"You're an idiot, you know that?" She asks, holding her to-go cup like it's a glass of Merlot. I scoff.
"Yes, I do." I say, locked in the pinball machine like my life depends on it. This is my second outing in human territory, an anniversary present from Edythe. She keeps nursing her coffee, watching as I keep missing the silver ball with the paddles at the bottom.
"With every biological advantage you have, you can't get the ball to stay out of the hole."
"You're breaking my focuuussss…" I hiss under my breath. She shakes her head, finishing her drink and tossing it right into the trash can. I mutter to myself as I finally score more than 1000 points in this insane game.
And then promptly get a game over.
"Dammit!" I slam my palm on the machine, glaring like it's the object's fault that I will always suck at pinball.
"Hey!" the owner shouts at me from the counter, the air from his throat heavy with the raggedness of a smoker's lungs. "Don't break it, that's vintage."
"As vintage s you?" I say over my shoulder, tucking my hands in my pockets. He lets out a sarcastic laugh.
"My boyfriend just sucks at arcade games." Edythe says, playfully punching my arm.
"I can tell." Ouch. "Order for Bellemont is up."
"It's Beaum – and he's gone." I go to the counter, casually as a human, and pick up the red-tinged ice coffee. A deep drink and a content sigh tell me that finding this little hole in the wall was the best idea Edythe ever had. Though her amused giggling at the owner using the wrong name for me are just a tad annoying. "Having fun over there?"
"Of course. Just tell me if it gets to be too much, love." She kisses my cheek, leaving a brilliant lipstick mark on the marble of my skin. I nod.
"Hey, I'm out of the house and amongst humans. M-mostly," I glance around at the 100% vampire patrons of the little coffee shop hidden deep within Port Angeles with a snort. "I mean, they're outside, so, like, close enough."
Edythe clicks her tongue. "That's just sad, Beau."
The door opens, letting in a whip of the wind. The scent of human blood doesn't burn my throat like it did just barely a year ago. I lost my newborn status when my eyes stopped glowing, when I was no longer able to beat Roland in combat practice and could truly work on my own powers. I'm still working up to visiting my mother, but… this is progress.
I breathe deep and take a gulp of my pig's blood infused coffee.
Edythe snaps her fingers, pulling my eyes down to her face.
"Did Clarice tell you we're thinking about moving?"
"She did, yeah…" My stomach sinks. I've been dreading this since my 19th birthday. Edythe is graduated, the others are tired the high school experience. Not to mention, there are people asking for Emma's parents, people who don't exist. Ezra and Clarice are looking too young for their estimated ages. And with the Quileute still on edge from my transformation, they've all agreed that it's best for us to leave, at least for a while.
But I still haven't gotten to see Charlie and her new little family – Billie Swan and Julie Black-Swan, the wedding of a lifetime that I had to watch over a computer…Alex and Ezra did so wonderful with the decorations.
"On the fence?" She probes. I nod, leaning against the wall. "You have to decide soon. When the coven moves, it goes fast."
"I know, I just don't… I wanna stay. In Forks. Just a while longer." I sink along to the floor. Edythe joins me, lightly hitting her head on the concrete wall. "I won't stop you from going. We can text, video call, even rendezvous anywhere in a flash. But Forks, it's…"
"Your home." She says, a fondness to her voice.
"Yeah, exactly. It's home." Heartbeats of quiet are much longer than they were when I was human. Or maybe I'm just now realizing how much of my life is made up of awkward silence. "But there's still time, right?"
"We won't want to move until the rainy season settles in come spring. Moving in winter is a pain, and moving in summer is just dangerous. Plus, we haven't picked a new place to settle."
"I guess the house will just sit there."
"Clarice is thinking about giving it to your mothers. As a thank you gift." I smile at the thought of Charlie and Billie in that house, all their books and decorations everywhere. A perfect amalgamation of French-English and Quileute culture in a house that overlooks the true beauty of our world. She taps me on the shoulder.
"Let's get going, the sun is coming up soon."
Walking down the streets of Port Angeles no longer makes my breathing pick up or my heartbeat hit a living speed, but I'm still glancing around like those bastards aren't fertilizer. Like I'm still weak to the punch of a human man. My therapist says I'm doing well, coping with the attacks, but I can't exactly tell her that Jane was a vampire, or what happened to the guys that attacked me.
… I wonder how the one's little brother is doing.
I can feel the heat off every human we pass by, smell the blood flowing through their veins. And the alcohol on many of their breaths. It's disgusting, really, being able to make out every single scent that makes a person up. I let out a huff through my nose to push out the smell of a particularly drunk young man as Edythe and I round the corner.
My truck is still fully operational, despite Roland arguing that I needed something that better suits me. "Something solid, perhaps bulletproof," he suggested yesterday, showing me images of trucks and cars on his phone. He acts as though my vampirism has granted me a bottomless bank account.
Legally, I'm still alive, and I've got student loans to worry about since I tested out of high school. I'll commit tax fraud with the vampires Clarice knows at the IRS after I've crafted a solid death story – in twenty years.
I half-listen to Edythe talk about getting a haircut, unsure of the length and the style that she wants. About the curl pattern in her hair, and how long it may take to grow back if she hates it and decides to shave it all off. All the while, I'm picturing Charlie and Billie raising Julie in the Cullen house. The birthday parties, prom, graduation. Everything that's been taken from me. Everything I ensured Jesse would still experience.
There are rumors that I ran away. That what I told Jesse is true. I already know he told Angel as much as he could, as much as Clarice would allow. Angel knows nothing about the vampires, but thinks that Jesse ran with the Cullens to bring me home. That I never returned to Forks. God, he must be so confused…
"Beaumont!" I jump, swerving into the left lane, only to be jerked back to the proper position by Edythe.
"What? What?" I glance at her from the corner of my eye. "I didn't hit something, right?"
"No, but you were completely zoned out," she says, clearly annoyed with me. And… rightfully so. "Is there something on your mind?"
"I… I was thinking about Jesse, and milestones. And how confused all our human friends must be."
"Again?" The annoyance leaves her voice and her posture. "Beau, baby, you can't keep thinking about them. You made your choice."
"And we all have to face the consequences, I know, I just…what if I did for them what you did for me? O-or just let them know that I'm completely safe in some way. You all haven't even let me Skype Jesse."
"It's for both of your sakes, Beau. Now that Jesse knows about vampires, seeing you as one might be too much for him. He might expose us all."
"What, the bite on his neck isn't evidence enough?" I roll my eyes, turning into the Cullen driveway entrance, the rough terrain hitting the nerve in my head that wants to crash and walk away, dead to the world. Become a damned cryptid, like Emma did for a while.
Edythe leans over and lays a hand on my shoulder. "You know this is what's best, Beau."
"I know what it's like to be him, you don't." I look at her, worrying my bottom lip. "I know what it's like to think you're the only one seeing these things, what it's like to be terrified that you're losing your mind or completely invested in something that isn't real. I just want him to know he isn't alone."
"He knows he isn't, love." She scoots over and kisses my cheek, leaning against me until I park the truck outside her house.
"…we shouldn't have to hide like this." I say to myself.
"You know what the Volturi would do if we didn't. It'd be a pointless endeavor that would leave you burning on a pile of human bodies. Change of subject, do you want to go out same time when the sun sets?"
"I think I may just stay in the cabin for a while, if that's alright. I'm exhausted." Edythe nods, hugging me tight. No amount of frustration can prevent me from wrapping my arms around her and squeezing her to my chest. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
As I pull down her driveway, I glance at the slowly rising sun, a stupidly wonderful idea peaking up in the back of my brain. I mean… it isn't like Alex is going to know what I'm doing. And I'm good on feeding for a few days. He deserves to know that I'm alright, to know the full truth. They all do. When my decision is made, I go to my cabin to fully plan it out.
6 am. Jesse should be waking up about now.
Settled on the roof of his house, I watch the clouds go by, my ears fully trained on his sleeping heartbeat. This is, without a shadow of a doubt, the absolute creepiest thing I have ever done with my time. At least I didn't go full stalker and break into his room to watch him sleep, but hearing him whine and groan and toss around, completely unaware that I'm even here, is just …I can't even begin to justify my own actions.
His yawn sounds like it's right in my ear. He sits up and grumbles about homework, about student council and how the new members of his group keep staring at him. He gets up – soft foot falls… did he sleep in his socks?! – and gathers his clothes for the day. Silence from Jesse Stanley is enough to send a shiver down my spine. The total lack of sound, save his body functions, from waking to vanishing into his bathroom does not bode well for his mental state. Especially considering the mornings he would call just to talk while we got ready.
I creep into his bedroom and look around. It's what I anticipated. Books about vampires stacked on the desk, papers of various importance scattered around the room. Clothes everywhere, barely worn. Every photograph of us he took has been taken down, either trashed or stashed somewhere out of my vision.
I find myself plopped in his beanbag chair, listening to the water as he showers. God, I'm a fucking creep…
He doesn't see me right away, instead going to his dresser and adding a shirt to his jeans, the towel wrapped around his head. I could text him, tell him to turn around. That'd just solidify the absolute weirdo factor going on here. I could clear my throat, do the Suave-Mysterious Vampire thing. That's when I notice the pair of socks laying beside the seat, just begging to be thrown.
I just barely miss his head, but it's enough for him to turn on his toes, eyes huge.
"Hey…" I croak out, suddenly aware that my voice is measurably lower than it was when I last saw him. "I uh… I just…"
"You actually are alive." He says, dumbstruck. He approaches me, a hand out, face flooded with relief. "I thought they lied, I thought… I thought they were covering up your murder. That the vampire lady killed you." Jesse's other hand goes to his neck, the bite sticking out to my eyes like a sore thumb. I swallow, reaching out and touching his hand. He gasps.
"I did die." I say, brushing my hair from my face, putting my eyes on full display. Jesse starts to visibly tremble. "I died so you could stay human."
"I… what the doctor did, when she bit me. She kept me from turning." He says it like it's obvious, like he should have realized it a year ago. He grips his hair tight in both hands and growls to himself. "…I can't tell Angel, or Erica, or Taylor, or anyone…is this how you felt? Back when you first got in with Edythe."
"Like the world's biggest piece of shit?" He nods. "Yeah, I did. But I also knew that telling you all would put us all in a much bigger danger. From the Volturi, an international vampire government. They'd kill the whole town just to keep the secret of vampirism."
Jesse pales, practically falling onto his bed. "Me knowing puts Forks in danger."
"Just like me knowing did. Well, almost. My Gift, it erm… it was a cushion. Vampires don't like witches, but I'm not a witch anymore. Not really." He rubs his face with his hands, deep in thought. Then he perks up.
"My aunt is moving to Forks. She and her wife, they… they're witches. Or at least Rowan is! Do you think they can protect us?"
"I think Rowan and Gabriella would be a huge boon to the town, yes. They alone can't keep every human safe if the Volturi were to ever decide things here are too risky. But," I hold my hands up, waving them to push the eerie air out of the way, "let's not think on that, okay? I don't plan on leaving the area any time soon, so there will always be one vampire here to run interference. And my mom, she hunts vampires."
"Chief Swan? Or… Ranger Swan," he corrects himself, remembering how my mom quit after a series of arrests that happened during our brief time out of town. He pulls his knees to his chest. "I suppose that adds up. She did so much to protect me when that... that woman kidnapped me." Jesse closes his eyes tight, shuddering out a breath, and then meets my gaze. "Why did you come here?"
"I didn't want you to feel alone." I reach into my pocket and take out a slip of paper, "And I wanted to give you this. It's where I'm living now; coordinates. In case you want to learn more about vampires or magic."
"Could you teach me magic? Or am I not Gifted enough?" I shrug.
"I don't know. But my mom knows some spells, and remedies. Even if you don't have powers, you can have magic. And you can protect yourself." I take the rainbow quartz necklace off and stand, going over to Jesse's side and laying it in his hand. "Protect our friends." He closes his fingers around the gemstone.
"I can't tell them about this, can I." He doesn't ask.
"…you can't. I can't. Conclusions can always be drawn, though." I say, feeling guilt not deep within my stomach. This is not what I came here to do. I wanted to comfort Jesse, not consider outing the vampire world to Angel and the others. Still, something feels right about it. Like they'd somehow find out another way, in a way more tragic. He presses his fist to his chest and sighs. "Even if they never realize what I am, we'll have a coven. A solid one. We'll gather on weekends, learn spells and do homework. Just like the old days."
"Yeah, like the old days." Jesse muses, looking at the gemstone that gleams in the dim light. "I don't think things will ever be like that again, man."
"I guess you're right. But at least we still have each other." He unclasps the quartz and puts it around his neck.
"Til death?"
"Til death."
Sitting on the roof of the Cullen house while it stands empty is a haunting feeling. I know she said Clarice was considering a move, but as it turns out, that consideration quickly became a decision. There's no trace of the Olympic Coven in their home. They left furniture behind for Charlie and Billie, redecorated the room that was to be mine for Jacob.
I hear the wind shift as a few of them return to the house. Roland, Alex, Edythe, from the scent on the air. They're laughing, whooping, having a gay old time discussing their new place up in Canada. What names they'll go by, and who is going to be living with who.
Alex seems thrilled to be Roland's son at their new home.
Their talking gets softer when they pick up my scent, questioning only for a moment who I could be. I honestly expect Alex to rush me and ask about everything that happened, but instead Edythe appears beside me, and the other two simply gather their belongings and leave.
"They all angry with me?" I ask, expecting an affirmative.
"Roland is extremely pissed, but I can't at all say I blame him. You exposed yourself, and probably us all, to a group of humans." Edythe rubs her temples. "Of all the selfish, senseless, stupid things…"
"He's excited to learn about our world. About his new world. Nervous, but willing. I have an eternity to turn this town into something special, something that no Volturi can go against." I sneer, remembering how Roland about tore into me when I broke the news to them just hours before. Like I ousted the coven to the entirely of Forks. Edythe's back straightens from the corner of my eye.
"…is that what this is about? Being able to fight the Volturi? Beau, you don't even know any of them."
"I know they're the ones that are pulling the strings. I know they see humans as cattle and other vampires as tools. Clarice once said that they fear humans with magic, humans that can kill them. My mother is both, meaning if they come here, they'll try and kill her."
Edythe pauses, laying back on the angled ceiling. "So, the plan is to train our friends to be magical vampire hunters. Create an army of sorts for if they ever do show up."
"Something like that…"
"Is your ideal Forks, Washington a place where the natural and supernatural are hand-in-hand, Beau?"
"I think that's the goal." I close my eyes. "Just imagine how much easier life would be if there was a place where we'll never have to hide, where no one is afraid. Where we govern ourselves instead of being afraid of some random vampires in Italy and their iron fist."
"You're thinking too far ahead, lover. I doubt we'll ever encounter them while we live here."
"Better prepared than taken by surpri…did you say… 'we'?" Edythe giggles and pulls me down beside her, snuggling into my side. "I thought you were moving with your coven."
"They're moving to Port Angeles, trading places with an old friend. I, however, have my belongings in a U-Haul parked at Charlie's house, ready to move into the cabin whenever you're ready."
"I don't know what to say…"
"How about 'I love you, Edythe'? Or even 'I can't wait to wake up to you'. I'd even settle for a kiss." She pushes her lips out in a pout. "After everything we've been through, it isn't much to ask for." I position myself over her and place soft kisses along her jaw and on her lips.
"You're too good to me." I lay next to her, pulling her tight against my chest.
"What can I say, I'm a sucker for brunettes." Edythe nuzzles into my shoulder. "… you sure you can handle this? Teaching Jesse, possibly the others. It's a tall order, even for a vampire."
"I can handle anything, as long as you're with me."
She snakes her arms around my neck, playing with my hair. "Then here I will stay."
"Forever?" I tease.
"Forever," she agrees.
A familiar flutter reaches my crystal heart and I lean down until my lips find hers, a strange howl from the distance whipping past my ears. Forever is only the beginning.
To Be Continued...