Chapter Twenty-Six: Fire in My Blood - Angela

"Eyes blue and hollow. As it rains against their will. Feathers falling out of the pillow.
As if time is standing still. I can't remember much more. But I know it happened quiet. So Quiet."
- Aurora (It Happened Quiet)

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Frozen rain fell from the dark clouds that spread all the way to the horizon. From across a frozen expanse of field a monster was staring at me. His blood red eyes seemed to be peering into me, searching so deeply that it felt like he was god passing judgement over my soul. Except no creature with eyes that cold and unfeeling could be holy. The face encircling those hateful eyes was vicious, devoid of the compassion I would ever attribute to god.

I searched my surroundings, suddenly unsure of where I was. But the dark unknown woods skirting the field were as much of a comfort as the demon standing before me. I wasn't safe, and no one was coming to save me. As I stood shivering in the rain and cold, deep shadows began to grow from the blacked spaces between the trees. They felt like wrathful ghosts come to claim the tatters of my terrified soul, ferrying me to whatever hell they came from.

I hesitated to look at him again, but the shades standing sentry just across the tree line waiting for my death were even more difficult to behold. Yet when I did look back towards my pursuer I had to stifle a gasp. Where he stepped, the snow melted and the brown earth began to char in an ever-expanding circle at his feet. How unnatural was he to be such a blight? The fact that this monster had a name was irrelevant, his intentions were plain. His goal was to take me body and soul. How could I defend against something so distinctly inhuman?

He didn't even look like a monster. Stringy blonde hair pulled into a simple ponytail. A mostly handsome face that could've haunted my dreams in another way had he been something else. His dirty clothes were threadbare and he was barefoot. Not that his ordinary appearance changed anything; he was going to kill me.

"Help me!" I screamed in desperation.

Then I noticed that my would-be family was surrounding me, yet even their presence couldn't break his grip on my soul, that within that demonic stare, I felt naked and alone. I looked to Bella to reassure me but found her absorbed by Edward. His golden eyes glowing and bewitching her. She had abandoned me to mortality and death, as she ventured into the realms of immortality and blood.

I looked back at my adversary, meeting his eyes with a second wind of determination. Only to be startled when I found a beautiful set of mismatched irises. Mason had taken James's place; yet instead of his cool demeanor and open smile, I was met with a malignant grin and sadistic glint in his eyes.

Now it was Mason that wanted to consume me, to swallow me whole, soul and all. I shuddered, because I knew if he asked, I would let him, not that there was anything I could do to stop him from just taking me. Somewhere I could feel the fight within me, but it flickered like a candle sitting in a thunderstorm. Trying to force the struggle to reach my legs, I found myself running, but towards him like a lamb running into the maw of a lion.

Then our lips met, and a coldness descended over my flesh. From lips to toes, I was changed in an instant. At that moment I realized I had become a monster like him. His hand traced the lines of my face down my neck and onto my shoulder. Then he turned me around slowly.

When my back was to him, he pressed his solid chest against me. Then he whispered into my ear, "You must feed my love." I gasped to see my human family standing there. My father clutching his bible, and my mother holding on to the twins with all her strength. I wanted to scream at them to run, but when I opened my mouth to speak, I felt saliva pooling in my throat, my hunger overtaking my reason. Then their smell hit me, and my body came alive with sensation. Mason released his grip on my shoulder, and I didn't hesitate. With a speed I could only imagine, I ran towards them with murder in my heart.

I almost screamed when I awoke. I sat up and went into my bathroom. The ceiling light was harsh, so I turned it off and used my Snoopy nitelite as the only source of illumination. My face appeared like a shadow in the mirror, dark circles around my dark eyes made me look ghostly. My skin was pale, and my hair was stringy. I wasn't handling this very well, and my appearance really nailed it home.

Then my mind flashed to those red eyes again. The eyes of the monster who wanted to drink me like a beer at a baseball game. I was nothing to him, not even worthy sport. I was an object, a plaything for immortals. I felt the wind leave my lungs and I had to grip the edge of the sink for support. I sat down heavily onto the toilet and started to cry. I was a prisoner now, trapped in my home like Rapunzel in her tower. Except my prince was just like the demon who threatened to steal my life, only he wanted me for his own, to make me his immortal bride. Or did he? I still didn't know what Mason's motivations were, or if the spark I felt for him was mutually shared.

With a deep breath I got up and opened the door back into my room only to find a figure standing in the corner. At first, I thought it was Mason waiting for me, I felt butterflies in my stomach hoping I could spend more time with him.

"That was…" I started. Then I turned on the light. The butterflies in my stomach quickly turned into snakes, as my stomach clenched. The person lurking in the shadows of my room wasn't friendly. I knew that it was pointless to fight, run, or scream because that would put my parents and brothers in danger.

"James. I'll go without a fight if you leave my family alone." I said plainly. He examined me for a long moment, and then nodded once.

"Fine, take my hand. I promise I won't harm them." He said with a small frown. I nodded with a terrified quiver. But I couldn't see another alternative. I stared at his extended hand for what felt like hours, before reaching out and taking it. I hadn't quite realized how badly I was scared, until I saw my hand trembling uncontrollably. His next action was so swift, that I only partially saw it coming. I couldn't process it fast enough for me to react. In fact, I was unconscious before the knowledge that his hand was moving towards my head finally registered.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

"When should we pass judgement? Is it even our place to hold ourselves higher than our fellow man? I ask you what you feel when you hear about someone gunning down innocents? Is it anger, righteous indignation? Or sorrow for those lost to such mindless violence?" My father's voice filled the room, and everyone nodded in solemn silence. I sat next to mom, with baby Isaac in my lap, barely paying attention while I tried to get him to keep quiet. It had been a while since I could listen to my father without thinking about my questions regarding my faith. I had never questioned it, always believed it to be true.

My father continued after a brief pause. "Is it too much to ask that we should no longer have to make these choices? That we are no longer called to violence against one another? Whatever darkness pushes these souls to pursue such acts of hate is beyond my comprehension. In times like these, judgement seems like the right course. To isolate and imprison those that can no longer function in our society. Yet I wonder, where does that cycle of recrimination and punishment end?" He looked down at his lectern, at the notes he kept on little cards and took a deep breath. I knew what was coming next, we had gone over this speech a dozen times over the week. A response to a horrible shooting that left ten people dead on the previous Monday.

"There are no good answers. Our system is imperfect and biased. At times like these..." I shut my eyes and stopped listening, holding my little brother tight against my chest. I wanted nothing more than to escape, and not have to listen to platitudes about god anymore. I felt stuck, and my chest ached to understand why I was feeling so alienated from everything I had known.

Of course it was all wrapped in Bella's life. I had been actively worried about my friend for six months. Worried about her future, worried about her quality of life. Worse still, I had started to ignore my own well being. My grades have been falling steadily, and I would always go along with Alice's weird diversions because I needed them. Even to the detriment of my attendance record, which made me wonder if she cared about her own. Thoughts of colleges and even the one boy I used to have a crush on seemed deeply unimportant. So I sat waiting for my father to finish, rocking my little brother gently until he was snoring softly in my arms.

After the service our gathering hour was very busy. Thankfully the gathering room was large enough that nearly the entire congregation was able to mill about with space to hold small conversations among friends. I was stuck sitting at one of the few tables along the back wall, tending the boys and nursing a cup of cold coffee. A few people had stopped by to say hello, although none of my old or new friends were in attendance. Of course we were the last to leave, and I had to help with cleaning up so by noon we were just packing up to head home.

Thankfully it wasn't one of my parent's planned outings to go have fun with each other in ways I didn't want to think about, so I was allowed to hide out in my room for the afternoon. At first I just laid on my bed, trying to work through what I wanted to do with my life. It was hard, because so much of what I wanted to do was tied to Bella and what she actually could do. Then my phone rang, the caller ID flashing a candid picture I had taken of Bella in class a few months back. I reached over and picked it up, answering by the third ring.

"Hey." I knew I sounded down, but I couldn't fake it today for some reason.

"Alice and Rose are picking me up in ten minutes, can we swing by and grab you too?" The question forced me to sit up and pay attention.

"No Edward?" I asked with a bit of an edge to my voice. She had been spending a lot of time with him lately, ever since their date on Valentine's day.

"He's out with Emmett on some kind of hiking thing. I didn't ask for details, so are you coming?" She sounded a bit disappointed, and I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Edward seemed like an okay guy, but I didn't know him nearly as well as his sisters or even Emmett who had taken the time to get to know me on several occasions.

"Where to, Paris?" I said with a small chuckle.

"I wish. Just to Port Angeles for shopping." She didn't sound enthused, but at the same time she rarely got out of her house except for school or trips up to the Cullen's or my house. I thought about it for a couple of seconds, mulling over whether I just wanted to mope. Of course I relented almost immediately.

"I'll be ready." I said, forcing some life into my voice.

"Great, see you in twenty." Bella said a bit more cheerfully.

"Who's driving?" I asked with a small chuckle.

"Rose." She answered, obviously holding back some laughter.

"See you in ten." I joked, and Bella let out a short laugh before ending the call. I sat at the edge of my bed for a couple of minutes before getting up and changing clothes. I was still in my Sunday dress. I hopped in for a quick shower, forgoing my hair, and then slipped into a pair of jeans and one of my old band shirts before pulling on a long black canvas jacket in case it rained. I got downstairs just as the knock came, and my mom actually rolled her eyes when I waved goodbye.

"No later than midnight!" She shouted after me and I kind of nodded back at her, not really listening.

Alice and Rose were both waiting outside and they both gave me a hug before we moved down towards the car. Bella was in the front seat, so I ended up in the back. The Cadillac was gorgeous, and looked professionally maintained which I knew was all Rosalie. The trip was pleasant, as the breeze was almost warm and the skies were overcast but clear of rain for once. We didn't bother with lunch, instead doing a trip down the main strip which was made up of a small assortment of outlets, clothing stores, antique shops and restaurants. There was also the book store which was always on Bella's list of stops. The wide walkways were brick, and Bella's chair was making a soft thumping sound as we walked East. We had browsed four shops already when my stomach started to turn, and I could tell Bella needed a break too.

"Let's stop at Arnolds, I need lunch." I suggested, and Bella looked over with a nod.

"We both had a late breakfast, so we'll go on ahead. We'll head back in say an hour?" Alice said as expected, they rarely if ever actually ate with us.

"That works." I said as we stopped in front of the restaurant. Alice and Rose headed off and I opened the door for Bella who gave me a small knowing look as she moved past me. I found a nice table off to one side and pulled the chair away for Bella. The waitress came and got our orders, which we already knew without looking at the menus.

"I know you probably didn't want to come out today, was church okay?" Bella gave me a sympathetic half smile, but I just shrugged.

"Dad was in rare form today, but I only half listened. I'm not really feeling it lately." I was shaking my head a little as I admitted the truth out loud for really the first time.

"You know my feelings, but I hate that you're having problems." I could see the guilt in her eyes, but I could only fight against her feelings so much.

I gave her a small shrug. "I'm pretty sure it was inevitable, but I have no idea how I'm gonna tell my dad I don't want to go anymore."

Bella frowned then started to speak while shaking her head slightly. "Just like that, say, 'I don't want to go anymore'. He loves you, he'll understand." She reached over and squeezed my hand in encouragement.

"Will he? I've been in that church every Sunday for my entire life." I was asking honestly, because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to deal with my loss of faith.

Bella thought about it for a few seconds and tilted her head slightly to the right along with a small nod. "He might be a bit hurt initially, but your father is a sweetie, he'll support you no matter what." I couldn't help but smile, it was pretty much exactly what I needed to hear. Yet I had to change the subject.

"Speaking of doting fathers, how's Charlie doing lately?" She looked down at my question and sighed.

"He's smoking, but he thinks he's keeping a wrap on it. He's gained ten pounds, and is delegating almost all the field work to his officers. So not great, but I don't really know what I can do to help him." She sounded a bit conflicted, a mix of disappointment and guilt with just a touch of helpless sadness.

"I wish I knew." I said feeling somewhat helpless as well, her home situation was not the best and it had almost nothing to do with how much effort Charlie put in. He was simply overwhelmed, and Renee barely lifted a finger to help.

Neither of us knew how to continue, so we waited in silence until our food arrived. When we were done Alice and Rose were still not back, so we ventured out into the early evening crowd. It was growing dark, and the street lamps were still not lit as we headed further down the strip hoping to find Alice and Rose. We walked for almost ten minutes before realizing we shouldn't have left the restaurant. We hit the end of the lines of stores and were about to double back when I noticed a couple of guys watching us from across the street. I casually put my hand on her shoulder and she looked up at me.

"Two men across the street are watching us, we should get back." I helped her turn around and she pushed her chair as fast as it would go as we started walking quickly back towards the strip and the heavier crowds. I glanced back twice, the first time I noticed them crossing the street. The second time they weren't there at all.

I started to relax a bit, when I felt a hand clasp on my shoulder pulling me into his grasp as another snaked around my waist and the one on my shoulder covered my mouth. I got a yelp out which caused Bella to look over.

"Angela!" She practically screamed as he began to drag me into a closed shop I hadn't noticed had a broken front door. Bella pulled out some pepper spray aiming at his partner who was trying to grab her too. She got him square in the face, and he went down right away. That was the last I could see as I was pulled into the vacant shop. The white metal shelves were thick with a layer of dust.

I was struggling, but he was so much stronger than me and I felt utterly helpless. I knew what was about to happen, and I began to shiver in terror. In the distance I could still hear Bella cursing at the other guy, who was now screaming in pain. She was also shouting out my name again and again.

"That bitch is gonna pay for what she did to my friend, after I'm done with you." His voice was hoarse and as he spoke he tossed me to the ground hard, my right arm exploding with pain. I tried to move away from him but he reached down and grabbed hold of my ankles and began pulling me towards him. I thrashed with my hands and tried to kick but he knelt on top of my thighs, causing a pain so intense that I thought I was about to black out.

"Bad move motherfucker." The voice was familiar, but held no emotion save for rage, as some kicked against his left side causing him to grunt and fall over clutching his stomach in pain. I could swear I heard bones snapping, but I couldn't be sure. Above me was Rosalie, nostrils flared and eyes wide with a rage I had never seen in her before. She quickly glanced at me and held out a hand, which I took without hesitation and she pulled me to my feet. My legs felt like jelly, and my head was spinning. She looked at me fully then, conflict in her eyes and with a quivering breath she wet her lips before speaking. "Should I kill him?"

I could feel my mind reeling over the question, I couldn't imagine condemning a man to death no matter what he had done. Yet I felt myself wanting to answer yes. I wanted him to die so that no other woman could become his victim. I wrapped my hands around my chest and began to sob uncontrollably, before shaking my head.

"No." Was all I could say. Rose nodded and pulled me close to her before helping me out of the building. There she moved over to a payphone and called in the attack anonymously. On the drive back everyone was quiet. Rose let Alice drive and sat next to me, holding my head in her lap the entire way, stroking my hair. I had never realized what it felt to owe someone my life, but we never spoke about it afterwards.

Saturday, September 17, 2005

When I awoke, I was cold and sore, and my head throbbed at my left temple. The left side of my shirt from the collar down my left breast to the hem of my pants was hard and sticky. The world was a little blurry, but more than that, it was stark. The sky was overcast, but it was still bright and the thick snowflakes falling gave the world a surreal atmosphere. It felt like I was still in that strange nightmare, but the wet grass was soaking into my pajamas and the cold was making me shiver. That's when the truth of my situation crashed through my senses.

I was in a field, surrounded by trees just like in my dream. The pain in my right shoulder was the next thing to filter through. I looked up and found myself dangling sloppily from one of James's hands, like I was a hunting trophy he wanted to show off but didn't actually care about. I looked back and found that my legs had made drag marks in the rain drenched ground next to his footsteps, but only for a few meters. He must've carried me most of the way in his arms.

I reached up with my free hand and checked my temple. It was sore, and the skin was sensitive, like I had a bad cut or scrape, and when I brought my fingers back down, they were covered in blood. I wanted to tell him to let me go, that I wouldn't run. But I was afraid he would hurt me again, and I wanted to be awake for what was about to happen. They had brought me here for a purpose, and I could only imagine it would involve my death.

Off to one side I saw Victoria, pacing. They both seemed impatient, which made me think that one of the Cullen's was going to be here, or hopefully all of them. As long as it wasn't Mason risking his life for mine, I could slip into death without complaint. He was so much more than me, I couldn't cope with the idea of them killing him.

But after a few minutes my worst fears were realized as he appeared across the field from us. I knew he was strong; I knew he could possibly best one of them. I had no such illusions that he could match them both at the same time. The silence continued for several seconds before I couldn't stand it anymore.

I made quick eye contact with the man who was as much a stranger as he was someone I wanted to be with, the ancient man whose loneliness touched my soul. Through chattering teeth and quivering lips, I managed to silently form the words, "Don't. I'm not worth it."

His eyes flared, and his careful control and calm exterior suddenly changed. His eyes turned golden and burned in intensity matched by the fire that erupted and wrapped around his hands. The flames seemed to be writhing snakes that were so blinding bright white that they made my eyes hurt. Out of the corner of my eyes, I could James and Victoria brace themselves for his advance.

What followed was incredibly hard to watch. James let me go, forgotten, as he launched himself at Mason. The two clashed, moving around each other so quickly that they appeared to blur. Occasionally a still image appeared briefly showing them trading blows, before almost vanishing and then appearing a few feet away locked in a different grapple. Victoria stayed back, enjoying the show and grinning viciously. They fought for a long time, going back and forth, and whenever Mason had the upper hand, Victoria made a move which gave James an edge again. I was terrified as they fought, knowing that our lives could both end in seconds.

Then suddenly James threw himself back, clutching a dark circle on his chest burned through his thin shirt. Victoria pushed in, but Mason anticipated her and in the next instant she was thrown back towards the forest edge. Mason used the distraction, as James tracked Victoria's path through the air, and practically flew towards James in one smooth movement, silent but with fury etched into his features. Before I could see what was happening James was on the ground screaming in agony.

The small hole in his chest had widened, now smoldering, it was hard to wrap my head around what I was looking at. The image was made even more difficult to process when his charred skin began to crack and fall away, revealing part of his ribcage coated in a slick sticky silver. Then Mason straightened up and squared off his shoulders. He gave me a quick glance, and then glared at Victoria who stopped in mid-motion.

Then in an even greater moment of absolute insanity, the flames shifted from his hands, forming into a crude sword which he brandished at her. I wasn't exactly sure it was real at first, but from my new position on the ground a dozen feet away I could see Victoria cower. Her internal conflict was clear and intense, but short lived and after a few seconds she was gone.

Mason turned his attention towards James, the sword tip placed closely under his chin. I was awash in a strange mix of feelings, and I couldn't stop my heart from beating so fast that I thought it was about to beat out of my chest. A part of me was petrified, another part was in a state of shock and awe. He had lost his perfect composure because I told him I wasn't worth it. I could see what Mason wanted to do, the pure hate in his eyes was undeniable. I wanted to plead with him not to kill James, but I also knew he would continue to be a threat. Mason shook his head and glanced at me as a warm smile flashed across his lips before he turned and looked coldly down on James.

"I know not how you have lived your life, but your actions have proven that you enjoy selfish pleasures and petty games. You have hunted others of our kind and humans for sport and show no regard for humanity. Your actions have painted you as a vile reprehensible creature, and you crossed me in a manner I cannot forgive." It was a judgment, and as Mason paused I realized James had one chance to argue his case.

"Hunting a human is what we do. She's worthless, nothing more than food. If you really wanted her, why didn't you change her?" James said through gritted teeth, the pain clearly written on his face.

"She is the one thing in this world I cannot live without. I have not changed her because she is not ready to end her mortal life, and I have the patience and time to wait for the day when she is ready to accept this life, but if she doesn't I will not allow you to end her life on a whim. Can you understand that respect? Morality?" James just glared at him with no hint of understanding or remorse.

Mason shook his head. Then looked towards me. "I don't want to put this on you, I can make this choice for you. I can hold on to that pain."

"Kill him." I said, feeling my heart pounding in my chest even harder than before. Mason met my eyes for a protracted second. In his gaze I could see no anger or disappointment, but as he looked away he gave me just a small nod of acknowledgement, before he turned back towards James.

"Do you have any final words?" Mason's voice took on a darkness, and I could see a slight tremble in his hand.

"Fuck you." James spit out in response.

"Classy to the last James." Then in a flash Mason cut across his neck with the sword made of fire, severing his head. His remains quickly caught fire, and a purple smoke began to swirl up into the sky.

~ End of Part One ~

Author's Note:

After editing this, I have also updated the prologue to match. I do quite a bit of research into settings, often using real locations when I can. The trip to Port Angeles, while physically accurate, has a bit of fiction rolled into it. Arnolds is not a restaurant that I could find, however this is to avoid any issues using the name of an actual business.

Part Two can be found on my profile or under story 14022488/1/The-Crash-Part-Two-Crash-Into-Me