BETWEEN NIGHT AND DAY

Chapter 6 Healing

"Where is Rikki?" I stammered looking into Edward's rather placid face.

"Look outside and you will see," he motioned to the sharp incline behind his house.

"Where exactly ARE we?" I asked as did what he asked.

"Safe…for now," was the answer.

Edward turned me around. "Emma, we have to keep a low profile for some time. But as for your friends you will be escorted back to town so you can keep an eye on them."

"You are so caring, and I thank all of your family for your protection." I gratefully smiled at him.

My nerves were a jangled mess. What was everyone's health status? I would be escorted by Jasper and I promptly ascended into the air, and we sailed over houses until we were flying parallel to the coastline.

"Thanks Jasper."

"Emma, we need to keep a distance until we can plan our next move." Jasper searched my eyes.

"I understand." Whew. This was getting deep. I was beginning to wonder if I should risk further involvement with this guy. Now my friends were either hurt or missing and I didn't know which was worse.

I watched Jasper take flight and return to where he came from, and I set on foot towards the hospital. A big lump was in my throat as anticipated health news on everyone.

When I pushed open the sliding door entrance, I observed people walking around mostly supported by others and of small groups of medical personnel talking.

Cleo was first on my list. As I entered the ICU, she was badly hurt.

I ventured closer. "Cleo? I brought you something." I'd stopped to buy a small plant for her.

:"Emma! What happened to us?" Cleo tried to sit up.

"I'm so sorry about everything and all."

"It wasn't your fault the thing to do now, is to somehow forgive them and move on with our lives, as mermaid you know." Cleo tried to reassure me as I sat down on the bed. She could be strong and step up to the plate when a situation called for it.

Cleo still looked very pale, but was told she was not so delirious today. "Emma, please tell me Lewis is OK. I heard he was in the next room, but I don't know anything…about anyone."

"I'm scared too Cleo." I squeezed her hand, and stood up to leave. "I'll let you know any news about anyone as soon as I know something. All I know right now is Edward and his family are making some sort of plans. For what I don't know. See you later."

Okay. One down, four more to go.

I knocked on Lewis' door as a nurse emerged from the room. "It's OK you can see him from this view."

"Any change? His girlfriend is very concerned about him."I asked her.

"He's a tough scrapper I must say. He's already showing signs of strength. I guess whatever bit him confined it to the arm instead of going for the jugular vein in his neck. He's lucky, I'd say, and he's resting now. Maybe you can try back later."

"Thank you so much. And please tell Cleo that he is doing better." I breathed out a sigh of relief. I learned later Zane was faring better also. But I think he liked all the attention from the student nurses! Either way he was improving.

Good news, I knew this would take time for healing, but how would their minds heal? How would they be able to forget this?

I saw Ash and had mixed feelings about this. He lay there basically in and out of consciousness and made no effort to respond to me. I was told that was his condition and there was no change.

I left the hospital and went home. All of a sudden I felt something descend out the air and a girl I recognized as Rikki ran towards me.

"Rikki! Everyone is worried about you, where have you BEEN?" She looked pretty dishelmed as she was being supported by the girl I recognized as Alice.

"Emma, I saw Zane running with Rikki when he ran into trouble. Evidently he was trapped so Laurent and his boys would not be able to see them and they almost succeeded. I was nearby and I took Rikki to a safe place."

"You know this is something out of Van Helsing and it's creepy! Nothing against you Alice or Edward or the others…" Rikki dusted herself off.

"No offense taken Rikki. But this has created an awkward situation for us."

"Emma, did you see Zane? I'm worried about him." Rikki did not scare easily and she could take the rough spots of life easier than Cleo or me. But Alice was comforting and I was thankful for that.

Rikki did see Zane that day, and they both helped each other both physically and mentally to try to decipher what happened to them. Lewis and Cleo were also a support for each other.

That left me.

What seemed like an eternity passed as I was relieved to learn Cleo, Zane, Lewis and Rikki were OK. Even Ash was showing improvement. But any sign of a relationship with Edward was strained and I think we both knew that.

We were clearly from two different worlds. He could not care less about our mermaidness but his being a vampire could easily become a life/death situation or a become an "undead" person like he was.

Heck I was leaving in a few weeks time! Then one day he came to me.

"Emma, we're leaving. Every so often we vampires have to find more suitable places where we can find our…food."

"I know Edward it's been good to know you but you know we are leaving also."

"Laurent and his gang are going south, we are going north. It could not work out between us and that's how it is. I care too much for you and you should be free to live your own life." He gave me a peck on the cheek.

Tears streamed down my face and I knew this had to be. All I cared about now were my family and friends as they struggled to recover. I would never forget how Edward. Alice, Jasper and Emmett came to our aid. We could have been devoured and become the "living dead" but we'd been spared that. I decided Ash deserved another chance too.

Well here I am again, dateless. Packing with Elliott and helping my mom and dad get everything ready. I'd previously ignored the phone every time he tried to call, but I saw how indeed precious life was and I was going to make the best of it. Unlike vampires, the only life I had was this life. My cell phone vibrated and caller ID showed, "Ash".

I picked up the phone. THE END