OKAY!! SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG! Seriously, this chapter has frustrated me so much... grr it still doesn't sound right, but oh well HERE WE GO!
READ AWAY!
Chapter 3
(Fang's POV)
The next two days went smoothly and normally, nothing crazy happened, we went to the beach and hung out around La Push.
On Sunday Iggy got a call from his parents and he talked on the phone for a good half an hour in his room, totally alone, and demanding that no one listen in.
When he came back out he looked a little distressed and he seemed a little shut inside himself, but after a few hours he'd gotten pretty much back to normal.
That night I plopped down beside him on the couch, he was staring at the TV without seeing it. Everyone else had gone up to bed.
"Hey, so what did your parents want?" I asked him carefully. I didn't want to pressure him into telling me or make him upset.
He sighed, "They said that they're going to come up and get me soon."
"Did they ask if we knew?" I asked him, worried for him.
He shook his head, "But I don't think that would stop them anyways."
I rubbed his shoulder. Iggy looking at his hands, "Do you know when?" I asked him. He shook his head and I patted his back. "Don't worry; I won't let them take you back."
He turned his head and looked me straight in the eyes. They chilled me to the bone, they looked empty. They looked dead, and when he spoke his voice sounded dead, not monotone, but just… dead, "Fang, this is truly not something you can stop. Like a hurricane, or an earthquake, like death." I felt like he'd dropped ice into the pit of my stomach. Death wasn't a subject Iggy usually brought up, especially around me. "You can't stop them, no one can."
With that he got up and left me to think, the ice was still in the pit of my stomach. I shook off the feeling. I got up to go to bed and as I walked to the stairs I caught sight of someone in the kitchen.
Emeric stood there, looking out at me calmly.
I looked back, the ice was slowly thawing, but my face felt like the blood had drained from it. I looked away and went up the stairs.
On Monday at school in drama we were all lying around and planning the talent show. We would practice but we needed someone with a young voice and Mrs. Dillwyn said she'd check out the younger school to see who she could find.
"Oh my God, we're a bunch of idiots!" Kari said slapping her hand against her forehead, "Lilith could sing with us!"
We all stared at her for a few moments before we all groaned and smacked ourselves around for not thinking of that earlier.
I had to practice a new song on the piano and I spent a bit of class trying to figure out how to play it.
I couldn't wait to go home and ask Lilith if she wanted to sing with us. The talent show was in a few days but I was sure she'd be able to remember the song.
(Iggy's POV)
I stood in the parking lot waiting for the others to catch up, it was after school and I could see the other kids milling around getting into cars or talking with friends, or walking home.
I sighed, my mind was consumed with the danger that wasn't in front of me, but was looming in the distant future.
My parents were coming to take me home.
There were so many emotions that were triggered from that sentence. There was pain; I didn't want to leave Forks, Max or Fang. I knew if I did go I'd be hurt. I didn't want to leave Kari behind here to face her dad alone. There was depression; the thought of leaving could kill me alone, the idea that I might not see these people for a very long time made my whole world shatter into millions of tiny desperate pieces. I was also angry, what did they want me for anyways? My father was a constant campaigner of the fact that I was useless.
Two questions arose inside too, why couldn't I fight back? Why was I afraid to tell someone? They triggered others, and those triggered others and so on and so forth.
I think I know what one of my bombs feels like now, everything was slowly bubbling up inside of me, and one day I was going to explode.
Someone suddenly, or it seemed like suddenly, grabbed my shoulder and I jumped. I looked to see who it was, a trickle of ice cold fear sliding down my spine, which was quickly disintegrated when I realized it was just Fang. I tried to smile at him, but I couldn't really do it.
He sent me a small smile in return and looked away, back towards the others who were on their way. "So, since your 18 you technically don't have to live at home," Casey was trying to explain to Kari, "Which means that if he reports you as missing, all you say is that you're just no longer living at home and that your dad is losing his mind or something."
"What if he comes looking for me though?"
"So what? You're among good friends, I'd like to see any human try to take down Fang, Max or Iggy," Jim said in a low voice to make sure no one heard.
"Or Fang, Max and Iggy," Casey said nodding and he nodded as well.
Kari smiled as she reached me, "Ya, I guess you're right, he can't really do anything…" She said and took my hand. I was able to smile a little at her.
(Fang's POV)
Across the parking lot two things caught my eye. Kari's dad stood against the side of his car as he watched us from the far end of it. He was well out of the way and if I hadn't been looking I wouldn't have seen it.
The other was Randle. He stood in the woods grinning at me. I swallowed, seeing him should have scared me more, but I felt oddly calm. "Kari, come with me." I said and took her hand and pulled her back towards school as I looked over my shoulder at the two of them.
Iggy turned quickly and asked with a bit of urgency in his voice, "F-Nick, where are you going?"
"Well unless you want two people who are near the top of our bad list to know where we live I recommend we take a different route," I said as I pulled Kari into the building with me. I held the door open and said, "Max, Iggy, Randle's standing on the far end of the parking lot and Kari's dad's car is parked over there."
Kari stared at me, fear in her eyes, "My dad's here? He's going to be really angry, Fang, I can't do this!" She whispered, "Please, I can't do this. He's going to be angry!" Her eyes watered and her breathing picked up.
"Hey, hey, Kari, listen to me… it's not your dad you have to worry about alright? I've got this under control. I can take your dad; it's Randle I'm worried about. So come on, and if I tell you to run, run." I said holding onto her shoulders and she nodded quickly.
I ran with her down the hallway. I cast a glance back and I saw Randle push open the door. "Run!" I yelled at Kari and we turned the corner and ran for it. I saw an exit sign, "Kari, I want you to go outside that door and get out of sight, I'll come back for you," I said pushing her towards the door.
"Fang, no, I can't, what if my dad comes," Kari said, starting to panic.
"Kari, I promise you, I'll be back. I just need to get rid of Randle," I said and I heard his footsteps, "Go!" I hissed and she ran through the door just before Randle rounded the corner.
"Fang, Fang, Fang," He muttered as I turned to face him. "You know better than to run." I slowly took steps back as he approached me. "Now, I know you've got a whole issue with me… but I'm not after you today."
I watched him; I didn't believe him for a second. He was constantly hunting me; of course he wanted to catch me… didn't he? "Than who is it about?"
"All I want is the girl you helped escape from the school, 013," Randle said and I froze.
"Lilith," The word escaped my lips and I froze in place.
"Yes, if you just hand her over the school will stop chasing you, they want to find a way to harness her power," Randle said taking steps forward.
I was shaking slightly; pictures of my adopted sister were flying through my head. My mind seemed to pause on her smiling face as she ran towards me. I couldn't believe he would think that I would hand her over like that. Lilith was a part of my messed up family now, there was no way I was going to put her in harm. I chuckled, "You think I'll just give her to you?"
"Well, either you'll give her to me, or I'll eventually figure out where she is. Fang, tell me where she is." He said sternly and he was very close to me now.
I took two hurried steps back from him, "I don't know where she is," I said feeling kind of breathless.
"Tell me where Lilith is!" He yelled at me, grabbing the front of my shirt.
"I don't know where she is!" I yelled back, I was lying through my teeth and he knew it but I wasn't going to risk her life by admitting for a second I knew where she was exactly.
"Yes you do!" He growled at me, pulling my closer so that our faces were inches apart and my feet were having a hard time finding the ground about now. "Tell me where Lilith is before I break every bone in your body!"
A voice cut him off, "Hey! What are you doing?" I've never been happier to see Mrs. Dillwyn in my life.
Randle glared at me and let me go at once and ran off down the hall. My legs actually collapsed under me and I sat there and breathing hard as Mrs. Dillwyn ran over to me.
She knelt by me, "Are you okay Nick?" She asked with a frantic look in her eyes.
It was in that moment that I knew I needed to keep Lilith safe no matter what. I let my face fall into my hands and Mrs. Dillwyn was still for a moment before rubbing my back. "What did that guy want Nick?" She asked in a tone that I knew she meant no nonsense.
I contemplated lying for a few seconds, but she had said I could talk to her about anything….
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair, "It's nothing really…" I muttered, my paranoia talking, but I knew she wouldn't believe me.
"Lilith is your little sister right?" She asked me.
I sighed and nodded.
"So, why does he want to know where she is?" Mrs. Dillwyn asked me.
I sighed, "I don't know…" I felt so helpless not knowing for sure what they had in store for her. What they really wanted to do to her to 'harness her power' as Randle put it.
"You sure?" she asked looking me in the eyes.
I sighed and ran my hands through my hair again, there was something about doing that that made me less stressed, "Ya," I said through my teeth, "And it's really annoying."
She nodded and I suddenly remembered Kari. I jumped up and Mrs. Dillwyn jumped back in surprise. I ran over to the door and opened it. "Kari!" I called holding the door open and looking around to find her.
She ran around the corner and she looked relieved to see me, "Is that guy gone?" I nodded, "What did he want?" She asked walking into the hall and she seemed a little surprised to see Mrs. Dillwyn but she didn't say anything.
"Don't know," I said sighing. "He usually wants something though."
"What has he wanted before?" Mrs. Dillwyn asked staring at me.
"I don't know, in the past he has always wanted me to go back… to a certain place, and he would do anything to get me there…," I said and I knew Kari got what I meant. She watched me.
"What place?" Mrs. Dillwyn asked looking confused.
I looked away from here, "Just a place," I muttered and looked at Kari, "Okay, I think your dad probably left, so we can go now… although we don't really have a way to get back to my house," I said.
Mrs. Dillwyn frowned and looked between us, "What's going on?" she asked sternly.
Kari froze, "Nick, Iggy promised me that I didn't have to tell people…" She whispered in my ear.
I nodded, "I can tell her if you want…" I muttered.
She shifted feet and bit her lip; she closed her eyes, "If I have a place to stay and people to take care of me… than yes."
I took a deep breath, Mrs. Dillwyn waited silently for me to talk. "Are you sure Kari?" I asked her. I didn't want her to rush into anything she didn't want to do.
She sighed, "No… I need Iggy to be here…."
I nodded, and Mrs. Dillwyn looked confused, "Sorry Mrs. Dillwyn, maybe tomorrow I'll have more answers for you," I said with a sigh.
"Nick, how are we getting back to your house? Jim already left…" Kari asked.
I shrugged, "Walk I guess."
Mrs. Dillwyn sighed, "I'll give you a ride."
I bit the inside of my lower lip, "Uh… I'd rather walk…" I muttered.
Mrs. Dillwyn gave me a look like she understood, "I'll drive slowly," She promised and led us out to her car in the staff parking lot.
We climbed into her old car, I didn't see Kari's dad anywhere, I wasn't sure if that was a good sign. I told Mrs. Dillwyn where I lived. I sat in the back with Kari and Mrs. Dillwyn pulled out of the parking lot with her stereo on.
I heard the song on her radio. I recognized it at once. "This is 'I'm A Survivor' by Reba McEntire, right?" I was on the verge of crying, I don't even know why, it was ridiculous. Since when do I cry?
"Ya, it's a nice song…" She muttered.
I nodded, "It was my mom's favorite song," I said and I was surprised to hear that I admitted it out loud as I watched the trees pass.
"Really? Why?" She asked me.
I shrugged, and I was sure she saw it in the rear-view mirror. "She never really told me…. She always loved 'He Gets That From Me' by Reba too," I chuckled, "She said because I reminded her of the kid in the song."
I watched the swirl of green. I missed her so much right then. I was just mesmerized in the green.
"That's sweet," Kari muttered, "My mom died when I was little… I don't really remember her really well."
I looked at Kari, I put a hand on her shoulder, "That's okay, cause she knew you."
Kari looked at me with her head to the side slightly, "What do you mean?"
"Well… my mom used to say that every mother knows her child more than they know themselves, and no matter if they hate each other or love each other or lost each other or forgot each other, their mother will always know every freckle and ever hair." I said with a smile.
Kari smiled at me, "Thanks Nick." She paused for a second, "Well one of the only things I can remember from my mom is her telling me that wherever we are, together or apart, she'll always love me and that if we're apart she'll miss me and that she believes that the time that is spent apart is million times less than the time that we'll spend together." She paused to watch me smile. "So, now I don't miss her as much, because I feel like the time apart won't feel as long when I see her again."
"Thank you Kari," I whispered a smile in my voice, "That doesn't make me miss her so much."
She nodded, "You're welcome."
I sat back and looked out the window, for the first time in a car in a long time I felt calm, and safe, and happy. A smile spread across my lips, now the tears on the edges of my eyes weren't sad. I breathed slowly and calmed my emotions. Everything was okay, I thought myself. I'll see you again mom, I love you, I thought to her.
I leaned my head against the glass as we pulled onto the driveway to my home.
She packed outside the house and I got out with a smile. Max ran down the steps and crashed into me with a hug. "I'm so glad you're okay, I saw Randle go in after you guys," She whispered in my ear.
I smiled and hugged her back. The tears were back as I hugged Max. "I'm okay Max, I'm okay." I whispered.
She pulled away from me a little and looked at my face, "Are you okay?" She asked quietly.
"Course," I answered right away. "Why?"
"You're crying," she pointed out wiping my cheeks. "What's wrong?"
I smiled, I hadn't even noticed, and oddly enough I didn't really care, "Nothing, they're happy," I answered kissing her forehead, "I just changed my perspective that's all."
"On what?" she whispered still wiping my cheeks from the last of the tears.
I smiled, "I'm going to see my mom again… one day anyways." I said my eyes watering again.
She smiled and kissed me softly, "Of course you will," She said with such confidence that I couldn't help but love her more for it.
I hugged her tightly; we stood there in the driveway swaying slightly as we hugged. I closed my eyes and embraced the momentary calm and peace, because I knew as soon as I let go I'd be back with the chaos and there would be no time for me to think about my mother.
I smiled and Max and I let go. Mrs. Dillwyn and Kari had gone inside already. We walked up to the house, hand in hand and I opened the door and Lilith bound into the room.
I'd never been happier to see her, she ran towards me and I scooped her up and hugged her tightly. Her arms went around my neck and I smiled. "Fang," She whispered, "Fang, you're squishing me."
"Sorry, Lili, it's just today was a little stressful… someone came looking for you." I told her honestly. My hand stroked her brown slightly curly hair and her arms tightened around my neck.
"What?" Max asked her voice edged with panic.
"Randle came looking for Lilith… not for me." I told her and I realized the whole house seemed to tune into our conversation.
Lilith was suddenly squeezing the daylights out of me, "I don't want to go back! I don't! Don't make me!"
I rubbed her back, "I won't Lilith, I promise you. They'd have to kill me first." I promised and she calmed a little and laid her head against my shoulder.
"And Nick is strong like bull, so that isn't going to happen any time soon," Max added to her and I caught the look she gave me. It meant that I had to do what I had to do, but I wasn't allowed to risk my neck.
Mrs. Dillwyn and Alison were talking in the kitchen, about what I wasn't sure, but everyone else was in there too, so I headed over there. I sat with Lilith on my lap, and Max was on my left.
Iggy smiled at me in thanks, probably for getting Kari home. She was sitting on his right and I was sure that they were holding hands under the table.
Jim and Casey were over, again, and they were silent as they sat together.
I looked at Mrs. Dillwyn; she looked at me, "So… I just told Alison about the guy at school… is there anything else you want to tell me Nick or Kari…."
I clenched my jaw as I thought about it, and I saw Kari bite her lip.
"Family meeting, living room," I muttered to Max and she nodded and we both got up. The others followed. Jim and Casey looked kind of hesitant but I waved them to follow.
Alison shrugged at Mrs. Dillwyn and we all met in the living room. We made a kind of huddle and I sighed, "So… Kari, are you doing to tell her?"
Kari shifted her feet, "I told you before… if I have a place to stay and people to take care of me, than… I don't really mind." She said looking at Iggy.
Iggy smiled, "You can stay here Kari…" He looked at Alison for confirmation and she nodded.
Kari smiled, "Than," She took a deep breath, "Than I can do it."
I smiled at her, "Okay, and I wanted to ask if you guys think it would be a good idea if we tell Mrs. Dillwyn about the flock," I whispered.
I read people's faces; they were all debating the idea. I sighed and looked at Max.
Max paused to think about it, "Okay… this is the rare occasion where we're going to vote. If we tell her we'll swear her to secrecy beforehand and if we don't we just won't say anything. Anyone for telling her?" She said.
I cautiously raised my hand, I looked at Max and she seemed to pause before she raised hers too. If she was willing to let her know than I knew it was right. Iggy took a deep breath and raised his too. Jim and Casey raised theirs and Kari smiled and her hand timidly rose and Alison nodded in approval. Lilith grinned and practically shouted, "I think yes!"
Max sighed, "Okay… this is a big step for the three of us and I've never told anyone about us just because we felt like it, but I think it would be good to have someone at school who could help us out from time to time and know what's happening."
I nodded, I sighed as we all wordlessly traveled back to the kitchen. Mrs. Dillwyn had say down and was waiting for us to speak.
"Okay," I said glancing at Max for the last okay before I continued. She nodded to me and I took a deep breath, "Before we tell you anything you have to swear that you're not going to tell anyone about this."
She nodded slowly, "Am I allowed telling my husband?"
"If you can trust him not to tell anyone, than I guess its okay," I said again glancing at Max. She nodded and smiled, from the look in her eyes I knew she was asking me if I wanted her to continue for me. I smiled and took the smallest step back.
"I swear not to tell anyone… except perhaps my husband but he'll take the secret to his grave," She promised.
"Mrs. Dillwyn," Max said, she took a deep breath, "Do you know the meaning of abnormal?" She asked and I smiled.
"Uh… not normal?" she asked clearly not knowing where this was going. Heck I had an idea but I wasn't entirely sure.
"Yes, true they say that every child is different, but I don't think as different as F-Nick," She grinned at me as she nearly slipped with my name, "Iggy and I."
"I'm not following…" She said looking confused.
"Okay," I said and knew there was only one way to get it in the open without making it seriously awkward. "There is really only one way to do this." I said rubbing my hands together. I rolled my shoulders and the people beside me instantly stepped out of the way. My wings inched out, I was so afraid in that moment of her freaking out, but I remained calm on the outside.
My wings reached their full length, I had watched them unfurl the whole time, not even looking at Mrs. Dillwyn once. Lilith reached up and took my hand and I smiled down at her. I looked up at Mrs. Dillwyn for the first time and she was staring at my wings with wide eyes.
"Is this a joke?" She asked immediately.
I flapped my wings and said, "Not unless you find avian experimentation funny."
"Oh my God…. you're… you guys are part of the flock?" She asked with wide eyes.
Max sighed, "I told you that blog of yours was a bad idea… everyone immediately knows you." She was joking but I rolled my eyes anyways.
"It's not my fault I knew who he was right away…" Jim muttered.
"Hey, I gave you a fair amount of hints!" I said tucking in my wings and turning to him. Casey and Kari giggled.
"Fang?" Lilith's little voice distracted me, "How come my wings aren't as big as yours?"
"You're still growing Lili, that's all," I said picking her up and sitting her on the table.
She smiled, "Okay… I thought there might be something wrong with me."
I frowned, "There's nothing wrong with you." I said almost fiercely.
Max sighed, "So you've heard of Fang, Iggy and I, hope that explains a lot." Max said and we began explaining our life, from beginning to end. Some parts were harder to tell than others, the school, my mom's death and the Spanish flu mess.
By the end of it I think we were all pretty rung up with emotions. We didn't tell her about the Cullens, but I really wanted to talk to Alice, she hadn't called in a while.
At the end I looked at Kari and I saw her squeeze Iggy's hand. "Mrs. Dillwyn I need to tell you something and if you can help than you can tell people I guess, but I don't know what it would do…."
"What is it Kari?" Mrs. Dillwyn asked sweetly.
She took a deep breath and looked up at Iggy, "Can you say it for me?" She whispered.
He shook his head, "Only you, Kari, don't worry, I'll always be right here." He whispered back.
She nodded and closed her eyes, "Mrs. Dillwyn my father is physically abusive and that's why Fang was helping me hide." She squeezed his hand so tightly I thought she might break it.
Mrs. Dillwyn looked like she was having too much shock in one day. "Wow… wow… that's serious."
I rolled my eyes, of course it was. I was really proud of Kari. That had to have been hard for her to say.
Lilith looked up at me suddenly, "So… Randle came for me?" She asked and I could see the fear in her eyes.
"Don't worry Lili, I won't let him take you back," I whispered kissing her forehead and she clung to my arm, her lips forming a slight pout and it felt like she was holding in for dear life.
Mrs. Dillwyn smiled a little at me, "So… what is it you want me to do? Why did you tell me about all of this?"
I smiled at my adopted sister, "Nothing really… we just wanted someone at school who knew and was able to help if we needed it."
Kari nodded, "I need someone to… take care of my dad… I think… I don't know… but I just wanted someone to know so that if he came to school to pick me up or something I wouldn't have to go with him."
Mrs. Dillwyn nodded, "Would you like me to report it?"
Kari bit her lip, thinking, "I'm not sure… I'll tell you when I decide."
She nodded, smiled, "Well, I have to get back to town, but I promise you that your secrets are safe with me." She said nodding and she got up. We said goodbye at the door and she left.
I sighed, I wasn't sure that was a good idea to let her know but it was done with now. There was nothing we could do but wait and see what happens.
A/N: So there you have it... this should be interesting. I'm trying to work the Cullen's back into the story and much as possible at the moment but they WILL be coming back shortly... Do not worry amigos! I has a plan! :D
