Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Twilight. Stephenie Meyer does and she is oh so very awesome for letting me play with them. Thank you.
Slow Burn
My legs felt heavy and blood dripped down my arm and pooled at the tip of my boot. I couldn't tell you if it was mine or Jasper's but I could see the beach from where I stood. I had not ever heard of someone dying from blood loss to the arm; but I had lost a lot and I felt fatigue from carrying Jasper over the terrain. My legs felt shaky and my heart was pounding in my ears.
There was movement up ahead but everything seemed to blur and create a haze of double, maybe even triple vision as my legs finally gave out and I collapsed into a sea of blackness. I had kept my promise; I got myself and Jasper hopefully to someone who could help us.
It'll be ok Edward; just relax.
I tried to open my eyes as I heard my angel's voice calling to me. I knew I was losing my mind, possibly dehydrated, maybe even lost way too much blood and exhausted, but I would rather be that way right now and hear her sweet voice than to be listening to my own inner monologue.
I felt the brush of wind around me as my body was levitated but I was too weak to respond to whoever it was with more than a slight tap of my hand. My eyes squinted and dropped every time I tried to open them. My legs felt heavy even as it was someone else carrying me and then there were two thuds on a metal ground. I assume Jasper and I was placed in the helicopter…but had no idea by who.
Until we meet again.
There was a faint hum in the background followed by high speed whispers and the occasional growl. I hoped that we weren't being attacked by animals but knew that there was nothing I or Jasper could do at the moment. We were so eager to get our first mission…and so quick to get into trouble. Was this what Alice was talking about? Was this what was going to change me?
My mind was racing as I tried to speak but only heard a soft moan come from lips before my body was lifted and again I was being carried away. I cracked an eye lid to see the trees running past me and the sky flashing between the limbs. My mind must have been playing games on me because there was no way I was moving that fast without being in a plane right now. And as I was sure of the thumps of steps on the ground I was sure that I was not flying.
A musical sounding muffled voice responded after a quiet knock on what I assume to be door opened. The air smelled of smoke and incense as I was placed on a hard cold surface and then a searing pain shot through my entire body. I felt myself jerk but there was a pressure holding me down.
The fire inside me spread and I thought that this must be what it was like to descend to hell; I was burning and felt the echo of my screams for mercy penetrate through the inclosing walls around me. My heart beat was so loud it was almost deafening as it weakened to slow a steady thump.
My mouth felt dry as the assault continued inside me; I tried to relax myself as much as possible but felt the flinches as each flame licked its way through my veins. Questions of what or how ran through my mind, but I could decide on what was happening to me. Some sort of torture? Why couldn't I just die…?
You are.
"They'll both be coming around in a few hours."
"How do you know?"
I recognized Carlisle's voice immediately, but it was intensified and clear as ringing bells on a Sunday morning. The second voice was a deep woman's voice and carried a hint of laughter behind it. Where in the world was I? I could feel the burning licking its way through my chest but I was growing used to the intense heat. How long had I been laying here burning? And if I was dying as my angel had told me…why wasn't I dead already?
The voices drifted off as another searing pain tore through my body burning what was left of my soul. I felt my heart give one last beat and figured that this was it; this was what death felt like. But I wasn't dead, why wasn't I dead?
I first tried to move my finger tips then my toes and then as if the thought simply traveled from brain to my legs I jerked up and flew against a wall with speed that I didn't know I was capable of. I opened my eyes to see a very large black woman standing before me with her hair in braids and her large eyes smiling.
I didn't speak but turned my head and noticed Jasper lying down on the floor with blood still splattered over his military issued uniform. His fingers twitched and then his head turned, blood red eyes peered at me and my head shot around again finding Carlisle calm and taking in the room around him.
Every thing was clearer than I had seen before; specks of dust floated around me before settling on the ground at my feet and I wondered if my eyes looked like Jasper's did.
They must be so confused.
"Confused about what? What are we confused about?"
My hand shot to my throat when I heard my own voice. It was different; I couldn't put my finger on it…but I was sure it was different. Jasper noticed the change to as his body shot up and a growl escaped his lips.
They need to feed.
"Carlisle what are you talking about?!?"
Carlisle's eyes widened as he took a hesitant step closer to me; I felt an involuntary growl escape my lips as I glanced again at Jasper's hunched over form. He wasn't breathing but I could hear him speaking to himself.
"Could everyone please stop talking at once?"
Everyone looked at me as if I was stupid and then suddenly I felt very angry, and frustrated, and confused. Waves of emotions slammed into me making me feel weak and yet strong at the same time. I felt as if I could bend metal with my bare hands.
What the fuck is he talking about, what's wrong with me?
I think he can read minds.
Why did Carlisle bring them here?
I need to get them to feed.
Why isn't anyone talking?
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Jasper has a gift to.
"Stop! All of you just stop! Please be quiet!"
I dropped to my knees and my hands moved to my hair grasping the temples of my head and holding it tightly; even my hair felt different between my finger tips as a sudden wave of calm hit me from no where.
Edward, can you hear me?
"Of course I can hear you; none of you will shut up for a damn second!"
"Edward, I wasn't talking out loud…none of us are actually."
I looked up at Carlisle and over to Jasper who had concern and fear written across his face. Judging from his stance he wanted to move to me, but his feet were glued to the floor in confusion.
"I didn't know you both would have gifts. I'm sorry; it was the only way to save you."
"Carlisle, what are you talking about."
"This is going to take a long time to explain…but you both need to feed. Please follow me and my friend Zafrina and then all will be explained."
The waves of calm stopped and I looked over to Jasper who didn't know what to do; what was to explain…what did he have to do to save us? Why the fuck wont anyone shut up and yet as I look at there mouths I could see the creases in the frowns but none of them were opening. What the hell kind of gift would make that happen?
You can hear me?
I looked over to Jasper as his curious gaze locked onto mine and I nodded my head yes. I watched the muscles in his neck as his head turned slightly and his eye brows scrunched together.
He took a very fast step in my direction and then stopped moving completely; it was like watching a child take it's first hesitant steps; those his thoughts were jumbled the confusion and questions were starting to clear up and he was just as confused with how fast that step was as I was. He looked down at his feet and then back to me as I shot him a weary glance. Then both of our heads turned to Carlisle who promised answers once we 'fed'.
"Where are we going?"
"Just follow me and Zafrina…we'll talk on the way."
I nodded my head as Jasper's thoughts agreed with my own; we didn't have a choice…we never had a choice and there was no use fighting whatever it was Carlisle needed to tell us, we simply had no choice in the matter.
