Chapter 23: The Cloaker.
The clock on my nightstand clicked midnight and I was still pacing the floor. My eyes trailed to the window I had left opened for a specific purpose; I was waiting for Eric. He had dropped me off, after not speaking during the ride home, and told me he'd come visit me at midnight. However, here I was, waiting, and he still wasn't here. I tried to tell myself that being here right at midnight was an unlikely expectation—especially if Lazarus was at the McRaes' house. Then again, what would it mean if that really was him? Lazarus had left in order to keep the others safe; so, why was he here? On top of that, if he was here, did that mean Ary would be coming back soon?
The possibilities had me reeling and, before I knew it, I was forced to sit on my bed. My head fell to my hands as I thought about Eric's tirade earlier today. If I was being honest with myself, Eric had terrified me. In all my experience with vampires, not once had I been scared of someone I cared for. Even Edward never made me fear him.
I was so consumed with my thoughts and comparisons that I didn't see Eric climb through my window and take a seat in my rocking chair. When I finally looked up I spied him, and, after a soft gasp, stood up.
"Hi," I said softly, not moving from my position.
"Hi," he answered, just as quietly.
We stayed where we were, not moving and not looking away from one another. My stomach was doing flips as I wondered why he had wanted to come over. He appeared so angry when he dropped me off, I couldn't fathom how he'd want to talk to me if he was so upset. A deep pain cut through me as I feared he was here to tell me goodbye. My chest heaved a bit and I lowered my eyes, allowing my arm to wrap around my midsection tightly.
My body quaked, imagining yet another family disappearing like they never existed, and I felt extremely weak. My face cringed as the pain twisted and whirled through my veins, reaching deeper than the pain over the Cullens ever had. I wasn't sure if this was because this was the second loss, or because Eric meant more. Just as I felt I was about to lose my mind, a familiar chilly touch brought me back to reality.
My eyes trailed sideways to the site where Eric cupped my cheek, and I closed my eyes, reveling in the cold sensation. The irony didn't escape me, causing me to chuckle at the pleasure I found in something frigid.
Eric's other hand found the other side of my cheek, and I opened my eyes to find his golden eyes staring into me. The loving expression on his face was comfortingly familiar. He traced my cheek and pulled his hand away, his finger glistened like it was wet. I hadn't even noticed that I had been crying.
"I'm so sorry," he said and moved his body to stand closer to me. His breath, a sweet intoxication, covered me and sent my head into a whirlwind. His arms wrapped around me slowly and pulled me in, much softer than he had back at the house, and we stayed like this for a few minutes.
It was me that eventually pulled away, wanting to know what exactly was going on. I separated our bodies and, feeling that my head was still a bit swimmy, I sat on the edge of my bed.
"Tell me what's happening," I said directly and immediately noticed the change in his expression. "If there's something going on, Eric, I have a right now know. My father's been out there in the woods nearly every day; I need to know he's safe."
He shifted and turned his back on me for a few seconds before facing me again. The loving expression had faded to one of pain and tension. "I…can't."
"Eric—"
"Please don't think this is either easy or a choice," he growled suddenly, cutting me off. "Things are very complicated right now."
"Is that why Lazarus is here?" I demanded and stood up, agitated that I was being kept in the dark again. It reminded me of when Edward had kept the truth behind the strange deaths a secret; there had been vampires hunting people in the area just last spring. My father had been out there, looking for a wild animal, and he could have been hurt.
"I'm sorry," was all Eric could say to my question.
"Why are you here?" I asked bleakly, wondering how I would handle life if I was left behind again. Would I be able to move on, or would I curl up into a metaphorical hole as I had previously planned when the Cullens had left?
"I wanted to apologize," he said softly, closing the space between us again. "I shouldn't have been so harsh with you—it was inexcusable."
"You scared me," I remarked quietly and, after noting the amount his face fell, added, "a little bit."
Eric turned away and stared out the window, the profile of his face contorting in a mixture of pain and some unknown emotion. My stomach sank when he dropped his head with a sigh, and my mind immediately told me that they were leaving. I'm not sure how I was able to jump to that conclusion, but I did.
"Bella—"
"No, please Eric, don't," I sobbed and rushed forward, my hand tightening on his bicep. Despite any reason behind their leaving, I just couldn't let him go. The other McRaes could disappear, but I needed him.
"What is it?" Eric's eyes widened in shock and he embraced me, stroking my hair with his palm. "What's the matter?"
"Please don't leave me," I cried into his chest and sniffed heavily. My face was already hot, but, as I realized how pathetic I must look, I flushed even more. Why on earth was I putting on such a display? Why did the thought of him leaving terrify me so? True, I cared about Eric, but this was something different.
"Who on earth said I was leaving?" Eric pulled away and looked directly at me.
"I…uh…no one," I stuttered and heaved as my breath caught in my throat. However, as I processed Eric's question, I realized what he was saying. "You're not leaving?"
"No, of course not," he said incredulously and wiped the tears from my cheeks. "What gave you that impression?"
"Well…when the Cullens left," I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice, "Edward started acting distant. So, when you started acting like that, I thought you might be leaving too."
"Oh, Bella," he sighed and, in a flash, he lifted me from the floor and carried me back to my bed. After he took a seat, Eric cradled me in his arms, his eyes not once leaving mine. "I'm very sorry for upsetting you, but I can assure you that I'm not going anywhere."
"But, you were so angry," I pointed out, remembering the harshness in his eyes and the stone-like features he had.
"Not at you, my dear," he whispered and smiled softly. "My family's very tense right now. Things are not going according to plan."
"What does that mean?"
He turned his head away from me and his eyebrows pulled together. He stayed like this for awhile, before his expression melted and he smiled broadly at me.
"It's nothing you need to worry about," he said quietly and pulled me closer. "All that matters is you and me."
I wished I would've had more willpower, I really did, but in that moment, I surrendered to my emotions and let Eric soothe my inner turmoil. I lay there, listening to him softly reminisced about the hunting trip, and felt the last of my tension unwind. After awhile, he lay down beside me, letting my hair coil in his fingers, and continued his stories.
I was just beginning to doze off when Eric sighed and disappeared from my side. Sitting up immediately, shaking off the sleep that clung to me, I found him standing by the window, staring out into the night.
"Are you leaving?" My voice squeaked through the silence in my bedroom, and I frowned at Eric.
"I need to go home," he answered, his voice apologetic. "I'll be here in the morning, though."
"Do you promise?" I asked him and held my breath, waiting for his response.
"I promise."
He kept his promise. The moment my eyes opened, I was greeted with the pleasant sight of Eric sitting in my rocking chair, smiling broadly at me. I was immediately reminded of the times Edward had done that as well, which made me smile. Thinking of Edward and the Cullens no longer caused me as much pain as it used to.
"Good morning," Eric mused from his place and, in an instant, he was sitting at the edge of my bed. As I climbed out of bed, he gathered me in his arms and kissed me softly, sending a tingle down my spine. "Did you sleep well?"
"Very," I responded truthfully, having experienced no nightmares earlier. "How was the rest of your night?"
"Interesting," he answered and cringed a little bit before laughing. "That's the way things are in my family."
I was about to question him but, as the sun broke through the clouds and splashed across Eric's arm, I saw something that drew my attention. Along Eric's forearm was a light scar that traced from his wrist all the way to his elbow. It shined in the light, much differently than his skin did now, and contrasted the rest of him.
"Eric," I said slowly and touched his arm. "What is this scar?"
"Ah, I forgot to tell you about that," he sighed and pulled my hand away from the scar gently. He got off the bed and, in a quick motion, pulled his shirt halfway off.
I gasped, not because he was half-naked in my bedroom, but because his body was covered in about 5 good size scars. These were much bigger than the one of his arm, but were different shapes. I rose off the bed and found myself tracing the wounds with my fingers softly.
"What happened to you?" I inquired as I continued to inspect his torso.
"This is a testament, Bella," Eric said seriously and, as I looked up at him, he cringed. "This is what happens if you upset Aryana and you're standing too close."
"Ary did this to you?"
He nodded and closed his eyes as he smile softly. With that he began explaining where each and every scar came from, until he came to the last. It was, by far, larger than the others and wrapped around his side in a jagged line.
"After the Rochester incident," he said and rubbed his hand along his side, "she completely lost control and almost ripped me in two. Thank God for Avarice."
I tried to compose myself, but it was hard not to look at such a brutal sight and not be horrified. Each scar, from the very first time he had sparred with Ary to the most recent and ugly skirmish, seemed to wound me.
"This is why she doesn't want to change around you," he whispered and
pulled his shirt down. "I'm durable—you're not."
I lowered my eyes and let the truth of his words sink in. These were the same words that Edward had used to describe me on several occasions, yet I don't think I'd ever truly grasped it. Now, as I watched Eric trace the scar on his forearm, I think I finally understood.
"Well," Eric spoke up, breaking my internal thoughts and gestured to the closet. "You go ahead and get ready, and I'll wait downstairs."
"My dad?" I wasn't exactly sure what time it was, so I was worried that Eric might run into my dad on his way down. Then again, I realized that Eric could probably have heard Charlie leave, so my question was probably irrelevant. "Did he leave already?"
"An hour ago," Eric replied with a soft smile.
With one last kiss on the cheek, he was out the door in the blink of an eye and I was left standing in the middle of my room. Not wanting to keep him waiting long, and seeing as I had taken a shower the night before, I opened my closet and pulled out some clothes. I settled on a thermal sweater, a pair of jeans, sneakers, and, of course, my parka.
The outside world was still covered in snow, so I was thankful that Eric was driving; it meant I didn't have to spend half an hour trying to de-ice my
truck. Part of me realized that I'd have to do it eventually, but, for once, I decided a little procrastination was acceptable.
As I descended the stairs, I found Eric sitting in the living room patiently. Upon my arrival, he hopped up and kissed me softly, allowing his lips to linger on mine for a few extra seconds. That small amount of time was enough to fill my stomach with butterflies and send a bright red flush across my face. When he pulled away, my hand quickly flew to my face in a vain attempt to mask the blushing.
"I like it when you blush, Bella," he whispered, and, after lightly pulling my hand away from my face, entwined our fingers.
Breakfast went by quickly, with me only consuming a few bites of cereal and gulping down a glass of milk, before we were out the door. I climbed in Eric's car and immediately melted into the comfortable seats, before we were off to school.
On our way there, I couldn't help but think back to the previous day, when Eric had gotten very angry. Things were starting to get really weird in Forks, and I'd bet money that the McRaes knew exactly what was going on. I wonder if it has anything to do with that white-haired person.
My breathing hitched as I remembered everything I had wanted to speak to Eric about. After his angry outburst and my fear that the McRaes were leaving, I had completely forgotten about the mysterious person I had been seeing outside the school.
"Eric," I said slowly and, after he hummed a response, I asked, "Is there something in Forks that I should be worried about?"
As I peered at him from the side, I saw him looking in my direction, so I continued further. "The reason I ask it, well, I've seen some strange things lately."
"Such as?" Eric sounded completely uninterested and part of me wondered if I'd upset him.
"Never mind," I grumbled and lowered my eyes.
"Please tell me." Eric's voice was completely different now; he sounded sincere and sweet, just like normal.
"Well, promise not to laugh," I insisted and, after his reassuring chuckle, I continued. "I could've sworn I've seen someone lurking around the school—someone with white hair."
Nothing I could've imagined could have prepared me for Eric's reaction. His foot immediately slammed on the brake, bringing us to a screeching halt, and, as soon as we were completely immobile, he turned to me. His face was frantic and his eyes were wide.
"You saw what?" His body started to tremble as his golden eyes cut through me.
"Eric, why did you—" I started to demand why on Earth he had stopped us in the middle of the road, but he cut me off.
"Why didn't you say something?" His voice climbed higher and his hands, fisted tightly around the steering wheel, were shaking.
"What's wrong?" I asked softly, feeling a bit of fear raise in my stomach. I knew that Eric wouldn't hurt me, but, when he looked at me in that way, I felt afraid.
Eric appeared to realize what he was doing, and his body slowly became less tense. However, as soon as he was breathing normally, he twisted the steering wheel and started driving in the other direction. His jaw was tight and he glared openly at the road ahead of us.
"Where are we going?" I asked, feeling flush with anxiety.
"To speak with Lazarus."
About twenty minutes later, I was being pulled across the McRaes lawn towards the front door, my stomach feeling like a tight knot. I hadn't even been formally introduced to Lazarus yet, and here I was, showing up with Eric to talk to him. As Eric pushed the door open, I prepared myself for whatever would happen, and hoped it would be okay.
The inside of the McRaes' home was illuminated by a few lamps, placed haphazardly around the room. Once I was able to take in my surroundings, I noticed that Avarice and Lazarus were on the sofa staring up at us with matching looks of confusion.
"Erickson, what's wrong?" Avarice stood and smiled briefly my way. "Hello, Bella."
"Hi," I muttered awkwardly, wondering if our arrival had caused the interruption of anything important.
"She's seen the scout," Eric answered quickly and his harsh tone was enough to make me drop my eyes in shame.
"Are you positive?" I heard Avarice inquire, though I kept my eyes shut.
All at once, I felt an icy touch softly lift my chin upwards, however, when I opened my eyes, it was not who I expected. I was greeted by a pair of crimson irises, masked lightly by black hair.
Lazarus smiled softly at me and tilted his head sideways before asking, "Why do you lower your eyes?"
"I…uh," I stuttered as his eyes pierced through me, sending a chill down my spine. However, as he stroked my cheek, he looked like he was expecting an answer, so I gave him one. "I feel like this is my fault."
"And what, pray tell, are you at fault for?" His voice probed further, almost hypnotizing me with its beautiful melodic sound. Like Avarice, Lazarus had a strong Irish accent that saturated every word he spoke beautifully. I was very tempted to close my eyes and simply listen to him speak for a few hours.
"Eric's upset," I muttered, still a bit entranced, and instantly regretted saying it. My eyes quickly fell on Eric, who looked shocked and confused in the same instant.
"No, Bella," he insisted and, as he pulled me out of Lazarus's grasp, I could've sworn he narrowed his eyes at his older brother. "I'm sorry, I'm not mad at you."
"What's wrong, then?" I asked and, remembering that we weren't alone, turned back to Lazarus and Avarice. "Please, tell me what's happening."
"We've been tracking someone moving through the area," Avarice responded hesitantly and turned to Lazarus who nodded. "That's one of the reasons Aryana left; she was trying to draw them to Seattle."
"Lazarus, what can you see?" Eric asked seriously and looked his brother expectantly.
Lazarus lowered his chin slightly and appeared to concentrate, not speaking and not looking at anyone. His face suddenly glazed over, very similar to Alice when she would have a vision, and he cocked his head to side, appearing confused.
"This town is filled with holes," he muttered, appearing engrossed. All at once, he stopped and turned to me with a soft smile and said, "One in this very room."
"All right," Eric muttered after a beat and turned to Avarice. "What exactly does that mean?"
"A cloaker," Lazarus responded simply.
My mind was a whirl of questions. Why did Eric ask Lazarus what he could see? What did Lazarus mean by a cloaker? And what did he mean by holes? As I tried to piece together the answers, Lazarus, Avarice, and Eric continued to speak.
"A cloaker would definitely make sense," Avarice agreed and began to pace in front of the fireplace. "How many times did she see them?"
"Twice," Eric responded, his jaw tightening a bit. "Around the school."
"That doesn't make sense," Avarice said and knit his brow. "The scouts don't stay around that long."
"Scouts?" I asked, finally breaking my silence.
"Scouts are vampires that are sent to locate our family, Bella," Avarice informed, and rested his forehead on the mantle. "However, they always leave and send for the assassins after they find us. The fact that you've seen this creature twice is very peculiar and out of the ordinary."
Avarice and Eric both paced around the room, deep in concentration—unlike Lazarus. He sat, curiously oblivious on the sofa, turning to stare at me every now and then, but mostly just gazing into the fire with a strange attraction.
"Erickson, come with me," Avarice finally said, after about five minutes. "I need to show you something."
Eric leaned down and kissed my forehead. "I'll be right back."
I was a little nervous being left alone with Lazarus; last time I was left alone with a vampire with red eyes, he had almost killed me. I shuddered, remembering Rochester and immediately let my mind think of something else. As I sat there, trying to think of an excuse to tell Charlie, as to why I wasn't at school today, Lazarus turned and stared directly at me.
"You're so quiet," he mused softly and pulled his feet up on the sofa. He gazed curiously at me with a fascination that I found endearing and a little creepy.
"Sorry," I responded automatically, not sure what he wanted me to say. However, as I stared at the husband of my best friend, thoughts of Ary immediately surfaced. "So, have you seen Ary?"
He sighed and lowered his eyes. "Aye—and she's seen me."
There were so many questions I wanted to ask him, the majority about Ary and her current state. According to her, Lazarus had broken her heart and and her current state. According to her, Lazarus had broken her heart and taken off, so, I wondered if she was okay.
My throat was slightly scratchy, forcing me to cough slightly; I hadn't drunk any water yet today. As my hand found its way to my neck, Lazarus returned his attention to me.
"Are you thirsty?" he inquired with raised eyebrows.
"No, I'm fine," I lied, not wanting to trouble anybody.
"You're a terrible liar," Lazarus responded with a sly smile. "I'd be able to spot that, even if I weren't what I am."
"Huh?" I remembered Ary saying that Lazarus had a gift for hypnotizing people, but what did that have to do with me lying?
"I'm more than a hypnotist, Bella," Lazarus answered my thoughts quickly and laughed.
"I don't understand," I said cautiously. "Ary didn't tell me you could read minds."
"Yana protects me," he replied after sighing heavily and lowering his eyes. He cringed, contorting his serene expression to a pained one, and shut his eyes. "We don't give away information freely, Bella. That happens after you've been hunted for over a hundred years."
"All right," I breathed, wondering what else she'd kept from me, and, asked, "so, what can you do?"
"Damn!" Eric's familiar tone shot through the house, and, moments later, he rushed into the living room. He fisted his hands in his hair and snarled angrily before falling into one of the chairs.
"Find something, brother?" Lazarus asked, slightly amused.
"Yes, Lazarus," he hissed without looking at his brother. "There are traces of the same scent, we've been following, all around the house. Whoever it is, they've been inside our home."
"Here?" I asked as my eyes trailed around the massive living room, feeling afraid. "What does it mean?"
His head perked up and he looked at me skeptically, but, possibly upon seeing the fear in my eyes, he softened and made his way over to me. Once at my side, he traced my cheek with his palm and gave me a familiar smile that warmed me on the inside.
"Everything will be all right, Bella," Eric replied softly, his voice sending a chill down my spine. "We won't let anything happen to you."
"Erickson," Lazarus interrupted, and turned to face me directly. "Bella, do you live on K Street?"
"Yes," I confirmed slowly, but quickly added, "why?"
"When I arrived in Forks," Lazarus explained, his face losing none of its seriousness, "I found several, unmasked scents surrounding a two story house on K Street. The house with the iced over red truck." The air caught in my throat as I realized what he was telling me. The vampire had been hanging around my house, possibly watching my father and I.
"My dad could come home early," I cried, remembering that he normally took off early before holidays, and panicked. "We need to go now!"
I stood up quickly and tried to head for the front door, however, Eric ensnared me in a tight grip and pulled me back. My arms flailed about and I demanded that he let me go. Why was he trying to restrain me when I needed to see if my dad was okay?
"Patience, Bella," Eric whispered in my ear soothingly. "The cloaker doesn't want you or your father; if they did, you'd both be dead by now."
"Erickson is right," Avarice agreed, coming into the room from the hallway behind us. "Any action that indicates we are aware of the cloaker's presence will put everyone in danger."
"So, what do we do?" I asked, tired from struggling against Eric and emotionally strung out from everything else. "Nothing?"
"Not nothing," Avarice answered with an endearing smile, touching my shoulder lightly. "We need you to keep your eyes open, Bella. For some reason, the cloaker has allowed you to see the cloaker, which is very strange. Whatever his, or her, purpose, I have a feeling that they'll reveal it to you soon enough, then we can strike. Until then, we can only be patient."
Oh great, the game I hate the most—the waiting game.