A/N: Characters are © Stephenie Meyer.
Chapter 13
"Sparkles and Flashbacks"
White Christmas lights once again adorned the trees lining the Cullen's driveway. Around each tree twisted a large red satin bow embossed with shimmering crystal hearts that twinkled like stars in the black of night. Alice had spared no cliché when decorating for Ethan and Leah's wedding reception. Carlisle had spared no expense. The two were a lethal combination.
Inside the house, miniature copies of the red satin bows around the trees lining the driveway outside capped each newell post on the mammoth spiral staircase in the Cullen's great room. Greenery sprinkled with babies' breath, miniature red roses, and tiny white Christmas lights had been wrapped around each banister. Hanging from the high-beamed ceiling were five crystal chandeliers spaced intermittently around the room. Red, gold, and silver satin streamers, braided intricately, draped loosely from one chandelier to the next.
Beneath each chandelier – circling a large wooden dance floor – were five round tables, each one set for six people and topped with a white satin table cloth peppered with red rose petals and heart shaped candles. Atop each table sat centerpieces made of diamond-cut glass trumpet vases filled with bouquets of fresh red roses and white tulips with red tips.
Spread across the Cullen's oversized dining table laid a feast fit for a dozen carnivorous werewolves. Barbecued pork ribs, grilled rib-eye steaks, and plump Bratwurst links were flanked by mounds of macaroni and cheese, potato salad, and baked beans. On the far end of the table awaited an array of desserts including lemon meringue pie, chocolate oatmeal cookies, peach cobbler, and a two-tiered chocolate cake with creamed fudge icing. The punch on the opposite side of the table – made of club soda, red fruit punch, red wine sangria, and vodka – was the perfect shade of valentine red with heart shaped ice cubes floating on top.
As much as Alice would have liked to have served a much more pretentious menu, Sue and Emily had insisted on serving the boys food they would actually eat, and since the wolves were the actual diners – the vampires would not be eating, of course – Alice had been inclined to relent.
The attire for the evening had also been a bit of a compromise on Alice's part. Instead of the formal gowns and tuxedos she had envisioned, the party attendees would be dressed in semi-formal wear. The Cullen and Denali men would all be wearing dark suits with red ties while the Quileute guys would all be donning dark suits with plum ties. Meanwhile, the ladies had all been shopping for the perfect cocktail dress.
Upstairs in Alice's expansive dressing room, Bella, Alice, Rosalie, and Esme were rushing around putting the final touches on hair and make-up while Renesmee looked on with a bemused expression. She had been the first to finish getting ready – her long bronze ringlets were gathered loosely at the crown of her head in a shimmering rhinestone barrette and bounced down the back of her pastel plum junior cocktail dress adorned with tiny deep purple rose buds and sparkling violet sequins and gathered at the waist by a matching satin sash tied in the back with a bow – and was rewarded by being allowed to watch as the others fussed over just the right shade of lipstick, the perfect pair of earrings, or the most appropriate pair of shoes.
Renesmee – intuitive by nature, genius by inheritance – marveled at the variance of personalities in the room. Esme, the sweet and motherly matriarch, glowed in a red chiffon tunic dress while Rosalie, the brazen sex siren, blazed in a fiery red 50's rockabilly halter dress.
Alice, proudly unconventional and never a conformist, stunned in her strapless zebra print bubble dress with a large satin fuchsia bow cinching her tiny waist while Bella, the reluctant conservative beauty, outshined them all in a simple satin eggplant bubble dress with spaghetti straps, a tiered skirt, and prongset crystal trim above the waist.
Renesmee's eyes twinkled like stars as Bella kneeled beside her and kissed her on the cheek. She placed her hand on Bella's cheek and watched as her eyes widened when Renesmee showed her the scene in the dressing room through her eyes.
"And just where have you heard the term sex siren, young lady?" Bella asked, her nose wrinkling in fake distaste.
The Cullen women stopped and looked at each other with knowing glances before chiming, "Emmett!", and erupting in giggles.
The deep rich tones of the doorbell rang from downstairs and Alice clapped her hands together in excitement.
"Show time, girls!" she exclaimed and opened the door, shooing them all out with an exaggerated wave of her arms.
Leah stood in front of Ethan tying his tie and looking at the tired dark circles under his gorgeous emerald green eyes. He had been out practically all night working on a case in Port Angeles and the stress of his first assignment showed in the worry lines splayed across his usually carefree face.
Leah tightened the knot in Ethan's tie and reached up to trace the outline of his eyes and the bridge of his nose with the tip of her finger before kissing him lightly on the lips.
As she turned to gaze at herself in the mirror, Ethan planted a kiss in the curve of her neck and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to his chest and holding tight while exhaling in a slow sigh.
Leah turned and took Ethan's face in her hands and forced him to look into her eyes.
"Babe, you are obviously worried about something. Do you want to talk about it?" she asked quietly.
Ethan smiled and kissed her on the nose before answering. "It's nothing I want to worry you with...besides, today is our day, and I refuse to spend it discussing work."
Hoping to distract her and direct the conversation to a more comfortable subject, Ethan took Leah by the hand and twisted her around to face the full length mirror they were standing in front of, looking her up and down approvingly.
"You are absolutely the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on!"
Leah's eyes shone as she looked into the face of the woman staring back at her in the mirror. Her red satin halter dress was layered with mesh on the bottom and the fitted bodice had been beaded and embellished with silver ribbon appliqué. Her long raven hair had been swept up in a twist and wispy ringlets framed her face. The woman in the mirror was a far cry from the unkempt wolf-girl of years past.
Leah, still looking into the mirror, reached above her head to wrap her arms around Ethan's neck.
"First of all…flattery will only distract me for a little while. And, second…I'm your wife. You're supposed to worry me with stuff that worries you."
Once again, Ethan buried his face in the curve of Leah's neck and sighed. He had not yet shared the real cause of his worry with his wife because he wasn't quite sure where it was coming from exactly. Since the day of the council meeting with the Cullens and the Quileutes, Ethan had been having disturbing flashbacks. The tussle with Edward and Seth had resurfaced memories that had long been buried deeply in his subconscious…memories about the night his parents and six Ahtena warriors had been killed. Somewhere in the back of his mind lay dread…Ethan hoped with all his being that the Cullens were as honorable as they claimed to be, but he wasn't yet completely convinced. In actuality, Ethan was having a difficult time reconciling the blood thirsty monsters of his memory with the civilized vegetarians he'd been introduced to recently.
"Leah, you've just returned home to your family and…uhh… friends."
Ethan grimaced before continuing in a flat tone.
"I don't want my views on those friends…some of them, anyway… to ruin your homecoming or spoil our day."
Leah turned and laid her hand on Ethan's chest gently.
"Ethan, I can only imagine how you must feel. A coven of vampires wipes out your entire family before your eyes, and your wife throws you into a world where werewolves and vampires live together in –"
"Peace and harmony?" Ethan chuckled darkly.
Leah grinned and planted a pouty kiss on Ethan's lips.
"The Cullens are good people. Just give it some time…the trust will come. Now, let's go dance, husband!"
Ethan laughed as Leah took his hand, leading him towards the front door of the tiny house they had bought in La Push.
As Ethan followed his new bride out of their home, he was absolutely positive of two things. One, not all vampires were vegetarians dedicated to the preservation of human life. Two, the feeling of dread had moved from the back of his mind to the pit of his stomach. Eventually, his subconscious would complete the connection between the Cullens and the slaughter of his parents and the tribal warriors. Once that connection was made, there would be a reckoning. And, God help anyone who stood between Ethan and the justice he would render.
As Bella descended the stairs right behind Alice, she could hear Carlisle and his sons at the door greeting the first arrivals to the party.
"Eleazar, it is so good to see you, my friend! Please, do come in!"
Carlisle and Eleazar embraced as the rest of the Denali clan filed into the Cullen's great room.
Carmen stopped to kiss Renesmee on the cheek while Edward and Bella welcomed Kate and Garrett with hugs. Then, all eyes fell on Tanya who entered the room on the arm of a tall dark-haired man none of the Cullens had met before. The tension in the room was tangible until Alice stepped brightly forward and tiptoed up to kiss Tanya on the cheek.
"Tanya, I see you finally decided to bring Dallas with you! Welcome, Dallas! Everybody, this is Dallas, Tanya's…"
Alice whispered to Tanya, "Can I tell them?"
Tanya beamed and held up her left hand to show off an unbelievably large diamond engagement ring.
"…Fiancé!" chimed Alice.
The room once again erupted in friendly banter, congratulations all around.
"I am sorry if I threw everybody a curve, Alice. Dallas and I weren't sure he'd be able to make the trip. He travels a lot on business and only just returned home the day before yesterday."
As she spoke, Tanya wrapped her arms around Dallas happily.
Dallas lifted Alice's delicate hand to his lips and kissed it gently, bowing graciously.
"I am pleased to meet you and your family. Thank you for including me in such a joyous occasion."
At that moment, the doorbell rang and Charlie, Sue, Seth, and his date arrived. Following immediately behind them were Jacob, Embry, and Quil – carrying Claire in his arms. Not far behind them, Billy rolled in with Paul, Rachel, Jared, and Kim in toe. When Collin and Brady arrived with Sam and Emily, the gathering was complete except for the guests of honor.
By the time Leah and Ethan walked into the room arm in arm, everyone had been seated at their assigned table and the ear-splitting sounds of five simultaneous jovial conversations all came to an abrupt and sudden halt as all eyes fell upon a transformed Leah Clearwater Pelletier.
As opened mouths snapped closed, all the girls encircled Leah exclaiming over her beauty while all the guys took turns shaking Ethan's hand and making introductions.
As Ethan was introduced to the two newest members of the Denali clan, no one noticed the intense look of hatred that passed first from Ethan to Garrett, and then from Ethan to Dallas…except Edward, who heard every fragmented thought.
The dark headed one's eyes are red… obviously NOT a vegetarian. Damn bloodsucking demon! Where have I seen him before?
It is as I suspected. One was left behind.
Why does the sandy haired one look so familiar? His eyes aren't exactly honey-colored. Maybe the vegetarian thing is just a cover-up.
It can't be…we made sure they were all dead…even the human.
Why can't I remember?
Kate must never know.
Garrett's eyes, wild with panic, met and held Edward's gaze.
We need to talk. Outside. Quickly, before…
"Ethan, come dance with me."
Leah had made her escape from the throng of gushing women and found Ethan across the room. She wove her fingers through his and tugged him toward the dance floor where Michael Bolton's When a Man Loves a Woman had begun to play.
As the newlyweds stepped out onto the dance floor, other couples followed. Meanwhile, Edward placed one hand on Garrett's shoulder and the other on Dallas', motioning towards the back door with his eyes.
Ethan watched – fury boiling in his blood – as the three men made their exit. Just before ducking out the door, Dallas turned to look back at Ethan with a snide sneer and a sinister chuckle.
In that moment, the flood gates opened and all the memories that had been locked away for safe keeping until his mind could handle the horror came rushing into Ethan's mind like the untamed rapids of the Colorado River.
The day of reckoning had arrived.
A/N: I apologize that it has taken so long to update this chapter. I have been suffering from acute writer's cramp. I couldn't make up my mind between two different directions I wanted the story to take from this point on…decision made. I will post a chapter a week from here on out. Thanks to all my readers for sticking with me! Don't give up on me now!
