Interrogations

"Forever shall we live… Never will we fade…"

This was now the fifth time she had silently repeated the song she had been singing to herself ever since I started to… well stalk her. Her movements and actions had not changed one bit since my first attempts at trying to communicate with her. She walked a slow human pace while singing her song, and continued her examinations of the trees around her. At times though, she would look up to the sky as well.

I wanted to try again and planned to do or say just about anything to get her attention. But the gentle and melodic voice that escaped her lips was so hypnotizing. As she continued to sing I felt a touch of serenity surround me and consume me in its magnificence. In addition, while she sang I couldn't stop myself from thinking about the ancients and the war stories that Carlisle had told me about. For some reason it triggered the age old stories that I knew about and allowed them to overtake my thoughts. I had to resist however. No matter how beautiful and calming her singing was to me I had to stay focused on the issue at hand. I came here for answers and I'll be damned if I won't even get one tonight.

"Excuse me. Can you hear me?" What a silly question. I knew she could hear me though she chose not to respond to my pleas. She acted like there was nothing on this highway but her and the melody that she hummed. What was I going to do? There were possibilities that I was considering like shouting, or hissing at her but the last I wanted to do was be rude. Then again, her assault on me was not justified and she had no right to violate my privacy the way she did.

"HEY! I'M TALKING TO YOU." After my voice developed a personality of its own and got tired of waiting around for me to do something it decided to take matters in its own hands. I felt myself sinking in my seat after I just so barbarically yelled at her. I was expecting for her to whip around and give me a dark look and growl at me. Unfortunately though this didn't shake her either, and she continued the pretense that she was the only one here. This was getting me nowhere.

I had to attract her attention and it seemed that simple greetings or rather crude comments wouldn't do the job. Maybe I could acquire her attention another way, a more sophisticated way. What if she knew what I and Carlisle came to conclude? Would she be surprised? It was worth a try.

"I know what you are." I waited expectantly for her to finally take notice of me but yet again, nothing. Why was she doing this? She was only a few meters away from my car and continued to choose to ignore me. Why did she do this? My frustration began to climb its scale, and once it'd reach the very top I knew I would eventually blow up.

"Hear me ancient!" I hoped that perhaps me knowing what sort of vampire she exactly was would spring her interest but I was wrong again. This approach wasn't very intelligent either though. There were others that were called ancients that were still alive today. Vampire such as the masters of the Volturi, Amun, and few others possessed this status and personally I couldn't think of a term to describe a vampire older than them. Elder?

This was truly trying my patience. What else could I say? Actually there were a lot of things I could say but considering underage readers I probably shouldn't. I needed something that signified and presented the ancients that lived millennia before any that are called that now. I felt my infamous crooked smile swiftly pull up my lips when I realized that she had perhaps given me what I wanted. Somehow being so close to her now I felt a slight tingling sensation in my thumb at the exact spot where she had left her mark. I had no idea if this was going to get her attention but what else could I do? I took a deep breath and hoped that this attempt would be successful otherwise I doubted that I could think of anything else to catch her notice besides jumping out of the car and confronting her. Not a very intellectual idea though.

"Venenum Memoria." I was so nervous while saying it that I allowed to much air to escape my mouth and I basically chocked the words. However, even in the manner the words were said I believed that I had finally achieved my goal.

"Forsaken in the dark we wer…" Her song came to a screeching halt as did her pace and she stood solidified on the spot. I felt a mental chuckle roaring in my head and marching in parades of celebration.

Gotcha

I waited and tried to anticipate her next move though I found this to be extremely difficult. If she was so unpredictable that not even Alice's psychic eye could catch her movement or actions than what chance would I have? The fact that I was unable to detect the essence of her thoughts was most troublesome and put me in a disadvantage. Finally after standing still like a statue she moved again. Her body slowly turned around to face my car, and she unleashed the full flavor of her scent on me when the wind blew it through the opened window. Her scent was truly intoxicating. The aroma of freesias, jasmine and lavender was mouthwatering even though she was a vampire, and that distinct and faint sweet smell of fire or brimstone even was like the icing on a very delicious cake.

As she turned I saw what seemed to be an amused smile slowly covering her lips. Her eyes blinked once revealing beautiful long and thin lashes and uncovered those mystical dark red eyes. Her crimson orbs seemed like a pool of wine and I sensed such warmth, and care from them. Although I knew that those of our kind that wore such rubies weren't as kind hearted and were in fact murderers.

Finally her frontal body faced me and she moved to cross her arms over her chest. Then there was nothing. She merely stood there unmoving and not even breathing. She had mimicked the properties of my crooked smile and wore one of her own now as her garnet like eyes rested on me. I had hoped for this, and wanted her to focus on me so I might achieve answers to these deluded questions that were overtaking my thoughts. Yet, now that I was where I wanted to be I couldn't think of a single thing to say. There were so many questions floating around in my head, and so many that screamed to be answered but now I was unsure of my actions.

The engines of my car continued their low humming as the night grew darker. My eyes would not leave the sight of her. I needed to watch her every move and I would not allow her to flee my radar this time. Her posture hadn't changed and she proceeded to simply stand there with her arms crossed, a crooked smile covering her features, and staring at me expectantly. I think she was waiting for me to make the next move. My mind was contemplating its options. How should I start this? Where should I begin? Should I perhaps just come right out with it and tell her my suspicions about her being an ancient that was older than even the Volturi?

Suddenly I saw her chest expand as she took a deep breath and saw it drop when she exhaled the consumed her impatiently. Her crooked smile turned to a vision of boredom and annoyance as she raised her eyebrows and cocked her head to the side. She was definitely waiting for me to make the next move, and I had to take it. I couldn't let her dominate the conversation. I had to control this meeting.

The path that I was trailing down became more difficult by the second. I had achieved what I wanted but the knowledge I required to proceed seemed to have fled in terror, and dismantled itself as soon as I won my first objective; I got her attention. I could tell that she grew more impatient with every passing moment although she did well hiding it behind her amused crooked smile. I had to approach this the right way, and couldn't simply barge into it. I had to be very, very careful. If Carlisle and I were right then we were dealing with a mind full of ancient instincts that would possibly not see things the way we did.

She held her position and didn't move and continued to stare at me charmingly. I was rather surprised by her relaxed state. If she was an ancient then she should be concerned with being unearthed, and her identity revealed. Unless of course she was planning to eradicate evidence that could prove her existence which would happen to be us. We were still only theorizing though. I had to start talking before she would. I gripped my steering wheel tight while I adjusted myself in the seat and leaned towards the window. I took a nervous breath and began the conversation anew.

"H-How are you?" Oh great. That was brilliant Edward. I didn't think that casualties would interest her much. In addition, I just gave away my nervousness by allowing my voice to break on the very first word I uttered. It was already out and I couldn't do anything about it so I patiently awaited her response which thankfully followed immediately. It wasn't what I expected though. She simply raised her delicate chocolate brown eyebrows and gave me a quick and low smile. She began tapping her fingers on her arm. She was growing more and more impatient as did the tension between us.

What next? Maybe I should move further to the point. I hadn't noticed it before much but now seeing her right in front of me once more made my anger begin to rise in my throat, trying to overtake my voice. The way she stood there, all relaxed and in peace infuriated me. She acted like she didn't even know me or what happened in Port Angeles never even occurred. I clenched my teeth together in an attempt to reign over the bits of rage that tried to amount themselves to something. Once more, it was like my subconscious was trying to tell me to be very, very careful.

"What is your name?" Good, that was out. I wanted to have a name for this woman. The constant her and she references grew tiresome. Her expression didn't change. She had reattached that crooked smile to her lips and simply stared at me. What was so difficult about a name? It didn't look like she was going to answer me. I sighed defeated. Why for once couldn't I get what I wanted?

"You know it would only be fair for me to know your name since you know mine." Did I just say that out loud? There was a sharp edge to the tone of my voice, almost angry. Who could blame me? Her reaction alone when I uttered the words of venenum memoria convinced me that it was in fact what she had used against me. In conclusion, she knew everything about me. Every single detail of my memories and my life now belonged to her but I was glad however that she didn't take my thoughts like Aro could. Although, thoughts are often woven into memories themselves.

"Fair?" My head snapped back up in the direction the bell like voice had originated from, and found that she had finally spoken. Her facial expressions had changed. The delicate brows that were raised and looked amused a minute ago now seemed irritated. Her eyes took up a piercing like nature as if she could see into my very soul, whatever was left of it anyway.

"What do you know of fairness?" Her voice grew dark as she spoke, like she was the one that was angry now. Had I already made a mistake or passed boundaries that should never have been discovered in the first place?

"Do you think it to be fair that you lived your life in the light whining about your self centered existence while I had to suffer in the darkness alone?" She was glaring at me while she spoke.

She twisted the conversation and was leading it down another road. Her response stuck to me like bees on honey though. Lived my life in the light? I knew she possessed my memories but the part about living in the light was still debatable. What did she know? It might sound cold hearted no pun intended but at this instant I couldn't care less about her suffering.

"I wasn't referring to that. I asked a simple question concerning your identity. Is it so difficult to give away your name?" I'm sure she could tell the annoyance dripping of my voice as the venom in my mouth collected itself to form a whole new batch. I had to be careful not to hiss at her. She raised her eyebrows surprised and what seemed like appalled.

"Simple? You're idiocy is remarkable young one. By your expectations it should be a simple matter to reveal ones name because of the way you were brought up by your human parents. Yet you have no respect, recollection or sympathy for the old ways nor do you invoke the lucid dogma that perhaps long ago it was believed that if you gave something or someone your name it would gain control and power over you."

I wish I had listened to Carlisle. He was absolutely right. We were dealing with an instinct that came from a world long forgotten. The mere thought that someone even a vampire would still hold that ancient believe dear was unbelievable. I had no idea how to continue this conversation now. If she was so unwilling to give me her name I doubted that she would divulge any other information pertaining to herself. Suddenly I heard a step. She began advancing towards my car in a human pace. The irate facial features that she wore prior to her first step had fallen and looked blank now.

What should I do? If I drive away now would she pursue me? I had entirely lost the hold on this confrontation if I even ever had it. I couldn't even device an offensive strategy since I was blind to the intentions she held now.

She reached my car and slowly pulled her fingers over the opened window and lowered her head to glower at me. She didn't lean into the car though but crossed her arms and used the door for support.

"So, what is it we think we know?" Now she was interrogating me. I should have seen this coming a mile away. I had opened the door to the fact that I didn't really know but had suspicions to who she was. The ancients were all but forgotten and even the Volturi thought that there were none left. If she was one of them then she had done a good job in staying with the shadows. I didn't owe her anything though, and two could play this game. She didn't answer any of my questions so why should I?

I turned away from her and stared out onto the open road. My mind was set. I wasn't going to tell her anything. But what would she do as soon as she realized that I wasn't going to tell her anything? I should have kept driving.

I heard a low chuckle emanating from her.

"I have played this game many times sweetling. Vampires that believe they have uncovered vital information that could glorify their position amongst their kind and ensure safe passage across the planes of Elysium. If you truly know the purpose of venenum memoria than you should consider the possibility that I have no need for the spoken word in order to gain that which I seek."

I slowly turned my head back in order to look at her and saw a mocking smile covering her lips. Damn.

I wasn't going to have to go through that again would I? Even though it plagued me I had to admit that she was absolutely right. Elysium? I wondered what had happened to those that might have been standing in the same shoes as me. It wasn't hard to imagine what their just dessert was.

"So, shall we try this again? What is it you believe to know?" Her dark red eyes seemed to try to bore their way inside of me. It was almost like they were trying to hypnotize me. I didn't have a choice did I? I swallowed nervously and tried to collect my thoughts on this matter. The best way to approach this new topic would be to just come out and say it I suppose.

"You are an ancient." I was glad that for once I was able to form a regular sentence and didn't choke it like some of the others. I hoped that the suspicions I held were true. I observed her reactions while I voiced my opinion and noticed that it had no effect on her whatsoever. The mocking smile she held didn't falter even once. Instead, after about a minutes pause she raised her brows like waiting for me to continue. Unfortunately, beyond that I didn't really have anything else. There was a constant tapping sound now as she tapped her fingers on the door frame. She sighed.

"You mean to tell me that after all this nonsense all you managed to ever acquire was that very fact?" She chuckled shaking her head. "I must take back my earlier sentiment. I have not played such a game before. Others usually had much more awareness."

Now what? It was all I had to go on. I couldn't even begin to determine her age. This had gone all wrong. I came here looking for answers but was instead dried of information myself. I was so close to her now and the answer that I wanted seemed to float all around me yet I couldn't touch them. Her eyes traveled down the length of my body I noticed. They seemed weary and even disgusted. She shook her head slowly and pursed her lips.

"You waste my time." She unattached herself from my car but only to turn back around and retake her position once more, and looked at me troubled.

"You should know this young one. Your obscure lifestyle will never be accepted in the old world which still very much exists. Also, you should be ashamed of yourself to think you are BETTER than others of your species because of your reverence for mortals. I suppose you are not entirely to blame but rather your dear fool of a creator. Perhaps you should inquire about your own kind and learn from what we have discovered in this world rather than masquerade yourself amongst humans. I will tell you this; very soon you will have no choice but to become what you became."

There was a small quake and my car shook as she pushed herself off and returned to walk away. Who the hell did she think she was? What gives her the right to judge me or Carlisle? If she knew anything about us at all than she should know that what she said wasn't true. My God, she is INFURIATING! I still had her in my vision and she seemed to be returning to the woods. No. NO! I was not going after her. I had to listen to Carlisle and heed his advice. Fool of a maker… Carlisle was anything but that. I have never encountered anybody that could rival his compassion and love for life. She was almost gone and in the shades of the trees. It was settled though, and I was not going after her. I had no idea to how she would react to me pursuing her. I shook my head and finalized my own thoughts. I was not going after.

What was I thinking? Of course I'm going after her. Before I even knew it a growl escaped my teeth and I slammed the door shut causing a crack in the window. She was gone. Not this time. I catapulted myself forward and immediately picked up her scent leading straight into the abyss of the woods. I didn't know what would await me in the darkness of the forest but I didn't care. You don't just go around judging the lifes of others and then expect to get away with it.

Her scent was straight lines that lead further and further into the wilderness. I was going as fast as I could and pushed my legs harder than I ever had before. I must have been throwing chunks of dirt behind me leaving a very visible trail. I didn't care. It was anger and frustration that drove me to this.

Jesus. How fast was she? I had already run at least a mile and a half into the forest at top speed and I still couldn't detect her anywhere. Her scent was all that I had to go on. But that wasn't the issue right now. I had to think about what I would do once I'd get her. I had to strategize and determine the appropriate course of action to take. I have to be cautious now that I was out in the open. Every one of my moves and words had to be devised beforehand.

How far in the woods was I now? Luckily her scent still lay strong before me. How could she be so fast? Was is true what Carlisle said? The older we become the more power we gain? Well what else could explain this incredible speed by which she traveled? If I wasn't going to catch up to her soon I'd…

Something grabbed the back of my shirt and swept me off my feet causing my back to collide with the ground. A dust cloud emerged from the forest floor as I crashed into it. What in the world? When I opened my eyes I saw the dark cloud covered sky above me. The scent of freesias, jasmine, and lavender was very strong now. I heard a low clack like sound which came from somebody wearing heels. I had heard Rosalie and Alice clacking around in those things long enough to know what they sounded like. She was here.

She stood above me with an infuriated glance.

"What do you think you are doing?" She spat the words at me, and her voice became very loud. I hissed and flipped myself up and into a crouch before retaking my position on my feet. I tried to remind myself to be careful around her and watch my every syllable.

"What do YOU think you are doing? You can't just go around and throw judgment over others without even knowing the littlest thing about them. Having my memories or not you don't know the first thing about my family and what we are all about. Who the hell do you think you are?" Growls overtook the integrity of my throat. I had promised myself that I'd take it easy and think before I spoke but she made it so difficult.

It was then when I noticed that something was wrong. I expected her to be angry and even shout back at me but instead her expression was worried. What's with the sudden mood swing?

"You should not be here. You should leave, now." Her voice was definitely worried so I was right. She looked at me with concerned and anxious eyes. Was she trying to lead me away from the subject? It wasn't going to work twice.

"Please. Leave." She was truly concerned. But why? Suddenly a shadow crossed over the both of us and I heard a flap. Her head was the first to snap up to the sky mine followed only seconds later. It was gone.

"What was that?" It sounded like…wings. The shadow I saw moved quickly above us and disappeared just as swiftly.

Out of nowhere I felt myself being pressed onto my knees and my head pulled up against her. In a blinding motion she had forced me on my knees and was now pressing the side of my face to her stomach. I felt her cold hand and fingers on my cheek as she squeezed me against her. It was like… like she was taking a protective stance over me.

I felt my entire being shiver with emotions that were completely alien to me. Her body felt so soft up against the side of my face, and her scent completely filled my nostrils. There was a festival of aphrodisiacs dancing around in my nose that traveled to my mouth as well. I savored her scent on my tongue and it tasted so good. It was soothing and just simply delicious. I felt my breaths coming and going deeper and deeper when she moved her fingers on my cheek holding me against her. My eyelids fluttered and I felt my mind whirling and exploding with dormant emotions she had awoken within me.

I moved my head against her and looked up to see her face. She seemed nervous. Her glimpses concentrated on the immediate forest around us. Even though this should concern me it didn't. I felt warmth within me that I had never experienced before. Her touch was so cold but it was so comforting at the same time. If I didn't know any better than I'd say that she was protecting me.

But from what?

Flap.

(Authors Note) – Okay, so I lied ;-)! Not on purpose though. He'll discover her name (Bella) in the next chapter. PROMISE. But there wasn't any room for that now. Please review.