Chapter 2
3rd POV
News spread fast in the town. Two more boys and two girls had received an invite, the town both mourned and celebrated the occasion.
To be invited to the Swan Ball was an epitome of extreme honour. Jared could never figure out why they celebrated the death of their children, no one knew what happened there only that their children never returned.
"You don't have to go Jared" Angela uttered to him. He was still standing in the doorway of their shop.
No he had to go, he was compelled to go – much like when he drunk the moonshine – he didn't know why but he had to.
"NO, I need to go… I'm sorry Angela but I do" he whispered to her.
"Okay, we will help you get ready." Ben states from next to his wife. It was the least they could do for him, one nice gesture before he is gone.
"Stay, we will get you ready to be presented" Ben sighed sadly, patting the boys back and leading him out the back to their carriage.
The ride to the Cheney's was silent and long. Jared didn't know what to do or how to act as he sat upon a pristine leather bench.
He caused many whispers and stares as they trotted through town and to their farmland. It was small compared to others but prospered well.
"Is there anything we can give you Jared? Anything you would like to see or have?" Ben asked as he turned to look at the silent boy.
"If it is okay, I wish for nothing but for Paul ... To see him and hope for him to be free from the Newtons. He is all but sixteen years into this life and has already worked for the six of them." Jared spoke softly; he knew that one of them would hear him; hopefully request his last wish.
Ben and Angela share a long look, one that spoke no words but also spoke in volumes.
"I will get Paul." Ben states before leaving, making sure his wife and Jared were off the carriage.
Jared followed Angela into her home cautiously, watching as people he knew gasp in surprise. He didn't know what to do or how to feel, how could he feel? He was going to die soon, he knew that, no one returned from the ball.
"Mrs Cheney?" Emily Uley asks warily by the kitchen door, her eyes trained on me. We too and her husband grew up together.
"Yes Emily?"
"Is everything okay?" she asks and now Jared takes the time to look at Angela, she was crying.
"I'm okay… just… Jared got a letter," she manages to get out between sobs.
"Excuse me," she whispered before dashing out of the room.
Emily screamed her husband's name as she saw a pale looking Jared and the envelope; they had lost a friend three years ago for the same reason.
Sam hearing his wife scream; dropped whatever was in his hands and bolted to the heart hammered in his chest as he saw her gripping Jared large frame in her sobbing form, a letter clutched in his hands.
"Oh god… Jared… you got an invitation?" he managed to get out as he kneeled next to him, taking the now open letter from his hands. His hands shook as he looked at the familiar scrawl across the page… he wasn't invited by anyone; no he was invited by Esme Cullen herself. It was rare the Mrs Cullen ever gives out invites; the last one was over 10 years ago.
Dear Jared Cameron.
You are hereby invited to attend Charles and Renee Swans annual ball.
Please be dressed decently and ready in the main square for transport to the ball at 5P.M. sharp.
Sincerely,
Esme Cullen.
"It was blank when she held it out to me… she asked my name and when I gave it to her… my name was there. What are they Sam?" Jared chokes out as he re reads and remembers the scene and letter over and over again in his head.
Mrs Cullen was fair, caramel hair always in a bun with a ringlet down her cheeks. Her alabaster skin was smooth and clean, but it was her eyes – a rare topaz and lavender colour – that she and her husband shared.
-
The rest of the night was a blur to Jared, the food bland on his tongue and the world was in muted colours. An urging grew in his stomach though as it grew close to leave for the square, something was going to happen. He knew that much – whether good or bad – that he didn't know.
It was three in the afternoon by the time he, Paul and the Cheney's reached the square. Many faces were shocked as he stepped off the carriage and made way to the small platform for inspection. He was still dressed in rags, choosing them over the clothes Ben offered.
Though, he did wear the shoes and coat that was sitting at the doorstep this morning. A Swan crest sealed the wrapping.
"What is this? He cannot go!" He heard a woman yell in outrage, only to be shushed by Jessica Newton.
"He is to bring honour to our ranch, native or not!" she scolds causing Jared to frown.
"The Cheney's represent me on this day; they take me as I am and respect me as such. There is no honour in this, how could one celebrate a death of their friend, brother, sister, child." He spoke loudly, making Ben and Angela beam in pride and the others to look up at him gobsmacked.
"Then let us at least dress you!" Michael spoke, clicking his fingers at the boy by his carriage. Many of the other townsfolk offered him something, anything. He wanted nothing from them, sure he grew up poor in a home where he wasn't loved; treated like filth from the townsfolk. But he still wanted nothing from them; he wanted to go as he was. He wanted to remember himself and show them who he truly was.
"No, I do not accept." he stated cold.
The rest of the town after that avoided him bar the Cheney's and Paul until the carriages arrived to collect them. Tall men exit the raven-black and blood-red coloured carriages and collected them, Jared being directed to the very last one. The Swan one.
"Hello again, Jared." Esme smirked softly, leaning forward so her dark eyes and alabaster face was illuminated by the light; frightening Jared.
"Shall we begin the games?" she chuckled softly, before the carriage began to move. Looking out the window, he gave one last look and wave to the only friends he ever had.
A/N: *Gasp*
E