Thanks so much for the encouraging reviews. I hope the twist in the last chapter wasn't too rushed; I needed a reason for them to leave for Boston early that still fit into the story. I have also added pictures of the outfits that Bella and Alice wear in this story, to give you an idea of what their new personalities are like. Alice has a vintage/punk style; not afraid to take fashion risks, and she loves pink while Bella is pretty type of vintage; always wearing lace or pearls or pairing lace with ripped jeans. Also have a look at the picture of Alice's hair and make-up in my profile.
The song that is at the end of this chapter is Gehenna by Slipknot. There is also an important authors note at the end of this chapter.
Alice refuses to tell me what is going on until we are safely in the back of the luxury sedan that she called on her speed dial. After packing in a blur and a mysterious call made to the school excusing us, Alice took extra precautions in keeping me hidden until the car arrived to take us to the airport.
Almost as soon as the car door is closed she smiles warily, "I bet you want to know what all this has been about?".
"No shit Alice!".
She laughs through her tight smile, "I'm sorry, ill explain everything right now if you want. I just don't know how to start".
I flick my finger up to the driver, who can hear everything we are saying and who will hear what Alice is about to tell me, "What about him?".
She waves her hand dismissively, "Jack is a friend of Nicola's, it's alright".
"Let me guess, this is going to be huge?".
She nods and takes a deep breath, "Remember when I said that I have been to four boarding schools but the last wasn't my fault? Well it wasn't my fault because I was sent away for my own protection. Someone was trying to kill me".
I let it sink in. Someone tried to kill my best friend. Someone tried to kill Alice. Who could ever even think about doing that? She may look a little tough on the outside but she is the sweetest most loyal person I have ever met. I feel angry and upset that it never occurred to me that Alice has been through much more than I thought. It makes me admire her still bubbly personality even more.
"I know it's a little... out there... but there's more".
I realize that she is waiting for my spoken reaction to gage how she should go about explaining the rest, "I'm so sorry Alice".
"It's funny but I don't hate the guy, it's kind-of impossible when you look at the whole picture. See... he couldn't help it, and neither can Blair as much as she probably hates you already".
I gasp, "Wait, no...no...no, you can't possibly be suggesting that Blair wanted to kill me?".
She nods again, "I am sure it's the same thing, I ran it by Nicola when you first told me about Blair and she told me to keep an eye out for certain signs that she had her calling".
"Wait, what?", it's as if Alice is speaking in riddles. Sure, speaking to ghosts isn't exactly considered normal but why does there have to be a whole whack of other random crap that shouldn't be real?
She looks apprehensive but continues, "I guess you could say, like we are born mediums, they are born medium hunters. And just like we can't help what we are they can't either".
"So we have to constantly watch our backs? What are they everywhere?", I can hardly breath thinking that if Alice weren't there I probably wouldn't be alive right now. Once again she has saved my life.
She shakes her head, "There is only one Hunter for every Medium. Sometimes a Medium never finds their Hunter, if you think of all the people in the world it's pretty rare. Sometimes it happens though, and it's very serious", her hand goes to her chest and she pulls out a necklace that I never see her without. The round pendant is a strange mixture of purple and gold, hanging on a black cord, "This saved my life when my Hunter found me".
"How? did Nicola make it?", I take a guess.
"Yeah she did. It's one way she protects us, she is the only one that can break a connection between a Medium and a Hunter, that was her calling".
"Is it like a charm?".
"Not really, the connection is physical and spiritual, this is just the spiritual part and it's in the necklace. I don't have to wear it all the time, I just feel safer having it close. Most Mediums do. I suppose it's also the shock of losing that other half".
"How can you miss someone that tried to kill you?", I say bluntly.
She laughs a little "I know it sounds strange. And it's not like I really miss him, I hate him too for what he tried to do but it's like...having an evil twin to put it lightly. A twin but your not related at all".
"I'm sorry this is all just so hard to believe. Maybe I will feel differently someday, but for now Blair will still be on my blackest blacklist".
She nods, "Each connection is different. I hated Mark at first and I was terrified of him but Nicola made me see that he was also just a normal guy with a normal life and it was just the way things were. Now that I know what Blair is to you I will try to get Nicola to come sooner, to break your connection".
A shiver runs up my spine when I recall what Alice said only a moment ago; the connection is both physical and spiritual, "Thanks Alice", I try to steady my voice but it doesn't fool her.
"It's alright to be afraid, Bella. It kinda makes sense if you think about it, not afraid of a ghost but afraid of your mortal enemy".
I laugh, "That about sums it up".
"Your safe now Bella, you can stay at my place for as long as you need to. Nicola has most likely already phoned my Dad with some story that will buy us some extra time, and by then she will be back and she will set things right".
Jack suddenly speaks up, I almost forgot that he was there,"We are at the airport ladies".
"Thanks so much for coming on such short notice, Jack".
"It was no problem Alice, take care Bella".
"Thanks", I say warmly, he makes me think of a kindly uncle.
"Mary gave these to me on the way out to give to you. It will be a long flight. Now go or you will be late", he hands Alice a paper bag with something sweet smelling inside, and she hugs him as best as she can, from the backseat.
"Bye Jack and thanks again!", Alice chirps.
-
Alice's family is actually quite normal, as far as families go. Her father is a doctor at the local hospital with prematurely grey hair and a calm but assured attitude, and her brother is like a loyal teddy bear with muscles; he literally hugged me the second I was in the door.
It's just after 7:00 pm the next day and Alice and I are getting ready to meet her boyfriend Jasper, her brother, and their band mate Edward at a club where they play regularly. We arrived in Boston too late and too tired to go out yesterday, and they happened to have a gig tonight.
"How do I look Bella? I want look nice for Jasper, since I we haven't seen each other in a few months".
I pause my make-up application to look over at her. She is wearing a black layered miniskirt, a pink sleeveless top that is loose around the bust but tight along her flat stomach, black fishnets and black leather pumps, we well as her usual black nail polish and spiked, pink streaked hair. I can tell she went through an extra effort on her make-up as well, and she looks stunning in a vintage-punk twist sort of way, "He won't believe his eyes, Alice".
She smiles in thanks, "You look amazing too Bella. Maybe you will find someone there to have a little fun with while your here", she winks.
I have traded in my usual ripped jeans for a short black dress with a transparent uneven hem, ruffled bust line and cap sleeves, and a cutout back with the strings that hang down. My favorite shoes made Alice spazz out for an hour straight, when I unpacked them; with their little leather straps and buckles, a bow with tiny diamonds and a pearl string. I also have my favorite double string of pearls around my neck to complete my look.
"I just want to see this band you have been talking about almost non-stop", I grin and finish the last touches on my make-up.
"Then let's go, I promise we'll have fun".
We take her car, an old black mustang convertible, and arrive at the club at quarter past seven, we walk right past the bouncer and into the packed club. I instantly look up to the stage to see what band is playing.
She leans in close so I can hear her over the loud music and voices, "Their slot isn't for a few more minutes at least, they'll be in the back prepping. Why don't we get a drink and find a seat?". She confidently walks across the room and over to the bar, ordering two cokes and catching the attention of almost every guy near her. I only shake my head and smile; this is Alice in her element.
We find seats near the stage and listen to the last few minutes of the band that is currently playing. I cringe as the lead singer starts to scream out almost all of the words, it makes no sense at all, and you can tell they aren't into the song, that they don't feel like they have a part in it, that the lyrics match; the lead sings the words like they are just words. I love hardcore rock bands, but it's the lyrics and a voice full of emotion that make the song unforgettable. The song finally ends and I breath out in relief; I trust Alice's taste in music but anything has to be better than that. Emmett appears on the stage from a side door with his guitar, and goes to stand on the left of the stage, then a tall lean guy with floppy blond hair goes to the drum set. He immediately makes eye contact with Alice and a quick look at her face confirms that it's Jasper.
My breath catches in my throat as Edward comes out and jumps up onto the stage. He is better looking than I could have ever imagined with his tight fitting faded, ripped jeans, leather belt with chains hanging down in loops, and a worn tight fitting leather jacket with metal spikes on the wrists. The features that I notice the most though, are his soft green eyes and his messy bronze hair; I have to physically stop myself from running up and putting my hand through it. He's a stranger! I tell myself, and I find I have to hold onto the table for support when he starts to speak, in a voice so soft and so calming it sounds like velvet. The room goes unusually quiet, accept for the occasional cheer; apparently they are the highlight of the night.
"Welcome Boston! Tonight we will be singing a brand new song. We call it Gehenna", cheers erupt throughout the room but are quickly silenced when Edward takes the microphone out of it's stand. He starts to sing and I can hardly believe my ears.
Do you believe? Do you fade like a dream?
Let me hear you BREATHE
Let me watch as you sleep
The Sparrow's Eyes… Promises shift into judgments
I cannot deny that you were designed for my punishments
His voice is almost indescribable, it's low and mesmerizing and almost taunting. I feel like I am drawn into his voice and the way he says the words. He looks relaxed and carefree, and really into the words and the song. His voice seems to touch my soul in a way that I never thought a voice could.
The Blood and The Body - Control the cut so it's seamless
Show me your heart - Show me the way to complete this
TETHERED / to a scene I / TREASURE / can you help me?
I / SEVER/ god it's perfect, it's / NEVER / really perfect
Now… I can finally be myself
Cuz I don't want to be myself
Emmett adds his voice to parts of this verse, and I can't believe the change. I can see now that to anyone else, Emmett probably looks like someone you would not want to piss off. He also plays the guitar better than I have ever seen anyone play.
FREE MY SEVERED HEART, GIVE ME YOU - I WANT IT
(I don't want to be myself)
Jasper's drumming never skips a beat, even though he never takes his eyes off of Alice. He even gets into the song so much he starts to drum while standing up, but his eyes still never leave Alice's.
I cannot maintain a semblance of Normal anymore
I'd rather feel pain than try to fit in with you anymore
I'll throw it all away, like everybody else
I can finally be myself
Cuz I don't want to be myself
FREE MY SEVERED HEART, GIVE ME YOU - I WANT IT
(I don't want to be myself)
The room erupts into cheers when the song is over. He grins crookedly and suddenly looks straight into my eyes. My heart takes a involuntary leap.
-
I don't have a name for their band yet. If you have any ideas then I would be very grateful if you suggested them. I am basing their band on a few songs from Slipknot's newest CD and a few from Muse (I'll add the Muse songs later). Their style is different than Slipknot's previous CD's so it's very important not to think that Edward, Emmett and Jasper are a screamo band. This song also has a lot of guitar and drums throughout for Emmett and Jasper. It was a close call between Gehenna and Dead Memories but Edward's voice is going to be exactly like in Genenna, so I highly suggest you listen to the song to get an idea about his singing style. Emmett sings the capitalized parts of the lyrics. I have also based their band on Snuff, 'Till We Die and Dead Memories, by Slipknot. Just think of them as a hard rock/alternative band.
I hope you liked the chapter and decide to leave a review, I have been wanting to write this chapter since I started this story.