Blood Requiem

Part Nine: This Animal I Have Become

So what if you can see,
The darkest side of me,
No one will ever change this animal I have become!
Help me believe,
It's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal!
...This animal, this animal...

I can't escape myself,
So many times I've lied,
But there's still rage inside.
Somebody get me through this nightmare,
I can't control myself!

So what if you can see,
The darkest side of me,
No one will ever change this animal I have become!
Help me believe,
It's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal I have become!
Help me believe,
It's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal!

Somebody help me through this nightmare,
I can't control myself!
Somebody wake me from this nightmare,
I can't escape this hell!

...This animal...

...This animal...

...This animal...

So what if you can see, The darkest side of me,
No one will ever change This animal I have become!
Help me believe,
It's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal I have become!
Help me believe,
It's not the real me,
Somebody help me tame this animal!
This animal I have become!

(CPOV)

Well, this certainly was an improvement; from murder and theft to saving lives.

"I can't believe it..." I thought to myself.

"And what about your..." Edward began, addressing me, "...intense dislike for me? Do you still want to settle your score?"

I turned fully to face him, my expression cold, sobering. "I don't deny my hate for you. I will always hate you. But I will not and can no longer try to 'settle my score', as you put it, because to do that, I'd have to hurt the one you love, and I can't hurt Bella. I can't hate Bella," I threw a quick, sheepish smile to her, but also not wanting to catch her eye, "so, I'll leave it at this: think, and lament, about what you've done. The lives you've taken, and the lives you've destroyed—which I'm sure you're well aware of, it's merely a reminder—and also," I paused, emotion clouding my eyes, "never let her go."

Edward nodded solemnly, taking my words to heart—albeit cold and un-beating— and drew Bella closer to his side.

"I'm sorry for all that I've done—all the terrible things, I regret." I looked wistfully at the stars.

"Despite it all, Cassandra," a small, soft voice began, I looked down in wide-eyed surprise at Bella, "I still think you're not all bad." She gave me a small smile, which I returned tentatively.

All the others looked at Bella with mild surprise. The girl sure makes an impression.

"I suppose I'll be on my way, I have no reason for staying," I stated, mostly to myself, trailing off slightly.

"I really think we could be friends, if we tried," Bella said to me, "maybe you could stay just a little while?"

"I'll keep in touch, kid." I gave her a lopsided smirk, I shoved my right hand into my pocket and flashed her a thumbs-up while turning to leave. I walked away silently. No one said anything, no one moved, but I could feel their eyes staring at my retreating back not unkindly.

I shoved my left hand into its pocket also, my head hung slightly, lost in thought. I smiled wryly to myself. To think... that all that had actually happened. Go figure. How mysterious it was, when the voice had said to save the girl. I wondered what she'll accomplish. I wondered if it would have anything to do with me. I guess I'd have to wait and see.

"Don't let Bella worry about me," I thought to Edward, easing the block between my mind and his, "I might... drop by for a visit sometime, maybe not exactly how you expect, but I'll be around. For her sake. Maybe, just maybe, someday I'll stop hating you so much—perhaps thanks to Bella. I wouldn't put it past her; the girl's special."

I was now a ways from the clearing, wading through waist-high brush back to my car on the highway. When I reached it, I opened the door, easing myself into the seat, closing the door, adjusting the rear-view mirror—all so methodically. I saw Bella's truck, and I wondered how they'd fix it. It was pretty beat up. But who knows? Maybe there was a really good mechanic somewhere around the town.

I pulled a U turn and headed back down the road, silently wishing Bella luck.

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(BPOV)

"What did she mean by 'I'll keep in touch', I wonder?" I thought out loud.

"Oh, I have a pretty good idea," Edward said to me, I think I heard a smile in his voice.

"Tell me." I stated.

"I'll let it be a surprise, she said she'd visit, if for your sake alone," at this, Edward frowned in perplexity. "But one thing I'll tell you, she said she might not hate me so much someday, and that it would be thanks to you." Edward looked at me with curiosity, raising an eyebrow at the statement, and more than likely, at me myself as well.

"Really?" It was, surprising, and—confusing, too.

"You know," Edward began, changing the subject, "Bella's truck looked to be in need of some fixing up, say Rosalie, you wouldn't mind...?" he turned to her.

"That ancient piece of junk? I'll make it work better than it ever has, you wait and see." Rosalie huffed, crossing her arms with her nose in the air.

I looked from Rosalie to Edward worriedly. Edward noticed.

"Don't worry, your beloved truck will be as good as new. You've got the best mechanic around Forks to work on it."

"And don't you dare forget it." Rosalie threatened, although you could see she was joking, if only a little.

"Come on," Edward said gently, pulling me onto his back, "let's go."

"What about my truck?" I asked.

"Don't worry, we'll take that thing to my garage," Rosalie piped up. Emmet laughed, putting an arm around her shoulders, drawing her away in the direction of the highway.

I sighed. Things seemed... almost back to normal. But I still kept wondering about Cassandra. What was going to happen to her? Where was she now? Where would she go? But most importantly, who was she? I never really got a chance to get to know her. She was interesting, intriguing, and an enigma. She was a witch. What was it like? What was she capable of? So many unanswered questions, questions that would probably go unanswered.

I hoped I would get the chance to talk to her again someday.

Well, everyone, this is (I hope) the second-last part in this little story here. It'll probably take me a little while to get all my ideas together an sorted out, so remember that patience is a virtue! And please, don't stab out my eyes with sharp, pointy objects as I'm sure some of you feel like doing for me making you wait so long! I've been really busy, AND I've been sick, so you can't exactly write a stoy when you're puking your brains out...(thinks to self: ew) you could, I'm sure, but it would be very messy and take a long time... And so I hoped you've enjoyed part nine in all it's fairly short glory, and I'd say it's a given by now that I'd like you readers to send me reviews and tell me what you think, yadda, yadda, yadda, you get the picture.