Chapter 19
The guys never found anything on their night out. It would seem the man had been attacked somewhere else, transported by car to the school and dumped where he was certain to be found. Edward said they hadn't recognized the scent. Alice, for all her multiple attempts, saw nothing. She kept her eyes open though. Everything seemed more or less, if not resolved then quiet for the moment.
Because I was unable to go hunting alone, I most often chose Emmett as my babysitter. I did this for quite a few reasons. He was genial and almost always easy to get along with and quite fun, to tell the truth. He liked to race and wrestle and never shied from tossing me into a lake or a tree, not hard, just enough to let me know he was in charge. But more importantly, he could neither hear my thoughts, see my future, nor feel my loneliness and borderline despair. So, while being with him tended to make my worries disappear – he kept me busy and laughing, I didn't have to hide so much. It wasn't that he didn't notice -- he's not stupid, it was more that he let it slide.
My choice drove Rosalie through the roof – which was cause for a severe eye roll. She was about as much fun as a rock – unless I happened to be someone else. Bella had gone with me on more than one occasion, but I felt she preferred to go with Edward and so let her off the hook. I knew how she felt.
The hunts were never the same as they had been in the beginning. Instead of a shared experience, they were merely two opposing predators hunting at the same time and in the same territory. Definitely a strange feeling and it took some control not to lash out at my partner and drive him or her away -- another reason Emmett was best suited, but I never felt the slightest inclination to share with anyone who accompanied me as I had with Demetri.
When I questioned him on the subject one overly sunny day while we were stuck in the house, Carlisle said this was a normal reaction. He said it would get easier to control the need to stake territory when in hunting mode as I got older, but I would never really be able to share a kill unless it was with my mate – something I had figured out on my own. He added that it was easier with progeny too, but I highly doubted I would ever create a new vampire. As I left his study, he gave me a long appraising look and I wondered if my face – though I had fought to keep neutral, had given something away. I was careful from then on out when I asked questions.
Spring came and the snows melted and I found that I enjoyed gardening. I ravenously read all the books I could get my hands on, sending someone to the library for me often every two days and calling the local nurseries just about as often to pick their brains. They were in the slow season and bored, so had little else to do besides eagerly impart to me their knowledge. Then as the days grew milder, I set to work enriching the soil and planting. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted and worked to make it that.
It wasn't perfect (my first year I killed several types of flowers before learning how to care for them properly). But the end result was a lovely yard of pretty spring flowers and shrubs. I did, however leave the aerating and mowing of the colossal lawns to the boys as I hated the monotonal task.
Though we became avid news watchers, the authorities reported nothing more about the 'animal' attack and no other victims were found. That didn't mean much except that the vampire responsible had either moved on or was getting better at hiding his or her activities. I would catch Rosalie watching me sometimes with a look in her eye that told me I was still the number one suspect on her list. Needless to say, it did not help our relationship to progress at all.
"Emmett, why does Rose hate me so much?" I asked one evening as we returned home from a successful hunt.
He scratched his neck and shrugged, "I don't think she hates you. It just takes her awhile to let anyone in."
I gave him a disparaging look, "She's lived with Edward for more years then I can count and he still annoys her – Bella's not much better and it's been thirty years for her."
"That's only because Edward is as beautiful as she is and she is still upset with Bella's "bad" decision," Emmet said with a grin. "Don't tell her I said that."
I laughed and shook my head, "Well, Edward's prettier than all of us, so that theory's out. She can't hate me because I'm more beautiful than her, 'cause I'm not and I had little choice in my change."
Emmett sighed and ran a hand through his dark curls, "Well, truthfully, Rose still thinks you are hiding something. She's afraid that you'll bring it home and disturb the peace. Are you hiding anything, Sarah?"
I chewed my lip for a second as I thought. It was very seldom that Emmett asked such direct and serious questions – he was more a man of action. "Nothing that will come back to haunt me, or us." I said with a certain surety.
Emmett slung his heavy arm over my shoulders, "I'll tell her that." Then he let me go and took a couple of steps ahead of me. "Do you smell that?" he asked without turning.
I sniffed the air and caught the scent. It seemed I had spoken too soon. It was a vampire -- unknown but familiar. I felt myself tense as I looked around the trees. I saw Emmett do the same.
"Come on, it seems to be headed towards the house."
My eyes widened and I took off for home, Emmett close behind. No one was supposed to be there, but the thought of the same vampire who had been in my mortal family's home now visiting my new family terrified me. I pulled up short just as I reached the tree line and waited. I had learned it was never a good thing to go into an open area when you didn't know what to expect and a predator was near.
"Let's sneak around back, the trees are thick almost all the way up to the door." Emmett whispered when he caught up to me. I nodded and followed him to the back door.
The scent was stronger and we saw that a small pane had been broken out so the door could be unlocked. It beat having the whole door destroyed. I heard Emmett growl and the sound raised the hair on the back of my neck but I felt the same primitive force to protect what was mine as he did. I glanced at him, waiting for his directions. He set his backpack next to the door, I followed suit.
"I'll head through the kitchen around to the stairs; you do the same through the dining room. We'll head up the stairs together." He whispered.
I nodded and felt my instincts kicking in. I worked on breathing to control the instinctual savage desire I had to track the scent until I found the culprit and rip him or her to pieces. Just the thought that someone had the nerve to break in and threaten my family brought out the beast in me like it hadn't before. I was fairly sure that anyone who went through all the effort of breaking into the backdoor of our home was a threat.
My heightened senses were on high alert as I slipped silently through the dining room. The scent was everywhere and it was hard for me to trail it. I arrived at the stairs just as Emmett ghosted up. He gestured up the stairs and cautiously began to climb. I was one step behind. I was not surprised to find that the scent did not stop at any door, but continued up the stairs until we came to my attic room.
Emmett glanced over his shoulder at me and I saw the wary expression in his eyes. I knew he was wondering if Rosalie had been right about me. I shrugged and shook my head in indication that I had no idea what was going on. I'm not sure he believed me.
He threw open the door and stepped inside. I crowded him a bit as I followed which I know he didn't appreciate because it left little room for him – or me, to maneuver should we have the need. The room was empty, but it reeked of the unknown vampire. Nothing seemed to be touched, but as I looked closer, I saw my sketchbook open on the desk. I reached around Emmet and flipped on the light more out of habit than the need to see, and walked over to my desk.
"This wasn't out when I left," I said, looking up at him with wide, frightened eyes.
He took the book from me and glanced at the page, it was a sketch of my sister Jess.
"You don't recognize the scent?" he asked.
I shook my head, "No. I mean …"
"What, Sarah?" he questioned in a tone darker than anything I had ever heard come from him. He was as sober as he had been the night I first saw him.
I licked my lips, "I've smelled it before, but I don't know who it is." I looked down at the drawing and carefully closed the book, so I couldn't see my sister's face. "The same vampire was at my parents' house. The scent was faded, though stronger in my room and my sister's, but I just thought it was one of Aro's henchmen who had been sent to find someone of mine so they could force me to reveal what the change had done to me."
"And you never told Carlisle?"
I shook my head slowly, "I never thought it was important. I just thought it was old. I never thought …"
Emmett looked around the room once more and sighed, "We had better go call him and tell him now."
I sat on the couch clutching my sketch book to my chest as if it would somehow save me from the guilt I felt as Emmett called the hospital and explained the situation to Carlisle.
"No, no one's here. Whoever it was was gone before we got here." There was a pause and Emmett nodded, "We'll stay here." Another pause, "Yeah, see you soon."
He hung up and turned to me, "Carlisle's on his way home. He's going to call everyone else and have them come home as well."
I looked down miserably, "I don't know who it is that was here, Emmett. You have to believe me."
He stared at me for a long moment then sat beside me, "All right, Sarah, I'll believe you. We'll find who it was."
I felt his acceptance and leaned my head against his shoulder. He slung one of his reassuringly strong arms around my shoulders and I felt a bit better.
It didn't take long for everyone to get home. I heard Edward's car a few second's before Bella came racing in.
"Sarah, are you all right?" She came to a halt when she saw I was fine and heaved a relieved sigh. She plopped down next to my and wrapped her arm around my shoulders, overlapping Emmett's.
Edward came in next, a bit more reserved, but I saw the worry in his eyes. He glanced at Emmett and held his gaze for a moment; I could only imagine what was being said then took a seat across from us and remained quiet and thoughtful until Alice, Jasper, Rosalie, and Esme came in.
Alice stopped in front of us, her dark eyes unusually sober, "I saw him, but I don't recognize him. I don't know what he's up to except that he seems to be very interested in you, Sarah."
Emmett got up to stand next to Rosalie, who stood glaring at me. Esme took Emmett's place and curled her feet under her. She took my hand as Alice and Jasper sat down next to Edward, but no one said anything more until Carlisle walked in the door and sat down.
"Well, Sarah. Tell us what you know."
The room was full of hushed expectancy and I looked at each in turn.
"I don't know anything except it's the same scent that I smelled at my parents' house, but I don't know anything."
"Do you think it is the Volturi?" he asked, watching me closely.
I shrugged, "It could be. I thought it was at the time, but I thought they came to my house to find someone to use against me. I am not so sure that's right anymore."
"I told you this would happen," Rose blurted, throwing her hands into the air. "I knew she was trouble, lying to people to find us, keeping secrets. She needs to be thrown out."
I narrowed my eyes at her, finally sick of her tormentings. I pulled my hand free of Esme's and jumped to my feet, "That is it!" I practically yelled, facing Rose, my hands balled up immediately. "I don't know why you are so intent on hating me, but I have had it! I've never lied to any of you, I simply didn't tell everything and for good reason. Would you like to admit that you had felt your only choice was to kill your sister and her unborn child?" Rose winced, but continued glaring; Emmett took a half step forward.
"I didn't think so." I hissed, "I have no idea who is haunting my steps, or what they want, or even why me. I know very few vampires, though I will admit, I have a few enemies, but it's through no intentional fault of mine. I can't help what I see any more than you can help being a spoiled, little brat of a diva."
Emmett snorted at that and earned a dark glare. Carlisle stood and raised his hands, "Please, Sarah, sit down. Rosalie, stop blaming Sarah. She is a part of our family now and we will support her. It is apparent that she doesn't know who has been stalking her." He glanced to Edward, who nodded, for confirmation. "We will just have to be more careful."
"The only way to be more careful is to send Sarah away. Nothing like this happened before she came," Rosalie stated accusingly.
Carlisle stood, "Enough!"
Rosalie looked at him for a moment then stalked up the stairs and to her room. We heard her door slam a second later and Emmett sighed.
"I guess I had better go learn the extent of the damage," he said before following her up.
Carlisle turned back to me, "We will find who it is that is apparently stalking you, Sarah. Don't worry about that."
I nodded, unsure as to how they would find the unknown vampire, but putting my trust in their combined talents and strength.
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I threw open my window as soon as I was able to escape to my room. The scent of the invading vampire was still unbelievably strong and it made me uncomfortable. I needed to air out the room and get it smelling like home as soon as possible. I stood staring out the window and into the tall dark trees for a long time, until I felt a strong hand at my throat and a harsh voice hissing in my ear.
"Well, little sister, found protection after all."
I froze as much at the insidious voice as at the cold whisper in my ear. The hand tightened until I was unable to move so it was impossible to see who it was that held me. My mind raced as I tried to place the voice.
"Shall we see if you are as sweet as your sister?"
Something clicked. "Tom?" I breathed in shock.
He spun me to face him, his fingers digging into my shoulders, a mocking smirk on his once handsome face, "The one and only."
He had changed so completely that I would never have recognized him. His eyes were the vibrant red of a newborn and raging with more fury then I had ever seen. I could feel anger and violence pulsating off of him in waves. There was very little that was civilized about him now. He wore no mask and that was horrifying. The face that had so captivated Jess was gone, replaced with one that almost rivaled Aro's in its rage, but unlike Aro, Tom had not learned to control and hide his beast. His smile twisted unpleasantly as he contemplated me. He was not the same man he had once been.
"Tom, you can't do this," I said in a hoarse, shocked whisper.
I was terrified by the implacable gleam in his eyes. I could feel his strength and though I was a newborn and strong in my own right, he was stronger and there was something in the way that he held me that led me to believe he knew what he was doing.
He leaned close to me and his smile slowly widened until he was showing his teeth, "Can and will. You will never run from this," He vowed as he threw me into the wall. I hit it hard and slid down dazed. We can be hurt and he was very strong. Tom froze as he took a step towards me, his eyes widening in surprise.
"It doesn't look as though you will be walking away from this either," a furious voice snarled.
I shook my head and when the stars cleared I saw Jasper holding Tom by the scruff of his neck. Jasper's face was curiously controlled, but his eyes burned black in fury. Emmet was right behind him, eyes still golden, was grinning as if he were eager for a fight. I could scent the rest gathered in the hall. Both Tom and I had been too involved in our own little world to have noticed my family creeping up.
Jasper yanked Tom around and snarled ferociously at him. Tom struggled briefly against Jasper's steel hold, but ultimately gave up. With Emmett's help, Jasper hauled Tom downstairs. Alice entered my room and danced over to help me to my feet and I stood shaking for a couple of seconds before I could move.
"That's the one I saw," she said looking up at me. "The one who came into our house."
I could only nod at her before I started down the stairs without a word. When I got to the family room, the men had Tom surrounded. Carlisle turned to me and for the first time, I saw he had lost that cool, easy manner that was him. His eyes, like the others were black and he was just as angry.
"Sarah?" he questioned.
I sat heavily on the couch, "He's my brother-in-law. They must have changed him. Why did you come, Tom?"
He smiled again, "To find you, of course. You killed her, Sarah, and you have to pay for that."
I looked away miserable and started to rock where I sat, "What choice did I have, Tom?"
He surged to his feet only to be thrown back into his chair again by Emmett. The chair groaned. "You could have changed her."
I looked up as something clicked, "Is that what they told you they were going to do?"
"Aro said he never intended for us to be harmed."
I cocked a skeptical eyebrow, "And you believed him?" I stood up and took a step forward, the men watched me closely. "You think him so noble as that?" When Tom didn't answer I continued, "He intended that I kill you both, in the most violent way imaginable. The only thing that kept me from doing it myself is that I see creatures like him – like what you've become, as monsters from nightmares. I don't want to be that and I didn't want that for her."
"Jess could have been like us: strong, beautiful, and immortal." He protested wildly.
"You want her to be like you? You honestly felt it would be better for her if that beautiful innocent woman – the mother of your child, was to become like you are now? I couldn't stand the thought. You must understand, Tom , that Jess was nothing more than a rich meal to Aro. She would have been torn apart, the baby with her. You were changed only so that he could get revenge on me."
"Aro is not vengeful."
I folded my arms across my chest, "He's not? You and Jess were brought in to punish me because I couldn't have him touch me and see what I saw him as."
"You lie," he snarled.
My eyes narrowed in reaction to his attitude, "No, he does. He will do anything to get what he wants. He waited until my mate and only protector was gone before he called me to him and presented you and Jess to me – like a nicely wrapped Christmas ham." I ignored the stunned silence at my announcement; I was too angry to care.
"Ah, Demetri. The coward."
I growled low and deep in my chest and took another step forward. I saw Edward's eyes widen as he looked at his brothers, they wore matching expressions of shock as they realized who it was we spoke of.
"He's no coward, Tom," I hissed venomously, taking another step.
"How do you think I found you?"
His words brought me up short and I shook my head in denial, "He would never turn me over to Aro." I felt my heart splinter as I tried to hold to that one small certainty that Demetri would never betray me like that.
"Oh yes he would." His smile widened, "Of course there were a couple of weeks of persuasion before."
"What did they do?" I whispered, horrified to hear his answer, but compelled to ask anyway.
"Well, Felix, you know Felix, don't you Sarah?"
When I only stared dumbly at him, he went on.
"Of course you do, and as you can imagine, Felix can be quite convincing -- I learned a lot from him in those early days. But even after all that, not even Jane could get Demetri to track you himself." His tone was smug.
I didn't think, I only acted and leaped at him hissing and snapping like a rabid animal. I thought like something wild too, only wanting to end the existence of the creature that had hurt my mate. I would have gotten him, yoo, had Emmet not caught me and held me back. I struggled vainly to break free of his hold. If I could have cried I would have been.
"Sarah!" Carlisle snapped.
I looked at him and it took a moment before I knew who he was. As I relaxed, Emmett let me down, but kept a firm hold on my shoulders as we waited for our leader to speak.
"What do you want us to do?" He asked me calmly.
I looked at Tom. He was still grinning; obviously pleased with himself and I felt another surge of electric rage flow through me. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. I was enraged enough to kill him myself, but I knew I would hate myself even more for it. Tom couldn't help what he had been twisted into. I read the conviction in his eyes. He believed what he said and no amount of my speaking the truth would change that.
"You decide," I told Carlisle before I turned on my heel and ran out the door and away from the house as fast as I could.
I didn't stop for hours. When I did, I found I was lost deep in the mountains, maybe in Canada. I stopped and screamed my frustration and lonely agony to the clear, star dotted sky, then sank to my knees in a deep carpet of pine needles. Would the pain never end?
Edward caught up to me shortly after. Because of my track training, I knew how to run so he was only marginally faster than I which allowed him to find me relatively quickly. He was alone.
"Sarah," he called approaching me cautiously, but there was no fear of me going crazy and attacking him. I was too drained to turn my head, much less leap at him and I had no reason to assault him.
I sat back, down on my rear, "What?" I asked dully.
"I've come to take you home."
"Even though I've slept with the enemy?" There was no humor in my tone. I knew how the family felt about the Volturi and, despite being my mate, Demetri was one of them.
Edward sighed and sat beside me. He looked up into the night. From where we sat you could see eternity in the form of an endless number of twinkling stars. It would have been breathtaking had I not felt like I was breaking into pieces.
"We don't choose who we love, Sarah. I know that better than most," he stated softly. "We want you to come home."
"And Tom?"
Another heavy sigh told me all I needed to know before Edward answered, "Carlisle couldn't turn him loose and he wouldn't agree to our terms."
I hung my head, "It's over."
"Yes."
I allowed Edward to pull me to my feet. It would take some time to get over this, but it was a long walk home.
