LXXXI. Unwanted Questions

"Don't freak out, Edward, but I think I saw your dad." I glanced at my mate.

Edward gave me a wry smile. "Really?"

"I swear, he looked just like—"

"You're probably right," Edward said. "But that man didn't raise me. He never came back for my mother or me. I doubt he cares. I know I don't." He looked back at Andronikh and held up the ruby, which was now flashing so rapidly that it looked like a warning sign. "I'd much rather figure out what my idiot brother is up to before this runs out."

"Run out?" My stomach dropped as I frantically peered under my coat, where my ruby was also flashing, but more slowly than Edward's. A horrible thought struck me. "Yours better not run out before mine." Being stuck in the past with Edward was one thing, being stuck in the past alone was another.

"If we ever get separated… I really hope we don't, but if we do…" He took my hand, pressing his lips together. "Don't bother following my brother. I doubt he can help you. You should probably find the Singers. Find Didyme."

"Where?" I gripped his hand.

"Her ruby," he said. "Just think of what you want to know. But be specific or it'll show you strange things."

"Strange things?" My ears perked up. "Maybe they're more important than you think. What exactly did you see?"

Edward rubbed his neck. "Apart from the fact that Andronikh and Didyme are twins and Singers? I saw myself. Yelling. Remember when we first found out about Didyme? Yeah, that time."

He paused. "I also saw Helen attacking him. Then I saw Ariadnh when she was born—our mother told him to get rid of her. The last memory was of Didyme and James at the market. Didyme pretended not to know him." His expression darkened. "It might be why he eventually killed her."

I scratched my head. "I don't understand. Based on your memories, Didyme watched over the three of you even after she was turned. She helped you. Why would she pretend not to know him?"

Edward paused. "Remember the memory from Didyme's ruby? The one where was James levitating her?"

"How can I forget?" I said. "When Didyme told him, you're the most powerful Singer in the world? Or something like that."

"I'm more concerned about what James said," Edward said. "He said that the Singers always find their children—that their father spent seven years searching for Didyme."

"Oh." I sucked in a breath. "You mean she pretended not to know Andronikh because James was there and she was afraid they'd drag him away too?"

"Exactly."

I exhaled. "You know, Edward. The more I hear about the Singers, the less I like them."

"We haven't met them," he said. "We've only heard James badmouthing them and he's not exactly someone you'd listen to."

"I don't know," I said. "Knocking up random women, taking away their kids and forcing them to become vampires… all of it sounds very dodgy. Don't get me started on the part where they're forced to obey your commands or go insane without your blood." I tightened my hold around his hand. "Edward… what if… what if we're the bad guys?"

Edward arched his brows. "So you're saying James is a good guy? We're going to forget that he basically tortured and killed a bunch of people?"

"No, but… I can't believe I'm saying this. But what if he has a reason?" I asked. "Remember he said the Singers wanted to build an army?"

"Okay." Edward straightened, his nostrils flaring. "Let's say the Singers here are terrible people. Let's say the Volturi deserved it. The humans he killed were innocent," he said. "You're innocent. Carlisle and his coven, Nessie and the Quileutes… I can't imagine what they did to deserve the havoc he's wreaking." Edward shook his head. "I doubt there are any good guys anyway. There are bad guys and then there are worse guys."

He picked up my hand, his eyes falling to the venom-healed scars around my fingers, now almost invisible amidst the silver burns. "I haven't forgotten what he did to you. He's going to die. The end."

"Edward—"

"I honestly don't care about how terrible the Singers are, Bella. Or what they did to James. I'm going to kill him if it's the last thing I do—"

"No, Edward, they're leaving!"

He stopped abruptly. "What?"

"Andronikh and Helen." I nodded in the direction of the market. "They're leaving."

They'd stopped arguing and were parting ways. I began to follow Andronikh but Edward caught my hand, tugging me in the other direction. "We can figure out what Andronikh knows from his ruby," he said. "We should follow Helen instead."

"Smart," I told him.

He grinned. "Obviously."

I didn't have the time to roll my eyes—the moment Andronikh was out of sight, Helen passed some coin to a seller and leapt onto the nearest mount. Crap, we were going to have to run…

"Or steal one," Edward whispered.


"What happened to not changing the past?" I demanded as Edward helped me down the horse. My legs and back were so sore that I could hardly stand straight. "I never knew you were so good at riding horses… or stealing."

Edward smirked. "There are a lot of things you don't know."

By the time the seller had turned around, we were already halfway gone. That didn't mean he didn't see us though. The last I'd dared to look back, he'd been yelling and jumping up and down like a madman. Our clothes were pretty hard to miss, so… "Now you've made the market off-limits," I said mournfully. "We're lucky they didn't come after us with torches and pitchforks."

"I don't think pitchforks have been invented yet." was Edward's only reply.

I shot him a disgruntled look but followed suit when he hid between the long grasses. Helen was a few yards away when she slid smoothly down her horse, lowering her hood and freeing her braided hair. It fell down her back like a rich dark waterfall, accentuating her ethereal face.

I had to pinch myself.

Whoever Helen was going to meet, she wanted to impress him. As she tied her horse and walked towards the clearing, we inched closer.

"Hey, you," she said, flashing him a winning smile.

I wanted to see but didn't dare to move. Then a familiar voice answered. "Princess."

My jaw just about dropped to the ground as James dipped into a bow.

His eyes were fixed on her on the entire time and his hand was pressed to his hip, at the ready.

I frowned, trying to see what he was holding but the answer came soon enough.

Without warning, Helen soared through the air and attacked. Daggers I hadn't even seen her drawn were in each of her hands. She had him disarmed in three moves and pinned in the next two.

Desire flashed through James' eyes and Helen's eyes glittered—she wielded her beauty like a weapon.

"You've gotten better," she said.

"I'm a fast learner, Princess," he drawled, as she released him. "But I'd much rather you teach me to read."

"Read?" Helen sheathed her blades. "I wouldn't know how."

"You lie," he said.

"Are you accusing a princess?" Helen's gaze was haughty.

He stepped closer. "Yes, I am," he said. "You won't teach me because you don't think I'm worthy of it. What secrets are you protecting?"

"I should ask you that question," she said, lifting her chin.

"What do you think I'm hiding?" he asked, his gaze boring into her face.

Helen met his gaze without flinching.

"Make me immortal," she said.

His eyes gleamed but he said nothing.

She leaned in, closing what little distance there was between them. "I know you can. I've heard of the gods your people make. I've seen them."

A dangerous, handsome smile played on James's lips. "You're a princess, soon-to-be queen," he said. "Why would you need such a trivial thing?"

"Ask no unwanted questions and you'll get no unwanted answers."

James laughed suddenly. "You're a force to be reckoned with, princess." Then his smile turned calculating. "Let's make a deal, shall we? You teach me to read… and I'll make you immortal."

Helen crossed her arms. "Why don't you make me immortal first?"

"That requires me to read the forbidden scrolls, my dear princess," James said. "Do you think the Elders leave that information lying around?" His eyes burned. "The answer is they do. They know we can't read them."

"Bring it to me and I'll read it for you."

James blinked at her. "And why would I do that? You've just proven yourself a liar."

Silence.

Beside me, Edward tensed. I gave him a puzzled look until I heard Helen whisper, "We're being watched."


I just finished my first round of analysis, hallelujah! Gotta go through them again and smooth things out but I'm so happy I finally managed to understand the statistics. To answer some reviewer questions: I'm almost done with med school and am doing a thesis on one of the neglected tropical diseases. And yes, I'm part-Chinese. I guess you probably read A Thousand Fallen Petals. I have my friends and the internet to thank for the translations and historical bits. Am still totally blown away that the fic got voted into Top 10 in April :) Thanks to those of you who voted! And lots of love to those of you who are still reading and reviewing Star in Your Sky, you guys are amazing. Till the next update :)