Chapter Three - Vision
"How is that possible?"
I was curious and confused, but this world I lived in, nothing was impossible.
"I've had slight visions, but they're not very clear."
"Of me?"
She nodded her head.
"It doesn't mean anything, Ephraim."
"I didn't say it did. It's just, why me?"
"I have visions of different people."
Either she didn't want me to read too much into it, or there really was nothing to her visions.
"What happened tonight? If you don't mind me asking?"
She bit down on her lips and looked down to the floor. She inhaled a single breath and locked her round eyes with mine. Releasing her breath, she politely answered me.
"I'm sorry, Ephraim. I don't know you well enough to share with you about what happened."
She was right. We barely knew each other, and I was asking her to open up about something personal.
She saw the look of shame on my face and changed the subject.
"Ephraim. What exactly are you? I can smell all your different stenches, but I can't quite grasp your true nature."
"Technically, I'm more human. I have the wolf gene from my dad and the vampire from my mom. My body, I guess you can say that, hasn't really decided what it wants to be. Who knows, I could remain more human forever."
"So then you'll age and grow old and die."
"I guess I never thought of it that way." I never did. I don't know why I assumed I would live forever. It was a little disheartening.
"It's a blessing, Ephraim. To have a fulfilling life, get married, raise a family and grow old with your wife. Versus me. We're vampires. We're cursed to live in damnation for the rest of our lives."
"So what's your story? Who turned you?"
She finally smiled, and I don't know why it felt good to see her in this light. She had such a serene way with her words. Even her motions were fluid like when she walked around the room. But her hair. It looked like a waterfall cascading down over her shoulders each time she would brush it behind her ears.
"I wasn't turned. I was born into a vampire family. My mom doesn't talk about it much. It pains her so when she speaks about it. Evidently, I'm one of two babies in this world to be born directly from vampires."
For some reason, when she mentioned it, my thoughts flashed images in front of me. I wasn't able to control it. I saw a woman with white powdery skin and dark hair with black eyes, and then she held onto a baby. Moments later, I see Aunt Rosalie with Preston. It was all blank after that. My body froze for a second, and I almost lost my balance.
"Ephraim? Are you okay?"
She stood in front of me as I leaned down on her for balance. I lost my strength for a minute. I shook my head several times and pinched right between my eyes.
"I'm sorry, Ashling. I don't know what just happened. I saw images of a woman and her child, then Aunt Rosalie with Preston." I took in a deep breath and didn't know what to make of it. "Wait. It's you and Preston. The woman in my vision with a baby. It was you and the other child was Preston. You two are the only babies born from vampires. How is that possible?"
"I don't have that answer, Ephraim. There are still several answers that I'm trying to seek, but it's been a long night. I think your humanly body needs to rest."
I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to talk with her some more, but then my eyelids were getting heavy. It had been an eventful day for me. I decided I did need to turn down for the evening. She wasn't going anywhere, I think, so we would talk some more tomorrow.
"Good night, Ashling."
"Good night, Ephraim."
I watched as she closed the door behind me. I stood there staring at the door. My feet felt heavy and wasn't ready to leave. She finally spoke through the door.
"Ephraim. I know you're still standing there."
Embarassed, I left to my room, closed the door and dropped my body onto the bed. I stared at the ceiling. I tried hard to bring back those flashes of images I saw. What was that? I knew as a kid that I was able to control some images, but it died down as I got older. Carlisle said it was the human side that was taking over my body, so I was losing whatever gift I had as a baby. I kept thinking of what I need to do, but suddenly, I dozed off and went into a deep slumber.
My face felt warm, almost burning actually. I tried moving my body so I could deviate away from the heat. I felt immobile. Then a sensation of ice touched the fire on my face. I became calm and collect, my breathing came to a slow pace.
My eyes turned towards the icy touch. I saw two of the deepest black eyes. Then the silk stream of hair brushed over my face. I blinked again and it was Ashling sitting by me with her hands on my face.
I got up quickly and sat up.
"What are you doing?"
She released a smile and those damn dimples hypnotized me.
"I didn't mean to scare you. Your phone has been buzzing all morning. You never picked it up, so I came to check up on you. But you were in a deep sleep. Sorry, I've never been this close to watching anyone sleep before." She paused for a moment. "I think it's beautiful how peaceful you looked."
She was weird, I had come to that conclusion. Yet. I was drawn to that weirdness.
"How long have you been here?"
"Oh. Not long."
The ringing of my phone startled me. I looked over to the nightstand and picked up my phone. It was Michael. Shit. I forgot to call my parents last night too.
"Michael."
"Ephraim. Where the hell have you been? Why aren't you answering your phone?"
"I literally just woke up, but I'm at my Gramps and Gram's cottage. What's going on?"
"The girls and a few of us are heading out to the beach to hang out and catch up. You need to be there, man. It's all really for you. At least, Emma needs you there."
His chuckle meant he was teasing, and I knew why Emma wanted me there. She wasn't ready to give up on our relationship.
"Yeah, man, I'll be there. Let me get dressed."
I looked up and saw Ashling studying the pictures in my room, but I knew she heard the whole conversation. Vampire hearing abilities.
"Hey, Michael. I'm gonna bring someone to tag along with me. If that's alright."
"Yeah. No prob but who? When did you have time to meet anyone? You literally got home last night?"
"She's family visiting from out of town. Look, I'll see you guys in a bit."
"Later."
We both hung up and I stared at her. She finally turned around. The sun rays piercing through the window illuminated her skin. It was that iridescent glow that made vampires so unique. She looked radiant. I know I've seen it before with other vampires, but hers was different. It made her look heavenly like a lost angel without wings.
"I, uh, kinda got you invited to a gathering at the beach in La Push. That's if you don't have anything planned."
She looked at me with her crooked smile. "La Push. What once was forbidden for vampires, now hosts the home of our hybrid queen."
She wanted to hesitate, I could tell she was going to say no.
"No one follows those rules anymore. It's safe. I promise. Besides, they're my family and friends."
"Alright. At least it'll give me the opportunity to leave outside these premises."
She came closer to me and I could smell that floral scent that she wears so well. I was heating up inside and tried to control it. Then I noticed her eyes were different today from last night.
"Your eyes are pitch black today."
She turned herself away from me and licked her bottom lips. She looked at me again.
"I need to feed."
I went with her into the forest. Bella and Edward had been transitioning her over to feed on animals. It was a different taste for her that she had to get accustomed to, but she managed to adjust well to it.
"Do you miss human blood?"
She wiped the remaining blood from the rabbit she hunted.
"I don't miss the suffering that the humans had to endure."
"Did you hunt humans yourself?"
"I did, but I targeted the criminals. I didn't have the heart like the others to kill just to feed. I studied mine first. Made sure they didn't have family or a better calling with their human life."
"That actually sounds stalkerish and creepy all at once." I let out a laugh because it was funny, and she didn't seem the sinister type.
"Laughing at me?"
She came forward and pushed me. I fell on my ass and had forgotten how strong vampires could be.
I couldn't stop with the laughter. I put my arms up in the air as a means to surrender. "Look, I just think you are not the menacing vampire type, so to hear your meditated plan to take out each criminal of this world, well, it's endearing."
"What? How is it endearing to end a human life? Ephraim? You have no idea how repulsive this life is for vampires?"
She was getting offensive now and I didn't know how to calm her down.
"I'm sorry, Ashling. I've never had a real conversation with a vampire outside this town, so all this is new to me. Honestly, I've only met you, and I feel some sincerity coming from you."
She let out a long sigh and backed away from me.
"I...I don't think it's a good idea to go with you to La Push, Ephraim."
How did the subject change to this?
"Why?"
"If you're so judgmental about me, how do you think your friends are going to perceive me? I'm not like you all. I'm not your kind."
"Hey, give them a chance. There's no animosity between the two anymore."
I don't know why, but I brought out my hand to her. I secretly prayed she would accept it.
She placed her cold hand in mine, and we headed back to the cottage.
The sun was beginning to set already. Michael kept texting where I was at, but we had been in the forest hunting for Ashling that we lost track of time. I texted him back.
Me: On our way
Michael: Hurry. These girls are annoying me
I let out a chuckle. One day, Michael would enjoy the annoyance of girls but not with these girls in particular.
"Here. Wear my helmet." I slipped it over her head and buckled the strap. "Ever been on a bike?"
She shook her head. "Never."
"It's easy." I sat down and patted the seat behind me. "Here. Sit."
She sat down and her cold skin rubbed against my back. It sent a shiver down my spine. A good kind of shiver.
I then grabbed both her hands and wrapped them around my waist. "Now, don't lean back. Lean against me and if you're scared, lean your head against my back. Got it?"
"Got it."
As she scooted closer to me and tightened her hold, I almost lost it. Damn. What the hell was wrong with me?
We headed off at quite the speed. I heard her screaming and laughing behind me. She was enjoying this moment and it felt nice to have someone ride with me for once. We were racing with the sunset and the view was perfect. The sun rays were gone so she no longer had to hide her skin.
I parked the bike, and turned off the engine. She didn't seem to want to let me go. "Ephraim, the view. It's indescribable. The colors bleeding into one another, I've never seen anything like this."
After a moment, she got off the bike and took off her helmet. "That was exhilarating!"
"Yeah, glad you enjoyed your first ride."
"Come on. I can see they've already started the bon fire."
I took her hand and we walked together towards the gang. The music was loud and there was some drinking going around. Michael finally saw me but his attention went directly to Ashling.
"Holy. Now I know why you were taking your time." He let out a big grin and elbowed me on the side.
"Hey now, be nice. She's new and I want everyone to welcome her." I looked at her and smiled. "Ashling, this is my annoying best friend, Michael."
"Ashling, as in you are a vision."
She giggled at his receptive response.
"Michael. It's a pleasure to meet you. You're very intuitive and intelligent, I have to say. Not many people know the derivative of my name."
I was quite jealous. Even I didn't know, and this book worm genius had to impress her with his brain.
The girls saw Ashling and I could see Emma wasn't pleased that I brought someone.
Pauline walked up to us and greeted Ashling with a warm hug and smile. "It's not everyday Ephraim brings a beautiful girl with him."
"My looks don't compare to you ladies."
Emma finally had the courage to meet Ashling. Her stern look and aggressive hand shake was evident to Ashling.
"I'm Emma. Pauline's younger sister. Where did Ephraim find you so quickly or did he have you all along and just didn't tell us?"
Ashling was baffled by the harsh tone. I rolled my eyes to Emma.
"Emma, it's not your business. She's new in town staying at my Gramps and Grams. Just wanted her to meet new friends."
Emma puckered her lips and held her head high. She knew Ashling was going to be her competition, but I didn't care. I was not going to get involved with this drama. There was no comparison necessary. Most the girls and boys who saw Ashling knew she was an exotic beauty.
I took Ashling and we walked pass Emma and headed towards the fire. "Do you want a drink?"
"Sure."
As we sat down, what felt like a rock falling onto the sand and shaking the ground, there he stood.
Ashling gasped. "Luca."
Did this guy always have to make a damn entrance?
AN: I hope you guys are enjoying these chapters. Make sure to leave a comment/review, but mostly thanks for reading! Much love 3
-kl