Chapter 16

The New Year had passed by without any incident. The Volturi had remained in the dark where Alice could not see the result of their decision. But I had a feeling they were stalling, probably getting ready for the war both parties know will happen. On the domestic department, things were getting nothing short of tense. Patch and I were still not talking. Patch wasn't the type to stoop low to take jabs at Seth but whenever Seth walks in the same room as him, Patch walks out.

Soon after a few more training sessions, our stay at Forks was coming to a close. Classes start at the third and we need to talk to Pepper with the rest of the Nephilim army about the vampires. We still need to plan what our next move is going to be.

After our last training session during the first day of the year, I found myself packing my clothes back into my bag when I heard a knock on my door. Wondering if it was Patch wanting to finally talk, I opened it. However, it wasn't him standing in front of my door. It was Seth.

"Yes?" I asked, feeling a bit awkward and a bit annoyed.

"Can we talk?"

I exhaled slowly before stepping aside. He entered and I closed the door behind him. "What's going on, Seth?"

"I'm sorry if I caused anything between you and Patch," he started, staring directly at my eyes.

I nodded, not really wanting Seth to be the person I talked to about this. "Things will work out the way they should."

He bit his lip as if to stop himself from going on further. I waited for him to speak but when he said nothing else, I waved him towards the door a little impatiently. "Look Seth, I have a lot of things to do. Patch and I will be fine, thank you for your concern."

He scrunched his face as if to ready himself. "That's what I've come to talk to you about. Maybe you're not right for each other. I've been thinking about it for a few days now. I feel like this is similar to Bella's, Edward's, and Jacob's case when she was still a human."

"What do you mean?"

"Jacob was in love with Bella and when Edward left, he was there for her. It carried on for months until Bella gave birth to Renesmee and Jacob imprinted on her."

I already knew this. "So?"

"So, Jacob had never imprinted on Bella. He was just irrevocably in love with her. Eventually, the reason why Jacob never imprinted on her is because he was going to have someone else. At that time, she just wasn't born yet."

I grimaced at the thought, a bit disgusted at his logic. I knew where this is leading and it was making me angry. When I spoke, it was slow and quiet but venomous. "So what you're saying is that because you imprinted on me, I'm meant to be with you instead of Patch?"

"It must be the reason."

"Well, I think that's a load of bull," I scoffed angrily. My blood was boiling at his words and how easily he could say them. "Has it ever occurred to you that not everyone you imprinted on will be with you? We still have the right to choose. Just because the other girls that your pack has imprinted on may have felt the same deep love your pack members showed them, it doesn't mean that will be the case for every single girl any of you imprint on. I am not like any creature your pack had imprinted on, Seth. Remember that. Keep your head straight, how about that? Keep your head focused on what's going on. There are bigger things happening right now tha-!"

"What's going on here?"

I turned around to see Patch at my door, his hand gripping the doorknob tightly. His eyes were flashing dangerously at Seth and I realized his grip on the doorknob was the only thing keeping him from attacking Seth.

"Great, this is just what I need!" I screamed in frustration. "Get out, both of you!"

I glared at the two of them until they were out of the door. I stuffed all my clothes inside my bag with force, mumbling irritably under my breath. Why were they making this such a big deal? There's bigger things we're in the middle of than their problems.

I sighed loudly as I remembered Vee had borrowed one pair of my earrings. I opened my door to get them from her when I was surprised to see the Cullens were crowded in the hall. They were surrounding Seth and Patch who were both standing in front of my door, glaring at each other.

"Seth, that's enough," Jacob warned, trying to pull Seth away.

"What's going on here?" I asked, disgusted.

My voice seem to have pulled them back. They glared at each other before muttering, "Nothing," at the same time. Patch was the first to leave the scene. He went past the others and slammed his bedroom door. Seth glanced at me for a second before going down the stairs and heading for the front door. A second later after he disappeared, I heard the front door slam too.

"I'm sorry, Nora," Jacob muttered before following Seth outside. The others from his pack followed him until I was left standing with the vampires.

Without another word, I went to Vee's room. I felt their eyes at the back of my head and tried hard to ignore it. I knocked on her door, which she answered almost automatically because I was screaming for her to open the door in mind speak.

Inside her room, I let myself exhale to calm my anger. Vee watched me as if asking me, "What the hell happened?"

I lifted my hand up and shook my head, not wanting to say anything. "The sooner we get out of here, the better," I told her, slumping myself on her bed. "The more space I could get from Patch and Seth, and their stupid ego battle, the more peaceful my life will be."

The following morning, I got up early and got ready for the long trip back to Maine. I huffed and puffed to lower my baggage down the front door. I stopped for a second when I realized I wasn't alone. I straightened up and faced the darkness behind me.

"What is it, Edward?" I called out, looking directly at the direction I knew he was standing.

He stepped out of the darkness like a ghost. "I need to talk to you."

I hesitated before I followed him in one of their sitting room. Edward and I had never really spoken much since I came here. If there was someone Edward was close to in our group, it would be Patch but I wouldn't call what they have friendship. Edward acknowledges me when the vampires and our groups have talks but we've never had any personal interactions beyond that.

"What's going on, Edward?" I repeated.

He seemed to hesitate at first but decided to delve on. "I know you're helping us out not only for the sake of your kind but also ours. I appreciate it. But since we decided to help you to your quest, I would like to boldly ask you for a favor on behalf of my family."

I continued to keep quiet, knowing this is favor that he is asking for will be big. I held his gaze, my face blank. In turn, he didn't look away either. "I want to take into account what will happen if we cannot stop them, the Volturi does harness Devilcraft, and the Archangels destroy the Volturi."

I wasn't sure where he was going with this now. So finally I spoke, "What are you getting at, Edward?"

It was then he looked away. "I want to ask for guarantee that the Archangels will not destroy my family if the Volturi does get the Devilcraft."

I remained unmoving until he met my eyes. "That isn't for me to decide," I told him as honest as I could.

"Would you promise to at least talk to the Archangels about my request?"

I nodded slowly before I stood up and walked back to my luggage. Patch was already by the bags on the bottom of the staircase. He saw me come out of the sitting room with Edward. His eyes followed us closely with his eyebrows slightly lifting. For a moment, I forgot last night and my annoyance with him. I gave him a meaningful glance. I needed to talk to him about Edward's request.

I walked towards Patch and I knew his eyes were still on me, questioning. But he didn't press for anymore answers. We both waited for Vee who was now on the hallway, dragging her suitcase down the stairs.

Once she met us at the bottom, Patch excused himself. "I'll bring the car to the front. I'll meet you both outside."

"Nora," someone called out behind me. I knew who it was just by the low timbre of his voice. I had a feeling he waited until Patch was out of the door to speak to me.

Vee's eyes wandered to the person behind me first and gave a sly smile. "I'll go check on Patch." She turned and followed him out of the door even though Patch had only been gone about a minute.

I faced Seth. The annoyance surged through me. His words from last night hit me like a punch in the gut. It was almost hilarious he can compare me to the girls her pack members had imprinted on. But it didn't give me any amusement to be labeled as one of them. So when my words come out, they were anything but friendly. "What?"

"I just wanted to apologize for how I have been behaving," he told me in a quiet tone. "Out of everything else, I just want you to be happy. It's the only thing that matters to me."

I was quiet for a minute, letting the apology sink into me. Finally, I decided I couldn't be angry at him. It was because I know he couldn't help who imprint on and I know my anger wasn't necessary. He needs to realize I won't change my decision, however. "Even if that means I will probably be never be with you?" I asked him. I gently touched his chin so he would look at me.

"So you choose him," he said simply, his tone defeated.

"Seth, it wouldn't matter if you told me you have feelings for me beyond what imprinting dictates you to have. I've known you for only a short period of time. Sure, you're a great guy but Patch…Patch will always be the one for me." I held his hand between both of mine. "I promise you, I will let you in my life but nothing more than what I can offer you, which is friendship. After our issue with the Volturi, I promise you, I will be your friend."

He set his jaw and nodded but said nothing else. I heard Vee call my name from the outside and I knew it was time to go. I wrapped my arms around his neck and his arm found itself around me.

"Take care, Seth," I said as I let go. I gave him a weary smile before following my companions out the door.

Despite leaving Washington early morning, we arrived at Coldwater well into the night. The plane ride was long and going through terminals was completely hectic with people hustling about to return to their normal lives. By the time we had all gotten inside the Jeep Commander, Vee and I were extremely exhausted. Of course, Patch looked as relaxed as he had been before we left Forks. He's Patch. He doesn't get tired.

As we drove towards Coldwater, I caught a glimpse of Vee with her eyes closed, apparently asleep. I watched her carefully as her chest rose up and down. My eyes landed on Patch as he drove. His eyebrow went up, waiting for me to talk. But I remained silent.

"If looks could only kill. You're distracting me, Angel. We don't want to be involved in a car crash do we? I need my concentration back," he grinned.

"As if you're easily distracted by anything," I muttered back. But I was smiling too, despite myself and despite my annoyance with him.

"I can recall several instances," he glanced away from the road his eyes traveling to me before they traveled further down to my legs. A shiver ran across me and he smiled before he returned to the road. "Yeah, I'm distracted."

I continued to stare at him for a few minutes and he just let me. Until, he spoke again. "So, we're in friendly terms now?"

I inhaled sharply before letting it go. "As long as you don't annoy me anymore."

He didn't reply for another few minutes. "I'm sorry," he spoke up again when the silence had become too thick.

I considered something for a minute. I really shouldn't be apologizing but I knew in the back of his mind, there was something that bothered him. Perhaps he doubted my true intentions about the relationship. I couldn't blame him. I've been jealous so many times too. "I'm sorry, too. I'm sorry if I made you think, however brief it is, that I was going to choose Seth over you."

"It wasn't you. He annoyed me. But I'm not going to do anything like that again, I promise."

I looked out of the window as Portland zoom past us. There was something I wanted to talk to Patch about but I wasn't sure if I should wait until we get to Coldwater to say it. But honestly, once we step back into our old lives, the politics will take over. I wouldn't have the chance to tell him about Edward's favor. Perhaps I was afraid too, that by speaking it, I was acknowledging the reality of Edward's fear that we would end up failing.

"The Cullens are asking for immunity from the Archangels if we ever lose," I blurted out before I could stop myself. His black eyes had turned so icy cold that I actually flinched. His muscles were rigid and I could see the hand grasping the wheel turn tighter until the knuckles were white.

"That's a lot to ask," his voice was low and hardly audible.

"And it means they think, even after all of that training, that we were going to lose," I added, my stomach in knots.

He shook his head. "Nora, I don't think that's the case. What Edward wants to do is to make sure his family will be unharmed no matter who wins. If the Volturi does prevail, with us dead, the Archangels will swoop down and annihilate their whole race. They'll probably include the werewolves as well. You know, death by association."

I didn't like how his tone adapted an elated timbre when he mentioned the werewolves but I said nothing.

"If we win, he wants the Archangels not to harm them because they associated with us. It doesn't necessarily reflect his opinion of the war because even Alice doesn't know what will happen. We're blocking their visions left and right. He's covering his ass."

"So what do we ask the Archangels?"

He shrugged. "We could just ignore the favor and let the chips fall wherever." Then he glanced at me and a smile played at his lips again. "Though I doubt your conscience would let me do it."

"So we ask the Archangels about it."

He nodded. "We're going to ask the Archangels about it."

We dropped off Vee first. She groggily got out of the car, stumbling into her driveway. Patch helped her with her luggage and even walked her to her door. After she rummaged through her bag for her keys and opened the door, she was already gone without a look back, too exhausted to even wave back.

Patch turned to the street that was a straight shot to the farmhouse but I found myself not wanting to be alone. I called my mom early to tell her we were going home. Her flight was not until the following afternoon and she expects me to stay at home. Of course, I had no plans of doing so for the night. I gently touched Patch's hand resting on the gear shift.

"I want to stay with you," I muttered.

"Making up for lost time?" he teased.

I considered it for a moment. "That and it would save us time tomorrow if we want to meet up with Basso and Pepper."

"All right. Though we're not going to Delphic," he told me.

"We're not?"

"I don't want Pepper walking in on us again."

At his townhouse, we found ourselves in the covers, breathing heavily. Perspiration made my hair stuck at the nape of my neck and on my face. The black silk sheets felt so good and so cool against my bare body. I gazed at Patch's eyes, communicating with him without needing our voices or mind speak. I sighed, closed my eyes, and cuddled closer to him. His hand found my damp hair, massaging the follicles back. I could die happy right now. I gently caressed his chest, still keeping my eyes closed.

He chuckled beside me, his voice filling me up and warming parts of me. "We have an early meeting tomorrow, Angel," he whispered. "We need to wake up early."

I sighed again, keeping my voice low too. "All right, let's sleep." But I didn't stop caressing his chest.

He chuckled again as he pushed me beneath him. "One more wouldn't hurt."

The following morning, we headed towards Delphic, walking towards the abandoned amusement park hand-in-hand. Despite Pepper's busy schedule, he had not left the amusement park in ruins. It actually looked a lot better than how we had left it.

"I should really let Pepper take over Delphic a lot more," Patch said in approval.

"You really should," a voice behind us said. We turned and saw Pepper smiling at us, cradling three cups of coffee from Enzo's in his arms. He handed one to me before handing one to Patch.

"So, how are the bloodsuckers?" Pepper asked, sipping on his coffee.

"They agreed on helping us," Patch replied. Unlike Pepper, he placed his cup down on the ground. The steam snaked its way out of the small hole that served as a mouth piece.

Pepper nodded, knowing this already. "Yeah, I'm there. But what are the new techniques? I lost communication with you before Christmas."

I frowned. Before Christmas? I thought Patch had been keeping Pepper in the loop form the very beginning?

"The Cullens asked for help from other vampires," he said darkly.

Pepper spat out some of his coffee as he heard Patch's words. "They what?!"

"There are two covens working with them as of right now," Patch continued as if Pepper's little reaction didn't happen.

"Besides the werewolves?"

"Yes."

Pepper's cherubim face turned solemn. "This isn't good, Jev. You know the Archangels wouldn't be pleased. They're already having a hard time wrapping their head around the idea of vampires working with you on this one."

Patch stared in the distance as if he wasn't listening to Pepper. "But they have served their purpose. We know how to stop these things and we can plan on doing so without unnecessary casualties."

"But like what you said, they served their purpose. Why not just dump them before they insist on a reward?" Pepper asked as if it was the easiest solution.

I shook my head. "That'll make them our enemies. I don't think it would be wise to have them as our enemy. It's not our job to annihilate a race even if we can. It's not our judgment and it's not our call."

"But ask this to yourself, if the table was switched, would they do exactly the same thing for you as you're considering right now?"

I exchanged glances with Patch before speaking. "Yes, I think they will."

Pepper sighed, defeated. "All right. So what now?"

"We'll head to the warehouses soon to instruct them ourselves. Train them the way you have been for the past few months."

He nodded and began walking away before he stopped. "The Nephils are wondering when you'll return, Nora. As much as I enjoyed training your jolly army, I think their tolerance for me is running low. They'd want to see their leader as soon as possible."

"I'll take note of that."

He nodded again. "No use being a leader if they can't see you." He turned around and left. I watched as he drove away just as the sun was rising. I blinked the rays out of my eyes and saw a figure materialize in the parking lot. His gait was relaxed and he had his hands on his pockets.

I looked at Patch and he nodded, seeing the figure too. We waited as Basso came closer and closer to the both of us. I felt my own anticipation rising.

"So, what's the news you bring me?" he asked as soon as he stood in front of us.

So Patch explained everything. How it's actually the Volturi who wants the power to solidify their reign and how the Cullens were just a bystander. He told him how the Cullens agreed to make us their allies and how they taught us how to kill off any vampires. I added our allegiance with the werewolves and the other vampire covens.

Basso's face remained blank as we told him about the Cullens and their world. But his expression changed when I told him about the werewolves and the other vampires. He didn't look pleased when I told him about the Cullens' request. We waited for his response but he only sighed and for the first time looked as worn out as we felt. His eyes shifted from Patch to me and back to Patch before he finally spoke.

"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the vampires are asking for immunity. Nothing in this life is free, even if it should be as natural as going against evil. I'll talk to the others about their wishes but do not make promises on the Archangel's behalf. It would be best that you don't mention it to the vampires, actually. I suppose they want the pardon not only for their family but also for their allies?"

I didn't think of it that way but I suppose Basso was right. Edward would want his allies to be in this immunity agreement. I nodded and let out a quivering breath. "I'm sorry we're complicating it more than it really needs to be."

He waved the apology away. "You're doing your job and it's more than what the Archangels could hope for. Whatever it is you're doing, it's effective."

"What do you mean?" Patch asked.

"We have been monitoring the curiosity over the Devilcraft, of course, and we are sensing doubt on the other side. Of course, we were hoping the troublemakers were the Cullens and you were somehow getting through to them. But it only seems like your plan of garnering support from their kind is placing doubt in the Volturi's heart."

"We're getting through to them?" I asked in disbelief. However, that would explain why the Volturi had remained where they are. They haven't even contacted the Cullens.

"No, it's unmerited to go that far," Basso admitted. "You're planting doubt but something tells me it's a temporary thing. You'll want to strike whilst the iron is hot."

"We understand. We are doing the best we can," Patch said.

"Very well," Basso answered. He hesitated for a second, looking unsure if he should add something else. "I need you two to promise something."

"What is it?" I dreaded it was another accord or agreement or oath. Honestly, I was sick of all of these agreements.

A hint of devious smile played in his lips. "You need to stop doing what you were doing last night."

My ears rang as the unpleasant sourness caused a mutiny in my stomach. "What?"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about, Ms. Grey," then the smile slid out of his face. "There are things in this world that should never be created. We don't know what kind of creature a Nephil and a fallen angel would reproduce when given the chance. The Archangels do not want to take those chances again considering the last time."

I was stunned to silence as I tried hard to process what Basso had just said. So the Archangels know something as intimate as my sex life and it made me angry. They had no right. Furthermore, I was angry because they were dictating me what to do with my life. Sure, I was still completely undecided about having children with Patch. I also worried about the exact same thing they do. But hearing it from a representative from the Archangels did not please me at all. It made me actually want to reproduce just to defy them.

"I'll appreciate you to stop keeping surveillance on us, Basso," Patch said coolly but cuttingly. "What we do is our business."

Basso sighed again, shaking his head. "When it comes to you too, it will never be just your business."

After Basso had left, we found ourselves sitting in his bedroom. We delayed the meeting with the Nephilim soldiers, leaving Pepper to his own devices. When he asked why, we just told him there was a more pressing matter that needed to be addressed first. Patch sat on the edge of the love seat that faced the bed. He propped his elbows on his thighs, staring at me fully. I met his eyes as I set at the edge of his bed. I know we need to finally acknowledge it because though we have only been doing it twice, things were bound to happen that can cause the Archangels to be forced on us again.

"What do you plan to have with me, anyways?" I asked him. "Were you thinking we could somehow start a family together?"

"I would have wanted what you did," he told me and I knew he was speaking honestly, even though it was pretty vague. He's leaving the decision to me.

"All I want is to have you forever," I admitted. "Having children seems like a lot of work. I mean, look at what Bella and Edward had to go through ever since Renesmee was conceived. But Renesmee is so wonderful all of that seem pointless to even think about."

"Do you want to have something like that?"

An image flashed before my eyes. She was a toddler, picking up a block her older brother had dropped in front of her. She had long black curly hair and light gray eyes while he had short, straight auburn hair with the darkest eyes anyone will ever see. She looked up to me and smiled, a smile that melted my heart. I knew I wanted one. I wanted Patch's.

Patch's eyebrows went up. He must have seen what had occurred in my imagination. "She's beautiful," he muttered before standing up and leaving the room.

I sat there, my knees against my chest and my palms pressing my eyes. I wanted to sort out whatever it was I was feeling. Dread, anticipation, defiance, and submission. I wanted to have something Bella has, I wanted someone like Renesmee. I want her to have Patch's smile, like the way she did in my head. I want a boy too, with auburn hair and ivory eyes with Patch's straight nose and my lips. But reality slaps me and I knew our children will never be safe and maybe it wouldn't be them who needed the protection. I couldn't take the risk.

The Archangels knew that.

I knew that.

But it doesn't dull the ache I felt in my heart. I wanted one, I wanted Patch's. The unfairness of it all was overwhelming. A lump in my throat made swallowing difficult and it didn't help my eyes started watering, too. I pressed my hands against the base of my palms to keep the tears at bay. But they fell without permission, traveling down the length of my forearm.

I know I need to find a way to come to terms with it. If there was something I couldn't bear more than not having Patch's child was losing Patch himself. For now, I pushed it away and focused on the mission I had ahead of me. I'll deal with this ache that had nothing to do with vampires away until I could sort it out.