Chapter 10- I Gotta Feeling
Max POV-
So…… dum de dumb a bum! That's me drumming my fingers on the counter back at pale-people central. Iggy was making lunch… because I wasn't totally convinced that the blonde girl wouldn't try to poison us. Oh wait! She has a name… rose. Like it fits her, notice the sarcasm… no seriously, I'm snorting at my own thoughts here. Roses are flowers, beautiful soft and elegant, people often associate them with kindness and love. Now, back to Rosalie she's… eh, not so kind. No, really, she's been giving us the cold shoulder for six days now. Six days with the pale-people… six days that I've been so jumpy I could pull my hair out.
I looked over at Angel, her name actually fit. She was my little Angel. She was staring at Edward, occasionally nodding her head or smiling. She and Edward often had 'mental conversations'. It bothered me, honestly. I mean, he was a god-knows-how-old inhuman freak of nature who consistently killed animals, and I am part animal, twenty percent according to Dr. Fangs. So, frankly his thoughtless slaughtering of animals was just another reason I disliked him. I constantly wondered if when he sometimes looked over at us if he was looking at us with thirst or just the normal weirdo-scientist perturbing curiosity.
I looked up perturbing in the dictionary, just for you. It essentially means, way weird, messed up, creepy, or something that bothers you. So… spending time with all these stupid leaches is perturbing. That's Maximum Ride on expanding you're vocabulary, all rights reserved on NPR, National Public Radio.
Okay, not really. I wasn't on NPR because… they have rules about snarkyness and other things that would diminish my overall character.
"Iggy," A wind-chiming voice called as Rogue bounded happily down the stairs, "I'll make a crème brûlée if you finish making the… uh, what are you making?" She asked and wrinkled her nose.
"Um… chicken." He said simply, shrugging as Rogue stood beside him in the kitchen. Rogue seemed to be more comfortable around us than she had been that first day. There was a slight awkwardness between Rogue and Iggy now that she and Seth were a bit closer. He was constantly holding her hand or sitting next to her… fluffy stuff like that. But, now Iggy was sort of like that over-protective big brother type.
Which, if you hadn't picked up on this yet, means he really doesn't like Seth. He doesn't show it… but he thinks Seth is dangerous. Somehow he had no problem hanging out with part bloodsucker-part bird kid-part human Rogue though. Go figure.
"HA!" Angel exploded suddenly, I whirled around in a slight panic to see her bouncing up and down in front of a frustrated looking Edward. "I win! I WIN I WIN I WIN!!" She squealed happily. I sighed and relaxed, allowing myself to chuckle slightly. Emmett bounded down the stairs, Alice and the-not-so-Rose-like Rosalie.
"What did you beat Edward at, Angel?" Emmett asked enthusiastically, picking her up and sitting her on his left shoulder.
"We had a contest, who could not read someone's mind the longest!" Angel chirped, "Edward lost because he read Rogue's mind and I heard that because we were allowed to read each other's minds!" She giggled happily, "So I won!"
"Wow Edward… beaten by a six year old." Emmett chuckled and ruffled Angel's hair. "A very special, sweet little six year old." He cooed to her with the voice someone would talk to a puppy with. Angel beamed at him.
Edward huffed and stood up, "In my defense, Rogue's thoughts were unnecessarily loud." There was a muffled bang from the kitchen and Rogue stormed out frowning,
"You know, all I had to think was 'Bella' and you cracked. I wasn't exactly yelling, and I think I should be able to yell in my head if I want to." She said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, sure. But whether or not your thoughts need to be completely consumed with thoughts of where Seth is right now remains to be seen." He said under his breath, although everyone in the room could easily hear it.
"I was worried." Rogue said through gritted teeth, "And since thoughts are private if you must intrude… if you absolutely can't control yourself like Angel can then I prefer you keep my thoughts to yourself and not share them." She shot Edward a meaningful glare then returned to the kitchen.
'BELLA, BELLA WATCH OUT!' I thought loudly. Edward's head snapped up and he looked around nervously. I laughed, 'Jeez, up tight much?' He shot me a slight glare,
"Hey! Rogue, phone call for you!" Alice yelled from upstairs. I figured she would go upstairs to get the phone from Alice. She started to, but then the phone downstairs rang three seconds later. Future seeing… another wacky thing that I'm getting used to. Rogue rand down and snagged the ringing phone,
"Hello?" She chirped happily,
Hey, somehow I knew you would worry. Alice told me. A low chuckle came from the other line,
"Seth!" Rogue said in her chirpy, peppy, soprano voice. Her voice had changed, it was musical now, and it often grated on my nerves. "How could I not be worried? The Volturi could decide to come back you know. They would come for you…" She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger. That was something she picked up from me, and apparently, Edward did it too.
Don't worry about me. I was just calling to say don't worry… and hi.
"Oh well then… hi to you to," She sighed, "We're playing a sort of… marathon, football thing, the flock and the Cullen's. Do you think you could come? We're going to play once the sun goes down."
Uh… sure, I'll go ask Sam. Bye Rogue, see you soon!
"Yeah, see you." She sighed and hung up, then walked back to the kitchen to help Iggy.
We were going to play a game. The teams were split, so that each team had an even number of sparkly pale people and flying mutants. The teams were: Emmett, Alice, Carlisle, Bella and Nessie, as well as Iggy, Nudge and Angel. The other team was: Rosalie, Jasper, Edward, Fang, Gazzy, Rogue and me. The team captains were Emmett and Edward, who also picked the teams. It was football, but the Cullen's could pass to their flying team members (a.k.a. us) and then it was up to the flock on the other team to stop us.
"LUNCH!" Iggy yelled from the kitchen. The flock turned and practically and sprinted for the kitchen while Rogue was torching the crème brule thingy. She had turned into quiet the chef… with help from Iggy and Edward. Those two got along surprisingly well… don't know why…
"Whoa, is that fire?" Gazzy asked as Rogue finished torching the crème things.
"Uh… yeah, I'm caramelizing the sugar on top…. That's what you're supposed to do… I think." She stammered as Gazzy looked at the small dish with criticizing eyes.
"Yes, that is correct." Edward said as he drifted into the kitchen. Rogue exhaled in relief.
"Good, at least that's one thing I've done correctly today." Then shot Edward a meaningful glare,
"Okay… okay, jeez." Edward muttered,
"AND STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!" Rouge yelled over her shoulder as she walked back over to the stove. Iggy skillfully flipped several large portions of chicken onto seven plates, one for each of us, including Rogue. (More on that later)
"Alright, dig in but don't get Esme's table filthy again." Iggy said, looking… or rather facing, pointedly at Gazzy.
"I was hungry…" He grumbled,
"You're always hungry." Rogue laughed and set down, passing out plates, I sat down next to her. We all wolfed down our lunches like erasers, including Rogue… who was like Nessie a little in the way that she could eat human food too, in fact she preferred it to killing animals. Which, frankly, made me happy.
Then… Rogue got out these tiny dishes with melted sugar on top. I eyes it suspiciously, "Is that supposed to be brown?"
"Yeah." She said simply and handed out spoons, "Just crack the top and eat it Max, it'll taste fine."
Gazzy was the first to inhale the thing, and I was pretty sure it was okay after that so I dug in. It was more than okay, it was fancy people food. Vanilla and other flavors all sweet and sugary. I swallowed loudly, earning a disdainful glance or to then turned to Rogue,
"That's really good, you can cook Rogue!" I said waving my fork in the air.
"Thanks Max." She said brightly, eating her own little ramekin of the dessert.
Fang stood up and put his plate in the sink, "Going for a little stretch of the wings." He said, "Anyone else in?"
"Um… not right now." Nudge said,
"Yeah, I think I'll chill, you know, rest before the big game." Iggy said, yawning and leaning back in his chair.
He looked at me, as if to say, and you? "I think… I think I'll stay here to." I said slowly. His dark eyes softened a little and he stepped close to me, kissing my forehead before strolling casually out the door.
I sighed and watched as he took off, moving swiftly and effortlessly up into the sky and towards the setting sun. I don't know if I can describe the pleasure of flying at sunset. It's wonderful, the beautiful mixing of colors and the warm emanating peace that comes with them while you drift, so fast and powerful amongst the dwindling clouds. And when it's just you, up there alone, you get this feeling… this great, joyful and unbridled feeling that is so hard to describe but really can be summed up in one word.
Free. Purely free…
"You're quiet the poet Max." Edward mused and also watched as Fang disappeared until only the silhouette of his dark wings remained. I groaned loudly,
"I can't understand how none of you're family has just snapped and killed you for listening to their thoughts yet…" I grumbled,
"Most of them aren't as violent as you." He said simply, shrugging. I shrugged to,
"Their loss."
"Alright, alright, alright, so let me get this straight, you and Fang are like… an item now, right?" Nudge pressed
"Uh…"
"THAT IS A YES? Is that not a yes Alice, I think it is!" Nudge exploded.
"It is definitely a yes." Alice nodded and I shot her a baleful glare, stupid little problem causing pixie.
"Whatever." I snapped impatiently, "What do you guys want to do until the game?"
"MOVIES!" Nudge and Alice said at the same time. Great.
"Um… how about… something else?" I tried to veer away from this course, I don't want to see any stupid movie.
"No, we're watching a movie." Nudge insisted, "I already have one!"
"Oh yeah? What is then?" I asked her,
"X-Men!" Iggy said, smiling broadly, holding the disc in his hand. I put my head in my hands and sat on the couch. This was going to be a long hour and forty minutes.
I'll spare you the painful details of watching the movie with them, the winged boy caused a bit of clamor, but it was not fun with them bickering the whole time. So… fast forward almost two hours,
"Can we go play the game now?" I demanded, Emmett jumped up, always eager…
"Sure, where's Fang though? Upstairs or something?" I asked, we weren't gonna start without him.
"Uh… I don't think he ever got back." Rogue said, frowning,
"No, he definitely isn't back yet, we would have noticed." Esme said, and looked over at me,
"Does he usually take this long when he goes on solo-flights?" Carlisle asked seriously,
"No." I said, feeling the panic starting to set in, "Never… he's always back before we notice he's gone… or he finds us before we find him." Fang. Fang was missing. I sprinted outside without another word; the sun had set a long few hours ago. Doing a 360, I scanned the sky above with my raptor vision,
"I doubt you can see in this." Carlisle muttered, "But I don't see him-"
"We can see just fine." I snapped, "I don't see him either… damnit, where is Fang?" I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples.
Tap into your senses, Max. The sudden disturbance in my mind made me jump and yelp. The voice was back… great,
"What the hell was that Max?" Edward asked, looking at me like I was crazy. Maybe I am…
"I have a voice in my head… don't ask me how but it's not my voice, it just… broadcasts into my head and it's helping me now so, politely, shut up."
Now, concentrate, what do you feel? The voce asked,
I feel annoyed that your advice is useless, as usual. I thought bitterly,
Max, Max, perhaps if you actually took the advice…
Could you repeat the advice then, I wasn't listening.
What do you feel? Which way is Fang?
"How the hell am I supposed to know?" I growled aloud. I enjoyed the questioning looks from the Cullens and the flock. Rubbing my forehead, I waited for a response.
Just… open your mind, expand your sense, you'll find Fang.
Thank you, master Zen. I grumbled mentally. Nevertheless, I was out of better options. Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on my other senses. The sounds of the night became very loud, and I felt a strange… a strange pulling in one direction. "Fang!" I gasped and jumped into the air.
The flock came speeding up behind me, the Cullens followed on the ground, "Max!" Angel called, "What's going on?"
"The voice was right!" I called over the wind, "I… I gotta feeling he's this way. I can feel it!" I don't know why, but the pull was getting stronger and stronger. He was this way! I knew it, I felt it! In the very marrow of my bones, it was like an internal compass yelling at me THIS WAY, THIS WAY! Usually this kind of thing relates directly to suspicion, but I didn't have time for that.
Diving through the trees, I punched through a small amount of braches and kicked it up a notch dodging the trunks. He was so close! How was I doing this? Hell if I know, maybe it's a new talent, man-tracker Max. I veered right as my new sense shifted as if he, Fang himself, was moving through the forest. Away from the flock…? That didn't make sense, was he mad at us or something? No, that couldn't be. Something else was in play here. And I didn't like it one bit.
I Flew low and skidded to my feet, slowing to a complete stop. The flock was soon behind me, the pale-people were nowhere in sight. The feeling was now a bristling sense just like any other, hearing and sight. He. Was. Right. Here.
But he wasn't, he was somewhere close to here. Wasn't he? Oh God, what if someone had kidnapped him? Or what if he was injured? The wind shifted and the floral smells of pale-people hit my nose like a freight train. I spun around on my heals, the scent was coming form the east, we had come from the north…
Oh crap.
"Got any other feelings Max?" Angel asked as the flock closed in a circle, all facing out to the woods where we were being surrounded.
"Yeah," I said slowly, "I gotta feeling this was a trap." The words were like a sinking weight in the ocean.
A pealing soprano laugh sent shivers down my spine. "Oh, how right you are Maximum. Sharp as always, but just a bit slow this time."
Jane.
She stepped out with multiple grey cloaked figures after her, she chuckled to herself, "You know, I didn't think that plan would work…" She laughed again,
"Where is Fang?" I growled,
"Oh… he's halfway to Italy by now, in a small box… I'm sure he'll wake up before he gets to us… I hope so, I heard the journey is not pleasant for claustrophobics." Her voice was dripping with the thrill of victory. She was a predator, and we were her prey. Well… we aren't going to make this easy. Rogue growled loudly at Jane from behind me. She either didn't notice or didn't care, or both
"Just get ready to get your butt kicked back to your master." I growled, cracking my knuckles loudly and ignoring the pain.
"Oh, but the situation has changed Max." Jane said sweetly,
"Really?" I looked around, noting their numbers… I felt the blood rush from my face.
"See, I've done the math this time Max, and we outnumber you." She took a step toward me. "So, you can either come with us…" She trailed off and I felt like sneering and saying, or what?
"Or you, your flock and Fang dies. But the boy dies first, since you seem so attached…"
Fang dies first…
OH NO!!!! Cliffy, ah so lovely. Sorry for the late update, how long has it been? Two or three weeks… Sorry, I was in Israel, with my extended family and we weren't allowed to bring laptops. I will be away at cap soon… sorry, updates are slower over the summer because I actually do have a life! I do, I swear I do!
READER QUESTIONS!!!! (they make the next chapters better if you answer them)
1. How did you like the whole Flock-in-the-Cullen's-house bit?
2. Should Max remain so vigilant around the Cullens?
3. What do you think of Jane's semi-triumphant return?
4. Max gets this new sense for finding Fang, should it be just for finding him, or for the rest of the flock to?
5. Who leads this story? Max or one of the Cullens?
6. SHOULD ONE OF THE FLOCK DIE OR BECOME A VAMP-HYBRID THING LIKE ROGUE?
7. Did you review?????? ;)
~~#*^Akari Bahkas^*#~~