Chapter 2 Conviction

I leaned back against the soft snowbank, letting the dry powder reshape itself around my weight. My skin had cooled to match the air around me, and the tiny pieces of ice felt like velvet under my skin.

The sky above me was clear, brilliant with stars, glowing blue in some places, yellow in others. The stars created majestic, swirling shapes against the black backdrop of the empty universe—an awesome sight. Exquisitely beautiful. Or rather, it should have been exquisite. Would have been, if I'd been able to really see it.

It wasn't getting any better. Two days had passed, two days I'd hidden here in the empty Denali wilderness, but I was no closer to freedom than I had been since the first moment I'd caught his scent.

When I stared up at the jeweled sky, it was as if there were an obstruction between my eyes and its beauty. The obstruction was a face, just an unremarkable human face, but I couldn't quite seem to banish it from my mind.

I heard the approaching thoughts before I heard the footsteps that accompanied them. The sound of movement was only a faint whisper against the powder.

I was not surprised that Tanvir had followed me here. I knew he'd been mulling over this coming conversation for the last few days, putting it off until he was sure of exactly what he wanted to say.

He sprang into sight about sixty yards away, leaping onto the tip of an outcropping of black rock and balancing there on the balls of his bare feet.

Tanvir's skin was silver in the starlight, and his long blond curls shone pale. His amber eyes glinted as he spied me, half-buried in the snow, and his full lips stretched slowly into a smile.

Exquisite. If I'd really been able to see him. I sighed.

He hadn't dressed for human eyes; he wore only a pair of shorts. Crouching down on a promontory of stone, he touched the rock with his fingertips, and his body coiled.

Cannonball, he thought.

He launched himself into the air. His shape became a dark, twisting shadow as he spun gracefully between the stars and me. He curled himself into a ball just as he struck the piled snowbank beside me.

A blizzard of snow flew up around me. The stars went black and I was buried deep in the feathery ice crystals.

I sighed again, breathing in the ice, but didn't move to unearth myself. The blackness under the snow neither hurt nor improved the view. I still saw the same face.

"Edythe?"

Then snow was flying again as Tanvir swiftly disinterred me. He brushed the powder from my skin, not quite meeting my gaze.

"Sorry," he murmured. "It was a joke."

"I know. It was funny."

His mouth twisted down.

"Ivan and Kirill said I should leave you alone. They think I'm annoying you."

"Not at all," I assured him. "On the contrary, I'm the one who's being rude—abominably rude. I'm very sorry."

You're going home, aren't you? he thought.

"I haven't... entirely... decided that yet."

But you're not staying here. His thought was wistful now.

"No. It doesn't seem to be... helping."

His lips pushed out into a pout. "That's my fault, isn't it?"

"Of course not." He hadn't made anything easier, for certain, but the face that haunted me was the only true impediment.

Be honest.

I smiled.

I make you uncomfortable, he accused.

"No."

He raised one eyebrow, his expression so disbelieving that I had to laugh. One short laugh, followed by another sigh.

"All right," I admitted. "A little bit."

He sighed, too, and put his chin in his hands.

"You're an utterly attractive man, Tanvir. Of course, you're already well aware of that. Don't let my stubbornness undermine your confidence." I chuckled at the unlikeliness of that.

"I'm not used to rejection," he grumbled, his lower lip pushing out into an alluring pout.

"Certainly not," I agreed, trying with little success to block out his thoughts as he fleetingly sifted through memories of his thousands of successful conquests. Mostly, Taran preferred human women—they were much more populous for one thing, with the added advantage of being soft and warm. And always eager, definitely.

"Incubus," I teased, hoping to interrupt the images flickering in his head.

He grinned, flashing his teeth. "The original."

Unlike Carine, Tanvir and his brothers had discovered their consciences slowly. In the end, it was their fondness for human women that turned them against the slaughter. Now the women they loved... lived.

"When you showed up here," Tanvir said slowly, "I thought that..."

I'd known what he'd thought. And I should have guessed that he would feel that way. But I'd not been at my best for analytical thinking in that moment.

"You thought that I'd changed my mind."

"Yes." He scowled.

"I feel horrible for toying with your expectations, Taran. I didn't mean to—I wasn't thinking. It's just that I left in... quite a hurry."

"I don't suppose you'd tell me why?"

I sat up and folded my arms across my chest, my shoulders rigid. "I'd prefer not to talk about it. Please forgive my reserve."

He was quiet again, still speculating. I ignored him, trying in vain to appreciate the stars.

He gave up after a silent moment, and his thoughts pursued a new direction.

Where will you go, Edythe, if you leave? Back to Carine?

"I don't think so," I whispered.

Where would I go? I could not think of one place on the entire planet that held any interest for me. There was nothing I wanted to see or do. Because no matter where I went, I would not be going to anywhere—I would only be running from.

I hated that. When had I become such a coward?

Taran threw his arm around my shoulders. I stiffened but did not flinch from his touch. He meant it as nothing more than friendly comfort. Mostly.

"I think that you will go back," he said, his voice taking on just a hint of his long-lost Russian accent. "No matter what it is... or who it is... that haunts you. You'll face it head-on. You're the type."

His thoughts were as certain as his words. I tried to embrace the vision of myself that he saw. The one who faced things head-on. It was pleasant to think of myself that way again. I'd never doubted my courage, my ability to face difficulty, before that horrible hour in a high school Biology class such a short time ago.

I kissed his cheek, pulling back swiftly when he twisted his face toward mine. He smiled ruefully at my quickness.

"Thank you, Tanvir. I needed to hear that."

His thoughts turned petulant. "You're welcome, I guess. I wish you would be more reasonable about things, Edythe."

"I'm sorry, Tanvir. You know you're far too good for me. I just... haven't found what I'm looking for yet."

"Well, if you leave before I see you again... goodbye, Edythe."

"Goodbye, Tanvir." As I said the words, I could see it. I could see myself leaving. Being strong enough to go back to the one place I wanted to be. "Again, thank you."

He was on his feet in one nimble move, and then he was running away, ghosting across the snow so quickly that his feet had no time to sink in. He left no prints behind him. He didn't look back. My rejection bothered him more than he'd let on before, even in his thoughts. He wouldn't want to see me again before I left.

My mouth twisted downward. I didn't like hurting Tanvir, though his feelings were not deep, hardly pure, and, in any case, not something I could return. It still made me feel less than polite.

I put my chin on my knees and stared up at the stars again, though I was suddenly anxious to be on my way. I knew that Archie would see me coming home, that he would tell the others. This would make them happy—Carine and Earnest especially. But I gazed at the stars for one more moment, trying to see past the face in my head. Between me and the brilliant lights in the sky, a pair of bewildered sky-blue eyes wondered at my motives, seeming to ask what this decision would mean for him. Of course, I couldn't be sure that was really the information his curious eyes sought. Even in my imagination, I couldn't hear his thoughts. Beau Swan's eyes continued to question, and an unobstructed view of the stars continued to elude me. With a heavy sigh, I gave up and got to my feet. If I ran, I would be back to Carine's car in less than an hour.

In a hurry to see my family—and wanting very much to be the Edythe who faced things head-on—I raced across the starlit snowfield, leaving no footprints.

I got home close to four am on Thursday morning. I immediately went to find Archie. I needed advice and hopefully he would have it.

Archie was sitting on the front steps of the house.

"Took you long enough to get back." He said

"I stopped to hunt," I murmured.

I'm not entirely sure if you will be strong enough to go to school and be near him. The visions are split, sometimes you get close but you have enough control others you well. He showed me the vision.

I closed my eyes. I couldn't stand to see it.

Sorry. He put his hand on my shoulder.

I nodded and sat down next to him.

"Archie, how do I do this? I don't want to kill him, he's just an innocent kid." I whispered

Your resolve is set and as long as you keep your distance you should be fine. Now go change you, look like a mess.

I pushed his shoulder and ran up to my room.

I never imagined a day could feel so much longer than it had before. I monitored Jaxon all day. I was worried that he would have asked someone about me and told them I had acted rash to him. But to my surprise he didn't speak to anyone about it. He must not have really talked to anyone. It would be so much easier to hear his mind. I still couldn't get through to his thoughts. I skipped lunch to sit in my car. I was debating whether I should go home, but I wanted to see this through and hopefully make a better impression.

I went to the biology class and like always I was among the first in the room. I was on edge, I could see him walking to the room from the other students' minds. Everyone that saw him was amazed by him, I thought he looked irritated. I took one last breath of clean air.

Jaxon walked into our classroom. His eyes widened when he realized I was here, he had probably expected to be alone at the table today. I stopped breathing, I had enough air to talk to him but I would breathe when I was ready. He sat down at our table and took out a sketchbook without saying a word. I was a little taken back that he wasn't going to speak to me, I couldn't blame him with the last impression I left on him.

I quickly examined the sketch he was drafting. It was a technical schematic of something, it was sophisticated. It occurred to me that this guy might be more than he seems, I was only going off of what I had read in the tabloids and his interactions with other students.

I decided to properly introduce myself.

"Hello. My name is Edythe Cullen. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself the other day." I said.

He turned his head in my direction. His eyes locked on mine, they had such a heaviness and depth to them.

"Hi, it is nice to meet you, I'm Jaxon Stone." He said with a smile. His voice was smooth but had an edge.

I couldn't help but giggle, did he really think I didn't know who he was?

I smiled. "I know." I really wanted to make a better impression so I even brought out my dimples. I didn't want to scare him either. He just stared at me kinda dazed. Mrs Banner was getting ready to start the class. We were going to be doing a lab, organizing onion root in the different stages of mitosis

After Mrs Banner explained the lab I reached for the worksheet to write our names on it. I looked over at Jaxon, his expression seemed surprised. I figured this lab would be something that he wouldn't want to do, so I would take charge.

"Ladies first partner?" I asked politely.

He nodded a little fast. "Sure, go ahead." He said, sliding the dated microscope to me. I took the first slide and put it into place. I could see the actual cell without the microscope but it was just an act I had to follow.

"Prophase." I said. I wouldn't need a second observation, I had done labs like this for decades. I thought for a second, Jaxon might like to observe the specimen, but he didn't seem that interested.

I turned my head to him, his scent was scalding my throat, it was somehow tolerable. "Would you like to check it?" I asked him.

"No, I'm good." He said calmly.

I was more confident in my assumption he wouldn't want to participate. I wrote prophase on the correct line and proceeded to exchange the slides. It was anaphase, I wrote it on its correct line.

There she goes again, doing all the work and not even giving that sweet Jaxon a chance to learn.

I lifted my head up before Mrs Banner could speak.

"Miss Cullen?" Mrs Banner asked

"Yes, Mrs Banner?" I said sliding the microscope to Jaxon.

"Perhaps you should let Mr Stone have an opportunity to learn?"

"Of course Mrs Banner." I said nodding at Jaxon.

Jaxon looked at the slide for a second.

"Metaphase." He said confidently.

I was sure he guessed I wanted to check it.

"Do you mind if I check it?" I said putting my hand on his to stop him. I quickly pulled my hand back, my cold skin would startle him. "Sorry." I muttered.

He slid the microscope back to me. "No go ahead." He said.

I looked at the slide. He was right. "Metaphase" I said, writing it down.

"Like I said." I looked up at him grinning.

"Well then the last one has to be Telophase. I wrote telophase on the last line. It hadn't taken us long to complete the lab. The rest of the class was struggling with the lab. We had over an hour of class left. Jaxon went back to sketching in his book. I looked at him, I wanted to make sure I created a better impression, some small talk would do the trick.

"So how are you liking Forks?"

He turned his head. "It's been manageable, I guess." He said calmly.

I nodded. He was a city guy and being out in the middle of nowhere might not be his cup of tea.

"It must be different from where you used to live, I take it?"

"Yeah you could say that. I'm more used to the city than a small town like this."

"Well why did you move here then if it's difficult?" My voice sounded too irritated for casual conversation. I would need to watch that.

He froze for a second. "It's hard to explain."

I didn't want to be nosy but I was a nosy person by default, with my extra hearing.

"I'm sure I can keep up." I let my voice get warmer and I smiled slightly. I had long since known that I could persuade guys and some girls with my looks, but it also helped that I knew what to say and if my persuasion was working.

He sighed. "The board of directors for StoneTech informed my Father and I that I would need to complete high school before my position would be reinstated," he said.

I had not expected that. It hadn't occurred to me that his moving here wasn't something he had control over. I had seen all the news and tabloids surrounding him, they had depicted as rich playboy that party's way too much, the guy in front of me isn't him.

"So they pushed you out?"

"Yeah our hands were tied so I had to pick a school."

"What made you pick Forks of all places, I mean you are Jaxon Stone you could have gone to a private school." I asked.

He could have gone anywhere in the world to get his diploma, I wondered why he would even need it.

"My mom went here, only for a year though. I wanted to go to the same school she had. She said her time here was fun," he said with a smile.

"Does she like that you are here?" I asked.

His smile vanished and his eyes went colder and heavier than they had before.

"Sorry. Did I say something or…"

He cut me off. "No it's nothing." His face was reconstructed to have a fake smile.

"Please forgive me, I was being rude, I shouldn't have been so nosey." I said. Without being able to hear his thoughts I was being a little brash.

He smiled slightly, but it then vanished, "No, please don't feel bad, if you want to know, uhmm. My mom died a few years ago. You didn't do anything wrong, it's just I don't think about her much." He said lowly.

I hadn't thought of that. I immediately remembered the news articles almost 8 years ago,

Linda Stone was fatally shot outside a movie theater.

I froze. I remembered the article mentioned she had been with her youngest son when she was shot. That would be Jaxon. I didn't know what to say to him.

"So were you sick?" He asked. He obviously wanted to change the subject.

"Yeah I had a sore throat and my mom was being precautious. She doesn't play when it comes to colds. I said smiling at the thought of me getting sick.

"Oh, yeah your mom is a doctor." He said. He remembered this from the first day when Jeremy told him about my family.

"She's a surgeon at the county hospital." I said.

"What does your dad do?"

"He is like an interior designer and he also renovates old houses." I said.

The bell rang and Jaxon and I walked out of the classroom. I turned in our paper as I followed behind him.

I had enjoyed talking with him, he was more mature than most of the students here. Somehow us talking distracted my primal instincts and the burn in my throat wasn't that noticeable. Being his lab partner might be doable.

"It was nice working with you today." He said. He was smiling, it was warmer and looked genuine.

"Yes it was, I enjoyed our conversation as well." I said.

"It was fun. We should do it again." He said, sounding enthusiastic.

It was weird that he was wanting to spend more time with me. Was his human senses that dull that he couldn't see the difference between us? Something in me wanted to spend more time with him. It was a warm feeling.

"Well I have to get to class. I'll see you tomorrow." I said turning to leave.

I saw his eyes take the metallic form again.

"Bye." He said. It was a kinda sad sound. It stung a little. Before I rounded the corner. I looked back to him and waved two fingers. He smiled again. I walked off smiling.