Author's Note: Hey everyone!! Hope you enjoy the chapter!! Please, please, PLEASE review!! Sorry… in bit of a hurry… leaving for the lake with my friend this weekend before I'm forced back to the dungeon for sophomore year… FML. Would love some reviews to keep me from flipping out… thanks!!! =]]
Love,
Mellll!!!!
29. Hypnotized
Ronan Philip Dwyer Cullen
I stopped dead in my tracks and looked over to Carlisle, who shrugged. I took a deep breath as she watched me with uncertainty. I focused on her memories…
I screamed again, startling myself as the sudden adrenaline rush caused by the immense anger and fear made me spring off the ground and run to the kitchen. I threw the paper plates off the table with all my might, watching them slide across the floor. That wasn't enough. I needed things to shatter, just like my world. I opened the cupboard above the sink and began whipping the china across the room, hearing the porcelain collide with the wall then break into a million pieces before it hit the ground and splintered into more...
I cringed at her fresh and horrible memory, relieved yet bothered it was still there. What happened to the innocent joy of stage lights?
I cleared my throat. "Avs, of course you know me. It's Ronan," I told her slowly, careful not to confuse her any further. "You trust us."
Her eyes flashed over us quizzically again, contemplating my words. Her eyes set on Bella, who still had her shield over us as she watched Ava intently. Her eyes narrowed. "I want the truth."
"Ava," Carlisle spoke suddenly, causing Ava to go into a crouch and flash us her teeth again. I held my breath. "Avs, we're not here to hurt you. We're here to help you, because we love you."
Her face scrunched in even more confusion, almost disgust. She just shook her head, looking into Carlisle's eyes intently once again. "Tell me the truth."
He watched her, unfazed. "Ava, that is the truth. We love you and want to help you. You're just suffering amnesia, probably caused from the blow to your…"
"Not the answer I was looking for," she scolded him, glaring back at Bella. "Why isn't he listening to me?"
Bella didn't answer but continued to slightly crouch and shield us, her eyes set on Ava. When she didn't answer, Ava's eyes became even wilder, and she began to inch towards Bella slowly and menacingly.
"Answer. Me." She growled. Bella didn't flinch, still watching Ava, almost taunting her.
A high pitched snarl ripped through her throat then as she stared down Bella, shaking now with anger.
"Bella, I wouldn't…" Was all Carlisle could say before Ava lunged for Bella's throat.
Edward was the first to dive into the mud-spattering fight, trying to grab hold of the uncannily hasty Ava, but grabbing hold of her was like a human trying to grab hold of a fly whizzing by. She was almost a blur to even vampire vision.
Jasper and Emmett joined the brawl almost immediately after Edward, and they were finally able to pull the thrashing and screaming Ava out of the fight.
My eyes widened. What happened to my sweet and loving Ava? Looking at her god-like yet rabid expression, I was filled with dread. What if she never remembered me? What if she were barbaric forever?
Edward helped Bella off the ground and took held her close, but she turned around and watched Ava warily. She was probably wondering the same exact thing.
"LET GO OF ME!" She yelled, struggling in Jasper and Emmett's iron grip. She glanced over at me and I saw a light bulb light above her head. She took a deep breath and stopped struggling.
"Guys, it's just me, Ronan," She said in her alluring voice, making me question my identity. "Can you please let me go?"
She didn't even have to make eye contact with them this time. There eyes were wide as the both let go of her arms.
"Sorry, man." Emmett said, shaking his head and smirking.
Ava smiled this smiled that could make a grown man cry tears of joy as she said, "You guys have got to stop treating me like this."
The rest of my family was suddenly intrigued. I, however, was confused. We have another brother named Ronan?
"What did you guys do to him this time?" Rosalie had an amused smile playing her features.
I was about to ask about our new brother Ronan, when Bella shook her head and breathed, "Wow." She crouched slightly and closed her eyes.
I shook my head once Bella put her shield up, bringing myself out of the dream-like trance and back to reality. Did Ava just convince us she was me?
I was about to throw that question out to Bella when I smelled it.
"GRAB HER!" I bellowed, but Ava was already ripping through the forest, dodging trees and clearing obstacles with perfect agility.
"Dammit, Ava," I grumbled as we all shot through the forest after her, fearing for whoever possessed the potent scent.
"AVA!" I yelled after her, knowing it was already too late. It wasn't long after that I heard the screech of desperation and violent crunching of bones I knew all too well…
"Ronan, we have no other choice. This is dangerous." Edward tried to rationalize with me.
My throat burned with thirst; it'd been at least a week and a half since the last time I hunted, and Edward's arch-angel like speech was luring the monster from within me, taunting it to come forward and attack anything and everything within a thirty mile radius. I heaved a sigh and turned to face Edward, my mind still on finding prey.
"Look, Edward. I realize Avs poses a threat to us, I've heard it about a million times. Just leave if you feel that way, okay? Just go. I don't need these constant reminders of what an ass I am and how selfish I am for keeping you here. I love Ava, and I'm staying."
He clucked his tongue, shaking his head at me, like I was defiant child too young and naïve to make my own decisions. My chest burned with anger. "Ronan, I just think…"
"I DON'T CARE WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK, EDWARD!" I shouted at him, the burn in my throat almost unbearable now. The next well-bodied animal I smelled was sure to get his neck ripped open. "If you want to stay, stay. If you're going to be a little bitch about it, then just go. Take your precious family and just go."
He huffed, shaking his head and about to retort when I smelled it. A delicious, lavender smell that made my throat sear with the intensity of a thousand suns. Venom pooled in my mouth and I felt the monster I'd been holding back for so many years embody me, enabling me to give into my instincts completely and sprint towards the glorious smell.
"RONAN!" I heard Edward call after me, but I had no intention of stopping for anything but my prey…
A growl ripped from my chest at the memory, banishing it from my mind as I ran full speed towards Ava for the second time; ready to tackle her off of whomever she was feeding on, when I stopped dead in my tracks.
She was kneeling over the dead body of what looked like a hunter, staring at him with a horrified expression. Her hands were bloody and shaking above him, almost as if she were trying to pry herself away from him. But how the hell was she resisting with his blood exposed?
I took a slow step towards her, enchanted. "Ava?" I asked tentatively.
She kept her eyes on her victim, her bloody lips quivering.
"Ava look at me." I commanded, "You can do this. Just back away from him."
She shook her head, her mouth slightly open as she continued to stare at him, revolted. I went to take a step toward her, to pull her away from the man she had killed and, to my confusion, was now contemplating.
She let out a sob, her fingers curling and clawing her neck. A weird gurgling sound bubbled in her throat when she clamped her lips together, tightly shutting her eyes as well. I ran up behind her, pulling her away from the man she'd killed, and she didn't resist my pull.
She continued holding her breath as I watched Carlisle check his pulse and shake his head. She continued to hold her breath as Nessie carried the dead man away from her and the rest of my family solemnly followed. When she was out of plain sight, Ava caught her unneeded breath and looked at me, dumbfounded.
"I'm a monster," her eyes were wide.
I stroked her hair carefully and she allowed it. "You're not a monster, Avs. It was just an accident…"
"BUT I KILLED HIM!" She exploded, jumping out of my arms and began pacing the forest floor. "He probably had a wife, and KIDS! He probably had friends, a mother and father!"
I stood up and put my hand on her shoulder, trying to stop her but she didn't. "Ava, you're…"
"I'm SICK! What's wrong with me?" She banged her palm to her forehead, like she was trying to beat herself up. I stood with my mouth wide open. What the hell…
Crept towards her, one palm out. "Ava, you're a newborn vampire. It's expected, if not necessary."
She stopped dead in her tracks, an entirely different emotion in her eyes, like she was bi-polar. "Vampire…" She mused.
Her head snapped towards me. "Do I know you?"
I fell into her eyes. "Yes. Ronan Philip Dwyer Cullen." I held out a hand to her like I did the first time I formally introduced myself to her in the woods.
She looked down at my hand, confused, and stroked it with hers. She looked up into my eyes again, hypnotizing me. "Make me remember."
I immediately put my hand behind her ear, feeling her wet locks between my fingers and she closed her eyes and sighed, making me fall out of her trance and pull her closer, the vivid picture of Des invading my vision. I closed my eyes tight, waiting for the excruciating emotional pain to come, the regret and mourning to bring me to my knees as I leaned into Ava, but it didn't.
My eyes shot open, surprised. Where was the agony? All I felt was the euphoria of being near the one I loved, the ecstasy of Ava's skin against mine and her sweet breath on my face.
Confused, I closed my eyes and deliberately thought of pain, and in my mind came the most vivid picture of Ava, practically dead with a pool of blood around her head and Carlisle hopelessly trying to resuscitate her. I cringed and my breath caught, the thought of my Ava dead unbearable, even more than my past love.
I opened my eyes to find Ava, standing, alive, right in front of me. I was so overcome with joy that I smiled and pulled her into me again, laughing giddily. Her eyes opened, curious.
"What?" She asked.
I answered by kissing her lips forcefully, not able to control myself any longer. I wanted her, and now I could truly have her…
Her lips were hard and unsure at first, but soon they were in perfect rhythm with mine, her hand reaching behind my back and pulling me closer. Venom pooled in my mouth as I continued to kiss her, my tongue inching eagerly behind her teeth. She pulled away suddenly and looked into my eyes, unintentionally making me fall into her trance as she smiled.
"The meadow," She said, "I remember the meadow. And school. And the house… we're in Forks, you're Ronan, and I'm Ava."
I nodded, the information slowly processing as she stared into my eyes, when I finally got it. "You remember."
She looked away then, her head snapping around madly until her eyes landed on the puddle below us and she gasped. I looked down at the puddle as well where I saw my reflection and hers…
"Oh god." She choked, putting her hands to her cheeks. "Oh god!"
I put my hands on her shoulders, but she didn't look away from her reflection. "Ava…"
"Am I a…" She trailed off, staring at herself in awe.
"Yes, Avs," I informed her again. "You're a vampire."
"And I killed that man for his blood?" She screamed, repulsed.
I nodded shamefully. "I'm so sorry I let that happen, Ava. But you have a power…"
Her head snapped up, her eyes frantic. "Where's my mother? And sisters?" She gasped. "Please don't tell me the Volturi came." She put her hand to her head and began pacing again. "Oh god… how long was I out for? What am I…"
I took Ava by the wrists and stopped her before she could go on another rampage. "Ava, calm down. The Volturi haven't come yet. Doesn't mean they're not going to, but they haven't yet. Your mother and sisters are fine…"
Ava suddenly began sobbing violently, falling into my shoulder. "I was supposed to go out for ice cream with her for my birthday. I need to go back! She's probably wondering where I am…"
I rubbed her back and held her close to me. "Shh... honey its okay… they're going to be fine, I promise." I soothed her, leaving out the fact she could never see her mother and sisters again without exposing us further. I sighed at the thought, how horrible the timing was for this tragedy. Things were finally getting better when they had to turn around and get a hell of a lot worse…
I was still rubbing her back as her sobs began to stifle. She pulled away from me and took the pendant that hung around her neck and opened it, smiling sadly at the pictures it contained, shaking her head. "I can never go back, can I." It was more a statement than a question, and I nodded.
"I'm so sorry this happened. I'm so sorry I left you…"
She shrugged. "I'm sorry Max Newton's such an ass."
I let out an ironic chuckle at Ava's ADD-like newborn train of thought. "Remind me to make sure he suffers a horrible death by the Volturi."
She leaned into me again, sighing. "I think that's inevitable…"
I shook my head, thinking back to when she convinced my family and me that she was me. "I don't know your power is pretty freaking amazing."
She pulled back, looking into my eyes and I was instantly caught in them. "What's my power?"
My mouth hung open as I answered willingly, "You can hypnotize people, make then believe anything you say by looking into their eyes or acting."
She shook her head, looking at me uneasily. "Ronan, what's wrong with you?"
"You're hypnotizing me right now," I could only see the luscious red and I wanted more…
She averted her eyes, surprised, and I caught myself before I could fall forwards toward her, putting my hands to my head to try to straighten it out. Damn, that was powerful.
She raised her eyebrows, impressed with herself, and an evil grin appeared on her plump lips. Oh, crap.
Her eyes flashed to mine. "Bark like a dog."
Her eyes were so deep, I just wanted to fall into them… "Woof, woof."
She laughed. "No, not like Jacob, like a Chihuahua… that's wearing pink booties…"
They were so beautiful, so perfect in everyway… "ARF! ARF! ARF!"
"RONAN! YOU'RE BUTT'S ON FIRE!!!" She screamed.
I started jumping up and down, grabbing my backside, but kept looking into her deep eyes, in my head imagining the intense burn like a vivid dream. "AHHH!! I NEED WATER!! WATER!! MY ASS!!!!!!"
Ava closed her amazing eyes then, doubling over into the mud laughing as the rain kept pouring down on us and I was snapped out of my trance. "Dammit, Ava…" I smiled.
"Oh… my… freaking… MY ASS!!!" She quoted me between fits of laughter.
I shook my head. "You're dead now…" I pounced onto her, and she immediately counter attacked, rolling me over so I was in the mud and she was on top. She smiled, but it faltered quickly and she dismounted and backed away with a worried look.
"Crap, Ronan, I forgot…" She apologized.
I was confused. "About what?"
She looked at me like I was crazy. "Des…"
I smiled, remembering that Des even existed. "Kiss me."
She immediately started unbuttoning her purple shirt. I laughed at how weird our relationship had been progressing before.
"No, Ava," I chuckled. "Like a first date kiss."
She looked at me like I was stupid. "Uh… yeah that's what I was going for…"
I laughed again realizing she was right. "No. An innocent kiss. Nothing hot and heavy… just like a normal couple on their fist date."
She shook her head. "What? Are you out of your mind?"
I shrugged. "It'll answer your assumption."
Her eyebrows furrowed as she knelt to the ground in front of me. "Like I've said a million times, I'm not hurting you anymore, Ronan. I'm done…"
She was so close to me, and I couldn't take the anticipation any longer. I leaned into her and kissed her deeply, making her groan as she leaned into me and her fingers laced in my hair before she pulled away.
She smiled exuberantly, not making eye contact. "Okay... seriously how long was I out for?"
"That doesn't matter. I love you, Ava, and now I can truly show you how much," I answered.
She nodded, her smile turned seductive, making think about the transformed body under that drenched shirt… "Now I don't have to feel guilty about doing this…" She looked into my eyes, putting me into a trance. "Kiss me, Ronan," She whispered, and I was immediately at her lips, indulging myself in them, my fingers trailing her panty line.
Her hands didn't even attempt to leave my shirt in one piece, instead I just heard it rip off, and I laughed under her kiss. She pulled away again.
"What?" She chuckled.
"I was just thinking… is it even possible for us to stay fully clothed when we're kissing?"
She looked down at the remains of my shirt on the ground beside us and shrugged. "I mean, if that's the way you want it…"
I shook my head. "Oh, hell no."
"Well…" She looked into my eyes and I was captivated. "No more thinking. Now where were we?"
I immediately went back for her lips and I was out of her disorienting trance when she closed her eyes. As my fingers went through her soaked hair, I felt a twinge of relief. With this amount of power on our side, we may actually stand a chance.
A/N cont.: Hope you enjoyed Ronan's prospective… next chapter's back to Ava's POV!!!!! =]
