Chapter 10- Issues
"What is going on here?" Eleazar demanded. He glared at us all as Carlisle's eyes swept the room, his face slowly moulding into disappointment as he understood. The Cullens stood on one side of the room, while the Denali clan stood on the other.
"It's all their fault." Tanya said, looking at Angela.
"Is it only their fault?" Carmen asked.
"No!" I exclaimed. I couldn't let Tanya just kick us out. We couldn't go back to Forks. "Tanya and Angela got into a fight over Edward after Tanya tried to kiss him after he told her she was just a friend to him. Tessa is trying to take Jasper away from Alice, and Irina, well, I don't know what her problem is with me. Emmett, Matt, and myself got into a small argument over some ill chosen words, but no one got hurt. It's fine now." I looked sheepishly back at Edward, I hoped he didn't mind I was kind of lying to Carlisle and Esme. Things definitely weren't fine. He shrugged and smirked a little as he read what I was thinking. There was no privacy while he was around was there?
"She's lying!" Tanya glared at me. "Their family is falling apart. For crying out loud Edward left Angela for the past four days!"
"But he came back!" I felt Angela tensing behind me. I heard Edward mutter something to her about calming down.
"They need to go. Alicia is already beginning to prefer them as opposed to her own family. It's all that girl Scarlett's fault!" She pointed at me.
That was low, even for Tanya. I could feel my guard letting down, and she knew it.
"She comes from the Volturi. She ran away and went to Forks. When Alice saw the Volturi coming to the Cullens, she fled here. The Cullens followed her and now they're coming here. The Volturi are coming here. They sent that tracker Demetri after her, and the new one, Jason, a shield." She went on. I could feel my shoulders start to shudder. I felt Emmett put his hand on one to steady it.
"As if Scarlett's the only thing pulling our families apart. You seemed to be capable of doing that just fine by yourself." Matt said, stepping up to stand next to me.
"I've heard enough. Tanya, you of all people should know better than to judge people by where they come from. By the sound of it, Scarlett really cares about what happens to her family, and I can tell by the look on her face she's debating whether or not to leave again. The Cullen's are staying, Scarlett, I hope won't leave, and nothing you say is going to change that Tanya. Now apologize please."
"Fine, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you before I got to know you. Friends?"
"Apology accepted. However, after the way you've treated the Cullen's I'm not so sure about your offer of friendship yet. But, I will be civil if you will." I shrugged and stuck out my hand.
She smiled. "I don't blame you. I'll try and be civil." I pulled my hand back.
"Try?"
"Fine, I'll be civil." I put my hand back out and this time she took it. We shook and I stepped back to stand next to Angela.
"Well, no that that's settled, shall we all go into the sitting room and we'll tell you about our hunting trip?"
"Sure." Angela, Edward, Rosalie, Jasper, Alice, and I all started following Carlisle, Esme, Eleazar, and Carmen.
Matt grabbed Emmett's arm after the others had started walking towards the sitting room. He tried to shake it off, but he pulled harder, and after a moment, he gave in and followed him outside. I followed them too, but stayed out of sight.
"What?" He asked glaring at him. Matt looked very small all of the sudden in comparison to Emmett.
"We need to get over this Scarlett issue. I know that she knows we're stilling fighting, and to be honest I'm not sure why."
"Well, Scarlett's cool, and I'm not going to let her end up with some jerk like you."
"Me, a jerk? You shouldn't be talking after what you said to her. She trusted you, and thought you were her friend. She virtually has no one in this family to talk to besides Angela and now Edward." I flinched but knew what Matt said was true.
"I only used her to begin with. I stopped after the first time we raced through the woods. After I saw her standing in the path waiting for me, I knew I couldn't use her. She was too good for that. And in case you are thinking anything, she is way out of your league." I saw Matt's frown curve upwards a little, he knew exactly about that race, he had been there.
"And yours."
"I know, so I guess neither of us can have her then."
"I guess not. Then why are we fighting?"
"Because you've taken my place." Emmett said menacingly.
"No, I haven't. You heard Edward, he still thinks of you like his brother. I'm just biologically related to him." Matt shrugged.
"Fine. Why didn't we have this argument while Scarlett was here?" If only Emmett knew I was, he would start blushing so badly, even though that's impossible for a vampire.
"Um, man, have you been listening to what we have been talking about?"
"Oh yeah." Emmett laughed and high fived Matt, and then headed in towards where I was standing, I hurried into the sitting room. I started laughing with everyone else, even though I wasn't really paying attention.
"Hey Scarlett, where've you been?" Angela whispered.
"I'll tell you later." She nodded and rested her head on the back of the couch I was now sitting on.
"Hey Emmett, Matt, where have you been? Sca-" Edward started to ask.
"Yeah, where have you guys been?" I asked, and gave Edward a look that said 'don't-bring-me-into-this'. He nodded and laughed as he saw what I had been doing. It was still playing through my head. Angela looked at me questioningly. I shrugged, and listened to what Carlisle was talking about.
"As we were passing through British Columbia, we came across this girl Maria-Sophia. My goodness did she ever have a lot of energy, she didn't stop talking did she?" I tuned them out, and looked out the window. The weather was gorgeous. The sun was shining brightly in the bright blue sky, making the snow sparkle up on the mountains. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, as a small wind came and played with the leaves. I could feel Emmett and Matt's gazes on my neck, but I ignored them. I silently left my spot on the couch and headed outside. I could hear Angela ask Alice where I was going worriedly, but Alice told her not to worry. As I walked over to the trees, I heard Edward call "Scarlett. Wait. Where are you going?"
"Just for a run, I want to see the valley from the top of that mountain over there." I pointed to the biggest of the mountains. Even as a vampire I could barely see the top of it.
"Oh, can I come?" Although Edward was being polite, I could tell he wanted to race, I was the only one who could actually give him some competition.
"Fine. But to warm up we'll jog to the base of the mountain." We reached it in seconds.
"Alright, first one to the top wins." I yelled and started sprinting, although I was sprinting, I still held back a little, and tried blocking my mind from Edward's. His eyes narrowed as he tried to see my strategy, but I had learned well from blocking Aro from my thoughts. He couldn't get in. I grinned and poured on a little more speed. I could tell Edward was really running, as his feet started pounding harder, making loud thumps on the ground, sending snow flying as we neared the top. He started pulling ahead as we got close to the summit. I poured on the rest of my speed and flew past him, reaching the top before he could blink. I stood on the top and looked at the valley. It wasn't very big, but it was beautiful. I heard Edward mutter something about me being a devil in blocking him from my thoughts. I smiled and let him hear me.
"How did you do that? Angela is the only one who can block me from her thoughts."
"How else do you think I got away from Aro so many times?"
"It must have been tough living with the Volturi." He looked at me sympathetically.
"Angela said the same thing. It was, but it's not my favourite thing to talk about though."
"Are you ever going to tell anybody what it was like?"
"Eventually, probably after this whole issue with the Volturi has passed. I don't know what I'm going to do when they actually get here."
"What do you mean?"
"When they come, Demetri will want me to come back. I'll either have to go willingly, or he'll send Aro. I may as well just go willingly. I mean it couldn't have been as horrible as I thought it was, could it?" I sat down in the snow, Edward sat next to me.
"I'm sure Emmett wouldn't let you go without a fight, he's developed quite a liking for you." He said grinning, obviously avoiding my question. I raised my eyebrows and stared him down until his grin faded and he started to look serious.
"Look, I know the Volturi, they tend to make life miserable for everyone, and judging by how close in personality we are, it was bad. But believe me, if the Volturi wants you they're going to have to go through us first. Besides, it doesn't seem like you'll have any problems convincing Demetri to keep you safe." His grin returned, and he stood up. "We should probably get going, people- sorry, vampires, will be looking for us soon, I mean considering our history of running away."
I laughed and stood up. "Let's go back."
"Hey, Scarlett?" Alicia called as I headed up the stairs to my room, I was off to play some more songs.
"Yeah?"
"I was wondering, are the Cullens nicer than my family seems to be?"
"What do you mean?" I asked suspiciously.
"I mean, my family, with the exception of Carmen and Eleazar, has been mean to you, and I want to become a Cullen." She took a deep breath and looked at me straight in the face.
"You what? I'm probably not the best person to ask, but you should ask Carlisle. You might be allowed, I don't know though." What was she talking about? I mean Alicia being a Cullen wouldn't be a bad thing, but how big could one coven get?
"I think I will. I mean, living in Denali has been great, but the Cullens are so amazing. The way you all work together and solve your problems, you're always there for each other, and I want to be part of a coven like that."
"Is that really what you want?" Carlisle had come into the room, and heard everything Alicia had said. Alicia nodded solemnly.
"Then I'll talk to Eleazar about it. Okay?" Alicia's eyes lit up as she sensed Carlisle's consent.
After Carlisle left to find Eleazar, I high fived Alicia. "Congratulations. You'll be a Cullen by tonight." Just by slapping hands, my talent had sensed Alicia's future as a Cullen. Alicia hugged me and ran outside for a quick excursion through the woods to hunt.
Matt
I watched as Scarlett congratulated Alicia on something she had seen in the future. Alicia hugged her, and left. Scarlett watched her leave then continued on to her room. What was she congratulating Alicia on? I followed her to her room, but she shut the door as soon as she went inside.
I waited outside the door, hoping she'd come out, but I heard a piano begin to play. It was so beautiful, I was glued to the wall. The song was intricately woven to such an extent, I didn't even think Edward could have played it, even though he was an amazing piano player. As the song progressed further and became softer and sadder, I was frozen in place. The song displayed confusion, then hope, and then hurt. As she played I could only picture her story with the Cullens so far. She had come to them as a last resort. They, and I, I flinched regretfully at the thought, had shunned her because of the danger she had brought. As I went through her story, the song followed it exactly. As Scarlett ran away, the music became faster, and more frightened, as though the Volturi could catch her. When she reached Denali, it became softer and more calm, but then we came, and hope was woven into the song just in the background, so quiet that you almost had to strain your ears to hear it. As most of us were still distant from her, the song twisted into sadness, but then came a sweet melody; Angela. Scarlett's one comfort. Then came a playful harmony, Emmett. The song became happy, and the same hopeful section was played again, but then confusion. Edward must have left. And then hurt. She had heard Emmett and Alice talking to Rosalie and Jasper. The music became so sad it was almost unbearable. More running, and then excitement, she had found Edward. Hope and happiness were woven back into the song. As they returned, Angela's melody returned. The happiness continued for a little while, until anger took it's place. Emmett, her, and my argument. As it came to an end, the anger became frustration, and became so complex I could barely follow, but then it settled, and became so sweet, even though it wasn't part of the story, I pictured her face. Then laughter at some harmony that sounded slightly obnoxious, I didn't understand it, but it was pretty. The music changed to become unsure, but then hope blared out of the melody and harmony so strongly, the unsure was completely wiped out. Happiness and hope competed for the melody as the song came to a close, but then her melody was repeated, Angela's was woven into a harmony, and a new harmony came into play. It was playful, a very slight harmony woven into the background picturing something obnoxious, and then sweetness, very gentle, and happy. I couldn't figure out who it was, but it was obviously someone. The song faded out, and came to a close. As I heard her footsteps approaching the door, I turned and ran to my room, I couldn't let her find me.
Alicia
I became a Cullen yesterday night. The next morning was made for celebration, the sun was shining, making us all sparkle when we went out to play a game of baseball, not caring who heard us. The Cullens won, and Tanya had a little hissy fit. Tessa and Alice continued to fight over Jasper, while he and I went hunting.
"Hey Alicia?"
"Yeah, Jasper?"
"Where do you want to hunt?"
"Anywhere! Its such an amazing day today, I could do anything!" I was still reeling from the delight of becoming a Cullen. Carlisle had been very welcoming, and the rest of the family seemed happy too.
"Well, that's good to hear." Jasper's face broke into a grin. He started sprinting, and then he started leaping across stones in a stream, so far apart, you had to have enough force with you to jump twenty feet. I followed and chased him after kept running. I followed him until we reached the trees, but as he ran faster, I decided to go back to the house to watch Alice and Tessa.
"Alicia? Aren't you coming?"
"I would but Alice and Tessa are just so much fun to watch." I grinned and ran back to the house.
Scarlett
Edward, Angela, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Matt and I, were all going skiing today. Alice was staying in Denali to try and find out more about the Volturi's soon-to-come arrival, and keep Alicia company, the two girls were virtually inseparable.
"Well be careful guys." Alice looked directly at me while she said that. Wonder why? Hmm. I know how to ski really well, and falling off skis won't hurt a vampire, we're almost indestructible.
"We will!" Angela was obviously ready to go. She was really excited.
"Have fun!" Alicia appeared next to Alice.
We ran to and up the mountain, it wasn't very far, and Alice had arranged for a helicopter to drop our skis of for us ahead of time, so we didn't have to run with them. They were quite a nuisance to climb and run with.
We reached the peak in around twenty five minutes, we took our time. When we reached the top, our skis were waiting in a large bundle. Rosalie had pink and black skis, Jasper had green and black skis, Edward had dark blue ones, Angela had purple, Emmett decided to snowboard, his board was bright yellow, Matt had black that glinted a greenish blue in the light skis, and I had multi coloured polka dot skis (except for brown because it put off the entire combination of the way the ski was coloured). Each of us had poles that matched our skis except for Emmett, because he didn't need them.
The mountain was huge and very steep, but it was like a bunny hill to all of us, everyone could ski it easily. Emmett being Emmett took off first, with Jasper hot in pursuit. Rosalie rolled her eyes, but pushed off quickly. Matt went next, and I followed, with Angela and Edward directly behind me.
The snow was powdery, but firm enough to move quickly on it. There were trees in a few clusters, but other than that the mountain was virtually empty. There were lots of mounds made to be jumps, and I think I jumped every single on of them, and jumping isn't my favourite thing in the world, but they were kind of fun anyways.
Halfway down the mountain my head started to hurt. As we neared the bottom it started to pound. It must just be a headache- wait, vampires aren't supposed to get headaches! As I realized this in alarm I sped up until I was speeding down the mountain. In a few moments I flew past Emmett, who was far ahead in the lead, I heard him call my name as I sped by. I shook my head and continued skiing, I had to reach the bottom before my head started to pound anymore.
I was halfway to the bottom and was concentrating on speed rather then where I was going when I flew into the air over a jump, as I landed my feet slammed down, and my head started to hurt so much my feet flew out from under me and I fell to the ground. I couldn't get up. I curled up into a ball and just held my head. I saw Emmett snowboarding slowly, looking for me, he saw me and his eyes practically bugged out of his head. He turned sharply and came to stand next to me. As soon as Jasper and Rose passed, not noticing Emmett and me, he started waving his arms to get Edward and Angela's attention. They appeared next to him momentarily. Angela bent down next to me and asked me what was wrong, I couldn't organize my thoughts, my head was still a little sore. I was about to open my mouth when I heard
Please don't move, and keep your mouth closed. Thank you. My eyes flew open in surprise as I lay frozen on the snow listening to the velvety voice talking to me. I stared at Angela and Emmett, they didn't seem to hear anything. As my gaze shifted to Edward I saw him looking at me with probably a mirror of my face reflected on to his.
My name is Jason. You've heard about me, haven't you? Listen, Demetri and I are having some trouble finding you. You left good false trails, however we're headed to Forks, but we already know about the fortune telling vampire Alice, so you've probably left, but we were wondering where you are now. Keep your eyes open please. I tried to close my eyes, but I couldn't.
So much snow. Where has so much snow? Canada? Have you gone to Canada? Where though? Hmm. You've given Demetri and I some other things to consider now. By the way, he's jabbing in the arm with his finger right now. He wants to talk to you, but he can't, so I'll just say I for him. We'll see you soon Scarlett. From what Demetri's told me, you must be an amazing vampire. Can't wait to meet. See to you soon! I felt Jason's presence withdraw from my head. My thoughts re-organized, and I sat up.
"What happened?" Angela was looking at me with concern.
"Nothing." I muttered. "I just fell, my head was hurting."
"Vampire's heads don't hurt." Emmett said.
"Scarlett? Can I talk to you over here please?" Edward motioned me over to where he was standing. Angela and Emmett continued down the hill.
"Yeah?"
"What just happened? Has it ever happened before? Who's Jason? What false trails did you leave behind you? Why does Demetri say hi? What does he mean by Demetri saying you're an amazing vampire?"
"I don't know what happened, that must be Jason's talent, like tracking, but way more advanced. Jason is the newest member of the Volturi. When I was looking for a coven I ran all over, by the time I found you, my trails were all over the country. Demetri's like a brother, he's quite fond of me, as you can figure out from the amazing vampire comment."
"Oh. What are you going to tell everyone else?"
"I don't know."
I skied the rest of the way down the hill quickly and met up with everyone else at the bottom. Matt was touching his head cautiously, and Edward looked very confused by that fact.
"Scarlett, what happened?" Angela came running up to me.
"Nothing, it just comes with my power I guess." I said quietly. Edward grimaced, but left it alone.
"Can we just go back to the house please?" I pleaded. Emmett agreed right away.
"Can you walk? Or should someone carry you?" He asked, flexing. I glared at him, so did Matt. Hmm…
"I can walk. Being carried would just make it worse."
"Oh, sorry." We ran back to the house but I could hear Angela and Edward talking.
"Edward, seriously, what happened to Scarlett?"
"I don't know."
"Why were you talking to her to intently afterwards? Was something wrong?"
"No. I… wanted to figure out if the same thing happened with my power. It doesn't."
"Edward, now that's I'm a vampire, you're going to have to make up better lies than that."
"I'm sure she'll tell you when she knows how." I ran faster and passed everyone ahead of me.
"Scarlett, I can't lie to everyone about what happened. You need to tell them. They have a right to know."
"I will, just I don't know how."
"Figure it out. You have two minutes. You tell them, or I will."
"Edward please!"
"Sorry. You, or me?"
"I can't, I'm sorry."
"Okay, then. I will. Scarlett, I don't mean to be mean, but they should know for safety reasons." He walked off to the sitting room where everyone was watching the TV.