CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A MIXED DRINK


The next few mornings, Ariel gets used to Carlisle showing up at dawn to fawn over her before they go to work. He even joins her on her back patio while she enjoys her tea in the morning - and her wine at night. He departs all too soon for either of their liking and before she can find the words to tell him about who she is - what she is.

She wants to tell him. She wants to tell him before they can move even further, before they make plans for the far future, before Alice can make good on all the wedding dress photos that she keeps messaging. For someone's sake, she still hasn't even decided if she wants to move into the Cullen residence - officially or otherwise. She would still have to keep the house in case her family visits and she thrives on her privacy, her option for some peace and quiet.

She also doubts the Cullen residence has enough room for her plants and she is not abandoning the lives that depend on her care.

Despite the chaos that she's been thrown into, the great fear of the unknown as they try to figure out a new normal and the persistence of Alice's constant messages about what type of wedding she'd like, she decides that she wouldn't change it for anything. In fact, she rather loves it.

But this morning, Carlisle doesn't join her on the porch as the hour of dawn quickly approaches. He had come over the night before as they examined the forecast for the day - sunny. Too sunny for him or his family to enjoy. He offered to bring her with them to their second home, just for the day.

She refused; through loving eyes and passionate kisses, she told him that she wanted to enjoy the sun while it lasted in Forks. She had plants to tend to after all. With the promise that she would join him later in the day.

From Carlisle

Are you doing alright, darling?

Ariel grins softly as she types out her message, a basket in her arm and a large sunhat shadowing her face as she takes advantage of the farmer's market while they're in town. The light sundress that she adorns billows around as she walks.

To Carlisle

I am perfectly alright darling, the farmer's market is in town. The only way I could be safer - and happier - is if you were with me. I will join you in a few hours or so. Alice texted me where to go. Surely, you can survive a day?

Ariel grins wildly as she reads over Carlisle's response - long, poetic, a bit dramatic, but loving. She is still grinning when she tucks her phone away to continue on the small shopping spree. Copper and Penny - her two beautiful birds, are happily content just sitting on her shoulder as she strolls. It gains a few looks from some, but to her delight, Forks has gotten more used to her presence in town and the more warming grins she sees, the less confining the buildings around her seem.

The way that she seems to float through the aisles of vendors and fruit stands, glowing in the beaming sunlight turns more than a few heads. But she's in too good of a mood to acknowledge the fact that she is being followed; opting to ignore the figure of Father Briar that seems to always been prominent in the corner of her vision. A human doesn't pose an immediate threat, as creepy and unwanted as he may be.

And even if he did, she doesn't solve problems that way anymore. She's a nurse now; she's a better person, a better being. She made an oath to never hurt a human being, even the ones that won't seem to leave her alone.

She keeps an eye on him, but doesn't confront him straightforwardly until he makes a move. It takes time, but by the time that she reaches the fourth vendor, Father Briar steps out of the woodwork.

"Here let me pay that for you," Father Briar steps forward, a large grin on his face that doesn't meet his eyes.

The vendor smiles, a charming look in their eyes that disappears when Ariel bluntly refuses the offer and pays the vendor herself, forcing Father Briar to pocket the money that he had readily available. The rejection makes him falter briefly; she can see it in the annoyance that flickers across his eyes. She can feel her feathers ruffle just at his presence and she turns her back to him immediately.

She reigns in her energy - despite how much she wants the priest to know that she is serious, that she is dangerous and she is starting to get mad. She can't risk scaring the innocent farmers and the vendors. She is just starting to really enjoy Forks, she doesn't want the town to be scared of her; nor does she want to scare off her own birds that walk across her shoulders tentatively.

"Ah - I didn't mean any offense, sweetheart," Father Briar recovers quickly, plastering that smile back on his face as Ariel starts to wander off, turning on her heels with the packet of seeds she parched tucked neatly in her basket.

Father Briar doesn't get the hint, or rather if he does, he pointedly ignores it as he tramples after her. Ariel has her back turned to him as she walks, still ignoring his presence behind her as she reminds herself that she refuses to hurt humans anymore; though the more Father Briar pesters her, the more her patience begins to thin. Father Briar continues to talk, 'why don't you slow down, sweetheart?' 'come on, angel' - his voice blurs together and becomes background noise to her.

She makes it to the sixth vendor stop before she turns on her heels to face him; the anger is noticeable in the furrow of her brows and the disdain in her eyes. He can see the flash of a fire in her eyes just enough that he takes a careful step away from her; she relishes in the hesitation in his eyes, the questioning, the reminder.

"Excuse me, I have shopping to attend to that would go much smoother without your presence."

"You don't mean that, angel," Father Briar laughs, but the sound is hollow, "We're having a wonderful time together and I am learning so much about you."

"Describe wonderful," Ariel huffs, annoyance seeping from her words, "For it to be wonderful, I thought both parties had to enjoy themselves, of which I am definitely not. I am being nice, Father. Do not make me not be nice."

Her words are firm, a stern warning. A flash of something is in Father Briar's eyes - ambition, determination. A sign that he doesn't plan on giving up on whatever it is that he is hoping to achieve here. It makes her want to strangle him - or punch him. Just to get that snake of a smirk off his face. But she remembers Carlisle - calm, collected.

She pinches the bridge of her nose and when she glances up, she spots Charlie from behind Father Briar's figure; the priest's response blurs away as she focuses on Charlie's presence. Considering that the priest still has the smile on his face, she assumes that his reply wasn't even worth listening to. She finds a sense of relief that Charlie meets her eyes immediately, his brows furrowed in concern as he notices the annoyance and frustration in her eyes. His gaze flickers toward Father Briar, who seems oblivious to Ariel's uninterest.

He mouths something, gesturing toward Father Bria. She gives a subtle nod; a gesture that is misread by Father Briar who lights up at her 'engagement' with him. Charlie is headed directly toward them with the fierce velocity that only a sheriff can manage. She takes a deep breath and steps away from Father Briar, handing the reins over to Charlie as he steps in between them. Charlie's presence gathers a few passing glances, the locals recognizing Charlie's 'serious' aura immediately.

"Is everything alright over here?"

Charlie's eyes meet hers immediately, with a stern concern as he discretely moves his hand toward his hip. Father Briar's eyes flicker to the badge that is clipped to Charlie's belt and his reaction is immediate, his hands raising in a gesture of peace as he smiles charmingly.

"Yes, officer, I was just having a conversation with a beautiful lady, I wasn't aware that was against the law."

Charlie isn't impressed nor fooled by the charming grin Father Briar has plastered on his face, nor does he like the way Father Briar's eyes glance Ariel over. He notices the hard look in Ariel's eyes and the tenseness of her fist; if she acts on it, he wouldn't be opposed to turning a blind eye. But he takes a deep breath and looks at the priest sternly.

"I wasn't asking you, Father." He turns to Ariel, "Is everything alright over here?"

Ariel takes a deep breath and manages a soft smile at the sheriff, "It would be much better if the heat didn't bring so many pests."

Her hint doesn't go unnoticed and Charlie gives her a subtle nod. But by the time that he turns back around to face the priest, Father Briar is gone; with no sign of him in the immediate surrounding crowd, Charlie curses. Ariel relaxes the tension in her shoulders, putting a hand on Charlie's shoulder with a soft smile.

"Thanks anyway, Charlie."

Charlie's eyes still flicker through the crowd, hoping to catch a glimpse of the priest. When he doesn't, he finally releases a breath and looks toward Ariel. He gently pats the hand on his shoulder in acknowledgement, a small flush spreading across his cheeks as he mutters something incoherently. As she releases him, he digs through his pockets for his card.

"I know that you're fully capable of taking care of yourself," Charlie starts, "Carlisle is always talking about how much of a strong woman you are, but you can't be too careful. If he gives you any more problems, give me a call."

Ariel takes the card offered to her, knowing that given Father Briar is a human, if it could be solved with human means, it would save her (and by extension, the Cullens) a lot of grief. Her promise to Carlisle - to herself - to do better still rings in her mind despite the way an itch to take care of it all herself starts under her skin. She grins at Charlie thankfully, dipping her head in thanks as she tucks the card into her basket.


The sun still shines, though it is more dim by the clouds starting to form again in the Forks' sky, by the time that she gets home. Her arms full of goodies, she just has to give the door a nudge with her hip before it opens. Her birds flutter off happily into the nests that they've made in one of the potted plants. Ariel watches them fluff their feathers as they snuggle into their safe spot with warm eyes as she sets her basket on the counter. According to the clock, there is still quite a bit of time, plenty of time to take a moment to reflect before she meets Carlisle out of town.

She sinks into one of the kitchen seats, stretching out toward one of the few thin beams of sunlight that still peak through the clouds and through her kitchen window. I should have just left with Carlisle this morning, she bemoans. The sun be damned, she could have saved herself a lot of grief if she wasn't so stubborn. She closes her eyes and breathes, relishing in the warmth beating on her skin, before she finally finds the strength to move.

To Carlisle

I'll be leaving soon, won't be much longer, love. I love you, darling.

She follows it up with a series of heart emojis and kissing faces. Her heart flutters as she reminds herself that this will all soon be a distant memory; that she will be with Carlisle again soon. His presence never fails to make her feel better after a shitty day. Her skin tingles as she thinks of all the ways that they could really end the day on a better note.

She grins wolfish as she moves toward the small liquor cabinet. She sets the phone on the counter as she picks out one of the fruits she bought to snack on before she scans through the glass window of the cabinet.

She almost reaches for the unopened bottle of merlot. The wine never quite being her favorite, but still stored for that just in case moment. But her fingers drift away toward her more used bottle of chardonnay. The wine bottle stirs as she gets it out, only being half full after so many uses. But she relishes in the bit of comfort the familiar wine gives her.

She doesn't bother to pour herself a cup, the memories of Father Briar's disturbance and the growing need to see Carlisle (just for her peace of mind) stirs. She pops it open easily as she finishes off her fruit before downing the rest of the bottle with ease. Her tolerance to alcohol leaves her unafraid of flying while on the influence.

But as she sets the empty bottle down on the counter, she pauses. The bottle just doesn't look right. The counter seems to distort and get further away. Her eyes squint as something in her turns. Her breathing turns a bit more labored as the world around her starts to spin. The bottle turns blurry around the edges as she turns around her, her head spinning at the fast movement. She tries to set it on the counter again, but misses the counter.

The bottle shatters on the ground as she starts to reach for her phone, her body feeling heavy. She pauses, squinting as the world becomes harder to navigate. She reaches for the basket, digging through it for Charlie's card as much as she can, though her movement is sloppy, hard to control. She ends up tipping the basket entirely as her knees give out and she hits the floor hard.

Spots dance in her eyes as it gets harder and harder to even keep her eyes open, her eyelids becoming so heavy. Her arms struggle to hold herself up on the floor before they finally give out. She tries to fight it as much as she can as she hears the creak of her door and loud footsteps that make her ears hurt.

"When Father Kinley said that the serum would work on even the best of angels, I wasn't too convinced, but here you are."

A familiar voice rings in her ears as she strains to hear, the words slurring together as she struggles to breath. The floor spins beneath her. She can make out the blurry form of feet in front of her. A finger presses under her chin and tilts her head up, she can't fight it as she looks up at the blurry form of Father Briar; the ghost of a grin on his lips as he kneels down to look at her.

"Hey, sweetheart, time to get you out of here."