Sunrise

Chapter 8: More Than A Love Song

More than a Love Song--Augustana

Okay, so I unfolded Matt's secret a little before I expected, but I think that's good. I'm not sure exactly how many more chapters there will be, but I do know what's happening. Probably one or two more Chapters until the next climax, at least after this one…. :)

To anonymous unooo The reason Matt's eyes turn blue, and Cara's green… well, in other stories I've read that consider Edward and Bella, Edward's eyes turn green when he is… erm… "aroused". So, I liked the idea, thinking I would like Cara to see a slightly more human side of Matt, considering how sheltered he is about that aspect of his life. Of course, who knows if this actually happens? You'd have to ask Stephenie Meyer.

OOO

My concussion got better soon enough ( a month or so). After all, even as my human self, I was stronger than the average man. I knew that my genetic make-up wasn't exactly the same as any random female on earth. No, I couldn't completely shut the venom out of my system. So as a human, I could easily beat a man Emmett's size… unless he was a vampire, at least.

I was walking down one of the numerous corridors, my vampiric, tawny-eyed self. And I was alone. But I wasn't too worried. I had my emotions currently in check.

But I began to wonder. The night of my attack, I'd seen my entire family fraught with worry. I had comprehended they were coming to get me, or at least I assumed. I concentrated on knowing about them again, and the answer rushed into my consciousness.

Edward was speaking, pacing in the living room. "We can't just go waltzing into Italy, demanding a partially newborn vampire to come back with us."

"Sure we can!" Emmett argued, rolling his eyes. "C'mon Ed, you never let us have any fun."

Bella glowered at him. "You call going to Italy to get massacred fun?" Emmett nodded hugely, a grin appearing on his face. Bella sighed. "You have issues."

Alice shook her head. "It's out of the question. I still can't see Cara, and I still don't know why. Unless there's a werewolf there in the castle, I can't come up with a good reason. But what I'm saying is, if I can't see her, than I don't think we should risk angering the Volturi."

Edward muttered something under his breath, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alice is right," he said at last, voice clearly frustrated. "But we need to figure it out soon. And a werewolf in the castle doesn't make any sense. First off, if would be a dead werewolf, with the Volturi and all. Secondly, we wouldn't be able to see Aro, Jane, or the rest of the Brady Bunch."

Rosalie had stayed quiet, but then she spoke. Her voice, so like bells, echoed truthfully across the room as she tossed her blonde locks behind her shoulders. "Isn't her 'brother' that Jaime boy? The werewolf?"

Edward's head snapped up. "Rose, you're a genius! I can't believe I didn't think of that!"

"What?" Alice asked, annoyed that she couldn't see anything.

Bella glanced at my father's face sourly. "I'm clueless."

Emmett said nothing, only frowned.

"Jaime must have given her something to keep with her that held something of his, but not just anything." Edward grinned, his eyes bright of finally solving the mystery. "Rosalie, you hit the nail on the head! He must have given her something of him to put in the locket, now that I think about it. Alice!" He snapped his attention to her. "When you saw Cara, did she have the locket on?"

Alice looked confused. "No…"

"Exactly!" Edward exclaimed, triumphant. "Think about it! She's had that locket since she was ten. She hasn't taken it off since. Put it together, Alice. That locket can hold things. What if the dog gave her a figment of his skin—?"

"Um, ew." Emmett pretended to gag. Edward ignored him.

"—Or maybe a lock of his hair? As long as it was in the locket, and the locket was touching some part of her, it would be just like being in the midst of a werewolf!"

Understanding lit Alice's face. "I see your point!" she said, grinning. "And knowing Cara—"

"Knowing Cara she would have asked Jaime to give her that lock of hair," Bella finished. "She would have practically forced him into promising not to spill a word. All that time that she acted as if she despised us—"

"She really cared about our well-being," finished Edward, and I knew he knew that fact before, despite my anger and hurt towards him. I promised myself that if I ever laid eyes on any of them again, I would repay my selfishness.

"That's the ridiculous Bella trait we all know and love," Emmett laughed, reaching over to muss my mother's hair.

"Wait until Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme know!" Alice was grinning, her mood ecstatic. But as she saw my father's face, the smile slid off hers.

"No, they can definitely know," answered Edward, probably to some unspoken thought. "But it doesn't mean we're any closer to rescuing her. Alice, I'm glad we finally know the problem, but I think it would be best if we spoke to the wolf himself."

Alice nodded. "I can't see anything of course, but Cara told me once that Jaime's pretty understanding. I don't think we'll have a major problem talking to him."

I was still staring at the far wall. Again, what had just come to my knowledge had not played out easily like a vision, not even a series of pictures or a timeline of voices. No, I just knew what had happened, just like that.

It was scary really, the amount of knowledge I had at my fingertips. More than Edward… or even Aro. More than Carlisle, who had studied thousands of subjects over the hundreds of years he'd been alive.

I was a know-it-all, to put it bluntly.

I could never let anyone know of this power, I decided immediately. If Aro knew, he'd never let me go, keeping me bound to Matt. He'd order Matt to order me to find out something, and that would be it. He'd just have to touch my hand, and he'd know.

I shivered involuntarily, continuing down the hall. I knew Matt was in a meeting with the "Elders" as I liked to call them. They were telling him something I probably did now want to hear, and I didn't want to accidentally stumble upon the answer—whatever it was—so I guided my attention back to what I'd recently learned.

They freaking knew what it was that kept me concealed. Damn! My god, why did they have to have their neat little vampire abilities? Noticing everything right and left?

I harrumphed as I turned a corner. And they were going to talk to Jaime? Poor Jaime, forced to kept my departure a secret. I wondered if he would give in.

He was currently talking to Freesia. I could feel it.

I rounded another corner and was instantly greeted with the biggest door I had ever seen. Ever.

I found myself gazing at it, almost in a trance, until it burst open. An angry Matthias stalked through the threshold, snarling under his breath. I opened my mouth to ask what the hell was up with him, when he growled:

"Don't speak to me." Each word had been enunciated clearly. His eyes were on fire, blazing with fury.

I smirked, following him down the hall. He was walking briskly, his whole body rigid. I rolled my eyes, knowing his anger was not directed at me and probably over something extremely childish.

Plus, I had been finding ways around his orders.

"Well, deary me," I spoke loudly, trying to keep from laughing as his shoulders rose in frustration. "I can't believe how mad he is. Can you, Earring?"

His steps faltered. He should have just ordered me not to speak in general.

"Well, Earring, I was just going to tell him that I missed him. That I've been slightly lonely at night while he patrols. That I have no music to listen to in order to sway my thoughts. I'm extremely bored, at the moment, Earring. Whatever shall I do?"

His footsteps halted. I knew I was getting to him. I could see the indecision in his body. His shoulders were descending back into their proper place.

I laid my hand on his arm. I felt him sag under my touch. "I wonder, Earring, if I'm aloud to speak to His grace yet."

He knew me well enough to realize I was extremely agitated. "I'm sorry," he said instantly. "I wasn't angry at you. It was inexcusable for me to say that."

"Earring!" I exclaimed, inwardly rolling my eyes. "He speaks! Still, though, he does not answer me."

I saw a bemused smile tug at his lips. He turned fully around and planted a kiss on my waiting mouth, his arm tight around my waist.

When he was finished, he said, "I believe you can speak to me now… If you'd still like to?"

"What? Does it take a kiss to woo the mighty Matthias?" He grimaced at the name, but rolled his eyes at me. I pressed on. "Why were you so angry? I don't think I've seen you such since Lucas—"

"Don't mention that affair, please," Matt said smoothly. "I don't think I want you having nightmares anymore."

"I haven't slept in a month!" I protested, angry. I'd refused to become human again.

But he didn't answer, and I knew why. That night haunted him severely. He still thought it was his fault. He had told me himself—well, there was that, and the fact that I knew anything I wanted to.

He had thought I was going to die. I could see it when he looked at me, the disturbed look there. He was so afraid of losing me, and I knew why.

He loved me.

Which sent me onto more of my mental ranting. Why did he love me? What was there of me to love? I could understand my family's love for me, Jaime's brotherly love for me, but love-love? As in, "knight in shining armor" love? It made no sense. I was bitter, stubborn, sarcastic, untrusting, unlikable, and a whole bunch of other stuff that didn't make sense. He couldn't even trust me, because—

And trust! I couldn't get myself started on him. Immature, stubborn, somewhat vile, controlling, and… he totally cared about me. Damn karma.

I realized we were headed not towards the room, but somewhere else entirely. "Where are we going?" I asked, letting him drag me forward.

He smiled back at me, just walking faster. "I figured you might want a change of scenery. You've been in the castle for a while now." I noticed he didn't exactly say how long that while was, which happened to be since I was attacked by Lucas.

"Can you be human for a moment?" he requested, his voice like silk. I shook my head stubbornly and he sighed. "Please," he added, "just for a moment."

I knew that if I didn't want to be human, he wouldn't force me to. But besides that fact, I guessed I could humor him. "Fine," I muttered, and slight pain coursed through my body. I felt my strength leave me and my knees sag. Matt held me up.

"Are you alright?" I heard him ask. I still had my eyes closed.

"Yeah." My answer was shaky, my legs unsteady. It was strange—I was supposed to be over the concussion. I didn't let my pain show though. Instead I grinned into his anxious face, and he swept me into his arms.

"Close your eyes?" he whispered to me, voice like silk. I succumbed to him, glad it was not a command.

I felt the wind whip my bangs across my face, Matt's arms encircled around me. And it made it all the sweeter, knowing he wasn't doing this because he had to. He was doing it because he wanted to. Because he loved me.

I hadn't even realized we'd stopped until he asked, "What're you smiling about?"

I felt my eyes flutter open, and I was indeed smiling. I looked around, a goofy grin plastered on my face. We were in the middle of a lush forest, the leaves creating an odd green cast on our skin. Matt sparkled slightly in the few sunrays that penetrated the leafy fortress.

He set me down and glanced around, his blinding smile erasing the sun. Matt glanced at me, his smile vanishing into a smirk. His eyes took on a twinkling hint, and that's when I noticed it again.

His eyes were no longer the red I'd come to know, but a rusty gold. I remembered seeing them before, when I was unable to change, unable to even get up without being a complete wuss. He hadn't completely crossed over to the human-friendly diet, but he was getting there.

"Why?" I asked. He knew what I was talking about at once—I could see it in his eyes. But he said nothing. His smirk only deepened as he scooped me up again, and then I was flying through the air.

I landed with a splash.

I gasped, coming up for air. I wiped my face, shocked at what he had done. My teeth chattered as I glanced at my ruined outfit. Oh, Alice would kill him if she saw what he'd done to it. I glared up at him through dew-dropped lashes. "You sick, arrogant, foolish—"

I'm still not quite sure how he managed it, but almost as soon as the words left my mouth, his lips were on mine, slowly moving, torturing me. My arms moved of their own free will, wrapping themselves around his neck.

He pulled away, almost reluctantly. "It's been a while," he muttered.

"Captain Obvious strikes again," I said, rolling my eyes. He looked back at me, laughter in his eyes. His blue-flecked eyes. I was sure mine were green as well.

"You're catching cold," he said after a moment, and I glanced down at myself—slightly transparent T-shirt, designer blue jeans heavy with water. Did he expect me to strip or something? "I suggest you either turn back into your vampire self or we get out."

I scowled at him. He knew I didn't want to get out of the crystal pond, or away from him. I felt my strength renewing itself as my skin lightened, became shimmery. I closed my eyes as he kissed me again.

OOO

I had changed clothes and was walking down to the court room. I was supposed to meet Aro here in thirty minutes. I didn't think he'd mind if I was early. But as I ascended the stairs, I heard voices, which sounded like Caius and Demetri.

"…He's getting extremely attached to the girl," Caius was saying in a heated whisper. "If we keep letting it go on we may not be able to exterminate the Quileutes."

I bit my lip. I had completely forgotten about them. How could I have forgotten? What type of sister was I?

"Yes, but Aro doesn't think we should take out the plan—"

"If we wait any longer, he'll do anything he can to protect her," Caius growled, and I knew he was speaking of Matt. "Emotionally, and physically. He told us how attached she is to the mutts. If we kill them—"

"I do not," said a sickly kind voice, "believe this is your problem to consider." Aro.

I pictured the two jumping. "Sorry, Master. Forgive us," they said in union. I blanched. What suck-ups.

I had an idea then. I still wasn't sure if Alice could hear things in her visions, but it was worth a try. I ripped off the locket, setting it on the ground, and muttered, "Alice, if you can see me, don't do anything. Listen."

I really hoped it would work.

"We will take out these wolves when the girl doesn't know," Aro directed. "When she least expects it, gentlemen. She could tip off the psychic, and that would not turn things to our favor. We need the element of surprise, not the element of foolishness. I need this carried out as discreetly as possible. It is not likely that an entire missing family will go unnoticed. Do you comprehend?"

I bit my lip. Jaime was in trouble, and one couldn't elude the Volturi for long, not to mention a whole pack. I had to do something.

I closed my eyes and exhaled. "Alice," I said in a nearly mute whisper, "don't worry about me at the moment. I'm fine. Get help for Jaime and his family. I didn't do this to save Alex for nothing. I promise I'm fine. I promise—"

"Who are you speaking to?" asked Matt's voice from behind me.

"—to find a way." I glanced up. He was sitting there, a puzzled expression on his face. He glanced at the locket, sitting on the ground.

"Were you contacting anyone in particular?" he asked, voice calm. But there was pure hurt beneath it. I had to cover up quickly.

"Alice," I said smoothly and honestly.

"Were you asking her to come and rescue you?" His question cut me; I did not ask people to help me. I scowled up at him.

"No, actually the opposite. I was telling her anything she'd seen when my locket fell off meant nothing, and not to come." That was half-true, at least. I didn't dare mention the part about the wolves. I still made no move to pick up the locket.

His expression had not softened. I felt a pang of guilt rush through me—I'd never really lied to him before. It felt alien, strange. I tried not to look away from his penetrating stare, stripping the truth off me. I seriously hoped he didn't command the truth out of me.

"I'm not going to make you tell me whatever it is, but I really would appreciate it," he allowed. I glared at him. He just had to go with the guilt trip.

"Later," I forced out through clenched teeth. He raised an eyebrow at me, and I jerked my head upwards, toward the top of the stairs. His eyes went wide.

He grabbed my locket and thrust it at me. As soon as I caught it, I knew Alice was snarling in frustration at losing my future again. I fastened it around my neck and he mouthed, "Let's beat it."

He disappeared in a flurry of wind, and I sighed, racing after him. I knew where he'd be. I had no idea why he was being so… weird. He was acting as if he knew what they were talking about and didn't want me to hear it. Well, too late buddy.

I arrived after him, closing the door to our room behind me. He did not glance up from his consistent pacing, one hand on his chin, and the other crossed beneath his chest. I sighed loudly. Usually, this broke him from his trance. Not this time.

"What the hell?" I said finally, rolling my eyes.

He didn't meet my eyes, but stopped his pacing. His back was to me, and I could tell just from his posture that he was upset. "Were you contacting Alice to tell her to come and get you?" Translation: Were you really planning on leaving?

"No."

My voice had been cold, angry. I was not angry at him, but myself. The shock of learning of Jaime's sure extermination was surfacing, and I bit my lip, screwing my eyes shut. A dry sob escaped from my body, and I tried to keep it quieter.

But my cry had been loud, even to a human's ears, and Matt's head whipped around to the sound. He knelt down beside me (when had I gotten on the floor?) and held me. I felt my strength ebbing, a flash of fiery pain as I succumbed to my feeble, emotional human self. I felt tears slide down my cheeks and soak Matt's shirt.

"Please," he said after a moment, his voice pained, "don't cry. I hate to see you upset. I'm sorry."

It was the first thing he had every apologized for, but it was a worthless effort. I wasn't mad at him, I was enraged at myself. Enraged for allowing myself to stay so long. I could've gone back numerous times, and I had chosen to stay for no reason.

No, there was a reason alright. My fear.

"I-I'm not u-upset with y-you," I choked out between sobs. He stroked my back comfortingly. "I-It's me."

"What about you?" he said, voice slightly stiff. He didn't like talking about my flaws.

"They're going to hurt Jaime because of me!" I cried, my sobs melting away in my anger. "I can't believe I didn't see it! Vile bastards!"

He'd never seen me this angry—that was clear as he looked at me, a look of shock on his face. I got up and tried to punch the wall, but Matt's hand caught my fist before impact. "Hurting yourself," he growled lowly, "is not going to help the situation."

I looked back at his face, which was a mask of shock and anger… and even a little fear. Before I could analyze it further, he scooped me up and placed me on the bed. I rocked back and forth as he sat next to me, pulling me against him. "When I said not to cry, I didn't mean for you to start going emo," he told me, stroking my hair. His attempt at teasing did nothing to stop my tears.

I didn't want Jaime to die, and I still had no idea whether Alice had seen me or not, which was unacceptable. I couldn't risk Jaime's safety. Not Jaime's, Alex's, or the rest of the pack's. I needed to warn them.

I concentrated on seeing what Alice was doing, but I was too devastated to remain my focus. I let a cover of sleep sliver over my exhaustion, but not before I heard Matt demand, "Cara, however bad this may seem, promise me you won't try to take it into your own hands. Promise me."

The golden bracelet glowed as I mumbled, "I promise."

OOO

I told you guys there would be a lot of climaxes. –sigh- . Anyway, YES, I changed my name to Edward'sBringingSexyBack, because it's just so true. But hey, to those of you who gave me nicknames, relax. I will always be DaZzLeR bEaR

And I am so excited!!! The story's finally going!!!! AHHHHHH! YAY!

K, sorry. I know there's something else I'm supposed to say, but oh well.

Jamie.