I'm so, so sorry for no updates. I've been busy with family matters, not to mention end of term papers and exams…I hope you forgive me…

I would like to thank Calliope's Scribe, musican216, kitsunlover, taintedredrose3, and Tamani for all your support. I hope this chapter does you justice.

I don't own any characters of Twilight Breaking Dawn. I'm simply borrowing them to share my creativity with the world.

38: Impossible

(Ria's POV)

I wake up with a gasp, drenched in a cold sweat. I turn over, pull the blankets over my shoulders, and close my eyes, attempting to slip back into unconsciousness. I soon realize that it's too late; I'm alert now. Groaning, I give up trying to go back to sleep and sit up, checking the time in my new iPhone. 2:00 AM.

Lovely.

Fumbling with the blankets, I throw them away from my clammy skin, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. Rubbing the sleep away from my eyes, I sigh in exasperation, switching on the bedside lamp. Soon, warm light floods into the room, illuminating my few belongings that are scattered along the hardwood floors. I push my hair back from my forehead; these dreams are going to be the death of me.

I consider going to Francesca or one of my other siblings, but I don't want to risk it. I love them, but even a girl as sweet as Amelle can be a beast if woken from sleep, especially this early. That leaves me on my own.

Well, I guess I could clean up around here…

Standing, I stoop down to snag my backpack, yanking open the zipper. Several things slide out of the pockets, falling to the floor. Throwing my bag on top of the bed, I move over to the passport that had slid under the vanity. Grabbing it, I twist around to come face-to-face with my reflection. Same silver eyes, long hair that refuses to be straightened. I realize I had fallen asleep in jeans and a tank top. Then I glance down, and I see the reason of my insomnia.

A triquetra, the symbol of life, death, and rebirth among water angels, is now a part of my skin, etched onto my shoulderblade. It is decorated with elaborate swirls and patterns, making the Mark surprisingly delicate. If I look closely, it pulses a bright silver with each beat of my heart. Reaching up to brush it with my fingertips, I quickly slap a hand over my mouth to muffle my groan at the flare of searing pain. I grit my teeth as another shock of pain pulses through my veins. Hesitantly, I brush at the Mark on my chest, hissing at the second jolt of searing pain. My breathing is strained, but I manage to steady it before sinking back onto my bed. A soft knock sounds on my door, startling me.

"Yes?"

The door opens and Mother pokes her head in. I blink in surprise. "Hi."

"Hello, Ria." She smiles. "Are you alright?"

I chuckle. "You heard?"

Her face turns sheepish as she taps her ears. "Hard not to."

"I don't know what's wrong with me."

She walks over to me. "May I?"

Shifting uncomfortably, I pull my collar down. Her expression hardens.

"...Is it what I think it is?" I meet her amber eyes. "Please don't try to lie to me. I can tell when someone's lying."

"Yes..." She stares ahead of her, her back rigid.

I clench my fists, tightening the reins on my emotions. "Why? Why is he so desperate to cause me pain?"

"I don't know." She says evenly, but I can see her mouth tighten.

I can't take it anymore.

"Stop." I say quietly. "Dios mío, just stop."

I get up. "Stop trying to protect me. Stop trying to pretend that nothing has changed. Because you know what? Aarón and I have had only each other for the past two centuries. We're grown, happy. We'd just gotten used to being okay on our own. We'd run from the Kings with only each other to depend on. We had no parents, no one to lean on-" I stop, facing the mirror.

"But you do now. You have me, and your father. We can fix this-"

"NO!" I punch the mirror, allowing it to shatter into a million pieces. I struggle to control my pounding heart, feeling the pain of the Mark with each beat.

By now the others have heard all the noise. They watch with wide eyes as I stare my mother down, ignoring my bleeding hand. "No." I say again, my voice hoarse. "We can't. Because I don't know you."

"For all these years-" I close my eyes. "For all these years, I've believed you were dead. Everyday, I questioned whether you were happy in the afterlife, whether the Kings had any form of mercy. I would pray for you, every single day, hope you were finally at peace." My accent grows thick. "Then I would go back to watching over my brother, protecting him, making sure they didn't take him away, too.

"And then there were the days where I would feel so consumingly angry with you, with the world, that they could leave two teens on their own. I could barely get up those days. But then Aarón would remind me that you loved us, that you would never willingly leave us that they loved us too much for that.

"But no." I whisper. "All this time, you've been in this world. You've been ALIVE!" I sob. "You've been alive…you've been alive and happy with your new family. You never looked for us."

"When I was a little girl…" I meet their eyes, letting tears flow. "I would hope everyday that you would show up at our doorstep. That you would hold me. That you would protect me from the world's evil. But each day I stayed by that window less and less.

"I had to accept that my parents would never come again. That I would never see my home again. Eventually it became hard to remember if Mamá's smile was really that bright, or if Papá's hugs were really that strong. All those times are now just hazy ideas. I don't remember that life."

"It's cruel of you to take that away from a child." I whisper. "But I am a child no longer."

I turn away. "I'm done with waiting for the impossible." I reach for my right hand, yanking the ring from my finger and tossing it away from me. "Take it. I won't be needing it."

The metal clatters to the floor, breaking the deadly silence.

"Ria?" My brother's voice is edged with panic.

I go still. "I love you, brother."

I look back once and nod. Grabbing the windowsill, I swing myself into the air, closing my eyes. The feeling of weightlessness is exhilarating. I land lightly, bursting into a sprint. Thunder rumbles in the distance as I allow the tears to fall. Yanking my hood up over my hair, I run towards my only source of comfort.

Please be home...

(Paul's POV)

I rake my fingers through my wild hair as I stumble towards the front door, prepared to punch someone in the face. But when I throw the door open, all the anger fades away. Standing there, drenched and shivering, is Ria.

"Ri? What are you-?"

I catch her as she practically collapses into my chest. The rain comes down faster, pounding onto the roof. A flash of lightning illuminates the house as I watch her, my arms around her waist.

"Jeez, Ri. You're soaking wet!"

I pull her inside, kicking the door shut. Hurriedly, I turn up the heat, trying not to think about the bills at the end of the month.

"I-I'm sorry." Her teeth chatter. "I d-didn't have any p-place t-to go."

"Don't worry 'bout it. C'mon, let's get you some dry clothes."

She nods shakily, letting me guide her down the hall...

I slide a cup of hot coffee over to her as she enters the kitchen, braiding her hair.

"Thank you." She whispers. I smile carefully, watching as she picks at the sleeve of the old T-shirt I'd given her. I take a sip from my cup before turning to face her. She stares down at her drink, silent. "Are you gonna tell me what's wrong?"

Her face goes white; her eyes glaze over as her grip tightens on her mug, shattering it. A sharp gasp bursts from her mouth as scalding liquid spills onto the counter and floor. Her hands shake. "Oh, Paul, I'm sorry. Stars, I'm sorry-!"

She wails, burying a fist into the wall before crumpling to the floor, burying her face in her hands. I quickly lift her up, carrying her past the mess. I sit her down onto the couch, crouching down in front of her and placing a hand on her knee.

"'Nettie."

No response.

"C'mon Angel, you're scaring me."

I sigh when she doesn't react. But then-

"...I yelled at them." Her voice is hoarse from crying. "I screamed terrible things in their faces. I couldn't control myself. A-she was just trying to help me and I lost it. I told her that I didn't need them, that I hated them." My imprint lets out a sob. "I meant every word, Paul. All of it. I'll always need my family- I know that. But right now I'm so...so..."

I squeeze her hand.

"Angry." She chokes out. "I'm so angry about everything. I'm so angry I don't know what to do. I hate the world. I hate how I have to hide. I hate the ones who chasw us. I hate how I always have to hold it together. I hate my family's immortal perfection, how they're so beautiful and content a-and-"

"And?" I coax.

"...Complete." She mumbles. My cup shatters from across the room. "They know who they are, who they want to be. They are strong because they've found their purpose. Me? I'm lost. I don't know who I'm supposed to be. I know I said I'm ready, but I'm not."

"What can I do?"

"Tell me what I should do." Her gaze is desperate. "I need someone to tell me what to do."

I get up and sit next to her. "Look, Ri. I've been in this situation before and the truth is, it sucks. All by yourself, don't know what to do...Took me a while to learn how to handle everything after my mom passed. No one can tell you what to do, no matter how much easier it might sound."

"…What happened to you?"

Flashes of cop cars, spattered blood, and metal cuffs come to mind. "Let's just say you wouldn't want anything to do with me."

I look at her. Her eyes are full of sadness, an understanding that only people with a past would have. I squeeze her shoulders. "Listen, it got better for me eventually."

"But what about right now…?"

Leaning back, I pull her against my chest. "Right now, we sleep until the storm ends."

He voice is quiet. "What if the storm doesn't end?"

I rest my chin on top of her head, breathing in her scent, rain and vanilla. "We'll figure it out."

She curls into my embrace. I'm almost asleep when she speaks. "...What made it better for you?"

I smile into her hair. "I met someone. Someone really special."

She's silent for a minute. "Paul?"

"Yeah?"

"…You make it better for me, too…"

(Admon's POV)

The waves crash violently against the rocks as I stand upon the balcony of our home. Reaching within the collar of my button down, I withdraw a golden locket, fingering its carved metal. My thumb traces the pattern of the triquetra, the metal worn with age. I press it to my lips. "We shall be reunited, my love."

The doors behind me are suddenly thrown open, slamming against the wall. Dagan storms in, his eyes raging with fury. "Do you realize what you've done?"

I calmly release the trinket, letting it fall into its original place. "What I've done, brother?"

"Do you think me a fool?" he snaps. "I know you've cursed the youngest."

"And what care would you have for my granddaughter, Terran?"

"What care do you have for her?"

"I have none." I say, turning to look at him.

He lets out a humorless laugh. "I am no idiot, Admon. You do only what will benefit yourself. You have no honor."

"My honor vanished with her death. Do not use that word so carelessly around me."

"Is that what this is about? Revenge? All over that Celestial-"

I whirl around, throwing him across the room and pining him to the wall with jagged ice. "Enough." I growl. "I don't question your motives, you don't question mine. You think I don't know about that idiot child Hunter you sent? And allowing his mother to follow." I shake my head. "You are a disgrace. Father would be ashamed."

"At least I have a soul." He growls. "Your eyes are dull, lifeless." Then he slams his fist down onto my desk. "Brother, I know you are consumed with grief, but you must let her go. If you continue on this path, the Angels' wrath will be upon us all. You will forever be inconsolable, cold-"

I stride toward him, slamming a hand to his chest. I can feel the life in his pulse, drumming under my palm. Glaring at him, I begin to pull his spirit away, feeling him tense.

"I am already cold, brother. I am ice itself."

His breathing stutters. "My love shall be returned. She shall rule alongside me. The Fates were fools to ever deny me. I will have my revenge. No one will dare ever cross me again."

Releasing Dagan, I let him slump to the floor, gagging and clutching his torso. "Now get out of my sight."

With a glare that could freeze the sun, the master of air stalks out of the room, leaving chaos in his wake. I turn back to the ocean's raging waters, stroking the emblem once more. "Soon."

WHAT IS GOING ON? What do you think?