Blood Requiem
Part Five: Crawling
Crawling in my skin
These wounds, they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming, confusing
This lack of self control I fear is never ending
Controlling, I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
Without a sense of confidence I'm convinced
That there's just too much pressure to take
I've felt this way before
So insecure
Crawling in my skin
These wounds, they will not heal
Fear is how i fall
Confusing what is real
Discomfort endlessly has pulled itself upon me
Distracting, reacting
Against my will I stand beside my own reflection
It's haunting, how I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
Without a sense of confidence I'm convinced
That there's just too much pressure to take
I've felt this way before
So insecure
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not healFear is how I fall
Confusing, confusing what is real
There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface, consuming
Confusing what is real
This lack of self control I fear is never ending, controlling
Confusing what is real
(CPOV)
I was certain that the girl—Bella, I heard him say her name—lived at the house where I sensed Edward Cullen. Now, I just needed to get her alone; I prayed luck would be on my side. If, at least, only for now.
(EPOV)
It was the end of the day and there was no way I was letting Bella ride home alone. I told Alice to take Bella's truck so I could take Bella and myself in my Volvo. She agreed and on the way to the parking lot, Alice was struck by a vision. I could see it too.
When she came to, she was frantic.
"Edward! Victoria's coming! She going to kill someone, in our territory, close by! And the werewolves—they'll be there! They're going to fight her, and Jacob Black will be there, too!"
"Alice, I know," I said, holding her still by the shoulders. The indecision was distracting and infuriating. I made a split-second decision. This was my chance to get rid of that foul Victoria for ever. She was never going to hurt my Bella.
"I'm going to go after Victoria." I said slowly, quietly.
"But—" She began, but right then Bella came into sight.
"That girl is inconsequential compared to Victoria. And she'd have to be a fool to try and go after Bella." I assured her. "Come on, Alice, let's get going."
"Hi Edward, Alice," Bella greeted.
"Hello, Bella." I swept her up into a brief, sweet kiss. "Alice and I have to go now, will you be alright by yourself?"
"I'll be fine, Edward." She assured me.
"Lock your doors and windows and be careful, alright?"
"I will. Goodbye, Edward." She said, walking over to her truck.
Alice and I sped to my car and headed off.
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"Where are they?" I thought aloud, annoyed. I stopped for a moment, and took stock of where we were. I focused, trying to widen my range, trying to pick up on any thoughts—from the wolves or from Victoria.
Then, I heard something, faintly.
It was one of the wolves.
They were chasing Victoria.
I nodded to Alice—who nodded back—and sped off after them.
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(BPOV)
I drove home; alone, worried. Edward—I was certain— was currently trying to hunt down Victoria. He promised he wouldn't leave me. Has he now?
I pushed back the uncertainty. Edward came back, and he's been here since. I shouldn't doubt him, I can't...
'I don't.' I suddenly thought.
'I doubt myself.'
I started feeling worse than I had in months. I pulled into the driveway of Charlie's house. I parked my truck and stepped out, faintly aware—if not slightly surprised—it wasn't raining, considering the coal-colored clouds overhead.
'What he gets hurt? What if Alice does? Will the rest of my surrogate family be alright? I shouldn't worry, they wouldn't want me to, but I can't help it.'
By now, I had made my way up the stairs and into my room. I closed my door behind me. I locked it as Edward asked (though I didn't see how it would help against a vampire who would stop at nothing to have me dead) and went to my window. I was opened a crack, which was strange; I didn't think I left it that way, but it was probably nothing. I shut it the rest of the way and latched it shut.
Suddenly, someone was behind me, pressing something sharp against my throat.
"Scream and I'll have to cut your throat." Threatened a quiet, female voice; her tone even.
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(CPOV)
I left quickly when the last bell rang, making it to my car. I waited there, and not long after, I saw the vampires enter the parking lot. The small one, with the inky hair froze for a moment or two and Edward, looking concerned, held her at arm's length by her shoulders, seemed to be talking quickly to her. The female seemed to almost... 'wake up' and they seemed to get into an argument. About me, at parts, if my lipreading was any good.
Then the human—Bella— came and Edward bent down quickly to kiss her and they talked quietly. My stomach did a small, little flip, and I hated Edward a little more, if that were possible. But why, I wasn't entirely sure. Then they parted; the vampires leaving in one direction and the human in another. The vampire's left in a silver Volvo, while Bella left in the ancient red truck I saw earlier. So it was her truck.
The Volvo was long gone as the truck was roaring down the street. I took detours through side streets so as not to be seen by the girl, going faster than the speed limit permitted.
I parked my car a street away and walked the rest of the way. I still beat the girl here by at least three minutes. Plenty of time. I slunk over, slipping into the trees near the girl's house. I moved fluidly across the lawn, hiding in the shadow of a tree next to the house. I looked up to see a window within reach of the branches. I jumped up, grabbing the lowest branch, and swung myself over to the next one. From there, I slithered up the rest of the branches to the ones nearest to the window.
I reached over, swaying precariously on the branches, gripped the edge of the window and pulled. The window was open; it slid open slowly, sticking in the frame a few times. I put my hands on the vertical sides of the open window frame, placed my right foot on the sill and hauled myself in, landing lithely on the wooden floor.
I looked and saw the closet door was ajar. Just then, I heard a truck roar down the street and stop in front of the house. I slipped into the closet quietly, making sure I wouldn't be visible among the hanging garments. I slipped the switchblade I nicked off a guy out of my back pocket and flicked it out The front door opened and closed; footsteps proceeded at an even pace up the stairs and came into the room. I prepared myself to attack. I watched as Bella closed her door and locked it behind her then went to the window, where she regarded it curiously for a moment. I had left it open! I tensed up. The window was open about an inch or two. She shrugged and pulled it down the rest of the way and latched it shut. At that moment, I crept swiftly out and came up behind her and pressed the sharp blade against her neck, murmuring a quiet threat. She froze.
"You're Bella." It was uncertain—even to me—if what I said was a statement or a question. I left it up to her to decide.
"Yes." She treated it as a question, replying amazingly calmly. "Who are you?"
Before I could answer, she said, "It's you, the girl from earlier." Bella realized, a sad tone in her voice. Smart girl.
"How much does Edward Cullen care about you?" I asked her, a little roughly.
"I love him." She said, and I knew she was going to say more, so I waited. "And he loves me."
"He's a vampire," I said bluntly. "Are you sure?"
She flinched, and I vaguely wondered why; she must have known he was a vampire. Then her posture became defensive and she said, "Yes. I am very sure."
"If you're sure." I said darkly. If this human mattered so much to Edward, I'd use her to get to him. He'd know what it feels like to loose someone you care about. At least, he must care about her somewhat to not just kill her and eat her.
"What are you going to do?" Bella didn't sound as scared as I thought she would have been. She was a strange one.
"I'm going to get to your precious Edward—through you." I explained, a sinister tone creeping into my voice, thinking of exacting my revenge.
"Please, just leave Edward out of this—do whatever you want to me, but don't hurt Edward," then she added quietly, "not this, not with Victoria too."
I was silently considering that last bit of information when I said, "but don't you see, Bella?" My voice took on a sickly sweet tone, "the only way to hurt Edward, is to hurt you. I'm going to make him wish he could die, just like I do, I'm going to make him pay for what he did to me."
"What do you mean, what he did to you? Edward didn't do anything!" She protested, wriggling around a little.
"Quiet!" I snarled, pressing te blade into her neck, drawing blood. I saw it run down the edge of the blade to the tip, where a single drop formed and fell onto the wooden floor. I had to get out of here, I'd lingered too long. He'd be here before long, I assumed.
"Come on." I snapped, gripping her arm and pushing her to the window. She balked and said, "I'm very clumsy, I'll fall and break my legs." She said it as if it wouldn't make any difference on my part.
"It's only two stories. Bend your knees on impact." I said bluntly. Seeing no other choice she headed towards the window.
She opened it, the tip of my knife resting on the back of her neck. With one last hesitation, she dropped out the window. What she said really didn't make any difference on my part, although, I made her fall a little slower than she would have; no soft landing, but no plummeting to the ground either. I leapt out lightly right after her. She was sitting awkwardly on the ground, massaging her ankles a little.
I pulled Bella to her feet and was leading her to my car through the woods when a unmistakable chill darted down my spine. I turned sharply in the direction from which it was coming. My eyes narrowed; it was a residual aura, left behind by none other than the famous Edward Cullen. There was obviously a place in the woods, about several miles or more from here or so, that was special to him, that he visited often, else there wouldn't be a strong enough residue for me to pick up on.
Wouldn't it be such a blow for Edward to find the human he most cared about in a place that, for him, was supposed to be special, to find her with the life gone from her, just as I had of my love, all those years ago.
I pulled her towards the car again, noting the direction of the residual aura. "Now tell me," I began, addressing Bella, "there's a place in the woods where Edward Cullen often goes. I assume you've been there too. I'd like it if you'd help me find it, and don't try to trick me, dear, because I will know, and I will not be happy." I informed her, smiling faintly, threateningly.
So there you go, part five. Little bit of a cliffie, but not bad, no? And I'd like to thank the few readers who posted reviews: Lizard Demon From Pluto, effie, and Alyrenzia. Thanks guys! And I encourage people to review and keep 'em coming. Please and thank you.