Chapter Twenty-Four: Fire in my Blood
Angela (POV)
His eyes were staring at me from across the field, monstrous crimson eyes that seemed to be peering into me, so deeply that it felt like he was reflecting god in judgment over my soul. Except, no creature with eyes like those could be holy, much less divine. They were encircled by the vicious countenance of a monstrous creature, devoid of the compassion I would ever attribute to god. The fact that he had a name was irrelevant, his intentions were plain. His goal was to take me body and soul, and his violation would begin as one of mortal flesh. The fact that the kind of sexual violence he planned was one of my greatest fears was only a minor concern, compared with the knowledge that he wanted far more than a simple moment of illicit pleasure.
He wanted my blood, to consume me wholly. How could I defend against something so distinctly inhuman? I searched my surroundings, suddenly unsure of where I was. But the dark unknown woods were as much of a comfort as the demon standing before me. I wasn't safe, nor would anyone come to save me. Deep shadows grew from the blacked spaces between the trees, like wrathful ghosts come to claim the tatters of my terrified soul. What remained of me after he was done, they would take to whatever hell they came from, to inflict further unknowable tortures upon my soul.
As I attempted to look back towards him, I gasped when I found grass and flowers wilting in an ever-expanding circle at his feet. How unnatural was he to be such a blight on nature? He didn't even look like a monster. Then I noticed that my would-be family was surrounding me, yet even their presence couldn't break his grip on my soul, that within that demonic stare, I felt naked and alone. I looked to Bella to reassure me but found her absorbed by her Edward. His golden eyes glowing and bewitching her. She had abandoned me to mortality and death, as she ventured into the realms of immortality and blood. I looked back at my adversary, meeting his eyes with a second wind of determination. Only to be startled when I found a beautiful set of mismatched irises. Mason had taken James's place; yet instead of his cool demeanor and open smile, I was met with a malignant grin and sadistic glint in his eyes.
Now it was Mason that wanted to consume me, to swallow me whole, soul and all. I shuddered, because I knew if he asked, I would let him, not that there was anything I could do to stop him from just taking me. Somewhere I could feel the fight within me, but it flickered like a candle sitting in a thunderstorm. Trying to force the struggle to reach my legs, I found myself running, but towards him like a lamb running into the maw of a lion. Then our lips meet, and a coldness descended over my flesh. From lips to toes, I was changed in an instant. In that moment I realized I had become a monster like him. His hand traced the lines of my face down my neck and onto my shoulder. Then he turned me around slowly.
When my back was to him, he pressed his solid chest against me. Then he whispered into my ear, "You must feed my love." I gasped to see my human family standing there. My father clutching his bible, and my mother holding on to the twins with all her strength. I wanted to scream at them to run, but when I opened my mouth to speak, I felt saliva pooling in my throat, my hunger overtaking my reason. Then their smell hit me, and my body came alive with sensation. Mason released his grip on my shoulder, and I didn't hesitate. With a speed I could only imagine, I ran towards them with murder in my heart.
I almost screamed when I awoke. My mom calling me down to dinner. I sat up and went into my bathroom. The ceiling light was harsh, so I turned it off and used my Snoopy nitelite as the only source of illumination. My face appeared like a shadow in the mirror, dark circles around my dark eyes made me look ghostly. My skin was pale, and my hair was stringy. I wasn't handling this very well, and my appearance really nailed it home.
Then I flashed to those red eyes again. The eyes of the monster who wanted to drink me like a beer at a baseball game. I was nothing to him, I wasn't even sport. I was an object, a plaything for immortals. I felt the wind leave my lungs and I had to grip the edge of the sink for support. I sat down heavily onto the toilet and started to cry. I was a prisoner now, trapped in my home like Rapunzel in her tower. Except my prince was just like demon who threatened to steal my life, only he wanted me for his own, to make me his immortal bride. Or did he? I still didn't know what Mason's motivations were, or if the spark I felt for him was mutually shared.
"Angela?" His voice came to me. No, it wasn't Mason's voice that I heard. I lifted my head out of my hands and looked around.
"Hello?" I said out loud, although quietly enough not to draw my parent's attention downstairs.
"It's Edward, I can apparently hold an entire conversation with thought now, which is as bizarre for me as it must be for you" Edwards said apologetically, his words appearing in my mind as if he were standing next to me. It was disconcerting to say the least. Then he continued without pausing for a response. "Anyway, Mason wants to check on you, is it okay if he comes up to your room?"
"Yes." I thought back, hoping he would get the message. The irony of giving permission to my immortal suitor was not lost on me, and despite my inner turmoil I felt almost afloat at the idea I would see him again. I stood and splashed some water on my face and took a deep breath. When I exited my bathroom, I found him just outside my window standing on the patio pergola, with a small smile on his face.
"Come in." I said after a few seconds staring into his eyes. He moved gracefully through the window, placing the screen on the floor below the windowsill.
He stood looking at me for almost a full minute before he spoke. "I like your room." He motioned towards a few of my trinkets, books and the guitar I had been playing since I was seven. "Do you play?"
"I'm not Eddie Van Halen, but I'm not bad." I said trying to keep things light.
"I would love to hear you play sometime, although perhaps not now. I need to get back out there soon." He looked over at the window quickly before returning to meet my eyes.
"The game was amazing." I said trying to figure out some commonality between us.
"Your friend's newborn strength made her a dangerous opponent. I enjoyed the challenge. I understand your father is a man of god." The question caught me off guard and I started to nod.
"Yes. He's basically our spiritual leader in town. He would be so mad if he found you up here." I smiled, I had been having mixed feelings about my father and my faith for some time. I wasn't sure his world view was expansive enough, and I didn't agree with some of his opinions. My faith had been shaken when Bella was crushed by that van, I couldn't imagine a god that would put her through that kind of suffering. Then when I found out about the Cullen's, nothing made sense anymore.
"I should go. Just call and I will be…" Mason's eyes went wide, and he quickly moved to the window. "Victoria. Edward, you watch her. This one is mine." He glanced back at me with an unknowable expression, and then was gone.
"I'm still here, Mason's after the woman." Edward relayed to my thoughts.
"Angela? Dinner!" Mom shouted from downstairs.
"I'm going down to dinner. Thank you for watching out for me." I sent back to Edward. "Coming mom." I shouted downstairs. I finished up in the bathroom, and headed downstairs. Dinner was fine, but everyone ate in silence, my parents stealing worried glances at me when they thought I wasn't looking. After a while I couldn't take it anymore, and I hadn't been able to eat more than a bite or two anyway.
"I'm sorry, I don't seem to be hungry. May I be excused?" I said as I started to get up from the table.
"Yes, but I need to talk to you soon." My father said worriedly with a tired sigh, and my mom looked at me with an expression that mirrored my father.
"I just need some sleep. I'll be okay." I lied, unable to fully conceal the fear and utter exhaustion I felt.
"Okay. Get some sleep. We'll talk tomorrow." My dad forced a smile, and I trudged upstairs feeling heavy.
When I got into my room, I saw a figure standing in the corner, at first, I thought it was Mason waiting for me, I felt butterflies in my stomach hoping I could spend more time with him.
"That was fast…" I started. Then I turned on the light. The butterflies in my stomach quickly turned into acid, as my stomach clenched. The person lurking in the shadows of my room wasn't friendly. I knew that it was pointless to fight, run, or scream because that would put my parents and brothers in danger.
"James. I'll go without a fight if you leave my family alone." I said plainly. He examined me for a long moment, and then nodded once.
"Fine, take my hand. I promise I won't harm them." He said with a small frown. I nodded with a terrified quiver. But I couldn't see another alternative. I stared at his extended hand for a long moment, before reaching out and taking it. I hadn't quite realized how badly I was scared, until I saw my hand trembling uncontrollably. His next action was so swift, that I only partially saw it coming. I couldn't process it fast enough for me to react. In fact, I was unconscious before the knowledge that his hand was moving towards my head finally registered.
When I awoke, I was cold and sore, and my head throbbed at my left temple. The left side of my shirt from the collar down my left breast to the hem of my pants was hard and sticky. The world was a little blurry, but more than that, it was stark. The sky was overcast, but bright and the thick snowflakes falling gave the world a surreal atmosphere that felt like a strange dream because they still hadn't started to lay on the grass that was still green in patches. That's when my reality came crashing through my senses.
I was in a field, surrounded by trees just like in my dream. The pain in my right shoulder was the next thing to filter through. I looked up and found myself dangling sloppily from one hand, and James wasn't even bothering to check on me. I looked back and found that my legs had made drag marks in the rain drenched ground next to his footsteps, but only for a few meters. He must've carried me most of the way with both hands.
I reached up with my free hand and checked my temple. It was sore, and the skin was sensitive, like I had a bad cut or scrape, and when I brought my fingers back down, they were covered in blood. I wanted to tell him to let me go, that I wouldn't run. But I was afraid he would hurt me again, and I wanted to be awake for what was about to happen. They had brought me here for a purpose, and I could only imagine it would involve my death.
Off to one side I saw Victoria, pacing. They both seemed impatient, which made me think that one of the Cullen's was going to be here, or hopefully all of them. As long as it wasn't Mason risking his life for mine, I could slip into death without complaint. He was so much more than me, I couldn't cope with the idea of them killing him. But after a few minutes it was if my worst fears that were realized as he appeared across the field from us. I knew he was strong; I knew he could possibly best one of them. I had no such illusions that he could match them both at the same time. The silence continued for several seconds before I couldn't stand it anymore.
I made quick eye contact with the man who was as much a stranger as he was someone I wanted to be with, the ancient man whose loneliness touched my soul. Through chattering teeth and quivering lips, I managed to silently form the words, "Don't. I'm not worth it."
His eyes flared, and his careful control and calm exterior suddenly changed. His eyes turned golden and burned in intensity matched by the fire that erupted and wrapped around his hands. The flames seemed to be writhing snakes that were so blinding bright white that they made my eyes hurt. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could James and Victoria braced themselves for his advance.
What followed was incredibly hard to watch. James let me go, forgotten, as he launched himself at Mason. The two clashed, moving around each other so quickly that they appeared to blur. Occasionally a still image appeared briefly showing them trading blows, before almost vanishing and then appearing a few feet away locked in a different grapple. Victoria stayed back, enjoying the show and grinning viciously. They fought for a long time, going back and forth, and whenever Mason had the upper hand, Victoria made a move which gave James an edge again. I was terrified as they fought, knowing that our lives could both end in seconds.
Then suddenly James threw himself back, clutching a dark circle on his chest burned through his thin shirt. Victoria pushed in, but Mason anticipated her and in the next instant she was thrown back towards the forest edge. Mason used the distraction, as James tracked Victoria's path through the air, and practically flew towards James in one smooth movement, silent but with fury etched into his features. Before I could see what was happening James was on the ground screaming in agony.
The small hole in his chest had widened, now smoldering, it was hard to wrap my head around what I was looking at. The image was made even more difficult to process when his charred skin began to crack and fall away, revealing part of his ribcage coated in a slick sticky silver. Then Mason straightened up and squared off his shoulders. He gave me a quick glance, and then glared at Victoria who stopped in mid-motion. Then in an even greater moment of absolute insanity, the flames shifted from his hands, forming into a crude sword which he brandished at her. I wasn't exactly sure it was real at first, but from my new position on the ground a dozen feet away I could see Victoria cower. Her internal conflict was clear and intense, but short lived and after a few seconds she was gone.
Mason turned his attention towards James, the sword tip placed closely under his chin. I was awash in a strange mix of feelings, and I couldn't stop my heart from beating so fast that I thought it was about to beat out of my chest. A part of me was petrified, another part was in a state of shock and awe. He had lost his perfect composure because I told him I wasn't worth it. I could see what Mason wanted to do, the pure hate in his eyes was undeniable. I wanted to plead with him not to kill James, but I also knew he would continue to be a threat. Mason shook his head and looked at me.
"I know the promise I made to Carlisle, but he will keep coming after you. My only choices are to turn you or destroy him. And I refuse to make you chose his life over your own." He said to me with warmth, and then looked coldly down on James. "I cannot suffer you to live any longer. I know not how you have lived your life, but your actions have proven that you enjoy selfish pleasures and petty games. You have hunted others of our kind and humans for sport and show no regard for humanity. Your actions have painted you a vile reprehensible creature, and you crossed me in a manner I cannot forgive."
"Hunting a human is what we do. She's worthless, nothing more than food. If you really wanted her why didn't you change her?" James said through gritted teeth, the pain clearly written on his face.
"She is the one thing in this world I cannot live without. I don't change her because she is not ready to end her mortal life, and I have the patience and time to wait for the day when she is. Can you understand respect? Morality?" Mason shook his head, "Never mind, do you have any final words?"
"Fuck you." James spit out in response.
"Classy to the last James." Then in a flash Mason cut across his neck, severing his head. His remains quickly caught fire, and a purple smoke swirled up into the sky.
Author's Note: Yes Vicky got away. I liked one interpretation of her that implied she had a gift of perfect survival. Now that isn't what I'm doing here, but she has always been about her own self-preservation. This is a small departure from the books, because she never saw what happened to James. What will she do differently, with a completely different enemy?
Thank you for reading, although I said I will get a new chapter up every Monday and Wednesday, I'll probably get Chapter 25 up by Friday.
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Edited 04/29 - Adding more content to the fight between James and Mason