Chapter Thirty-One: Connection
Mason (POV)
"I love you." She said fulfilling a wish I had made a hundred lifetimes ago. I slammed on the brakes and found myself breathing heavily. For some reason I couldn't look her in the eyes, it was too hard.
"I... I love you too." My words felt heavy on my tongue, and inadequate. I loved her more than I could ever explain, she meant more to me than my life. She intertwined her fingers through mine and squeezed for emphasis. Then over the course of several long seconds I turned to face her. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her face was flush. I leaned in slowly, unsure of my control, and pressed my lips to hers. We had kissed before, but not like this. I quickly lost myself, and pulled her into a tight embrace, fully aware of her fragility, wrapping my arms around her back.
Soon she was pressing herself into me, and the warmth of her body was overwhelming. I had forgotten what it was like to be so close to a human and it was exhilarating. Her scent surrounded me like a cocoon, filling me with sensations both painful and blissful. But then her hands began to explore me, and in my haste, I let her. Soon we were pushing past carefully laid boundaries, into the territory of lovers. I used every ounce of my resolve to stop and push her away. She whimpered in protest.
"We can't, not yet. I need to make sure this is the right thing to do, we cross this line and were committed. Do you want this to be the first night of your eternity?" She screamed in frustration and quickly exited the car. She stopped a few feet away and sunk down into the dying grass with a look of defeat on her face.
"Why? Why does it have to be like this? Why can't we just be together and not decide on forever tonight?" She looked at me with absolute anger and dejection.
"I am not rejecting you. Look this isn't something I know how to deal with. This is entirely new to me, so yes, we could have tonight and decide on the future later. But is this the right thing? I want to be with you now and forever. But do you accept me?" She looked at me confused.
"Of course, that isn't the problem. I'm just not ready to be a vampire yet, I need to figure out how to say goodbye to my family first." She winced as if that was a deal breaker.
"Oh." I pulled her up into my arms. She started to protest, but it was a token attempt, and then she buried herself into my chest.
"You're upset because you think I brought you here to turn you into one of us?" I asked, lifting her chin so she could look into my eyes as I spoke.
"Yes, isn't that what this is all about?" She frowned, clearly confused.
"No, I thought because of your beliefs, you wouldn't want to be intimate yet. I just want to make sure you have no regrets. You choose when, or if, you want to be with me. Then someday, you can choose when or if you want to be turned. I am not pressuring you to choose that now. I simply meant eternity in a vague sort of way. A commitment to each other. I've never understood the concept of marriage, but if that is what you need from me, I am yours." She was staring at me as I spoke, and then she burst into a brief series of disturbing chuckles that culminated in her lips on mine.
"For a four-thousand-year-old vampire you can be really dense. Yeah, my dad is a Minister who would simply die at the thought I was having premarital sex, but that isn't important to me. Marriage well let's give that one some time. This is still very new. Let this be tonight, let this be us and let us not worry about anything else." I smiled at her happily and kissed her again.
"Okay but first we need to get to our destination, it is far more appropriate than the back of my car." We got back into the car, and thirty minutes later we I was running through the woods. She was straddling my back, as I climbed the extremely difficult mountain face to my plateau. The natural land platform was large enough for a house, and at the back edge was an ancient waterfall that flowed down the rock wall into a crystal-clear lake that stretched deep into the mountain. The natural spring was warm and had several rocks that formed natural seats. But the real beauty was the view. It was a breathtaking panorama of wilderness, stretching from the nighttime ocean far to the west, then around to the distant twinkle of lights fading as the town of Forks fell asleep.
I had come earlier and prepared. I had set up a tent with a small generator for lights, a generously sized air mattress with several blankets and pillows to make it more luxurious. A table and two chairs, and a small cooler filled with food for my planned dinner. I set her down and made a fire in the pit I had set up. The warm light setting the mood more than anything I could've prepared.
"This is beautiful." She was entranced by the view, nearly to the point of tears.
"Yes, more beautiful than I have words for." I pressed myself against her back and put my arms around her waist. Her slight frame shivered slightly at my touch and she looked up into my eyes. That's when she realized I was looking at her. Her eyes shut and blood spread across her cheeks in a heavy blush. Then I pulled her around and kissed her, this time not holding back my affections.
"Are you hungry?" I asked tracing patterns across her bare back, her eyes were half shut, but she nodded once. "Then I'll make dinner."
"Mmmmm. Sounds lovely." She said in a soft moan, which grew louder as I moved away from her. "On second thought, don't go anywhere." She opened her eyes and reached out and pulled me by my arm back next to her. We kissed again, and for the second time we made love. We took our time, and after we were finished I finally got up and started dinner. It took a bit longer with the camp stove I had brought, but thirty minutes later I checked on her and found she was sleeping with a contented smile on her face.
"Angela?" I said kissing her cheek.
"Mason. Come back to bed." She said sleepily.
"Food is ready." I whispered.
"Fine, since you made the effort." She said grumbling a little, but as soon as she sat up her expression changed. "That smells amazing."
I found myself staring at her, not that I hadn't explored her body, but seeing her sitting there naked made me feel alive. Then she noticed me looking, and chuckled.
"Haven't you seen enough?" She chided, covering her chest with one arm. "Give me some privacy as I get dressed?"
"Of course." I bowed and started to step out of the tent.
"Mason, I'm kidding. I have nothing to hide from you anymore." I looked back and she had gotten out of our makeshift bed and I felt myself sigh at her beauty. She stood confidently for a few seconds, and then picked up her dress and pulled it over her head. "Now I'm almost respectable."
"I'd recommend shoes, the stone is cold." I suggested, and she nodded once.
I left the tent and she joined me a few minutes later. I had set the table, and her eyes lit up at the sight of it. I pulled out her chair for her and then sat in the seat across from her. She glanced at my plate and furrowed her brow.
"I thought vampires couldn't eat." She said incredulously, with a bit of a playful smile.
"They can, but it offers no sustenance and the taste is dreadful. I am different, remember I was never turned. I still have a heartbeat and my body can still process food." I explained seriously.
"Hmmm. Let's see." She took a bite and closed her eyes. "That's amazing. Is there anything you don't do well?" She smiled demurely and continued eating ravenously, in just a few minutes she was done, and I hadn't even started.
"Do you want more?" I said unable to really hold back my surprise.
"I was just hungry, burned a lot of calories." She said blushing a little. "So, tell me what do you do? What do you like? I know about your dark past, but I barely know anything about your life." The question was perfectly reasonable, but I wasn't sure where to start.
"I don't work, I've acquired wealth over the centuries. I have properties and bank accounts, investments and companies all over the world. My favorite is a bar in London. I spend time there every twenty or so years, long enough that most patrons would forget about me as the owner or write me off as a child of the previous owner. I spend a lot of time in colleges around the world, learning new skills. Speaking of which, what is your plan for further education? You will never have to worry about student loans."
"Um, college yes. I haven't even started applying to school yet. Honestly, I never thought about the rest of it. I wasn't thinking of you as rich, but it makes sense. So, you're gorgeous, immortal, well-learned and fabulously wealthy. Anything else?" She sounded a little sarcastic, but also clearly a little overwhelmed.
"I have a vast library, including some reproductions of works I read that are lost to human history. I collected art through the years that caught my eye, some of those artists you might recognize. I have practically every piece of music ever written. I play twelve instruments, and frequently attend live performances. I love to dance, sing and travel." I said as plainly as possible, realizing my basic living situation would seem opulent to someone raised in a small town, perhaps even boastful.
"Sounds like you found how to live with immortality. I don't even know where to start." She paused thinking. "Um… Is there a type of music you prefer?"
"Not really, there are few genre's I don't like as much. I've always thought of music is as much art as writing or sculpture, and there is no way to judge a piece of music based on objective opinion. Taste is another matter, and I find that modern music is more interesting and expressive to my ear. Especially rock and roll. What do you like?" I said taking a bite of my own food. I had exaggerated a little, while food was palatable to me, I rarely ate and so the process was a little strange to me.
"I grew up on the Beatles and Elton John, so classic rock is my first love. But I love j-pop and blues, bluegrass, jazz and classical." She took a deep breath and opened her mouth slowly as if trying to figure out how to say whatever was on her mind. "I remember thinking once about asking you what you've seen. I mean the forgotten stuff." She leaned in, pushing her empty plate aside.
"I was in London around the middle of the thirteen century, a few years before black death washed over Europe. There was this bazaar that would pop up on random days. The merchants would sell fresh bread, and vegetables and handmade jewelry. There was this one stand, the woman in charge was old, but quick witted and sharp tongued, and exceptionally talented. Her husband had been a silversmith, and he had plied his trade throughout Europe. She traveled with him until he died and acquired many techniques during her travels. The pieces she made were works of art. I bought several from her over the years, until one day when just walking through a bazaar like that meant death, I found her sitting in a random doorway in another part of town. The shine was gone from her eyes, and death was clearly knocking at her door. If not for her advanced age, I would've considered turning her. I bought what I could and wished her well. A year later the Bazaar opened again after the plague had wiped out so many, and her little stand was gone, along with so many others. The place it had been was erased, the texture of the community of merchants and even the people that shopped there never returned." I had always remembered the woman's face, wishing I had done more for her.
"What was her name?" Angela asked swept up in the story, her eyes misty as if picturing another place and time.
"Rebecca." I said softly.
"I always loved that name, it was my grandmother's name. Although her's was spelled differently than I usually see it." She said with a far away look in her eyes.
"Yes, I've personally always preferred the old testament version of the name." I said agreeing with her.
"Oh wow, I don't know why I never thought to ask. Was he real?" She said with wide eyes.
"I wish I could tell you, I wasn't near that part of the world during that time. I did come across one of his disciples, Mary of Magdala. She was beautiful and wise, and I can say with certainty she had never been a lady of ill-repute. She didn't speak of him directly, but her recount of that time was wistful and sad. She said she had lost a great love." I gave her a sympathetic smile.
"How did you meet her?" She didn't seem to notice my tone, asking with rapt attention, her hands cupping her cheeks.
"At the time she was a speaker, a wise woman. She traveled spreading the word of her god, a true disciple. She had traveled to the south of what we know as France, I was there and heard of her sermons and curiosity got the best of me. She spoke of humanity in such beautiful ways, the core of what religion should be." She had gotten me lost in nostalgia, and I let myself get lost in my storytelling.
"Sounds like she made an impression." She said with a wide smile.
"Yes, but I was just an admirer of hers, but really we had one brief conversation. I may have crossed paths with some important people, but I would love to know who was important to you. Were you close with your Rebekah?" I didn't want to dominate the conversation, wanting to know more about her life.
"She was my Nana. She used to babysit me, and always took the time to play with me even though I was just a small child. I have so many memories of her hugging me, or telling me I was beautiful, or smart. She taught me guitar as I got older, and it hurts to play sometimes remembering her. She got sick at sixty, breast cancer, and was gone in less than a year. I miss her so much." She wiped tears from her eyes, and gave me a tearful smile.
"She sounds lovely. I wish I could've met her." I said hoping that she understood the sentiment.
"She would've loved you, she loved history. If she had known the truth, she would've bent your ear with endless questions about the past." She settled herself, and sniffed few times.
"You'll find that history when it's happening is far less impressive. In retrospect, my past is replete with wonderful accidents, like how could I haven known when standing with my fellow soldiers after Gettysburg, that President Lincoln would deliver an address that so eloquent it caused half of the men to weep over their fallen friends. We thought it was just going to be a political speech. You can never know when something important will happen... Like tonight." I said looking into her eyes, glistening from the firelight and recent tears.
"Take me back to bed." She said holding out her hand. I nodded without hesitation.
Morning came far too quickly, as sunlight crested over the horizon in the eastern sky. The brilliant hues creating a cascade of colors which also threw rays of defused light through the tent canvas across Angela's body in ways that accentuated her skin. Her light breathing was rhythmic and somehow hypnotic. She had fallen asleep in my arms several hours before. It was a wonder to me that even after spending so many nights watching her, I never tired of the way her face looked when she slept. It would be something to miss if she turned, but there would be other things to occupy my time.
I imagined our future, and the endless days before us. I pictured our adventures together, and my happiness sharing my life with her. It was a joy I had never believed would happen. I could've spent the rest of the day watching her, resting in my arms. But the sun had other ideas. Then a strong ray of sunshine hit her face and caused her to stir. I sighed in resignation, and gently shook her out of her slumber. She opened her eyes and yawned, while smiling widely. When the yawn ended the smile did not, leaving her to look nearly blissful.
"Good morning my love." She moaned softly and snuggled up closer to me.
"I like that, say it again." I chuckled and kissed the top of her ear.
"My love." She said sighing contentedly and turned to give me a kiss. Then she stopped just before we touched lips and quickly covered her mouth.
"Oh god my breath, oh god my parents. They'll be getting up soon and I didn't come home last night. Crap I was supposed to get back before eleven." I had heard the exchange but was at a loss as to why it mattered, yet nodded anyway. We moved quickly back to the car and spent the next forty-five minutes or so driving to her house. I parked about a block away and listened for movement. When I was sure it was safe, I took us in through her bedroom window. We lingered in a long kiss before she had to pretend to get up. I waited patiently for her to excuse herself from breakfast, and then watched as she drove her car towards school. I followed and she met me in the school parking lot.
"They had no idea, thank god." I nodded as she got into my car. "Hey, do you think we could go to your house?" It was my turn to chuckle at her, as I started our trip towards my make-shift home. Halfway there Angela's cell phone rang.
"Angela, tell me Mason is with you." Alice said sounding worried.
"Hey Alice! Yes, he's right here. Feeling any better?" Angela was so happy from our shared experience, that she was practically bubbly.
"I'm sorry about yesterday, and yes I feel a bit better to a degree. I can imagine why you're in a good mood." While I didn't have context for the conversation, Alice ended on a tone that was easy to read, she knew quite well why Angela was in a 'good mood'.
"Well, it was a great night last night." She blushed and looked out the window.
"That's good to hear. Someone deserves to be happy right now. Look, I don't know how much Mason told you, but there was some movement with Victoria. Edward and Emmett are gone, and Carlisle took off with Charlie for a long hunt and to discuss the reality of his new situation. Charlie is somewhat stable, but nowhere near as controlled as Bella. We were hoping, while he was gone you could have a short visit. Bella is really antsy to see you again... oh fine take the phone." There was a soft rustle on the other end of the line and then Bella's soft soprano filled the void of white noise.
"Hey Ang, I've really missed you." Bella said sounding sad, "I really need to talk to you." Angela shook her head slightly and a lopsided grin upturned the right side of her mouth.
"We'll be there soon." Angela said looking over at me, and I nodded once passing the turn off for my house onto the road where the Cullen's lived. Bella paused for just a moment and then responded quickly.
"Perfect, I'll see you soon… um just a sec... I think Alice is having a vision. I have to go." Then there was a click, with this new information I started to accelerate. Once we got there Alice was waiting for us outside, her eyes wild and desperate with grief.
"I'm so sorry." She was looking at Angela, but somehow, I felt like she was directing the sentiments towards me. "Mason, I don't know how to say this."
"Just start at the beginning." I said as I felt my heart sinking, more bad news was coming, and I didn't want to hear it.
"I figured out what was missing. Why things changed when you convinced him stay Angela. There's something in Volterra, maybe someone. Except, Mason you need to do something else while your there. Something you wouldn't normally do. I have trouble seeing things revolving around you Mason, especially while you are there, but I have an impression. A path forward. I has to do with Aro, and his lies." I couldn't look at Angela, she gripped my hand tightly and pressed herself into my side as tightly as she could.
"I don't quite understand, why should I go? If they learned our secret about gifts, they could roll over the world in weeks." I said not sure how to react.
"Alice says that you have to go to Volterra and face Aro." Angela said looking down, clearly terrified.
"Because, if you don't go we all die. Every single one of us, well except me. You go, at least Bell, Rosalie and Angela survive as well. It isn't good, or right. But I still can't see another way. What I do know, is if you go, you can uncover one of Aro's secrets that will turn the tide. It's a glimmer, a possibilty so I can't fully see it. That's what I meant. The risk is worth it." Alice's explanation was painful, but it didn't leave me with much choice.
"That's more than I expected. I was afraid this would happen, that I would have to face them. I guess it's time." I said not sure how to react.
"Wait, there is something you need to do before you go." Alice said shaking her head. "When you helped Rosalie find her gift, did you do something to unlock it? In my vision, Rose said she tried to teach Emmett, but it didn't work."
"No, but for everyone it is a little different. For Rosalie, it was tied to her internal hatred of her own existence. So, I had to make her embrace her thirst, her beast to bring it out. It's an intuitive process, that has to adapt to the individual." I attempted to explain, but thankfully it was as if a light appeared over Alice's head.
"That makes sense, and totally explains why it would've have worked on Emmett. Thank you, Mason, we'll work on that." Alice reached out and shook my hand.
"Take of her." I asked feeling my emotions starting to overwhelm me. I pulled Angela around to face me and forced her chin up so that she would have to look me.
"Take me with you." She said, although was shaking so violently, and the tears were flowing so steadily that I thought she might faint any second.
"I have to go; I have no choice now. You are more important to me than anything else, especially my own life. I will not risk that on selfishness." I spoke passionately, I needed her to understand. She shook her head, but I caught her face again and kissed her gently.
"I love you." I said as I pulled away. I felt my eyes react, and tears escaped my eyes for the first time in a thousand years. We pulled apart and the warmth of her felt like fading embers on my lips.
"Then promise that you'll come back to me!" I nodded, not sure if it was an empty promise.
"I love you!" She said desperately. I replied by kissing her again, deeply, and then left her standing like a mannequin posed to dance without a partner. I couldn't look back; I knew that I wouldn't be able to go if I did. For all I knew that would be the last time I would ever see her, and the last time I would ever touch her.
Two days later and I was in Volterra. I could feel it, fate was fucking with me. Not that I really believed in fate, despite my resent turn of luck. I finally find a life, and love, and the world decided to stand up and shout fuck you to my happiness. I had evaded this exact situation for centuries. I had lived happily knowing that I would never have to stand before my own child in judgement. Of course, the Volturi were famous for not giving second chances, and I had already rejected them before.
Their home had changed, and not for the better in the intervening centuries since I had wandered these halls calling them home. It wasn't the age, no, it was more insidious. They had stained the stones of their home in blood. The smell was nauseating and pungent, despite my internal beast growling in hunger at the scent. More than the smell was their guard. Dozens of men and women whose souls had been shattered by some form of shared trauma. I could see it in their empty expressionless eyes, and a distinct lack of curiosity.
The only exceptions seemed to be Felix, Dimitri, Alec and Jane. They had a hatred in their eyes that gave them some semblance of life. I wondered though, what could possibly keep them sane year after year? What had Aro done to instill such loyalty? I was led through the twisting corridors of Volterra by Felix who had a strained expression on his face. We had been friends once, before I had left.
He risked a backwards glance, "You should've stayed away."
"I had no choice." I replied, shaking my head slightly.
"Caius wants your head." He elaborated.
"Only Caius, well that's better than I hoped." I smirked; I had no illusions I would survive the afternoon. Felix frowned and turned back, and soon we were in their central throne room. It was circular and opulent, and just as barren as I remembered. A table off to one side held books and scrolls, but beyond their three overly embellished chairs, it was a blank cold space. The drain in the center still partially crusted with blood. Demetri grabbed me roughly by the shoulders and forced me to kneel.
"Mason, my father. How lovely to see you again." Aro said as he stood and clasped his hands together.
"Aro." I said simply in response. "The pleasure is all yours."
"Quite. Now what brings you back, after so many years?" His eyes widened and a playful smile circled his lips.
"I'm done running. I'm here, to face whatever judgement you seem intent on delivering upon me." I said feeling more than defeated, but it would be worth it as long as my family remained intact.
"I hear you have joined with Carlisle after all. Does he still resist his natural appetite?" Aro clenched his teeth shut on that final word to accentuate the question with a touch of implied violence.
"He learned on his own, what you will never understand." I shook my head at him in disappointment.
"Your beloved humanity. I hope they were worth it dear father." Aro's expression fell into a sneer.
"Do with me what you will, but know this, if you go to Forks, they will destroy you." My only hope was a threat, but I wasn't sure if it would simply provoke them.
"My my, has Carlisle amassed a force that would rise against us?" Aro said with an excited glint to his eye.
"Carlisle would never seek war, but he will defend his family. They will never challenge the Volturi if you give them a choice." I elaborated, realizing I had made a dreadful mistake.
"Perhaps, but we will deal with Carlisle and his… family soon enough, it is time we finally bring Alice home. But, what shall we do with you?" Aro said looking to Caius and Marcus.
"Aro, get this over with, you know what you're going to do." Marcus said with dead tone of voice, yet I could still detect a touch of impatience in the dull monotone.
"I believe we have more to discuss father, I hope you'll like the tower. It has a splendid view." He said with a toothy grin, the fury in his expression tempered only by the coldness of vicious look he was giving me.
"Demetri, take him to the tower." Caius said with a small chuckle. "Good riddance."
Demetri who had been holding me down, picked me up roughly and along with Jane and Alec forced me through an adjoining hallway. As I crossed the threshold, I heard Aro call for Felix.
"I don't understand, what did I do Aro?" I heard Felix ask desperately when I was five steps away from the doorway.
"You have shown to have poor taste in friends, we overlooked your mistake once. However, as you well know, the Volturi do not give second chances." Twenty steps down the hall and I heard Felix scream in agony, only for that scream to be cut off abruptly.
Author's Note: Big chapter. I had intended to do a chapter with Bella and Charlie's first hunt, but that never came together. Instead, the next chapter will fill in some blanks, and then there will be a Bella chapter after that dealing with Charlie. Lots of smaller stuff in the next three chapters, but important nonetheless. After that... well things are going to get dark. Chapter 35, 39 and 41 have one-shot narrators. Chapter 42 and 44 will have entirely new points of view that will reoccur though the rest of the story.
Please take a moment to review this chapter, I have said it before and I'll say it again, I love reading comments. Please check my profile for updates on chapter release dates on all my stories. I will be getting my new story At First Sight up sometime soon (which is another Bellice story but totally different from Scattered Ashes).
Thank you for reading!