Woohoo! This is my favourite chapter so far!
Summary: Beth and Anna showcase their talents
Enjoy!
LookAliveSunshine03
Chapter 29:
Her time in the spotlight
Beth floated out into the night on a cloud of high anticipation, turning to see Bella, Edward and Eleazar come out with her on the porch. The rest of the family stayed inside to give them room, grinning with the prospect of a show.
"Okay." In the open doorway, Kate tossed her long hair over her shoulder. It flashed silver-white in the darkness. "Show us your glamour. We need to see how it works."
"Er, okay." Beth did as she was asked. Pride and embarrassment battled inside her as the Denalis all gasped.
"Most impressive!" Eleazar cried.
"Thank you." She reappeared, daring to give a little flourishing bow. They all laughed.
"So, tell me," Eleazar continued, "how did this ability come about? Did you possess this ability whilst still human, or did you acquire it later on?"
"Later on, definitely." Then she paused and her voice faltered. "Um, but I think it may have come about whilst I was still Changing. I remember I was being watched…by Darius." Beth shuddered unconsciously. "I was helpless, but I couldn't do anything through the pain. I could only…hope, and wish that he couldn't see me." She shrugged uncomfortably. "I guess it came true."
"Indeed," Eleazar nodded sombrely. "I must ask then – what is it you do when you use your glamour?" When Beth frowned in confusion, he elaborated. "For example, what do you imagine? A cloak, or…?"
"Ah!" This was quite strange. Beth had never needed to describe her glamour in such detail before; it just…was. "Well, I suppose after I feel that same urge to hide," – she gave a self-depreciative grin – "I picture a…thick veil falling down on top of me, covering me completely."
Eleazar was still nodding pensively, pacing the decking. When he looked at her, his yellow eyes shone in the gloom, like a cat's. "Do you suppose that you could imagine this veil of yours being larger – enough to cover more than yourself?"
A laugh burst from Beth, eagerly. "I don't see why not!"
He smiled. "Good. Edward? Would you object to being our volunteer?"
"Not at all." Edward's gaze bounced from Bella to Kate, remembering the last time he was. Bella smiled. He hoped this instance wouldn't be quite as painful.
Beth saw this exchange. "Don't fret, love," she said pleasantly, as he came to stand beside her. "This won't hurt a bit."
"I should hope so," he replied. "Or you'll have my wife to answer to." He smiled, making everyone laugh again, this time including Beth.
"I don't doubt that for a second." She looked over at Bella, who was now very tense against the porch rail. "Your husband is in safe hands, Bella!" She grinned at Eleazar. "Let's do this."
Just as Alice's vision had predicted, her glamour covered Edward without trouble. It was deceptively easy, and Beth mentally slapped herself for not realising she could earlier.
"This is amazing," Edward was saying quietly. Under its protection, the veil shifted around them, as if caught in a breeze. It reminded him of Bella's shield, were it not for the sparks of crimson that flecked its swirling surface. They were dancing like glowing embers in the night.
Beth made a self-conscious noise. "Shut up. It's not that great." She grinned. "The red bits give it that extra bit of flare, though, doesn't it?"
"Is it always like that?"
"Nope," she said, winking. Her breath hitched in excitement. "I just wanted to make sure you could see it."
"Edward, are you alright?" Carlisle was calling vaguely in their direction.
He could still see his family, as if through a stained-glass window, but it was becoming clear that they couldn't see him at all.
"I'm okay," Edward answered, but Carlisle didn't seem to hear.
He was surprised when Beth giggled. It wasn't as pretty as Alice's, but like a piano melody, it was striking in its appeal. "It's all about stealth, Edward," she explained. "To hide effectively, it's best that you're quiet."
"He's fine," Alice was saying with a superior sniff.
"Ha! She saw this happen, didn't she?" Something in her tone suggested Beth already knew the answer.
Edward just smiled. It was strange, reading their minds and seeing what everyone else was seeing. For all they knew, he and Beth had just disappeared completely off the face of the earth.
It was probably why Bella was looking a little frantic. "Edward? Where are you?"
"Oops." Beth said, seeing his pained expression. "I'd better take the glamour off now."
"Wait." A surprisingly sly smile curved his lips. "I want to try something."
She looked wary. "Hm? Like what?"
When he began to move away, she got it. She panicked. "Shit. Edward, really? I don't know if I –"
"I trust you." He spread his arms out with a smile. "Just focus on me, and keeping us hidden." Then he began to walk away, until he was almost back with his wife.
"Okay." Beth breathed. "Crap, crap, crap…"
She focused on the one person that had always kept her glamour strong. Imagining him there beside Bella, prowling the decking like a tiger. Hunting. Her breath stuttered in her throat, as that familiar fear rose inside her.
Beth knew that Darius would have despised Edward. They were the exact opposite of one another, and Darius would have called him out for choosing to let the humans live.
"You are not a vampire." His deep, vitriolic voice clanged like a death toll in her mind. She had always managed to get under his skin. Blame it his short temper, and her tendency to laugh at it. But anyone with the ability to get into his head, figuratively or not, was an enemy.
"You don't have to be afraid of him," Edward said, though he noticed the effects her thoughts had on the glamour. Her scent, sweet and smelling oddly like cinnamon, seemed to thicken around them.
Beth gave a shaky laugh. "No…but it helps, doesn't it?"
She too saw her glamour grow in strength, as she knew it would. The scarlet wisps in its surface blazed bright in the memory of utter terror. She didn't know exactly why the swirls were that colour, but she had to admit, they made it that bit more cool.
For the first time, her glamour felt real, like something she could move and manipulate. She finally shook it off when Edward took Bella by surprise by giving her an invisible kiss.
The breath that Beth had been holding burst from her mouth in a loud hoo.
"Why have I never thought of doing this before?!" She crowed in a daze. Everyone was laughing and applauding her efforts. Emmett was bellowing like he was at a football game.
She had never felt so special. So powerful.
Edward heard this with a smile. She had been standing, far too willingly, in her sister's commanding shadow for much too long. Now it was her turn in the spotlight.
Before long, they had all asked to have a go at being invisible. The smile on Beth's face grew. Their gasps and cries of "there you are!" were exhilarating.
Then it came to Bella's turn. No matter how hard Beth tried to bend it, her glamour would not take Bella beneath its folds. Her shields were far too strong.
"As I thought," Edward said, much to Beth's dejection. Her face drooped miserably.
"Why didn't you say anything, Edward?"
"I'm sorry. I wanted to be sure," he answered with sad honesty. "Your glamour is a mental projection, just as Jane or Alec's abilities are. They have no effect on Bella."
She sighed. "Shit."
"Don't be so hard on yourself, Beth." His wife's voice was impeccably kind, and Beth saw Nessie in her expression. "An hour ago, you thought your glamour was just for you. That's incredible progress."
Emmett's enthusiastic patting on her back had Beth stumbling a little. "Thank you, Bella." It did little to ease her misery. She still felt like she had failed the Cullens somehow, as well as herself.
"Demetri cannot track you beneath your glamour, can he?" Alice asked suddenly.
Beth looked at her, her eyebrow raised. "Apparently not, no."
"Well, that makes two of us," Bella added. She smiled when Beth laughed – because if this was their way of making her feel better, then it was working.
After yet another day of going over wedding ideas with Dora, Anna had chased the setting sun to Aro's study, buoyed by a violent inspiration to paint him. Caught up in her excitement, Aro had been more than willing, letting her take him to their favourite library on the ground floor. Anna loved the way the dying sun splashed the library with gold and dust-orange light. He would look perfect in it.
They talked while she painted, about everything and nothing. It was times like this that Anna could forget how dangerous he really was…and how only she could subdue him. It was a sad and ugly gift indeed that tainted her growing desire for him. Still, it would sit cold and sulking, in the pit of her stomach, only to spring at unexpected moments around him. A quirk of his lip, the swish of silk as he moved to fold himself into a languid shape on their love-seat. His lips brushing her cheekbone and temples…
Now, nine hours later, Anna was having trouble keeping control. Her favourite piece from Beethoven crested and fell around her favourite library as a light rain tapped at the windows. Her paintbrush made soft noises against her canvas, as delicate as a doe's treading feet.
"Almost…finished," she exhaled.
"I can wait." She heard the smile in her mate's voice, and hummed.
But it seems I cannot!
Aro hadn't moved for the painting's entirety. He enjoyed the view of her bringing her talent to life, and how she didn't seem to notice the smudges of black paint she had accidentally smeared across her cheek a moment ago. It made her look young and a little bit lovely, especially with her lip caught between her teeth like that.
The sound of her phone made her start. Aro was glad she had put her paintbrush back in the water, for fear of it spoiling his portrait.
"Why so tense, my love?"
Anna swallowed, reaching for her phone on the table beside her. Her fingertips trembled slightly as she slid off the home-page.
"Ah!" She smiled with a rush of relief. "A text from Beth."
Oy oy! Got a surprise for you when I get back…
It was a rather cryptic message, and she laughed.
Hello! Are you okay? That sounds interesting.
Beth's reply was immediate.
It is, my friend. It is…and I'm awesome, BTW
Anna felt Aro behind her. He pressed a kiss to her temple, making her shiver. It was a miracle that she kept her hand steady.
Ha ha! Good.
What are u doing? :)
Aro's hands were in her hair, brushing her shoulders lightly. Tantalisingly. Her breathing was a little shaky now.
I just painted Aro's portrait
OOhhh. Like one of Jack's French girls? :P
Anna giggled, embarrassed. Aro was whispering something in Italian in her ear, like liquid sin.
No. But I think he likes it…
She dropped her phone back onto the table, before giving into his embrace with a shuddering sigh.
