Chapter 35

There were several times throughout the morning hours I'd tried turning over or moving away from Tanya but she kept her iron grip on my waist. I wasn't sure if it was because she was mad or upset with me or sad that she didn't respond to any of my texts or calls. Whatever the reason was, she never let go.

When I finally woke for good, my hand was aching pretty good. I bet Carlisle is gonna make sure he sees me today, whether I liked it or not. Tanya was softly stroking my stomach making me clench. Good thing I'm not ticklish there.

I tried moving for the millionth time and Tanya still wouldn't let me move. I must say that it kinda felt good but then again, my left side was starting to feel numb from being in this position for most of the night. To make matters worse, Tanya entwined her legs with mine.

"Tanya, what's wrong?" I asked, still groggy from sleep.

"Nothing. I just don't want to let you go right now." She replied.

I lay there for a few minutes wondering what is wrong with her. Then, it hit me. She must have read the note or upset that I left her again.

"Sorry about leaving you again." I whispered.

Will I not be able to stand my ground and confront things head on? I doubt it.

"Don't. I would have done the same thing." She replied.

"I just reacted without thinking."

"I know. I'm not mad at you Abigail."

We lay there for a few more minutes thinking.

"I would like to apologize too." She said.

"For what" I asked.

"For not returning your calls. I was a bit upset myself." She admitted.

"You saw the note?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Okay. So, I have to go back and get the journal, if it's true, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme."

"You do realize that it was the worst day of the battle and that over 57,000 men died that day?"

"Really?" I asked a bit surprised.

I wasn't big on my World War I history and only know that it was one hell of a war.

"Yes. I know you have to go retrieve the journal, so I'm gonna be acting weird until you retrieve it and get back, hopefully in one piece." She said.

"Okay. I understand that, but the only time people see me is when someone, like you or Alice, sees me. You weren't there that day, were you?" I asked.

"No. None of my coven was there. We were preparing to move to America before the Russian Revolution began. We came over on Titanic to look for property to buy when it sank."

"Really?" I asked. I haven't heard her talk about her past and could beat myself for not asking anything about herself. It was all about my issues and me.

"Yes."

"Tell me more." I insisted.

"What would you like to know?"

"I don't care. Anything. What was your favorite time period?" I asked.

"The Renaissance. I loved talking with Michelangelo. He was a very intelligent and generous man." Tanya replied.

"You knew Michelangelo?" I asked surprised.

"Yes. I kept him company when he painted the Sistine Chapel." She replied casually.

I turned toward her with my brows raised. For once, she let me move. She propped herself up on one elbow, keeping the other hand on my stomach.

"You saw him paint the Sistine Chapel?" I was still surprised by her nonchalant attitude.

"Yes."

"What else?" I asked with excitement.

"I saw Louis XIV get his head chopped off. The French Revolution was a horrible war. Especially the Reign of Terror."

"Whoa."

I'm having a hard time believing that the person next to me had witnessed so much history first hand. My head is spinning with all the questions I want to ask her or Kate or Carlisle or any one of the vampires. The stuff they could tell me makes me want to shout with glee.

On the flip side though, everything I learned so far is now a waste of time. I wonder how much of the stuff I read or researched is wrong. What didn't we get right after all this time, I wonder? Would I be able to correct the stuff that everyone got wrong? If so, how would I be able to prove it without evidence, other than those who witnessed it first hand? I don't think that would go over too much if I said that I heard someone talk about it who was there.

I was so caught up in my thoughts I didn't hear what Tanya was talking about. It wasn't until her hand moved up to my ribs that I was abruptly brought back to the present.

"What?" I asked.

"I said, do you have any idea what you're going to tell your brother about us?" she asked.

"I have no idea." I answered.

And I don't. What can I tell him that won't get me committed?

"Have any ideas?" I asked.

"Alice thinks that you don't have to go into too much detail about what the journal means. Possibly telling him that it's part of a project for your class might work."

"Yeah. That's not gonna work. He'll figure out it's a lie in a heartbeat and beat me into a greasy spot for lying to him." I replied.

"Well, you better come up with an idea fast because he's ready to come back here and wake us up regardless of what we're doing." She said with a bit of amusement.

"We're talking. We're not doing anything." I replied.

"Yet." Tanya stated, then, next thing I know she's on top of me straddling me.

I tried not to stiffen but she caught it when I did.

"Alice told me about yesterday and I'm very sorry for your lose Abigail." She said as she lowered her head to my neck inhaling my scent.

"Thank you." I said not really knowing what to say in this situation.

"She also told me about what happened after and I understand what you're going through. However, I have told you before, I cannot leave you, nor do I want to. I have spent the last century trying not to lose my mind waiting for you. Now that you're here, I'm not letting you out of my sight for very long." She admitted.

"Okay." I said, "what about class and work?"

"I'll be there." She answered.

I raised my brow.

"You're going to sit there in class for two and a half hours listening to us discuss a book that is probably wrong anyways?" I asked.

"Yes. And, I'll wait till after the class to tell you what the book got wrong too if that's what it takes."

I laughed at her.

"Don't laugh at me. From what I hear, you were no better off yesterday, Love."

"True."

She took that moment to start placing kisses all up and down my neck and shoulder. That was after she tore my shirt at the neck and traced her tongue along my collarbone. My breath hitched at what she was doing to me.

"I can smell your arousal Abigail and it's intoxicating." Tanya whispered in my ear when she reached my neck again. That caused her to inhale several times to make her point. Her eyes were already black and I couldn't help my blush at her words. No one has ever said that to me.

Just as Tanya was starting to get my breathing into a frenzy, someone knocked on the door making me jump in surprise. It was either that or Tanya taking a nip on my neck.

"Abby, Carlisle and Josiah are waiting for you." Alice called from the other side of the door. Of course, she knew what was going on in here making me blush again.

"Be there in a minute." I yelled after I cleared my throat.

Tanya again, made her way up my neck to my jaw and then my lips. Her kisses were getting better every time. I didn't want her to stop and for a minute she didn't. That was until Alice knocked again when she heard that we weren't moving fast enough.

Tanya finally pulled away and rolled of the bed, standing in front of me. I followed suit and sat on the edge of the bed. She was in her panties and a spaghetti strap shirt that left little to the imagination. I couldn't help as my eyes raked over her body. I have never seen her this way and I have to admit, I liked what I saw.

Her legs were toned. I mean they weren't too muscular or too lean but just right. Her hips were well proportioned. Roaming up her body, I saw that she had a flat stomach and that was probably toned too. I really couldn't tell because of the shirt but I don't think there was an ounce of fat anywhere on her.

When I reached her face I saw that she was sporting a smirk, obviously amused by my expression at seeing her like this. Every model I have seen pales in comparison to her. I want to see what the rest of her looks like. If it's like what I've seen so far, then I'm in for a treat.

"Like what you see?" She asked in a low and husky voice.

Slack jawed I could only nod.

"Then join my in the shower and you can see the rest." She purred and ran one finger along my jaw before turning towards the bathroom.

As she walked away from me, she lifted the shirt over her head and I caught a good view of her back. It was smooth and the shoulder blades jutted out. I was kind of jealous at how smooth her skin was compared to my own scar riddled back.

As she closed the door with her foot, I couldn't help but see that she was taking off her panties and caught a brief glimpse if her ass. Like everything else I've seen, it was well rounded and toned too. I blinked several times wondering if I was dreaming but Alice opened the bedroom door a little to look in.

I was still focused on the bathroom door and thought about taking her up on her offer. It was only when Alice threw a rolled up sock at my head that I diverted my attention from the bathroom door.

"They're waiting for you Abby. Sorry to ruin the moment, but your brother is about to have a hernia waiting for you."

I rolled my eyes and cursed my brother for his patience, or lack thereof. I stood and walked towards the door when Alice stopped me.

"Change your shirt." She said looking at the rip at the neck.

I took a deep breath and changed my shirt before leaving the bedroom. I fell asleep fully dressed last night. It was rare that I never was awake enough to change into pajamas.

I flicked Josie on the ear when I sat down. I wasn't in a good mood at the moment. They always wondered why I didn't have a sex life. When I do get one, they are there to ruin the moment. Never fails.

Rubbing his ear and glaring at me, I returned one of my own. Esme was there placing a plate of biscuits and gravy before me. I thanked her and dug in.

"How many plates have you had?" I asked as he was shoveling food in. It reminded me of Emmett the other night at my aunt's house.

"Three." He said around a mouthful of food.

"Four." Alice corrected from her spot across from me.

She was on my laptop doing something I couldn't see.

"Pig." I muttered under my breath. Alice and Esme gave me a small smile knowing that they heard me.

Carlisle took the seat to my left and started probing my face. I don't want to see what my face looks like now. I'm pretty sure it's black and blue and some other colors too.

When he touched me next to my eye I flinched. It was obviously tender there still.

"Sorry." He said still feeling my head.

Everywhere he touched it hurt. It also made it hard to eat and I had to take bites around his arm and hand.

"I still want to get a scan of your head to rule out fractured bones." He said.

I only rolled my eyes and shook my head. Of course, that caused everyone there to disagree with me.

"Listen to the doctor Abster. If he wants to see if there's anything in that noggin of yours let him. I don't he'll find anything in there anyways." Josie joked.

I glared at him.

"How's the hand?" Carlisle asked.

"It hurts." I replied.

"Want anything stronger for the pain?"

"You better not. She's a light weight when it comes to medication." Josie said.

It's true. Anything that says, 'may cause drowsiness' makes me pass out.

"At least, you'll stand out at graduation." Josie smirked.

"I wasn't going…" I immediately stopped when four pairs of eyes glared back at me.

I really wasn't going to go to my graduation. It's boring and the only people that were going to go to it, before the vampires showed up, were Josie, Will, Jamie and maybe my aunt, if she didn't have something coming up at the last minute.

"Why weren't you going? It's your graduation." Josie asked.

"It' kinda pointless." I replied.

"How?"

"No one was going to be there." I admitted.

"Well, there is now. It's a milestone Abby. One you shouldn't miss." Alice replied from across the table.

"Listen to the midget. She knows what she's saying." Josie said.

I see her give Josie a pointed look and couldn't help but smile.

"I'll think about it. Not making any promises though."

Once that conversation was over, there was an awkward silence. I knew what was coming next and had no way to explain it.

Before I could start, Carlisle and Esme excused themselves, claiming that Carlisle wanted to get a hold of an old colleague. Alice didn't move from her spot. I think she was there for support. Thank God!

"So. The note." Josie started.

I took a deep breath and told him.

"I was told that my mother was forced to give me up after she made a deal with the devil, if you will. She kept her side of the deal and left. Apparently, she's in trouble and I'm the only one that can find her and help her."

"What kind of deal?" Josie asked.

"I don't know the specifics. Only that she had to place me with my father's family when I turned five and that she couldn't have any kind of contact with me ever again." I replied as best as I could.

"What is she? Some kind of CIA agent or someone of importance?" he asked. I can tell he's getting agitated and upset.

"I have no idea Josie. I don't remember her that much. You tell me. Did she look like someone of importance to you?"

"No. Yes. I don't know." He replied. "So, what's with the note then?"

"It's a clue to find her. She left me three clues and once I get them, I have to piece them together to find her…I hope." I replied.

"So, the next clue is on the battlefield of the Battle of the Somme during World War I?" He asked skeptically.

"Apparently." I hedged.

"How are you supposed to get it?"

That's the million-dollar question. One I have no answer for.

I hear my bedroom door open and see Tanya walk down the hall. I still have her backside ingrained in my head and can't help but picture her like that now. I feel Alice kick me under that table and I jump. Looking at her, she mouths me to focus. Turning my attention back to Josie, I answer him.

"You see, Josie." I started but Tanya cuts me off.

"My great grandfather fought with her mother's grandfather. We believe he may have a journal explaining where she may be. It's a family hideout and only certain people know it's whereabouts." She explained.

"How would he know that?" Josie asked.

"I'm assuming he and Abigail's great grandfather had to hide there during the war. They both fought in the Battle of the Somme." She lied convincingly.

"So, you know Abby's mother?"

"I've heard stories of her. She comes from an important family in Europe."

That wasn't a complete lie.

"Europe." Josie said.

"Yes."

"And, you know where this journal is?"

"I believe so. I have seen it once when I was a child."

I wonder how long ago that was.

"And, that's why you guys are here? To help Abby find her mother?"

"Yes. Abby and Alice go back to their undergraduate days and Abby asked Alice to help her. Alice remembered that my family knew Abby's family and enlisted my help."

This is a really good story she's telling.

"Okay. Let's say I believe it. Do you know where the journal is now?" I can tell he doesn't really believe it and is going to find out what the true story is and I hope he doesn't find it.

"No at the moment, no." Tanya replied.

Alice's phone rang and she answered it.

"Carlisle's on the phone and he was able to get a hold of his friend. They said to be at the hospital within the hour for your test." Alice relayed the message.

I nodded agreeing to go. I'll do anything to end this conversation.

Josie left shortly after that but promised me that this wasn't the end of the conversation and wanted to know the results of my CT scan.

I let out a deep breath when he left and laid my head on the table.

"Where did you come up with that story?" I asked relieved.

"We think fast on our feet. I knew you didn't have a good enough story to tell him and I came up with one." Tanya replied.

"Thank you!"

"Not need to thank me, Abigail."

Once we were in the car on the way to the hospital my phone beeped. It was Jamie.

Jamie: I need your help.

Me: What's up?

Jamie: Promise you won't tell anyone?

Me: Of course, what's wrong?

Jamie: I'm falling for Nessie

Me: ….WTH!

Alice turned and looked at me with the same expression.