CPOV
I was taking a break from practicing both songs, and David and I were having way too much fun for being in a castle. I didn't know if he was even supposed to be here, but no one came looking for him.
"I thought Jane was helping you with your...thirst," I brought up. I didn't know if he'd had any blood before he came down here.
"Eh, she's out hunting with her brother," he replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Which I wouldn't mind doing right now, but I'm good. Plus, she didn't tell me where to stay, so I thought, 'Why not use my freedom?' " He shrugged.
"You need to go back," I suggested, panic rising. "Jane could find out. Her gift still works on you, and you can smell me right now. You could attack me."
"Don't worry, dudette," he assured me. "I've got it under control. You do smell good...really. Like, I didn't even know someone could smell so good, but Jane is a good teacher. I just have to hold my breath and I'm good. See?" He demonstrated, keeping his mouth shut.
"But, you don't have a heartbeat," I said confusedly. "You don't even have to breathe."
"That may be true, but holding our breath actually sucks," he said, sounding normal. "Jane said when I'm around a human, I need to hold my breath. I can't smell anything that way. It's uncomfortable, but it helps."
"What's it like? Being a..."
"It's hard to explain, dudette," He chuckled while sighing, shaking his head. "It's like nothing I've ever experienced before. You're fast, you're strong, you're gorgeous...I've heard things and seen things I wasn't able to before. It really makes you realize how much you're missing. It's like being Superman, but you have to drink blood."
His eyes grew bitter at the mention of blood.
"Did they make you drink from a..."
He nodded, his eyes closing. His jaw clenched hard, and I couldn't imagine the remorse he felt.
"I...knew that I didn't want to, deep down, I just..." He buried his face in his hands, shaking his head. "It's just so hard when it takes over...it's not me, it's..."
"Can't they allow you to drink from animals instead? If Jane and Alec are out hunting right now, then you should be allowed to," I argued, putting my arms around his broader shoulders. I rubbed my hand in circles between his shoulder blades, trying to offer some type of comfort.
"I'm sorry," I apologized again, my heart breaking. God, this was all my fault, no matter how many times David argued.
"I don't know," he said, clearly agonized by his actions. "I haven't even asked. I just followed my instinct, and they just told me what to do..."
"Try," I urged. "That's what I'm going to do when I finally...you know. Felix told me that there's a family that feeds on animals. The Cullens."
He sighed again.
"Aro is very meticulous; he means business, Cheyenne. He says human blood makes us stronger than animal blood does. But my own blood is still in my body, so it makes me the strongest one here out of all of them. Jane said this is the hardest stage; being a newborn. It goes on for about three months, and then I'm fine. It's only been nearly a week. There's no way I would be able to resist any human when I'm out hunting."
"Yes, you can," I said strongly. "I'm going to feed on animals, whether Aro likes it or not. I'm not going to kill another human being. I can't. We have to have some type of freedom here! Why shouldn't we be allowed to choose what we feed on?"
He finally peeked at me over his shoulder, his glowing eyes doubtful.
"You were always the optimistic one," he mumbled. "We're stuck in a castle full of vampires, trapped with possibly no way out...and you still manage to find the bright side to all of this."
"I haven't been the most optimistic lately," I confessed. "I'm constantly being watched by Alec, who hates me; I haven't seen you since the day we got here, and then we were separated. There's almost no way to be optimistic about that, but...there has to be a way out. Somehow. I made a stupid mistake by putting myself out there yesterday, but maybe you were right. What if it comes full circle and helps us out?" I shrugged. In all actuality, I was still falling apart, but his own attitude about the situation helped me bounce back just a tiny bit.
He sat up straight now, smiling at me proudly. He nodded slightly.
"Yeah. Maybe. We'll see," was all he said.
"And didn't you just say you're the strongest? If we try to escape, couldn't you take them all down easily?"
He snorted, rolling his eyes, and laughed sarcastically.
"Hell yeah, I'm sure I could. I feel like I could knock down the Empire State Building with one simple push of my hand. But, they all have gifts, dudette. Jane would use hers on me if she saw us trying to get away, and her asshole brother, too. I don't even think I have one myself. I haven't seen laser beams shoot out of my eyes yet, but who knows? Could happen," he said, cracking a joke at the end.
I deflated at that concept; he was right. There would be no way for us to escape without anyone noticing, especially if I was being watched all the time, and David and I were never together. I wasn't even sure when I'd see him again.
"At least you're still you," I offered. "We can be happy about that. I guess I'll be the optimist, and you'll be the comedian. Remember the time you joined that talent show in middle school?" I giggled, remembering when David tried to put a whole comedy routine together for it.
"I can't really remember, dudette," he said ruefully, looking at nothing in particular. "My old memories are kind of...fuzzy now. It's weird. I know what you're talking about..."
I stiffened. Vampires couldn't remember human memories? Was it completely wiped away during the transformation? I decided I wasn't going to trouble him by asking what he did and didn't remember.
"It's okay," I said quietly, laying my head on his shoulder. "I'm just glad you remember me and Travis. I think that's all that matters."
"I remember you guys, of course," he said. "Just...before I became this...it's fuzzy sometimes. I remember seeing Aro's ugly ass face after I got bit by Demetri and then nothing. I couldn't see, and everything burned."
"You're not dead and that's what matters," I said quietly, hugging his arm. I rubbed it comfortingly, or at least, tried to.
"I don't have a fucking heart beat anymore," he ground out. "I'm pretty much dead."
"If you were dead, you wouldn't be talking to me right now," I reasoned. "Let's just focus on doing this, okay? Maybe once I'm a vampire too...we'll escape. We'll escape, and we'll go find Travis. We will make some plan."
I peeked up at him just as he looked at me, his marble face softening.
"How are we gonna escape?" he asked in a little voice, his eyes widening like a little kid. I didn't have a plan, but I knew I would make one after I was immortal. "Together, even?"
"I don't know," I said quietly. "We just have to take it one step at a time. Aro says I have a gift; maybe I'll use it to my advantage, and...'hypnotize' them all, or whatever it is that my voice does."
"That was really creepy," he said angrily. "Still can't believe that sick ass is making you do this! And I can't even do anything about it!"
"We are doing something about it, remember? We're just adding our own song first," I reminded him.
It was a moment before he nodded and he returned to his funny old self. Once my break was over, I practiced both songs again while he sat beside me and sang with me. It felt strange for me to sing such romantic lyrics, but I just tried to pretend that I was in my car, by myself, belting out a guilty pleasure tune.
Turn down the lights
Turn down the bed
Turn down these voices inside my head
Lay down with me
Tell me no lies
Just hold me close
Don't patronize
Don't patronize me
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel
Something it won't
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me
If you don't
I'll close my eyes,
Then I won't see
The love you don't feel
When you're holding me
Morning will come,
And I'll do what's right
Just give me till then
To give up this fight
And I will give up this fight
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
You can't make your heart feel something it won't
Here in the dark
In these final hours
I will lay down my heart
And I'll feel the power
But you won't
No, you won't
'Cause I can't make you love me if you don't
I played the moderately long outro, wondering why Aro picked a romantic song for me to play at the ball. Everyone would for sure be too distracted by my "gift" to be focusing on it, so what was this for? Alec hated my singing, but Felix and Demetri loved it. I was mostly uncomfortable with singing this because Alec hated it, but it was at Aro's request that I do this.
"Did you miss the part when Aro said you were Alec's singer?"
Felix's question rang in my head from our very first conversation and I couldn't help but think there was something more to it. My blood sang to him, but Felix left the question hanging open. There was something on the other side of that question, and I didn't know what it was. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to know.
I didn't know how much time passed before I fell asleep at the piano. Felix's training had started to take its toll on me, and I couldn't keep my eyes open. I told myself it would only be for five minutes, but my mind and body were too deep in unconsciousness to wake myself up.
APOV
Full and satisfied, I disposed of my last human before returning home with Jane. The human was in the care of Felix, while Aro spoke with me the plans for the following day. I was to take the human out, once again, to run a few errands for Heidi.
I was none too happy to be escorting the human to the ball; I was more disturbed by the pairing of my sister with the newborn. He was to escort her, and I questioned Aro's choice, which I never did. I knew that was trying to mend she and I together as mates, and try, he would. But, I would not dare tell him that he would not succeed. I would wait until his attempts failed; until that time came, I held no choice but to tolerate his antics.
I wanted to watch her sleep again, but the true side of me wanted her to have nightmares so she would scream and drown in her fears.
"This was exactly what I needed, wouldn't you agree, brother?" Jane asked, in step beside me.
"Agreed, sister," I agreed. "A dying human is the only cure for being in the presence of two pests."
She laughed, and it was something I loved to hear. Jane did not laugh on account of anyone except myself. I was the only one who could make her laugh. Aro could make her smile, but never once elicited a laugh from her.
"That human is such a disgrace," she said blandly. "She treats Aro with such disrespect. I don't know how Aro has allowed it to go on for this long. Do you think he would let me teach her a lesson, brother?"
"Jane, let us not speak of the human," I reasoned, putting my arm around her shoulders. It was beginning to be difficult to keep calling her that. I was beginning to want to call her by her name.
Well, you're not an idiot. You know her name. It's kind of common sense to use it, isn't it?
I swatted the voice away; I was not going to let it interrupt precious time with my sister.
"I fear something though, dear brother," she spoke with uncertainty, something she only saved for me. She would never dare allow anyone else see her this way: vulnerable. I looked down at my younger sister, my twin. Jane never feared anything, and this was the first time I heard her voice those words since we were human.
"What is it, Jane?" I hissed softly, lifting her chin. "What is it you are worried about? You have nothing to fear. Tell me; I can help."
She stared back at me, her expression so childlike and innocent. So fearful, that I vowed to get rid of the obstacle making her feel this way.
"I fear that I may be suffering the same fate as you do now. I fear that I have found my very own singer, but I have hid this from you for quite some time. I am sorry, brother, please do not be ups-"
If I were a human, my heart would have stopped. I briefly shut my eyes and swallowed the venom that pooled in my mouth at her sentence. Whatever human had caught the attention of my sister would not live to see their next day. Or possibly their next breath. I cut my sister off, placing my finger over her lips.
"Tell me, sister. Who is it? I could never be upset with you."
~~~~~~~S~~~~~~~
I told Jane to wait for me in my room because the human's-
Cheyenne's, the voice chided again.
Because Cheyenne's scent had invaded my nose, and I could not control the urge to see her. It was sickening; it was maddening. I made a pathetic excuse that I was to see Aro, and I assured her we would finish our conversation once I returned. All I really wanted was to see that the hu-Cheyenne was all right. I caught another scent blending with hers that was quite unfamiliar, and my instincts awakened.
I whipped down the hall, following the scents and slowed my pace when my eyes caught sight of the infamous pair themselves a handful of feet away. The newborn, David, held a sleeping Cheyenne in his arms. My instincts protested this, and I noticed the demanding urge to attack him as I raked my eyes over the sight before me. My body was poised straight as I approached him further.
He could hurt her. His hands all over her. His smell is all over her, when it should be mine. His hands do not belong there. It should be me who is-
His face contorted with a glare, and his arms protectively tightened around her as a growl came forth from his bared teeth. My arms ached to snatch her from her friend's arms, which could easily kill her with one wrong movement. I raised an eyebrow at him, refusing the thought; he must have forgotten about my gift.
"And what is a newborn doing with a human?" I inquired. Cheyenne's heartbeat was slow and gentle, informing me that she indeed was deeply asleep. Her scent, though I was well fed, always triggered the familiar blaze in my throat. "You are much too unhinged to be this close in her presence."
"She just fell asleep. And I'd never hurt her. She's like my little sister," The newborn hissed. "And I'm holding my breath, dumbass. I'm not entirely brainless." The way he spoke automatically called for punishment; it was beginning to awaken a cloud of paralyzing mist in my palms. I was very displeased.
"Your choice of words is consequential," I warned calmly, lifting my chin. "Your attitude is disgraceful as well. I believe you should choose your words carefully...David."
"I'm not the one with an attitude problem," he spat. "At least I don't lose my temper. I saw the bruises on her arms, and I swear to God, if you ever lay a single fucking finger on her again..." A growl followed after and I lifted a brow, unfazed.
"Your threats harbor no power, newborn," I said, opening my palms. "You have a choice. You hand Cheyenne over to me, and I will allow you to leave with your nerves fully intact. Or, you do not get my mercy, and I report you to Aro."
"Do not. Say. Her name," he spat again, his muscles quaking with unused energy. "I don't like you. I fucking hate you being around her, and the way you treat her. If I find one more fucking bruise on her, I will report you to Aro. He wants her unharmed, remember? I heard him this morning." He took a step toward me, and I set the mist free, fully ready to paralyze him. However, Jane's saccharine tone prevented me from proceeding.
"Brother, not tonight," she chided sweetly, touching my arm. "I will discipline the newborn. Surely pain is a better teacher than none." She spared him a glance, saving her gift until the human was safely out of the equation. I would watch his every move to ensure he did not accidentally injure her.
Safely? Ensure? Accidentally injure her? Ooooh, we're using sweet words in our vocabulary now, aren't we? She's getting to you, came the voice. I coaxed my gift away, lowering my hands as I kept my eyes on the pair.
"You will place her in bed, and wait for me in my room, David," she ordered. "I am not happy with your actions toward my brother."
His expression faltered at my sister's words, which earned a smirk from me. I watched as he placed his friend in her bed conscientiously, and it bothered me to see how much gentler he was than I. He laid her down in the most precise way, as if she were made of the most exquisite, fragile glass. He gazed upon her with a look that could only be described as...love; care; agony. It was identical to the way I gazed upon my own sister, yet something was particularly different about the way he looked at her. The flicker in his eyes held something more than the platonic feelings he professed. He moved the large comforter over her body, and watched her face gravely.
I cursed the way that I resented how he was looking at her. A possessive feeling rose within me, the exact one that took over me in town. The human did not notice, but many men laid their greedy eyes upon her, and it unsettled me.
I despised her friend even more, when he placed a fleeting kiss upon her head. His lips had brushed across my human's head, across my mate's skin.
The very skin that I wanted to touch and discover with each passing moment I spent in her presence. It was so subtle and attentive, that it angered me. He held intimate feelings for her that she did not return, and even as a newborn, he still felt the same. He was not even supposed to be outside of his kept quarters, and I wondered if Jane had known this.
Ha! You admitted it. She is your mate, the voice sang victoriously, and I closed myself off, remembering Aro's attempts that I could not allow to come to fruition. I chanted to myself that this was just a delusion from the way she made me thirst for her blood, and nothing more.
"Now, newborn," my sister snapped. "I do not have the patience for your endearments."
"Sleep tight, dudette," he whispered to her, though it was so low only an immortal was capable of hearing it. The pet name he held for her was questionable, and I was unaware of how she accepted to be called such a thing. The newborn's intelligence was as low as Felix's childish behavior, and the human openly accepted him as family. I could hardly stand to be around Felix for too long, for his childish behavior was intolerable. The human strove to be in the presence of her friend, whom she has possibly only known for a small fraction of the time that Jane and I have been immortal.
He approached my sister, holding a sad, grave look. Jane looked to me, and I nodded to her. We would finish this conversation another time. I was to watch the human while she slept, and while her friend was tortured by my loving sister. The image caused the corners of my mouth to lift, as I took the newborn's place at her bedside. I did not spare the him one more glance; my focus had involuntarily placed itself on her. The closer I got to her, the more my throat burned with the desire to taste just a drop of her blood.
My curiosity peaked as I removed the black glove from my hand, and reached toward her skin. The skin where her blood flowed and sang to me with a haunting tune, almost as if it was laughing at me. As soon as my fingertips grazed the skin of her cheekbone, the tingle was back. The burn of ice against fire melded and ignited the strange spark across each of my nerves, traveling the length of my arm, directly into the pit of my stomach. It never wavered, and it angered me for me to feel such things from a human; from my own enemy. my damn food source. My body betrayed me by reacting to every move she made, every word she spoke, and every breath she took. She was becoming an addiction that I denied to everyone, including myself. Every part of me called to her, just as her blood called to me.
And I was haunted by it.
You're falling in love; you're just denying it.
