Hewwo there, lovelies. I struggled a lot with this chapter, but I sat down and wrote the end of it.
Guiltypleasure82: buddy, just wait and see!
Saitama-sama : I kind of just made her remember because, yeah it'd be complicated to have memory loss. I just assumed that vampires kept their human memories, they were just fuzzier. So she's not meant to be special there. Thanks for commenting :3
ElekTroz: thanx for reading ;)
ForgeandGred4Ever: ahhhh well here ya go!
BrookeWorm3: whaaaaaaaaa?
StarGirl114: hehe
Guest: You are great!
musa22lbl: You are the sweetest. I literally can only read and write slow burn love stories. They just hit so much harder.
Hinanui98: all I will say is oohohohoho
mladshayasestraxx: here you are babey
MaluLupin: hell yeah, she's gorgeous.
...
Alia growled at the person who had grabbed her arm. In her panic, she hardly realised it was Rosalie. That certainly didn't stop her from swinging with her other arm, making Rosalie step back in a flash before the punch landed. Alia shrieked as someone grabbed her from behind and tried her best to kick against them. But the person who had grabbed her stayed there, despite all of her thrashing. She felt a sense of calm trying to encroach upon her, and pushed it away violently.
Alice moved in front of her and grabbed her hands. Alia was slightly surprised, through the red haze of rage, that Alice was able to keep hold of her hands with how petite she was. "It's okay Alia. Just relax."
It took several minutes before Alia stopped struggling, going limp against the person who could only be Jasper. It took a lot longer for her to be released and for them to coax her to sit down. "You broke your thumb." Carlisle said softly. "May I?"
Alia nodded, and looked to her lap as Carlisle took her hand in his. She didn't even notice the pain, even though her thumb was clearly at a wrong angle. Somehow, after punching through a wall, the only thing that was broken was the thumb she had clutched in her own fist. Emmett let out a laugh, like he'd been holding it in. "You never learned how to punch properly?"
She felt the anger return. "I've never needed to before!"
Emmett wasn't deterred, even though she flinched from her own tone as he knelt beside her. He made a fist. "Keep your thumb around your second and third knuckles, okay?"
"Okay." she said, trying it out with her other hand. It felt wrong, but at least it wouldn't break her thumb again. Not that it mattered, as Carlisle straightened it out, and it seemed to go right back to normal.
"The bodies of our kind are much different." Carlisle said at her further confusion. "You've noticed the strength, of course, but with that comes durability. Only another of our kind can truly hurt us, but we recover quickly, as you can see. Since you're a newborn, you will be particularly strong during your first year."
A newborn? She wasn't a fucking baby. Jasper reached to touch her shoulder, and she recoiled.
"She must be thirsty." Esme said softly, as Jasper drew his hand back. "She'll feel better after she hunts."
Alis took in those words with a newfound panic. Hunting? And vampires? Did that mean…? Had the Cullens been killing people this whole time? Worse than that thought, was the burning in her throat that got worse as soon as Esme mentioned thirst. Just the idea of quenching it, made her willing to anything.
"We do drink blood…" Carlisle said as Alia clutched her throat. "But our family is different from most other vampires. We've learned to subsist on animal blood."
Alia let out a miserable cry and buried her head in her hands.
"You don't have to worry." Carlisle said gently. "It is more difficult to live off of animals, and will take some getting used to, but it's certainly possible. It's like being a vegetarian."
"That's the problem!" Alia cried. "I am a vegetarian!"
There was a long pause in the air before Emmett was overcome by laughter. Alice too, was giggling. "Since when?"
"Since I started university last year." Alia said. She was dragged to one environmental protest, and couldn't even look at meat since without thinking of the cruelty with which it was prepared. It was all too easy to go vegetarian on a liberal campus. "Meat's like really bad for you, full of antibiotics and stuff."
"She's right." Rosalie said with a straight face. "Pack it up Carlisle. We may as well hunt humans now."
Emmett only laughed harder, with Alice, Jasper, and Rosalie joining in. Even Esme and Carlisle seemed to be fighting smiles. Alia couldn't help but pout. "That's not what I meant. I don't wanna hurt anyone."
"I'd hope not." Carlisle chuckled. "At least, you don't need to worry about the animals we hunt. It's all local wildlife."
Alia only frowned unhappily. That had a whole other host of problems, but she didn't want to make it seem like she was making excuses to eat people.
She luckily didn't have to think much anymore, as Jasper, Alice, and Emmett took her to go satisfy the thirst that was only getting worse.
She quickly overcame the shock of the new movement she was capable of, how the world slowed around her, it being replaced with delight at how different and strange and beautiful the world had become with her new senses. Processing all of this was going to take a while, but it felt much better to be out in the woods that were new and familiar.
As they ran through the woods, Alice at her arm, and Emmett leading the hunt (Alia still shivered at the word), the three of them explained more about vampires and hunting carefully, gauging her reaction to information. "Your eyes look a little scary now, but they'll go back to your natural colour in about a year…. Well… except under sunlight."
"Do we… will I burn under sunlight."
They laughed at that, and Alia felt that anger again, until Jasper met her eyes and she felt herself calming down. "No, silly. That's just a myth." Alice smiled brightly. "Sunlight will just make you look more… uh… vampirish, but it won't hurt you."
So that was why they lived in one of the rainiest places in the world. They explained more, about other vampires, and different sects living around the world. Alia had just learned that werewolves apparently existed too, when she caught a new scent in the air.
Alia ceased hearing except for a tantalising heartbeat and the sound of something delicious flowing. She sprinted past Alice, Jasper, and Emmett and to what was calling her, a stag, Alia realised as she snapped it in half and tore through its neck with her teeth like biting into a marshmallow. As soon as the first drop of blood reached her lips, she sobbed and drained the animal gluttonously, feeling the blood nourish her dry, parched throat. It didn't taste the best, or most filling, but she drank it all the same. When it was dry, she threw it aside and licked her fingers desperately, until Emmett held out another carcass, this one a doe, already dead. Alia took it with a growl and drained that one too. It was only after that that she looked down and saw the mess she had made of herself.
The white dress that she had been put in was torn at the bottom of the skirt and splattered with blood like she was at a crime scene. Well, she was in a way, she realised. "So much for being a vegetarian." she muttered, looking sadly at the deer bodies. She looked at the others to see they had hunted as well, but only one each. "I'm sorry." she said, ashamed, as she thought of her behavior. It felt gross, acting like a feral animal.
"Don't worry, kiddo. It takes some getting used to." Emmett beamed at her. Alia saw that all of them looked flawless and unruffled, though they had drunk blood too.
"You're a lot calmer, now at least." Jasper said. "Your emotions are going to be… intense for your first year as a newborn as you learn to control your thirst. Don't feel guilty about it. It happened to all of us."
"Okay…" Alia said quietly, trying her best to wipe her mouth of blood and dirt. "Okay."
As they ran back, with Alia feeling a lot better, they told her more about vampires. "So speed, strength, and crazy good senses?" Alia asked incredulously. "Anything else I should know about?"
She was joking and wasn't expecting the sudden silence. Her smile fell from her face as Alice looked at her. "Well, um… some of us have extra abilities. For example, I can see the future."
Alia could only listen in stunned silence as Alice explained her ability, of looking into future possibilities, all based on decisions. That was how they had sensed Alia's accident, but weren't able to prevent it altogether. "Jasper…" Alice said hesitantly. "Can sense and control people's emotions."
The three of them looked at Alia like she was going to lunge for Jasper's throat. And honestly, she felt a little bit tempted to. So that was why she had always felt comfortable around Jasper, why he made her feel calm. He was doing it on purpose and she'd never noticed. Of course she felt betrayed, but she only let out a laugh. It came out more bitter than she intended. "What can you do, Emmett?"
Emmett grinned uneasily. "Nothing actually. Perfectly normal vampire here." Alia snorted at that. "So's everyone else… except for…uh..."
Somehow Alia already knew from the way they were acting. "Edward."
As soon as she said his name, all the feelings she had been suppressing came pouring into her. Pain, love, sadness, rage. The reason for everything he did to hurt her… she understood suddenly. And it only made her angrier. "Calm down, Alia."
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Alia snapped at Jasper. "And don't manipulate my emotions! That's seriously fucked up! I— oh God, I'm sorry."
"It's alright." Jasper said, face full of nothing but understanding. "I can't help sensing emotions if they're strong, but I'll ask from now on before I influence your emotions, okay?"
"Okay." Alia swallowed. "I'm sorry." she said again.
"Don't be." Alice said, putting a hand on her arm. "It's a lot to take in and we all understand that."
"Where is Edward?" Alia asked, making them all still. "I want to see him. I have to see him. And I know he's around." If he had turned her, and brought her back, then he must have been the one holding her hand. He wouldn't have just left. "Where is he?" she asked again, a note of desperation in her voice.
Alice made a few funny facial expressions, wincing every few seconds. She turned to Jasper and Emmett. "Yeah, there's no way for this to end well. But we can't change her mind." she looked back to Alia. "Let's clean you up first. Then you can see Edward."
Alia nodded. They went back to the house, and Alice gave her a change of clothes that were Esme's, who was the closest to her size. As she showered off the blood and grime, she heard discussion around the house. "Not a good idea…" "Edward will come when he's ready…" "She's hunted, she should be fine…" "Can't avoid this forever…" "I kind of want to see her beat him up…" "Rosalie…!"
Once she was dressed, she ran to the scent that she now associated with Alice. She was waiting outside the house. "Where is he?"
Alice hesitated, and looked over her shoulder to where Carlisle stood with a worried expression. Alia was worried he'd disapprove, but he only sighed and nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
Alia ran behind Alice, realising they were following a scent. It was Edward. Of course it was Edward, she knew his scent well enough. She always thought it was some sort of cologne that lingered on the jackets she'd borrowed, or that she caught after hugging him. But it was just him. It had always been him.
She realised they were walking up a familiar path. Alice stopped just before the trail diverged. "He's up ahead. You… probably know where. I'll wait here."
Alia nodded to her thankfully before going up the mountain trail, around a bunch of trees, until she caught sight of the outcrop. Her heart ached to see the familiar sight… the skyline with its trees and mountains. She got closer and saw the tree used as a bench, moss growing along its sides. The wild roses they'd planted were overgrown, filling up all the empty space around and encroaching on the nearby trees, filling the air with sweetness.
And in front of the bench, with his back facing her, was him. "Edward." It came out breathlessly.
He turned, and Alia felt everything freeze. Had Edward always looked like this? Like the other Cullens, she was seeing him for the first time, seeing how truly flawless he was. But there was grief on his face, that fought with the beauty. He looked at her, and she saw he wasn't surprised, only saddened.
He didn't say anything so Alia approached. "Hey."
That broke through the icy wall he'd put up. "Hey?"
"What'd'you want me to say?" Alia snapped. "Long time no see? Nice running into you again? What's up?" She strode up to him so they were face to face. "How about fuck you?!"
"That's more what I was expecting." Edward said softly. His hand twitched like he wanted to reach for her, but he kept it firmly glued to his side. "Alia, I can't tell you how sorry I am. I never wanted you—"
Yeah, you never wanted me... she thought bitterly.
Edward flinched but continued. "I never wanted you to become one of us. I wanted you to have a good life, not corrupted like this."
Alia didn't understand one bit. "I'm not mad at you for turning me into a vampire, you idiot." she said at last. "It's better than being roadkill."
Something in Edward snapped at that. "And just what were you thinking, getting on that motorcycle? Did you have a death wish?"
"Oh…" Alia laughed wildly. "No… You are not blaming me for my accident."
"No… I… I'm sorry."
"Damn right you are. Anyway, you should know why I'm pissed."
Edward nodded. His gaze flickered to her eyes, before away quickly. "I lied to you. I didn't tell you about us, but selfishly insisted on being your friend anyway."
Alia felt anger course through her hands. "No, I also get why you couldn't tell me. It's a pretty big secret. Edward…" Did you even read my letter?
Edward's eyes widened. "The letter? No— I—"
And then he froze. They both froze. Alia let out a short breath and looked at him. Really looked at him. All the guilt, all the self flagellation… This wasn't just about the topic of vampires. Edward didn't flinch away from her gaze, and she could see resignation on his face.
"Edward…" Alia's voice was dangerously low. "What is your ability?"
Edward let out a bitter laugh and bowed his head, as if waiting for a guillotine to strike it off. "You already guessed it."
The next thing she knew, they were falling. Alia had pushed Edward off of the cliff, and they were falling several feet to the ground below. She registered his grunt of surprise, and then the thud as they fell. Edward had shielded her with his body, but it didn't matter much as Alia began raining her fists down on him.
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"
...
Cliffhanger? I do that a lot...
I hope my little story brings you a little joy in this mess of a world we're in.
