Chapter 5- Thrall
"Why hasn't she contacted us yet?" A very a disturbed Seth asked pacing back and forth in front of me in our living room.
"I don't know Seth." I admitted wondering the same thing silently to myself. It had been a week almost since Mom and Dad accompanied her to London before continuing to their own connections. They would be returning in a few days, the possibility of them returning before her was becoming more and more likely as the days went on.
"I should have went with her." Seth groaned to himself sitting down next to Jacob covering his hands with his face. That only lasted a moment before he was back up pacing again.
"You need to calm down bro." Jake suggested watching him pace back and forth with his eyes.
"No I shouldn't. If Nessie was off facing those guys you would be pacing too. No wrong she wouldn't have gone without you."
Jacob knew he was right but still tried anyway. "That's different."
"How Jacob, how."
Jacob hesitated for only a second before giving a strong, " Asima can protect herself. Ness is fragile." His eyes flashed to me as if he were in trouble. "I mean-"
"I know what you mean Jake you don't have to correct it. Asima is stronger than all of us. She's survived so much that I can't see anything ever happening to her." I continued.
"I just wish she would call or something." Seth sighed sitting again.
"I know dear, but she will come home. Alice is looking into it as much as she can. Asima is safe, they only require her help." I repeated Alice's words exactly for the eighth time.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I just hate being away from her." He sighed, his eyes moistened with frustration.
I motioned for Jacob to move off the couch so that I could scoot closer to him. I wrapped my arm around him and whispered in his ear. "She is fine and she misses you as much as you miss her. You went through hell to get her, so you won't lose her. Don't worry." I promised. I touched his neck showing him the way that she looked at him, remembering her smell, her laugh making him smile too, almost without thought.
"Thank you." He sighed wiping his eyes.
"Would you like to stay here tonight?" I offered still worried about him.
"No, Leah is with Ciyan and Phillip until Jabril is done with his patrols. He should be done any minute now, so I should go back so she can leave." He thought aloud.
Jake saw him out while I straightened up the kitchen. When the door was shut he was behind me. "That was nice of you."
"That's my best friend's husband, and my husband's best friend. Why wouldn't I be anything less."
"No, it's who you are. Angelic, you can't help it." He grinned down at me putting his strong arms around me.
I wrapped mine around his neck. "Well I have to help the way I can, being fragile and all." I sighed rolling my eyes.
He groaned, "You knew what I meant baby. I didn't mean to imply that you can't care for yourself, but Asima just has been surviving long before us, and she'll be fine."
"Uh huh." I said flatly going back to the dishes.
"Don't be that way Nessie." He groaned again wrapping his arms around me from behind. He kissed the back of my neck working his way down towards my shoulder. My breathing quivered as I dropped the dish back into the sink. He nibbled on my shoulder blade before turning me around. His eyes, clear windows into his appetite for me. He kissed my lips setting off a chain reaction of desire that couldn't be stopped even if I wanted to. He lifted me effortlessly onto the counter and I only broke our kiss long enough to pull his t-shirt over his head. I locked my legs around him firmly as he pulled my tank top over my head.
"Tell me you're mine." He whispered in a strong gasp against my neck, breaking our kiss for air again.
"Forever." I answered only able to get the one coherent word out my mouth before he crushed his lips into mine.
"I'll be back in a few hours Alice." I promised leaving the house. She was killing me with planning this party.
"Let me go with you." She insisted following behind me, "I have to make sure you get the right thing."
"I think I am capable of getting my own party dress Alice." I smiled picking up speed trying to get away from my tiny aunt. "Besides shouldn't you be making sure the rest of the city is prepared for this party."
She stopped her walk, "You have a point there."
I started running for the gates before she could change her mind. I needed away from all of this planning, a break from madness, but most of all I needed to shop. I was heading to Cairo for a few hour, hoping to get all three of those things. "By Alice." I called behind me jumping the gates to Jennah.
"Okay, but no purple she called behind me"
I made the mental note, but I didn't stop running. I was in Cairo before noon searching through the stores, looking for the perfect dress. It didn't take me more than 30 minutes to find it. It was satin, with blue pleats, strapless, slightly longer than a baby doll. I bought it without thinking twice about it. I decided that since I was completely done with everything that I needed to I could spend the free time by myself. There was a small oasis outside of Fanara that no one to my knowledge knew existed. I would go there, read the new book I brought before heading home.
As soon as I reached my scared spot of privacy I took my shoes off burying my toes into the warm sand. I opened by book and let myself melt into the world Stieg Larsson created. I was just getting to Salander's trial when I once again had the feeling that I was being watched.
I looked over the edge of my hardcover across the small body of water, nothing. I looked at my surroundings as I felt the pull of someone calling, only I heard no one call my name. I stood up and walked into the water. I have to find whatever this is. I thought to myself, knowing that I wasn't crazy this time. I walked farther out into the water, trying to see more on the other side. Ignoring the bottom of my sundress, now soaked and floating around my waist.
My eyes strained father across the water and into the dessert trying to see, and then I instantly froze a pair of soft arms wrapping around my waist. "I've waited for you." The drawlingly raspy voice whispered in my hear. His warm breath on the nape of my neck making me jump.
I turned around quickly, angrily, to face my now visible stalker. "Who do you think you-"
He put his hands on my shoulders, locking me into place. I could have gotten out but I stopped myself. I stopped for two reasons, one he was human. Absolutely human. Second was his appearance. His back hair was wild, his grey eyes almost completely arcane by his bangs. His face held a shadowed facial hair. Like he hadn't shaved in a few days. His skin, a smooth ivory color. He was absolutely…arresting. That was the only word I could think of, arresting.
When he realized I was stunned into silence, my breathing now slightly heavier. He flashed a smile at me, his gaze locking into me father. "Wh-who are you?" I asked trying to process thoughts.
"Zach" he said simply still staring into me. That smile.
"You're the one that's been following me." I accused trying to push anger into my voice. It didn't really work.
"No not following, waiting." He stated again, a sense of cockiness in his words.
"Waiting, waiting for what?" I asked finally gathering enough mental strength to pull away from him. I walked backwards farther into the water, now at my torso.
"You." He stated as if it were absolutely obvious. "You're mine." his body walked closer too, filling the distance that I created between us.
"I'm married." I gritted through my teeth as I backed up slightly father.
"That doesn't matter." He said once again completely sure of himself. That damn smile. "You're still mine, I've waited for someone like you, and you're perfect."
"You don't even know me." I sighed walking to my left trying to pass him so I could get out of this oasis and go home. He moved the step as quick as I did.
"I know that you're not human." he stated once again simply, raising a coal black eyebrow.
"I am human." I said quickly.
"Really?" He asked amused. I tried to go right and he grabbed my shoulders again this time pulling me closer.
He turned me around and I let him face me away from him. Why wasn't I fighting, why couldn't I?
He rubbed his nose down the back of my neck inhaling as he went down. "You don't smell human."
I was silent.
His right hand disappeared under the water, his fingers traced the outside of my thigh slowly with his index finger. "You don't feel human."
I needed to get away, I needed to leave. I knew this. So why wasn't I moving?
His right hand stopped its work on my skin and came up from the water. He pulled the strap of my sundress off of my shoulder. What happened next I wasn't prepared for. His teeth sunk into my marble skin like it was butter. Something flowed in me that I couldn't explain. Whatever it was, slowly coursing thought my veins made me slightly dizzy. That was not human. I thought to myself as I gasped, but only a part of it was from the pain. What was the other feeling? Rapture?
"You don't taste human either." He laughed releasing me. "Much sweeter."
I took what little control I had using inhuman speed to exit the water. He was momentarily startled but laughed again. "Don't run, I won't hurt you." Then his face turned into a more seductive smirk than the one he already had. "Unless you want me to…" He looked me over head to toe, "I think you want me to."
"I don't not." I spat picking up my things to leave.
"Tell me your name." He ordered ignoring my comment.
"Renesmee." I don't understand why I giving him everything so willingly. I need to get away before I give him anything else. I looked at my shoulder blade hastily. I couldn't see it very good but it looked to have stopped bleeding.
"Renesmee," He repeated turning it over in his head as he walked out of the water. His cut off khaki shorts and blue tank top only brought out his eyes more under all of the hair. "I like it. It suits you." He notice my speed as I gathered my things. "What's the rush." He smiled.
"I have to go." I said more for myself than to him. "I need to get back to my husband, and my family." I groaned realizing how wrong I was for even being here. So why couldn't I make myself leave.
"Hey Reenie." He said suddenly a foot in front of my face with a nickname as if he had known me my entire life. "It's ok. Just clear your mind." He suggested brushing the hair out of my face.
"I'm leaving. I don't understand this, but I want know part of it. If you value your existence, stay away, or my family won't be-"
"Shhh" He growled shutting me up. As soon as I was silent his smiled returned. "It's ok. You'll come back." He said certainly. "We're connected now." He added nodding at my shoulder blade.
He looked up at the setting sun and then back at me. "Until next time Reenie."
I ran with my bags and book at full speed, my mind full of questions.
What was he?
What type of hold was that? Whatever it was it wasn't normal.
Where was Alice, wouldn't she see that I was in trouble? That I needed help.
The questions still swarmed my mind as approached the gates of Jennah.
What was I going to do?
What was I going to say?
How would they react?
Surely they would be disappointed in my behavior.
And a simple voice came in my head as clearly as if it were Asima or Dad doing it. Just clear your mind Reenie.
I knew I had to go to visit Alice and take her my dress but I had to make a put stop to my house first. "Baby? You home?" I called into the quiet house. "Rosabella?" I called just to double check. I was alone.
I went straight to the bathroom, surveying my shoulder blade in the mirror. The bleeding had completely stopped, but there was a very evident bite mark. It flushed red underneath bringing out the traces of his teeth more.
I have to hide this, at least until it heals. I would hide it, and it would be gone by morning and no one would be the wiser. I pulled off my sundress and put on a pair of jeans. I couldn't find a shirt that wouldn't expose the mark so I just threw on a tight hoodie rolling up the sleeves. No this wouldn't be weird. They would just think I was cleaning. I always liked to dress down when I cleaned. I grabbed my dress and headed to meet my aunt.
I was started when it wasn't her that opened the door. "Asima!" I shrieked when she hugged me. "When did you get back? What did the Volturi want? Tell me everything" I ordered, my party dress no longer being important.
"We were just getting to that." She smiled.
I looked around and my family was smiling at me waiting to hear her story. I took a seat in Jacob's waiting lap quickly motioning for her to continue.
"Well they pretty much wanted my help. There is something, killing off their guard. At first they thought it was me, but I pretty much spent the next few days working, looking into their futures of every member of the Volturi and the guard trying to find what is was.
I wasn't that successful. The only thing that I could see definite was that they had a fight coming, whoever they are, they're making a bee line straight to Italy pretty much." She answered sitting down on the piano bench.
"Is this something that involves us?" Carlisle asked cautiously.
"No not at all." She scoffed, "I told them what they needed to be ready, that's as far as we go into it. Century of peace remember."
"Well thank goodness for small favors." Esme sighed relieved.
"I agree, we aren't the Volturi, it isn't our job to protect anything." Jasper nodded.
"So you're back now? No more leaving?" I asked skeptically.
"Of course silly." She laughed.
"Let's see the dress Nessie." Rosalie ordered bored with the topic of the Volturi.
I reached into my bag to pull it out when Alice jumped up screaming "NO!"
Everyone stared at her. "Absolutely not, they'll see it the day of your party." She declared stalking towards me grabbing my wrist and pulling me out of Jacob's lap. "Let's go upstairs."
I followed behind her as the rest laughed before going back about there days.
"So everything is set for the party?" Jacob asked when I walked through the front door.
"As far as I know. I just think that everything will be better when the city can go back to normal." I sighed walking into our bedroom.
"You only turn twenty once Nessie." He sighed trying to sooth me.
"You only turn every age once." I corrected.
"Are you ok?" Jacob asked studying my face.
"Of course, I'm just tired. The planning is exhausting. I'm wound so tight it's crazy." I groaned rolling my neck in circles.
He wrapped his arms around me pulling me closer, "Well let me help you relax," he offered kissing me.
He made his way down the base of my neck as I leaned against the dresser. I surrendered to him letting him unzip my hoodie exposing my bare flesh underneath. He started again at my neck working his way down to my collarbone. I exhaled a moan as his hands caressed over my skin.
He put his hands on my shoulders about to push the open hoodie all the way and then the bite mark on my shoulder flashing hot made me painfully aware of its existence and I froze pushing him back. " Not tonight Jacob." I requested quickly zipping myself back up and turning away from him.
"Why? What's wrong?" He asked confused. I never refused him ever.
"I'm just tired ok." I sighed focusing on the contents in the drawer so that I wouldn't have to meet his gaze in the mirror.
I gave up trying to find a t-shirt with sleeves in my own drawer and just grabbed a t-shirt of Jacobs and escaped into the bathroom.
"Nessie, open the door." He requested softly.
I changed my shirt quickly before he decided to come in on his own. I opened it silently and went straight to the bed. Sitting on it bringing my knees to my face.
"What's wrong Nessie?" He asked sitting beside me.
"I'm just tired Jake, that's all." I promised this time telling the truth, almost. I was tired.
"Then we'll go to sleep." He smiled kissing my forehead.
I slid under the covers against his chest, and shut my eyes. It wasn't long before sleep came over me. That night, I dreamed of Zach.