Tangle of Thorns
Chapter 10
The wind was warm, blowing wispy, endlessly stretching clouds in front of the sun. The afternoon may have been described as dull; the temperature was mild, the light was thin and the sky was white on grey on white except for a single patch of blue near the horizon. There was a general silence hanging over the gas station, though many people were coming in and coming out.
No one noticed the one spectacular image- the group of beautiful people, faintly sparkling in the corner of the parking lot, and the exasperated, determined boy at the center.
"I don't need to eat anything," Edward repeated again. "I'm fine."
"Edward," Esme reasoned, "You need to think straight here. It might take some getting used to, but you must start somewhere. Maybe try something light."
She looked tentatively into her son's eyes, her expression gentle and supportive; Edward felt like he was being watched by a- no, this wasn't true. His instincts told him he was being observed by something infinitely more dangerous than a hawk. He shook his head adamantly, turning away from her intense gaze.
"This is ridiculous!" Esme cried, turning desperately to her husband and then back to Edward. "You'll starve yourself at this rate!"
"Right," Rosalie scoffed, turning on her heel and walking away. Even Edward heard her mutter afterward, "We should be so lucky."
Carlisle was the only one who effectively ignored Rosalie as she stormed over to the car to join Jasper- who had the windows rolled up and the doors shut tight, creating as much of an air tight barrier as he possibly could. Still staring at his son, Carlisle pursed his lips, and Edward could sense that he was about to say something.
"I'm not hungry," he interjected quickly, just as his sister was opening the car door. "Really, I'm not."
A sharp voice met Edward's ears, and he snapped his head to the side to see Jasper standing next to Rosalie, tensed but shaking.
"Well I am. Hurry the hell up so we can leave."
Jasper's eyes were wild and the light wind cast his hair askew, creating a menacing image. Edward shifted uncomfortably on his feet, arguing almost unintelligibly with himself. His human subconscious wanted him to run, to run far and fast- But Edward stayed strong at his spot. He knew his family; he had been there, in the same position as Jasper, thirsty and a little too close to a beating heart. He had felt the same urges, and the same desire to be true to his coven's values. There was nothing to be afraid of. No matter how thirsty Jasper was, the others were here. They would keep Jasper grounded.
The wind shifted directions ever so slightly, blowing against Edward's other side.
Too fast for Edward's eyes to register, Jasper disappeared once more into the car, the door slamming loudly, defining the quietness that fell over the group.
Edward ventured finally, "Just how long has it been since Jasper hunted?"
He waited, but none answered.
Emmett lifted Edward- kicking and screaming- gently and turned him around, directing him back towards the car. Edward turned and stared haughtily directly into his burly brother's face.
"I'm not staying in this car for a second longer! No one is hunting anywhere near here, Emmett. I'll be fine."
"We can't leave the clearing, Edward," Emmett intoned for what may have been the tenth time. "Carlisle said quite explicitly that you were to remain here."
Edward clenched his jaw, and Emmett rolled his eyes, wondering why he'd volunteered for this. Oh, right. He hadn't realized Edward would be so set on doing something so irrationally stupid.
"My legs are cramping."
"Huh?" Emmett asked.
Edward sighed with frustration evident in his eyes. "My legs are cramping. It's a human thing. I need to walk."
"So walk here," Emmett told him simply, flopping down on the ground. He glanced around, taking in the birds, the trees, the sound of animals hundreds of yards away. He looked disinterestedly at his own sparkling skin and then back up to Edward's face, which was now taken with a very different expression.
"Emmett?" Edward asked. "You would know if someone was anywhere around though. I wouldn't go far, and you would be right with me. I'm bored. Please, Emmett? Please!"
Emmett considered this, acknowledging that what Edward said was true. Besides, the only member of the family they needed to worry about was Jasper, and he had agreed- quite tersely- on the way there that he would move as far away as he could before hunting. Lithely getting to his feet, Emmett shrugged, motioning for Edward to lead the way. His brother bounded happily ahead of him, eyes bright and cheeks flushed from the heat. Emmett sometimes felt strange hunting in Tennesse- a sense of foreboding and danger overtook him, and his vague but terrifying memories of his final human moments clung acidly to the front of his mind.
But, he reminded himself constantly, this time he could take any bear that wanted to try him. No animal could defeat Emmett Cullen, no matter how strong they were.
Emmett strolled easily along behind Edward, constantly on the alert for signs that any member of their family was nearby.
Emmett paused briefly, looking back as Edward stumbled down the hill to the valley below them. It was stretched out like a gaping hole in the ground, the earth rising on all sides to form steep walls. Emmett could easily glance across to the level ground on either end of the valley. The wind was blowing rather obnoxiously now, causing the trees to sway frantically on the top of the slope across from Emmett; like hands motioning him forward, fingers crooked and long.
He remained where he stood. Emmett had long had a thing against any area which could be easily noted as a valley. He had always equated them with death, perhaps because of the famous 23rd psalm he had heard so many times.
He shivered, calling out to Edward to turn back. Edward turned and began stumbling upwards to him, so Emmett pivoted and rounded the next corner, wanting to erase the image of Edward so far below him, a tiny figure in the middle of the hole in the earth.
Edward didn't know what it was that made him turn around, but turn he did. The shadow of the trees seemed like dark claws reaching for him; the wind was a hot breath down his neck; and the figure standing at the top of the hill was more still than the ground itself.
Edward's eyesight could not see every detail of Jasper's face, but he could make out the dark posture, the tense stance.
Edward stumbled backwards, self-preservation overshadowing his sympathetic thoughts for his brother.
"Emmett!" he called hoarsley, his feet curling up when he tried to move.
Edward spun 'round, looking aghast at the slope in front of him. Behind him, Jasper moved like a serpent towards the edge of the valley, and 105 years stretched themselves closer to their end.
Emmett heard Edward's heart race. He heard him calling his name. He spun quickly, rounding the wall of trees so he could see Edward– and there was Jasper, getting closer every second. A breeze gusted past Emmett, and he knew just how Jasper had managed to pick up Edward's scent while hunting, at the same time as he wondered how he hadn't managed to pick up the sound of Jasper's approach.
He stepped forward, hardly worried: he was much nearer to Edward than Jasper was. But he knew the danger of underestimating Jasper, and took strides forward.
Then he remembered something: beautiful black eyes framed by the whitest skin. Blonde hair tumbling down her waist.
I wish he were dead, Emmett.
His mind reeled as he paused, watching the blond move closer to Edward, who was rooted to the spot. Rosalie had been angry and resentful since Edward's change. He wondered if she would ever recover from the pain of seeing her deepest wish granted– to someone else. Would this change things? Would Edward's death make her happier?
Perhaps she would see that being human wasn't so great. Life, in its human form, was taken away so easily. Emmett wished desperately that Rosalie could see the beauty of being what they were– the wonder in being certain that they could continue living together forever.
On the other hand, maybe Rosalie would realize too late that she didn't want their brother to hurt in order for them to be happy. Emmett doubted that. He knew that Rosalie wasn't lying when she said Edward's death would make her happy.
...He also knew that she was a good person, whether others saw it or not. And given more time, Rosalie would learn to love her brother again.
As long as he was alive for her to love.
He also knew that Edward dying might make things better for Rosalie, but only at first. Someday she would learn to resent his death. She would be miserable again. The rest of the family would be broken... and furious.
Especially if it was Emmett's fault.
He knew as well that Edward had always, no matter how much the boy may have hated it, been his little brother in a way Alice could never be his little sister, and in a way Jasper could never be so close to him. He'd always been the sibling Emmett felt protective of, even if Edward was so positive he could protect himself.
And Emmett knew this: Even when Rosalie hated him, Edward was still that little brother.
Therein lie his decision. Someone might want Edward dead, but Emmett wasn't that someone. He became suddenly aware of the proximity his brother had gained in the seconds he debated with himself. With a gasp, he lunged forward.
But Emmett had hesitated too long.
Jasper was closer.
There was a sound like crashing boulders. Edward felt pain in his face and his chest, and then his entire body when he collided with the ground and rolled haphazardly into a tree. He heard the snarling and growling someone else might have put to wild dogs.
His head lolled to the side, his eyelashes fluttering, and saw Jasper flailing beneath Emmett wildly, grabbing for him. Edward noted dully that Jasper had already fed– his eyes were a light amber, but the pupils were black and massive.
He felt something trickle down his forehead and towards his eyes. There was a familiar shocked feeling from one shoulder to his waist.
And the world went red, and then it went black.