"Ophelia!" someone cried out.
Tania creased her brow as she looked past my shoulder. I was turning when I suddenly found myself falling sideways. I let out the loudest scream my new born lungs could give me as I was suddenly plunged into deep murky waters.
I screamed as I thrashed around in the water. I couldn't move, I floundered and tossed, completely freaked out. Why was under the water?! I struggled hard against the weeds that had wrapped around me and now refused to let me go. I was screamed out and kicked my legs hard. I kept flashing back to that night I had killed myself... what if I was dying again?! and just after my epiphany!
Rocks suddenly came around me and I found I was no longer in the water. I still couldn't stop shouting despite it. I was shaken, my recent memories of Cullen's had brought on memories on so strong... and so it was only natural I would remember all the bad things too.
"Sorry," someone was saying sheepishly at me. "I didn't know..."
"What did you do to her?" I could ask someone else ask.
I thrashed madly around in my stone cage and I heard grunts as someone struggled to keep me there. My eyes were scrunched close as I tried to fight off all the images.
"I'm dead," I screamed, arching my back in effort to break free. "I'm dead! I've died!"
"Ophelia!" said a familiar southern voice. "Calm down, love. You aren't dying..." cold hands, not as cold as the water, pressed against my face and stroked my drenched hair from my twisted face.
I risked an opened eye and saw Tania staring down at me, her eyes even wider then usual in fear. Laurent held me close, my body uncomfortably close to his own. I clenched my eyes closed again. I couldn't handle this.
"You need a shower..." Tania said, wrinkling her nose. "That pond is nasty!"
I pushed against Laurent angrily, and he dropped me. I stood up well on my own, my eyes narrowed to the point of closed. His face was contorted in worry, and so I scowled at him. I contributed my mental freak out to him. I took a step forward a teetered, having to be caught by Tania.
"I'll help." she said kindly.
I was sent to my room, where I had my own shower. Tania was waiting for me in my room as I walked slowly into the cream colored space. I turned the hot water on only, and stepped in fully clothed. My forehead was placed against the bathroom wile as I closed my eyes and let the water pour over me.
It took me a full half hour to finally ground my head and stabilize myself so I could slip off my clothes and wash my long hair out. I was shaking noticeably as I let the water fall onto my head, down my face, across my shoulders, down my chest... I took a deep breath and opened my eyes.
"You're not dead," I whispered to myself. "You are fine! You are going to get over it and get going."
I repeated this affirmation to myself until the water began to get cold. I turned it off and stepped out, reaching for a towel as I did.
"I heard what happened." I let out a squeal as I saw Cathy looking at my from the bathroom counter.
"Yeah," I said after I got my unneeded breath back. "We're going to Edward. I need him."
"I told you so," the cat said, licking her paw in a very dignified matter.
"Whatever," I grumbled. She'll never let me live it down.
Tania was sitting on my bed, flipping through Jane Eyre as she waited for me to be ready to face her. When she saw me come out she beamed and ran up to me.
"Are you ok?" she asked me, running her hand down the side of my face."You totally freaked!"
"I know," I sighed, burying my head in my hands. "I'm so mortified. I didn't expect it, that's all."
"I've never seen anyone so freaked out by water." Tania said delicately.
"Its a very long story," I hedged, going to the wardrobe and routing through the clothes.
"I have time," Tania offered, making me close my eyes momentarily before pulling out my favorite jeans.
"But I don't, Tania," I whispered to the wardrobe. "I'm still leaving."
"You're in no shape!" she cried out, standing and putting her hands on her hips in a very Tania-ish way. Her pink lips puckered as she gave me a hard look. "I won't let you."
"You'll hold me captive?" I asked, having to smile at this.
"Uh... Yeah!" she said, defiant.
"How about I get all packed, and we can have one last meal together," I offered, trying hard to smile. "Seeing as our last hour was interrupted."
"I guess so," she said grudgingly. "Oh! Can I invite a few people?"
"What do you mean?" I asked picking out a blue short sleeved top. "I don't think anyone else likes me..."
"Don't worry. I know who to invite," she sighed, fluttering her impossibly long eyelashes.
There was a knock at my door and Tania sprung up, beating me to it. She threw it open happily, and beamed at Margret who stood on the other side. Tania clapped her alabaster hands happily, as if she already knew what Margret had to say.
"They're here," Margret announced, though it felt unnecessary, her eyes finding me past Tania's gleeful expression.
I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at her, my eyes glittering as she raised an eyebrow. Cathy gave a low hiss as she jumped up onto the chair next to me. I couldn't shake the feeling that it was mostly her fault the rumor about Laurent had spread. I stared at her grayish lips she refused to make up. I hated the cow.
"Who's here?" I asked Tania, ignoring the proud way Margret's chin trusted forward as she realized she knew something I didn't.
"Don't. Worry." Tania laughed at me, throwing her head back to wink.
"You don't know, Ophelia?" Margret asked me from the door.
"Shh," Tania said to Margret. "You two are as bad as cats in a bag."
Cathy gave a disapproving yelp which made Tania laugh and Margret and I clench jaws. The violent new born in me wanted to jump out and rip Margret's head off. But I just bunched my hands into fists instead.
"I better go welcome our guests," Tania said, she turned and tutted as she saw my fight ready stance. "Ophelia... come on! Lighten up!"
"Sorry, Tania," I sighed, pretending to smile brightly.
The strawberry blond giggled and shook her head. "You're hungry. Margret, can you send up some lamb's blood for Ophelia? I reckon she's a darn side thirsty by the black of her eyes."
I gave Margret a large beaming smile as she scowled blackly back at me. Tania ran over to me, kissed my cheek then she made to walk out of my room, passing Margret who still hadn't moved. Tania placed a warning hand upon Margret and gave her a hard look as she did so. It was a lot less friendly then my reprove and so I smiled vengefully as she slammed my Doro and stalked away.
"We can attack her on our way out," I growled to Cathy who had dug her claws into the cushion of the chair.
"She wouldn't feel it," Cathy said.
I sat down on the bed and stared at the wall opposite. Cathy came and jumped up next to me, hitting her head against my arm for attention. I sighed and began to stroke her long dark fur that felt just as soft as it had the first time I ever stroked her. My face frozen as my mind spun.
What was going to become of me?