The Blood Of One. The Sins Of Many.

Chapter 25: Reading the Signs

Disclaimer: I am not Stephenie Meyer; it's unfortunate, but true. I don't own Twilight or any of its characters either... Though I would love to, I can't take credit for that genius. The plot is my own, but all references to Twilight, its characters and the lyrics used belong to their respective owners. Thank you for letting me play in the playground!

We are ghosts
We are ghosts amongst these hills
From the trees of velvet green
To the ground beneath our feet

Ghosts by James Vincent McMorrow

I took a long shower, letting the hot water cascade over my body and run down my body in rivulets. I had done nothing. I hadn't washed my hair, or soaped up my body. I just stood under the spray letting the jet of water ease my troubled thoughts. As much as I loved my friends, and they had become my friends, I couldn't help but feel as though they'd cornered me. I had said too much, and as good friends should, they reverted into proving me wrong

The problem was, I didn't need reassurances. I knew where the fault lay. Nothing they said, or did, could change the way I saw things. It was a fact of life plain and simple. I appreciated that they wanted to ease my conscience, and I believed in some cases, mainly Rosalie, she truly believed that I wasn't culpable for what happened with my dad. I think she believed the fault lay with the one person who had the ability to have stopped it from happening. The one person who saw it as their job.

She blamed Jacob.

God knew that I'd done my fair share of blaming him too, but that had been when I was up to the eyeballs in heroin and my self-awareness was buried so deep that I was numb. It was so easy to place blame on someone else when your mind was in a drug-induced fog.

Mentally slapping myself for dwelling on the subject, I finally kicked myself into action and went through my shower routine. The room was filled with steam by the time I got out, and I reveled in the humid air that enveloped me. The only distraction I seemed to have from the conversation I'd had with the girls, seemed to be what I'd done with Edward.

It served well as a distraction for my overworked mind, but all it did was confuse me further and send me into another tumble of tumultuous emotions. I didn't regret being with Edward in that way, I couldn't. I was, however, kicking myself in the ass for rushing into it. There was still so much that needed to be said and worked through, and I'd taken us from zero to sixty in a blink of an eye. It was hard to slam on the brakes and not send the wrong message. There was so much history between us that I just wasn't sure what the future held.

I swiped my hand over the condensation on the mirror and looked at my reflection with mild surprise. I looked alive. My cheeks were a healthy pink flush, my eyes were filled with emotion, and my lips were full and swollen.

"Bella?" Edward called through the door.

I'd been staring at myself so hard, and so lost in thought, that the intrusion made me jump. My heart pounced into my throat as I stumbled on the tile floor. I was going to start putting bells on them if they didn't stop sneaking up on me. I was too young to die from a heart attack.

"Be right out."

I ran the brush through my hair and brushed my teeth, before securing the towel around me and cracking the door open. Edward was on the bed, his long frame stretched out and his hands behind his neck, while his eyes were trained on me. The grin he was wearing made his face light up, and my heart skip giddily in my chest. It was such a contrast from the glare and looks of longing he'd been giving me since he'd found me in Vegas.

He held out his arms as I stepped further into the room, and God help me, I went to him. The moment my knees hit the bed, he pulled me down and draped me over his chest. His cool hands brushing the damp, and misplaced strands of hair from my face.

"I couldn't stay away." He murmured, his arms finally wrapping around me and holding me to him. "I know we need to talk more, but it doesn't mean we can't spend time together."

I let the breath out of my lungs and relaxed into him. Something about being on the same page made me feel better. We needed to talk, yes. But we also needed to get to know one another again. So much had changed, and hell, I'd changed. He seemed to embrace that, but I wanted to make sure it lasted before I made any kind of decision, and spending time together would at least give me an idea of where his head was.

"Do you think you could finish your story?"

I nodded against his chest. I was only wearing a towel, and his cool body was absorbing the heat from the steam in the bathroom, but he deserved to hear all of it. I needed him to understand why I'd made the decisions I had.

I started from before Charlie's death, explaining where I'd been and the argument with Jacob, and continued on to waking up at my mom's and leaving. Then to Luke and my first taste of heroin all the way through to the club, the men and where I was with Ryan when he'd found me. He didn't judge me. He just pulled me closer as I talked, his lips brushing against my hair.

"I never should have stayed away."

"You couldn't have known." I responded quietly. "Everything that happened was a decision I made. Nobody else can be blamed."

"I have one question."

"I'm sure you have more than that." I teased, my palm flat on his chest as he took in a deep breath.

"I do, but this is just curiosity."

"Shoot."

"How were you able to not be found. There was no record of Bella Swan ever living in Nevada. We almost didn't go because of it."

I shifted uncomfortably. This was something I hadn't explained to anybody. I hadn't been sure how to. If there was anything that had screamed: I'm still in love with Edward, this was it. I moved to get off the bed, but his arms closed around me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

"Not uncomfortable." I smiled. "Embarrassed, but its easier showing you than telling you. I'm not sure I can get the words out."

Edward nodded and released me. I padded across the room and opened the closet, pulling on one of the shirts I'd accumulated that hung down to my knees, before I pulled the box from the shelf. When I turned around I saw Edward's frown at my choice of clothes, but it was more comfortable than the towel.

"You may wake up one morning to find some of those replaced with mine," he said, as I slid onto the bed next to him. "I don't like the thought of you in another man's shirt."

I raised my eyebrows, but he shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm a man. Seeing the woman you love in your clothes is appealing."

Rolling my eyes, I unclasped the box in my hands, making sure that he couldn't see the contents before I started digging for what I was looking for. It was all the way in the bottom. Slipping it out, I closed the box and handed him the paperwork before setting the box to the side. I watched as his eyes moved across the sheets, widening with surprise. When he was through, he looked up at me.

"I think I always knew what we had was different. I couldn't let you go. Having your last name... It was desperate and pathetic, but it was a piece of you I could keep. Something no one else would realize, something no one would look for."

I couldn't read the emotion behind his eyes. He watched me carefully though.

"Bella–" He snapped his mouth shut and sat up, his arms folding around me before he pulled me into his lap. His hands brushed my hair and rubbed along my ribs. His lips brushing my temple as he rocked us gently. I still wasn't sure if he was doing it because he thought I was nuttier than squirrel shit, or he was moved.

"Say something." I whispered into his shoulder.

"I'm honored."

I closed my eyes and let my cheek rest against his chest as he tucked me against him and enveloped me with his body. Everything I'd said was true. Hindsight, as they said, was twenty-twenty. I was finally starting to realize just how tied to him I had been, how reluctant I'd been to let him go. There had been some level of desperation there, and though loath to admit it, I think I could also admit that it was another way of hurting Jacob if he ever found out. I was so fucked up in the head when I'd done it.

"You're so much stronger than you give yourself credit for."

"How can you say that?"

"You lived through all of this. Yes you made some... Not so great decisions, but it's better than what most people would have done. You're right, you have changed, but it's for the better. I couldn't see that before, I saw it as something negative, because the memory of you has been with me for so long. Now I can see that you just grew stronger and became someone you needed to be."

"You keep saying the right thing and you're gonna get lucky again." I snorted.

"That a promise?"

"You're such a man."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

I grinned and let him hold me. I had to admit it was nice to be comforted with this level of intimacy. No matter how much I tried to convince myself we were moving to quickly and I wasn't sure what I wanted, he would go and do something that made me forget where my head was. My heart just took the lead and my body went with it. So much for taking things slowly.

I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, and I didn't really care if I was being honest. We talked quietly amongst ourselves as the minutes fell into hours. When the sky started darkening, the shadows elongated and cast us into darkness. It wasn't until my stomach released an aggravated growl that we finally parted.

"Come on, we'll go down to the kitchen. They're already accusing me of hogging you."

"Emmett?" I asked. Knowing exactly whose terminology that had been.

"Yeah. He finally got the Xbox he ordered, as well as the Wii and the playstation three. He's ready for the challenge."

I couldn't help but laugh. Emmett had promised that we would have some kind of tournament the moment they came in. He'd known how bored I'd been getting and finally decided it wasn't just for him anymore. Even Rose had agreed to be a part of it all. Winner was going to get bragging rights for a month, and a trophy that Emmett had apparently had since the Nintendo sixty-four had come out. He believed he was in no trouble of losing the thing. So Rose and I had been recruiting everyone to join in. We had the whole house involved, including Esme and Carlisle.

"Is he as good as says he is?"

"He still has the damn trophy!"

"Point taken."

I kissed the side of Edward's neck and crawled off the bed, pulling on some undies, and yoga pants under the shirt. Edward took one look at me and shook his head. He disappeared, but was back before the door even had a chance to close behind him. He threw me a pale blue shirt and smiled at me. I supposed I was being asked to wear it.

When I stripped the top off, unabashed, he growled his approval and stepped toward me. The rational man who'd been with me for the last couple of hours replaced by the horny teenager now stood in front of me. Unfortunately, for him at least, I covered myself up with his shirt before he could reach me.

"Can I just say, I'm enjoying this exhibitionist side of you?"

"That's funny. I didn't think you would complain."

"How could I?"

"There was a time you would have."

He folded me in his arms and pulled me against his chest, my body bowing into his as my hands settled on his shoulders. "You mean when I was an idiot, and had no idea of the deity that lingered beneath all of those layers."

"That would be the one." I smiled, leaning into him and kissing him. "You could have saved Mrs. Palmer a lot of effort."

"That's just crass."

"But true."

"God yes," he said against my lips. His kiss became more desperate and erotic. His body rubbing against mine as his tongue explored my mouth hungrily.

This was not conducive to my no sex rule, or feeding my complaining stomach. Not that I was protesting. Even with his cold body against mine, my skin grew hot and my body became pliable. Sparks ran over the surface of my skin and exploded in my gut until the need became an ache. One that only Edward would be able to remedy.

He growled and pulled away, running his straight nose along the edge of my jaw reverently.

"We'll continue this later."

"Are we about to have a visitor?"

He nodded, his cool breath hitting the column of my neck. The chilled air on my heated skin made me shiver, just as the door opened, revealing a grinning Emmett.

"Put her down, bro. We have some business to attend to."

"Emmett–"

"You've had all day to spend with her. Not my fault if you spent it being a girl. She proffered a challenge and it's time to cash in. The family trophy is on the line, and I got something to prove."

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me as I backed away from Edward and picked up his hand.

"Fine, but you know the rules. I still get to sleep. You have an unfair advantage."

"We're playing a console at a time in six hour shifts. Believe me I will kick your ass and be moving on before that ever happens."

I popped my knuckles and gave him a smile. "You just laid down the gauntlet my friend. I hope a couple of decades was enough time with that precious trophy of yours, because you're going to lose it."

"Game on, little bit."

"I hope you have a good digestive system, Emmett. You're going to eat your words."

"Are we twelve?" Edward interjected. Emmett and I just stared at him, and then back at one another. "Apparently so."

We joined all of the family in the media room. It fell silent for a moment and I couldn't understand why, until I realized I still had Edward's hand in mine. He gave a squeeze with his hand in reassurance and I made my way to the couch, where Emmett had flopped into it. Edward sat first and I followed, straight into his lap. Tanya snorted and took her place in the middle.

She ran through the rules and handed the two of us our remotes as everyone else closed in around the couch and settled themselves in. And the games commenced.

I spent all six hours playing and then some. Emmett was quick, and had all of his vampire senses on alert. He'd already broken two controllers in his enthusiasm. I was just coasting along doing my thing. He was fast, but I made less mistakes. I loved that he had been so cocky, because I was keeping up with him and it drove him insane. Edward had long since moved from under me, but when he'd come back he had food. He actually fed me as I played.

It seemed as though everyone, other than Rose, was cheering me on. Apparently Emmett had lorded the trophy over their heads for years, and the thought of anyone else having the honor was exciting to them. When Tanya finally called time, Emmett was trailing behind by almost two thousand points.

I was freed from the game while the next two, Jasper and Eleazar, took our places and began their own marathon. I curled up in Edward's lap to watch, but was asleep before even the first hour had passed, which was when I must have slipped into the dream.

Darkness surrounded me, the only shapes discernible were the tall towering trees that seemed to fill the space around me. There wasn't a sound in this dark forest, no bird songs, call of crickets or breath of wind. It was just me and the trees in the darkness. The emptiness was harrowing, and though I knew there had to be an end to it somewhere, I was rooted to the spot.

I shivered in the cool air that surrounded me, my eyes searching for some sign of light. I looked up to the canopy trying to focus on what was beyond it, but there was nothing. No stars, no moon, just more of the endless darkness that seemed to eat at everything.

I wasn't sure how long I stood there listening, but eventually I heard a growling in the distance. It was fierce and menacing, filled with anger. A twig snapped somewhere behind me but I couldn't turn to look at it. I was still rooted to the spot, the darkness swallowing the trees as it closed in on me.

Something flickered and moved ahead of me, and I focused on the spot, praying it was someone to help me. As the growling behind me grew more feral, I struggled against the confines that surrounded me. My limbs, finally set free started pushing me forward. With the noises in front and behind me, I took off the right, my legs and arms pumping like pistons as I tried to stay upright on the undergrowth. The chaos of fallen leaves and discarded branches at my feet seemed to thicken with each step I took. I tripped continuously, too afraid to look behind me to see what was following.

I sprinted between the trees, my hair flying out behind me, catching in branches, tugged on by god knew what. I finally came to a lip and didn't stop, I fell over it and tumbled to the bottom, hitting my feet and running until the darkness started to lift and I began recognizing my surroundings.

This was where I had wandered when Edward left. This was the chaotic path I'd taken in a desperate attempt to find him.

"Edward?" I called out, still running.

"I'm right here."

"I can't see you."

"Open your eyes."

I followed the command and found myself in the media room, everyone staring at me. The shirt I was wearing stuck to my damp flesh as my ragged breaths spilled from me in violent wheezes. It was a nightmare, just a nightmare, and I was safe. Edward was holding me and the light that filled the room chased away the shadows in my head.

I was also starting to feel embarrassed.

"Come on. Let's go get you cleaned up," Rosalie said gently. She stepped toward me and held out her hand, and I took it in mine, my breath still coming fast and painful. Edward didn't try to stop me, and I didn't attempt to look at him. I could only imagine the look in his eyes. The look I knew would say: "I'm responsible for this horror."

Rosalie didn't say a word as she led me up the stairs to my room, she didn't attempt to say a word as she poured a sink full of cold water, or when I splashed my face with it. Not when I dried my face with the towel she handed me either. She patiently waited, before she led me into the room and sat me down on the bed.

"What was that?" she finally asked.

"Nightmare."

"That's obvious, but what the hell happened. You were thrashing and whimpering, then you started panting and screaming Edward's name, and not in a good way."

"Something was chasing me, and I ended up taking the same path I did when I got lost in the woods the night he left."

"You got lost?"

I nodded. Another heavy sigh as I shook off the last of the terror my dream had given me. "He walked away and I followed. I got lost and night fell and I... I gave up."

"How did you get out?"

"Dad sent out a search party."

I scrubbed my face with my palms and fought to rid myself of the darkness that seemed to linger in my head. It seemed to create a fog in my brain that I was struggling to shake off.

"It was just a nightmare."

"No, sweetie. You've had the same nightmare since you've been here, to the point where I could write a script. This was... different. Scary. Maybe you need to slow things down."

I thought about it. If things were going too fast, why was Edward's voice the only thing that cut through it all? Why was he the one that was able to get me through it? The only one that had eased the terror? The moment I'd heard his voice, I'd followed it out. Yes, a lot of history had been brought up, and yes, it had been an emotional day, but I couldn't see how that would have brought up this one memory.

"Believe me, Rose. I'm not rushing. Yes there was sex, but it was spontaneous. We've talked more and I think we're both agreed that we need to take this a day at a time. I just don't know why that particular memory decided to turn itself into a nightmare. I was devastated, but I wasn't scared."

"He hurt you, Bella. That's not easy to get past. Maybe it's just your mind, reminding you of the last time you let him in and he betrayed you."

"Rose–"

"I'm not saying that to talk you out of this. You know how I feel about what he did, but even with that, I can't deny how nice it is to see you smiling and happy. Just ease yourself into it."

I took her hands in mine and squeezed. She'd become one of my closest friends, she knew me, she saw the differences and the warnings I hadn't. Yet, I couldn't help feeling like this was a different kind of warning. Before I'd found out about Jacob being a wolf, I'd had a fucked up dream. Before he broke up with me, I'd had a fucked up dream, before dad died, I'd had a fucked up dream. After that, I hadn't had many nights where I'd gone to sleep without being high, but I could see a pattern forming.

It was a little far fetched, but I didn't think I could afford to ignore it.

"Bella? What's that look?"

"There's something I should explain."

She knelt in front of me, her eyes catching mine. They were soft, but the look on her face contradicted it. She was worried.

"Dreams, like this, they have been a precursor to disasters in my life. They're not the same, but with every bad thing that's happened I had a fucked up dream. I think... I think something bad is about to happen."

"Are you sure?"

I thought back. Trying to remember the dreams I'd had those nights. There was one thing they all had in common. The darkness, that all encompassing, light-eating darkness had been in every single one of them.

"Absolutely."

Rose was in her feet in a second, pulling me from my place on the bed and towing me from the room.

"Where are we going?" I asked, struggling to keep up with her.

"If you say this is a warning, we're going to take it seriously," she said, pulling me down the stairs behind her.

I was aware how it sounded, even to my own ears, but I couldn't deny that I was glad she hadn't laughed at me. I wasn't sure what was going on, or why this had suddenly just occurred to me, but knowing that it could prepare me for something coming made me feel better. At least we'd be prepared. Even if it was a false alarm.

Authors Note: Oops I did it again! lol! Another cliffhanger... Sorry about that! HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! I know I am still fail at the RR's I really am sorry about that!

I want to thank every single one of you for reading, adding to alerts and favorites and for the amazing reviews. You guys never cease to amaze me with your thoughtfulness at letting me know what you think. You take time out of your days and that's, for me, is just *Makes over my head gesture* Thank you so much for taking that time, I know that I haven't been great with the replies for a while, but I read every single one and I love you for it.

As always, KnitIndeed, thanks for being you. We need a serious catch up I feel like we haven't spoken in forever.

Hev99 and Sabi'sSookie, to the sister I chose. I love you both xoxo

MWAH!