looked the same, the huge house still towering above the huge expanse of yard. It was clear of any trees, allowing the clan within to have a clear view if any vampire, or anything for that matter, were to come on their land. A few bushes, too small to hide anything but a small fox or rabbit, lined the base of the huge mansion.
The house was white with green shutters that framed the numerous amounts of windows that the house possessed. It had four huge columns that stretched up to the roof overhang. The doors were dark oak, gleaming in the afternoon sun that had decided to break through the cloud cover momentarily. The black shingles sparkled, like our skin, as a small bird landed on the guttering. It was beautiful, and haunting, all at the same time.
The shed off to the side was just a simple tin shed, which at the moment had the large garage doors rolled up. There bent over the hood of an old car, was Eleazar. The wind being blown towards us, blew our scents away from the occupants of the house. We, at the moment, had not been noticed.
Looking behind me, I watched the two men come up to us, both looked rather upset and I was sure they were just itching to throttle one another. Smirking, I couldn't help myself, it was nice to see the gentleman Edward come undone every once in awhile. I mean really, no one is that perfect.
"What are you planning?" Richard asked, his hand raising to clear a space for his own viewing area, never turning when his wife didn't answer.
Looking at the small woman, I raised a brow at the look on her face. Perhaps I wasn't the only one that was nervous about this meeting. Oddly enough I felt comforted by that fact, all the time before, I had felt like I was simply overreacting and everyone was amused by my worries. Now I could see that Angela felt slightly the same, maybe not to my extreme, but definitely there.
"I'm going out there first, Richard you'll follow just in case they react negatively. You know, I mean, if they catch your scent, Bella," she explained in a hushed voice, her fingers slipping to let the leaves cover us once again. "Then, Edward, when I fist my hand I want you to follow, but not until. After that, Bella, you follow only a few paces behind, we need to make sure you are behind all of us, just in case."
I nodded my head, accepting her plan, I wasn't at all bothered by the fact that if there was a fight that she was trying to keep me out of it. I knew that I was dangerous and would much rather the others create minimal damage rather than my all out destruction.
"Well, wish us luck," Angela said, and as she stood I reached out to grasp her hand, squeezing it before letting it fall to her side once more.
She walked out silently, slowly, as if walking towards a wild beast. The minute she stepped away from the trees, Eleazar turned from what he was doing, critically eying the two that were slowly strolling towards him. I watched as he flipped out a cell phone and then quickly said a few words that I couldn't catch. In an instant the phone was back in his pocket and he was across the yard at the front of the house, his arms crossed.
Richard and Angela stopped a ways away, an appropriate distance to show that they meant no harm, and that they were not too overly friendly. Angela didn't want to pull an Alice, who would run out there and squeal while jumping on top of each one. She wanted to be calm, we would need it in this storm.
"Angela, what brings you here?" Irina said calmly, she slowly descended down the few steps that there were from the front patio.
"Can't an old friend drop in for a visit?" Angela said sweetly, stepping forward slightly to embrace the blonde, I was happy to see that Irina had two arms now, obviously she'd found the missing limb.
"Well, of course, but when an old friend comes and leaves two of her company hiding in the forest, one begins to wonder," the ancient vampire stated, turning her head to stare directly at where we were.
Gasping, I jolted backwards, Edward having to keep me from toppling all the way over, an old reflex of his. The wind was still blowing from the same direction, so I knew they couldn't smell us, and we were completely out of sight. By the comical look on Angela's face, I could tell that she was just as surprised. Perhaps they had just lived here for so long, that they just instinctively knew when something was amiss.
Angela quickly covered up her lapse, smiling genially, and embracing the leader once more before pulling back. She never dared looking over at us, though I didn't see the need for the pretense any longer. However, the brunette seemed reluctant to give it up.
"Who's out there?" I gasped again, this time less loudly, and didn't almost embarrass myself, but was astounded to hear her voice.
I had missed Carmen so much, and there she stood in all her glory, leaning against one of the columns and out into the forest. Her eyes were critical, examining each tree individually before moving on. I held my breath, praying, for what I wasn't sure. Edward curled his arm around me, holding me still, his chest just as still as my own. I was petrified, unable to move, frozen to one spot.
Her eyes moved passed us, and I felt relief, my muscles loosening as the frustration grew on her perfect features.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" A deep voice said, one that I did not recognize.
Twisting around, we came face to face with two vampires, two that I had never seen before. There eyes were a golden honey, so I could only presume that the Denali clan had expanded since my exit. But two? In only one year they had gained two new members, wasn't that kind of strange? Why would they have so many join them when I had been the only new one in fifty years?
"A couple of spies," the other one said, she was small, almost like a preteen, but with a nasty twist to her small lips. "We don't like spies."
The male was dashingly beautiful, which was common, I supposed. He too had the darker tinge to his skin like Carmen did, with a slight beard that dusted his jaw line. Dark, thick curls topped his head and fell into his eyes, which seemed to be growing darker by the second. Violence was building within him, and I knew with two I would have to fight.
The girl had brown hair that fell just below her ears, with huge almond shaped eyes. She had a pert nose that sported a tiny nose ring, one that I was sure had been there before she was changed, there was no other way she'd have one. Her body was tiny, especially standing next to her friend, which wasn't as tall as Edward, but certainly wider.
Before I had even realized what was happening, Edward was thrown across the yard, and I screamed his name, turning in time to see him hit the house with an audible thud. Angela and Richard's eyes were wide, but they quickly recovered as they slid into battle stances. Richard was scary, way beyond anything that I had ever seen before, his lips curling back and a wild gleam in his eyes.
"Pay attention girl, your fight is with me," she cackled as she lunged at me, I quickly sidestepped her, shirting away while still trying to say behind the tree line.
She was awkward in her movements, as if not used to her own body. Her limbs looked extremely breakable, but I was sure they were not. No vampire was breakable, not even those that appeared to be so.
A look of deep concentration broke out across her face, her brows furrowed, and her eyes squinting. Her lips pursed, her eye now ticking as she hissed.
"Damn it, what is wrong with you?" she howled, surprised, I didn't move away in time as she rushed me, and we both came toppling out into the open.
I didn't have time to notice their responses, I had underestimated her, I wouldn't do that again. She was wiry, and fast on her feet, much like I remembered Alice being when the Cullens had been practicing for Victoria in Forks.
Damning my wondering mind, I struggled beneath her, not having seen her lunge at me til she had toppled me over. To my right I could see Edward in his own power struggle. Fear shot through me as I clearly saw how much the other vampire seemed to be overpowering mine. He was clearly the stronger of the two, and that scared me.
"Damn it, Bella, they're newborns," Edward yelled, and I understood, the extreme strength this girl had was because of her youth.
I prayed that Edward could out maneuver that vampire, for at the moment I was no help, and I could not see where Angela and Richard were.
Growling, I kicked outwards, flipping the small girl off me as I quickly rolled to my feet, promising that I would watch her every move from now on.
She stood slowly, shaking her head before turning and hissing angrily in my direction, the same look of concentration passing her face before being replaced by frustration. I could only assume she had a gift, and I was immune to it. Oddly enough it gave me great satisfaction to watch her fail, but then again, that could be because she was trying to kill me. I was funny like that.
She lunged again, lacking any tact or fighting know how, she was awkward, which was my advantage. Dancing out of the way quickly, I twisted in mid step, and watched as she went to go by me from her lunge. Reaching out I quickly caught her and threw her to the ground, placing myself on top of her stomach. My hand was at her throat, a hiss in my own, as I reflexively squeezed, knowing that air wouldn't be a problem. No, she'd be more worried about me dismembering her head.
Looking behind me I was happy to see that Edward had detained his own pest, said pest was currently trying to dig himself out of a hole that my love had buried him in. The only thing I could see of the burly guy was his head, which was twisting and snarling as the copper haired vampire calmly strolled away, a smirk on his lips.
Growling low in my throat as the girl resumed her struggling, I reflexively squeezed down, knowing that she would get the hint. She instantly went still, but kept the defiant look in her eyes. She was feisty, and if she hadn't been so adamant about hurting me, I would have found it amusing.
And that's when it hit me.
I had did it, I had actually fought someone and kept control. Touching my chest with my free hand, I could feel the slight pressure there, and even see the clouds in the distance, but I had did it. I had kept them away long enough for me to handle it on my own, a wave hysteria shook me. I knew if the fight had been deadlier, or had lasted longer, that my success would have probably been hampered, but at the moment, this small victory was brilliant.
"Would you get off of me?" the girl hissed, and I stared down at her, having forgotten that she was even there until just now.
"Do you promise not to try rip my head off again," I said, and she nodded her head, quickly I stood, letting her lope away a couple of spaces.
"Fat ass," she mumbled, and I scowled, intent on getting my hands on her again, problem was Edward had reached me and was currently holding me back.
"Don't worry, you're not fat," he chuckled, amused, I, however, was not, in fact I was seething, the rumble in the background and good sign of that.
"I can't help it if she's puny," I replied, giggling as Edward passed his hand lightly over my side.
"Well done, Bella," Angela cheered, her face suddenly appearing before my own, I gasped, not expecting it. "I have never seen someone do that, maybe I was wrong, maybe with your diet you have more control. Who knows! Maybe it was just the time you had spent untrained, oh the possibilities!"
"Now dear, let's not get carried away, Edward was close by," Richard drawled his eyes doing that creepy closed off thing again.
"Yes, but they aren't even officially joined yet, and look at the control she just had. Oh my, how wonderful!" Angela ranted, clapping her hands excitedly.
"Wait, what?" I asked, my head seeming to be spinning in circles as I tried to keep up with the woman, did she suspect the same thing?
"Oh, we've been ninety percent sure since you walked in my apartment that time that Edward was your Immortal, this just proves it all together. Oh joy!" she announced again, I wasn't sure how to react, but I deftly kept my eyes away from Edward's.
Silence fell, the tension that had been missing since after me and Edward officially kicked some newborn butt, was back, and stronger than ever. For the first time I chanced a look at the three vampires that still stood in their original positions. All had the same look on their face, one of absolute disgust. Which was mirrored closely by the two newborns, the girl glaring specifically at me, and the man (who just happened to be picking dirt off his clothes) snarled at Edward.
"Welcome back, Bella," Irina said, and the air was broken, a small smile graced her features, and I felt relief swell in me.
I would never forget what I did, and I was sure that they wouldn't either. The path we once traveled together was forever blocked, the connections I had irreversibly damaged. But perhaps I could be forgiven, we could move on and at least be allies, but never family. No, the family thing would never be offered again, but that was alright, I had my own, and I was happy with them.
A/N: There it is, hope you like it! Do that R&R thing that you all do so wonderful on.
Dark Huntress