Pandora
Chapter VII:
After the Rain
Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020
I've decided to put original version of Pandora (chapter 1-18) on Dropbox (as PDF). Dropbox has two options you can choose from: with reviews replies or without.
Dropbox links are in my TUMBLR ACCOUNT: sunset-wishes-upon-hill
Thank you to those who have read, reviewed and favourited my story:
Dancing Star 890- Haha, yes! I'm glad you enjoyed them anyway!
DianneBaquiran- You'll see more of Demetri – a slightly different version of Demetri than the original but don't worry, you'll like it.
Guest#1- I totally agree! This time, I intend to finish it ASAP! Sorry for the delay, I'm really not good with time management or being happy with the story as it is.
ChewingGum98- Since I'm concentrating on Pandora at the moment, I'm writing the next chapter as soon as I finish current chapters. I can't give you the exact time line because I wouldn't want to say one week and actually it takes 2-3 weeks and disappoint you. But I'll try to at least update 2 chapters each month or so.
HadeCharon93- Thank you, your comment mean so much to me. Very big part of why I keep on writing because there's people that wants more of it :)
Lilly1315- Sorry for not updating soon, but here it is!
Jabulile- Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Aro was aware for some time now of Alec's excursion to the outside, although he vaguely knew what it is that called to him. It would have meant that he had found some sort of amusement there, something – an exception – better than those that grounded him in the castle.
No words were needed between the two closely bonded brothers; Marcus was already offering his hand. A mere touch, a whisper of skin and their entire lives – their stories, the heartbreaks, the pain, the suffering, the joy, the anger, their illicit and immoral thoughts and actions jolted through his eyes.
There.
Aro stopped; there was something that had not been there before. Every relationship were presented to him as ribbons unseen by others, tangled and labyrinthine, unfurling and diffusing out like an endless intricate thread of spider webs. It was continuously weaving, stretching and disintegrating; strengthened or weakened, and forever changing in intensity. The colour of those threads was important. Black suggested animosity, while yellow signified friendship, green symbolized familial relations, and red indicated a romantic interest. The darker the colour, the more profound the relation between the individual and its sharer.
A pale red thread, almost pinkish hue, stood out from the few little threads Alec possessed. Immediately, his eyes slightly narrowed. He preferred that they kept any indiscretions light and trivial for he was acquainted with the expensive price one must pay for such attachments. And such payments were not to be regarded lightly. For some, it was their will to live. For others, their minds.
As a leader, he was not so totalitarian that he forbade his guards from indulging in a bit of gratification. However, it was only that. Just a distraction from the frozen time.
The pink thread strained under Chelsea's ruinous power. Her effort was powerful, tenacious. It pulled, twisted, jerked and wrestled against its hold with formidable force. To try cut, thin, sever, all in attempt to weaken and disintegrate the existing bond. Some bonds were more persistent than others. Some were more fragile. Others were unpredictable. No bonds were same.
Its pink thread, wrapped around Alec was simple, dainty looking but simple had always been the most complex and difficult. It hummed and vibrated with quiet intensity against Chelsea's fingers, however it was more strained, lighter and weaker than it was before.
For now, Aro was willing to accept this outcome.
"Brother," He turned toward Caius, "Why don't you let Alec accompany you at your next outing?"
Caius regarded his brother for a moment then nodded in understanding, "I'd be pleased."
Jessica noticed something odd in the past week or so. Alec seemed to have gone away to god knows where, seeing he didn't seem to answer to her calling his name few times.
She closed the text box on her phone screen having confirmed her living to Bella like she does every day, then usual news for the day which wasn't always the most exciting or scandalous. Forks has always been a boring little town anyway. Dull and colourless, she couldn't wait until she was independent enough to escape that place; the world seemed so much larger and unexplored and so little time for her to be wasting away dreaming about an adventure.
Alone, her mind crept to the old lady who seemed aware of the lurking supernatural beings in her town. Jessica only realized how rude it must have looked to just burst out of the place like a woman who had seen ghost. She should pay her another visit soon. Tie the loose ends.
Jessica hadn't told Bella about this but for the past few days, she felt being watched. It was a fleeting hunch; slight strand of hair on the back of her neck, subtle shiver humming down her spine and moment of instinctual awareness. Something most right off the top of their heads.
And she would have been one of them were she in Forks. Minds tend to become more sensitive to any notes of changes in a foreign, unknown place while it adopt. Thankfully, for her it took a while to become desensitized and discovery of vampires only prolonged the process.
Was it Alec? She wondered at first, but could not understand why he'd be lurking in the shadow without making himself known.
Some weird stalker? A serial killer? A kidnapper? Or just my imagination?
Gulping, she closed her eyes for a minute and opened them, "Come out. Now, whoever you are."
Thirty seconds passed.
A minute.
Then rustle. There! Coming from behind the tree to her left.
When she turned, vivid red stood out from green foliage. The same colour as Alec's. But those eyes weren't his. It was drawn on a face she never seen before; a dangerously defined, sharp face different from Alec's. Whereas Alec's beauty was that of youthfulness and innocence, this man's were that of elegant maturity and virility.
And like every impious, damned creatures, they were ever so destructively heavenly.
Then she noticed the same V-shaped pendent proudly displayed upon his sternum and realized that he must be a fellow vampire in Alec's coven.
Jessica blinked.
"…Hi. I'm Jessica." She greeted calmly, "What's yours'?"
This time, she wasn't going to faint.
The taller vampire regarded her cryptically, his flat expression betraying no thoughts or clues. Did he saw a pig or something else, she wondered.
The man in front of her was youthful, with an old man's eyes. His dark hair and eyes stood out against the abnormally white complexion of one who shrieked from the sun, a tinge of mischievousness lingered upon it. One who perceived simple as well as the greatest pleasures of life.
Then a small, pleasant simper lined his face, intensifying his striking features as he strode forward to close the distance, gently taking her hand up to his lip and lightly pressed his lip upon her knuckles before she could blink.
She drew her taken hand hastily, flustered by his gallant manner.
"Demetri." He greeted.
"..Okay, Demetri, that was weird." She let out awkwardly while maintaining a comfortable distance.
"You're the human Alec has been visiting." He stated amusingly.
She studied him, his threat potential and his reason for making himself known, "..Are you here to kill me?"
He shook his head with a low chuckle, almost a choir to her ears, "No, be assured, I am here to do no harm. I was just..curious."
"Curious?" Raising a brow, she indicated him to articulate.
He stalked around her in circle, as if doing some sort 360 degree scan for something out of the ordinary. Something that gave Alec the reason to wander from the castle.
And she wondered if he found what he was looking for as he came to face her once again.
"There's nothing particular about you."
She rolled her eyes; it was something she could imagine Alec saying to her in his usual flat, condescending tone, "Thanks, and I guess being rudely stuck up is a trademark found in all vampires."
His smile expanded at her remark, "Ah." Found it. He seemed to say in realization.
"Anyway, do you know where Alec's gone at the moment?" She asked, "He's harder to keep up than the Kardashians since he doesn't have a phone."
And he did that same head tilt Alec did whenever she used too much of modern jargon he wasn't familiar with although he gave the right answer.
"He's in Mexico at the moment," He revealed, "Puebla to be exact, heading down to Oaxaca."
Although inwardly surprised by his knowledge, she didn't challenge his confident answer. She was more concerned as to why he was here.
"Good to know." She curtly said, having a feeling that she should go and backed away.
His foot stepped forward, supplanting the space where she once stood. Jessica frowned, weary, and stepped back. He walked onward.
"What?" She confronted, vampire or not.
"You're not afraid." He stated, as if he could sense it.
"If you're not gonna kill me then yeah, I don't see any reason to be afraid."
"And if I were to?"
Jessica repressed the urge to sigh. Here we go again, the typical, I-have-your-life-in-my-hands-mwahaha-motto exclusive to vampires, "So could another human being, so could a cat, so could a dedicated quokka, you aren't special."
And he dazzled. Dazzled. Actual dazzle from mere grinning. The world was so unfair. Who shines like that when grinning?! When she grinned, it seemed to warrant enough evidence for others to call the police.
Being around vampires is more lethal to my self-esteem than to my actual life. Jessica joked to herself.
"I can see why Alec kept you around."
"Thank you," Jessica retorted sardonically, "Having a good sense of humour helps!"
"What do you say," He proposed with a coy smirk, "Will you keep me company as well?"
"I think one vampire is a handful enough." She replied flatly.
"I assure you I'm more fun than Alec."
"Well, I'm the fun one here and one's enough." She ended, slipped her bag up her shoulder to leave, edging past him until his voice stopped her in track.
"He won't turn you into a vampire."
Frowning, she slowly twirled around, waiting for him to augment.
"What?"
"Don't get your hopes up; we rarely gift immortality to humans."
"Immortality? Just feed the dogs with that." Jessica shrugged with indifference.
All vampires must be so bored with all the time (technically lack of) in their hands without something fun. That was the conclusion she could base from Alec.
Now Demetri, Alec's fellow vampire colleague.
Waking up with puffy eyes and looking like you did all drugs in the world as you sipped the cheap, bitter coffee was not the most ideal day to meet a beautiful vampire. Or human for that matter. Sliding on her sunglasses and lowering her face to stare at the half-drank steaming dark liquid, she asked, "What do you want?"
"A company."
"You know, with all that immortality-is-seriously-valuable-and-the-greatest-present-anyone-could-give-vibe, I have a feeling it's more of you sign up to this free trial and forget to cancel it and money's taken from your account." She expressed wittily, "That Amazon Prime free trial account I got like a year is still haunting me. So, no, no thank you to the free trial and no you ain't having my credit card details."
"I do not quite understand…"
"Maybe you vampires should go out more."
"I do not think that is a good idea – for both our sake." He jested, returning the gesture.
"I guess." She shrugged, gulping down the remaining coffee as caffeine-propelled energy surged through her exhaustion. This would probably last her until the end of the today.
"You're not afraid of us."
"You guys live by drinking blood like how I live by eating food. Welcome to nature." She equated simply, "Although I do feel sorry for you in the winter with all that icy temperature your body's seems to be set on."
His eyes lowered in thought, a small smile formed on Demetri's full lip.
A hand shakily grabbed on to Alec's shoe, trembling voice, fear etched onto her beautiful face like the Munch's painting.
"Please..." She begged, "Please…spare us…"
"Alec." Caius called; expression cold and stern as he nonchalantly shook the dead female to the ground by her hair.
Alec turned back to the nameless female, crushing her skull with a sick crunch. The others began to prepare the fire as he joined Caius by his side. The stench of burning flesh irritated his nose, the mingling of venom fueling the flames into violent spur.
Their mission was yet to finish.
Bored. Alec felt. Something wet landed on his cheek, sliding down and for a moment, he thought it had been a tear. A thunder rumbled from short distance. Then he looked up as the droplets began to fall from the sky.
It was as dry as desert all day long, until the sunset came and the twilight thickened, and humidity began to stir and whisper in the air as droplets poked on the roof top, the earthy ground and those beneath its vast reaching sky.
"Oh, it's raining!" Jessica looked up, a large toothy grin stretched across her face.
"You like the rain?" Demetri asked curiously.
"Yeah, I love them." She answered without looking away, "There's something..cleansing about them."
"It used to be more pure." He commented while eyeing the rain and catching the acidity and impurity the petrichor was emanating, too subtle to the human senses as it dispersed into the puddle formed beneath his feet. The smell used to be crisp and fresh, now it only irritated his nose with its pungent, irritating odour. Certainly the humans did a wonderful job ruining the Mother Earth.
"We humans are kind of assholes, aren't we?" Jessica admitted with a grimace.
"Yes." He smirked, "Not many humans would admit it."
"Then you certainly haven't seen Facebook comment section whenever there's a weird 'I-lost-faith-in-humanity' kind of thread. I'm common."
"Fortunate for you, I only have you." He replied smoothly.
"Thankfully I have two vampires I know that prove vampires are egoistical, bored people."
"I won't deny that." He chuckled as he leaned against the tower rail in a casual, almost lazy move that reminded her of a large jungle cat stretching.
It was those little, inconspicuous movements that captured her attention. How can one so fluently and effortlessly move like that? How can one look so elegant even with such a gauche move? It reminded her of the movement of water. Sometimes – well all the time – she envied that seamless segue of their movements.
"Is something wrong?" He asked with half-lidded eyes.
"I wished I was that graceful, my life would be so much easier." She revealed, unfazed by his deliberate enticement, "I can be a bit uncoordinated, ungainly, heavy-handed and accident-prone but not like Bella, who could, at one moment be standing from her chair and next she trips over her own legs, cracks someone's skull, crash into a wall and slaps a child before falling over. She's like Ballerina on crack."
"I see. I'd love to see that." Demetri smiled, finding her way of description entertaining.
"Do you know when Alec gets back?"
"He's in León at the moment."
"How do you know that?"
"I can track people."
Jessica's eyes widened, mouth dropped. "What? Like without GPS? Without tracking device? Is that even possible?"
"Every people's minds have unique elements…tenor shall we say and I'm able to track them through the traces left by it."
"So like a scent dog? Animals use smells. You use minds?"
"Exactly."
"That sounds amazing." Jessica blinked, "I have so many people that owe me money from night out and the morning after they're MIA. Would love to see the look on their faces when I'm like 'ta-dah, surprise motherfuckers! Thought you could hide forever.'"
Demetri simply smiled.
They say, 'Though taken by a tiger, if one gathers his wits, he may live.'
But would wit be enough to survive among a large coven of vampires whose number one priority was secrecy of their existence?
Jessica knew something was wrong when her phone vibrated in her pocket almost frantically as if to impress upon the urgency the caller was feeling. She knew who it might be even before checking the caller ID, and then a message popped up on the screen just as the vampire tracker approached her with stealth of a leopard and intend in his eyes.
run
Instinctively, she staggered back, dropping her phone which was soon crushed beneath the tracker's shoes, silencing the frenetic ringtone, as he closed the distance between them in inhumane speed.
Just as she twirled around to make a bolt to the other way, his large gloved hand came to wrap around her neck, just below her jaw. One slight twitch and it was over, but it wasn't his intention to kill her – just a gentle, captive hold to prevent her from running. Or screaming. A slight pressure on her vocal cord, just in case she overestimated her non-existent chances.
"So, changed your mind?" She managed to say in light-hearted tone.
He smiled, finding her droll peculiar, "No. My master wishes to see you."
Jessica frowned, not liking the emotion the word 'master' provoked. "Y-your master?"
"He's excited to meet the very one that had been distracting Alec."
"..And if I don't?"
"The decision is not yours to make." He revealed to her, "However, you may choose to go peacefully or by force. The choice is yours'."
"Both don't seem appealing." She said, "Fine. I'll go peacefully."
His hold on her left her, stepping to the side and gestured his arm to the direction like a gentleman.
Her eyes stayed on him as she moved toward. She could feel his presence trailing closely behind her although she couldn't hear his footsteps.
"Any advice when I meet your master?"
"Only one thing. Give him your hand."
Jessica's face scrunched up in bewilderment, "H-hand? Are you serious? You're not saying that so that he kills me because it turned out to be some insult or something, are you?"
"No, I assure you." He grinned, showing his perfect rows of white pearls. Damn, those teeth look like they belong in Google images as a perfect example of what perfect teeth look like.
"This way." He guided her, ushering by the gentle, appropriate touch on her mid back.
She knew where he was leading her, coming to realize half way through their walk. That garden. That door.
Demetri opened the heavy wooden door, creaking open and inside she could see the flickering of dim flames although not enough to make out any specific objects.
"Ladies first." He said, waiting for her to step in.
"How about gentleman first." She returned.
"Very well." He simply said as he entered although his body was positioned in a way to make sure she was not left out of his sight, like a predator focusing all its attention on its prey.
Her hands trembled, masking it by curling her fist; she cautiously and hesitantly crossed the spectral lines to join the vampire. Almost immediately, she felt the temperature drop and were it not for the fact that vampires resided here, she would have guessed no one had inhibited this place for centuries.
She stumbled through the cold darkness, often bumping into Demetri, who was considerate enough to offer his arm for her to hold onto. Tentatively, she gripped onto the edge of his sleeve and let go when it was bright enough for her to see. The larger area they arrived looked to be some sort of reception underground; a rectangular table, a lamp, a phone, a fax/printer machine and a pretty, tanned lady dressed in a form hugging respectable length black dress and red court heel. Standing up with a very typical secretary smile although she shot a more impish expression toward Demetri with the neutral, formal greeting, "Buon Pomeriggio.".
Her jaw dropped and eyes bulged at the sight of another human, hundreds of baffled thoughts running through her head, 'Who is she?', 'What is she doing here?', 'Does she know about vampires too? What Demetri is?', 'Why is she so calm?'
Shocked and befogged, Jessica couldn't find her voice to form any sort of words. 'Help me' or 'Hello' would have been a wise choice. However, she was steered forward by a slight push on her back as he guided her through the long hallway pass the front.
Jessica kept glancing back to the woman who equally seemed curious and slightly agitated by the disturbance of the normality. Soon, the spherical design of the castle made it impossible to see the woman further and saw Demetri still in front of a tall, elegant, heavy oak Palazzo style door. The wood was polished to give its glittering finish with edges lined with white gold and intricately detailed nature carvings. Has she not have been just kidnapped by a vampire, she would have wanted to check out what was featured on it.
"Ready?" He asked her.
"No." She said.
"Good." He smiled before pushing the double door open, revealing a spacious rotunda throne room.
It was breathtakingly and dazzling. The architecture. The people. Or should she say vampires.
The floor was adorned with smooth, emerald marbles; the white Greek style columns lined along the edges and from the centre floor, one could see an arched dome shaped roof, remnant outside lights shining through an artwork. The artwork – the most famous artwork of all time: Michelangelo's ceiling of the Sistine Chapel – some of the greatest surviving artworks from the Renaissance. One would say it was the closest thing to Heaven on Earth.
However, her admiration was cut off short by the thought that she probably would end up in Heaven in a few minutes, she faced the surrounding vampires. They were all so frighteningly beautiful, but her eyes froze upon the familiar faces across her. Three sets of throne, indicating three leaders, yet only the left was occupied by an old man worn with permanent apathy. She was sure he wasn't older than late 30s yet the torpor that framed his figure made him seem more decrepit. He was a man stuck in past, lived in regret and breathed guilt, waiting for something or anything to finally give him what he had been yearning for, perhaps a very long time, the peace only death could bear.
The man standing on the centre as he glided down the marble stair to the centre pit, exuded the air of aplomb and eminence that with one short moment of introspection that he was, however official or unspoken it may be, the true leader and the decision maker. The throne on the right, however, was unseated, and she wondered of the third man's disappearance.
"This is the human that Alec had been taken with." His voice was soothing and soft-spoken, almost cooing. She could feel him studying her, even though his eyes remained on hers', "I am Aro."
Jessica cleared her throat and returned in a clear, deferential tone, "Jessica Stanley." She almost held out her hand for a shake.
His lips stretched into a small smile, appreciative of her courtesy before he stretched out his hand, "Would you do me the honour?"
She glanced toward Demetri who had excused himself to stand next to a hulking looking man, and he motioned his head as if to remind her of their recent discussion. Raising her hand, she cautiously ceded her fingertips onto his icy cold ones, vigilantly eyeing the man as his eyes faded into his mind.
"You are acquainted with the Cullens?" He asked in pleasant surprise, "And the dear Isabella Swan."
Her wide eyes collided with his, How? She thought, then glanced at their touched hand and knew it must be why he had asked for it. Can he read my mind through contact?
"You're correct." He confirmed as if he had just read her inner dialogue. "It was wise of you to be..discreet with the discovery, but it wasn't Alec's decision to make."
She clenched her eyes shut and turned her free hand into a fist, even though she knew what the man was about to say. Her lips trembled; heart slowed and felt something stuck in her chest.
"T-then…can I..my parents get closure?" She ventured, pleadingly, "I'll do anything you say." If you want, I'll kill myself to save you the trouble.
Aro searched through her eyes, listening to all her thoughts and pleas. Pity, his face seemed to say. Yet his eyes remained blithe.
Then a knock.
The two nameless guards opened the doors, revealing the human woman, a calm expression plastered and walked toward the pair with an iPad in hand.
"Dr. Carlisle is calling, master." She revealed, "He wishes to speak to you regarding Miss Stanley."
Using her palms as an easel for the tablet, she turned so that both Jessica and Aro could see Dr Carlisle's face appear. It was lined with apprehension, although a spark of happiness at the meeting of an old friend.
"Ah, Carlisle." He cheerfully greeted, his handsome face lighting up with delight.
"Long time no see Aro." Carlisle greeted back warmly.
It was almost comical to see the interaction, after all, when one was an ancient old vampire in hiding, you wouldn't really expect them to be much of an expert in modern technology. But then again, to stay hidden in a fast-paced world where there were countless privacy pitfalls; a near-endless streams of personal bits is indiscriminately posted and shared, one had to fathom and utilize effectively.
"How is Esme doing?"
"She's doing lovely." He happily said, "She sends her regards to all. I hope you have been well."
"Ah, it's been tedious, my friend, although it'd be wonderful if you make a visit once in a while."
"I apologize – my work has been keeping me at bay, however I will visit soon." He said then she could hear the difficulty in his tone at the next say, "Aro…I am aware that Miss Stanley has unfortunately become aware of our existence and that Bella had offered her to be turned as well. I ask that you extend the same patience with Bella to Jessica and give her the chance to say her final farewell." He paused, "I shall take responsibility. For both."
"Don't." Jessica spoke out and they turned to her, "You don't have to take responsibility for me. It was my fault. You don't need to do this – please."
"My, this is truly unfortunate." Aro sighed, "The law must be upheld above all. What do you think, brother?" He turned toward the man seated on the left throne.
"The law must be upheld." He echoed tiredly, and for a moment all hope seemed lost as Aro silently waited, expecting then, "However, as Carlisle is willing to take accountability…allow him."
"It's so rare to not have Caius' say in a decision," Aro remarked, "And Heidi will soon be arriving…" There was a short pause then glanced at tracker, "Demetri, please escort Miss Stanley to the spare room. She is to be treated as our esteemed guest while she is still here."
She'll still live. But it was clear; she will not leave as she pleased. And she suspected there was a lesser innocent intention behind his mercy.
"Jessica," Carlisle called, giving her a consoling smile, "Be safe. We'll come and get you soon."
"..Thank you." Jessica said, unable to find a right word, "Thank you."
"Worry not, my friend," He warmly said to the blond, gold-eyed vampire, "She will live. It was lovely to meet you, Jessica…perhaps we can resume later when it's more..timely." He nodded toward Demetri, who took the cue to lead her out of the room. There was a sense of haste in his movement, a stirring of excitement seeping through unmoving, impassive vampires – even the man on the left, were visibly galvanized. The secretary, although seemingly nonchalant, her skin was notably pale and as soon as she concluded she was not needed, she was gone.
Dread filled inside Jessica's stomach, threatening to lurch upward. She swallowed it down as she followed Demetri out but not before glancing over her shoulder toward Aro, who had a cordial smile on him.
They were half way around finishing the full circle of the passage when Jessica could hear the growing murmurs and chatters of both feminine and masculine voices.
"Stay to the side." Demetri warned and not too long after, Heidi and her eye catching red dress made their appearance. Trailing behind her was groups of maybe 20 or 30 tourists, marveling at the ancient designs of the castle.
"Hello, Jessica, it's nice to see you.." Alive, Heidi seemed to add in silent, "Demetri, will you be long?"
"Not too long." He returned, "Save some for me."
Jessica froze in her track, tasting the acidic bile at the edge of her tongue and her stomach flipped. A minute of silence, then panic screech and screams and yells, echoing throughout the hollow tunnel. Those sounds will never leave her ears. At the sound of the sadistic lullaby of shriek and cry, her visions blurred into inky blobs then complete darkness.
Edited by YanaTG and updated on 11/05/2020