Blood Bound
Chapter 6: The Written Word
Arcia held the book open staring at its inner contents with a never-ending vigor. The entire book had been hallowed out and inside was a diary of sorts. Her eyes paced back and forth, searching for all that was her. Somewhere in here was the girl she used to be, and perhaps the reasons why she had ceased to be altogether. Her fingers caressed the pages; here was the her she had never known.
"Is that your diary?" Alice perked up and tried to peer over Arcia's shoulder.
"Just about…it starts at least 4 years ago…" Her eyes glazed over the first words.
'Nov. 24, 2006
I can't believe it! Today I got foster parents! The orphanage said I would never get taken in since I was so old—shows how much they know. My new parents are Tom and Laura De Ville…kind of strange name; good thing I get to keep my own. I, Arcia Larent, now officially have a family. Better than just getting a mom and dad, I get a sister! It's been so long since I've had anyone to be a part of…gotta go, dinner's up.'
The entry concluded and the happy tones stirred uncomfortably within Arcia. Something was off, like a discordant note in a song, the whole melody was ruined by this one thing. Stirring within was resentment—a fire that purged any good thought.
"You sound happy enough there." Alice interjected wondering where Arcia's thoughts had led to.
"Yeah…but, hold on. Let's look further on."
She flipped to a more recent entry.
'April 4, 2009
I can't stay here anymore. These walls, these floors…they disgust me; I'm being suffocated by the mere stench. There is no love here, this is not a family—I am prisoner, but as soon as I reach my 18th birthday I know I'll be released. I would laugh at the sheer sadistic life I lead, but I'm so bitter and dried up that the wells of laughter have all but dried up. I will predict my death…by their hands, I know it will come. And for what? For money? Lisa knows nothing of this, that innocent fool, but she must realize how different things have been. I am not included when they go out, I am told to stay inside (I hear them telling the neighbors that I suffer from some sickness), and some part of me actually believes that I may be dying from such a sickness. I am dying of hatred.'
Here Arcia smiled maliciously, she could relate much better with this journal entry; this was the her she remembered slightly.
"So I was murdered by these humans." Arcia spat the words out as she picked up a photo frame with her killers' faces.
"Arcia…I'm sorry." Alice placed her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Humans are unnaturally drawn to money."
"They think I'm still alive…if Lisa told them she saw me at Forks, they'll start looking for me." Arcia's eyes lit up. "If they find me, I won't be the same powerless girl they knew before."
"Vengeance isn't the best of things…it usually brings about heaps of regret." She warned the younger vampiress.
"Alice tell me, what good are these powers? If not to take back what was taken; if not to hurt those who have hurt me."
"I think…you should talk to Rosalie. Actually never mind she'll probably tell you to kill them, and we wouldn't want that."
"We wouldn't want that? I don't know about you, but I definitely want that." Arcia looked over her room. "I can't remember much but I know I experienced the greatest of pains in here…my heart was torn to pieces before it ever had the chance to stop beating."
"Let's go, we need to get away before anyone comes home."
"Or we could wait and welcome them."
"Arcia, this is too risky, you'd be putting all of us in danger…there's rules to being a vampire."
"Well that's ridiculous…the Undead actually have rules?" Her eyebrow rose as she looked at Alice for an explanation.
"Come with me now and we'll have a chance to talk. If you're still hell bent on killing them, then you'll come back." Alice pulled at her sleeve.
With a hesitant sigh she agreed with Alice and left everything as it was.
"Alright let's go."
The two vampires exited and made their way towards the car. As soon as they got in, Arcia pushed for answers.
"It doesn't seem possible that vampires should be held down by any laws. Our mere existence is a defiance of law." Arcia began the argument.
"Good point, but after there is a society of vampires, everything changes. The Cullen family is not the only family of vampires. There's plenty and we all have to abide by the laws of the Volturi." Alice glanced at Arcia to see how she was taking it; so far she was as calm as ever. "If we break these rules…they…..they kill us."
"Kill us?" If Arcia had a heart it might have skipped a beat just then, but a slight tensing of the jaw was good enough for Alice to see that she understood.
"I'm sure you've heard it in folklore…how vampires are killed. Take their heads off and burn the pieces so they can never regenerate." Alice winced as she imagined the scene. "I wouldn't want that happening to you anytime soon."
Arcia's heart cried out for vengeance, but were the consequences worth it? She would read over this journal and come to a conclusion soon enough. For now, Alice's influence would sway her from her new violent ambitions. It was easier to stay away from eating humans than killing them, sadistically enough.
"I…I will think it over Alice." Arcia muttered as she watched the speedometer rise and rise. "Are these Volturi truly that powerful?"
"Oldest geezers I know." Alice lightened the mood. "You could replicate their powers however…but I wouldn't advise taking them out. They're there for a reason you know. If they didn't enforce any laws, our world would be a whole lot more difficult than it already is."
"I don't know Alice: sports cars, a mansion for a house, rich beyond imagination and amazingly good looks. Being a vampire seems to have lost all its uglier aspects." Arcia grinned. "Of course preying on animals is a bit of a downside."
"Not the way you eat!" Alice giggled as the other girl paled. "Someone could see you feeding and think it was the most beautiful thing they'd ever seen…scratch the fact that it's bleeding to death."
"Alice…there are other types of vampires, aren't there?" Arcia picked up traces of Alice's thoughts—she was trying to hide something.
"Well…I was going to wait to tell you, but someone's a bit too nosy for their own good." Alice stuck out her tongue while driving. "There are those that still feed on humans, they terrorize cities and are always traveling."
"Don't they ever get caught."
"Humans think it's a homicide or something like that. Who would ever conclude a vampire did it? They'd be labeled insane."
"That makes sense, but still…" She looked at the line of houses. Normal people, living normal lives and never knowing what lay beyond the realm of normalcy.
"Let's get home." Alice sped faster towards the murky town of Forks.
Meanwhile at the Cullen household…
Edward sat still on the couch as he pondered what to do with Bella. She had grown so rebellious since that stupid 'dog' had contacted her. It killed him on the inside to think she'd want to keep that werewolf boy company as soon as Edward was out of the picture. He would talk to Alice about it; hopefully she would be able to keep an eye on her while he went out hunting.
"Alice!" The two girls walked in and met with Edward.
"Well you've never been one to enthusiastically greet, what's on your mind Edward?" She winked at Arcia "Or would you like Arcia to tell me?"
"No, it's not a secret, but I need a favor." Edward spoke to Alice yet stared warily at his new 'sister'.
"Depends on the reward for completing it."
"Italian sports car…the one you wanted, it's yours."
Alice's eyes bulged, she hadn't seen this in the nearby future.
"Whoa! Now we're talking, what is it Edward?" Her eyes sparkled with content.
"I need you to watch Bella when I'm gone, bring her over for a sleepover or something. Keep her preoccupied and make sure she has some fun; I don't want her to feel like she's being held prisoner."
"Hmmm….deal!" Alice thought for less than a second before she agreed. "Arcia will help too!"
Edward bore his gaze straight at Arcia. She looked at him with just an intense stare, unwilling to cower in his gaze. Edward grimaced—he couldn't read her mind, but she could hear all his fears if she wanted to.
"I promise Edward…I don't bite, not humans anyways." Arcia smirked and he returned the gesture.
"Fine, just be careful; I trust the both of you to keep her safe." Perhaps having a new sister wouldn't be as hellish as he thought. For a newborn she showed great control.
"Got it Edward, we'll do our best!"
"Oh and how did it go?"
"What?" Alice asked forgetful of the importance of the road trip.
"Arcia, mind filling me in?" Edward turned to her with questioning eyes.
"I found my foster parents; I took my diary." Arcia showed him the book. "I was murdered by my family and left to die. That's the rough gist of it anyways." Arcia shrugged as if it were no big deal.
"I suggest you talk to Carlisle…just don't do anything stupid." Edward warned her.
"So I've been told; I'll give it some thought."
"Alright I'm out to hunt with Jasper and Emmett…we'll be back. Remember tomorrow go and get Bella."
"Got it Edward, now Arcia let's go settle down for a bit with Esme and Rosalie." She grabbed Arcia's hand and led her towards the parlor room.
Both Rosalie and Esme were sitting and discussing whom Edward had just been worrying about.
"I don't understand why he can't just be with Arcia, now that—" Esme cautioned Rosalie to stop with a gesture of her hand.
"There's no point to that, she's like Edward remember." Rosalie kept on with what she was saying. "Arcia shows vast potential and she's like us. Bella should stay human; she doesn't know what she's giving up."
"Oh Rosalie it's not that simple…what if I told you to leave Emmett and find someone who was more compatible?"
"Well that's not possible is it? Emmett is the most compatible man I shall ever find."
"And that is exactly how Edward thinks of Bella."
Rosalie moaned in defeat, Esme was always able to turn her own words against her.
"Arcia don't you think Edward is a good mate for you?" Rosalie asked the silent girl.
"Hey that's not fair!" Alice butt in. "She hasn't even known Edward that long!"
"Alice, it's ok, I can answer this." Arcia smiled gently at her protector.
Alice was surprised at her new found confidence.
"I must say Edward is quite beautiful." Rosalie smiled at Arcia's statement. "But so are the rest of you." The smile soon turned to a frown. "I cannot say I love him as a mate; I'm sorry Rosalie. I must find my mate in a natural way…whatever natural way is left for me anyways. I think…I think I have to find my creator before I can ever move on."
"Your creator?" Esme looked worried. "Are you sure you want to go down that path?"
"There is no other path left for me."
"You don't have to go alone." Alice piped in, suddenly aware that Arcia was implying that she may leave.
"No, but I would never ask anyone to come. I wouldn't want to disrupt another's family."
"If only Bella had your brain." Rosalie sighed and slouched on the couch—even that gesture was done with complete grace.
"Rosalie!" Esme sighed at her daughter's undying dislike of the human. "Arcia, you ARE a part of our family; we'll help you however we can." Esme smiled, and Arcia had no reason to doubt its genuine quality.
"I want to be a part of this family, but I don't want to destroy it." Her eyes strayed to Alice. "If I sense any change in my will, I will leave with no notice and I promise I will not stray from the type of life all of you live." Arcia clenched her fist in a resolute manner.
"Sounds like a fair deal." Rosalie chimed in and looked at the young vampire with respect. "As long as you don't look for reasons to leave and let them come naturally, I don't see the problem with it."
Arcia thanked Rosalie for her understanding but felt that Alice was discontent with this answer; more than that, she was sad. Arcia tapped into her inner power and let an aura of happiness spill slowly, so as not to alarm the family to her meddling.
"You're just too good." Alice smiled while pulling Arcia in for a hug. "Now I have to worry about you and Jasper pulling my strings." Although she should have said this with a wary tone, it dripped with buoyancy.
Arcia shrugged and smirked as she found the rest of the girls enjoying their time with her. She was sure she had never felt this accepted: not while she was human anyways. This was more than she could have asked for in a life beyond death—this was heaven in its own way.
"If you don't mind, I'm going to go up and read this." She patted the journal and made her way towards the stairs. "And no Alice, I don't mind if you come with me."
Alice made a happy yip before she pranced her way up the stairs after Arcia. Rosalie chuckled at her sister's carefree and attached manner, and was vaguely hopeful that one day she would also find that same connection with someone. Perhaps her hopes of having a child weren't in vain after all.
Alice sat right by Arcia and listened to the thoughts that she allowed her to hear through her telepathic powers. The story began with such a jubilant manner; Arcia's life had been picturesque in her early years with the De Ville's. They treated her as if she had been their natural daughter, and she seemed to be as much in love with them. However as the story kept on, the entries began to carry a tone of confusion. Arcia had noticed how they began to distance themselves and wondered what it was that she had done wrong. Alice winced as she read a passage that alluded to something altogether darker than death—Mr. De Ville had taken a keen interest in Arcia's growth. Though there was nothing concrete in the journal to make the thought absolute, the line 'it's a secret too dark to write; too fresh to heal; so impure that I might as well die', said more than enough to the both of them. Arcia's eyes tightened and the pain of sadness flowed fluidly—being as hard as stone meant nothing when it came to emotions or words.
"I can't believe that…" Arcia whimpered as she suddenly lost the empowerment that came with becoming an immortal. "You know that saying: sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt me; I think they got it wrong. It should be read: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will always hurt me."
"Arcia" Alice whimpered as she held her safely in her arms. "You're here now…" She softly whispered in her perfectly curved ear.
"I am tainted…more so than a monster would be." She raised her hands to look at them. "Alice…" She looked up to her begging for a forgiveness she knew didn't exist.
"You're not a monster Arcia…no one can turn you into one. Give me your hand." Alice took the girl's hand gently. "Now, here's mine." She slowly eased her hand so that each of their palms were touching. "We're the same, see?"
Arcia looked long and hard at the touching hands. Each finger slender and white as snow—free of any taint. Arcia held her breath, there really was no need to breathe, and felt herself feel at peace. A small smile played out on her lips; she wasn't the only one who could affect emotions after all.
"Thank you, I'm lucky to have you." Arcia clasped her hand with Alice's. "This diary…am I still this girl?" The question stood as rhetoric but Alice already had an answer.
"You are you and that's all there really is to it. You know what you are to me?" Alice placed her pointer finger to Arcia's forehead.
Arcia quirked her eyebrow as she stared at the spritely woman.
"You're part of my family, but more than that…you're like a daughter to me." Alice grinned and relocated a hand to Arcia's face. "You're the one person I didn't see coming into my life, but I'm happy I found you. I was meant to find you, I think."
"Perhaps you were…this would be my third try at being someone else's daughter." The thought stirred within. "I wonder if I was ever meant to be one."
"I'm not going anywhere, just try and make me." She began to lightly rough Arcia up.
The two girls laughed merrily: a pair of lovely bells ringing in the wind. A vampire who was never meant to become a mother, and a daughter who had been forsaken as human, had become one. Yet, something stirred nearby the Cullen residence: a presence all its own.
