CPOV
I awoke with a stiff feeling in my limbs and a dry taste in my mouth. I pealed my eye's open to see Trent staring at me with a strange expression. It lightened a bit when I opened my eyes fully.
"Cory…" he breathed smiling slightly as he brushed my hair back.
"What happened…?" I winced and stretched as I sat up and stretched.
"I was hoping you could tell me." Trent looked down at my hands and ran his fingers over my skin. I glanced down to see some slightly paler speckles over my skin like tiny blisters. Suddenly I remembered the pain and my throat tightened.
"It took three days to heal… the marks are only what's left and its only where you got burnt the worst…" I jumped up and walked over to the mirror in the corner and hesitantly pulled my hair back. Pale speckles were patterned along one side of my jaw and down my neck. On the same side, speckles splattered on my arm.
I stared at my self as a whole. They were very noticeable, and very… ugly.
"Do you know why that could have happened?" I nodded and dragged my fingertips across my jaw. I could have sworn the spots were a few degrees warmer then my stone cold skin.
"I had… I guess still have a condition. XP, I couldn't go into the sun… I guess I still can't…" I kept running my hands over my new scars. Hideous…
"Come on, I already packed." Trent wrapped an arm around my waist and toed me way from the mirror.
"Where are we going?" I said blankly shrugging out of Trent's grasp.
"A semi-permanent resident out side of Alaska. It's where I found others. We learn to control our powers there, before I send the ones that are ready to the Volturi. That's why it's semi-permanent."
"But I thought you said I was going with you when you split." Trent nodded his head and smiled widely; no doubt he perceived my eagerness to stay with him as something…
"But you will need to learn how to control your powers. And a place to stay when I go away to search for new vampires." Trent picked up our bags and pulled me out the door. I was surprised to see that it was twilight, and the most amazing car I had ever seen already running.
"A special talent from one of the newer vampires. I knew when you were going to wake up." Trent said as he tapped his temple.
"What is that?" the car was low riding and it was black and blue and amazing.
"A Bugatti Veyron, 407 km/h, 1001PS, 16 cylinders, four turbos, 8.0-litres…"
I brought my hand swiftly to my mouth to make sure I wasn't drooling.
"Who is crazy enough to drive at 407km anyways?" Trent chuckled and opened the door for me.
"No one after the first few crashes, but they didn't have our reflexes now did they?" he winked and I rolled my eyes and sat in the passenger seat.
We had been driving in silence for 3 and a half hours and I looked out the window at the stars. I felt my throat tighten as I thought of Bella. Knowing her she would feel like it's her fault that I sold my soul. She would blame herself. I wondered what she was doing right now. Knowing her she was crying, and Edward was consoling her telling her that it would be okay. Thank God for Edward. He would keep her together for me.
Dustin was probably blaming himself too; the only problem was how would he deal with it. He didn't have anyone. I choked back a sob as hard as I could until I couldn't keep it in. I let the noise blurt out from behind my lips and I couldn't stop it. I missed Bella. I missed everyone. I dropped my head in my hands until I felt a hand lay on my shoulder.
I looked up at Trent's moving lips and concerned face and that's when I noticed. The hum of the car was lost, I couldn't hear the wind rushing past, the faint screeching of the tires on the wet pavement; I couldn't even hear my sobs, it was like I was in a mute bubble.
I let out a gasp and then the sounds rushed back, loud, amplified. I covered my ears in an attempt to numb the noise. Trent winced from the noise but reached over to brush his hand across the side of my face.
"Cory?" Trent whispered. I calmed down and the sound stilled.
"You're catching on with your powers quickly. You trigger then with emotions, once you can control your emotions you cant turn it on and off like a light switch." He paused as I looked back out the window.
"Want to talk about your little explosion there?" I shook my head and shifted in my seat so I was angled towards the door.
"You miss them don't you?" I didn't saw anything but I felt the car come to a stop.
"Do you want to see them?" That caught my attention. I turned quickly to find him leaning towards me slightly. His eyes were searching mine.
"Really? You would let me see them?" the corner of his mouth lifted in a slight, tired smile.
"Not exactly."
"Damn it Trent…" I growled pushing on his chest and turning away again. He just chuckled and grabbed my shoulders turning me around to face him, while I continued pouting.
"Trust me kay? Close your eyes and think hard about some one you want to see." I bit my lip and furrowed my eyebrows before I complied. I let my eyes fall and I thought about Dustin.
And then I felt it, Trent's lips against mine. Before I had time to push him off a scene flashed behind my eyes. Dustin was sitting in the Cullen's kitchen and Carslie was on the phone and Esme beside Dustin rubbing smooth circles into his back.
Alice came in and shook her head at something Esme said and Dustin squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his head in his hands.
I pulled away abruptly.
"What was that?" I exclaimed.
"A gift I picked up. One of the new ones I picked up has that gift. When he kisses people they see whoever they want to."
"Any time?" He nodded and I got excited. "Bella… I want to see Bella."
Without a second thought I grabbed Trent's collar and pulled him back to me.
I saw Edward's bedroom, he was sitting on the side of the bed, one hand was resting on something and the other was in the air, thumb smoothing over something unseen.
I pulled away again.
"I can't see her? Why can't I see her?" Sobs racked through my body and Trent pulled me into a hug.
"She must have an immunity gift, that's why mine didn't work on her and I only saw yours…" he trailed off and I knew exactly what he was thinking.
"No. Don't. You. Dare. If you so much as think of changing her; so help me God I will…" Trent pulled away and clasped his hand over my mouth.
"I give you my word, I wont change her. I promise."
I turned back towards the window and lay my head against the glass thinking about what had just happened. I can't see her, I can see where she is, I can see the others interact with her, and I can see him.
I shook my head at how… dependant on Dustin I felt, it wasn't me; but now, I could care less.
BPOV
"Bella, we will find her I promise. Carslie is on the phone with an old friend right now. He will be able to help." Edward brushed his thumb across my cheek. I just nodded in response. These past days had been chaotic. I awoke and everyone was acting strange.
And if it weren't for my gift's they probably never would have told me why.
I am naturally immune to other's powers. If they use their power on me, I learn their power. But I can turn my immunity off, which means I don't learn a power and others can use theirs on me. Carslie says its because when I'm immune, my mind absorbs the power that are trying to get in like a sponge. I haven't exactly learned how to turn my immunity off yet or use the powers I 'sponged' either. Some times it just happens on its own just randomly my guard goes down and I don't even notice.
It sucks because Edward hears me, and doesn't even tell me.
Suddenly Edward shifted and his bedroom door swung open.
"Hey Bella!" Alice beamed from the door "Mind if I steal Edward for a minute?" I waved my hand and turned away from Edward, to go stand by his window.
I had been in a slump ever since I randomly used Edward's power and read the minds of everyone.
It was all, my fault. She always took care of me. If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't be changed, and she would be safe and home. I'm useless and defenceless. I can't even take care of my self.
I hate me.
EPOV
"Alice? What did you see?" Alice fidgeted nervously and then opened her mind. I saw Cory and Trent in a car. He was watching her calculating her expression. Her face was masked in a few colours. She looked shocked, confused and hopeful.
"Bella… I want to see Bella." Cory grabbed Trent's collar and yanked him towards her. He had a smile on his lips and her face was scrunched slightly.
"I have no idea what that's all about… but did you see?" Alice asked me as she shuffled her feet.
"See what?" Alice beamed and pranced right in front of me.
"The sign. They are heading towards Caribou highway." I raised my eyebrow and ushered her to continue. She sighed loudly before shouting.
"Their on there way to Alaska!"
"Alice have I ever told you how much I love you!" I exclaimed as I pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.
"No but if I were you I would keep that quiet; Jasper and Bella probably wouldn't like that too much...
I raced into the house and up to my bedroom where Bella was standing by the window. I Threw her over my shoulder quickly and she squealed in surprise as I ran her back downstairs to the kitchen.
"We have news!" Alice shouted as soon as I sped into the room. Dustin's head perked up and I noticed his eyes.
The blue with gold and red flecks had vanished to a black with a faint topaz ring. Dark circles surrounded his them and his face paler then usual.
"Wait… Alice you tell them… I want to talk to Dustin alone first." I heard Dustin's mind. He was confused on why but he stood up and I pointed to the back door.
"I'll be back soon." I kissed Bella's temple quickly before following after Dustin.
When we got outside I told Dustin to follow me as I led him into the surrounding forest. After about 2 minutes of running, Dustin cut me off.
"Okay this is far enough. What?"
"Do you smell that?" Dustin growled at me with his mind as he crossed his arms across his chest. "When was the last time you ate?"
"This is what you dragged me here for?"
"You need to eat Dustin. This isn't healthy. Your not even able to use your power anymore." I pointed to his eye's and he just shifted his head."
Whatever. He turned to storm off but I pinned him against a tree.
"Jesus Dustin, if Cory could see you know, what do you think she would say?"
"Listen E-"
"No you listen. Were trying our best here and you sulking didn't help us find her any sooner. Grow up your acting immature. I could once say easily, that you were the smartest and most rational human being I had ever met; well except for being dumb by befriending vampires; but now, your acting so stupid! Bella isn't even acting as bad as you and Cory is her sister. She grew up with her. Bella's upset and so are you we get that, starving yourself isn't going to help us. Now I want you to eat something."
"What did you say?" I was confused now…
"Grow up?"
No, you said 'didn't help us' didn't as you found her?
I smiled and nodded. "You better go get something to eat before we get on the plane; I don't think you could survive on a plane full of potential snacks. That and we don't want your bags scaring the flight attendant." Dustin smiled at me before taking off into the forest while I headed back to the house. I couldn't wait to see Bella's smiling face. I had missed it.
CPOV
"Here we are." I stepped out of the car only to see a beautiful building. Large, very large.
"It looks like a boarding school…" I walked up to the huge iron gate and ran my hands along it. There were a lot of dents in the iron. I traced my hands over the grooves.
"That's cause it kinda is. For those I find, I bring them here to help them develop their powers before they go to the Volturi. The most developed are the first to go. Some of them weren't too aware of their strength…" Trent chuckled as he opened the gate waving me inside.
"So it's like Xmen, does that make you Xavier?"
"Ha. Ha. very funny. I arranged a suit for you, it's private and I'm sure you will love it." I let Trent drag me through the gates and into the building.
"Trent!" A guy and girl about my age danced over to us. They looked identical, only one's features were softer and feminine. Their eyes were a duller red, and there hair was the same shade of strange bronze as Edward's.
"Hello Gem and Leo, how are your powers?"
"We still can't get it together…" the girl piped up before the boy wrapped his arm around her head to cover her mouth.
"No, no, no, no, you see, Gem here can't get it together. My end of the gift is just fine." Gem pulled forward her elbow only to bring it back into Leo's gut.
"Cory, this is Gem and Leo, one of the oldest additions to this place."
"Hey Cory. Our powers are elements. I am earth and water, and Leo is fire and air. Once we learn how to concentrate our powers together we can create the fifth element."
"What's the fifth element?" I asked curiously.
"Aether. Basically its energy, we don't know what will happen exactly, Trent wont tell us that much. He says he wants to keep it a surprise." Trent just shrugged and put his hand on the small of my back pushing me along.
"What's your power Cory?" Leo asked as he backwards in front of me
"Actually she is just my guest. She doesn't have any powers, but she will be staying with us for some time."
"Oh, well see you around Cory!" Gem and Leo waved goodbye and Trent pulled me into an elevator.
"Sorry Cory, it's just thy know those who come here with power go to the Volturi. If they found I was playing favourites, some might get jealous. And here we are."
The elevators opened to a short hallway. Wit doors right across from each other.
"My suit is on the right, yours is on the left." He led me into my room and I gapped. Through the door was a large room with a closet. Through the door was a large living room with a large t.v. and a couch. The kitchen was behind it and there were two doors on either side.
"the kitchen is to hold blood. I packaged animal blood for you of all kinds so you wont have to go out." Trent led me to one of the doors and opened it. There was a bed and a bathroom attached to it. There was a Jacuzzi bath, and a large shower, that was also a steam shower.
"I saved the best for last."
"What?" Trent smiled widely, before pulling me to the second door.
"Close your eyes."
When in didn't comply, Trent sighed loudly and went behind me to cover my eyes. I could hear the door open and then Trent walked me inside.
"Okay… now…" he moved his hands and I blinked a few times to adjust my vision and then I gasped.
It was a large room with a window wall that was covered in what I knew was UV sheets. There was a pure white grand piano in the centre of the room and all over the walls were two of everything. There was an acoustic and an electric guitar, two base, two violins, cellos, flutes; every musical instrument decorated the walls from bottom to top. A step stool was tucked in the corner so you could get to them all. There was a computer on one side of the room with top op the line recording equipment, and a beautiful pure white drum set was across from it with a glass casing over it and a glass door to mute the sound.
"Wow…" I breathed as I ran my hands over the keys careful not to spoil the silence.
"You like it? I wasn't sure what you played, but I figured you did since controlling sound was one of your gifts."
"I have played most, and the others I have wanted to play… I haven't played anything in so long… since I lost the nerves in my hand…" I sat down on the piano bench and smoothed my hands over the keys.
"Play something for me?" I hit a couple random keys until I found the right note. Before I started to play and sing.
"Your sky seems so cloudy
I can barely see a single star
Your eyes become teary
And find yourself hiding in the dark
You are not alone
Someone's here to play your song
Take my hand
We'll fly to the sky
Close your eyes ,i'm at your side
Tomorrow's gonna be just fine
Everything's been bitter
Like there was no reason to smile
Pieces of dreams have been shattered
And you feel like you're being left behind"
My voice cracked at the last part, and I bit my lip stopping my playing…
All my life I had pushed people away, and as soon as I found some one who didn't just give up, who fought to win me over, I loose them. I call it karma.
"Cory…" I felt Trent sit beside me and wrap an arm around my waist. Without opening my eyes I kissed Trent and once again seen the beautiful face, smiling finally as he pulled Alice towards him and kissed her before Carslie said something and the rest of the Cullen family scattered leaving Alice and Dustin hugging each other tightly.
"Cory… I'm sorry…" I shook my head while I searched for reasons…
"No… no see she's with Jasper, and He…he said…"
"I'm so, so sorry." Trent hugged me tightly while I shook my head against his chest. Wow was I stupid, all this time I was missing him… I opened myself and let him in and for what? Empty promises and this strange stabbing pain in my chest?
It didn't make any sense them, what I saw. But they both looked happy and so did the Cullen's while they watched them with happy faces… and the only three I didn't see were Edward, Bella, and Jasper.
I felt so vulnerable now, open and stinging, and though my gift was to create walls, I couldn't seem to close this one. And it hurt…