Disclaimer: Twilight is the property of Stephenie Meyer
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Noble, Fadewind, Bibika94, Alphabloodwolf, Alexsandra, lzytigger, Jaboo101, Lsb123, anamika cullen, Skys the Limit 7507, and BellaNessieCullen
I awoke in the most blissful state, feeling warm and comfortable and such a sweet scent in my nose. It took a good few moments of drifting in a pink haze of contentment to realise that I was now embracing Mal as he embraced me. I could not find the will to untangle myself from his arms; it was where I wished to be. It was where I belonged and to have him wake now and we could make this more…
But not in my parents' house, it would be too mortifying with so many to overhear us. I therefore extracted myself from his arms and tried to leave the bed without jostling him. I got off the bottom of the bed and made my way to the bathroom.
"Liza?" Mal murmured and I turned back to him.
"Yes?" I prompted.
"Please don't leave me." He said on a level that was barely audible.
"I am merely going to shower." I informed him.
He mumbled something I couldn't comprehend and I rushed to his side and found that he was still sleeping. I took his hand and stroked his hair back gently.
"Mal, please awaken." I whispered into his ear.
I raised my head as I felt him stir. He opened his eyes and looked up into mine for a moment before a smile spread across his lips and his free hand slowly came up to cup my cheek. As his thumb gently caressed the crest of my cheekbone I was certain I could read his intention in his mind, he wished to kiss me. I prepared myself for the moment, willing to throw my lot in with him wholeheartedly.
Then there was a conflict in his mind and he drew away from me, sitting up in a way that kept a safe difference between us and there was no risk of accidental intimacy. I pushed away the feeling of rejection for I was certain in that moment he had wished to kiss me, and I had to consider the fact that he would feel uncomfortable to make such a move here in my parents' house.
"You and I need to have a long and truthful discussion." I stated.
"About what?" He asked, feigning a casual tone, but I could here the underlying nerves.
"A lot of things." I stated. "But perhaps it is best saved for when we are truly alone once more. Possibly when we take to your cabin to hunt and are away from any interruptions for a full weekend?"
"Yeah." Mal agreed.
"In the meantime I must wash and dress for the day. As of midnight my ban was lifted and I may use the kitchen once more. I wish to utilise it to its full potential in making breakfast for everyone who requires it." I stated.
"And it's also a way to make up to everyone for your temper tantrum." Mal remarked.
"Exactly." I said with a firm nod of my head. "And I get to show you my prowess when I have a kitchen stocked with everything I could possibly need."
"Finally." Mal said with a smile. "I'll get to taste your ice cream."
"Not for breakfast." I said primly. "Now I must wash and dress for the day."
"Shall I go find another bathroom?" Mal asked.
"You can use my bathroom once I am finished." I stated.
"What shall I do in the meantime?"
"Go back to sleep. Or perhaps become better acquainted with Darktide." I said with a grin.
"I think I will try some more of your filthy bed time reading." He teased.
I poked my tongue out at him and he wriggled his nose at me before we both burst out laughing. Then I cautioned silence for I was still unsure of the hour and had forgotten to check. It was still dark out, but at this time of year with dawn breaking so late it was hardly a good indicator since it meant that it was anytime before eight, nine if it was overcast.
I slipped into the bathroom, remembered I had not brought clean clothes in with me, went back out to get them where Mal chuckled at my absent mindedness, and I ignored him as I returned to the bathroom for my morning ablutions.
Once dressed I felt a lot more stable than I had upon awakening for Mal's scent was not completely surrounding me and clouding my mind with daydreams. I placed my discarded clothing and wet towel into my laundry basket. It was very full now, but I could wait until Mal had added his clothing and I would wash them all together while I cooked breakfast.
I entered my room where Mal had pulled the quilt flat over my bed, although he hadn't really made the bed, and was lying on his stomach, reading by the light of my lamp.
"Enjoying your dalliance in Darktide?" I asked lightly.
Mal looked up and grinned.
"Well the bad vamps are not a patch on the Volturi and you could outclass Lady Anna any day, but yeah, it's pretty good." He replied with a smile. "Although I have got one question to ask. Is Brody based on Tony?"
"I believe it so." I stated.
"Do you find reading the sex scenes a little weird?"
"I…" I trailed off; aware that Grace could hear us if she was awake. "There is nothing wrong with them in general, and I rather admire Grace's skills when it comes to the other characters in the series, but there has always been a slight feeling of unease whilst reading the intimate scenes between Lady Anna and Brody. I now realise it's because it is almost as if I am reading the exploits of Grace and Tony. I do not need to picture my brother's sex life, that is something most horrifying indeed."
"I guess it would be." Mal agreed.
"And now I must erase this conversation from my memory for the sake of my sanity."
"And I'll forget it too." Mal said as he closed the book with a snap. "I guess I can hit the shower now."
"Feel free." I stated with a wave of my hand. "And I have the shower gel to match that oriental bloom bubble bath you favoured yesterday."
Mal chuckled sarcastically as he entered the bathroom, although I had no idea why. I thought he had liked that scent and that was why he had used it for me. I did not dwell on it for I had decided that way lay madness, from now on I would allow such things to slide by me rather than create a fictitious problem by dwelling on them. He most likely thought I was teasing him in some way, and given my recent behaviour I wouldn't blame him.
I pushed all such nonsense from my thoughts as I sat down to style my hair for the day. Mal emerged with a towel about his shoulders to stop his hair dripping onto his t-shirt before I had finished.
"You don't happen to have hair scissors do you?" He asked.
"I do." I stated as I fixed my last curl in place.
"Can I nick a lend? My hair is getting ridiculous." He stated as he rubbed at his hair with the towel.
"What to you plan to do?" I asked, turning to look at him.
"Hack it all off and shave the rest." He said with a determined nod.
"What? No!" I gasped. "It would not suit you."
"Well it's what I usually do then leave it grow until I can't stand it no more." He said with a shrug.
His hair did need a trim, but I could not allow him to cut it all off. There had to be a compromise, and it was obvious what it should be.
"I am rather adept with the scissors. I could clip your hair neat whilst still maintaining some of the length." I stated.
"You like my long hair?" He asked, raising his eyebrow.
"I do." I admitted.
"But wouldn't you prefer it all short and neat?" He asked.
"No." I replied truthfully. "Your hair as it is lends you a roguish charm that sits well with your personality. Why would I wish to push you into my ideal aesthetic? I am the neat one, and you are delicious unkemptness."
"Delicious unkemptness?" He asked with a smile.
"Yes. It looks untidy, but it is supposed to be that way. I cannot imagine you with your hair slicked back with a side parting. It would not be you at all."
"Well I guess I have to let you cut it now." Mal said. "Where do you want me?"
"Would you be opposed to sitting on the floor so I have a hope of reaching your head?" I asked.
"Of course not. So where do you want me?"
"Right here." I said and pointed to an area where I would be free to move about him. "But I will put a towel down first to catch your hair."
I retrieved a towel to place on the floor and Mal sat on it and folded his legs. I had a vision of climbing into his lap and kissing him, but I remembered our agreement this morning and I could hold onto my desires until January. I could do it.
I praised myself for merely combing out his damp hair and snipping it into a style that was neat for the most part, but still looked Mal. I did note how his hair looked somewhat darker when wet and how the highlights returned as I blow-dried his hair until it was soft and shining.
"I think that will do." I observed once I was sure I was finished.
Mal nodded, rose to his feet and went to look in my mirror.
"Best hair cut I've ever had." He said with a nod of his head.
I was sure he was lying somewhat, but that didn't stop me from feeling warmed by his words. I cleared up his hair and as I was discarding it in my wastepaper basket I decided that the bedding could possibly do with a wash. I was sure it had not been done since I had departed. In fact my whole room could use a spring clean, but that would have to wait until after breakfast and after Mal and I had hunted.
I decided my bedding could wait until this afternoon, but I could put the things in my laundry basket through this morning. I went into the bathroom and noted that Mal had cleared away after himself and that made me feel happy. I ensured everything in the basket was securely in place before applying the lid. I lifted the basket and left the bathroom.
"I can carry that." Mal offered.
"I do this every morning when I am home." I stated. "Would you be so kind as to open the door for me instead."
Mal did so and it was a relief not to have to juggle with it this morning, especially since the basket was so full. Mal stepped out of my room and closed the door and turned to his right.
"It's left." I stated. "We will use the north staircase this morning."
"There's more than the two I used yesterday?" He asked.
"Yes." I replied. "And today we will use the north staircase for it is closest and will lead us directly to the laundry room."
"You have a laundry room?" He asked as we traversed the corridor past Tony's room and to the stairs door at the end.
"Of course we do. This is an old house Mal, Father and Aunt Marlin commissioned it back in the eighteenth century." I explained.
"I haven't got a laundry room." Mal stated as he opened the door. "Most of the time I don't even have a room." He joked as we stepped through. "But on the farm I got a tumble dryer in the kitchen. Where does that lead?" He asked, looking up the stairs.
"To the attics and the roof. I will show you in a moment, once these clothes are washing."
"Then lead the way." Mal said happily.
I led him down into the basement and the laundry room.
"Wow. This is as big as the laundrette." He observed.
"It has always been the laundry." I stated as I tipped out the basket onto the floor. "Even when every stage had to be done by hand in tubs. The big old mangle was still here when Tony and I were children, but Father removed it when he returned for it had always made Tony feel uneasy." I continued as I sorted the clothes into appropriate washes.
I would have added other laundry, but Father had obviously been busy upon his return for the big hamper was empty. That was not a good sign; it meant Father was truly agitated over the state of affairs. I felt I was to blame for becoming involved with Alec in the first place. Of course I wasn't completely to blame, as Tony stated, had I been in full contact with home, over that distance Alec still would have had chance to snatch me. This was Alec's fault, pure and simple and I hoped that I would have chance to tell him exactly what I think of him before he is consigned to eternal darkness.
"What was wrong with it?" Mal asked and I had to recall to mind that we had been speaking of the mangle only moments before.
"There was nothing truly horrifying about it. It was merely big and Victorian. It had caused Tony to have the odd nightmare where some unknown figure was pushing him through it. It was irrational, but he was a child and can be excused for creating horror from an everyday object." I explained.
"I know what you mean." Mal stated. "When I was a kid there was this tree, all twisted and old, reaching toward the sky, but always dragged back. I could see it from my bedroom window, all on its own up on top of the hill. I used to think it was a witch and if I got near it then I would get eaten by it."
"Oh dear." I observed.
"Like you said, you can think up weird crap when you're a kid."
"Yes." I agreed as I placed one lot of laundry into the washing machine and began the cycle.
"Would you like to see the roof now?" I asked.
"Try stopping me." Mal said with a grin.
I smiled before leading him back up the north staircase, past the ground and first floor.
"This is the door to the attics." I said and I opened the door to display the long corridor of windows on the right and doors on the left. "Feel free to explore them at your leisure."
"I'd prefer if you gave me a tour."
"Then I shall, but not right now. We must go to the roof." I declared as I shut the door and offered for him to go ahead up the last flight of stairs.
He walked ahead up the stairs and he made appreciative sounds in regards to the glass structure that topped the stairs. It looked almost like a green house and it allowed natural light to filter into the stairwell whilst keeping out all other elements.
We stepped out onto the roof where, it's needless to say, it was very windy and there was a fine spray of drizzle.
"Reminds me of home." Mal observed when I apologised for the conditions. "You got good views from up here."
"Yes." I agreed. "And on a clear day you can see all the way to the mountains in the west and the estuary to the east. On a very clear night one can see the lights of Seattle shining on the horizon."
"Must be great." Mal said as he looked out toward the east. "But right now, with the sky greying before dawn, everything in the distance is dark. Apart from that one patch of brightness, where the sun's about to put in an appearance for the day. Lazy old sod, it's half eight, you think he'd be up already."
I laughed as I looked out toward that patch of brightness.
"Yes, the sun is very lazy this time of the year." I observed. "Why in a few days time it will barely manage six hours before disappearing once more."
"And then he'll start getting his act together, putting in more time every day." Mal stated.
"Until exhausted at midsummer he starts to slacken again." I added as I leant my arms on the parapet and placed my chin on them.
"It's the same cycle every year." Mal observed. "You think he would have learned by now."
I laughed and pushed away from the parapet.
"This commentary has been fun." I stated.
"Kind of like when we're reviewing bad movies." Mal agreed.
"Yes." I stated. "And now we should make for the kitchen, I have to prepare breakfast and it will be good."
"I can't wait to see you work your magic." Mal said, but I was sure he would get bored and suggested he bring something to read.
We made our way back to the laundry room and I led Mal through to the kitchen.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" He asked as I looked at the clock and noted that it was nearing half past eight, if I timed this right it would be ready for when Tony returned from his early shift.
"Not today." I stated. "I wish to feel my flow in the kitchen once more. Besides, there is little preparation for breakfast, perhaps you can assist me with dinner this evening."
"Ok." Mal replied. "But only because I get to watch you show off." Mal said with a nod.
"I doubt you will last." I stated. "It will be boring for you I'm sure."
"You've been raving about your cooking since I met you, now you tell me it's boring?" He asked sceptically.
"The finished product is superb, but getting to that point is not something I would rate highly on the table of most entertaining." I replied.
"Well I'll be the judge of that." Mal said firmly.
"You will be bored." I predicted before I tied on the apron I had retrieved from the storage cupboard in the laundry and set to work.
I found delight in working in my kitchen once more. There was no other like it in the entire world. Everything was situated in the right place and everything I could possibly need was here, be that ingredients or equipment. I was in my element preparing breakfast for everyone who required human food.
As predicted Mal did grow bored with watching me and he became engrossed in his book, not that I cared, beyond the fact that I had won our bet. He barely spared a glance for Tony when he entered from work and I informed the latter that I would serve breakfast in quarter of an hour. This I had to amend to ten minuets after we made arrangements for the three of us; that is Tony, Billie and I, to do something without other people. Tony suggested a picnic and that Billie would enjoy it if she could assist me in creating our feast. How could I refuse the chance to bond further with my sister doing something I adore?
Tony left and I began to place food into serving dishes.
"Something smells good." Alex observed as he entered and made to steal some bacon.
I hit his hand away.
"Wait until you are seated at the table." I chastised.
"Aw come on Cous, not even a little bit?" He asked.
"No." I said firmly. "And you will wash your hands before eating."
"You really need to lighten up more Liza." Alex stated, before he pilfered a sausage and sped out of the kitchen.
"That is one sausage less for you my boy." I called after him. "And no running in the kitchen."
Mal chuckled and I turned a questioning look upon him.
"You really don't like tomfoolery do you?" He asked.
"In the kitchen it will lead to accidents." I said primly. "Besides, Alex should know better, do you know he is four years older than Mother?"
"Yes." Mal said with a smile. "I met him during the La Push Skirmish."
"Of course." I replied. "I forget you are so much older than I."
"Guess it's easy when we never age." Mal observed.
"Was Alex as childish then?" I inquired.
"Since we were worried about the Chiang-Shih and at battle stations he was focused and I never really got to socialise with the wolves, we were too busy preparing. Essie was gonna try and get us a little more time after the Chiang Shih were taken out, but then we discovered that it was all a diversion to get the strongest members away from Volterra."
"What was it like to fight in a real battle?" I asked.
"It's hard to really remember." Mal observed. "Everything happens so fast and you have to watch all sides. I admit I was scared, being a soft body among all those made of stone. We were outnumbered too, and that was in the back of my mind, that I'd have to kill a lot more of them than they'd have to kill of us. Then that moment, that long drawn out moment where my entire concentration was focused on holding the Fire Twins and I was completely exposed, that moment haunts me a lot in my dreams. Where one thing goes slightly wrong and one of the Yao take advantage."
"I thought it was the Volturi who attacked you in your dreams." I stated, drifting over to the breakfast bar to watch him as he spoke.
"It's nearly always the Volturi, but now and then, on a particularly bad night, it's the Yao." Mal said sadly. "Although I still think of them as the Chiang Shih and I'm that guy in the warehouse video, or worse…"
I had drifted around the breakfast bar and I was now standing next to Mal. I took his hands in mine and held them protectively.
"Please, you must tell me when you have such dreams in future." I stated. "I wish to know what upsets you. You have to let me know so that I may try to relieve you. I will not claim that I can remove the dreams, only you can do that by confronting the thing you fear most."
"Which is?" He asked, giving me a careful look.
"I will have to think on it, but I have a few leads." I replied with a slight smile.
"Maybe you can tell me them later, you're due to serve Chef." He stated.
I was lost for a moment, and then I heard the timer sound. I moved away from Mal and set about finishing everything ready to be sent up in the dumbwaiter. I had to send it up in two lots and Mal was more than happy to unload at the top for me. He even helped me to set the table, taking instruction in what I thought was a decent manner.
Everything was just right with a casual air when Grace and Tony arrived.
"Told you she was cooking." Tony observed.
"Did I say I doubted you?" Grace demanded.
"No, but I wanted to make an entrance." Tony replied with a grin.
Grace chuckled and kissed Tony's cheek before she turned to me and smiled.
"Good morning Sister, and you too Mal." She said brightly. "Is your full name really Malachite?"
"Malachite Llewellyn to be exact, but Malachite is my first name." Mal replied.
"It's pretty." Grace observed. "Can I use it?"
"Use it?" Mal asked with a frown.
"For a character in Darktide." Grace clarified.
"Well as long as he's one of Lady Anna's resistance I give you full creative licence with my name." Mal replied.
"I was thinking of a member of the resistance, but he wasn't quite forming right until I saw you yesterday and I knew you'd make a good model to base him on, then when I found out your name was Malachite I just knew I had to use you." Grace explained.
"I'm flattered." Mal stated.
"You seem to place everyone you know somewhere in the story." I observed.
"It's easier to draw from real life." Grace replied.
"Am I in Darktide?" I asked, wondering if I truly wished to know the answer.
"Yeah." Grace said with a cherishing smile.
"Who am I?" I asked.
"You haven't guessed?" Grace asked, looking perplexed.
I shook my head.
"Desdemona Desiree." Both Tony and Mal stated and they gave each other an embarrassed look over their mutual realisation.
In that moment I resisted the urge to touch Tony's hand and truly know what Mal was thinking. In fact, if I truly wanted, being in such close quarters as Tony I could read Mal's mind if I pushed myself without the need of touching Tony, but I choose not to. Some things were best left un-opened; did Pandora not teach us as much?
"I am Lady Anna's sister? The half vampire who was not passing enough to take a place at Court and was hidden away from view of anyone who would know the shame of the Talastria line after consorting with humans. Lady Anna upon hearing of her sister's plight smuggled her into the palace as a human and promoted her to the rank of companion. You have cast me as Desdemona Desiree, the dhampir in disguise?"
"You've always been my closest girlfriend Liza, even though we were different ends of the school social spectrum, and even before I knew about the supernatural you showed a lot of guts defending me. I wasn't so sure that day if Naomi would have hurt me, but given the fact that she's now serving five consecutive life sentences for taking out a rival drug gang, I'm pretty sure she would have smashed my nose into the sink. And they called Prue psycho." She finished with a snort.
"But Prue did actually harm Naomi." I reminded Grace.
"Yes. But I confronted Prue about that and she told me she hadn't meant to make her bleed, not that much anyway. She just wanted to hurt her a little so she'd stop picking on me." Grace replied.
"So that's alright then?" I demanded, my tone sharper than I'd intended.
"I never said my sister was perfect." Grace protested. "And you didn't exactly object to her methods. You knew before me what she'd done."
"Prue's targets appeared to be those who would victimise others. Never did she show any true cruelty toward the 'under classes' other than to remind them of their place." I reasoned.
"She did that to me almost constantly." Grace observed.
"I remember." I said sadly. "And I am ashamed to say I did nothing to reprimand her."
"But you spoke to me in front of her as if I was a normal human. Prue wouldn't have anyone picking on me, but she hated it when her friends spoke to me. Weird set of principles I know, but that's my sister for you." Grace said with a sigh. "Actually she was pretty pissed that you'd spoke to me, if it wasn't for the fact that she knew you were the key component to replace her once she graduated, and her bitch-dar was quivering in recognition of her own kind, I think she would have told you the finer points of school community."
"Not that I would have paid heed." I stated.
"That's probably why she never bothered." Grace conceded.
I was about to ask after Prue's health when Alex entered the room with the rest of the wolves in tow. They would have scoured the table like locusts had I not warned them to await Mother and Billie, as well as Ebony, Nahuel and their son. Mother and Father soon followed with Billie dressed once more in dungarees. I was in no doubt that this was Billie's favourite clothing of choice and if she were anything like Mother then she would tenaciously hold on to her right to dress how so ever she desired. Of course I dressed how I desired too, my taste merely tended toward the more traditionally feminine.
I was waiting upon Ebony, Nahuel and Maurice.
"I think it's likely to get cold before they get here." Mother stated.
"Then we should begin." I reasoned.
As everyone helped themselves I did wonder as to the absence of my aunt and my cousin. Was it possible Nahuel was keeping them away? Or perhaps they had a tiring night and were making up for it now. It mattered not; it was not a snub for I had not declared my intentions earlier. Perhaps if I had stated to them the night before then Ebony would have known and attended breakfast this morning.
We carried on with light conversation around the breakfast table. We mostly discussed what we planned to do for the day. Most of the wolves were returning home, but Alex would stay behind upon Uncle Hunter's request. This he conveyed in a coded way in case vampires were to overhear. Therefore the wolves would pack this morning ready to leave at midday.
Tony and Grace were also planning on leaving us. Their official reason was that there was no point in them staying here when room was scarce when they had an empty house three miles down the road. The real reason was that they had little chance to be amorous this past week and wanted somewhere they were likely to remain uninterrupted. I buried that knowledge quickly for it was an area Tony and I had agreed not to examine closely once we had come of age.
Mother and Father had some errands to attend to in relation to the Alec situation, although they intended to spend as little time on that as possible since they wished to make up some time with Billie. Billie had missed Mother and Father a lot for she had never known them to go away up to that point and then they were out of her life for a week. I felt guilty for causing my sister such misery as opposed to jealous that she could know Mother and Father in such a way at such a young age. I realised I had been wrong to cause a rift and would have to rectify it.
Everyone wished to know what Mal and I intended for the day and we explained our plan to hunt for we had not done so in some time. Other than that we had no idea. I did extend the invitation silently for Tony and Grace to join us, but Tony declined stating that Grace had to start on with writing once more for she had not done so for the last few days.
Our conversation ended with the meal. I thought that I should wash up since it was my idea to cook breakfast. Mal insisted that he help me once we had reached the kitchen. Therefore together we washed the breakfast dishes before heading out to hunt. I decided to stay close to home. I had only now returned, why would I wish to venture far? Besides, there was ample hunting if you knew where to look.
"You know we're about a week overdue for this." Mal observed as we entered the woods.
"Yes." I replied. "I missed our monthly hunt. That run in the desert was no where near as invigorating."
"Tell me about it." Mal joked.
"Come, we must run out toward the mountains, I know the perfect spot to hunt." I declared and I took his hand and led the way.
We reached the area where I knew the elk generally enjoyed roaming. I let go of Mal's hand as I fell into hunting, hoping to drink my fill. I had barely noticed at home, but now that I was hunting I could tell how truly parched I was.
That first blood was such a delight after so long without blood, other than those two rabbits that Alec provided me. Of course there were the draughts given to us in glasses, but there was something in taking down prey that fed something entirely different within me than merely quenching my parched throat.
Once we had drunk a sufficient amount of blood we did not wish to return immediately. The lightness that blood brought had me in good spirits and I wished to play in the trees with my good friend Mal. A game of chase was the order of this hunt. Mal thought he had chased me enough times and stated that I had to chase him this time. I thought it marvellous.
I gave him to the count of twenty before I began to follow his scent, tracking him easily enough. Besides I knew these trees well and I knew the path someone might take if they were new here and where I could go to cut him off. I took that route now and climbed a tree where I could sit and wait for him.
He reached me but a moment later as I had predicted.
"Mal." I called.
He stopped and looked up at me.
"How did you get ahead of me?" He asked.
"We are in my woods now." I stated. "I have ran in these trees most my life. I know them well. Come sit in this tree, it offers a good view of the valley."
"Let's have a look then." Mal said and climbed the tree to my branch.
He settled beside me and looked around.
"It is an impressive view." He stated.
"Yes. Although I did not ask you up here for the view." I stated.
"You didn't?" He asked, and he suddenly became nervous.
"No. I was thinking that out here we are alone with no one to overhear. Perhaps we do not have to wait to have that conversation…"
"EARTHQUAKE TEST!" Two voices chorused and the tree began to shake.
"Really?" Mal demanded as he took my hand and we leapt from the tree, landing next to Ariana and Marie. "You call that a an earthquake test?" He demanded and the ground began to rumble.
I had this strange notion for a moment that I was seeing the world as connections, that everything had an effect on something else. If I chose to, I could move something in one spot and it would cause a reaction in another.
I shook my head, trying to push the feeling away as Ariana and Marie fell onto their bottoms full of giggles. Mal stopped his power and they climbed to their feet.
"How did you do that?" Ariana asked.
"Through telekinesis." Mal stated, and then frowned. "I thought you'd know that."
"Why?" Ariana asked.
"Isn't your brother telekinetic?" He asked.
"Which one?" Ariana asked. "I have six of them."
"Well the telekinetic one obviously." Mal replied. "I think it was the second one, Rupert is it? I'm sure that's what Harry said."
"I've never known him to move anything with his mind." Ariana said with a shrug. "And you know Dad?"
"Yeah. I met him when I was helping defend La Push." Mal answered. "You were a bump back then."
"You're that Mal?" Ariana gasped.
"Told you." Marie said firmly.
"Yeah, but what are the odds that Liza would meet him in college?" Ariana asked.
"Whatever, it's good." Marie observed.
"So did you really create a force field around the hotel?" Ariana asked.
"Yeah." Mal replied.
"Were you scared?" Marie asked.
"More that I wouldn't be able to protect everyone." Mal stated. "I was up on the roof and Edward had my back, I just had to make sure I kept the bubble up. What I wouldn't give to have had Liza with me back then. I could have used the boost."
"But she wasn't even a bump then." Ariana stated in a pointed way and I was sure she was watching his reaction.
"Ah but then we're dhampir bach, it's not our fault if you regular old humans are slow off the mark." He replied with a grin.
Ariana screwed up her nose while Marie laughed.
"Goes to show how old you are Mal." Marie stated. "You probably looked exactly the same back then as you do now, but I wasn't even a twinkle in my daddy's eye. Neither was Liza come to think of it."
"No. But within two months of that time I was born." I stated. "And within eight years I was fully grown. Technically I have been an adult for the past ten years. It is only through a sense of decorum that I have abstained from anything that may be considered too adult, but I am truly eighteen now and ready to embrace the adulthood I have tried to ignore for so long. And I plan to do that with whomsoever I please, whether he be eighteen, five hundred, over a thousand, or was sixteen when I was born, it matters not if I love him and he loves me in return. Is that not what we all seek? A true mate to provide us with security and undying love?"
Ariana was watching me carefully while Marie giggled.
"Mal, we're gonna steal Liza for the next half hour. You can have her back at twelve, but right now we got some much needed girl talk to get through." Ariana said as her and Marie placed their arms about my shoulders and began to lead me away before Mal could respond. "And we'll know if you're listening in."
They led me back toward Tregarran, but stopped at a fallen tree where they made me sit upon the trunk, both of them towering either side of me even when we sat. Time was we were all around the same size, but that had been when Ariana and Marie were ten and nine respectively.
"So Mal?" Ariana began.
"What about him?" I asked as I decided to be difficult.
"He kinda looks like Simon." Marie stated.
"He does not!" I said vehemently.
"We meant in the brown hair, green eyes kinda way. You know? Your type." Ariana said with a wink.
"I do not have a type." I protested.
"In the guys that you really like you do." Marie stated. "Look at Simon, and Alec, I bet he used to have green eyes."
"They were blue." I stated with a triumphant grin.
"How do you know?" Ariana questioned.
"I once asked Jane out of curiosity. Although admittedly she said that her eyes were summer blue whilst Alec's could be mistaken for green in the right light." I admitted grudgingly.
"See." Marie stated.
"Yes. But what of Kai and Jerome and Greg?" I demanded.
"Well Kai you dated out of pity." Ariana observed, "And I don't know about those other two, but I bet you were only with them for the warmth."
I said nothing.
"And that guy that got killed, Malcolm right? Well we saw pictures of him on the news and what do you know, brown hair and green eyes." Ariana continued.
"I mistook Malcolm for Malachite, it was easy enough to do given my drunken state when Mal first aided me. I did not truly like Malcolm, it was misplaced affection for Mal."
"Then you admit it." Ariana said triumphantly. "You like Mal."
"Of course I like Mal." I admitted. "I may have known him three months, but I consider him a dear friend. He has proven his friendship time and again."
"Yeah, but you want him as more than a friend." Marie stated.
I shook my head.
"Don't go shy on us Liza." Ariana said as she wrapped her arm around my back.
"You know you can trust us." Marie said as she wrapped her arm around me too.
"Are we not sisters?" Ariana prompted.
"Granted. But what has this to do with Mal?" I asked stubbornly.
"We just want you to admit you fancy him and we can agree with you that he's so handsome and charming and funny." Marie said with a grin.
"And you're so lucky because he is absolutely besotted with you." Ariana added.
"He is not." I said with a shake of my head.
"Liza, how many guys would go through all he's gone through over the last couple of days if he wasn't completely in love with the girl in question?" Ariana asked in a serious voice.
"A decent one who knows what is right." I said firmly.
"Well I guess he would have rescued either of us, but he wouldn't have been all hovery and protective afterwards like he is with you." Ariana stated.
"He is not hovery and protective, he merely knows no one here." I insisted.
"So we were mistaken when he was talking with Alex as if they'd met before and wasn't he…am I getting this wrong now?" Ariana said, feigning forgetfulness. "Were all them stories I heard about your parents raising some dhampir named Malachite false, or is it a case of mistaken identity? Are there two half vamps out there called Malachite?"
"No." I said moodily. "But he feels guilty for leaving Volterra when Mother was trapped as Esther-Marie. He feels he should have stayed there and supported Father at the very least. But Father has always been understanding of Mal's reason for leaving, and I have heard him admit that had he not been imprinted to Mother he would have left Volterra himself rather than suffer the sight of her as an unfeeling block of ice."
"Have you told Mal this?" Marie asked with concern.
"Yes. But it does not stop him feeling guilty." I replied.
"Maybe he needs to talk to Tobias and Essie alone." Marie conceded.
"I think he does but I fear that if they talk they may…" I began, but cut the sentence short for fear of saying too much.
"May what?" Ariana prompted.
"That they may question his interest in me and it will spook him and he will back away." I stated.
"So you do wanna be with him." Ariana said with a grin.
"Like you have no idea." I gasped and decided that there was no use keeping anything from Marie and Ariana, they had ways of making me talk, mostly because they are my oldest friends.
Ariana and Marie giggled as they drew closer to me.
"Have you…you done anything with him?" Marie asked conspiratorially.
"Only in my dreams." I said wistfully. "But they are intense. I had this one that was so real that in the morning I felt, well what I should imagine I would feel if I had been…" I trailed off into giggles too.
"Wow." Ariana observed. "So have you even kissed him?"
"On a few occasions." I stated. "When I was drunk and another time when I had been drinking bear's blood. And when we were running from Alec."
"And how did he react?" Marie prompted.
"He always responds, then pulls away. He never wishes to follow through." I explained sadly.
"Why?" Ariana asked. "I mean he clearly has the hots for you, why does he pull away?"
"I have no idea." I said glumly.
"He doesn't give you an explanation?" Marie asked with a frown.
"Oh he has plenty of those." I said sourly. "Mostly to do with me not being in my right frame of mind. As if it is some great impossibility that I could find him attractive in any way."
"Have you called his bluff?" Ariana asked.
"Call his bluff?" I questioned.
"Have you tried kissing him when you're sober?" Ariana clarified.
"Or just tell him how you feel?" Marie suggested.
"And open myself up to rejection when I am unable to cope with such a thing?" I demanded.
"You really need to get over this whole rejection thing." Ariana stated. "You know that people won't always leave you. Have we ever given up on you?"
I shook my head.
"Then we'll be here if you need someone to talk to." She said firmly.
"I was about to have a frank discussion before you shook the tree." I admitted. "I felt bold enough in that moment to broach the subject, but now I think we should wait until we are back at college and away from interruptions."
"I guess that's a start." Ariana conceded.
"Just make sure there's no way he can claim you're not in your right mind." Marie advised.
"I will." I assured them. "But what if they are excuses instead of explanations?"
"I think you have to think about this as if you were him." Ariana stated.
"In what way?" I asked with a frown.
"Well for one thing you're the teenage daughter of his oldest friends." Ariana stated.
"And you can be contrary if you're feeling forced into something. You'll even go against whatever you really want just to prove otherwise." Marie stated, trying not to sound judgmental about my failing.
"I know. I am difficult. Everybody likes to remind me of that particular fact." I remarked.
"Ariana? Marie? Where the hell are you?" Twain's voice drifted toward us from the direction of the house.
"Great. The mistress calls." Ariana said sourly.
"We have to go before Twain gets all on our case. She is such a hardliner when it comes to disciplining us." Marie complained.
"You wanna walk back with us?" Ariana offered.
"I will come with you to see you all off." I stated as I rose to my feet.
I ran back to the house with Ariana and Marie. I was somewhat dismayed to learn that Tony and Grace had already gone without saying goodbye. That made me somewhat sad to think that he hadn't thought to do so, or that I hadn't felt him leave. It added to the sadness I felt in saying goodbye to the wolves. I wished they could remain longer and the members of the guard leave instead.
As I waved the wolves away I felt a presence beside me, I knew it was not Mother or Father for they had taken Billie out for the day. I looked to my side and up into Alex' face.
"Do you resent the fact that you must stay here alone?" I asked.
"As long as I can find something to do I don't care." He stated. "Why aren't you with Mal?"
"Ariana and Marie wished to talk to me, he is…" I began.
"I'm here." He said, from behind me, cutting off my sentence.
"Mal." I said happily and I turned to hug him, "I was about to come find you."
"Well the girls said they had to leave at twelve and when I checked my watch I figured they'd gone." He stated.
"They have." I assured him.
"So…can I ask what they wanted?" He asked carefully.
"It is girl business and I am bound by the sisterhood never to divulge a word." I replied in sombre tones.
"Believe me Cous you don't want to go there." Alex said with a chuckle. "The sisterhood will tear you apart."
I giggled as I pulled away from Mal and looked to Alex.
"It sounds as if that is something you learned from experience Cousin." I stated.
"Yep." Alex replied with a grin. "I've dated enough women to know you don't try to get in on her convos with her girlfriends."
"I guess I'll have to remember that but." Mal stated. "Next time I'm dating like."
"Yeah." Alex replied as his eyes travelled between Mal and I and there was a thoughtful look on his face.
"Are you gentlemen hungry?" I asked. "If you are then I shall make us some lunch. I doubt Ebony and Nahuel will wish to eat with us."
"Yeah. Nahuel isn't too keen on us wolves." Alex stated as we walked around the house to enter through the kitchen.
"Why not?" I asked.
"He's got extra protective since Maurice was born. I don't think it helped that Ebony hopped on a plane to come here on her own because she wanted a good doctor who'd dealt with lots of half vamp deliveries and he wanted her to stay with his family." Alex explained.
"Ebony did the right thing." I stated.
"Yeah, anyone can see that. I think that maybe he's realised that and is feeling guilty so he's making up for it by being extra protective." Alex suggested.
"And thus perceiving everyone as a threat?" I asked.
"Yeah."
I sighed at the thought of the absurdity of it.
"You think he'd be ok with the wolves since you're all protectors." Mal remarked.
Alex shrugged and I lead the way into the kitchen.
"Why don't you both take a seat while I cook." I said with a smile. "Or prepare sandwiches at least. We may have a proper meal this evening when Mother and Billie are here."
The boys agreed and sat at the breakfast bar whilst I set about preparing some sandwiches along with potato chips and soda. I placed everything upon the breakfast bar and pulled a stool beneath the bar to sit on the opposite side to the boys.
We began our lunch.
"Oh my god Liza. These are as good as Auntie Ness' sandwiches." Alex observed.
"Thank you." I replied.
"These are really good sandwiches." Mal agreed. "I can see why you didn't think much of that shop bought stuff. If I could make sandwiches like this I'd open a store and make lots of money out of it."
"Perhaps I will ask Bob if I can sell from his store during the summer." I said with a smile.
"He'd do it for a cut of the prophet." Alex stated.
"Maybe you can put a good word in with Estelle who can have a word with Eloise to suggest it to Bob." I mused.
"Or you could just asked Tony to put in a word for you." Alex countered.
"I could do that." I conceded.
We finished the sandwiches and I made to stand up.
"No." Mal said, indicating for me to sit back down. "You made the food we should do the dishes. Isn't that the rules of the kitchen?"
"Yes they are." I stated, regretting having said that.
"Don't look so worried. Tobias taught me how to wash dishes, I'm sure they'll be up to your standard." Mal stated.
"Of course you will." I said feeling an inexplicable sense of reassurance.
"You've mellowed in your old age." Alex observed. "I remember when you were one, you threw me out of my own kitchen because you didn't think I was doing the dishes correctly."
"Yes, because you were doing them wrong." I stated. "I had to educate you and do you not agree your dishes are a lot more satisfactory than before?"
"Yeah." Alex said with a laugh. "You taught me real good kid."
I smiled at him.
I turned to watch Mal as he began to run water into the sink. I watched as he washed everything in the right order. His arms were covered almost up to the elbow in water and suds and I could imagine running my hand over his arm, feeling the cling of his hairs as I followed the line into the sink to entwine my fingers around his own.
Alex laughed, he tried to suppress it, but it caught my attention and I turned to him with a look.
"I just realised this is your idea of pornography." He stated in Quileute.
I gave him a cold look and turned back to Mal.
"Go on. Admit it. You were imagining helping him." Alex continued, still in Quileute.
"No. I was remembering the poor job you did." I stated tightly.
"I don't think so. Not with the way you were watching him." Alex insisted.
"Can I point out two other things Tobias taught me?" Mal asked, not turning away from the sink. "The first is that it's rude to exclude someone from a conversation by speaking a language they can't understand when they're in earshot. The second thing is that him and Essie taught me how to speak fluent Quileute."
I felt my cheeks burn at what Mal would have heard, but also felt like laughing because he had silenced Alex in such a manner. In a sense I wished Alex had said something compromising about himself rather than me, but I suppose he was sufficiently chastised by his rudeness.
"You might want to check what languages people speak before you talk about them." Mal observed.
"So you know English and Quileute?" Alex asked.
Mal nodded.
"Damn. That's all I know." Alex said with feigned regret. "Honestly Mal, I only did it cause I didn't want to embarrass Liza."
"Perhaps it would have been better if you'd waited until I wasn't around to tease her." Mal said. "And whatever Liza finds alluring don't you think that's her business?"
"Yeah." Alex said in a thoughtful way.
There was an awkward moment where I looked between both men; I had to do something to relieve the tension here.
"I was thinking of swimming this afternoon." I stated. "Would either of you care to join me?"
They both turned to look at me.
"Sounds fun." Mal stated. "Our potholing trip aside I haven't been swimming in ages."
"Tony did say it was the best place to hang in this house." Alex observed.
"Then we are agreed?" I prompted. "We will swim."
"Yeah bach." Mal agreed.
"You can count me in Cous." Alex declared.
"Then I will go and fetch my costume." I stated as I rose to my feet. "I will meet you both at the pool."
I nodded my head once and left the kitchen. I was aware that Mal was following me and I turned to him.
"Unless you want me to go skinny dipping you're going to have to supply me with some trunks." He stated.
"Oh. I wonder if Uncle Jasper has some, he is around your size." I considered. "Let us go check the attic, the family have spare clothing stored there."
"Thanks." He said as I took his hand and led him up the stairs.
"Of course I had no intention of going to the attics, therefore I used the backstairs. We are going to have to alight on the first floor and take one of the other stairs to the attic. The south stairs I think for the storeroom I want is close to there." I stated as we reached the first floor and I led him along both corridors to the south staircase. "Then we can traverse the attic corridor to the north staircase and come out on the first floor close to my room. We can change there, although we will have to alternate with the bathroom."
"Or you could use the bathroom and I use your main room and you knock the door before you emerge just to make sure I'm decent." Mal suggested.
"I suppose it will save time." I conceded as we reached the attic. "It is this one if I am not mistaken." I stated as I opened the second door to reveal a room filled with wardrobes and drawers.
I found the right drawer and opened it. It was full of new unopened packs of swimming costume meant for Uncle Jasper. Auntie Alice always bought him new whenever they came here, but he never wore them all.
"Take your pick." I said, indicating the selection.
"That is a lot of trunks." Mal observed.
"Take a few if you wish, Uncle Jasper will not miss them." I assured him.
"I'll just take one pair for now." He stated as he looked through the selection and pulled out a pair of long black ones.
It was perverse that I wished he had chosen the Speedos whilst I felt impressed by his conservative choice. It was confusion that I would not think of at present for I could feel my mind venturing toward that thought that perhaps I should have allowed him to skinny dip and I could have joined him. Highly improper when Alex would be joining us and the house was full of guests regardless.
This was something I reminded myself constantly as we made our way down to the first floor and into my bedroom. I dug out one of my costumes, the black one that was a similar match to the costume Mal had chosen. It was a two-piece, something I usually reserved for the beach, but I felt like wearing it today. Along with the accompanying sarong as opposed to the cotton dresses I normally wore down to the pool.
I slipped into the bathroom and changed, while Mal stayed in my room to change. I pulled on my costume, spent a minuet ensuring the sarong sat just right and looked in the mirror to pull my curls into shape somewhat. It would be another change to my normal pool habits; I would not wear my swimming cap.
I knocked upon the bathroom door when I was ready, then thought of how I wished to keep my costume as a surprise. I pulled down the dressing gown I kept on the back of the door and pulled it on and tied the cord in the time it took Mal to inform me that he was decent.
I pulled the door open, half wishing that he had bent the truth somewhat and he was waiting in bed for me. He was dressed in his costume and t-shirt; I tried to think of our afternoon of swimming and how divine that would be.
We went down to the pool where Alex was already swimming lengths while he waited. Mal pulled off his t-shirt and I pulled the dressing gown from around me, placing it on one of the loungers as well as my sarong. I knew that Mal was trying to look at me whilst not doing so. I smiled as I checked Alex wasn't this end of the pool before I flittered to the side, launched myself into the air, and turned circles before I dove into the pool.
I surfaced to find that Mal was still on the side and he clapped.
"I'll give that a ten." He stated.
I grinned as I trod water.
"Can you match me?" I called.
"I can try." Mal replied as Alex stopped beside me.
Mal dove into the pool and surfaced before me.
"I will give you a ten for now." I stated. "It may fall when I know your ability better, but for now it is a ten."
"A perfect ten from the perfection queen, that's gotta make you proud man?" Alex observed.
"As punch but, proud as punch." Mal observed with a grin.
I giggled at his words.
"Well diving aside, shall we race?" I suggested.
I spent a wonderful afternoon with Mal and Alex. We messed about in the pool and it was delightful to feel as a child once more. I would have stayed there for an eternity, but it was inevitable that we had to leave.
Father was preparing dinner that night and so I spent some time in the shower whilst Mal used Tony's bathroom. I dressed more casually this night and so did Mal.
Dinner was rather subdued from the previous night, our loss of guests was apparent. Even Billie seemed subdued and I wondered if she missed Tony and Grace, although I was unsure how to pose the question without these feelings becoming realised to her if they were not already apparent.
Once dinner was complete Mal and I retired for the night. He did suggest that he use one of the other rooms, but I couldn't bear the thought of sleeping apart from him when Tony had only just left. There was no harm in Mal's sharing a bed with me and I managed to convince him of this by the time we settled down to sleep.
With Mal near, Tony's absence was minor to what it would have been had I been sleeping alone this night. It was only as I was drifting to sleep that I realised I had paid very little thought to Alec for the entirety of the day. I had not even questioned anyone on when he was likely to be put on trial.
As I drifted to sleep I promised myself that would be the first thing I would enquire about upon the morrow.
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