Heyyys!
First of all: I didn't die. I'm alive. It's just been a horrendously long time since I've updated :S … my time devoid of updating has been spent in a vast variety of ways, including: reading; looking after midgets; acting; doing far too much work; and getting squashed by my own mattress. (Yeah. What a traitor.)
But, before I go off and apologise endlessly…Let's highlight the single most important news: NELEPHANTS! Yeah. Nelephants. As it is, the word 'nelephants' used in a review on this fic ranks 6th when typed into Google - I found this out from pyrogirl's review. I think it's something to celebrate. (Ha. An elephant appears in odd attire in this chapter. Watch out for that :p)
REVIEWS?! You guys have blown me away! Seriously: 960?! :D To everyone out there who has reviewed: I owe you a million nelephants. (And that's rather a lot, you must admit) I just want to say a really big thanks to everyone who reviews and has kept reviewing. I've lost a lot of people throughout the course of this story - but to those of you have struggled through with reading (and reviewing) it, - thanks a gazillion. I couldn't continue without you people, and I'm really glad that you seem to be enjoying the story. Rest assure - there's more to come. With regards to that (how long this will be) well… I honestly can't say. Do you want it to end soon? I know where I'm going, and I have a plot set out… but generally chapters become longer than I initially plan them to be anyway (honestly, this was only meant to be 5,000 words. Do you prefer longer or shorter chapters?) - so I can't actually say how much longer you have to wait to hear the end.
Now, recently, whenever I say that I don't like chapters, I get countless assurances that chapters are good. We have a problem. Thing is, I actually quite like this chapter… *gasps* so I think that'll mean that you all won't like it. Reverse Psychology maybe? (I'm an expert at that, years of using it on my younger sister… 'No! I want to sit in the back of the car!' Hehe, it worked every time) Ah well. I hope you do, but if you don't - I'm sorry, suggest anything that would make this story more enjoyable, I read and cherish every review and do try to reply to them all. You can't comprehend how much reviews help me write!
Oh, and Edward'sGirlForEternitygets another mention because without her review I might have postponed this update till tomorrow (gah! I have my Shakespeare play then! *… glowers at script*) but I didn't - because her review put pressure on me to update, and it cheered me up. Oh! And she has a scarily large amount of quotes in her review too :p Story wise - if you think this is too long, too drawn out, or 'just end it already!' please say… else, heck, I'll end up babbling forever.
Yeah. A scary thought :p
Even though this IS late, I'm glad I didn't update sooner. Technically - I could have updated yesterday. But I made some serious changes to this chapter which not only made it longer, but also better in my opinion. And … I did give a few people permissio to stab me if I didn't update on the weekend… so, *sighs* let the stabbing ensue…
So I hope it was worth the wait! If not… then darn. I'm sorrryyyy! (The A/N at the bottom gives me a bit of a an excuse… I recommend you read it before trying to kill me - I'm already going to have stab wounds at this rate!) And ahhh dear, I'm super sleepy. I apologise in advance if there are numerous typos here - when I get the time I'll go back and edit this story. Just try to cope with my mistakes :p
Oh, oh OH! Quite a few of you are still shouting: WHATABOUTBELLA?! And that's fine, because you should… but honestly, did you really think I'd just… forgotten about her? Tsk Tsk. My memory isn't quite that awful, have faith in me! :p So yeah, to placate you all - I struggled through writing her POV at the start. Is it confusing? Hell yes. Thing is… I meant it to be, there's a reason that it's obscure (otherwise too much would have been given away at the start of the chappy.)
Annnnddd, I treated you all - there might be more than one change of POV in this. A popular one too. ;)
*promptly shuts up*
What Happened Last Chapter:
His words were interrupted again, but this time, not by me. There was another noise on the other end. A slow rustling sound, like a gust of wind. Then there was crackling, and then everything was cut off by a silence, and a voice that I knew - a voice that sent a shiver of terror through me. And one that turned my blood slow and thick. It was soft, melodic. It held no panic like my father's. No fear. No apprehension, no urgency.
It was dead. Holding no emotion except the slight drawl of tainted amusement.
"I've got him."
It was Demetri.
The phone went dead.
***
Alluring Art Immobilises
Bella's POV: (Now, yes, this is confusing. Even this little in-brackets-note is confusing. But… it's meant to be… - ha, if that makes any sense! - Just bear that in mind before you rush off to complain :p)
Maybe it was rash of me to jump to this decision, to willing place myself in this predicament. One - in most circumstances - that would have been described as stupid, suicidal even. He (I didn't want to think his name, not yet, it would only makes things harder)wouldn't approve, and yet he was the very reason I did it. I could feel my muscles tense as I drew closer still, my body overwrought with the natural instinctive to escape.
Every iota of sense inside me was screaming, to run, to flee.
And I ignored it. All of it.
I've been here before (quandary wise), a lot really, and none of my memories regarding my situations were particularly pleasant. I bit my lip in apprehension, not for the first time wondering why I'd just agreed to him. But it was necessary. I had to do this. Dangerous though the situation was, I'd always known that I couldn't completely escape it; it was inevitable. They'd promised to come for me. And now they were here, true to their twisted words, this one rule that they didn't break. So as I stood my ground, I didn't tremble as I once would have. I just looked before me, assuming as nonchalant a position as I could.
Face to face with a vampire.
A vampire, incidentally, that fed on humans. Not my sort - I cut off my thoughts there, I could no longer (or even before to be honest) really refer to the Cullens as 'mine' - of vampire. The vampire before me, still immersed in shadow, was not a vegetarian. No honey golden eyes shone in the pale face. They were red, the deep blood red I'd seen far too often.
He didn't speak, and neither did I. The fear hadn't hit me yet; I was numb to everything devoid of my thoughts. The things that I had realised in the last hour since awakening from the dream had led me here - in the silent forest, not knowing whether death or torture lay ahead of me. A brief reverie consumed me, the remnants of earlier this week flashing before my eyes - as surreal and perfect as a dream.
Jacob, longing on the sofa, his chin propped against my head, hot, strong arms encircling me - warming me, and dispelling the ice shards from my chest - still cutting at me. His voice in my ear - husky and soft - whispered comfort passing between us. His musky scent filling the air, a warm hand cupping my cheek where the tears still flowed relentlessly.
"He was a drug to you Bella - a solid, alluring (well to you I guess not to me so much), moving, talking, drug - but a drug nonetheless. I understand, and I can wait. I couldn't before, but I understand now. I'm not what I used to be - I won't hurt you like he did but I won't pressure you to stay with me either. You can do what you want, as long as you're happy… as long as you're safe…" His voice had cracked on the last word. We both knew nothing was safe right now.
"But I don't want to go anywhere else - not right now,"
His lips at my ear.
"Then stay…"
And me, saying the words - the truth - that I had kept from him and myself for so long.
"I love you Jake…"
"…And that's all that matters."
With that, reality crashed around me, and now I was no longer safe in Jacob's embrace, no longer warm, but cold. The bitter icy air cutting at my skin, more noticeable than before, more painful.
"I came like you asked." I said, keeping my voice flat and neutral - I would quell the shakes as long as I could. My next words weren't panicked - but strong, spoken straight from the heart. "And I come on the conditions you mentioned earlier. You can't hurt them; you have to stay away from the pack. From Jake and his family - you can't touch them. Ever." My voice rang with a power I didn't feel.
His lip curled a twisted mockery of a smile.
"Sweet Isabella, do you doubt my promises?"
I didn't answer.
He laughed an eerily beautiful sound. Like something once beautiful turned sour - he had rotted from the inside, the darkness tainting him. "And you know that your purpose wasn't to protect the wolves, was it? I asked you to come here as a trade proposal… I take it you've decided."
I didn't answer at first. I knew what he was referring to. The message he had sent to me had been clear. He wanted Lucie. I didn't know why - and didn't dare to ask why he wanted her. But he did.
And he'd contacted me to bargain, knowing that I would willing comply to hid wishes if Edward was concerned. And he was - not directly, but not subtly enough for it to pass by the Volturi unnoticed either.
Cognisance fell slowly upon me, the weight of the truth almost crushing. And I was stuck. Because every time I tried to deny it - I failed. I loved him, I couldn't help it. I loved him and I always would - and I wouldn't do anything to jeopardise his happiness. He, who had been lost for over a centaury, never on the right path… he finally seemed to be getting together, I wasn't going to stop that.
So when I faced the man before me, my answer was clear - I wasn't giving up on him. I would never betray him, no matter what consequences befell me. And I knew Lucie was good for him… I knew that if I couldn't be with him because I loved another, that she could help him, heal him.
Because whilst Edward was a drug to me; I was one to him. Lucie and Jacob were our antidotes.
Over the horizon the sun peaked, the dawn rays cascaded around, filtering through the thicket of green, the faint rays flickering and casting a small chance of hope to shimmer inside me. I was doing this for Edward, for Jacob, I would protect them both no matter what.
"Take me," I whispered to the figure shrouded in black, "take me and leave her."
Aro stepped forward, a wicked smile playing at his lips. And for the first time I was unsure about the truth of his bargain.
His words only confirmed my fears; I felt a knot twist in my stomach.
"Won't it be brilliant when I have you both?"
***
Lucie's POV:
A second passed before I could think again. My head felt like it was going to burst, I'd taken in too much in the last few minutes. Too many errant thoughts surfaced in my mind. Forbidden ones, the type I'd tried to expel for weeks. The same dead face again. It didn't help that I'd stopped breathing; it was the only reason why I hadn't screamed yet.
"Dad!" The scream finally left my lips in little more than a strangled gasp. The sudden intake of oxygen made me feel giddy - almost sick. My sight was blurred, and I felt bile rise in my throat. Oh crud, I was going to be sick. I exhaled slowly in attempt to prevent retching, but again - only the same croaked gasp left my lips, broken and ragged.
My hearing was odd too. I could hear sounds, but if was like I was someone else witnessing my own cry of terror. I wasn't able to feel it myself. I couldn't connect things together, match up the information I'd received with the facts I already knew. I couldn't think. Terror was gripping me with a force too dominant.
I'd been holding onto the phone with too much vigour, it felt like it would shatter any second. After pressing the phone to my ear again I looked down at the small screen. The text: call ended flashed at me. I felt the hysteria inside me threaten to burst. I couldn't give up; not now.
I'd even forgotten he was beside me (and that was saying something). Edward - his entire figure emanating worry, his tense stance, taut jaw. He hadn't heard the conversation on the other end, only my disjointed questions to my father. He didn't understand. But as he stared at me, I could see him work it out. Undeniable worry radiated off him. Worry for me. I, who wasn't even in danger; I who was alive; I, who had a father inches away from death… my head began to whirr, my eyelids flickered.
"Lucie?" Edward's voice had passed concern now; it was too fervent for that. "Lucie, what's happened?"
I ignored him, swaying on my feet. A marble hand steadied me instantly. Abruptly, I snapped my eyes open, recoiling reflexively. He followed the movement too quickly - the same way Demetri had done, with an eerie, beautiful grace.
I held back my gasp, I couldn't cope with it. I couldn't cope with anything that reminded me of him. I flinched back from his cold touch, instead hitting the buttons on the phone, trying to redial. The simple act was difficult for me, my hands were shaking.
In fact, my whole body was shaking. Uncontrollably now, cold sweat hand formed in the palms of my hands, the phone slipped from my grasp. I saw it fall to the earth and as always when I dropped something - I froze. It skittered off a rock face hard, I fell to my knees, frantically trying to turn it back on, despite the crack that ran through it.
But it was completely dead, the screen remaining a resolute black. I cast my eyes towards Edward's, hoping that somehow he could fix it. I needed to redial that number - I had to find Demetri, I had to find him and get my father back. Whatever the costs. But when I focused on him, my previous hopes shattered. Edward looked as shocked as I felt, except the sight of him enraged something else inside me, not shock, anger. He'd seen it fall. Watched as my clumsily fingers had fumbled with the buttons and dropped the phone. And yet he had vampire reflexes. I bit back my scream, but was unable to completely keep the hysteria at bay when I rounded on him.
"Why didn't you catch it?!" I'd shot up, seething at him. The irrational anger was the only emotion I could use to dispel despair at the moment. The only thing that kept me from crumpling to the floor.
"I'm sorry - I was looking at-" He cut himself off, a look of disbelief flashing in his eyes.
I didn't wait for further explanation, Pacing away from him and hurling the useless device at a tree, where is merely bounced off, not smashing like I'd hoped. As soon as I'd thrown it though, my anger slipped. It was like the phone had been the cause it, and now that it had been thrown away; it too, had been discarded.
Which left me as little more than a broken shell.
I couldn't focus on Edward anymore - even if I wanted to.
Instead, now my vision was going black, the breath left my lungs in a whoosh, I could only see the crimson eyes set in that same, dead face.
My blood ran cold.
The ground swirled in an array of colours below me. Each too vivid - they hurt my eyes. Green. White. Black. Red. I could hear the anxious voice of Edward - but it was fainter each waning second. My eyes flickered, I wanted to scream. But I couldn't. I couldn't say a word.
The world tilted, I saw Edward's arms move out instantly to catch me. He pulled me into his arms, holding me as securely as if I'd been falling only to be snatched back from the precipice of a cliff - as apposed to just hitting the mossy ground. I felt myself slump against him, despite my will. I hated being like this, but I was physically exhausted - one could only run on adrenaline for so long.
I let my eyes drift shut; above me I heard a quiet sigh.
***
I didn't black out like I'd hoped, I'd remained awake - just unwilling to open my eyes. Even a brief moment of oblivion would have been better than this.
Internal hell.
I gave up with a frustrated sigh, hating myself for snapping at him, and regretting throwing the phone; there was no way it was going to work now. Thanks to me. I'd tried in the few moments in which I'd leant against him to compose my scattered thoughts. Trying to string together the information. Demetri had my father, he wanted me to know - else he wouldn't have said anything, my father had been cut off… and that's where my mind went black. Each time I tried to focus on the detail of the situation everything would slip further away, like when trying to grasp hold of a dream just before one awoke. I opened my eyes cautiously, expecting some form of anger from Edward, annoyance at my inattentive response. I was mistaken though.
Eyelashes like carbon spindled ink framed his sunlit eyes. A brilliant gold now, no longer the shadowed onyx they'd been previously. I couldn't speak again, but it wasn't because of the usual speech impediment that came when I stared at him; it wasn't because of my hitched breath that caused me unable to phrase coherent words; it wasn't even because I couldn't think when I stared at him - that his beauty had clouded my thoughts.
It wasn't any of those, it was because right now my lips trembled so violently that I was afraid to speak, scared that the only sound I'd manage to make would be a cry.
Or worse: a scream.
Eventually though I managed to speak, my voice was cracked, the stuttering unstoppable.
"I-I'm s-sorry - I didn't mean to… I just tried, I mean-" but I couldn't get anything else out except broken gasps - scarily close to sobs. Instead of continuing, I closed my tired eyes, resting against him - for once not caring what it meant or what trouble could arise because of the simple movement. There was still the fire at our touch, still the ice of his skin, but it was like they had combined in an explosion; formed an entirely new entity. Right now, I didn't care. I just wanted to melt into him, to forget the terror - even if it was for the briefest, most insignificant of moments.
Though I knew that when I was with him, nothing could be classified as insignificant.
"I'm sorry." I repeated again, the words barely audible.
Edward didn't say anything. As immobile as a statue when I leant against him, slowly though - gently, he prised me off his marble chest, using one finger to lift up my chin, forcing our gazes to meet. I felt my self - against my will - go pliant under the simple contact. Limp as his arms encircled me.
"Don't be sorry." He whispered softly.
"I shouldn't have slashed out like that - I shouldn't… you didn't have to…" I thought about fall again, the way his arms had moved at odds with his expression, like he couldn't have even stopped himself from catching me. Like it was instinctive - impetuous. "Do that." My words were still disjointed, Edward cut across before I could say anymore.
"Lucie," There was a sort of cracked humour to his tone, "do you really think I'd have just let you fall?" Do you think I could have stopped myself? The words weren't there, but I could tell he was thinking that - vampire mind gift or no vampire mind gift.
"You should have," I mumbled, "maybe hitting the floor would have done me some good." I felt the corners of my lips twitch slightly, Emmett would probably agree with me on that one. Edward gave a sheepish smile.
"I'm sorry - catching people is one of my talents." I thought back to the countless amounts of times I'd passed out around him. My words were slightly petulant when I mumbled a reply.
"I noticed."
"It didn't really help Lucie," He added, "that you were shaking too," Lightly, he traced his fingers over my small hands, stark white against the forest green, his voice was quiet again when he spoke. "You do that, don't you? Tremble when you're afraid." The first part was a question, but the latter was a statement.
I stared at him in half shock, half amazement. Not many people could read me like that, and I wasn't sure if I wanted Edward to be so perceptive. I revelled in the fact that he couldn't read my mind - it wasn't great news to hear that he could pick out habits of mine that would give clues to how I felt. That was dangerous. "Not afraid exactly," I said slowly, "just… I suppose it's like crying. When I'm overwhelmed or frustrated my hands shake a bit," No, a lot… "It's a thing I get from dad…" I let my sentence trail off, casting my eyes downward - unwilling for him to see the pain in my eyes.
"We'll find him," I heard him whisper, "I'm good at that too you know - finding people." I could hear the smile in his tone. I looked up at him, my own voice quiet in the vastness of the forest
"And protecting people like me from sick-power-hungry-downright-creepy-vampires? That another talent too?"
He smiled like he was sharing a secret.
"Je ne le manquerais pour rien au monde." He whispered fluently, still with that curious smile adorning his lips.
My mouth suddenly felt very dry as the reminiscence washed over me.
Forgotten words in French falling upon me before I fell asleep rose to mind. The plethora of notes cascading down into a symphony as he hummed under his breath. "Je pense à toi, le soleil couchant." My eyelids had fluttered shut at that point; I scoured my brain to find the other words, shimmering in and out of thought…"Chaque jour, une belle spectacle. Illumination; une lumèrie éblouissante…"
It took me a few seconds after I'd remembered those softly whispered words to get my question out.
"You - ages ago," Was it ages ago? Time passed at odd rates for me, spits and spurts, as erratic as flame, constantly fighting with reality and dreams. "… You said something to me before, in French…" I trailed off; something in his expression told me he already knew what I was referring to.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He said abruptly. The way he averted his gaze only confirmed my suspicion that he wasn't willing to tell me.
"You're a rubbish liar." I accused crossly, I was naturally inquisitive, and it was killing me that I didn't know what he'd said. If I ever get through all this, I vowed to myself, I'm going to learn that flipping language. I'm going to learn it and then he won't be able to use cryptic sayings that I can't understand.
I didn't bother pursuing the topic further, Edward was a stubborn mule. I knew he wouldn't give up easily. And I really did suck when it came to persuasion, so instead I let out a frustrated sigh, muttering to him - annoyed that he looked so amused.
"Fine, you stubborn vampire," I didn't get the response I'd wanted, instead of looking wounded or embarrassed he just looked smug. Ugh. "If you won't tell me or, 'can't remember'" I sketched quotation marks around the words, "Then was what does that mean? The thing you just said then…Je ne manquerais pas something…"
He gave me that same, sexy, secretive smile.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world."
***
We'd stayed like that for a while, just talking lightly. He was distracting me, somehow knowing that was what I needed right now. Both of us cross legged on the mossy floor, about a foot apart. I'd been quite content awhile ago, but now a feeling of impounding dread kept crushing me. My father was out there…and here I was, sitting, talking, and doing nothing to help him. However, the instant that my thoughts went down that path, Demetri's cruelly beautiful face obscured my mind. I blanched at the very thought of him.
And that just made me more frustrated. The fact that I was afraid of him. I didn't want to be afraid; I wanted to be confident, versatile, strong. So now when I saw Demetri in my mind's eye, I summoned the only other emotion that was evident. Rage. White hot rage at what he done, at how he'd ruined my life, and was trying to end my father's.
At this moment, I either looked too wan or just odd with angst thoughts about Demetri because when I looked to Edward, his concerned look was back. I frowned at him, abolishing the erratic images in my head. To be perfectly honest, I was getting pretty fed up of concern. It didn't resolve anything.
"Are you okay? Do you want to go back, Carlisle could probably-"
"I don't want to go back," I said crossly, "I want to skip off in that forest, save my father, find Demetri, and kill him…" My voice held disgust mixed with a slight psychotic craze towards the end. But it was true; I did want to kill Demetri. There were several problems with this desire of mine however, namely that Demetri was darn strong and nearly impossible to kill. And a vampire. Whereas I was a human, pretty weak, and probably very easy to kill…
Okay, overall, the odds weren't exactly stacked in my favour. I'd been frowning through this entire train of thought, and hadn't been realising Edward was watching. I looked up at him, half surprised to find him staring at me and honestly quite shocked when an unexpected smile flitted at his lips.
"What?" I huffed, slumping against the trunk of the fir tree, sinking down onto the hard earth.
Edward flashed a brilliantly white grin, "Nothing - you're just surprisingly cute when planning to kill people." Typically, I flushed. Great. "Perhaps you should consider a career path as an assassin," I smiled despite myself, "not," Edward added, a frown creasing his ivory forehead, "that you should kill people. It's a dreadful sin."
"Demetri doesn't fall into the 'people' category," I muttered under my breath. "And besides, I'm very sinful anyway - I don't think one murder would do much damage."
His lips twitched like before, pulling his mouth into a sort wry and damn attractive smile. It was only after the sentence left my lips (and the few seconds in which I'd been, well, gawking at him) did I realise that he was distracting me. Again. Damn… he was good at that.
He chuckled at whatever expression I'd adorned. The sound alone could put an orchestra to shame.
"Sinful? How so?"
It was my turn to grin.
"I'm an axe murderer." I blurted out. He arched an eyebrow; instantly my grin disappeared. I glared at it.
"Liar," He whispered softly. I began to mentally chide my pulse - no, perhaps chide was the wrong word; if I'd been speaking aloud there'd probably be shouts actually. For some obscure reason it had decided to match the tempo of a bumble bee's wings - well, not quite that fast, I wasn't entirely sure how fast bumble bee's wings were, but they were fast enough.
He rose his hand, as if on compulsion to brush my cheek, but he stopped - froze actually, his hand paused in mid air. A flash of something alit his eyes, and I felt the tension thicken in the air between us. I stayed silent, my pulse thrumming in my ears. The previous humour had left the rapidly cooling air. I didn't remove my eyes from him as I spoke, my voice small now.
"What is it?" I whispered as his eyes focused on me again, I saw his anxiety shift slightly when he met my gaze. He held that for a moment - the small connection that we shared when our eyes met - before sighing and sweeping tousled hair from his eyes.
"Nothing - I thought I heard something, my mistake," With that, he smiled slowly, drawing me up closer to him, "Now, what's all this about you being a murderer?" I didn't laugh at his light humour. It wasn't that feeling that was currently pulsing through my veins, oh no, this emotion was the most dangerous, impossible one. The one I shouldn't - couldn't - feel for Edward. I felt a blush creep down my neck when I realised I couldn't look away from his gaze. Suddenly everything else seemed silent, all else around us was blurred. Only Edward remained, in sharp, brilliant clarity. I was staring at him so much that I was pretty sure that an elephant could have crossed the threshold fitted in a pink bikini and I wouldn't have noticed. I tried to remind myself that I was scared, and that moments before it looked as though he'd been too.
But that was becoming increasingly hard to do when I could feel how close we were.
His body was up against mine and even though there was fabric between us, it wasn't enough. I could feel the lean muscles of abdomen hard against me, the feel of his sharp hip bones against me, the indents like fingers had been pressed into marble. My breath caught in my throat, heart racing.
And all the while, my skin was ablaze.
***
Edward's POV: (yet another shock huh? Hmm… maybe I'm trying to give you all heart attacks :p)
Dangerous. That's what this was, I shouldn't have let myself get so close to her alone, even though my thirst was quenched this was still too damn dangerous. Potency was something that couldn't be diluted, and resisting temptation became increasingly more difficult with our close proximity.
That same unfathomable electricity sparked whenever we were this close, the very thing that made me want to flinch back… and enticed me further.
I pulled back, purposefully placing a good distance between us.
It shouldn't have been so hard to do…
"Well," She said, looking off into the distance, regaining her composure faster than I could - which was a worrying thought. "I could always go looking. I mean, dad said to not go into the woods, and - what with him being like you with the whole overly protective thing - that almost certainly means that they are in the woods, which means I should-" Typical of her to match up the logic like that, her father forbade her to go the woods, so she naturally felt compelled to so. I cut her off before she could come up with any other ridiculous sense that would only place her in further peril.
"No. No way." I spoke with an authority that I knew would annoy her, she hated being inferior. We did this a lot, it was how our conversations went, light hearted teasing and questions… it was something I'd never experienced with another human girl before. I had with Bella, but it was different with her - unconditional and forbidden love was what drove us together. Bella had been untouchable, which only heightened the temptation. With Lucie my relationship (and there wasn't any other word I could think of to describe it) was completely different. Anger mixed with passion, frustration and fervency… and one hell of a lot of confusion.
Even now though she didn't do what I'd expected, not pouting like a normal seventeen year old girl would, instead her delicate face twisted into a frown, an assessing one. As if she was trying to determine how she could fight around this flaw that prevented her from searching for her father. (The flaw being me.) She opened her mouth to protest, by my words were faster, "You are most certainly not going to go looking for them. At all. And I being 'overly protective' am needed when there are vampires stalking you." I said, still unable to grasp the thought behind her words. I was unable to even comprehend the mere prospect of her willing looking for the people who had taken her father. Willingly walking into danger…
She raised her eyebrows.
"Oh, so they're stalking me now are they?" Scepticism laced her tone, she was leaning back against the tree trunk, a slight breeze caused her golden hair to lift impatiently around her small face. Her fitted white shirt made her skin look more toned, unblemished as a bowl of fresh cream. She caught me staring at her, and her delicate eyebrows rose higher into her forehead. I hadn't replied. A question burned in my eyes as I noticed these insignificant features about her: why can she distract me like this?
She distracted me all the time, and she didn't even realise she was doing it.
"Lucie, they're intent on capturing you for some reason; to prove their point they've taken your father as hostage; they've got their best tracker to trace you; and they've somehow starred in each of your disturbing dreams. Overall, I think that can only be described as: stalking."
She shut up at that.
"You're staying right here." I moved closer for emphasis. She scowled at me.
"You're so…" She struggled for a word for a minute, an adorable flustered look falling across her face, "pushy... pushy and snappy." Snappy? That was certainly a new term, maybe I was a crocodile.
I adopted a wounded air, "Pushy? I wouldn't say that… persistent maybe, assertive yes, but not pushy…"
She let out a sound suspiciously close to a snort at that.
"Edward, there is no way on earth that you cannot be described as pushy. In fact, the term 'pushy' epitomises you perfectly." I didn't bother arguing with her, I didn't want to for some reason. Her eyes were bright now, an ivy green in her kitten like anger. I looked away. Stop looking at her like that.
"You can't read my mind…" She said after a long pause. It wasn't a question; she sounded as though she was merely musing to herself, but she was right. I couldn't. It wasn't something I was particularly proud of - a weakness really. One of my faults. I continued to look at her, she was staring off into the distance - thinking. And I couldn't hear, couldn't even guess at what her mind held.
It was beyond infuriating.
"So am I right in saying that if I was considering to leave right now, you wouldn't know?"
Heck, I knew if Lucie left now I'd just become the obsessed creepy stalker. I should have felt ashamed off this; but wasn't. She needed protecting. It wasn't right for her to suffer, and she needed defending from those who planned to gain power at her expense. I knew she was not as accident prone as Bella, but still, in many ways she was just as weak. And somehow at the epicentre to chaos all the time.
Bella. The errant thought of her made me instantly tense, nervous. I didn't fare well away from her, always on edge, always wanting to run to her, to protect her. That pull, that draw - it was always there. It never faded… but I tried to stop it. Bitterness swarmed up whenever I thought about her not only having one protector.
I shook off those thoughts; they only left me brooding and angst ridden. "Well, you might have foiled your plan slightly in suggesting that," I said dryly, I ran a hand through my hair, letting my frustration show slightly through a small sigh that escaped my lips. "No Lucie, I can't read your mind. It's like it's wrapped up in some sort of sheaf - not impenetrable, but I can't understand your actions and the thoughts that fit them. And then when you sleep… all of your guard falls away. I think that's how I can see your dreams, the only time you're completely defenceless is when you sleep."
I hadn't realised she'd stopped her ranting and interrupting, through an impatient interruption until I'd finished. She was staring at me, the expression on her face a complete enigma to me.
"I don't like that: being defenceless." She whispered, vulnerability seeping through her normal strong and determined demeanour.
"I'm always there to protect you." The words slipped from my lips. Her eyes - a crystal green agate still - widened in something I still didn't understand. Something that drove me crazy. What I would give to hear what she was thinking…
"Cheesy Edward. Cheesy." She managed to say, her words slightly mumbled. Cheesy huh? So why was she blushing? The blood pooling in her fair cheeks, a colour both beautiful and deadly. The long and sadistic dormant inside me stirred restlessly, always ready, always waiting…
Even now, she was so delicate. I often forgot that; her determination obliterated any thoughts of her as weak. I'd never met determination like hers, such persistence. But physically - I knew she was frail. She was a human, and humans were little more than spun glass - if they were held too tight, they would shatter.
So when are you going to let her go?
I had a frightening thought to that answer question, and it was burning in me with a brilliant - and dangerous - fervency.
Never.
But then I heard it, the same sound I'd shaken off earlier. A faint rustle in the distance. Except now it wasn't faint, it was louder.
Closer.
It wasn't alone now, I could hear the thoughts, the murmurs, saw his plan… I looked at Lucie with wide eyes, suddenly terrified of what I'd gotten her into.
They were here.
***
Lucie's POV: (switchety, switchety today huh?)
Underneath men (and yes, I mean underneath. He'd just grabbed me up without a seconds warning, making me shriek slightly only to have his ice palm pressed tight against my lips to smother the sound) I felt his entire frame tense. The supple skin on his marble hands suddenly taught enough to see the tendons clearly; he was poised as if to spring. Shifting so that I was shielded by him.
Something was wrong.
And that's when I saw him.
A figure, horribly familiar, shrouded in a cloak darker than a starless sky, that trailed along the mossy overgrown ground silently as he walked, purposefully towards us.
Edward was the first to speak.
"Felix." His acknowledgement held antipathy. So that's who he was. My breathing became more ragged, too noticeable. My insides squirmed when I saw who the figure was staring at. Me. I didn't look closely at his face, scared he would see the raw fear in my eyes.
"Edward," Felix drawled casually in a reply, stepping closer - away from the shadows - and coming into full view.
I bit back my gasp. Felix was huge. The same size as Emmett, but worse - it was like his malice made him bigger, the prominent muscles more pronounced, more powerful. Like he could sense my gaze, he looked at me, and when our eyes met I felt dizzy, he had eyes so dark that the iris seemed to melt into the pupil. He was thirsty. But his eyes were cast to Edward now - like he was bored of me. Unimpressed.
And for some reason, that only made everything all the more terrifying.
"You know you can make this so much easier Edward," Drawled out Felix, "I don't see why you've turned to be so… protective of these mere humans," A sudden ache of hatred went through me at the sound of Felix's voice - how it seemed pleased at the situation, but I couldn't do anything. Hatred was no longer a strong emotion where I was concerned. Not when it was tainted with fear.
Edward pushed me further behind him, emitting a low growl as he stared at the other vampire.
"She isn't a mere human."
He let out a silky laugh, "Oh ho, here comes out your protectiveness again, or should I say… obsession. Always the humans then?" He let the leer remain on his face for a while longer, before dropping it completely. His expression now hard - business like. "I don't have time for games Edward, either you hand the girl over willingly - or we take her by force." I didn't miss the plural in his words.
"She is not property Felix. And there's no way your touching her."
"We'll see about that, and if she's not property, then why are you keeping her?"
"What? I'm trying to-" But I didn't get to hear what Edward was trying to do, I side stepped him, glaring at Felix and ignoring the stab of fear that the very sight of him produced.
"Where's my father?" My voice shook. A twisted parody of a grin adorned his lips. Lips incidentally, that were a deep crimson. I had to quell a shudder at the sight. I couldn't appear weak - not now. Felix didn't reply to me, and a I had a sudden urge to scream at him for answers. I tried to run at him, wanting to demand where he was, what they'd done to him and why they'd taken him.
But I never made it.
Felix had launched himself at us, his jump looking like the flight of a raven with his dark cloak and robes billowing around him and before I could think enough to breathe, Edward had thrown me to the side, shielding me from the brunt if the impact. I saw them collide, a terrifying clash that made my stomach twist in worry. But it was my own that caused me to shout out in bewilderment. I'd hit a tree, a branch digging into the exposed skin on my arm, a searing pain stabbing me.
But I couldn't concentrate on that, Felix hit Edward, his once beautiful face now a twisted bestial expression. But Edward's act in protecting me, saving m, left in a pain that I didn't want to think about. I felt my knees go completely weak. My entire frame crumpled to the earthy floor, the pain from hitting the ground came late to my senses, less of a sharp stab through my legs - instead just a dull throb. I could hear snarls, growls, noises above me.
Desperately, I tried to stand up, ignoring the ache of my head and the pulsating pain in my left arm. Vertigo hit when I scrambled to my feet. But I could see him; I could see them - Edward and Felix fighting each other, their movements terrifyingly deadly, a synchronised pattern back and forth. It was terrifying, yet at the same time, I couldn't look away. Their lissom movements enraptured me. An alluring art that rendered me immobile. Frozen as their dance became fiercer - more deadly.
Suddenly, there was a break in their pattern, for a second I thought one was wounded - fear spiked through me. Was Edward hurt? I tried to get a closer look at him, but before I could even blink, he had jumped - no pounced - with such speed that he was just a blur, it was the most agile, swift, and undeniably inhuman movement I'd seen in my entire life.
Until a second later.
It was like Felix had anticipated the move. Nothing was in slow motion like films - but it was like I could see each detail in their movements. Everything was moving so fast - and yet somehow I could pinpoint each strike. The clarity of it all terrified me. This wasn't a game, this wasn't a dream, this was real.
Felix had crouched the instant Edward had sprung - he'd expected it. And now, he moved with such agile grace (not speed like Edward's, Felix seemed to have experience in fighting - his blows weren't necessarily more dexterous than Edward's - but they were more accurate: deadly precision with each and every blow) that he became no more substantial than shadow, still adorned in the same dark cloak.
Pain flooded through me as I watched Felix hit him in the chest. And I was just standing there… I saw Edward stagger backwards, but, quick as lightening; Felix was next to him again, lifting him up with one hand like he weighed no more than an average cat. I saw him hurl Edward at a tree with bone crashing force but what happened next was a complete blur.
I should have shouted, screamed, ran - they were my rational options, the ones that provided a small possibility of me living. I didn't do that though - rationality clearly wasn't on my side at the moment.
My vision suddenly became tunnelled; I could only see my target - the person at this moment I was planning to choke to death. I ran at him. Ran at Felix (an elite member of the Volturi guard who was twice the size of me) with a rage that somehow gave me energy.
Irrational courage swept through me like a fever as the unfathomable adrenaline shot through my veins. I didn't even think as I jumped at him - there wasn't time for that - and didn't foresee what my actions would culminate in. I just knew he was hurting Edward, trying to kill him. And I couldn't let that happen. A sharp intake of breath came from Edward as he realised what I was about to do, but it was too late.
"Lucie - no!" Edward's shout was muffled as I collided with Felix, punching every inch of him I could reach.
He moved like a viper, faster than my eyes could follow, easily missing my blows. He brought his own hand down and hit me in the abdomen, with a movement as casual as swatting insects.
And like a leaf caught in a current, I was whisked off my feet, winded as I collided with something cold and hard.
"No, we need the girl. Alive, Felix," Grunted the cold and hard object I'd hit against. I whirled around in panic, and yet somehow I already knew who was suspending me. I couldn't forget that voice. The crimson eyes shone back at me, lips curling into a sadistic leer. Demetri.
Well, crud.
I screamed at him, irrationally kicking to make him drop me. Demetri didn't even seem to notice, but I felt his grip around me - not gentle like Edward's, but hard and constricted - tighten. My breathing became ragged, as utter fear pursued me.
Demetri gripped me tighter still, his skin coarse and rough against my arms. The irrational fear bubbled up again, I felt like I was about to faint. I couldn't deal with him holding me like that, I couldn't cope.
"Let. Me. Go." My clipped sentences were half out of rage, and half out of fear. I prayed the latter wasn't too noticeable.
He acknowledged me this time, a sardonic smile falling over his lips as he surveyed me. "Smart move that - jumping at Felix, I can see why he wants you." I didn't ask who 'he' was, but I felt a leaden sickening surpass me when Aro's name came to mind. I didn't reply to his words, instead, resuming my kicks and screaming at him - hoping against hope that he couldn't hear the raw fear in my voice.
"I said: Let me go!" I tried to hit his face, damage his eyes - but a hand gripped mine in the movement. I recoiled like I'd been burnt, but he didn't relinquish his grip.
"What would be the fun in that?" His voice was like honey, thick and too sweet, but it was darker than that. A treacle tainted with something dark and sinister. I shuddered at the sound of it, having heard it repeatedly in my dreams - my nightmares. He smiled again after I shuddered, obviously revelling in my fear, bile rose in my throat.
He continued talking to me, like he was at a party and just chatting up the next girl in sight - instead of intending to kidnap me and watching his fellow colleague try to kill someone in the middle of a forest.
"Besides, we need you Luciana. Pretty boy on the other hand-" he gestured lazily behind him, to where I knew Edward and Felix were still fighting, "is more disposable than we first thought…"
My scream of terror leave my lips in a choked gasp, I felt light-headed. I couldn't see Edward or Felix now, couldn't tell who was winning or losing, Demetri blocked my line of sight, but his eyes weren't directed on me anymore.
Something had happened.
His arms became stiff. I strained my ears but I couldn't even hear their growls now, there was a ringing in my ears that prevented that. It accompanied by a metallic, pungent smell. And a smarting pain in my left arm. I should have pieced these together faster. By the time I looked at my arm it was probably too late. The light-headedness, the metallic scent fresh on the air, the pulsating throb…
I felt more air leave me when I looked down. The coppery scent was overpowering. My entire left arm was coated in blood. I must have hit something when I fell. My heartbeat was unsteady, irregular - the same toll of a broken metronome.
"Damn!" Demetri hissed, I was going to go mad in a minute if I didn't get to see what the hell was happening. All I was faced with was the dark heavy fabric of Demetri's attire. It smelt like blood - or maybe that was just my arm, hang on, why the heck wasn't Demetri trying to eat me?! I stopped my stupid panicked thoughts when I heard Demetri's next words "There are more Felix - I hear them coming."
Hope burst though my darkness, a tiny brilliant white light against the perpetual black, only to be smothered seconds later by Felix's guttural snarl - was he still fighting?
"I need to finish this off Demetri," Felix said with a grunt, doing something I couldn't see, "I'll catch up near Rome." A pause, and then: "Take the girl." It took a second before the words fully sank in.
"What?!" I shrieked, "No! No you can't!" Rome? I was being taken to Italy?! I began to kick again, but my attempts utterly futile, Demetri remained completely unfazed. He'd moved slightly, and I could see Felix - around ten feet away, standing upright completely unharmed - though his eyes continued to flicker to a point past my line of sight. But still, the fact remained: I couldn't see Edward. This, alone, had me terrified.
To my horror Demetri suddenly swept me into his arms, like he was cradling me. A twisted cradle in which I was bound by strong arms, and only able to see his leering smile. He leant forwards as if to kiss me, and I felt nauseous, afraid that I would pass out. I couldn't let that happen, not with what was happening. But to my relief, he didn't kiss me, merely whispered against my ear, his cool breath fanning over the exposed skin on my neck, sending multiple shivers through me.
"I can and I will."
And then he was running, so fast that I couldn't turn my head - like when a plane ascends - terminal velocity meant that my head was forced into the fabric of Demetri's coat - or whatever the half cloth half leather material was mean to be.
I gripped onto the one thing that could work - the only possible way to affect him. Humanity. I had to bring some of this in him, it was the only way I could connect - reach him on a level that would make him stop. Because if I didn't do it soon, escape would be impossible. My voice shook as I spoke - but I managed to get the words out with enough clarity. I knew he could hear.
"I saw your past Demetri, don't turn out like you father."
I don't know what I expected to happened after I'd said those words. But suddenly Demetri stopped, and if his arms hadn't been gripping me, I was sure I would have hurtled off forward like in a car crash. But he stopped, everything stopped, his stance was rigid, and he wasn't breathing.
I definitely hadn't expected this.
For a moment I thought he was going to let me go, place me on the ground and realise that what he was doing was wrong. He didn't do that either. Instead, he angled my face towards him - so that I was forced to look into his eyes, a vampire burgundy, with crimson rings.
"I am not like my father." His voice was different from before - still a low, dark bass - but tinged slightly, I searched his expression and found something that I'd never associate with him, never associate with any of the Volturi in fact. Vulnerability.
"But you are," I continued, trying to keep my voice soft instead of broken and scared, "you're just like him. What you're doing, what you intend to do-" He cut me off, his voice a rough growl.
"No."
But I carried on.
"Don't take me, don't be like him." I could see the anger in his eyes, and I knew in provoking him like this, I could easily get hurt. But he'd haltered, he'd stopped. I had to continue… I just needed to stop him long enough. My voice was agitated - the words tumbling out of my mouth without thinking through, "Remember all those times you were scared, each time that you wished he'd stopped, that you prayed he'd leave you and your mother. There was a fire wasn't there? He locked your mother in her room, set alight the door, and left-"
"Stop it!" Raw pain scraped through his normal collected demeanour; it shocked me so much that I was rendered silent. "I am nothing like him, this is different. I'm on orders, I have to obey - and I shall. You're no more than a human girl, despite pretty boy's views on you-" He began to move again, not a run yet, but a purposeful, furious stride towards his destination.
He was gripping me too tightly now, I felt his nails dig into my arms leaving small moons on my alabaster skin - a stark white against the ribboned red.
"You can't make me feel remorse little girl, I hate my father, it was a pleasure killing him - the best act I've done in my life. I was vengeful, patricide quenched that particular thirst." He breathed in my scent at the hollow of my throat, "not that I don't have other thirsts too…" His dark words made me feel sick; the pressure from his arms against my skin combined with the amount of blood I'd already lost made me dizzier than ever. In many ways I was glad he was hurting me (as illogical as it seemed) the pain brought things back into focus with a clear, sharp clarity. I couldn't lose conscience - else Demetri would win.
I tried to say something - anything - but no words came out, my throat felt constricted, bone dry.
"But you? You stole my memories, ransacked my head and saw what's mine, what's private." He glared at me, his eyes darkening, a burgundy black inferno. "I can't forgive you for that. Just like I can't forgive my father. There's one thing you should know about me, Luciana, I'm not forgiving." Guilt hit me then. Stupid irrational guilt. Here stood a vampire who had made several threats to kill me on a myriad of occasions and I was feeling guilty?
"I- I couldn't control it-"
He didn't listen to me, just continuing on his pent up anger, flowing out of him in agitation - again, almost too fast for me to catch.
"I don't know why Aro even wants you." He said with a sneer, "everyone's talking about you the 'gifted mortal' … is that how you've managed to sway pretty boy too? Your gift to pillage people's pasts?" I could here the suppressed rage shaking in his voice. I didn't know how to react. He was irate - ready to snap under the slightest pressure.
He began moving again, his footsteps as fast as his words. I was paralysed in shock, numb to everything except the smarting pain in my arm.
"…Little did he know that in accepting you - caring for you… that he would lead to destroying you. Destruction is the only thing that flourishes from that emotion, but I suppose mortals like you wouldn't realise that. Still, I would have thought pretty boy would have had some more common sense - not that I'm objecting. Things have played out quite nicely really. It's always easier when the prey is blind, you see." He gave me a bestial grin.
"Wh-what?" I spluttered slightly, my throat still painfully tight, "What do you mean?"
"He's going to have to chose Lucie," He said before running faster, pressing me flat against him, his iron grip never depleting. My sparse breath was becoming harder and harder to control, my pulse skyrocketing. He continued talking, his words almost too fast for me to catch.
"Without realising that it isn't even his choice to make...whatever he chooses; we'll still get you. Aro was adamant about that. Though I can't argue on the fact that a little suffering from Edward" - that had to be the first time I'd heard him say his name - "wouldn't be amusing as well. Heidi should enjoy that…"
I barely caught his last words, spoken with a kind of mutated glee, while the roaring wind rushing in my ears.
"Yes, Aro will be pleased."
***
I think I'm going to cackle. Yes, I feel like cackling. *cackles*
I ended it there! Ha! My initial plan was to end it somewhere else further on (which would have meant a long chapter)… but didn't. You're lucky though; my initial plan was to leave you with a really suspense-and-I-need-more-right-NOW- cliffy! I'd have gotten tonnes of disapproving grunts in reviews. (ha. Not that I get many grunts in reviews… a shame that. :p)
So… I'll let your imagination run wild. I won't comment much on the chapter apart from the fact that every single time I wrote 'Felix' the image of a black and white cat popped into mind and refused to leave. (to be honest it really didn't help - a sadistic black and white cat, though pretty scary, just doesn't have the same impact as a big creepy vampire.) I had a hard time refraining myself from making Felix purr and chase mice.
Listen (okay, no - read) I am perfectly aware that this is a late update, but I officially have an excuse that simply cannot be argued against. On last Saturday afternoon I went to none other than possibly one of my most favourite shops in the entire world. *Wait for it..* Waterstones. Yeah, a book shop. Figures. (My other favourites? Ha. Borders, WHSmith - basically any where that sells books really)
Anyway, I go into Waterstones, with my newly acquired money from baby sitting a load of midgets (my terminology for small, pesky, children) and I intend to find a new book to get lost in. I found Hunted from the A House of Night Series and instantly deemed the trip a success already, and then I proceeded onto buying both Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity, and THEN I very nearly screamed in joy right in the middle of Waterstones (trust me, I already had a lot of odd looks from people, at this point I was carrying around 5 books - and that's excluding the one's I've mentioned. So I had 8 or so books placed precariously in my arms, and I probably looked creepy. Anyone who carries lots of books and smiles like they've found enlightenment is classified as creepy :p)
Why did I very nearly drop all the books? Because, just as I thought I couldn't find anything else I wanted to buy (well no, that's a lie. I want ALL of Waterstones. One day I'll have it. Mark my words…) I saw none other than THE CITY OF GLASS! Gah! Seriously, I didn't think that book was out until the 7thof July! And then there it was, staring back at me, and YAY!!!!
I got a PAPER CUT on my copy of The City Of Glass. (I suppose the irony would have been better if the same predicament happened when reading New Moon :p) Yeah. A paper cut. How? Well, if you have the book, turn to page 261, where everything is SO DARN TENSE… I was so impatient to see what happened, I evidently turned the page to fast, and then heck, there were droplets of blood splattering the book. The book was obviously trying to stop me reading… it didn't succeed. I ignored the stupid pain, only realising after reading the next to pages that jeeesh, when I get a paper cut - I bleed a lot. Copiously actually. And I didn't think I needed any more blood on the book, so I had to reluctantly search for a plaster. No such luck presented itself on my quest, and I ended up with wrapping a wad of kitchen paper round my forefinger and securing it with a rubber band. Mentally agreeing with my thoughts that getting an infected finger was utterly worthwhile when paired with reading.
Yup. An excellent doctor I'd make huh? :p
Anyway, alack, I'm a stupid fast reader (I don't even skim read) and by 3.00am the City Of Glass. Was. Finished. I'm now in mourning mode - and somehow this only spurred me onward to finish every single book I bought. So now I'm done. There goes my excuse for not updating. I was reading… (and if you haven't already read the Mortal Instruments Trilogy - I really recommend it.)
Ooohh! I drew a picture by the way, of Edward and Lucie and how I imagined them. I promise that when I get a new camera I'll upload it on here, so you can all see what Lucie looks like in my head. ;) Aha! I remember something - lots of you comment on Lucie's inability to raise an eyebrow… yeah, guess where that trait came from? ME. I can't. And it's (to use Edward's terminology) beyond infuriating… I speant half an hour the other day in front of the mirror CONVINCED I'd learn how to do it. No so such luck came though, halfway through attempting to do it, a 6 year old midget told me that my face looked scary…
Yup. Scary. That's what happens when you put me and one eyebrow raising together. (and jeesh, if you think that's bad, heck, you should see me playing wink murder. EPIC FAIL. I can't wink… ha. I end up blinking furiously :o Oh, what attractive facial expressions I have! :D)
Also, it was. Too. Damn. Hot! Honestly, I can't cope in heat… I just frazzle up. (which isn't too good as next week I'm going to Spain - oh crud. If I don't update before then… just wait till I get back. Rest assured I'm not gallivanting off anytime soon *cue the sighs of disappointment.*)
Oh! And to everyone who gave a quote, yay! *passes out cookies* I don't have a challenge today, I've got a question instead: What's your favourite beverage? (Jade *coughreadherROSAfanfic!cough*and I recently discovered Green Tea with Mango - it's quite tasty, you should all give it a try. ;)
Now, I'm awwhhll sleepy. Do you think this chapter can boost the story up to 1000 reviews? Will my dream of being on one of those 1000+ reviews communities finally come true?! - these are the questions that will prevent sleep. (I should stop thinking.) Oh! And have a very happy Summer Holiday if you're one of those lucky people who isn't at school *jealously threatens to burst* - I, myself, am still stuck at school, with an entire week of exams ahead of me. Life's tough. :p)
REVIEW! :)
Lily - who thinks that if you like nelephants (who CAN'T like nelephants?! That's sacrilege!) you should review. Who knows? Perhaps a nelephant will greet you if you do :p (… mhmm… and the whole insanity issue? She thinks it's getting worse….)