—Jake!
Seth was furious. Anne was being unbelievably stubborn about this. How could she simply not care about what happened? Why is she always lost in thoughts when they talk about that vampire and taking his side?
—What the hell, Seth? Quil and the others were surprised by his scream inside their minds. Seth phased to talk to Jake, but he didn't get very far from the house. He couldn't, doesn't matter how angry he was.
—Where is Jake? Seth needs advice from him.
—He's inside with Nessie and Bella. Embry answers. He is also by the house, watching them as Jake asked.
—Then get him out now!
—Man… I can't believe you did that. Quil is laughing loudly now after hearing the fight inside Seth's thoughts.
—What happened? Jake joins the conversation.
—Why she won't listen? Why is she so interested in that idiot?
—Seth, take a breath. Jake has difficulty understanding Seth's thoughts when he gets nervous like that.
—It's like she's ignoring the fact he almost killed her and is all good about it now and not even worrying about him staying just outside the house! How can I make her listen?!
—Dude, you have to apologize. Embry says, laughing like Quil.
—What?! She's the one that's being irrational!
—You always apologize, man. Just say it like a hundred times. Quil's advice is as useless as Embry's.
—Can we turn off the teen drama channel? Paul is also there but very uninterested.
—Jake? Seth needs options. He always knew Anne was stubborn and had the bad habit of keeping things for herself even if they were bothering her to the point she got nightmares, but he thought he could understand that because of all she's been through. Still, he can't take how she looks like she wants that vampire there. She tried her best to convince everyone he could stay, and he's burning inside just thinking about it.
—Look, I don't know how you can "make her listen" all right. If I knew the answer to that kind of problem, I'd be rich right now. What I know is that the angrier you get, the more distance you create between you two.
—How can I not be angry? You heard what she said!
—But did you?
—What? Seth saw this conversation going very differently. He was one hundred percent sure Anne was the one in the wrong here.
—He worked for the man that destroyed her life, Seth. It would be strange if she weren't interested in what he knows.
—I told you. They are always right. Embry teases again.
—Put yourself in her shoes. You said she still avoids calling that Padrone guy by name aloud. She probably wants to make sure he's dead and gone so she can turn the page and move on. She's not interested in him. It wouldn't make sense.
—Are you sure? He's like, Edward level handsome, and chicks go crazy from a British guy. Leah doesn't really think vampires are attractive; she just wants to tease her brother. That's her job as his sister.
—Shut up, Leah! Seth can hear the truth in Jake's words. He let jealousy take the best of him because he loves her, but she never brought up their conversation in Rome after they returned, so he was confused about her feelings for him. The imprinting doesn't make you fall in love. He loves her as himself, separated from the instinct to protect and be with her.
—Now, if we had gone with my advice from the beginning, we would've settled this already. Quil teases.
—Nesse is calling me inside. Now, apologize for suggesting she was taking sides with him, for the screaming, and it should be fine.
—But how can I stop it from happening again? If she decides she'll get close to him to ask him questions, he'll lose it all over again. He doesn't want him anywhere near her. The way he looks at her is infuriating enough, let alone letting them be together and… talk.
—You take a deep breath and stay by her side. Be patient and keep your cool. Painful memories are difficult to share, Seth. She'll tell you her reasons soon enough.
Jake was right, but it's difficult to wait in silence when he can see she's visibly keeping all the hurt inside. He wants to be near her at all times and have her share all her thoughts with him, but that would be difficult for anyone, human or not.
—All right.
—One hundred times, man. Don't let them fool you; there is a number. Quil teases him one last time before Seth transforms again and returns to the house. Anne is asleep in her room, so he changes and waits by the door, thinking about what he'll say.
He was aware that Anne had a much deeper connection with Esme than he wanted to admit, so she felt more inclined to talk to her, but he felt excluded like he wasn't part of her world. He knows some part of her is a vampire, and that's why they get along so well, but he wanted to be there for her too… in every way.
Seth is right outside my door when I rush out. I wasn't planning on sleeping, but I guess I needed the extra sleep after the nightmare.
—Hey. I say, looking at his brown eyes and feeling regretful for screaming. I know he is worried and that my silence is what caused this.
—Hey. He answers. I don't know if I'm the bigger person or whatever; I just don't want to fight with him. He's the person I spend the most time with, and I don't know what I would do if he stopped talking to me; also, in a more embarrassing way, I don't want to be apart from him.
—Look, I'm sorry I screamed. You were right; I was being unreasonable.
—Good, you know. Hearing him say our private joke like that lightens up the mood. —I'm sorry too. I was… out of line saying those things, and you're right, I scream too much.
—Good, you know. His smile makes me glad I always listen to Esme.
I say I don't like to be treated like a child, but I remember how new I am to all this at times like this. I've never had a friend for so long, let alone one that risked his life for me and is bound to me for eternity. Renesmee told me that imprinting doesn't change who he is, but I wonder how well he can distinguish between his feelings and instinct. I know my feelings very well, but I can't voice them just yet. Not before I'm sure I did what I had to do.
—Come on, dinner's ready.
We go downstairs and have dinner together like usual, but not without a tease here and there about the scream and making up. After, we sit in the living room to hear about David's first try in more detail.
—It was interesting. Carlisle has a slight grin, remembering what happened.
—Did he catch anything? Emmett asks curiously. They took him to the furthest hunting grounds to avoid trouble, so no one really heard anything.
—He ripped a deer's head off while feeding, so yeah, I guess he caught something. Jasper says, and Emmett lets go a long whistle.
I'm sitting on the sofa with Seth right next to me. He has his arm behind my head and seems to observe my reaction to their conversation. I think it was impressive that he ripped the deer's head off, and I am kind of curious how it happened but not disturbed by it. I'm sure he's disappointed I'm not scared.
—Can he even do it? Alice asks next to Jasper.
—It wasn't easy for any of you either. He needs time to find his reason.
—His reason? I'm confused by Carlisle's words.
—Yes. The reason he must stop feeding on human blood.
—What about the information he gave? Rosalie asks.
—That's yet another problem. He gave us a list of fifty possible places where Cinque will take the vampires she captures, but vampires don't leave a digital trail to follow, so we have to go down to each location and check out ourselves. And on the off chance we meet Cinque, we can't be alone or just barge in. Some of these are pretty big cities.
—Also, we have to keep an eye open to Mirania and Giannini. Carlisle continues. —He said they are in the country too.
Their names make me tremble, and I can feel Seth's fingers on my shoulder. I wonder if he knows I'm not shaking because I'm afraid.
—Going through this list will take forever. Seth says, looking at the names on the screen.
—I'll think of something tonight and…. Jasper stops talking, and they all suddenly look at something behind us. I turn around, but there is nothing.
—What?
—It's him. He's agitated. Carlisle is looking in the direction of the storage room, eyebrows mushed together.
Suddenly, their eyes turn to me. —What?
—He thinks talking to you will help. Continue the conversation from before. Esme says, looking worried.
Seth pulls me closer. —What conversation?
—Esme? I ask for her permission to go.
—It's your choice. She says, and I think for a moment. I can do this.
I take Seth's hand and drag him outside. —Let's go.
—Where?
—To talk to him. You said you didn't understand; I guess this is the easy road. We walk outside the house, going towards the storage place, and Seth phases away from me before getting to the front door. Jake and Embry are watching him now, standing by the front door of the storage room.
—David? I call his name, more nervous than I expected to be, with Seth stuck to my side.
—You came. He answered from behind the door.
—Jake, can we open the door? Jake looks at Seth before answering me with a nod.
—David, you can open the door. When he opens it, his eyes are still red but a little more bright than the first time I saw him. He looked almost paranoid when we first met due to the lack of blood, but now his eyes look sharper and more attentive.
—Hi. Sorry, I just… need a distraction. He's making sure to keep away from the door, probably afraid to trigger the wolves or scare me away. He looks tired as he runs his fingers through his hair. At this distance, I can get a better look at him. Right now, he looks drained from the lack of blood, but on an average day, he would give a very mysterious vibe with his broody look and sharp features. He's as tall as Seth but not as muscular. As a vampire, his build is slimmer, but I'm sure his strength is comparable to Seth's. I wonder what his abilities are.
—Carlisle said you… hit a bump in the road today.
—That's a way to put it. He looks away.
—I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.
—They call you Anne here, right? His words send a little electricity through my body. Just how much does he know?
—Do you know my… birth name?
—Yes, but Padrone never used it.
—What did he call me? I heard Padrone call me "thing" and "mutt," but the other experiments had names for them. Except for Mirania, Giannini, and Raffaello, all the others had a number in Italian assigned to them.
—…Dr. Cullen said I shouldn't say it.
—I'm ok. Go ahead.
—E67.
—67?
—That's how many tires it took… to make it work. I remember the beeping sounds in my nightmare and can finally count how many times I had to hurt him to heal myself. I hold onto Seth's fur, and he gets closer, feeling my uneasiness. David seems to notice it too and changes the subject.
—Is he a shape-shifter?
—Yes. I thought you knew.
—I've never seen one before. That's a peculiar form to choose.
—What do you mean?
—Why a wolf? I'm sure there are more efficient shapes for fighting vampires. He's touching his chin with his long fingers, looking concentrated on his question as he tilts his head to the side, analyzing Seth.
—You're a bit of a scientist, huh?
—That's why Padrone chose me. Before changing, I was a chemist in Sussex, and when he found me, he gave me the "vampier revolution" speech and put me in a tube. When I woke up, he made me his assistant.
—How long was I in that tube? My question appears to surprise him. Maybe he didn't think I would be this direct.
—I'm not sure. He put me inside one too and woke me up two years before he woke you. From then, I was his assistant until I quit. The worst boss I ever had. He lets out a weak smile.
—Yeah, he was a jerk. I smile, too, glad he can treat this with more humor than the others.
Seth starts to push my body and walks around me. I know he means he wants to leave.
—Thank you for talking to me. It did help. David seemed a little more relaxed now, and I'm starting to get my answers. I knew this was the right way to do this.
—No problem. And don't worry too much, I'm sure you'll find your reason soon. Seth pushes me back more, so I say my goodbye. He must have his questions too. —Goodnight.
—Goodnight. David says and closes his door. I look at Seth and point to the greenhouse. We walk inside, and he transforms so we can talk.
—So, that's why you wanted him here? I know it might sound simple to him, but to me, this is everything. He can fill in the gaps in my brain.
—He knows the answers to many of my questions, but he won't easily say them if he thinks his life is in danger. Information is all he has to exchange for his life.
Seth is thinking about my words, and I'm so glad he seems to understand. I took the friendly approach with David, but I wonder why I couldn't do so with him. I guess I care about what he thinks of me much more than David's opinion because whatever he has to say may change how Seth looks at me.
—Earlier, I asked about my parents too, but he avoided answering me.
—What about your parents?
—I wonder how Mirania found them. She came straight to where they were before I was born. It was like he knew what was going to happen.
—Maybe someone told him.
—But who? My dad never mentioned friends, and we never hung out around others, vampires or humans.
—Are you sure he even knows anything? He said he was awake for only two years before you.
—I hope he does, because if he doesn't, I'll have to find Mirania, and I'm not looking forward to seeing her again.
I have a few ideas of how I will react when I see Mirania, but none are good. I might just jump on her or not be able to say a word. Imagining seeing her eyes again is enough to make me sweat, and I would prefer to fight Padrone barehanded than her. I'm sure of my feelings towards him, but Mirania is… complicated.
We walk back to the house, and everyone is waiting by the front door.
—I guess he calmed down. Jasper says.
—Yeah. He said he needed a distraction. I guess feeling like he must worry about being killed all the time is as stressful as it sounds.
—Let's see how he does tonight. Carlisle says.
—Tonight? But he just came back from hunting, no? I've never seen any of them go out this often.
—If he can feed without killing, we can put more time between the hunts. Not killing his prey is the best way to practice control. It means he can stop at will.
—We never really get… full. Esme explains. —We just… manage it until the limit and feed again. Right now, his limit is half a day because he just started. I knew what she meant. My parents had the same ritual, but they fed on human blood, so I guess that's why they left the house less often.
—Let's go, Jasper. Carlisle says. —Alice and Emmett, it's your turn to watch him when we come back.
—Yes, sir! Alice says, saluting Carlisle.
I walk back inside and say goodnight to Esme and the others before going upstairs. Seth comes with me until I reach the door.
—I'm going to watch him too. If he says anything about your parents, I'll tell you in the morning. I should've told him about my worries before. This support from him feels incredible.
—Thank you, and be careful.
He has a huge smile on his face before saying goodnight and going after Jasper and Carlisle. —I'll see you in the morning.
Carlisle and Jasper move to the hunting grounds with David, and Seth catches up with them right after.
—Dr. Cullen, thank you for letting me talk with her. David felt much better after talking to Anne. She wasn't threatening his life at every word she heard and didn't like. It was infinitely more relaxing than having Jasper near him all the time. Every time he looked in the girl's general direction, he would make sure to keep him in check.
—You think you can do it this time? Carlisle asks. The boy seemed much more relaxed to him as well.
—I'll do my best.
David disappears inside the woods, looking for prey. He finds a deer walking alone, eating grass, perfectly relaxed, so he approaches quietly as Carlisle taught him; he's trying to create some thrill around it to improve the experience. The animal catches his scent and moves deeper inside the trees. David follows him, keeping perfectly still not to startle the creature.
Jasper and Carlisle observe him, ensuring he's not going too far from them, but the boy seems very good at hiding. They have difficulty locating him and get nervous for a moment before they see him jump on the deer and bite its neck.
—Let go. Carlisle says after a few seconds of David feeding on the animal.
—I said, let go, boy. David struggles but does let go eventually.
—I did it! He says excitingly when the deer is still standing, but the animal soon drops to the ground, lifeless.
—At least his head is still attached. Jasper mocks.
—I'm sorry. David was trying his hardest, but this was much more difficult than expected. He thought it was just a question of choice, but this is much more than just switching his diet.
—You're good at hiding, huh? For a second there, I barely knew where you were. Jasper's words make David wary. He was too concentrated on catching the deer and forgot about them.
—I was just very still. The only way around Jasper's powers is to avoid the lie. He can't tell if David is nervous because he was hiding something or just because of the situation.
The smell of human blood suddenly fills the air. The river behind them is running red with blood. Someone must've fallen or thrown themselves from the waterfall, putting an end to their lives, and now the body is floating in the river, making David lose control.
Jasper can feel the thirst taking over David's body and making him go crazy. He runs towards the smell, and Jasper blocks his way, trying to hold him down, but he throws him out of the way. Seth jumps in, ready to attack him, but Carlisle stops them.
—Seth, wait! Carlisle pushes David against a tree, holding him by the neck. —David, David, look at me! The vampire can't take his eyes away from the direction of the river.
—David, the reason. What's the reason? David looks at Carlisle, calming down a bit. —There is nothing for you there. You said you wanted to redeem yourself. Now is the time.
Carlisle's words are enough to remind David why he's doing this. He finally calms down, and Carlisle lets him go. The vampire walks away inside the forest, and Seth jumps forward, ready to follow him, but Carlisle wants to give him some space.
—Wait. Let's just look from afar. He's going to be ok.
David roams around the forest, stumbling around in his shame. He felt like an animal the moment the smell hit his nose. He was ready to kill anyone in his way to get to it.
He stops by a huge pine tree and sits down next to the flowers under it. —I'm trying, my friend. I'm trying. He whispers to himself and his dead friend.