Chapter 6 PT 1
I have never felt so stuck.
This situation with Kenny's death and Ada's rampage was like a personal purgatory I could not escape. It was a downhill spiral after Kenneth's funereal with Nessie, her parents, and I attended. I gave the mother the last thing Kenny ever wrote- an extremely well versed poem- and Nessie gave her Esme's famous casserole and a long hug. No matter how many gifts she was presented with her tortured look never vanished from her face. It was frozen over like the world outside- only I was not sure she would ever unthaw. I asked Edward what she was thinking and he told me she was regretful she could not have a better mother. She had been out with friends when her son decided to sneak out to a party of his own.
At the time, I was too exhausted to try to hide my thoughts, so I let them whirl around on repeat as the ceremony continued. Edward did not say a word, but he was getting a good look into my life right then. Ada leaving Yohan again pained me. I knew Yohan would be eager for my company now that his Ada was gone on another leave. Pitifully my stone heart jumped at the thought and I quickly pushed it down. I asked Edward not to relay any information to the Cullens but Carlisle, to which his head – ever so swiftly and slightly tilted up- he was nodding. Edward was a good man, to have his ability and not purposely abuse it.
After the burial, I excused myself from the family. Honestly, although Nessie did not know him well she was extremely emphatic on the whole situation, so I used that to sneak away for a few days. Days had turn into weeks and soon Christmas day was upon me. The scars had begun to heal and I found myself acting as a consulter more than a teacher. My students trusted me and even though school was over, I would always get e-mails, text, phone calls, from students talking to me about going through the emotional loss. I did not mind. In fact it was a great distraction from the fact Yohan would not call me back. I regretted ignoring him and perhaps he was returning the favor.
However the fact, it was Christmas Eve and the stores were closed. The snow perfectly blanketed the ground and Nessie and I had just gone for a long walk around the park. The lake was frozen and a few lazy ice skaters were dancing around on the ice.
"Lucy?" Nessie asked me suddenly. "Are you ok? You seem distant." She grabs my hand and shows me looking at the ice sLucyers. There was a stressed tone to how my skin was stretched across my jawline.
"I'm fine. Its' just… It's my first time having to worry about the holidays. I have such an extended…newborn period that when I could focus on such things- it did not matter. I guess I am feeling-lonely."
Lonely? Was that the right word? I thought about Yohan and then again of Ada. What sort of relationship problem was worth taking a life of small boys so randomly? It seemed like she killed out of pleasure. Sure enough isolation crept up in my belly and it made me shiver. Was I that cold at one point? Nessie tightened her hand around mine.
"I have three families, Lucy. One of the immortal beauties of my mom and dad, where I feel loved and cherished. Then I have one with the wolves. Where I feel so safe and I feel like for once- I can be a teenager. Then the final one, with my friends from school and Gramps and Gram. The human world where I have to pretend so hard to be normal. I can't even hold the hand of the boy I like, because he'd see my thoughts. My mom's parents, well they accept me, because I am their daughter's kid- but they have no clue what I am. I see I scare them, Lucy. I scare the holy hell out of them, even if they would not admit it. But sometimes, I envy them. I think humanity would be fun. To be normal and not have to keep up a presentence. But then I think of my other two families, and I cannot bear to be without them." The whole time she is showing me images of her life. It feels sluggish and sad. It occurs to me, Nessie feels stuck too.
"My point is- I get lonely sometimes too. But I find middle ground in knowing I feel forlorn, but I actually have so many fighting for me and rooting me on. I am going to root for you too, Lucy." She smiles and I grin back. Roseblood's eyes are such a lovely shade of brown, that it is hard not believe she is not human. Her curls suddenly whip around and her scent feel my lungs, alerting me that it is time to hunt again so I won't desire to kill my best friend. I look in that direction and I notice Bella and Jacob are waiting a few feet in front of us. Bella waves to me from the front of her Mercedes and she looks absolutely ridiculous driving such a fine car. Bella was much to humble for that Cullen lifestyle, but it appears it was forced upon her. I could smell the lingering scent of dog and I concluded she must have dropped off her pets. I had never visited the La Push line. Apparently not only was I not welcome I had no desire to leave Kitsap. Nessie would always tell me if I wanted to go she could press them to let me through the treaty lines. I wondered how much power one little girl could have over a pack of feral dogs in the first place. I politely declined.
"You don't have to be afraid, you know." She giggled. "There are really only about 25 wolves in total."
My murderous glare was enough to stop that thought. One of those…beasts was too many in my opinion. It was not I was afraid. I was just…cautious. Never trust shape shifters.
"Would you like to come with us?" Nessie inquired. I could see Bella grin in agreement from her car.
I twisted my mouth up a little which made the teenager giggle. She gripped my wrist and started tugging me along towards the car. "We are going to be human today. You can meet Charlie and Sue. They are married now…or at least they will be soon. Alice has already told us."
"Sue? As in Seth and Leah's mother? Does she…."
"Nope. Sue is all human. But sweet. You think raising two warewolves would make her jittery, but she is tough. "
I got into the car in the back seat, unwilling to role in Jake's awful oder.
Bella grins at me and greets me before grabbing her daughter's hand. "Enjoy the walk?" she ask and instead of talking Nessie just relayed her thoughts. Occasionally Bella's gold eyes would flicker towards me and give me an expression I did not understand. I wonder if the Cullen's knew about the chat Carlisle and I have yet to have. What they think about me knowing a roaming vampire?
Bella's driving was thankfully a good distraction. She still drove completely defensively. Her body was rigid and from this angle she looked completely human. As If Bella's superior reaction time could mess up. I laughed a little.
"Bella, you are driving like you are expecting a car wreck."
She glances at from the rear mirror and I was semi thrown back at how striking her eyes are. I saw what Bella looked like as a human. She was rather plain and had a simple beauty. But her plain features looked extraordinary as an immortal.
"Human or not, the rules of the road apply to everyone."
Nessie is looking out the window. Her cheeks were slightly blushed. "Grandpa Charlie is a police officer, Lucy."
"No kidding. That explains quite a lot." I say with a smile. Bella snorts.
"I am teaching you how to drive, Ness. Everyone in that household drives like some sort of mad person." She pauses. "Or perhaps Charlie will. You know he used to get so excited to sit me down in the seat and use the sirens. He'd go out of his way to through around his title."
"Chief Swan." Bella and Nessie said in unison in a rough and prideful voice. I figured it was meant to mimic their target and it must have been spot on, because they started laughing. I sat quietly taking in that information. When I first arrived I had watch a Chief Swan give his opinions about the newborns on the TV. Bella was the offspring to a police officer? How did she get mixed up in the undead? What on Earth did she do to crumple such walls of known and unknown and enemy and friend.
"Bella, does your dad know what we are?" I asked with my arms crossed.
She sighs. "Charlie knows what we aren't." Bella admits after a while with a small smile. I raised an eyebrow. Charlie's vampire daughter gave birth to a half immortal; He was partnered to a mother of wolves, and all he knew was 'something screwy is going on'.
It did not sound logical.
"When the time is right, he will know…most of what happened." She admitted to me just as we pulled up the Forks inner city. Forks were such a small and grey town. Hard to imagine such epic stories happening here.
Bella was acting nervous now. She began glancing around her shoulder particularly when we passed a Forks High School.
"Old memories. I wonder if the gang is still around. It's been two years…" She trailed off while keeping her eyes straight ahead. She did not say exactly what has happened before the two year lapse and I did not pry. She stiffened up to the point on her hands moved and her eyes stopped blinking. It would be pretty scary to anyone the way vampires could turn into literal stone statues so easily. It was a gentle quiet. Every once in a while Nessie would break the break the silence to let me know about her home town. "This is the street that leads to our old house main house. Esme says she want renovate it sometime this summer. She wants me to help! I am super excited about it. And look that leads to the cottage where I grew up. Daddy says we can use it as a summer home. It is so beautiful, but I bet it is dusty now…Oh that trail. I remember that leads up the river by the main house. It has the choicest hunting! Jacob doesn't take me hunting there much now days, but I want to go."
"I can take you hunting, Ness." I offer. It wouldn't be any trouble at all.
Bella's foot crashed into the brakes suddenly making the most violent jerk. I was glad there was not a pile up! Bella looked at me completely livid and I was suddenly fearful. I let out a low confused hiss. I could see Nessie rubbing her head. "Ow! What is going on?"
As soon as she spoke Bella blinked she looked at her daughter and frowned. "Oh no I am sorry, Sweetheart. I was not being careful. Are you hurt?"
Nessie shook her head and smiled. "I am alive. Are you ok Lucy?"
"Yes." I say unaware of what I did to upset Bella that much. It suddenly occurred to me; Bella still had some newborn left in her. I was suddenly afraid for Nessie's safety. Her pet is violent wolf and her mother the temperamental new born! Edward had to do a lot to keep her safe I am sure. Whatever I did to set Bella off, but it must have been forgotten quickly. When we arrived to Charlie's she seemed to be ok again. Sure enough it was same Chief Swan I had seen on the report.
It was a little comforting knowing that ground zero of this little invasion was still bubbling with people. Charlie's eyes popped right of his head when he saw me. I figured he must be used to the beautiful features of our kind by now. His daughter, his son-in-law. Even Rosalie was in his life often enough to become ok with it. When I smiled his eyes darted to the left. "Not another one." He muttered too low for humans to hear. I laughed.
Poor guy.
It did not take much to like the chief. He was graying in areas around his ears and his mustache was peppered. But his jokes were corny and his cooking was awful and overall he was normal. Again I wondered how Bella became not so normal. When the dinner Charlie was preparing became completely burnt, Sue and Bella were quick about fixing his mistakes. Something they must have been used to doing. In the living room Charlie asked me questions.
"So who are you? Another Secret Cullen? A twice removed cousin on Alice's side?" his voice dry.
I laughed. "No. There is no family relationship. I am Nessie's teacher and seeing how I have no family of my own, she was kind enough to let me bring in the holiday here."
"You some kind of an orphan?" it was not bitter, but funny. Charlie had heard a lot of stuff apparently. I giggled again.
"No no. My parents and my family just made a move from Geneva to France. After school, I came to America to take in the culture and for the chance to work." I smiled. "It is my first time in America. I enjoy it. The people of Washington are beautiful inside and out." I say. Charlie paused and nods.
"That's pretty cool. What is your name?"
"Lucette." I say with a grin. "Now I hear you are a fisher. My grandfather owned a boat when I was little and I consider myself quite the angler myself."
For the next hour we discuss fishing and I was completely floored to know the years had not changed my knowledge on such things. Sue was nice, like Nessie stated. I felt bad for her though. It was completely clear Charlie had feelings but was too oblivious to them himself. I was glad they had each other. Two normal people in a not so normal world. I had to a little envious of them.
Part 2
Nessie let go a huge yawn. In her hands were Emmett newest game system and her knuckles looked white. Emmett's grin was slow and wicked as he used Nessie's apparent sleepiness to perform a perfect combo finishing the digital fighting game.
"No fair." Nessie says. She is grinning, but her face is drooping. Nessie had been up on her feet since earlier today when the Cullens started exchanging gifts.
And gifts were such a light term!
There were common gifts such as my books to Bella, or Jasper giving Emmett that shiny new gaming system. But then there was the idea they traded money like gift cards. Jasper and Emmett had decided to give Alice and Rose a luxury resort. He rented out an entire resort so Alice could enjoy the sun again. Alice had recently got a few new swimsuits and complained that due to be iridescent skin she really could never use it properly. I could have just mentioned they use one of the many hidden beaches in Forks, but where is the fun in that. This coming Summer Rose and Alice will be visiting the Bahamas. Alice still acted surprised. I was glad she was decent enough not to spoil the fun. I guess that is to be expecting considering the Esme, a private jet, was due to land in the Washington Airport soon.
Esme was floored and honestly excited. They could check off fly around the world off her never ending bucket list.
Rose had spent week costume making Emmett's new ride, something had a price tag of a cool half a million. But the best part was the soft gentle gifts that were exchanged without notice. I saw Edward slip Bella something that was framed. It looked some sort of book.
I watched Bella flip through pages of pictures and various sheets of music. Edward brought his hand over Bella's shoulder as they watched the pictures and music as though it was a motion picture. It was such a quiet moment in the heat of frenzy. I saw that same tenderness when Jake was addressing his group of misfits. I tried not to talk to them, but Hunter approached me. In his hand was a Fig Newton. He causally put in my hand and turned around to continue playing with Nessie and her new Ipad.
Seth, who was busy snickering at me tapped on my shoulder.
"Figs are a sign of peace in our culture. I guess this was all Billy Black had laying around."
"Peace." I repeated feeling enchanted. I looked up at Jacob and Nessie. She was grinning and her little arms were wrapped his massive neck. I furrowed my eyebrows and thanked Seth. It was such a kind gesture. Outside the window I saw Leah shift. She was in wolf form and causally listening to the party. She never learned to accept us vampires. And soulfully I never liked them either. But tonight we could at least have peace. I clutched the human food in my hand.
Nessie grinned and elbowed me. She nodded over to her parents who were now currently wrapped up under the mistole and kissing rather boldly.
"What I tell you? These two have no regards for anyone!"
I laugh. "Young love. It really takes me back."
"You were in love once?" Nessie ask she scoots closer to me and I look away from her pressing eyes.
Crap.
"Spill the beans!" Nessie says. I look up at her and as God as my witness I got lost in those chocolate eyes and sweet face. Resesme Cullen was dazzling me! I laughed and shook my head.
Is that what that is like? That's awful!
"Ok ok. In order to tell you about my love I have to tell you about my past. I have to warn you. It's not pretty, and the mutts will specially find it offensive. Jacob, of course hears this and continues to pretend he is invested in the gift Bella gave him. Seth takes a long look at Leah and then Hunter.
"That is leech business."Hunter says in his deep monotone voice. It was funny how stereotypical Indian chief this kid was.
"BUT!" Seth tries to refuse, but Tucker is already pulling him. "Thank you for the meal, Mrs. Cullen. Jake. We are going home."
"Take care."Jacob whistles. I smile at the bunch as they leave, but Hunterr does not smile back. Esme tries to get Hunter to take some food home, since it would waste anyways. Seth happily agrees, but Hunter promises they will pick up tomorrow when they will have actual hands to carry food with.
Nessie's attention is on me again and I sigh. I was aware of Alice casually folding together a flower crown and Jasper's rolling eyes as her creation was promptly placed on his head as she goes to make another one. That was a gift was Nessie and I think Alice honestly got a kick out of flower crowns. I was aware of Esme and Carlisle in the kitchen, but would be able to hear my every word and breath. I was not sure Emmett and Rose were listening for they were just as consumed as Edward and Bella were.
"I'll be honest Nessie. I did not transition too well. This is the story."
Part 3
Geneva, Switzerland, 1892
The smell was so enticingly delicious, that it was all I could focus on.
There was nothing in the world had any relevance besides that man before me. His brown petticoat was adjusted and very maliciously placed along with his cap and the pocket watch that was carefully tucked in his right pocket. His thin face had sweat rolling off from the mop of brown hair he had in thick long beads that slowly caressed the thick blue veins in his neck. The very same veins I could see contract and enlarge with the increasing beat of his heart. He spoke up and this time he asked in me something in Swedish, instead of French. Here in Geneva, it was not uncommon for people to know both since this country is on the border of the two countries. I myself came from a French family.
Memories of my past attempted to dance in my mind, but was completely drained by the sound of the man's heart. It seemed to echo throughout the bricked ally way, but I know that was just my ears. All of my senses were oddly enhanced since that day…
Again blurry images of a man dragging me down to the ground played in my mind, I smell blood, and I feel pain in every corner of my body. I see myself scream, but no one hears me. I see my body crippled in that ally way, shivering and moaning. Had I been on fire during that time? It sure felt like it!
"Är du förlorat, damen?" his voice was shaky, just like the rest of them.
He was asking me if I was lost. I removed my hood and smiled at the man. The spike in his heart rate was horrifyingly euphoric to me. I made sure the moonlight would illuminate my lightly tan skin and red eyes. I wanted him to see every perfect feature. My dress was a velvet corset that hugged my body and I hitched up my dress to sashay up to my prey. Carefully placing my feet to make sure the man saw every single movement of my body.
This was routine for me. I had spent the earlier part of the Twilight crying in the square and waiting on someone to try to play the unlucky hero. This man took the bait all too quickly and when I ran down to the alley way, he followed. Now we were secluded and alone. My smile grew larger and wicked as I reached out my hand towards the man. He was completely entranced despite his quicken pulse. His scent was heavy in the air and my throat was boiling with the desire of his blood. My lust for death was not something I had not asked for, but now that it was here empowered me. Whatever hell pit, I crawled out of; I surely was at the foot of Satan himself for my crimes.
The more I killed, the more I wanted. And the more I wanted, the more I enjoyed.
Unable to control myself any further I took the man's hand in my mine. He gasped from the cold chill of my flawless skin.
Rest in peace, troubled soul. It was my usual prayer for the lives I sacrificed for my own. In a different life, I had valued all life, or at least that's what my father taught me….
"Repose en paix." I coo in my newly formed voice.
This voice always caught me off guard the most despite my strength and speed. It was something most queer to me.
Before the man could question, my fast hands snapped his wrist with one easy jerk. His face crippled as he leaned forward allowing me to catch his head in my palms. My jerk was quick and careful; he was not struggling against me anymore. My teeth seemed to find his flesh by themselves. All that mattered was my teeth firmly placed on that blue vein in his neck that once contracted so wildly.
I disposed of the body in the same manner I did with all the other victims, in the sewers, where the musky odor of the rats could mask a human's scent. It was a dark task, but shamefully easy. I could lift many times my weight now and picking up dead weight was easy. No one taught me how to live this way, but it seemed like the right thing to do instead of living my prey in the open. No, I was much cleaner than that. I sat in the sewers on the concrete and placed my head on my knees. My hands nervously pulled at the cloth of my red hood as I sat still as stone. It was getting to be daylight up top, and I had a feeling that I could not remain an anonymous killer if my skin sparkled as brilliantly as the sun- as it did now.
How long had it been since I tasted the fresh air and felt the warmth of sunlight?
Two years maybe three?
The days seemed meaningless without blood. My mind flickered to the night of my disappearance. Where had I been again?
I had been with my…grandfather. Yes my grandfather had taken me to a play in the inner city in his horse carriage. My father ...my dearest papa had to work late and couldn't meet up with us and I got mad. So mad, but I cannot remember why exactly. I had everything if I recall correctly. Very well to do family. I had walked off from grandfather, and gotten lost. I wandered around a while in the dark, until I found him.
He was so beautiful. My head started to get fuzzy again and I cursed under my breath. My memories of my humanity were washed up and foggy now. I could only remember certain things. My father's strong face and the way he would dance with me at the balls, my Aunt Anne would hold, and the way he would always save the best cut gems my personal jewelry before selling in our family's jewelry store.
I could recall my mother's sweet round face, before she died. She was a black woman, meant to be a slave for father whenever he moved to America. We lived in Louisiana promoting the family jewel business until she passed away. I spend most of my life here in Geneva living such a happy lavish lifestyle. My father loved me very much and I was…happy and pure.
I held my hand up to the man hole above me and watch the stray sunlight mix with my skin. I used to be more tanned than this, because of my French, African American heritage. My eyes used to be hazel, before the red set in. My hair fell in thick lazy waves to the mid of my back, but now it was perfectly waves and always had a brilliant shine to it. My movements were swift and swan-like and my face although, it was pretty before with my small nose and beauty mark on my right cheek, was flawless now. I was so perfect, yet so monstrous. I had committed the ultimate crime time and time again on instinct.
What I had I become?
The sound of rushing water was the only sound besides the echoes of rats. I had once been so afraid of the vermin, but now I was much scarier than the pest. A much bigger monster, if I had to be honest. One scurried past the body and started to pick at it. It took the cookie he has stashed in his pocket and ran away.
I did not wish for him to lose anything else so I decided to check his body. I moved the crumpled mess out of the water and tried to hide anything of value from the rats, when I came on his license.
He was a teacher. He taught at the same finishing school my father had attended. He used to joke that he would bride the headmaster into accepting to accept girls, so I could also have my education there. I had longed to be a teacher my entire childhood. My father had paid a personal tutor and there was nothing I loved more than learning.
If I could still produce tears I would have. All the murders replayed in vivid definition and I could recall each human memory in a foggy, yet defined shadow. I was mad, because my grandfather was bad talking my father. My father had such a reputation for womanizing, before my birth and I was a daddy's girl. I ran away from grandfather, hurt that he could call my mother and such horrible names and bad talk my father for carrying a relationship with him. It was twenty first birthday and Grandfather had been drinking a lot. I ran away still wearing the ball gown my Grandmother had sewn for me.
That gorgeous monster in shadows bit me, like I had done to all those other men.
He left me on the cobblestone, but I wasn't dead. I was changing and it pain was ghastly.
"Forgive me!" I shouted in full angst. I gave the teacher back his card and stumbled away from him. "Oh papa! I need my papa." I had been gone for so long, how was he? He was my best friend and my everything. I looked up at the light and growled out in frustration.
"Oh, nightfall! Come quickly!" I say out loud.
Hours seemed to drag on for a lifetime, but finally the Twilight had washed over the sweet streets of Geneva. It took so much power to walk through the streets without attacking. Everyone smelled of fine wine and cheese!
I had to travel 5 miles up state to my Father's Villa. Not that the walking was tiresome, but it I was egger to get home and see my papa. Would he still love me? Of course!
When I was alone on the streets, I allowed myself to walk faster than a human, which turned into a full sprint. I had never run before, and the speed was both scary, yet exciting. I could react to every twig, pebble, and crack before it caused any trouble. I always made it my point to hold back as much as could when it came to my powers.
I was very careful to remain anonymous. It seemed the smart thing to do.
Finally, I saw the large curve of land that let me know, I was home. My papa owed a good bit of property, but he and grandfather always had such troubles. Papa and I lived out west in an apartment, but since I was seven he had started to spend more time with my grandparents. Father always said I was a blessing being able to bring out the best in people. My birth had been enough to make my father straighten out, and repair the cracks in his relationship with his parents and his sister Anne. My Grandmother who was once very harsh and malicious in her words became a gentler lady in my presence, My Auntie Anne used to call me her muse as she could only paint her masterpieces in my presence, and everyone around me was always happy. I cannot say for sure, that I was the cause of the joy, because just like I had brought out the good in people, but Grandfather thought otherwise.
He became such a drunk around me especially. Something about me made my grandfather unsteady and unable to work. He was forced to hand over his business fully to his son and that must have made him livid, because he had pushed me down the stairs once. I was not injured terribly but, it took so long for my father to forgive Grandfather. The day he allowed me to see him was on my twenty first birthday in fact. He allowed my grandfather to escort me to the ball since he could not. A mistake that cost me my life!
I touched the metal bars of the fence around the estate and considered jumping over. I could make it, but I wanted to feel the steel bars painted with gold. My hands slipped through each bar making a clicking sound as I grazed across.
Click. Click. Click. Click. Until I reached the middle of the gates and the huge family crest craved from marble was in front of me. It read:
"Fortune: famille de pierre fine"
Fortune: A family of fine Stones
I looked at the sign on the gate and there was a notice on it. I read the piece of paper at least twice and although my brain was quick at understand anything, I was confused. I heard the sound of a horse carriage approaching. And whenever the lantern of the driver spotted me he stopped. He also smelt divine, but somehow the insides of my stomach were too unease to drink.
"Excuse me, miss are you lost?" Asked the driver. He was a Frenchmen clearly considering his French was as good as mine. His breath clouded out in front of his mustached lip for a moment after each word. Had it been winter already? My body could feel no such element.
"Yes, I am looking for the Fortunes. I have an appointment." I lied easily. I doubted he would have the nerve to interrogate me.
The man's eyes narrowed, trying to see my face, but I fixed my hood making sure all her could see was the bottom of my angelic face.
"This late? Well time doesn't matter anyways. Did you read the notice; the place is up for sale. Old man Fortune had a heart attack after his son committed suicide. Henri was his name. Henri Fortune the second, committed suicide about a year ago when his daughter was kidnapped and was never found. It in the papers ms. All that money was willed to his daughter and his daughter only. His family went bankrupted. The grandparents were kicked out because they could pay rent and after the first attack the elderly woman passed on from a broken heart. I believe the sister moved away to some place far away. Seems like since the little heir was kidnapped then the family crumpled."
I didn't stay a word as my mind took in the information. The human talked incredibly slow and it mutilated his words. What was he saying?
Was I the last of my family? Just like that?
My Auntie Anne hadn't bore any kids when I last saw her. Where would she even be? Both of my grandparents lived the last of their years as poor beggars and died lonely and guilty of my death. And my father…suicide? Was I really alone?
"The deed to the house has been sold, but the fortune's wealth has been sitting in a bank. The daughter is the only one who can legally touch it. Turns out the daughter would have to show up with the pearl necklace her father gave to her. Only she would have it. Tons of ladies brought in their pearls, but none were of the quality the bank needed."
"Oh." I touched my neck slightly; thankful my cape was long enough to hide the fine set of pearls around my neck. I have never taken them off since I wore it to my birthday ball. I had forgotten it rested on my neck most times as it felt as easy as a second skin. I did not sleep now, and I had no reason to take it off. All of my family's money is mine.
All of the gems too, if I knew my father well enough.
But they were all gone. My world had vanished. What now? I contemplated taking my rage out on the passerby, but what would that solve? My belly was rich with the blood of this morning, and now it would be case of gluttony.
"That's too bad. I knew them well." My voice did not show the distress I was feeling.
"Well, Ms. I can give you a ride to wherever. Tis not safe for damsels to wonder at night. Tales of a murder who drains the blood run wild in these parts."
He says, but I wave him off. "Oh? That murder should best think twice, before mingling with me." The man laughs, before snapping his whip at the horse. I waited till the horse was gone, before dropping down to my knees.
"What now?" I ask myself. My hard skin did not give away to knives and daggers nor guns or falls. I did not have an easy way to end the pain, like my father. Oh papa! I am so sorry. I remembered my set of pearls seemed heavier and I carefully touched them.
I was already dead. Dead with no chance of stopping to exist. I was eternal. And my life, for the love of my dear papa, would not be in vain. I shall repent of sins and try to live a new. I had that man live, so I am sure with time, I would be handle to the sweet lust of blood. I could even…teach. Yes, I would have to educate myself, however. Educate myself in the ways of the occult lifestyle I am now living. And earn much more.
I could channel my blood lust into a lust for knowledge and for a lust to make my father proud. I rose in one fluid movement and decided to pay a visit to the bank. I will gather the money and flew from Geneva to a place where I could practice my humanity so I could overcome my inner beast.
It took so long not have…accidents. Especially when I went to college. Call it bad habit. Call it me being lazy, but learning was the easy part. Not wanting to kill everyone was the hard part. The summer of my first 30th birthday I had achieved a major milestone.
I had not killed and drank human blood. There were hundreds of beating…pulsing hearts around me and I resisted! I was mad at myself that it took so long. It took nearly a decade of practice just not be a murderous villain. I still wanted to drink. And honestly the urge was so strong I was weak. I pondered how any vampire could stand being around humans!
Your mother and father. That is a very rare case. I can assure you, I would have failed a relationship like theirs.
But…then again I had my own idea of what a relationship should be. As a young vampire I had no idea animal blood would even work. I thought my only chance was human blood. I did not want to kill so I did the best next thing. I broke into the Red Cross and drank the samples.
It was sad. I probably looked liked I was some of drug user! But amongst the broken tubes and IV poles, he found me.
Nessie put her hand on my chin. She was visualizing what I must have looked like. In her mind I looked like scared cat in a corner. I guess that is one way to picture it. I continued with the story.
"He was so blonde, but had these red eyes that looked like rubies. He had stubble on his chin and he was so lanky I swear he looked 7 feet tall. This was Yohan. He was my first vampire encounter. I remember feeling scared, but he laughed at me.
"Young one." I said copying his thick accent. "You are much too beautiful too trapped like some sort of game animal."
That was the start of it. Yohan taught me how to behave and the rules. He told me about the voultori and about his life. Yohan was a nomad of 150 years. Before his transformation he was a real life Robin hood. He was out of a fairytale! He told me stories of his biggest captures stealing from the rich humans and relying it to his pauper brotherhood. He was so sweet and a hero. He saved so many lives while he was human. In fact Yohan helped me understand my power. It was his training that taught me how to extend and repress my talent. You see Yohan was special too. Not by power, but by sheer wisdom.
I was so alone Nessie." I say with a coy smile. "I was a monster who did not understand her power or purpose and all I wanted was to die. There was no light in my world. But Yohan. He showed me this whole new world. And I well he always looked so happy when we were together."
"So where is he?" Nessie ask her thoughts centered on the word soul mate. I blinked hard. I cursed at myself for letting the words hurt so much still. Why was not over this love?
"He… Yohan loved another. Before he had met me, there was a young girl by the name of Ada. He created her and he was so very enchanted with her. I never saw anyone care for another as much as Yohan loved Ada. Ada is very gorgeous and mysterious in her ways. She found it- to be a second liberation to leave Yohan's side to travel on her own whenever she felt like it. Ada had a knack for disappearing. In fact she could literally vanish before your eyes. She used that power to leave without warning and whenever she pleased.
Each second Yohan spend without his precious Ada looked like it could cripple his stone body. I thought that this was my chance to show him I loved him and would never leave him and it worked. It worked until Ada came back into our lives. Sadly as quickly as Ada left she came back and no matter how bad she hurt her, he'd take her back. Yohan would take Ada over me a million times over. There was something about Ada. Something so special that no being, immortal or not, could rip from Yohan's heart. And suddenly my love and desires did not matter. I did not matter. The only thing that made sense was the one thing I wish I had to never make sense of. Yohan did not love me. He never had. He never would. Not in the way I needed him to love me. "
Nessie's smile was drooping heavily and I was suddenly aware of eyes on me. Had everyone become so entangled in my story? I could not help but think there was more to it. By chance Jacob Black caught my eye and it was neither mocking nor heated with hate.
It was the most sincere look I have gotten from another being.
"How did it end?" Esme asked. I was surprised to hear from her from the kitchen. Her voice sounded like it had tears in it.
I chuckled. "I still speak to him. We are friends. Ada on the other hand, she do not see eye to eye. She got Yohan to stop my way of live and he went back to the…old fashioned way. I got mad at her for trying to take Yohan away and I got so livid. I tried to attack her and Yohan had to break up our little cat fight."
"Sounds hot." Emmett grunted. I heard a powerful cracking sound as Rose slapped Emmett across the back of his head. I forced a smile.
"He told me to try to say and work things out, but I could not be a part of broken Coven. I left Europe and travel the Eurasian area before deciding on becoming a teacher. I was not happy in the county so I left. I ended up in Washington in a little rainy town called Kitsap. I figured I could have a decent life helping young one build lives to make up for all the lives I took. All along Yohan promised he would sent me the voiles of blood he stole and send it to me until I found a source myself. Luckily I learned how to sustain myself from a bunch of really smart vampires." I rustled Nessie's hair and she smiled.
"Thank you for being a good friend Ness. Merry Christmas."
It was well into the early hours whenever I decided to take my leave. Jacob was passed out on the floor and most of the couples had excused themselves to either their bedrooms or for a walk in the snow, or in Edward and Bella's case to hunt. Only Emmett and Rosalie lay on the couch. Rose was laying her head on Em's lap and Emmet was playing with her hair. It had been quiet for hours in the house when Nessie walked me to my car.
"Be safe." I told her.
"How can I not be in this house." She mused as the icy wind rattled her. I got into my car and started it up. I carefully pulled on my glasses. I had worn them since break started and I honestly felt a little funny.
"If Romeo had married Rosalie instead of Juliette, then neither of them would have died."
"Thanks!" I say dryly and she giggles. "You are missing the point. It is better to love and loss than to never love at all. I am saying even a love that failed could bring good things. Mom says her mom and Charile had been divorced for years. If they never broke up Renee would had never known her new husband Phil. I mean Mom would have never ended up in Forks and meet dad if that was the case." She smiles and nods.
"You are pretty smart, for a teenager."
"Well I am 14 going on 17." She said with a sigh. "See you in a few weeks."
She and the Cullens had planned an extended hunting trip soon due to Nessie's concert tickets. It was me who suggested they all leave since I brought two tickets for Nessie and someone of her choosing. It was agreed that Jacob was the only one besides her mother and father enjoyed the punk rock songs. Jacob looked really sad for a minute then sighed and rejected the chance to go. Edward volunteered to go instead. I purposely picked cloudy mountain area Montana for the show. I figured Nes would have a hard time so I figured why not make it family vacation instead?
"Sounds good." I say. I back up and start the drive home. In the seat next to me was the Fig Newton.