PART VII
"I didn't expect to see you for quite some time." He says in a tone that quite clearly says, 'go away.'
"I know," I reply, wary. "But I've been asked to relay a message."
"And?" He doesn't turn to face me, just leaves his back for me to talk to.
"Bruno and Ivan are both ready to move on. I'm not sure what prompted their change of heart, but they requested your services at the earliest convienience."
"Ok, thank you, I'll see them tomorrow," again dismissing me.
I stare at his black-clad back for an immeasurable time... searching for words. Wanting to say much more. Wanting to scream. Cry. Shake him... anything.
"You can go now," he dismisses me.
"I know... I just." I sigh heavily. "I learned something from Alec. Something that may be able to change how things happened."
"You can change the journey, Bella. But the destination will always be the same. Now please, go."
I purse my lips, "I don't know why you are taking this out on me... I'm not the one who wrote your path."
"No... it was Carlisle that doomed me to this life."
I tsk, "you seem quite knowledgeable about our destinations still remaining the same. So tell me Edward, did you try to stop your Earthly self from becoming a vampire?"
He rumbles low in his throat. "Yes..."
My eyebrows shoot up, "and so... what happened?"
"I intervened and a rogue vampire tried to impose on Carlisle's territory... he bit me instead."
"Then as you say... the course is set and it's no one's fault. Don't loathe Carlisle for your fate."
"I still didn't ask for this."
"No, you didn't. But it's high time you accepted your life and move on... it has been over two-thousand years, Edward. You are doing good work, you weren't doomed to hell as you first thought you might. Try to see the bright side."
"You will never understand, Bella... just leave me be."
"Fine. Perhaps you should consider telling your Earthly self his fate, he might not be as hard on himself and actually enjoy life, somewhat."
"You know the rules, Bella."
"They aren't gospel, Edward. I think the Earth-bound Edward will act calmly and rationally, your family wont let him lash out at humans."
"I'll think about it," he replies shortly.
This time, I leave him to his self pity, there's an old woman in Rio that needs me.
I summon my destination and appear in a dirty street with few people sitting about in a lazy manner. I walk through the front door and find the woman in question, one Theresa Nunez, kneading dough, humming softly to herself. I take a seat beside her and watch her hypnotising minstrations, waiting.
The front door kicks in and four men all dressed in black, armed to the teeth, storm in. They scream at the old woman, demanding to know where her grandson is. She can't however, answer them. Theresa Nunez is deaf, hence cannot reply to a question she does not hear. Frustrated, one of the men knocks her on the temple with the butt of his rifle, knocking her to the floor, her head hitting the corner of a close-by bench on the way down. The men then continue on through the house, looking for what they came for.
Theresa gets up from the floor and I smile at her, holding out my hand for her to take. Reluctantly, she takes it, and when she does, I embrace her, trying to abate the violent shaking of her shock.
"It will be okay," I soothe, not that she can understand.
I take her home.
