HEYYYS! (-!WARNING!- Lengthy chapter and yup, you guessed it. BABBLE…)
Oh shoot. Excessively long chapter that probably should have been split in half again.. AND a stupidly long babble to go with it… Erm, enjoy! OH and before I forget, this is dedicated to an anon reviewer called the mouse simply because of the AMAZING name, and because I did update before her birthday, go me! :p
Ugh. Sorry.. Late update… don't hate me. One word: exams. Yuck. Anywho, onto the babble! Hurrah! ( hey o.o that reminds me of that awesome Noah's ark song: 'the animals went in two by two, hurrah, hurrah, the animals went in two by two hurrah, hurrah! *shuts up*… I sang that out loud.. Oops… I think I woke Mouse up. She, by the way, did not help the speed of this update at all.) OH, and speaking of Mouse. The shrew, (good old little Shrewise) IT'S ALIVE! Yup, I saved it's little furry but in the end. He (oh… or she… I'm sorry, I do not know how to identify a shrew's gender. And it's not something I thought closely about when holding the thing, ach.. Not thing, how rude of me. Small rodent! :p) came out from behind the bookcase eventually, and I put him (or her) in a nearby field, because I'm just lovely like that :p *snort* though no doubt Mouse will soon catch more… seriously, she's nearly as sadistic as the vamps that crop up in this chappy!
I don't know how I wrote this chapter. After I posted the last I just… deflated. I suddenly had this sort of epiphany when reading and realised that, in a nutshell (doesn't that sound oh-so-very-squirrel-esque?) I was RUBBISH at writing *all readers shake their heads in approval of this wise fact*… ;( yeah, a sad realisation huh? And then, I gloomily went to check if I had any hateful reviews confirming this suspicion of mine that I was rubbish (oh, I've been told that this is very English, saying 'rubbish'… is it? How about… awful, that less English? Not that I don't like being English… ugh, sometimes I don't even make sense to myself… I'll stop rambling about that particular word.) And suddenly I was elated! Seriously, I don't know what came over me; I had such nice LONG reviews and Oohh! I was very happy ;) so yeah, without you reviewers out there I would have literally stopped writing this, or thought heavily about doing so. And I no longer care if my writing is indeed rubbish, I've decided so long as some people review, I'll update ;)
To whoever has read this far, and reviewed. You rock my (currently stripy) socks! :p It's weird, how on earth reviews make me happy and TYPE faster (see? There is no logic in this world.) So yeah, reviews mean faster updates. Without them. I'd flop :p
Oh and I need to say, I seriously think that I get THE best reviews ever. I mean, other stories just have like a line saying 'update.' (I DO lovethose too!) But a massive thanks to everyone who takes their time to review - both anon and signed - and especially with such awesome long ones ;) You are FANTABULOUS!
Oh dear, I nearly died laughing reading some reviews, you know I asked if any people guessed who Lucie was staring at? A couple of reviewers said Demetri! Hehe. This wouldn't normally be funny… if it weren't for this quote from the previous chapter:
'It was a strange sound, like a twisted girlish laugh. A peal of high chimed bells slightly off key.' YUP. Definitely Demetri! (I'm sure the fictitious character would be thrilled to know that he sounded like a girl, awhs :p) Hehe.
Anyway, I figure I should actually let you read huh?
Here you go!
What Happened Last Chapter:
I turned round sharply, loosing my balance and grazing me knee against a rock. The voice had drifted from a different direction to the one I'd been facing. I saw red as I noted the rip in my trousers. Warm blood pulsing out of it. Matching the said frenzied tempo of the deafening pulse in my ears.
I wasn't running.
But I didn't register the pain as I faced her.
Run Lucie, run. It wasn't my own mind who was begging.
My breathing hitched in my throat.
I was unable to scream.
"Hello Luciana."
Run. The voice was urgent.
But I knew it was too late.
***
The Silhouetted Sunrise
I stood paralysed with fear as I faced her. My breath still caught in my throat, as if someone was choking me. My mind was screaming profanities at me, and pain surged at my knee, I felt sick. I suffered in silence; I didn't want the vampire before me to sense my fear, or weakness. That would only things easier for her.
"Victoria." I whispered, she beamed in my recognition, her entire face lighting up in twisted joy. It was disturbing. She stood about two meters away, at the brink of the darker trees. Her hair was just like it had been in my dream, fire falling around her, lifting in despite of the fact the air was deadly still. The red framed her faced - a face that should have been beautiful, if it weren't for her expression. Childish and cherubic features lost as her dark red lip curled up in a sadistic smile. Suddenly changing her entire face, making her look bestial.
Mist was floating eerily around her, she wore an odd attire, a deep red top with black tight (what looked like leather) jeans, hugging her every curve, and making her look dangerous. I knew that was the look she'd been going for. Alice wouldn't approve though. No. I shouldn't think of Alice now. Why was I standing here? Why wasn't I moving? Running?
My panic must have been shown on my face, Victoria grinned wider.
"Funny, that you knew my name Luciana." She drawled in that same girlish voice, uncannily unlike her appearance. She moved closer then, a small agile cat like jump. A tiny movement, but I registered it, my eyes noticing the gap between us. I knew what I had to then.
I had to keep her talking.
Very carefully, I let out a breath. Trying not to wince at the searing pain in my leg, the pain that had finally reached.
"Really," I mused, and to my delight (a delight that instantly evaporated when I realised who I was facing again) my voice didn't waver, didn't tremble and shake like how I was feeling. Yet. My mind thought, and I didn't doubt it. "I don't find that remotely amusing."
I didn't smile, and neither did she.
"I meant funny as in strange, girl," She said, her voice loosing some of its sweetness, sounding patronising. As if explaining to a child that one plus one equalled two. "And I meant strange," She said darkly. "Because I don't believe we've met…"
She was right. I didn't know her. But I did see Bella and Jasper's past. And I knew who she was. A sadistic cruel vampire who wanted revenge for James' death. A revenge she planned to commit by attacking Bella.
Hang on a second. If Victoria didn't have Bella…
A movement out the corner of my eye snapped me back to the present. I couldn't dwell on those matters now. First I had to figure out how the hell I was supposed to get away from Victoria.
"I don't believe we have," I said coolly, all the while marvelling at how I could sound so collected, when inside I was screaming for an escape, my eyes desperately trying to focus on her rather than the forest around us. "I would introduce myself, but, you already seem to know my name." It was risky. I shouldn't be speaking to her like this. She was a vampire, fuelled on revenge and thirsty, and here I was, a weak human with blood steadily staining my trousers, talking to her like I would with Mr Banner.
Now, Mr Banner seemed positively nice. And that was saying something.
But I did say it, for the simple reason that I had to keep her talking; I hoped she answered my unsaid question. Because I didn't want to answer hers.
She smiled again, but this time it was more like a sneer.
"I do know your name Luciana, or Lucie as they call you," She grinned with teeth like pearls, though I don't think pearls could ever be that sharp, like the incisors of a lioness. "A pretty name, for a pretty girl. Prettier than Bella were you? A nicer pet? Is that why the Cullens' have welcomed you so? Because of beauty?" I didn't answer, she looked at me, scrutinised me, all the while sneering. "Hardly." She scoffed.
She leered at me, her features were oddly catlike. With eyes glinting in the near darkness, penetrating me. Her movements were graceful and entrancing, but not like the Cullens', no hers were darker, deadlier. She was moving closer.
No.
"I've been watching you Lucie," She mused, stopping slightly and twirling the long grass through her white fingers. I noticed something against her ethereally pale skin though, dark red. Nail varnish. I thought. It's just nail varnish. "Such a curious human..." I tired not to look at her hands, but I couldn't. I felt sick, a tumult dizziness shook me.
It was blood, encrusted into her finger tips; they were long; like claws.
I didn't speak. I knew I should, it was my only chance of survival. But my voice seemed to die in my throat; I was fighting the urge to be sick. Her voice came out sharper when she next spoke.
"Did you know about James Lucie?" She asked, staring straight at me, her eyes a vivid crimson.
I didn't answer.
Yes. I know all about James. Your mate, or to be more apt ex-mate. Your one love (if you are even capable to feel that emotion) who was killed by Edward when he had bitten Bella, with this act making you seek revenge. Primarily on Bella. I know James, despite the fact that I had never met him. And never will, and never would have intended to because, well, like you he was a sadistic vampire. And I'm a human. Sadistic vampires and humans don't tend to mix too well in my book.
Yes. It was definitely wise of me not to say that particular statement out loud.
She continued laughing coldly without humour, all the while having her eyes fixed on my expression. She made a quick sharp movement with her hand there was a snap, and the grass she had been twining through her fingers suddenly fell to the earth by her feet. I felt my eyes watch its fall, jealous of painless it looked. And subconsciously wondering if my death would be so easy.
I knew it wouldn't.
"He bit Bella," Victoria said quietly, I snapped my gaze back to hers. She'd moved closer. I couldn't get distracted again, each movement closer, my chances of escape diminished. My heart raced at this thought, and I willed it to quieten. There was no need for any more temptation.
I still couldn't speak, my leg felt numb beneath me, pins and needles were slowly surging through it. But if I alerted her attention to that, well, then I think she'd be moving faster. She carried on talking, and to my relief didn't seem to notice how I was leaning slightly on one side. And trying not to cry out in pain.
"She could have become immortal Lucie, beautiful like me." She pirouetted, her hair dancing around her, there was no denying her beauty. But it was twisted. Tainted, a beauty that was used to entice, lure her victims in. It sickened me. Suddenly she stopped her dance, the carefree stance had vanished, she looked like a lioness, ready to strike. "But she didn't. Edward sucked the venom clean, kept her human despite her requests, kept her fragile, kept her weak. So selfish of him." I just stared at her, shocked at the venom in her voice. Edward was not selfish, he was the exact opposite. A rage rose up inside me, and suddenly the pain in my leg was momentarily gone, a spark of adrenaline pumped fiercely through my veins. My voice shook when I spoke, but not with fear, with anger.
"Edward, is not selfish." I said darkly, Victoria mirrored my gaze, before throwing her head back and laughing.
"Protective," She purred, dancing a step closer, I held my body high, no longer slouching, though the sharp pain in my leg returned, I held in my wince. Her movements before me were supple; her hair would lift with the slightest moment, a fire in the darkness. I wanted to shake myself. Focus, my mind commanded. "Honestly Lucie, and here I was thinking that you could have been intelligent. You think he's innocent do you? He's killed before, though I doubt he'd share that, wouldn't want to frighten you would we now?" Her voice had slipped back into the baby coo, mocking and sickly sweet.
She doesn't know anything, I thought savagely, I knew Edward had killed and I didn't care. The fact was he didn't enjoy doing so; he loathed himself for it. But the vampire before me took pleasure in killing. I felt the nausea seize me again; the darkness swirled slightly, but bit down hard on my lip, forcing myself to concentrate.
"Bella fell for Edward, and I wanted her, I wanted Edward to feel the pain I felt. He should suffer like I did. Like I am." The words were escaping her ruby lips in a hiss. Her movements were sharper now, more precise. Soon she would be too close. My blood would soon be too tempting. She'd succumb to the first soon, wanting to play with me first. I knew she wanted a reaction, a scream, a plea.
I wasn't going to give her anything though.
"But now, there isn't just Bella is there?" She turned slowly to face me, having been staring at a fixed point in the distance. "She was my first preference. I searched her out, but the wolves intervened. Hideous creatures, protecting her. They've taken her onto Quileute grounds, and pack sizes have increased dramatically recently. I didn't bother trying to take her, no doubt there protection methods will slip eventually, I'll be there for that…" She was almost talking to her self now, not looking at me, but almost as soon as I thought this, she snapped her gaze back to mine, coking an eyebrow. "She seems to attract all sorts of admirers doesn't she? The dog boy Jason-"
"Jacob." I spat, interrupting her. She cocked her head to the side like an animal, her gaze penetrated me curiously; I regretted the sentence as soon as I'd uttered it. Slowly, her lip curled into another sneer.
"Yes Lucie, you do know a lot. Does that make you jealous? Her having both Jacob and Edward pining after her?"
"No." I said cautiously, it was the truth though, despite my hesitation. I'd never felt jealous of Bella, her situation wasn't fun, trapped between loving two people. It was torture.
"Liar," She purred again, though didn't argue, if I could keep her talking, I could figure out a plan to escape. "But as I said Lucie, Bella was my initial plan. The dogs ruined it of course, taking her away; their pack was larger than I'd anticipated you know. I can't get Bella…yet."
And then relief came. Beautiful, irrational, relief. Bella was safe. Jacob - and the pack - had taken her somewhere. She wasn't in danger, Victoria hadn't caught her. I felt like grinning in spite of the situation. Edward would find her, they'd realise she wasn't harmed, and he wouldn't feel guilty. Victoria didn't hurt her.
She's got you instead.
Suddenly I didn't feel like smiling any more.
"I was put out at this," Victoria continued, pouting slightly, and I felt fear trickle slowly through me. A fear that I'd been able to keep at bay for so long, that was now rooting me paralysed to the spot again. I felt my leg twinge painfully; I knew it was loosing blood. "I wanted Edward to suffer. But his loved one was safe, so I settled for the next best thing." She grinned at me, her crimson eyes blazed. "You."
"I don't know why you think that will make him suffer." My voice was only just calm now. It was far too fragile, I could practically hear how weak it sounded, how unsure. Victoria noticed it too, her lip pulled back in a broad smile.
"I didn't at first Lucie," She purred again, "but I became curious, the Cullens were with you a lot, I'vebeen watching. Edward seemed very protective of you, just like he was with Bella last time I met her. And as I watched, I realised there was something special about you." I couldn't say anything, I vaguely realised I'd stopped breathing again, but her words were hitting me thick and fast, I was horrified, but fore the way she was saying them: with glee. How much did she know? Her expression twisted again, transforming into a beatific grin, she looked like an angel momentarily.
Until you saw the crimson eyes, stained with blood, contrasting vividly against her fire hair
She was more like the devil.
"So you see Lucie, I was surprised to say the least when I found out you knew they were vampires. I'd assumed so, what with you staying so close to them and all, but it still came as shock. But Edward seemed to take an interest in you," The sneer was back now, "so you are in fact, the second best option for me."
She was moving closer, I forced myself to speak.
"I'm not special, what if I'm just what you said, just a pet." My voice was strained, rough and out of breath, I had to resist the searing pain, and the equally strong feeling to scream.
"Oh you're special alright Lucie, no, I don't think you're just a pet. Not with the way they treat you. But I'm still stumped. Why you? What makes you special? Plenty of beauties out there they could pick, but they choose you. So if it isn't beauty they want, is it charisma? Is that what you are Lucie, a charmer? Not intelligent," She grinned again, "because if you were intelligent you would have run by now."
"What makes you think they even want me?"
I had to keep her talking…
"I've been watching, Edward waits on you as he did with Bella, ready to save you from harms way," She was only a meter away now, her smile one of pure malice, "pity he's too late now." She lifted her head to the air and sniffed delicately, like a cat inspecting food. How ironic. "But your special Lucie, what do they keep saying? About you having a gift…"
My head hurt then and the fear seemed suffocating. She knew too much. I couldn't talk now, no matter how much I knew I had to, I couldn't. I felt like I was winded, all breath had left me. Victoria noticed this changed, and smiled in triumph, stepping ever closer.
"But I think I know what you're like. The innocent sort, noble, ready to face pain and hide it, I know that Lucie which is why-" She was a few feet away now. I had to speak.
"How do you know so much?" My voice shook.
"I already told you, I've been watching-"
"Stalking more like." I spat at her, I was interrupting her, and as stupid as it seemed, it worked. She stopped, not moving closer, but scowling at me. She'd expected me to by screaming at this point, or at least crying. And I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction.
"Yes Lucie," She hissed, "and like I was saying, you are so naïve, if only you'd questioned that crack in your floor last night, if only you'd thought a bit more, instead of flirting with Edward Cullen." Her words scared me, but I couldn't let her know that. The crack in the floorboards filled my mind now. She'd been to my house; it was her who had caused it. I could see her jumping onto it lithely, only a room away from my father…
"I wasn't flirting." It was the only truthful thing I could say. Because I felt like kicking myself. Why hadn't I wondered more about that? Why hadn't I asked? Victoria sneered at me.
"Actually you're right. You weren't flirting with him, I was surprised at that…"
"You weren't there," My breathing was shallow, but it sounded like I was trying to reassure myself. "he would have smelt you."
"True Lucie, you're smarter than I gave you credit for. But the fact was that I was there. But he was too preoccupied by you Lucie, why is that? How did you grab his attention so? Not by your looks, surely. Tell me your gift." She ended it on a command, ever closer.
"I don't have one."
"Liar!" She cried out in rage.
Her eyes were frenzied now, and suddenly my leg throbbed. I couldn't help it; glancing to my side I saw a dark red stain on the side of my leg. Nausea consumed me and dizziness hit again. My vision swam before me slightly and I could only see red and black. I snapped my eyes back to Victoria though, praying that she hadn't been looking at me. But she was. Her eyes glinted maliciously and followed my own to the clotted blood encrusted in my jeans.
She stepped closer, a horribly sadistic smile on her face.
"So you won't tell me Lucie, your little gift that makes you special?" I didn't speak; she was close enough that I could smell her now. A sickly sweet aroma, heavily pollinated flowers and vanilla. I felt sick with it, and suddenly wanted to sneeze. "Well you will tell me." The baby coo was back, she blew in my ear softly, I couldn't move. "Because I know your weakness."
"I don't have one." I blurted out, the lie bubbling to my lips. I didn't care anymore. I knew I had weaknesses, too many to count. But I had to keep her talking; the walls were too close now. I knew I probably wouldn't escape alive. But I would die trying.
She smiled again, this time wider than ever before, revealing each perfectly chiseled tooth. "Oh but you do," She sang, twirling again, before stopping and smirking. Saying two words which shattered my resolve completely. "Your father."
I didn't react rationally. I wanted to punch her. But I settled with just shouting.
"No!" I could finally find my voice again; it shook with rage as I glared at her. My fear vanished and I stepped towards her. "Leave him out of this." She looked at me for a second, appraising me, her eyes raking her my frail figure, a smirk dancing on her blood stained lips.
Then she threw her head back, and cried out with a chilling laugh.
"Oooh, touchy are we? Finally, I get a reaction out of you Lucie," She was grinning manically her red hair twisted around her beautiful yet bestial face. And I knew I was giving the exact reaction she wanted. She wanted me to do this; infuriate her, letting myself give her the chance to make her angry and powerful. I knew I shouldn't do what she wanted me to do. But I couldn't help it. My blood pumped ferociously through me veins, refusing to quieten even in the presence of death.
"Leave. Him. Alone." I said through gritted teeth, though carefully retreating my steps slightly.
She didn't miss that.
Her crimson eyes zoned in on the minimal distance I had put between us, the distance that had almost caused me to cry out in pain, my leg still loosing blood.
"Trying to run away are we?" She purred darkly, swiftly stepping before me, a foot or so between us. I wasn't exactly sure of what to say next as I stared at her. Every nerve in my body taught like a live wire, desperate to run. But I couldn't. I knew it had been too late from the moment I'd seen her. Vampires were fast, very fast. I was a human, weak, prone to slip, and not to mention unable to make a decision as she stared at me through blood red eyes. My anger was vanishing fast and left me afraid. No, afraid wouldn't cover it. Terrified.
She wasn't smiling at me any more, though her expression was torn. Half in longing and desire, and half in annoyance. The effect was a sort of twisted grimace. Disturbing. I could tell exactly what she was thinking about.
My blood.
Her eyes lingered hungrily on the dark stain above my just above my left calf. I didn't follow her gaze, afraid I would feel dizzy. My heart was beating traitorously against my ribs, a live target, ever tempting. It seemed to sense its beats were numbered. She danced closer still, taking her blood stained fingers, and combing them through my limp hair. I froze.
"So… potent." She whispered coarsely. Leaning close to me, a grip on my arm like a steel trap, I was unable to squirm an inch away, her fingers were surely going to leave imprints on my skin. I wondered when I would break. I didn't dare to breathe. She grinned fully, flashing her set of pearl teeth, I saw the determination in her eyes, and I didn't doubt it.
I closed my own eyes, only wishing I wouldn't have to suffer long. That somehow, my father would remain safe; that Bella would not get harmed by Victoria; that Edward wouldn't want to kill for revenge. But otherwise my mind was blank; I had expected my life to flash before my eyes. It didn't. How disappointing. I reopened them; Victoria was still looking at me hungrily. Malice; revenge and bitterness shining through her evident thirst, I could tell she was arguing with herself, on whether to just succumb or make me suffer. I sincerely hoped she didn't choose the latter.
"Un goût amer, et pourtant si tentant." It was French. She was speaking French? My head was spinning, what was it with vampires and stupid languages?!
Eventually she sighed and her nails scratched my skin, I felt hot blood trickle down my arms were her nails cut through my flesh. I should scream; it was what she wanted. But I repressed it, I didn't want to be weak now, I'd coped so well. She hissed at my calm façade, only broken by my furious pulse; I felt sick, I was sure if she hadn't been half tearing my apart in holding me, I would have fallen by now. Her lip pulled back in a snarl, each tooth glinting in the dawn light, razor-sharp and lethal.
But then she stopped, the claw like nails digging into my skin were gone in a flurry of movement, I stumbled slightly, gripping a tree branch for support. Wondering why Victoria was now a meter away from me, her expression terrifying, her ruby eyes darting from me to someone in the dense thicket of trees, a lattice of black and green. She gave me one last, tortured look, and then vanished, just as a voice spoke.
"She is mine."
I couldn't suppress it anymore as he loomed out of the shadows, just like I had seen him do so many times before.
It's happening.
It was just like my dream, the very same dream that would have me screaming each night in terror. I pursed my lips tight, unwilling to repeat that. Victoria moved further away from me, and my confusion mounted. Eventually she letout one piercing cry, and was soon shrouded by the darkness as she ran off into the trees. I looked back to him, his skin was odd, an olive complexion yet chalky pallor; a hard, lean and muscular build I had seen too many times before. Like all vampires; he was inexplicitly beautiful. Or so one would assume, until they saw his eyes.
They weren't like Victoria's ruby shade - blood red from her latest victim - they were darker, the irises were a shade of burgundy; pitch black at the pupils, and a deep crimson on the outer rings. They were worse though.
He was thirstier.
Adrenaline was suddenly coursing through my veins, making me tremble slightly. He continued to stare at me, not like Victoria had done, with her sadistic smile. No, his was worse, eyeing me carefully, his burgundy eyes casually raking over me, like the lazy paws of a cat.
And I stared back at him, somehow, without speech, everything was much more terrifying. I wanted to collapse from the regular intervals of pain that continued shooting up my leg, but didn't. My breathing had constricted again, His expression however, did not waver. He continued to look at my curiously, tilting his head slightly in inspection. He wasn't staring at the clotted blood around my calf however, he was staring at my arms.
I looked down at them, it felt like they'd been burned. They were chalk white, ribboned with blood.
I couldn't breathe. I felt like I was suffocating once more, drowning in the ever mounting fear. Victoria's words swimming around my head. My father. He was in danger now. And I could have prevented it, if I'd only asked Edward what he had been hiding, what he'd been thinking, then I might have been able to fix this. But as it was, I couldn't, and almost certainly never would.
A part of my mind. The more rational, sane side. Was screaming at me. It didn't really help when I ways trying to think of an escape plan, but it was better than the numb sensation. I was trapped again, half in fear, half in numbness. I didn't know which was worse anymore. I just knew that when they were combined, it felt like hell.
And then somehow, I don't entirely know how. I spoke.
"Hello Demetri."
***
He hadn't responded to my first words.
He had still stood there, with that eerie grace of a statue. Staring at me like I was an object he'd never encountered before, but one that he'd been dying to finally see. And claim.
Eventually he spoke, his voice was an flawless sound, but different from Edward's, polite and formal, but more rustic. And not to mention chilling. I felt he hairs on the nape of my neck rise, and sweat beaded on my upper lip.
"Ah, Lucie…" he crooned softly, "I've been simply dying to meet you…"
"Can't say the same myself." I replied dryly, attempting to hide my fear, he chuckled at that, yet it was an unnerving sound; like nails being drawn harshly across a backboard. I shuddered involuntarily.
"Do want to know what she said to Lucie in French, before running away?" Demetri suddenly asked, still at the mouth of the lattice of trees behind him. He wasn't moving closer, so why did I want to run more? He didn't wait for an answer. "She said 'a bitter taste, and yet so tempting,' referring to your blood of course." His dark eyes gleamed in the darkness. I didn't speak. "Yet I think the opposite, I don't think your blood would taste bitter at all. In realtà, credo, il tuo sangue è il più potente che io abbia mai encoutered Lucie, è quasi troppo difficile resistere…" His words trailed off into a language that sounded like Italian at the end. The effect was chilling; too much fervour was in his words, too much longing. He made a raspy sound at my expression - which was, no doubt showing evident confusion - was it meant to be a laugh? I didn't think anyone could laugh with evident amusement and still look terrifying at the same time. I had been terribly mistaken. "Sorry Lucie, I tend to do that, I can translate if you'd like?" No. I didn't want that either. Hearing more creepy things would not help anything. I shook my head sharply and he nodded curtly, still formal.
"To tell you the truth; I was surprised to find her looking for you of all people. Victoria that is. I thought we were the only ones aware about you, though it seems her intention was different from our own." I kept noticing the plural in his words.
"The Volturi." I voiced my suspicions, He nodded, a smile curving the edges of his lips.
"Yes that's right. But as I said, she didn't want you for the reasons that we do. Which is good, it wouldn't be great if she found out… despite her loyalty, I think it would have been perceptible to change, though she'd want to join us I'm sure…" Demetri had a distant look in his eyes, he was rambling, I didn't object to that. Despite the fact I had no clue what he was reffering to. But he seemed to realise this too, his set his gaze upon me again, and I felt my skin crawl "I'm not certain Aro would accept though, he likes gifted people Lucie, like you…"
"I don't have a gift," I blurted out again. 'Gift' seemed to be the word of the night. Or, I thought, glancing towards the purplish sky, very early morning.
"Oh but you do." Demetri sang, in a perverse parody of a serenade. I was afraid to speak more, for fear my voice would shake. But I had to. It was my only hope.
"And she is gifted," I said, finding my voice and hating it's amplitude. "Victoria's power was self-preservation. She was able to keep herself alive by knowing safe places to go to…" I trailed off, regretting the words instantly. Demetri was nodding at me, a sly grin spreading across his features. It clicked then, why Victoria had run from Demetri was obvious. He was part of the Volturi, despite everything; I knew Victoria obeyed their rules, like all vampires. "And that's why you didn't follow her… because she's gone somewhere where you can't get her." I said my realisation out loud.
"You do know an awful lot Lucie." Demetri mused quietly, calmly, like we were discussing the weather. Instead of making light conversation before he killed me. "She does have a gift; I forgot, it's not that great. But you are terribly wrong about your last statement, what a disappointment." He clucked his tongue disapprovingly, I wanted to vomit. I just stared at him blankly, trying not to give much away in my expression, how fearful I was of him. Slowly, as he continued to stare at me, his expression shifted, a smile curling the corners of his lips.
"I didn't let her go because she would find somewhere safe. I stayed, because I intended to leave with what I set out to get." His smile was wide now. He danced closer and my breathing hitched again. I knew what he was about to say before he even said it. "You."
"I'm really not that special," I whispered, fear leaking steadily into each word.
"Oh but you are," He took a strand of my hair between his fingers, twisting it uncharacteristically gently, he was right next to me, "you are essential Lucie."
"The Ragnarök." I breathed. His eyes flashed at the words.
"And things like that Lucie," Demetri was frowning, twisting the pale strand of hair in-between his finger viciously, as if wanting to pull it from my scalp. "completely contradict your previous statement of not being special. No normal person would know what about the Ragnarök, and yet you say it, and I'm sure know the meaning behind it. Interesting indeed."
"I-I don't know." I stuttered quickly. Demetri's next words left his lips in a whisper. Deadly quiet.
"Don't lie Lucie; it's terribly impolite."
I felt light-headed, my breathing was ragged.
"Now, tell me, what does that mean to you?" His voice was as lethal as his teeth, shining brightly against the near darkness.
"The Twilight Of The Gods." I said trying to sound calm and failing. My voice shook.
"Good Lucie, very good. You're learning not to lie. And I assume you know why we need you specifically?" I didn't speak. He answered his own question, drawing out the words as if I was too stupid to understand. "Because you are the one we need. Your blood is essential to the ritual, if we have your blood, nothing can stop us."
"Who told you this?" I asked in disbelief.
"Aro of course." Demetri answered instantly, frowning again at my change in tone.
"And you think that killing me will result in world domination do you?" My voiced was laced with scepticism, I was grateful; it masked the horror. Demetri frowned for a moment before responding.
"No, but sacrificing you will." He grinned again, this time I saw his teeth, and they were worse than Victoria's, somehow sharper. I didn't speak. In any other situation, it would be comical. Sacrifice. Right. But not now. Not when Demetri was this close to me, boring his burgundy eyes into my own, alight in fear. Not with my blood pumping furiously. Not with the scratches on my bare arms from where Victoria had held me. And not with my leg, numb beneath me.
It was the exact opposite to comical.
"Desiderio corrompe. Tentazione poteri. Tenebre consuma. Luce divora." I didn't need a translation for that. The tone was significant enough to spark my memory. And for my terrible dreams to resurface.
"Desire corrupts, temptation powers. Darkness consumes, light devours." The chant left my lips as a whisper. I felt the forest sway slightly; my leg beneath me had stopped hurting. That couldn't be good. I couldn't feel it.
"Oh so true." Demetri whispered in my ear, sending multiple convulsions of fear through me, I felt sick with it.
"Why though?" I suddenly exclaimed, attempting to squirm away from him, but he grabbed me harshly to prevent even the slightest movement. "Why are you doing this? Why do you have to be so sadistic?!" It was stupid of me. My anger had flared and died in a matter of seconds, leaving me only with terror, as I saw something flash across his dark eyes.
He gripped my skin tighter. I bit down hard on my lip, resisting the urge to scream, and knowing if I survived, I was sure to have bruises. He traced one finger against the blood on my arms, bringing it softly to his lips.
"You taste simply divine." He laughed darkly, I was surprised he could control his thirst. His eyes were darker than Victoria's. But I knew he wanted me; that was the reason for not sucking out my life. Because they needed my blood.
And consumed her mortal blood. Edward's words rang in my ears.
Surprisingly, I wasn't looking forward to that,
"You're lucky I came actually; I didn't expect Victoria to hold out much longer. She didn't kill you straight away, she never does. Always making her victims suffer." He grinned, "in fact, she's quite alike me in that sense." I stared at him, not bothering to hide my abhorrence.
"Then you're disgusting." I spat at him.
It was a mistake to do that.
Suddenly, He balled his hands into fists in my hair, jerking it sharply. The strand he'd been twisting broke off, leaving split ends in its place.
"You're description earlier was more apt. I tend to go with sadistic." He pulled tighter, I bit my lip hard again, the pain mounted each moment. "Scream, Lucie." He growled into my ear, commanding. I wanted to throw myself at him at the sound of his voice, despite the fact that this was physically impossible. I to hurt him and I wanted to run at the same time. Neither would work, thought the first would probably be more satisfying if I was strong enough to do so.
Which, incidentally, I was definitely not.
I glared at him, determination swelling inside me.
"Never." I vowed. The smile slipped from his face, it twisted into a snarl. He composed this quickly though, stepping away slightly, murmuring something I wasn't sure I was supposed to hear.
"You will though; they always do." Not me. I added silently. I wouldn't be weak. I glared at him. Wanting to punch him almost as much as I wanted to break Mike's nose. More so even. I was about to shout at him, do anything to prove I wasn't what he assumed. Not just a fragile human, not something that could be disposed of. Not weak.
But then, with horror, I realised what was happening.
Black spots burst in my vision, I felt myself convulse and shake violently.
And everything went black.
As I relived Demetri's past.
I was a young boy my hair fell to my chin in soft ringlets. Fear was gripping me for some reason, it was the same time again. I knew what would happen in a few moments, I was terrified to face up to him again. I could see my reflection in the grubby window opposite, jet black hair framing supple olive skin, high cheekbones with prominent dark patches across them.
Bruises.
My back was pressed flat against the wall. I always had to stand like this, if I disobeyed it would be worse, I knew that. My face was an emotionless mask I'd been practicing recently, if I reacted to him it would be worse. He liked my cries and screams, but not my anger. He'd hurt me more if I showed the anger boiling inside me. So the emotionless mask was essential, just another part of the façade.
I could smell the stench, his breath was tainted with death, I struggled to awake, but failed.
And he opened the door then, the man I most despised in the entire world.
My father.
He was strolling towards me with the same expression he always held; only for my eyes. He didn't look like me. Years of madness had turned him bitter, his hair was unkempt and grey unlike my fine black hair, the same hair my mother would describe as silk. I missed her: my mother. I missed her soft lullabies that sent me to sleep, I missed her warm touch as she hugged me, I missed her cooking. And most of all, I missed how she used to make my father treat me. Like I was actually a human, like I actually had feelings. But now, as I stared at my father, my memories turned to dust and ashes just like the furniture in this that had suffered from the fire.
My father had murdered my mother.
He was grinning now. That same sadistic smirk he would always use when he did this to me. I didn't smile. I forced on the emotionless mask harder as he approached towards me, and as the floorboards creaked beneath his weight. It was my birthday today; I was officially in double figures at ten years old. And now I was about to get my present.
No. I was Lucie. Demetri was inches away from me. Inches away from the blood that stained my arms and leg. So close to succumbing to the temptation, and I wasn't fighting. I wasn't talking. I had to wake up… I had to…
My father's grin widened at the prospect of what he was about to do, but I just continued to stare at him, never breaking eye contact, my own mouth a grim line.
And then he slammed his fist into my gut, again and again. I numbly felt the tumult of pain that hit me. But it had dulled over the weeks. I was used to this. And yet each time it was agony, I hadn't wanted to collapse today. I thought I could have stood up to him. But I saw rather than felt, myself hit the wooden floor. Choking out the same two words I screamed in my mind each night.
"Why father?"
He looked at me through hooded lids before crossing the room again.
"You know why son." And with that he slammed the door, and left me to cry.
The scene dissolved, I was older now. Lean and muscular, exhilarated from running away from my father, and ready to meet the one who was whispered about. The legends that kept rising to my ears, fuelling me with a goal.
The cold ones.
"I want to become like you." I said to him. Now, I was facing a man, his eyes a dull crimson, misted from blindness.
"And why should I grant your wish, Demetri?" I growled. I hadn't even anticipated rejection. But I knew what to say, I'd watched Aro and the rest of them. The strong ones. I knew what he liked in people, the qualities he beseeched.
"Because," I said carefully, "I'm useful to you, I can find people easily. I can track them." Aro's face lightened up at this, so I continued "I want to be immortal and strong. I want to be powerful and serve you. And more than anything, I want to be the one making people feel fear. I want to hear their screams as I kill them, and I want to know that I caused that." Aro continued to stare at me, he was smiling.
"Well then Demetri," He said jovially, moving towards me with impossible grace, "Welcome to the family."
And then he bit me. And the fire erupted everywhere.
More colours flashed at me, black, red, heat surged, and fell. But then there was also the touch on my face, Demetri's voice mocking me. I could feel his clammy hands touching my face, I wanted to rip them off, I wanted… I needed to see him. To stop this. Pain in reality was still present, but the memories were too much. I felt myself fall once more into the darkness…
Sunrise broke over the horizon, as dawn fell. I received no comfort from the light though, because where I stood all seemed dark, an eternal night in which I would have to accept what I was. A silhouetted sunrise. One that would permanently be shadowed by terror and loathing. I reached out to take Heidi's hand. And smiled calmly. Yes, I was a monster, I'd accepted that. I would revel in it. Enjoy the killing like she was, with dark mahogany hair spilling down to her hips, and violet eyes, blue contact lenses masking the vivid ruby irises. I had to face away the past, no matter how dark, it would fade. It had to fade. The colours flew again, grey and dark, cloaks preventing being seen. More disguises, more facades.
Aro with a woman, her blonde hair whipping around her terrified expression in the breeze, a human. Aro was smiling darkly, whispering in her ear, I smiled as her horror increased, her hands fluttering to her stomach..
I gasped. I knew her. I knew who she was…
We were underground, and I was facing Aro now, he was grinning. I would serve him well. A good member of the Volturi guard. The elite. The best tracker.
"You must bring her here Demetri."
"I shall master." Yes, I would find he girl, it shouldn't be hard. The Cullens were in Forks, but she would not be with them, that was the girl Bella. I grinned then, remembering her when she'd been here last, her brown eyes wide in horror. I loved horror. A pretty girl; I think I'd made an impression actually. I had been rather polite, uncharacteristic of me in the extreme. She would make a good immortal, if they let her become one. If not… I grinned wider.
No. I was Lucie. I did not want Bella dead. And speaking of dead, I would be so very soon if I didn't wake up. I tried to force my eyes open. I'd had enough. Demetri's past threatened to overcome be again but I fought it, not wanting to be consumed by his memories again. Suddenly, a clammy hand was cupping my face, tracing along my cheek…Just like it had done so before in my dreams, a twisted parody of a caress, and blood would follow where he traced his fingers. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't see. I couldn't scream.
It was exactly like my dream.
And then my mind was filled with darkness again. I was running, so fast and powerful, bounding forward with each step, I didn't want to stop; it was exhilarating. The trees blurred as I ran, wind whipping few strands of dark hair free from my face. I didn't need to rest. Power. That's what I could feel with each leap. Rain was falling rapidly, matching the increasing tempo of my feet hitting the damp earth. I was closer now. My goal in sight. Soon the mortal girl would be captured. It would be easy, she had a father left, he could suffer first in order to get to her. Threats never hurt anyone, unless they were ignored.
The thought of my father, albeit through Demetri's mind, sparked something into me. The way he'd thought about him, like bait to lure, sickened me further. If I didn't act, I wouldn't be the only one dead. I recognised the emotion pounding through me, the one that gave me strength to pull away from the vision. Rage.
But then the darkness reformed and pulled me again, I slipped back into Demetri's memories, hearing Victoria near by, listening to them, intervening before her blood was spilled.
But at the same time. I could feel Demetri's breath on my cheeks. And somehow, I knew that was reality. I had to stop this, I could hear him murmuring something, felt his hands trace along the cuts Victoria had made on my skin. And that was it.
"Enough!" I shouted, and suddenly the vision stopped. I broke free, and was back in the clearing, staring into Demetri's shocked face, anger shaking me. I felt a jolt of adrenaline pump through me. I'd never been able to escape someone's past. I'd never had control over it. It was a stupid emotion to feel, but this tiny factor provided me with a glimmer of hope. I was no longer afraid.
But then I felt sick again. Rage pumped the blood faster through my veins. Demetri, he had known my mother, I'd seen her threw his memories. He planned to kill my father. And I wasn't going to let that happen. I could still feel his skin, ice cold. Not like Edward's, it was the opposite of soothing, and the ardent fire was nonexistent. It was clammy, overbearing. And I didn't like it one bit. "Get off me!" I screamed, shoving at him away in utter repulsion to no effect. Demetri didn't move, he smiled slowly, a disgusting twisted smile.
"I knew I'd get you to scream." He mused darkly. Fear threatened to consume me again, but I fought it. Yes, I'd screamed. But not in fear. Not because of his commands. But because of utter hatred towards him. I hadn't collapsed yet, despite the over mounting temptation to lapse into unconsciousness and faint; forget about the terror. The pain in my leg throbbed, but instead of nauseating me, it seemed to intensify clarity. My every sense had improved. I stared at Demetri, his entire frame pressing into me hard so I couldn't move away, as he stared at me. And not one ounce of fear was prominent in my eyes. I made sure of that.
I would not be weak.
"You," My voice washed away any traces of a calm composure as it shook. "knew my mother."
"Why yes I did."
"How?" It was a demand. Not a question. I needed to know. I needed to understand. Why had she been in my dreams? What had really happened? What had she known? She'd met Aro before…
Demetri noticed this, and smiled further, his teeth only inches from my face.
"Now, that would be telling, wouldn't it?" He chuckled at my expression. It was a horrid sound. I despised it. "And besides," He added, "you're not being terribly polite Lucie, honestly, first lies, and now this? We haven't gotten off to a very good start."
"No. We haven't." I said, refusing to feel fear still, but knowing without the tree behind me I would have fallen. He growled disapprovingly at my words, devoid of the terror he revelled in making people feel. I should have felt fear. He was pressing me into the rough bark
Of the tree, but I was oblivious to the pain. He was taller then me by far, a lean and tall frame, my face was at the same height as his chest. I had to look up to him, and I knew that's what he wanted. For me to look up; to beg; to scream.
For some reason, my senses seemed to have sharpened. The pain only fuelling my anger as apposed to diminishing it. Before everything had been hazy. Even my encounter Victoria had felt less substantial than reality, too similar to dreams then fact. But now, I knew everything was real. And I didn't feel afraid, because I knew Demetri's weakness. I'd seen his past, felt his emotions, and I knew what made him feel fear.
"You were abused," I whispered, Demetri's expression contorted suddenly, and I could see the boy again. Afraid and scared. I almost pitied him. Almost.
But he didn't brush off the comment, I took my chance and kept talking.
"Your father, he used to hit you…" My lip was trembling. Reliving Demetri's past had not been pleasant "you used to wonder why he hated you… you just wanted him to love you, I-I saw it. You hated that you loved him, but he only hated you, it tore you apart-"
"Stop!" He growled, unable to mask the agony in the single word, as I knew the memories were now consuming him as they had done so with me.
He was silent again, I had found his weakness, I tried to press it further, tried to pluck up the courage to speak again.
But the problem was. He knew my weaknesses too.
And with two words; the fear came rushing back.
"Your father," He breathed against me, smiling as my heart rate increased, the agony before vanished completely from the emotionless mask now planted on his face. "I can hurt him Lucie, and I will hurt him if you don't cooperate." My words died in my throat, I felt like I was choking, it took a second to realise that he was grabbing my throat. My eyes widened, and he relinquished his grip, letting me gasp feverishly for the air I didn't know I'd been deprived of. "Your father Lucie, he has your blood. I could quite easily take his instead of yours. Of course, I don't assume it would do anything, but there's no harm in trying, is there?"
"No," I croaked, "Leave him." but now my cry of rage was quieter; it sounded more like a sob. Yes. Demetri knew my weakness. Or at least, he knew one of them. I could only pray that he wouldn't work out the rest. Because if he did, I would crumple. I would fall like the grass had done from Victoria's palm.
And yet I knew my fall would be far more painful.
"Do you wonder why you have such strange dreams?" Demetri didn't respond to my feeble pleas. He continued speaking roughly, grabbing more of my hair, and fisting it in his palm, ready to pull more out again. "Why each seems so real? You inherited that from your father. Your actual gift allowing you to see people's past is different. Aro knows all about that one. But you've got dreams to deal with too, haven't you? I've seen you writhe in sleep before, quite entertain, I must admit. That isn't a gift Lucie, it's a curse. Did you know that humans spend about six years of their life dreaming? How terrible to havethose dreams constantly mixed with fear, you can blame your father for that. I might as well give you a lecture on the subject." He mused with the air of being slightly bored by the situation.
"I don't blame my father for anything." I whispered.
"Well you should. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycaemia, is the cause of your vivid dreams. This," He looked pointedly at me, "can be inherited, or due to lack of food. In your case, I assume it's both, though I think you already know that." he was right. The horrible feeling was sinking into me. All those looks my father had been giving me. The picture he'd drawn of the meadow, and exact replica of my dream. The constant tiredness, the shadows under his eyes…
How could I have been so stupid?! My horror must have been apparent, because Demetri was smiling again, he continued, though I was barely listening now.
"When the brain senses that glucose levels are low, it will do strange things to get stored glucose into the blood stream. One way it does so is through adrenaline spurts. That's what you experience Lucie, just with more significance. I wonder if I've ever paid a visit in these dreams…"
My expression was all it took for him to know the answer.
I felt like I was going to faint. Properly this time. The darkness was pulling. The pain in my leg was cutting into me, I wanted to forget, I didn't want to think anymore, I just wanted pace. Slowly, I rested my eyes.
And then snapped them back open.
Demetri had been watching the entire process, with twisted fascination on his face.
"They're not dreams," I said when I'd found my voice, "not when you're in them. Then they're nightmares." I muttered bitterly. He glowered at that. But stopped abruptly, swilling round to look in the distance. I saw the rising sun faintly above us, casting glimmers of light throw the canopy under which we were standing. But Demetri wasn't looking at the sky, his gaze lingered on a point in the distance, he swore loudly under his breath.
But then he grabbed me again, and the pain was agonising as his arms constricted me. Whispering in that horrible voice into my ear, sending involuntarily shivers or horror through me, his breath reeked of blood.
"I'll come back for you Luciana, your vampires are coming,"
Edward was coming?
"They fell for Victoria's little stunt, assuming she went for Bella. They're all coming, pathetic. But too many for me to fight. But don't think you're safe. I'll come back for you, never fear about that," He stroked my face and my head swam, his stench made me sick, it was unbearable. My leg wasn't the only numb thing anymore, it was if my entire body had vanished, held upright only by Demetri's tight grip that I couldn't feel. The forest seed to be swimming. How odd…
"Oh, and if you're thinking about telling about our little talk and chat? Well don't. I really wouldn't recommend it. Trust me, if you do, you'll regret it. I'll make sure of that. And your father will pay…" Was it just me, or was the ground shaking? He carried on talking, his words somehow seemed scarier than ever, despite the constantly moving forest. "Don't ask them tp protect him, because sooner or later they'll slip and I assure you that I will promise to hurt him if you breathe anything about our encounter. You shall say I merely stopped Victoria fro eating you." I shook my head. Hell, there was no way I was taking orders from him!
He scratched my arm them, and suddenly it wasn't numb anymore. I screamed shrilly as the crimson against white swam in my peripheral vision. Demetri laughed again, it rang through the trees.
"You will tell them that. Because this, is nothing compared to what daddy will feel. So you're going to say I practically saved you." He gripped me tighter, "Aren't you?"
"Y-yes." I stammered. I could suffer. But not my father. I drew the line right there.
"Good." He growled against the hollow of my throat, black spots erupted in my vision again, the pain in my arms and leg was overwhelming. Suddenly, his clammy hands were off me, I only vaguely remembered falling to the earth. Realising as I felt another wave of pain hit me when I collided with the hard ground.
Everything was going out of focus. But I could still see him, silhouetted against the rising sun, smirking at me at the edge of the trees. Whispering, something that I could somehow hear despite the distance.
"Oh and Lucie," I heard him call, before my eyes finally shut closed, and everything ceased. Two words reached me after a long silence, as I heard the whooshing sound of him disappearing into the depths of the forest.
"Sweet dreams."
***
Edward's POV: (sorry… long enough already I know, but I had to end it like this :p)
I didn't register the meadow as I ran to her. I forgot about Alice, Jasper, Esme, Carlisle and practically my entire family behind me. They didn't matter. Not now. Not when I could see her sprawled on the earth, smell fresh blood on the air. A potency that could only be associated with the girl who I'd left without making sure she was safe.
Just like you did with Bella.
But this situation was different. Bella was unharmed, protected by the Quileutes, something for once, that I did not object to them doing, I'd met Sam - the leader of their pack - on the border, his mind had showed they only meant to protect her, and I didn't have time to contemplate that before Alice had found me. And had that horrible vision.
Lucie, pale and fragile against the earth, her skin illuminated in the sunrise, and stained with blood.
After that. We had ran.
And now I was here, next to her. As she lay there, so still, her breath barely leaving her rose lips, small puffs arose with each short gasps she took, the only sign I could tell she was receiving oxygen at all. I held her hand between my palms, hoping beyond all hope that she wasn't in pain - that she could feel me here, beside her, praying her to awake.
I saw her bare arms, illuminated by the faint rays of light shining through the trees, a pale alabaster ribboned in crimson, deep groves from where someone had gripped her. We could all smell the two scents on the air. Both chilled me.
Victoria and Demetri.
How the hell was she alive?
Frantically on instinct, I looked back to her; she was already cradled in my arms in one swift motion. The electricity sparked slightly when my skin touched her, though I did the opposite from twisting away, instead, pulling her closer. Crushing her into my chest, I let out a sigh of relief when I could hear her heart, still beating furiously beneath her pale skin. So different from my own. Cold and dead.
I looked back to the others, regarding me warily, each face alight in the same anxiety of my own. Emmett was searching the area, wondering if he should follow the most recent scent - Demetri's, but Carlisle was advising quietly not to. I didn't listen to either of their thoughts or words, they meant little to me. Esme looked terribly guilty, but I blocked out all her apologies and rueful thoughts too. I didn't blame her, nor the rest of them.
Because it was all my fault.
I'd refrained from looking at her face for a while now. Alice was silent beside me, quietly reminding me that she was okay. But I couldn't help it, again I looked down to her, the beautiful angel suspended in my cold arms. Her heart beating softly against my granite skin, erratic and forever changing tempo, it worried me. I felt no need to succumb to thirst; the fear had eradicated any kind of monster lurking within me. I could only think about her, and pray that I - we, I'd have never got here without Alice's vision - had not been too late. Her skin was cold against mine, which only added to my fear, with her touch normally an electric heat under my own dead cold.
Her own skin was supple, it felt like satin, though I didn't want to look away from her face, or think about her attire. The attire I knew from that horrible potent - irresistible - smell, that was partially coated in blood. The monster inside me moaned, wanting to escape. But I stayed silent, unmoving, not breathing.
Not human at all.
But she was. The small girl in my arms; so slender for her age. I'd been surprised to hear she was seventeen, despite her intellect, she seemed so young. It pained me to realise how much she was hurting, suffering quietly, unwilling to recall her past. I had seen her father's mind, he hid things from her, yet I didn't blame him. He cared for her immensely, determined on keeping her safe, ignorant from the terrible knowledge he had to bear.
I willed her to awake, I couldn't move, not yet.
And as if on cue, her eyelids flickered.
And fluttered open.
"Am I dead?" She mumbled drearily, without opening her eyes fully, and I couldn't suppress the chuckle, the laugh of relief. She was safe, okay, fine. Her voice didn't portray the horror I'd been anticipating.
She opened one eye carefully, then the other, and finally both her eyes focused - on me - I watched them widen as she blinked a few times. I was surprised to see them as a beautiful emerald, though as soon as I thought this frowned. Because this meant she'd felt anger before I'd seen her. She noticed my change in expression, despite the fact she'd only just awoken. "What happened?" she gasped, and it was at that precise moment she registered that it was I who was suspending her, cradling her slender and fragile frame with ease. I could tell. Her heart began to beat faster, and her breathing hitched. That always confused me, though it happened frequently. I hoped it wasn't in fear. But what else could it be?
But she didn't protest or move away, just continued to stare at me, as if everything else had melted into the background, like it had done for me. It was wise of her not to move away, little did she know how unwilling I was to let go.
"If I'm to be correct," I mused softly, never leaving her gaze wide, curious, beautiful eyes. "you single handily managed to get rid of both Victoria and Demetri in one shot; nearly got yourself killed in the process; shortly fainted from lack of blood that is still coursing down your leg and arms; and finally got to have the pleasure of me suspending you." I smiled crookedly, and for once she didn't scowl, her eyes did not alight in the lustrous emerald, the warm caramel overruling them. She just looked at me, refusing to avert her eyes, widening them still, resisting the waves of sleep and drowsiness that I could Jasper was sending at her. And in that instant, I silently prayed that God could allow me just one tiny insight on her mind. What on earth could she be thinking? Repulsion at my cold skin? Hidden annoyance? Fear? Confusion?
She didn't seem to show any of those.
Yet I still couldn't understand her expression. I thought it could be something akin to the likes of what I was feeling, but quickly discarded the thought, that was impossible.
And then she said something so softly - before crumpling back into my arms again, her eyelids finally fluttering shut with the temptation of rest Jasper kept emitting - that I was unsure if I had heard it correctly.
I caught the last two words, mumbled slightly, as the fallen angel fell asleep in my arms. Into a dreamless sleep. One to which sadly, I could not follow.
"…Worth it."
***
Can I hear any awhs? :p I spent the ENTIRE day and last night writing this, and part of the next chapter people! (and I was VERY impateint to get it out tonight, sorry if it's flawed with typos :s) So be grateful and I am VERY sorry for the stupid length. Me and shortening things do not mix. I've gotten worse, haven't I? Ahh.. Anyway.. Please review… long chapters= long reviews maybe? I'd be VERY happy if that happened! *squeals in anticipation.*
I'm really sorry if I didn't reply to reviews last chapter, blame the horrind exams! I did read each and every one though, and boy did they make me smile!
NOTE: some people were slightly confuzzeled when it came to Lucie's age. She is in fact 17, but her mother died when she was 15. Hope that clears some stuff up :)
Oh, and like I said, I have a bit of the next chapter (where the whole Bella incident will be explained..) typed up. So if you review.. Then there is a large chance of a super speedy update! *gasp* Now, I think I'm going to babble a bit. (what a shock!)
So Demetri huh? I have one word to say: creepy. (don't you agree?!)
And… by the way, I just stubbed my toe rather badly on the door, in my rush to get back to updating with a fresh cup-of-tea. And OW… it hurts. Reviews could help though hint, hint* and wows…Oh dear. My my. I suddenly discovered something drastic…
Well, you know, in a previous babble of mine, I noticed that dear old Carlisle was showing uncanny similarities to Gandalf? You'll never guess who Edward is… okay, so last night I was just mulling over a past chapter (you know, like all sane people do, lying there and 'mull' to find lack of a better description, about their stories…:p) and I suddenly remembered that I used a phrase something along the lines of 'Edward's smouldering, piercing eyes seemed to be x-raying me…'Now, does THAT sound familiar? No? No?!
Jeeez, Edward is Dumbledore… I don't believe it! All we need is for him to also sprout a beard (significantly longer than the one Carlisle needs to grow I think, and perhaps whiter too) and buy a packet of good old sherbet lemons. Then the transformation would be complete ;)
Ah dear. There's no point hiding anymore. Reading my silly babbles has finally culminated in the only rational explanation: I am crazy. *sigh* you'll still read my stories though won't you? Sanity isn't a necessity is it? IS IT?! :p
Anyway, I'm not expecting people to say: 'What a cracking great chapter!' Mainly because… well… no one says cracking anymore… *sigh* but I hoped you liked it anyway, and if you didn't (which is perfectly understandable, and probably due to the fact I wrote most of this last night at about midnight) don't hesitate to proclaim your hate. Just as long as you provide some constructive criticism, I won't set the almighty Mouse on you :P
SO in other words… if you just say: 'I HATE THIS!' Be afraid. Be very afraid… because in your sleep Mouse shall find you *laughs manically*…
Right. I'll stop with the whole I'll-kill-you-through-my-cat creepiness now. I'm worse than Demetri. Excuse that… it's been a long day. ;)
Alas, I shall resort back to that oh-so-depressing-mounting-pile-of-dreaded-work sitting beside me. Blech. (laptop demands I change that word to 'belch'…)Anyway, any chance you could save me from my morbid despair by the ultimate remedy of reviews? ( a tad melodramatic, aren't I? Morbid despair *snort*) Please? A big thanks to every single reviewer! I can't believe how many reviews this story has got. They mean so much to me, and are the only thing that motivates me to write! And WOWZERRS (hehe.. A great word there. I recommend it) we're close to 600 reviews. Do you want to know my ULTIMATE goal? To get 1000 reviews on this fic! Yeah… long way off. But I can dream, right? :P Thanks for everyone so far. You guys truly do rock my still-stripy (well I haven't just changed them, have I?) socks! :P
Lily- whose toe is throbbing sorely :(