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It took my mind a while to process my newly revealed past. My hidden memories. Was I actually dreaming? Did I actually meet the Cullen, for real? And Will? Was I hallucinating? I felt as though I was living two totally different lives. God, I was indeed having a split personality disorder. One moment I was Arwen, the fragile princess, then the next,I was Olivia Hale, the stubborn ordinary girl, who so happened to be a part of the vampire and shape-shifter family.
I could hear soft chatters around me, and immediately knew who those surrounding me were. Why did I have to face this kind of situation again and again? This was the third time I fainted, with the Cullens gathered around my bed, waiting for me to open my eyes. However, this time, I could hear one additional voice, the person I knew since I was born, or rather since I was in my mother's womb, my twin brother, Alexander.
This time I woke up without any questions swirling in my head. I was a complete different 'me', though I didn't know who I was. Though both Arwen and Olivia were basically the same, Olivia was more like the person I had always wanted to be. She was the person Arwen envied, she was the one Arwen would never have become yet the one Arwen had always dreamed of becoming.
Throughout these few months, I had grown deeply attached to my life as Olivia Hale. So much so that I wished the memories of my past were never returned to me, forever, till the day I die. But the thing was that, death was something that had became evasive ever since I agreed to tie the knot with Jovaic. He who erased my memories, who freed me from my cage, why couldn't he just appear in front of me right now? How I wished he would take back the memories he returned, courtesy of my brother.
Jovaic was my first crush, my first love, and my once forever. I remembered vaguely how I used to love him with all my soul and how I was willing to give up my everything, including my own mermaid life, just for the sake of him. If I was Arwen, without living a life as Olivia, I would still be heartbroken now. I couldn't believe I was so blinded by love that I couldn't see what he wanted from me was merely my family power. A curse which would haunt you forever, as long as you're a royalty of the mermaid kingdom.
Now I was Olivia Hale, Arwen was just a past, a horrible past which would be better off foregotten, never remembered . But even with newly obtained memories, my love for Will would never fade. For he made me realize what true love really was.
The Arwen that I once used to be was thirsty for love. And I appreciated flirting because I thought people liked me for who I really was. Jovaic, of course, did a great job. He knew what I wanted. So he approached me differently from the others, earning my affection effortlessly.
A thought hit me, If I opened my eyes right away, Alex would drag me back to the kingdom immediately, regardless of my decision to stay. Did I want that princess life again? Did I want to be separated from Will and my adopted family? But if I stayed, was I prepared to let nature takes its course on Will while I would never age? For once, I regretted marrying at such a tender age.
Right then, Will's mum, Heidi's face came into my vision. She was a mermaid, definitely one. Being a royal had its advantage, I could sense whether one was a mermaid or not. Could this mean Will somehow was half mermaid, half human?
I needed to talk to someone, I had to, I must. Carlisle? He was a wise man and his advice would be the best among all, even better than all experienced counselors. But no, he wouldn't give me a genuine advice in this matter. Esme's too delicate, I wouldn't want to have her too worked up over my problems.. Emmett and Rosalie's hot headedness wouldn't be off much help, especially Mr. Teddy who couldn't even get a grip of himself. Edward? I heard his velvety cough. Sorry dude, you're out of my list. Can you please stop eavesdropping,? Bella? She had her own problems to deal with, especially with her dad, Charlie suffering from ocassional heart attacks. Alice and Ness were both too carefree. The only thing that I could do was to have them stay bubbly as always. Last but not least, Alex and Jasper? Alex would be furious if he found out that staying on land was one of my options. Jasper it is. After all, he was the one I trusted most since incident involving Victoria.
"Edward, my best best brother forever," I whispered innocently in my thoughts. Could you pretty, pretty please do me a favor? Tell Jasper I have to consult him in private. I will meet him in the meadow once I've gotten myself out of this. He knows where it is. Then I heard Edward whisper, "Jasper, I would like to talk to you for a second."
"But… But Olivia…" Edward cut him off, "No more buts. And yes, you're right." I heard the window flung open and off they went, deep into the woods, I'd presumed.
Within just a mere two minutes, the sound of Edward's light footsteps as he stepped into my bedroom reached my ears. Weird. Got out of the window but entered through my bedroom door. "Where's Jasper?" Alice asked. "I had Jasper inform Will about Olivia. Told him that she's doing okay.He must have been worried sick''
I knew it was the right time. I took in a deep breath and then opened my eyes warily. "Arwen, you're awake. Are you alright? Have you regained your memory? Do you recognize me?"
I threw out my arms and acted normally, "Cut it out Alex. Of course I'm alright. I'm so glad to see you again! How are you,brother?" He patted my head, a smile spreading across his face"Dear little sister, of course I'm ecstatic. Do you know how difficult it was not being able to embrace you this way? I was so depressed with your cold treatment when I first came. And it angered me so to see you treating that stranger ever so warmly."
I flinched and shoved him away. Did he just call Jasper a stranger? I said, the volume of my voice increasing with each syllabus, "I love you Alex, but I love Jasper as well. Though you are my biological brother, Jasper has always been my favourite, no matter what. He is always there for me, protecting me. You? What have you done? Ever since that incident involving Ashley and her family, you became grandpa's follower, one who cared so much about the royal image. You didn't care about me anymore, you didn't support me when I went through the worst moments in my life. You couldn't even sense that I ought to distant myself from the cruel world when Jovaic passed away."
Edward's cough cut me off. I knew my mission was accomplished unknowingly. I ran, close to vampire speed, to my meadow. The meadow I found out when I was playing with Jasper the other day while the rest of them went to hunt.
I thought I saw a branch lying on the ground, and before I knew, I tripped. Knowing the impact I'd received, I shut my eyes tightly. A pair of icy cold arms grabbed my shoulders before I fell. Jasper. I knew it.
"Watch out. Since when were you like Bella?" Jasper laughed. I stuck out my tongue. He smirked, "Don't stick your tongue out again, if not, I'm afraid I would pull it out."
"Whatever you say." I chuckled, "By the way, have you talked to Will? Edward used him as an excuse." Jasper ruffled my hair, "Olivia, oh my sister. Do you think I would forget about it? I told him you were tortured by Alice and Ness the whole day, so you fell asleep. And we didn't want to wake you up. He was a little worried, but I managed to calm him down."
I sat down on the ground, pulling my knees closer against my chest, "Better than nothing." He then sat beside me and looked straight into my eyes, "So, what is it that you wanna talk about?" Do I really want to tell him about my problems? Do I need his advice? I'd already decided that Jasper was the one when I was feigning sleep earlier but now, I couldn't find the right words to say.
I took in one deep breathe, Olivia, you can do this. "Jasper, I think Alex has already told you guys about me right?" He nodded. "I was born 16 years ago, as Arwen Galadriel Louise, princess of the mermaid kingdom. My twin brother, who was born five minutes before me, was Alexander Elros George, prince of the mermaid kingdom. My parents were King Arthur and Queen Elizabeth. Though they were the rulers of the kingdom, but it was really my grandfather, King George, who was the one in control of everything. I grew up, learning the ways of a princess, learning practically everything there is to know about both mermaid and human world, that was why I had no difficulties in high school. Mermaids have beautiful, musical voices, just like the ones portrayed in Little Mermaid. Instead of singing, my interest was more inclined towards musical instruments, piano to be exact. As a royalty, we have power, you know, just like the ability some of the vampires have. Alex, as you should have seen that time, can control both metal and water elements. I can control the fire, and heal others, as well as myself. Now, as for my life as Arwen…"
This was the part I wanted to forget the most, "I was like a girl living in a cage. My family, isn't as loving as you all, the Cullens. Of course we are all blood-related, but there was always a thick invisible barrier separating us. We couldn't trust each other completely. I was raised to be independent, my parents rarely cared about my feelings. They were very strict about my learning progress and how I should protect our royal image. Every single being in my family was brainwashed by the almighty grandpa. I was next to nothing, but a stupid fool acting on stage every single day. I had no freedom. Alex was my only friend, one whom I could trust, but something happened and he became grandpa's believer too. He was not his actual self who would go against the family rules."
Of course I had to tell him about Jovaic too. "Everywhere I went, there were guys who would try to please me. But I turned all of them down. If I were to be Olivia, I guessed I would just shoot them the death stares I'd learn from Momma." Jasper and I laughed, remembering the look Rosalie always had on. Scary.
"My soul yearned for a man who would treat me differently, love me for who I was. that man was Jovaic. My attention was diverted to him, because he was the one who made me feel loved and taught me the meaning of true happiness. And freedom. After just a mere one month, he proposed. All of them protested except for grandpa. Now that I think of it, maybe he was actually plotting a revenge on Jovaic or maybe me."
Jasper asked, "Sorry, but how old did you get married?"
I answered dully, "Sixteen. Sweet sixteen isn't it? Being a mermaid, once you get married, you'll stop aging. So, here I am, a sixteen year old teenager, though technically I'm seventeen next month. During our honeymoon, Jovaic disappeared all of a sudden. Worried about what might have happened to him, I searched for him everywhere. Everywhere that a man could possibly be at. But my efforts were to no avail. For a couple of days there was no news on him. I was devastated. Until one day, I received a call from the hospital management informing me to claim his body. His face was scarred, ever so badly that he could only be identified from his ID Card and our engagement ring. There was no one to tell me what exactly had happened to Jovaic."
Will's beautiful face came to my sight, and Jasper nudged me, "Sorry, I was thinking about something." He interrupted., "Or more like someone. I could sense love."
I rolled my eyes, "Ha-ha. Anyway back to the story. I had the funeral done, then I went back to the ocean. I conveyed the news to my family, and they didn't even cared. Its as though nothing happened. They didn't even bother to comfort me, or even ask me how I felt. They totally ignored me though I had the 'I'm so depressed' look plastered on my face all those while. Thanks to them, my world turned upside down.Of course, only then, Alex started to realize that he was going to lose his sister. He started to comfort me and stayed by my side 24-7. One day I swam to the ocean near La Push as intended by fate. And for the first time in my bleakest period of life, I saw hope for standing in front of me was Jovaic. I changed into human form and hugged him ever so tightly, afraid to lose him again. Unexpectedly, he took away my pearl and stabbed me in my abdomen. Then, my mind went blank ." I sighed "So, that's the summary of my life as Arwen."
I started giggling non stop, "Stop it Jasper! Its ticklish. He apologized, "Sorry, its just that….it hurts knowing that you have had to go through all of these and I wasn't able to be of any help.I want to see your smile and hear your laughter again. I really thought Chris cared for you a lot, seeing how he treated you those two weeks. I could sense his sincerity. Little did I know he was such a guy. So, what do you plan to do now, seeing that your memory is back?"
"Jasper, that is what I wanted to talk to you. Arwen, was nothing but a shadow that has been long left behind. . Being Olivia Hale has been the best time of my entire life. I want to stay with all of you, with Will. But I don't know if the decision I am about to make is appropriate what with leaving my family behind."
"Olivia, you know what? Do you really regard those people as your family? I can't help you make your own decision, for the answer lies true within your heart,. Search for it, Olivia. When you have already made up your mind, then we shall head home. I can wait, you know." He gave me a pat on the back.
I grinned at him and closed my eyes. I took in a deep breathe and did what I had been told. For the sake of my future, I had to struggle through the conflict going on in my head. There were two voices, both of them shouting at each other, ever so loudly. I had been listening to their reasoning for a long time. I couldn't make up my mind. There were so many various possibilities of what would happen, both pros and cons. Was I betraying my family? I really love the Cullens, don't I? Why oh why did I need to face this sort of situation? Jasper wasn't helping much anyway, he just told me I could find the answer deep down in my heart. How was I supposed to? I'm the most pathetic person, no, mermaid, in this whole wide universe.
"Jasper, I can't make up my mind just yet." I opened my eyes and shook my head. He stood up, "Alright. Well, let's go back then."
I stood up and as we walked back, images of my parents, my grandpa, and Alex flooded into my mind. Ironically, I didn't even longed for them, I didn't need them to be by my side to live on. I shrugged off that thought and straightaway new faces replaced the old ones. They were so familiar, so lovely. My heart ached when I thought of the possibility of separating from them.
I came to a halt and looked at Jasper through my long eye lashes. I knew what my answers were and I had to tell him right away. He would definitely enjoy what I ought to tell him. "Jasper… I've decided." I said flatly and tried my best to feel downhearted. He muttered softly, "No… You really need to leave? Really?"
He ignored me when I told him to look up into my eyes. Stubborn. I cupped his face and forced him to look at me. "I didn't know you would fall for that, Mr. I-know-how-you-feel. I wanted to tell you I'm staying!"
He grinned and gave me a hug, "I knew it. You were meant to be Olivia Hale. How mischievous you are to fool your brother. Anyway, can I ask you a question?"
I laughed, "Sure, I was born to be Olivia, not Arwen. Yes you may."
His eyebrows furrowed, "When Jovaic was explaining what he did to you, he mentioned something about taking away your pearl. And this enraged Chris so. He said,'Thank God the blood in her is that of a royalty's, had it not been for that she would have already turned into ash.'. What was it about the pearl?"
So he realized after all. "Well, actually, the pearl was the life source of all mermaids. Though some of us live for eternity once married, death can still be a part of us, Besides excessive loss of blood like do humans, we can also die if we don't have the pearl in us. Ordinary mermaids will die in an hour or so without the pearl, the royalty however would die in about six months, or so they say."
"Which means you would die if Jovaic did not appear and return the pearl?" Jasper gasped, and his face turned even paler.
"Unfortunately, yes. If I'm not mistaken, two months was all I had." I stated, and thought deeply. It was quite a close call, wasn't it. Had Jovaic or Chris not appear, I would die without knowing the reason behind it.
I shuddered and shook my head. "Now, Jasper, shall we?"
Apparently he was still shocked over the sudden revelation about me nearly dying. Holding my temptation to giggle, I nudged him. "Jasper, I won't die. Come on, let's go home." Home, it sounded so comfortable just saying it although it wasn't where I came from. even with my memories I, so quickly adapted to the surroundings. "Alright, we shall run back before the others panic."
I giggled and took off. Mermaids have the ability to run as fast as the vampires, and yet they don't get a chance to show off their skills.
As I breathed in the cold, fresh air in the woods, I could sense an entire new life awaiting me. A new beginning. However, my inner conscience told me that happiness and love are evasive.
When we were about to reach the front porch, a pair of cold hands grabbed my waist from behind. I wanted to scream but one hand covered my mouth and I was turned around. Alice…
"Let go, Alice." I said, and the words were all muffled as I had to speak with my mouth closed. Alice giggled and said, "Got you! Anyway, princess, I'm afraid I can't see your future anymore." Her lips formed a pout and her eyes showed me how disappointed she was.
"Don't call me a princess. Don't worry, its better if you can't see my future. Really." I said, comforting her.
"Yes, Olive. Why is it better? So I wouldn't be sad if you decide to leave us and go back to the ocean?" If she were still a human, she would have cried by now.
Jasper shook his head. It was as though they had telepathic powers and I could see a wide grin on Alice face. I laid my index finger on her lips, motioning her not to say a word. She nodded and gave me a hug, even stronger than both Emmett's and Alex's. "I love you so much Olive!" she shouted, almost making me deaf. I wondered how someone so tiny could be so strong .And loud.
"Yes I know, now shall we go inside?" Then she released her hands which were holding onto my waist and went over to Jasper, who hugged her in his arms. I let out a sigh while walking into the house, as I knew they were going into their 'love-y mode".
I walked into the living room, knowing that the Cullens would be there. Edward was the first to greet me. "Olivia, you're back. How was your little session with Jasper? Everything went well?" Nobody knew the double meaning behind it, but I did. I nodded my head and walked over to Alex. I took a deep breath and made myself comfortable with the surrounding. When I was ready, I opened my mouth. "Alex, I've got something to tell you."
He looked up into my eyes and I could see that his eyes were a little wet. Did I go overboard when I pointed out his mistake? A lump was formed in my throat. "No, Arwen, I've got something to tell you first
I didn't want to hurt him again and besides, this might be our very last conversation. "Okay, you go first."
"I'm sorry for what I've done. You knew how important Ashley was to me. I had to stay on grandpa's good side so he wouldn't hurt her again even though he were to change my character. I didn't know I've lost myself." Tears started to form in his eyes. I could see the sincerity in him. I gave him a hug and patted his back, "Shh… Shh… Its alright. Its over now. Let's forget whatever that has happened in the past. Apology accepted."
"I'm really sorry Arwen. I promise I will be the same old Alex. Oh, before I forget, grandpa told me to give this to you when you get back your memory." He ran over to the couch where laid his backpack and took out a letter. I wondered why the letters didn't crumple, knowing how untidy he was.
I took it and read the front of envelope,
Only to be read by Arwen Galadriel Louise
Then there were tiny letters on the bottom left,
p.s. block out your thoughts before reading as it is private and confidential.
I shook my head and tore out the envelop. Typical grandpa. I recalled how he taught us to block out our minds, for fear that someone would intrude and manipulate our mind. Thus, even Edward won't be able to read my thoughts as I've shielded my mind just like Bella.
I opened the letter and read them. My eyes widened in horror as hot tears started trickling down my face. For a second I thought the world had gone still.
Alex grabbed the letter and quickly read through it. He groaned and handed me the paper. I did just as what the letter instructed in its last sentence, Burn it. A fire lit in my hand as I burnt the paper within a second. I could see my family watched me in awe.
Why is it that things never go right for me. Especially when I thought that everything was over. That there was nothing to fear now that I have my family by my side? Did God hate me so much that I had to be put through such sufferings ever since I was born? I had no freedom. Alex sensed what was going to happen next and he quickly supported me from the back.
"I hate my life." I whispered so softly and weakly. My body slumped onto the comfortable mattress and as exhaustion overtook my body, I drifted into sleep, where my mind could finally rest after a long tiring day.
