My family gathered around to talk about the letter from The Volturi. It stated they had collected information on The Olympic Coven. Rumor had it that the Cullens, once again, opened their home to a living human. If the situation was true, then the human and every person responsible for the act would be held accountable. The names on the letter had been listed as such: Carlisle Cullen, who claimed custody, and Ozario, who took responsibility and cared for me. Those listed were to be executed if proven they were guilty. I, the human, was to be silenced (killed) in order to protect everyone under their system.
My family and I feared for the three people on the list. We thought of many alternatives to stop this from happening. No suggestions were clever enough, bold enough, or at least good enough to try. All of our ideas would have resulted in failure. Most of them would have gotten all of us killed, stated Alice and Skuld.
The family was in deep despair. Slowly, we began believing there was nothing we could do. Nothing that would keep me from turning, or that would keep anyone from dying. In my mind,
Ozario and Carlisle couldn't get out of it. I couldn't come up with any schemes of my own to save their lives. I couldn't just let this happen when they've been so great to me. My life hadn't mattered because I didn't even know anything about myself or knew my purpose. Carlisle and Onyx had done so many good things that it pained me to be the reason that they were about to die. I didn't want to see my Onyx, or my new dad, murdered. I'd seen plenty of deaths. I knew they didn't deserve my place. This could not happen.
Henry jumped up from the white couch. With his heavily accented voice, he fussed, "This is crazy! We have to come up with something." He buried his face in his hands. "I don't have any tricks up my sleeve."
Ozario patted his back.
"We are already in trouble for trying to find a way out of the situation. Now, it really won't be so easy to stop this from happening." Edward shared, standing next to the window. His face seemed so gloomy.
Jacob rubbed his eyes with his index finger and his thumb. He paced the room and said, "I can't believe they're coming back.
We can't just give up and let this happen. Is there really no way out of it this time?"
Skuld's fingers were jittery. "I've seen the outcome! Something will happen to Catalina and you, Ozario. I saw the red eyes and leaking blood. Someone will get hurt. So, no, we... We can't."
"I've seen something happen to everyone. Ozario, I watched you die. We all died in my vision. Catalina, too," included Alice. "No matter what else I see... Cat dies, or gets turned, or all of us goes down together."
"No. I won't let Carlisle or Catalina get hurt. That's not right. I'd fail her and him if I did. Skuld, can you try coming up with something to keep her alive, please? You said you wanted to help her, right? Keep her alive and out of sight," Ozario requested. "I will easily take care of Carlisle. It is my fault for getting involved with a human. I take all consequences and responsibilities for every crime committed in this letter."
"What?!" Henry argued with him, "Ozario, I'm not losing you again! First time, you were lucky. This time, it could be permanent!"
Ozario and his brother began whispering in their native tongue (Spain Spanish). They spoke so softly that I couldn't even understand a word they had said.
Carlisle appreciated what Ozario told him. "Ozario, we will find a way... For Catalina. But, you shouldn't go throu-"
Ozario held up a hand. "Carlisle, what about Esme? She is your wife and you two deserve to stay together. You have created and belong with your marvelous family. I can't just let you throw everything away that you have worked hard for. I need to be the one wh..."
"No!" I jumped up from the chair, shaking from stress and fear. I spoke loud and stern, "I won't just lie back and let you leave this lovely family, either! If it wasn't for me staying here, moving to Forks, or even living at all, you wouldn't be on a kill list right now. It's all my fault that I am here anyway! If I had just let that wolf finish me off in the beginning, this wouldn't be happening, now."
"Cat, I am responsible for you and not a day in any of our lives will I let anyone kill you." He stood up after a while of sitting next to his brother and walked toward me. "Long before today, I guarded you and I will do it until I die. Just me, and nobody else, takes care of you and watch you the way I do. I made that promise, remember? I told you I will do anything I can for you and you know that. Anything." Ozario's words cut through my bones like a butcher knife. It ached my very core in bloody painful way.
Softly, I replied, "No. I get that you made a promise, but we are bound together by soul and by the string, remember? I won't let this happen and you know that, too. Don't you? I know when it is my fault. I won't let you die just for some human girl. We have to come up with something else."
"Cat, you are not just som..." Ozario figured out that I wasn't going to easily agree with his plan. He looked down and his brows slightly furrowed as he thought deeply about something else. He looked into my eyes again and loosened his face. "It is our fault, then. But, I refuse to let anyone hurt you, Catalina. You and I both held on to this. I don't want it to end. You're my human girl, okay?"
"What do we do," I asked. I was still a little scared?
"Let me think, alright? We have time," Ozario answered.
Skuld stood behind him and tried to say, "But, we don...!" Suddenly, she saw a strange look from Ozario that I hadn't recognized. His face was emotionless, but his eyes were acting weird. Skuld murmured angrily, "S-sure. let's think over it. We have time."
Still concern about my family heirlooms, I said, "I have to ask. Has anyone seen my jewels? They have gone missing."
Skuld hushed everyone before any comments were made. "I have them! Someone's been trying to steal the journals one by one. So, I took the jewels to keep them safe and sound in a secret location."
"In your room? In the third drawer? Not too secretive," bantered Ozario.
Skuld made an angry face at him while she snuck away to retrieve the jewelry. I shook my head at the effectiveness of Ozario, the Big Bad Wolf, striking again. I became more depressed. Ozario and Carlisle were on a kill list for goodness sake. The family left for the night and insisted keeping me and Ozario by ourselves. Ozario and I went to the cliff, watching stars hover over us, again.
"Catalina, what's on your mind," he cooed in my ear, brushing my hair with his fingers?
I breathed and answered dully, "Everything... I should stop fearing the worst and hope that it is just another nightmare. I keep hoping to wake up soon, but I just...won't." I can honestly say this had to be the worst feeling, yet. My first time getting a heads up and I couldn't do anything about it.
Ozario remained calm and he sounded so unfazed about the situation at all, "We will last for a long time. I know we will, together. Don't sweat it, okay?"
I nuzzled against him, looking down. "It's... hard."
Ozario lifted my lips to his. His lips brushed so closely we could actually kiss if one of us poked out our lips. "This isn't like you." Ozario encouraged me, "Be brave for me. That way I'll know how to handle this, too."
"B-but I... I will for you." I hesitantly agreed. I melted in his touch, forcing myself to pull together for his sake.
After remaining still for a while, Ozario finally kissed my lips tenderly. It felt strangely distant and unbearable. I wanted his lips to sink deeper into my own like the the first time we met. For the rest of the night, Onyx acted incredibly more generous than usual for some reason. He left no jokes unspoken, yet, replaced every possible insult with a compliment from his heart. Each moment he spent making this night perfect ached my spirit because I knew what he was doing – Saying goodbye. Why? Why had he been saying goodbye?
Ozario laid me on our bed like he normally would on good nights. We had lain together without the covers this time. Onyx crawled above me, caressing my hair and cheek. He looked awfully focused but sweetly into my eyes while grinning. My chin was lifted by his fingertips. He led me into another kiss goodbye. I pushed him backward, not coping with the pain in my chest.
"Stop," I begged, frowning. "Don't act like this. I know what you're doing. You promised you wouldn't die. How can I be brave for you if you're saying...saying goodb-?"
Ozario shook his head, lightly. He whispered, "Cati."
Ozario kissed me again. He just wouldn't stop. The more he kissed my lips, the deeper he penetrated them. That's what I wanted. It ached so bad that we both started to shed tears. I felt his tear drop on my cheek. Onyx just wouldn't stop. He lifted my head higher, beginning to kiss my neck until he reached where my heart was. He gently lay his body on mine.
For the first time, I felt something not hot or cold, but lukewarm. Ozario's body temperature lowered, making me more upset. He was worried about the upcoming situation. It bothered him so much that his body felt as warm as a human. I wrapped my arms around him, squeezing him tightly. He held me tight, still kissing my neck.
Ozario stopped and lifted up a little. "I think I understand how you feel about death, now. When it comes to a loved one, mostly.
I thought I wanted to die at first for many reasons I can't explain right now, but... We get sick of living like this – You and I – without purpose. It's torture. It is a challenging thing to do in what seems like a boring world... But, it isn't. Obstacles, that torture us in various ways, were designed to make us stronger and better. Obstacles show us what we are worth and what we deserve. It keeps life more fun than I remembered as a kid. I know that now... Thanks to you. I've finally found my purpose, I think. And, that is being with you. I got my wish and so much more than you know.
I don't want to die for you, Catalina. I want to live for you to make sure you smile every day. If you gave me a second chance, I can't give you the same as before. I... I want to give you something different. Exclusive." Onyx flipped his hair over, so I could look into his eyes. "You know, I lie when I say things, like your worse than a bumpkin. You're not and I need you to know that. You should already know that. You're my Catalina. You are not just any human. You are more than just some queen. You're life, itself, to me. You're difficult, but it's a pleasure knowing that something like miracles could even happen to something like me. Especially, me. Strangers will never know what I have, now... from what you have given to me."
"And, that is? Because I don't believe I did much," I admitted, tilting my head to the side.
"You have taught me that I am alive. That I may not be just something but someone. I love more, with better understanding of what it means to do so. And, I'm truly happy that you are in my life." Ozario laid his head on my chest. He pleaded, "Don't leave me, please? Because I'm panicking right now. You... You're giving me the strength I didn't think I had."
I cry a bit harder, now. Tears rolled endlessly down our cheeks. I nodded and whispered, "Okay. I promise I won't ever leave you. No matter what. We stay together."
"Bound forever," he moaned.
"Forever." I closed my eyes as I whispered this.
We drifted to sleep like this, crying all night. I could barely understand why Ozario thought I taught him about death, life, love, and happiness. He was the one teaching me all of that since the beginning. Onyx taught me to stop thinking of all my paranoia by slipping in chunks of happy memories, which soothed my soul. I grew to accept happiness because of him. He provided my life with excitement by doing sweet things for me like taking me to someplace as calm as Blue Ocean... Or, sharing a crazy moment with someone special like the day we jumped off of a cliff. I even learned something new like how to estimate stars. He was my devoted best friend.
Before Ozario came along, I thought I had been born only to die or, maybe, born to absorb every day's worst nightmares as if I had been a play toy – mimicking out sick jokes that were my life. But after Onyx came, death hadn't bothered me as it used to. Death, now, was a way to express the length of how far love can go for its partner. It wasn't a selfish act anymore, but it could be if you only thought about yourself in the process of death like:
"I can't do this anymore,"
"I am meant to do this,"
"Forget everyone else. I should just die."
When I thought like that, I realized I disrespected both of my family and my best friend who had cared about me for a while now. I was selflessly willing to die... Not for Ozario, but because I didn't want the Cullens involved with me or even want to talk to Onyx about my dark shadows following behind me. For the day I tried to attempt suicide, thank you, Onyx. I would never regret that he saved me that day.
I thought love wouldn't happen to me. I thought it was selfish for running away from me. For snatching up what I had thought was everything. I was horribly wrong. Love wasn't selfish at all like many would think being human. A lot of people might think love is by the way some people use the word, but whatever is selfish isn't real love. It is too selfless. It isn't a just noun, it's a verb. You feel it, you see it, you do it.
See, Ozario would selflessly die for me even before he really knew me. That's love, oddly enough. He was willing to be loyal and stay by my side in everything we dealt with together. Love. Onyx had done almost everything, except tear me down, like the day he ripped my picture frames to set my mind free. Love. He did that to stop me from making myself feel guilty. Love. Ozario is selflessly patient but stern, which kept me optimistic and me on my feet. He helped me be brave in anything that I would do from now on. Onyx taught me to never let my fear take over anymore. Love. Ozario had shown me these things so many times... I have no room in my entire body to count how many time's he has shown me... Love. He does it because he truly and selflessly loves me and his feelings could never change. Not even death could strip it, because even death and life were Love's allies within Ozario. He was my happiness. He was mine. I...I loved him, too.
The morning came on a dark day. I woke up. It was pouring outside, along with my tears that I hadn't stop shedding all night with Onyx. Even in my sleep, I must have cried. I saw the water cover the pillow. I sat up quickly in bed after realizing that... This was not my pillow, but a stranger's pillow. The room was different, as was the comforter. I began to shake, grasping that he tricked me. Ozario played out his plan all night just to leave me. He let me go... I... I don't understand. He promised. He keeps his pro-promis... Doesn't he?
Skuld, Urdur, and Verdandi walked in one by one. Their facial expression looked gruesomely depressing. I gushed out a pool of tears, covering my mouth. I turned to the unfamiliar pillow, shoving my own head inside. I screeched his name into it! The hurt in my chest burned and felt like a black hole sucking me inside out! My stomach churned like a rotary switch that was being forced to turn more than it could. My brain throbbed in pain from squeezing my eyelids so tightly together. It all hurt worse than looking death in the face!
"I'm about to lose him! We have to get him! We have to!" I shouted.
Verdandi came to rub my back, trying to comfort me.
I jumped out of the bed and headed toward the door quickly.
Skuld grabbed my arm. "Cat, no, please." She begged.
I fell to my knees, shaking. "Oh! My! God! Why?!"
It felt like hours and passed, yet time had been slower than my droopy body. The girls sat still, watching me until Urdur got a phone call. She picked up her phone and answered, walking away from us. I watched her stop in front of the door, then quickly turned her heel to face me. Urdur rushed back over and gave the phone to me. I stared at Urdur for a while, holding the phone to my ear. I heard a few voices on the other side.
I finally spoke, "H-Hello?"
"Catalina Arisu Yong,"
Oh, my gosh! Onyx! I breathed in relief to know he was still okay. But, why did he call me by my full name? This isn't right.
"I love you and I am so glad I was able to be with you all this time. I know this is short, but that happens in my world. Find yourself and be happy for me. Please? Bye." Ozario spoke quickly and hung up before I could even respond.
I bit my hand to hold in my tears, but doing it failed me. I grew angrier and tired. None of the girls in the room could keep me calm. I paced, and ran, and shouted, and punched the furniture...hurting my hands a few times! The girls gave me a pencil and some paper to try and get me to stop. I used all of the copy papers, drawing comics of me beating up Ozario for being so stupid in less than 15 minutes.
Skuld leaned toward Urdur, whispering about me, "Wow, she is scary angry. That last one showed his head with a straw in it."
"I'm still scared because of the one with the apple. How do you rip someone's head off with an apple?" Urdur replied.
Verdandi watched me with a twitching eye. The girls beside Verdandi left to get breakfast for me (Really, to get away from my scary pictures). I couldn't just let this be. Yet... He let me go. Onyx let our bittersweet memories go. We made a bond together that shouldn't break even the slightest bit. if his memories of me were stolen or if mines were stolen again, I knew I would have still found my world with him brand new. A new testament. A new genesis in the book of my life. Onyx had been the path that lead me to where I needed to be, and I knew that. I had to stop this travesty.
Verdandi came up to me, whispering, "Cat, you should go now. You have only an hour. Keep going straight through the woods. It will take you to the house. That is where the vision happens. The girls are gone now! Go!"
Verdandi's warning let me know I still had a chance to end all of this. I thanked and hugged her with all my strength. Running out of the door, almost tripping, I made my way out the room and into a lobby of the inn. I saw woods before me and headed out the doors quickly.
I ran faster than I thought I could. Or, at least I felt like I was flying like the Cullens would. It helped knowing parkour to dash my way around any obstacles in the woods. I had to reach Ozario. I carried hope for something like laughter, life, joy, peace, love with him. I hadn't wanted to ever give up on us. My best friend. My Ozario and his family needed me. They were my only family left, and like family, I'd sacrifice myself because I loved them.
Don't be late, Catalina, or you will lose him!
OZARIO'S VIEW: IN THE END...?
The Cullens backed away, leaving me the only one standing on the back porch. I watched them move toward our house. The Volturi arrived in quick gliding motions. The rain poured rather untamable. I knew Catalina must have been crying wherever I had the enchanters hide her. She always cried when the rain fell. I felt like I wanted to shed tears myself. But, I was taught men shouldn't cry unless there is no room to hold in anything any longer. I was weak in front of Cat last night. Yet, she taught me how to pretend to show strength when fear had been present. So, I could believe I was brave for her. It helped enough until the Volturi crowd stopped between the trees right in front of me. I narrowed my eyes and stood tall. My hands cupped each other behind my back.
Aro held up a letter. "I received a strange letter a few days ago about your new coven. At first, when holding it in my hands,
I had thought about refusing to read it after the first few sentences.
However, something, within the letter, caught my attention... Because it's happened in this family before." He explained.
"I understand, Aro," I expressed, gently.
Marcus spoke next, "Is there any explanation as to why we have this information?"
I jumped down from the porch. I paced cautiously and slowly toward them. "I won't tell you. I have never been good at that when you're around. Let me show you so we can get this over with, shall we?" I proclaimed and reached out my hand. I bowed my head to show respect.
Aro sped up until he stood in front of me. I grabbed his hand with false confidence. He sifted through my memories like I was some VCR tape going in reverse. Sometimes, that's how it feels, depending how far I allowed him to go in my head. Aro let go of my hand, backing away with a "You've been a naughty boy" expression and gesture. Seeing as how I was affected by both laws, I had been a threat already. He looked at the family, searching for someone.
"Well? Where is she if the girl isn't here," Aro asked?
"For her safety, I confess I ensured not to know."
"You could have been with us."
"I love her too much."
Some of Aro's guards held me hostage in their hands.
"As you wish, what a pity."
They shoved me to my knees and forced me to look up at Aro by my hair. I showed no emotion. It was already as pale as the dead. I closed my eyes. Catalina's face shot through my mind. That bright, sunny image I used to see long before now. I grew worried again... because this image of my angel would be my last sight of her.
