Chapter 24- Enamored
The sun was shinning brighter than normal today. Phillip was still asleep when I landed softly back on my bedroom balcony. I opened the door just enough to fit my body in the space before gently closing it. He was still covered up and showed no sign of him waking up early. I sat on the vanity bench for a moment thinking about what to do.
I could crawl back into bed and pretend I was there the whole time, yet I wasn't tired in the slightest. I did notice however, that I was hungry. Well if I was hungry I knew that he would be, and I had about fifteen minutes before he would awake. I took my sneakers and socks off putting them back in my closet and walked barefoot downstairs.
I groaned when I didn't have everything that I needed to make French toast. I settled on making a mini buffet and he could pick what he liked. I quickly ran around the kitchen with inhuman speed chopping peppers and onions, whisking eggs, and shredding cheese to make omelets. I hastily cut cantaloupe, watermelon and strawberries in-between flipping and pouring the omelet mixture and browning the small sausage links. I put the omelets onto a plate and the fruit into two small cereal bowls. I arranged them all neatly on the tray with silverware, sausage, a glass of apple juice and a glass of orange juice.
I was about five minutes behind schedule, I walked hurriedly up the stairs balancing the tray in my hands. I walked in the room to see him frantically looking around. "Hey you." I smile bringing his attention to my part of the room.
His face immediately melted form the panic. "Oh there you are." He smiled looking at the tray.
"I woke up a little earlier than you did, and I assumed that you would be hungry when you did wake up." I explained. "I hope I didn't scare you."
"Oh no, you are fine. I just fell asleep with you in my arms so it felt awkward when you weren't there." He admitted.
He started to get up and walk towards me. "No stay there." I said walking again. I crawled back into bed putting the tray in-between us. "Okay, I don't know what you normally eat for breakfast so I just made a little bit of everything."
"It's perfect, come on, eat with me." he gently ordered grabbing a fork.
I grabbed a small bowl of fruit, and picked the strawberries out first eating them slowly. "How did you sleep?" I asked in-between bites.
"Slept like a log. You?" he asked pushing my hair back behind my ear.
"Pretty good." I didn't want to talk about how short it was. "Do you like it?" I saw him take the first few bites of his omelet.
"Yes, it's really good. Who taught you how to cook?" He asked curiously.
"I taught myself." I admitted laughing at the thought. "My mom never cooked."
"Really?" I wasn't sure if you that was normal or not but I didn't want to lie anymore.
"No, we had cooks. She was never taught." I said pulling my hair on one side. "She was born in Egypt. My grandparents were well off so she never had to do anything. Then she met my father who's family was more well off than she was so she never needed to. "
"Egypt huh? That explains why you know so much about ancient Egypt." He was dropping the subject of my family in a subtle way, for that I was thankful.
"Please, know about ancient Egypt? I am ancient Egypt." I laughed.
We ate as we talked, "Okay, tell me some of it."
"Okay, did you know that the whole incestual race thing was an exaggeration.?"
"Really? So people didn't always marry their brothers and sisters?"
"Well no more than any other society that tried to keep royalty within the family. But there were enough Kings and Pharaohs to not have to marry within the family. Archeologists got it confused because, in that time the people they loved were considered brothers and sisters. And when they wrote about them they used the term brother or sister."
"What do you mean?"
"If we lived in that time, I would refer to you as my 'brother' and you would refer to me as your 'sister'. Even though we are of no relation, because we love each other." I laughed at the odd look on his face. He didn't want to think of me as his 'sister' ever.
"Okay, that one is a little weird, how about another one?"
"Unless you were in a royal family most children were naked until they were about twelve." Why did I chose that one?
"So the rest were too poor to afford clothes?"
"No, it's just¾well, until you're twelve everyone looks about the same anyway. Plus it is really hot, why waste money on clothing when you don't have to? When their bodies start to change they start wearing clothes."
"Ha, that's funny." He finished his omelets and sausage and moved on to his fruit. "Tell me more."
"Okay, they would use fat from crocodiles, hippos, lions, snakes, and an ibex to try and cure baldness." I frowned my nose up remembering the smell of the mixture when one of the guards had to use it, even after he had washed it the smell still revolved around him.
"What's an ibex?"
"Like a wild goat with horns that curl back." I said taking a sip of my apple juice.
He continued to listen to my weird facts and history while he finished his breakfast. Empty dishes was the only thing left on the tray. "So what are we doing today?" He asked laying the empty glasses on the tray.
I looked at my watch. It was a little after one. "I already promised Ness that I would spend the day with her. I'm sorry, I didn't think that you would be staying last night when I made plans."
He was disappointed, "Oh okay. Well I need to get to Jason's to get my bag and things anyway. What time are you meeting her?"
"Two," I sighed just as disappointed as she was. "but we still have tonight if you would like to stay."
"Okay, what time would you like me to come back?" That was a hard question. I didn't know how long I would be working.
"I'm not sure when I will be back home, probably around 12 or 1." I admitted.
"That's cool, I can hang with Jason until you come back." He got up taking the tray with him. He carried it downstairs in four times longer than it took me when everything was full. I followed him down the hall, he let me pass him at the foot of the stairs so that I could show him the way to the kitchen.
I reached my hand out to take the tray from him so that I could wash the dishes and put them away. He turned his body like he was shielding the tray from my hands. "No way. You cooked, I am washing dishes."
He slowly spun around me and headed to the sink. "Fine, how about you wash I dry?" I offered.
He pretended to think about it for a second, "Hmm, how about, no, I didn't help with breakfast."
"Okay," I said waiving my hands in surrender. I hopped up on the counter next to the sink and crossed my legs watching him.
"So tell me about your father." he said filling one side of the sink with soapy water before putting the dishes in.
I always hated talking about my father, even when referring to the made up parts. "Well, my father is a Developmental Manger for Micro¾"
"No babe, not what he does but him. You said that your mom was from a wealthy family, and she was so use to having things done for her that she never learned to do them for herself. Your father was in that same environment, how did that effect him?"
"My mom just fit the mold of every other rich daughter in her day, I suppose you could say that my father did the same. He was different than my mom though, he didn't crave money and the higher upper-class status that he received he felt like it is owed to him."
I didn't even notice that my hands were in tight until I felt his wet hand on mine. I looked down, his hand almost covered my small fist. I relaxed the clenched fist under his touch. "We don't have to talk about it anymore. I won't bring him up again, I promise."
"Sorry, he just¾really upsets me." I said sliding off of the counter and drying the dishes and putting them away.
"I can tell, I am sorry. I won't bring him up again." He kissed my forehead and dried the remaining dishes as I put them away.
"See you tonight," he promised kissing me at the front door. I watched him get into his Milan and drive away.
I ran upstairs, showered, and got dressed at inhuman speed. I threw my hair in the normal ponytail and ran out of the door. I slid into the seat of my Lexus and put on my Muse play list as I drove back to the Cullen's.
I pulled into the driveway at full speed stopping inches away from Ness's Audi. She was getting out of the car just as I was. "I thought you were going to hit me." she admitted walking over to me.
"Not a chance. I have been driving since cars were invented, and have had awesome reflexes for longer." I laughed.
She put her arm around me as we walked into the house. "So who are you working with today?"
"Who is here?" I asked stopping at the stairs.
"Mom, Dad, Jasper, Emmett, Carlisle and Esme are in the clearing. Rosalie, Alice, Jacob and Seth are at the mall. If they are going to be here for another ten months they are going to need more clothes. I just got back from there, I wanted to hang out with you and help in whatever way I can. Zafrina and the others will be back tonight."
"Bella for now, we can work with you later today, Miss 'I want to take on two vamps'" I teased walking again towards the back door.
"I just want to do my part. You said that this Isidora girl was important. So I need to take her out." I have to do this… She bent her legs slightly to push off into a run.
"Why do you have to do this Ness?" I asked grabbing her arm stopping her from running.
I have to prove I am strong… "It doesn't matter. Isidora is a threat to my family. If I have to deal with Inés too then so be it."
"Look at me." I grabbed both of her arms looking up at her. This would be more convincing if she didn't tower over me. "You are strong, and you don't have to risk your life trying to kill Inés and Isidora to do it. I will help you but don't feel like you have to prove anything to anybody. It's a stupid reason to die."
"I want to help Asima." She sighed "I would be better off fighting Inés and Isidora together than any other vampire alone."
"I know, so let's get to work." I said giving up on it. She needed to learn multiple attackers anyway. "Want a ride?" I offered joking.
"I can run." she snapped taking off. I let her get a head start of about thirty seconds before taking off after her.
Despite my relaxed run and her head start we still approached the clearing at the same time. "How is it going?" I asked Jasper stopping next to him.
"She's doing very well. She is having no problems shielding Edward, Esme, and Edward."
"Okay, well you and Emmett can attack. I will do a mental attack. Renesmee you can fall in with the rest."
We practiced for almost an hour before her shield flickered out. "How was that?" Bella panted seeking approval.
"That was excellent Bella," I smiled remembering her meltdown this morning. "It will only get better in time."
"Hey let's go a round or two, what do you say?" Emmett asked Jasper.
"I'm up for it." Do you want to join us Edward? Jasper offered.
I am going to wait with Bella for a minute. I will join you shortly.
Jasper nodded and ran a little further into the trees. I looked at Edward some what shocked but mostly approved. Impressive, how far have you gotten?
I can do an individual with ease now. I just need to work on groups.
Very good Edward! My eyes were wide and I was smiling.
"Hey, enough with the mental chat." Bella groaned wrapping her arm around Edward's waist.
"Sorry love. Caught in the moment I suppose." He gave a crooked smile and she instantly forgave him. She pushed up on her toes kissing him. I adverted my eyes to the trees where I could see Emmett and Jasper going at it.
"Hey Asima, I'm sorry about this morning." She apologized bringing me back to where she was.
"Oh Bella it's no big deal." It really wasn't.
"I still feel bad. I didn't mean to mess up your night." She felt bad.
I wrapped her in a blanket of calm feelings. I knew it worked because I saw her eyes close and exhale. I unwrapped the blanket and began to talk again. "It isn't a big¾"
My hand involuntarily shot to my head grabbing at my hair.
I could see myself surrounded by Corin, Carlos, Demetri, and Baili. I fought hard but with Carlos' force diminishing my powers I couldn't defend myself. I winced when I saw myself get pulled apart in the same clearing that we all stood in now…
My eyes darted around. Emmett and Jasper were still going at it, Ness was checking a text message from Jacob. Carlisle and Esme watching the duel in each others arms. Esme was thinking about how fortunate she was. I went to straighten up and I noticed that Edward was behind me with his arms on my shoulders holding me up.
"Are you okay Asima?" Bella asked in front of me.
"Yes, I am okay, but yeah Bella it was no big deal, Phillip didn't even wake up until after I got there." I said finishing my statement.
Bella and Edward looked at me in disbelief, "Are you all right Asima?" Edward asked his hand twitching ready to grab me again.
"Yeah I am fine." The vision was just strong.
"You almost passed out." Edward stated still not believing me. "What is it?"
My face was more convincing this time, "Nothing. I am really ok. The gifts growing is a bit overwhelming. I have never had so many at once before. Nothing to worry about though."
"Did you see something?" Bella still wasn't convinced. She remembered the last time I was 'overwhelmed', I saw a live view into Volterra.
"Yes it was just some glimpses of Phillip. I can barely see humans so it hurts to try to focus on something so blurred and shadowed."
"You can't see humans?" Bella said taking my truth in a lie bait.
"No, I can't." I sounded disappointed. At that moment I couldn't be more relieved.
"Well don't try anymore okay. You scared me." She admitted frowning.
"Sorry Bella, didn't mean to scare you. Everything is okay." For you.