17. Too Late
The brusque air was electrified with my determination as the sliding glass doors slipped apart for me to enter. The airport was full of people. Lines spread out around the building. The ceilings were high and voices echoed around the acoustic walls. Bags were piled onto carts, people were exiting, entering, going through metal detectors and carousels rotated in a circle to bring passengers their luggage.
But what caught my attention immediately – more than the masses – were the two vampires that were communicating near the lines to the metal detectors. They also noticed the presence of one of their kind though they only nodded in my direction, not threatening in the least. Robert must have tipped them off that I would be arriving because from their thoughts I knew they were expecting me. They were protecting the exit so Victoria wouldn't leave. I thought it was odd that they were letting her live at all, but after searching the conscious minds of the other vampires around the airport she apparently had friends in high places in Texas.
"Good riddance," one of the vampires spoke to the other thinking about Victoria's departure from Texas. His voice was full of rage; the thundering threat implicit in the underlying words. It would have sent a shiver down any human's spine. "I hear that the vampires in Venezuela are much crueler than we are. She won't last long, now that she will be friendless," he continued fluently, simply.
The other vampire merely agreed by laughing menacingly. Then he turned to face me, his red eyes searching my face. He was across the several growing lines of people but I could hear him clearly as if he were standing next to me. "I hope you find and kill her," he said directly to me before he turned away.
They wanted me to find her. They were helping me out by speaking of where she was headed. I picked a line and began moving forward slowly toward the ticket counter. Looks like Venezuela will need a vampire put down, and I'm up for the job. The minutes ticked by at a slower rate than normal because each second Victoria was alive, that was another second I was going to be tracking her and that was another second I was without Bella. Positively excruciating.
Eliminate the threat, go back to my heart. That was my objective now. Even though it was best that I stay away too – I was also a threat – it was only a matter of time before I broke down. Alice was right. And more than ever I wanted Victoria's throat in my hand where all I would have to do is give a slight jerk and rip her head off. The idea was riveting, exciting – what I planned on doing. Giving Bella this extra time without me would keep her safe that much longer.
I was a selfish creature, and finally I didn't care.
The line shortened some and soon a worker was beckoning me forward. She didn't look up from her computer for several seconds as she demanded information from me.
"Driver's license or passport – ticket? How many bags? More than one will cost you extra."
It had been a while since I had to lower my voice, make it smooth, calculating – human. "I don't have a ticket, but I'd like to purchase one. When's your next plane leave for Venezuela?"
She still didn't look up from her computer as she clicked, typed and tapped her fingers on the desk impatiently. "Tomorrow." From her mind I could tell there was a plane boarding now, but she was not allowed to sell tickets or let passengers go if it was less than an hour before departure. "Would you like to purchase a ticket?" she persisted and then looked up.
For a moment she didn't think or say a word. Human reactions were always different, but when it came to a vampire's looks they all seemed to get the deer in headlights look at first.
I leaned over the counter to take advantage of her befuddled state. "Maybe you could look again, please. It's an emergency. My mother was visiting and she is very sick and needs assistance back to the states," I said in my smoothest, most convincing voice. "Please," I added and stared into her eyes as if I were going to hypnotize her.
She stared back at me as if in a trance and nodded slowly. "Passport?" she petitioned.
I smiled, showing my sharp teeth, but not wide enough to frighten her. "Thanks," my tone rippled with steady grace. "I have only a carry on." I lifted my bag to show her.
She nodded and then began to peck at the keys rapidly as she prepared my ticket.
"All we have is first class," she said sadly.
I slid my card over the counter. "Whatever it costs. Money is not an issue."
Who is this guy? She grabbed the card, her mind in a stunned hurry. "Of course," she whispered. She slid the card down the side of the computer. Rich, handsome and mysterious somehow? A receipt began to print out along with my ticket. She slid them in my direction. "Sign the top one, the bottom is your ticket." I grabbed a pen from the container full of them and began to sign. "My advice to you," she interrupted, "run." …probably won't make it.
I nodded. "My mom will be thankful." And then I ran at an almost inhuman speed towards the ever growing line of people to go through the metal detectors. There were some disgruntled curses and words of protest as I pummeled through the pedestrians.
Once in line, I waited impatiently, ready to get this over with. Maybe I could kill her in the airport and then purchase a ticket to Washington. The line crept forward. I hated impassive time like this, with nothing to do and the only thoughts on my Bella. The last time I was in an airport was to fly down to Phoenix. The memories weren't pleasant, but there was no way of blocking them. Telling Bella that distractions would keep her off my mind was one of the biggest and foolish lies I'd ever told, besides the obvious one: I did love her, I did want her, forever.
As the line crawled along I remembered the panic, the despair, the race toward the Ballet Studio. This was why I was here: payback. Everything has a price, and this was Victoria's. Death. It was the ultimate price; it will also be a warning to anyone who thinks it's a good idea to lay a finger on Bella.
The line inched toward the detectors. The clock was ticking down. I stepped closer until it was my turn. A security agent checked my tickets and passport then wrote his initials on it and passed it back to me, his mind on repeat. I practically threw my bag and shoes on the belt that goes through the scan and waited until the guard on the other side nodded for me to step through. I did, and no sounds went off. I was in the clear. I reached for my bag and bent to put my shoes back on. Some of the bystanders gawked at my uncanny speed.
The electronic walkways were helpful as I darted over the threshold and began moving swiftly down the flat escalator. Each second felt like ten years – ten lifetimes without Bella. I pressed on, trying to keep my speed at a human pace. Many people openly gaped at me and even pointed. It was like this moment was weighted with a deep meaning. This could lead me several directions. But the only one I cared about was the one that would lead me to Forks.
Shortly, the escalator came to an end and there was fifty feet of solid, unmoving floor beneath me before the next mobile floor. Seconds elapsed. They seemed longer than normal. I watched as each gate I passed was not the one I needed. Victoria's scent was still strong in my nose. She had gone this way. She hadn't stopped at any of these other gates. So far, so good.
When I reached the gate, they were closing the doors. Victoria's scent was present, and she was at this gate not long ago. Was she on the plane? Would I have the whole ride with her and be unable to touch her? As I rounded on the stewardess, holding my ticket in the air, I caught an additional scent going in a completely different direction, but still Victoria's. As I stood there, my nose catching the trail of an alternative route she might have taken, I didn't know if I should board the plane or follow it.
If she was on that plane and I let her go, then she would have a day's start ahead of me. How would I find her? But if she left the airport unbeknownst to the vampires on the outside, she'd be long gone, anywhere by now. It was quiet an enigma. Stay or go? Air or ground?
"Sir? Is this your plane?" the woman asked, holding the handle to the door, keeping it slightly ajar. "Please hurry if it is." I turned to see her staring at me with pure perplexity. "If you don't board now, sir, the plane will leave without you. The next plane to Venezuela doesn't leave until tomorrow."
Two choices, which one would lead me to Bella? Which path was stronger? - The one on the plane or the one heading another direction? It was a tie, they smelt the same.
"I apologize," I said lightly, as if the weight of this decision wasn't weighing heavily upon me. "My sister was supposed to board this plane and I haven't been able to get a hold of her. She has long red curly hair and dark eyes. Have you seen her?"
The lady looked at me impatiently. "Possibly," she said vaguely. "You can go on board and check and come back out if she isn't there."
Her thoughts held no clue as to whether she was on the plane or not. The seconds ticked on, and my mind raced towards the answer that just wasn't coming to me quick enough.
The lady made an impatient noise.
"My ticket." I held it out to her in my steady grip, making a decision She sent it through the machine and pointed down the hall.
"Hurry!"
"I will. Thank you," I said evenly, but still faltered at the door. It was too late to turn back; I raced down the tunnel like hall until I reached the door to the plane.
The pilot and several stewardess' met me at the door, and quickly two large uniformed workers closed the heavy metal door behind me. There was no turning back now, no getting off the plane. The rows of blue seats spread out before me. Mine was only a few feet from the very front, but it was already obvious before I walked two inches. The air was already circulating through the cabin and was stale and unpleasant. But one thing it was lacking more than the rich scent of the outdoors was Victoria. Her scent was completely absent. I turned to look at the closed door behind me.
It was too late.
Author's note: Please don't be upset that this chapter was short. I was writing this and when I got to the last paragraph that was where I wanted the chapter to end. It was just another one of my perfect cliff hangers. There will not be a part two, but hopefully the next chapters will be slightly longer.
Oh boy, I have so much in store for all of you. I'm absolutely tickled about the coming chapters. South America – Rosalie's phone call – and ITALY!
On another note, unrelated to fanfiction, I noticed that the newest New Moon trailer is slightly different on different websites. On Stephenie's site, under New Moon – The Movie, the trailer is not the same as the one on Yahoo! I didn't notice that until today. I love it. Edward says, "Go to hell." Gah! I wish he said that in the book. Maybe he will…*wicked smile*
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Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. Lolafalana is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of New Moon. No copyright infringement is intended.