A/N: I don't want to drag this story on for much longer y'all, it's been YEARS since it started. I'm going to try with everything I have to make sure it ends this year, so hold on to your tits, coz it's about to get wild, my peeps.
Notes:
No New Notes
Warning:
No New Warnings
Disclaimer: Stephanie Meyers and Co own the characters. I own the idea of this long ass, never ending 'story' but am not in the slightest bit getting paid for it, so you know, no suing and all that.
Then They Fell In Love
Chapter 79: Planting Seeds and Surviving Dreams
Thick, black clouds hovered over the skies, turning everything dark and gloomy. Charles stood at the mouth of the cave, staring out at the pitch black waves crashing against the cliff's edge.
He had to give props where they were due: Cassandra knew how to create an environment.
When he'd first come up with this place, Charles hadn't known how she'd pull this off, the cliffs and waters and darkness of the skies. But somehow, she had. She's built an entire world, with her mind and some powerful magick. Charles was impressed—though he'd never admit it.
Cassandra's magick was just about unmatched and if she realised just how powerful she was compared to himself— well Charles didn't want to think of how Rover would take advantage of that.
The man made a sound at the back of his throat when he saw his little brother walking up the path leading to the cave. Rover was a constant thorn in Charles's side, a nagging buzzing at his ear in the middle of the night.
Charles didn't hate his brother, not really, but he could've done without him, except— well he needed Rover here, for Cassandra. Charles hated that he had to rely on the slime-ball in order to keep his sister, make sure she stayed by his side, did as he asked. While Charles was the eldest and held some authority over everything, it was Rover who had Cassandra's love and trust. So Charles had to do what he had to do to get what he wanted.
He'd get rid of Rover eventually, hopefully soon if the plans he was pulling together came through. He'd finally have the True Alpha at his side, ruling the world with magick even Cassandra couldn't match. Because there was no greater power than that of the True Alpha after all.
Rover looked up and met his brother's eyes. He smiled; there was nothing friendly about it, all teeth and darkness as he came closer to the cave's opening. He looked healthy, that bothered Charles, but he refused to let it show. Instead he kept his eyes on his brother, waiting.
When Rover was close enough that even Cassandra could see him, the man started clapping, slowly and loudly, the movement laced with sarcasm as he swaggered into the cave.
"Oh bravo, brother," the younger man said, his tone anything but impressed, "really, quiet the performance on your part. Who would've thought you had such acting chops. Really, I'm impressed, so very impressed."
Cassandra looked between the two of them and then rolled her eyes. She knew this could go one of two ways depending on Charles's mood and she was really hoping he was in a good mood. Jacob Black seemed to be responding in his favour after all, he should be very happy with that outcome.
"So how long did it take you to you come up with that story?" Rover asked, "You have been gone a while."
Charles smirked, staring at his brother, his body exuding smugness. Cassandra relaxed back into her chair. Her brother, it would seem, was in such a good mood that their brother's taunts didn't even warrant a response. He felt good enough that he thought Rover's taunts were nothing.
Good.
Cassandra didn't want to deal with the aftermath of a Charles-Rover fight, physical or otherwise. She didn't want to have to pick a side, she didn't want to have to get involved in boyish arguments. She was too old and too tired for such nonsense. She had better use for her time, too.
"James will be coming by," Charles finally said, turning to Cassandra. The woman paused on the page she was flipping and stared at her brother with slightly narrowed eyes, her mind already working with possible scenarios of why her brother would want to bring the resurrected Vampire here, now.
"That is a terrible idea, Charles," she said, slowly and carefully. Bringing in someone so close to the Alpha's past was a terrible idea. Cassandra couldn't be sure what would trigger the Alpha, make him remember himself. She trusted her magick to hold true, but putting someone in who was that close to Jacob Black's past was asking for something.
Charles didn't seem to think so though, waving a hand about and saying, "Hardly. It's been months since we've had him, months since we've been working that mind of his. He hasn't so much as glitches. This will be the first real test, to see how well your magick's worked since then."
Cassandra looked at Charles and then at Rover. The younger man only shrugged, he never knew what to think of his brother's plans. Charles always planned on his own, only seeming to remember he had siblings when in a tight stop. Rover wasn't even sure if he wanted to help out with whatever Charles had planned, but he was feeling vindictive and if it so happened that whatever plan Charles was cooking would push Rover just a little closer to Jacob Black, then so be it.
"We should try it," Rover said from where he was now draped over a makeshift rock table. He smiled at Cassandra who's frowning kept deepening.
"I don't know," she said, again slowly, carefully. She kept her eyes on her older brother, trying to read him. He was too relaxed for someone who was about to test something that could potentially unravel all their work in a single moment.
"It'll be fine," Charles said. "Can you get him here?"
"I can. But Charles— —"
"Good. If you could get him here tonight that would be great." He didn't wait for his sister's response, pushing himself from the cave wall and heading out. "I'll see you both later then?"
He was gone in a rumble of thunder and a gust of wind.
Rover sat up, patting down his cape—he always did have a flare for the dramatics, even as children, so a cape wasn't misplaced on him.
"What do you think he has planned?" Cassandra asked, her attention only slightly being helped by the book she was reading. She had to get to work soon if she was to get James there by night.
"Does it matter? Whatever it is, here's to hoping it bites him in the ass."
Cassandra nodded absently then got up and began collecting items for the ritual she'd need to perform.
]
Charles watched from afar as the True Alpha swam at the beach. The sun was just low enough in the sky for it to not feel like the pits of hell and there was a breeze coming in that made being outside almost heavenly. Charles may actually need to compliment his sister on her work, maybe a passing comment that wouldn't go to her head, or have Rover pushing ideas in Cassandra's head. Charles really did need to get rid of his brother somehow.
The Alpha hadn't noticed Charles yet. He was still distracted in the waves. His stokes were strong, sure, not really affected by the way the waves moved. Charles watched as the Alpha swam out into the ocean, treaded in the water for a long moment before letting himself sink down into the water.
Charles wasn't afraid for the Alpha when the other man didn't instantly return from under the water. The Dark One waited patiently on the beach and smiled lightly when the True Alpha finally emerged from under the blue waters. The other man treaded in the water for a moment longer before he turned and swam his way back to the beach.
The True Alpha was fine specimen, made to perfection by genetics and his gifts. Tall and thick—a wide chest that tapered down to a lovely, slim waist, long legs with powerful thighs and well-formed calves and arms as thick as trunks. And his skin, dark and russet and reflecting the sun in a way that made Charles want to explore it endlessly. The Alpha had a good heart too, Charles knew that. He was going to use that softness against the Alpha, gain control by using that heart.
The Alpha crawled out the water then pushed himself onto his feet and walked towards Charles. There was a frown on the Alpha's face, a questioning look. He also looked nervous, his eyes shifting this way and that as he walked towards Charles.
Charles didn't move, continued to look at the Alpha with a soft smile. He had to play this right, continue feeding his lie of the two of them being more. He had to be careful with how he did it though; pushing too hard and too fast would set him back, but if he did it slowly, carefully, then the True Alpha would become his.
He could see it now: finally escaping this prison he was put in, finally walking the world of the Living in his own skin, The True Alpha at his side, as both the source of his power and as his lover. Because who wouldn't want to keep a man who looked like that as a lover? And having the Alpha as his lover would… inspire trust.
When the Alpha finally reached him, Charles held the small towel out and smiled. He watched as the Alpha hesitated for only a moment before taking the towel and proceeding to wipe himself down. In time, Charles thought, there would be no hesitation, only trust and if worked properly, love—how likely was a man to betray someone if they truly believed they loved them.
"Had a good swim?" the Dark One asked, leaning back on his arm to look up at the Alpha.
"It was decent," the Alpha replied as he sat down.
Charles noted the distance that the Alpha put between them when he sat, a whole arm's length away. Curbing temptation, Charles thought.
So the Alpha was trying to stay faithful then, trying to prove that he was a good person, a good boyfriend. A good thing for the long run, but quiet annoying at this point in time. He needed the Alpha to see him as the better choice between the siblings, as the one meant for him.
Charles would need to speak with Cassandra, plant a few more seeds into the story, make the Alpha believe that what Charles said was the truth, remove the doubt from the Alpha's mind.
The Alpha seemed to be drawn to Cassandra, naturally—her nature was soft, made people want to be around her. If Charles could get his sister to speak with the Alpha, talk him into believing that his relationship with Charles was far better than it was with Rover, it would push the Alpha to Charles.
"It's strange," Charles began slowly, "how little you've changed, despite the accident." He wasn't certain about where he would go with this, but he needed something, some way, to make the Alpha look at him differently.
"Wh— what do you mean?"
"I mean that you're much the same. Not just in terms of looks, but within your nature too." An idea came to Charles and he had to bite back a smile. "I see the way you look at Rover; it's the way you looked at him before."
"I don't know what you mean."
He did know, Charles could tell. There was something in the way the Alpha stiffened, the way his scent seemed to change at the words. He knew exactly what Charles meant but didn't want to believe it.
He had doubts. Good, very good.
"You don't remember how you felt about me, about him, before the accident, but I know how you felt."
The Alpha turned to look at him, frowning. "How would you know how I felt about anything?"
"Because you told me, Phi. Before the accident, you told me how you felt, about me, about Rover, even about Cassandra. You— —" Charles paused for dramatic effect, which worked wonderfully if the look in the Alpha's eyes was anything to go by, "—you were going to leave him… for me."
"What?"
The Alpha's scent changed again and Charles knew he had to tread lightly. Pushing this man would be a terrible idea. He had to be careful how much information he gave at once, and then be careful about how he maintained it and then preceded to tell it. If he spoke too much, said too much all at once, it could plant too much doubt in the Alpha's head, but if he said just enough, then he could slowly crawl into the Alpha's head and take control.
"We were supposed to leave together," Charles said carefully, "after you told Rover the truth. We had it all planned out. I had everything ready for us." He'd need to find proof of his words, get Cassandra to push documents to alibi this new information. "But then the accident happened and then you woke up and… you don't look at me the same way."
"I don't remember you."
"I know. But you look at me as if I'm your enemy, as if I'm out to get you." Charles made sure to sound and look pained as he admitted this, to make the Alpha feel ashamed. They were supposed to be in love, so much so that Phoenix was willing to leave Rover for Charles— with Charles.
"I don't remember you," the Alpha repeated.
"You don't remember Rover either, but it seemed a lot easier for you to accept him than me." And here Charles let bitterness leak into his words.
He didn't smile as he watched the Alpha frown. He didn't change the look on his face, the hurt and bitterness that marred his features. He wanted the Alpha to feel bad, use his kindness and gullibility against him.
"I can't say it doesn't hurt, despite how I may act, because it does, very much so. How easily you seem to have fallen back with my brother, but you look at me as though I might hurt you. I would never— —" again he paused for dramatic effect, even let his voice break just the tiniest bit, "—I would never hurt you, Phoenix, you must know that. I love you, so, so damn much."
Charles touched the hand close to his—soft, smooth, warm. He looked at the Alpha, waiting on his reaction. The Alpha said nothing, staring out at the ocean, the frown on his face unchanging. Charles waited, to see what the Alpha would do next, if he had fallen for his stories.
"I should head back inside and shower," the Alpha said eventually, slowly, quietly. He pulled his hand from under Charles's own, stared down at the hand for a moment and then got up. He didn't look at Charles, or so much as acknowledge him as he walked away, towards the house.
Charles made a sound at the back of his throat but didn't move. The Alpha wasn't convinced yet—of course not. But the reactions, those frowns, the change of his scent, the stutter of his heart, all cues that he did have doubts, very big and very deep doubts about his relationship. it was more than Charles could've asked for.
With a slight smile, Charles stood from the towel and he too made his way to the house.
]
Phoenix watched the two men with something close to disinterest. Jamie and Rover were sat at a couch, talking. Jamie's hand hadn't left Rover's thigh since he'd places it there when they first sat down a half hour ago, and Rover didn't seem to have any issues with that.
Phoenix supposed he should've cared a little more about it, his boyfriend being touchy feely with another guy, but he wasn't. He couldn't being himself to actually get emotional about it, couldn't find it in himself to feel emotional.
The man sighed and turned to Cassandra who was busy with making more sandwiches to send to the living room. Phoenix had offered to help, if only to be away from Rover and Charles for a moment. He really did prefer Cassandra's company, if only because she wasn't trying to push a relationship with him.
"So," Phoenix started slowly, his gaze staying low, on the counter top where Cassandra had the sandwiches laid out.
Cassandra threw a quick gaze his way before turning back to the sandwiches. "So..." she said.
"So what's up with Jamie and Rover then?" Phoenix finally asked. He was hoping for a certain answer, praying for it. His anticipation didn't make him happy though because it made him think about what Charles had said. He didn't want to believe anything Charles said, he still didn't feel comfortable with the man, still couldn't believe that there could ever possibly be anything between him and the man.
"What do you mean?" Cassandra asked. It was obvious in the way she spoke that she was trying to hide something. Her lips moved quickly, as though she were speaking, but no noise came from them.
"You can tell me, Cass, I won't freak out."
The woman's eyes widened and she looked at Phoenix with something akin to despair. "Don't call me that!" she said, her voice breathless and quiet.
"Sorry! I'm sorry." Phoenix's cheat tightened for a second. He cared about Cassandra for some reason, cared about her reaction to him. She was the only one he seemed to be bothered about. He couldn't explain it, the reasoning behind it, but he cared.
Cassandra sighed and looked towards the door leading to the living room. She bit her lip, frowning and then turned to Phoenix. "They did have a thing," she said slowly, "before Rover met you. I think it's why Jamie doesn't like you very much, because he still wants Rover back."
Phoenix remembered the cold look Jamie had given him when they'd been introduced, the ugly smile, like a taunt, like he had one over on Phoenix, like he knew something Phoenix didn't. Phoenix didn't like the look, or the feeling that the look gave him. Cassandra had fluttered between them looking nervous, while Charles had stared almost dispassionately, like he couldn't be bothered by the whole thing—Rover hadn't been there at the time, and Phoenix had been okay with it.
"Right." Phoenix bit at his bottom lip for a moment, thinking. "Why does he still come over?"
"Because he's still friends with Rover." Cassandra frowned. "This never used to bother you before."
Before.
Before Phoenix got hit on the head and woke up with no recollection of himself or this family and all the drama that surrounded them.
"I'm not bothered," Phoenix replied honestly. The look Cassandra gave him proved how much she didn't believe him. "I'm really not bothered by it."
"Well good, you don't have to worry about anything. Rover's completely in love with you."
"Yeah, great."
Cassandra handed him the plate of sandwiches and he took it and headed back to the living room. Jamie and Rover were still seated next to each other, talking about something or another. They seemed completely absorbed with each other.
Phoenix almost wished that it hurt more to watch them like that, but it didn't. There was no gutting feeling at the pit of his stomach and that seemed to bother him more than anything. He knew that once upon a time he felt jealousy, that he'd see someone flirting, touching, looking at a copper-head man and anger would bubble and he'd want to fight someone.
It was all gone now. No anger, no jealousy, no ill feelings for a man who may steal his boyfriend away.
And Phoenix couldn't bring himself to care.
"I think I'm going to call it a night," Phoenix said, putting the plate of sandwiches on the coffee table. He wasn't hungry anyway, he was never really hungry anymore.
"Stay a little longer," Rover said, moving to get up too. Phoenix held a hand up, stopping him.
"I'm feeling tired. You stay. I'll see you when you come to bed."
Phoenix turned to leave the room before anyone could put in a word. He completely ignored the look that Charles gave him and headed upstairs and to his room.
When he was in bed, the covers pulled up to his chin, Phoenix thought of Rover and Jamie, of how comfortable they seemed together. It made Phoenix feel relieved. There was someone else in Rover's life, there was someone else the man could concentrate on that wasn't Phoenix. And if he was being honest with himself, Phoenix hoped that whatever had been going on with Rover and Jamie before would get going again. Phoenix wouldn't care, really. It would be one less thing to worry about.
Phoenix sighed, rolling onto his side and shutting his eyes. Sleep came to him a lot quicker than normal and he was grateful for it.
]
A woman stood before him in the large field. She was short, dark russet skin grooved deep by wrinkles, jet black hair held back by a single braid that ran down her back.
She looked familiar, a kind oval face a gentle smile and soft eyes, but he couldn't put it together, not yet.
He looked at the woman, at her familiar features, and wondered. He knew her, he definitely knew her. Feeling stirred within him, awakening something inside.
He knew her.
"Hello, Jacob," the woman said gently. She smiled, relief and joy colouring her beautiful face, tears filling her eyes but not falling.
" Moon," Jacob breathed, remembering her all at once.
One of The Firsts, an ancestor of his, of his Wolf's. She was here, standing before him, smiling at him.
How?
How?
Hadn't his daughter—his daughter, who was she again?—said that the Firsts couldn't get to him yet, that the magick of his enemies was strong, that they couldn't breach it.
"She's sacrificing a lot to let me be here," Moon said, getting Jacob's attention back to her. She was still smiling, though it wasn't as bright. The person sacrificing a lot, that must be his daughter— Sarah-Elizabeth. "We don't have much time, Jacob. There's a lot you need to do if you ever want to get out of the Witch's clutches, but it won't be easy."
"Moon— —"
She grabbed his hand and pulled a knife from nowhere. Before Jacob could duck or protest, Moon stabbed him hard, the knife going through his palm.
"You have to play along!" she said as she pulled the knife out and it disappeared from her hand.
The pain of the wound pulsed all through Jacob's hand, right up his arm.
"I can't remind you everything, but this will make you remember my words. Play along, Jacob, it's the only way to pull down their guard. Make them believe that you're on their side, that you believe what they're saying, what they're feeding you. Weaken their guard by playing along."
Thunder rumbled, loud and angry.
"She can feel us, she knows we're here. We'll come back, Jacob, we'll help you in every way that we can. Just remember to play along."
Lightening flashed, too close to Jacob and Moon for comfort.
Jacob looked up at the sky, watching it darken. He looked down to say something to Moon but she was no longer standing before him. She was a distance away, standing across the field from him. Sarah-Elizabeth was there too, holding onto the woman's free hand. She looked haggard, as though she hadn't slept in too long.
She's sacrificed a lot to get me here.
How much of herself had Sarah-Liz sacrificed to get Moon here, to Jacob.
"Play along," Moon mouthed at him, touching her hand.
Jacob looked down at the hand, at the pinkness of the skin—how was there no longer an open and bleeding wound?—and then back at Moon and Sarah-Liz.
Play along.
…TBC…
Kay, so this chapter didn't move as quickly as I'd thought it would since I cut like half of it so it would go into the next chapter. But that's not to say this is still gonna drag. At some point it's going to move so fast your mind will spin. But I'm easing into it, possibly.
I hope you enjoyed this extremely late chapter all the same and hope to see you all next time.
(',) — Peter says hi!
