Hi again,
First off, I would like to apologize for not having updated in... approximately 2 and 1/2 months. Especially because this chapter may or may not have been sitting, completely finished except for a few touch-ups I just did, in a Word Document for about two months (okay, it was) because I may or may not have completely forgotten about this story (okay, I did). Oops?
Second off, I would like to thank, *deep breath*: xXDaniLynnXx, Guest (guest), x-LittleSouthernAngel-x, pandalover9914, Guest (guest), Me (guest), Guest (guest) and Guest (guest) for reviewing; Askyby, EvieFortune, Gabi Laura, L.E.A.H437, SaraLeePurdy, The Keeper of the Fading Dawn, aphroditehuntressgirl, imapeppergirl0824, lucky15371, pandalover9914, and xXDaniLynnXx for favoriting; and Heart n' Soul 2, L.E.A.H437, Perenelle1330, Ravenclaw For The Win, SaraLeePurdy, Sevarra, TashaSAm, WhiteTigerMisty, ZeldaWolf434, anubisfreak, aphroditehuntressgirl, book-lover-2251, lucky15371, pandalover9914, and pococo for following! Thanks so much for the feedback and support!
Thirdly, here is the chapter, yes it is the shortest one yet (sorry about that too), and I plan to update within a week (for real this time!).
I felt absolutely hideous in the morning. I hadn't slept well; my arm burned and my head ached. On top of that, I was running late – as a Roman, I should've known better than to turn off my alarm and go back to sleep for 'five more minutes'!
Edward was waiting for me at school, as usual, but his face was still wrong. It was something in his eyes; something buried deep, but I wasn't sure what it was.
He opened my door for me.
"How do you feel?"
"Perfect," I lied, cringing internally as the sound of the slamming door echoed in my head.
We walked in silence, he shortening his steps to match mine. There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but most were for Alice: What had they said when I was gone? What had Edward said? And most importantly, what did she see in her strange visions of the future? I held back hope that Edward was going to break up with me – it was unlikely, and besides, Reyna would still want me to stay for as long as I was needed. Alice was my friend, so the praetor would count her as a still-available source of information.
The morning passed slowly. I was bored, and impatient to see Alice, though I wouldn't be able to really talk to her with Edward there. Edward remained aloof. Occasionally he would ask about my arm, and I would lie.
Alice usually beat us to lunch; she didn't have to keep place with a sloth like me, or rather, a sloth like I was pretending to be. But she wasn't at the table, waiting with a tray full of food she wouldn't eat.
Edward didn't say anything about her absence. I wondered if her class was running late – until I saw Conner and Ben, who were in her fourth hour French class.
"Where's Alice?" I asked Edward.
He looked at the granola bar he was slowly pulverizing between his fingertips while he answered. "She's with Jasper."
"Is he okay?" Were the events of the past night really so bad he, a vampire, was forced to leave? I doubted it. There had to be some ulterior motive.
"He's gone away for a while."
"What? Where?"
Edward shrugged. "Nowhere in particular."
"And Alice, too," I said quietly, disappointed. Of course, if her mate needed her, she would go.
"Yes. She'll be gone for a while. She was trying to convince him to go to Denali."
Denali was where the one other band of unique vampires – 'vegetarians', like the Cullens – lived. Tanya and her family. I'd heard if them now and again. Edward had run to them last winter when my arrival had made Forks difficult for him. And Laurent, the most civilized of James's little coven, had gone there rather than siding with James against the Cullens. It made sense for Alice to encourage Jasper to go there.
"Is your arm bothering you?" Edward asked solicitously.
"Who cares about my stupid arm?" I muttered.
He didn't answer, and I put my head down on the table.
By the end of the day, the silence was becoming ridiculous. I didn't particularly want to break it – in fact, I had rather enjoyed the absence of his voice – but it felt strange, without talking. As if, if I didn't say something to lead his thoughts back to who he thought I was, he could see through my façade and the Mist.
"You'll come over tonight?" I asked as he walked – silently – to my truck. He almost always came over.
"Later?"
I rolled my eyes when he sounded surprised. Was it impossible for me to want a bit of time by myself first, even if that wasn't the case at the moment? "I have to work. I had to trade with Mrs. Newton to get yesterday off."
"Oh," he murmured.
"So you'll come over when I'm home, though, right?" I asked, making my tone a little unsure.
"If you want me to."
"I always want you," I said through gritted teeth.
"All right, then," he replied indifferently.
He kissed my forehead again before he shut the door on me. Then he turned his back and loped gracefully towards his car.
I drove out of the parking lot and made my way to work, getting out of the truck and slowly walking up to the store. Mike Newton had beaten me here today, and he smiled and waved when I came in. I grabbed my vest, nodding distractedly in his direction. I was still caught up in trying to figure out Edward's recent mood change.
Mike interrupted my thoughts. "How was your birthday?"
"Ugh," I muttered. "I'm glad it's over."
Mike looked at me from the corners of his eyes like I was crazy.
Work dragged. There weren't many customers, and nothing to be put away; I mostly spent the time wandering through the shelves and imagining myself back at Camp Jupiter. I walked past the clock on the wall every few moments, but the hands seemed to be barely moving.
Finally my shift ended, and I headed back home. Edward's silver car was parked in front of my house, I noticed as I turned onto my street.
I walked through the front door, calling out before I was completely inside.
"Dad? Edward?"
As I spoke, I could hear the distinctive theme music from ESPN's SportsCenter coming from the living room.
"In here," Charlie called.
I hung my raincoat – luckily I hadn't had to use it today – on its peg and hurried around the corner.
Edward was in the armchair, Charlie on the sofa. Both had their eyes trained on the TV. The focus was normal for my 'father'. Not so much for my 'boyfriend'.
"Hi," I said suspiciously.
"Hey, Bella," Charlie answered, eyes never moving. "We just had cold pizza. I think it's still on the table."
"Okay."
I walked silently to the kitchen, slightly freaked out. The pizza held no interest for me. I sat in my chair, pulled my knees up, and wrapped my arms around them. Something was very wrong, maybe more wrong than I'd realized. The sounds of male bonding and banter continued from the TV set.
What's the worst that can happen? I asked myself. Edward drinks my blood, then the Cullens go on a killing rampage, slowly heading towards Camp Jupiter… a small voice in the back of my mind trailed off. I flinched slightly.
Okay, what's the worst that actually has a good chance of happening? I reworded. The Cullens decide I mean nothing to them anymore and they need to kill me since I know too much. Possible. But I could always FM Reyna, and tell her that the mission was no longer safe. I knew better than to stick around for too long if Edward continued acting strange – well, other than how he normally acted around 'Bella'.
In front of me, on the table, my presents from Charlie and Renee were where I had left them. I trailed my finger over the pretty cover of the scrapbook my 'mother' had gave me. It wasn't a half-bad idea, to make some record of my life here. I'd at least like a picture with Angela… and the forest here was beautiful. Besides, it would be a good idea to have pictures to show my friends when I told them about the quest.
I grabbed the camera and headed upstairs.
My room was nothing special. The walls were light blue, yellowed lace curtains hanging in front of the window. There was a bed, and a desk with an ancient computer.
Regardless, I snapped a picture of it. There wasn't much else I could do tonight – it was too dark outside.
I took my time coming down the stairs, camera in hand, still thinking about the future. I wondered what Edward was thinking, and half-wished I could read his mind.
I had the camera ready as I leaned around the corner, being sneaky. I was sure that Edward knew I was there, but he didn't look up. I took the picture.
They both looked at me then. Charlie frowned. Edward's face was empty, expressionless.
"What are you doing, Bella?" Charlie complained.
"Oh, come on." I faked a smile as I went to sit on the floor in front of the sofa where Charlie lounged. "You know Mom will be calling soon to ask if I'm using my presents. I have to get to work before she can get her feelings hurt."
"Why are you taking pictures of me, though?" he grumbled.
I shrugged. "Because, since you bought the camera, you're obliged to be one of my subjects."
He muttered something unintelligible.
"Hey, Edward," I said coolly, with admirable indifference. "Take one of me and my dad together."
I threw the camera toward him, and knelt beside the arm of the sofa where Charlie's face was. Charlie sighed.
"You need to smile, Bella," Edward murmured.
I restrained myself from glowering and instead pulled the smile back up.
"Let me take one of you kids," Charlie suggested. I knew he was just trying to shift the camera's focus from himself.
Edward stood and lightly tossed him the camera.
I went to stand beside Edward. He put one hand lightly on my shoulder, and I wrapped my arm more securely around his waist.
"Smile, Bella," Charlie reminded me again.
I took a deep breath and smiled. The flash nearly blinded me.
"Enough pictures for tonight," Charlie said then, shoving the camera into a crevice of the sofa cushions and rolling over it. "You don't have to use the whole roll now."
Edward dropped his hand from my shoulder and twisted casually out of my arm. He sat back down in the armchair.
I hesitated, then went to sit against the sofa again. I put my chin on my knees and stared at the TV, seeing nothing. My mind was elsewhere.
When the show ended, I still hadn't moved an inch. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Edward stand.
"I'd better get home," he said.
Charlie didn't look up from the commercial. "See ya."
I got to my feet and followed Edward out the door. He went straight to his car.
"Are you staying?" I asked, crossing my fingers behind my back.
"Not tonight."
I nodded, and darted back inside.
I got up as soon as there was a faint light outside my window. I shrugged into clothes without looking at what I was putting on; it would fit right in with the act anyway. When I had eaten a bowl of cereal, I decided it was bright enough for more pictures. I took one of my truck, and then the front of the house. I turned and snapped a few of the forest by Charlie's house. Staring into the mysterious green woods, I could almost imagine nymphs flitting about inside.
I put the camera in my school bag before I left, trying to keep my mind on my new project.
School had no impact on me – I barely remembered what we did in classes. Edward walked silently beside me, never actually looking at me. After English, I caught up with Angela Weber and he snapped a picture of the two of us.
At lunch, the silence continued. Bored out of my mind, I distracted myself by leaning across the table's invisible line and speaking to Jessica.
"Hey, Jess?"
"What's up, Bella?"
"Could you do me a favor?" I asked, reaching into my bag. "My mom wants me to get some pictures of my friends for a scrapbook. So, take some pictures of everybody, okay?"
I handed her the camera.
"Sure," she said, grinning, and turned to snap a candid shot of Mike with his mouth full.
A predictable picture war ensued. I watched them hand the camera around the table, giggling and flirting and complaining about being on film. It made me feel homesick for Camp Jupiter, and my friends in Cohort Five.
"Uh-oh," Jessica said apologetically as she returned the camera. "I think we used all your film."
"That's okay," I assured her. "I already got pictures of everything else I needed.
After school, Edward walked with me back to the parking lot in silence. I had to work again, although for once, the prospect didn't bother me as much. What else would I do?
I dropped my film off at the Thriftway on my way to Newton's, and then picked up the developed pictures after work. At home, I said a brief hi to Charlie, grabbed a granola bar from the kitchen, and hurried up to my room with the envelope of photographs tucked under my arm.
I sat in the middle of my bed and opened the envelope. For a heartbeat, I wondered if the first print would really be a blank.
But no; when I pulled it out, there Edward was, the same as ever. I flipped through the rest of the stack once, then grabbed materials and got to work.
Instead of doing my homework, I stayed up late to put my pictures into the album. With a ballpoint pen I scrawled captions under all the pictures, the names and the dates. I drew a few stars around the picture of me and Angela, briefly wishing for one with Alice.
School followed the silent, uninteresting pattern of the last two days. It still hadn't rained yet – the air seemed heavy, as if waiting for something to happen.
After school, Edward walked me to my truck again. "Do you mind if I come over today?" he asked.
I sighed internally. "Of course not."
"Now?" he asked again, opening my door for me.
"Sure," I kept my voice light, even though I was suspicious of the urgency in his tone." I was just going to drop a letter for Renee in the mailbox on the way. I'll meet you there."
He looked at the fat envelope on the passenger seat. Suddenly, he reached over and snagged it.
"I'll do it," he said quietly. "And I'll still beat you there." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
"Okay," I shrugged. He shut the door and headed toward his car.
Edward did beat me home. He was parked in Charlie's spot when I pulled up in front of the house, indicating he didn't plan to stay.
He got out of the car when I stepped out of the truck, and came to meet me. He reached out to take my book bag for me. That was normal, although I didn't appreciate he never let me carry anything myself. But then he shoved it back onto the seat. That was not normal.
"Come for a walk with me," he suggested in an unemotional voice, taking my hand.
I didn't answer. Instead I twisted around the bracelets I had on each wrist, reassured by the presence of my daggers. Combined with my lightning, I would be far from defenseless if I needed to fight.
Of course, Edward did not wait for an answer. He pulled me along toward the east side of the yard, where the forest encroached. I followed silently, curious yet wary.
We'd gone only a few steps into the trees when he stopped. We were barely on the trail – I could still see the house.
Some walk.
Edward leaned against a tree and stared at me. I couldn't read his expression.
I raised an eyebrow. "Okay, let's talk."
He took a deep breath.
"Bella, we're leaving."
"What do you mean?" I frowned slightly. This was not what I expected.
"Bella, it's time. How much longer could we stay in Forks, after all? Carlisle can barely pass for thirty, and he's claiming thirty-three now. We'd have to start over soon regardless."
I just looked at him, still confused. Then I got it, and struggled to keep a small smile from tugging at my lips. "When you say we-"
"I mean my family and myself." Each word separate and distinct.
I nodded slowly. Bella, I reminded myself. "I'll come with you then."
"You can't, Bella. Where we're going… It's not the right place for you."
"Were you are is the right place for me," I lied.
"Bella, I don't want you to come with me," he said, slowly and precisely, his cold eyes fixated on my face.
"You…don't… want me?" I mumbled slowly, acting confused.
"No."
"Well, that changes things." Shock always took over before it all set in. I felt a bit of pride in myself. I was a pretty good spy, and a good actress too.
He looked away into the trees as he spoke again. "Of course, I'll always love you… in a way. But what happened the other night made me realize that it's time for a change. Because I'm…tired of pretending to be something I'm not, Bella. I am not human. I've let this go on much too long, and I am sorry for that."
It was rather ironic. Here I was, pretending to be someone I'm not, putting on an act 24-7 all for information, and he was the one who got tired first.
"Don't," I whispered, keeping up the façade. This would be the wrong time to let my guard down.
"You're not good for me, Bella."
"If… that's what you want," I whispered again.
He nodded once.
"I would like to ask one favor, though, if that's not too much."
I narrowed my eyes slightly, aware I had no choice. "Anything."
"Don't do anything reckless or stupid," he ordered, no longer detached. "Do you understand what I'm saying?"
I nodded then.
His eyes cooled, the distance returning. "I'm thinking of Charlie, of course. He needs you. Take care of yourself – for him."
I nodded a second time. Of course I would do reckless and stupid things, but they wouldn't hurt Charlie.
He seemed to relax just a little.
"And I'll make you a promise in return," he said. "I promise that this will be the last time you'll see me. I won't come back. I won't put you through anything like this again. You can go on with your life without any more interference from me. It will be as if I'd never existed."
I almost laughed. It was exactly what I wanted, after all.
He smiled gently. "Don't worry. You're human – your memory is no more than a sieve. Time heals all wounds for your kind."
"And your memories?" I asked.
"Well" – he hesitated for a short second – "I won't forget. But my kind… we're very easily distracted." Edward smiled; the smile was tranquil and it did not reach his eyes.
He took a step away from me. "That's everything, I suppose. We won't bother you again."
I nodded; it felt like I'd been doing that a lot in the past few minutes.
"Goodbye, Bella," he said in the same quiet, peaceful voice. "Take care of yourself."
And then he was gone, the leaves on a small vine maple shuddering with the gentle wind of his passage.
I stood there for little longer, in case he could still sense me. Then I turned, and began to walk quickly back towards the house.
I had a call to make.
"And you're sure they're all gone?" Reyna double-checked.
"Yes. He was very clear about that part."
She sighed softly. "Okay. Well, I suppose your quest is complete. We know enough; any more information you might have gathered wouldn't have helped much, most likely. Good job, legionnaire. It will be good to have you home."
I smiled. "It'll be good to be home."
Reyna nodded briskly. "I expect you back within a week," was her parting statement, and she waved her hand, cancelling the call.
I leapt off my bed and ran to my closet, ripping up the loose floorboard. Pulling my satchel out, I quickly dug through the contents to make sure everything was in place. I grabbed my scrapbook off the desk and shoved that in. Getting up, I looked around the room. Nope. Nothing else I wanted to bring.
I almost tripped over my own feet in my hurry to get to the window and flung it open, swinging one leg over the windowsill. I was leaning forward to jump, when I was stopped by the leather strap biting into my shoulder.
Mauris. My bag was stuck.
Groaning, I bent backwards and ripped the satchel away from the floorboards. I leant forward again and finally jumped gracefully to the ground. Not realizing my big mistake.
A slightly torn, purple Camp Jupiter shirt fluttered in the breeze left by the open window, caught on a loose nail jutting from the floor.