I'm baaack! Wooh, this chapter was half written but after a hunka-lotta re-writing I've managed to post it before I've even unpacked.... well FF net is priority, duh!
And some pretty nifty news, Wandering Star has been nominated for a TWIFI AWARD. How cool? I'm also nominated as an author and checked out some other nominees earlier, and was so happy with who else was up, so seriously guys, please vote, regardless of who for. The link will be on my page.
Not much to say about this chapter, it's another little story like Sonny's bedtime one. Not much happens, but this chapter is necessary for all the things coming up (see bottom.)
Enjoy, and it's good to be back!
RECAP: Ness ran away after Victor used his power to show her the history of her family, he described his power as seeing shadows and history. In the past Victor has attempted to kill Brice, Al, Oz and Sonny. And Al and Oz unknowingly killed his mate Francesca after she attacked them. Nessie knew Victor was the Victor Brice knew, but didn't tell them out of fear it would affect their relationship. Ness learned Victor, Cora and Francesca took her so they could trade her over to the Volturi.
Chapter Seventeen: Raindrops on Roses and Girls in White Dresses
I almost tripped over my own feet when the smell hit me.
It wasn't possible. How could it be?
I didn't have time to stop and wonder so I kept running, still weaving through the trees as I pursued the boys, whose scents now seemed to intertwine with the new, impossible one.
Brice emerged quickly from the distance, outstretching his arms before he clamped them around me and pulled me backwards into a tight hug, hissing in my ear.
"It's alright Smee, everything is okay." I was about to tell him, about to confirm it was okay, that the smell carried on the morning breeze came from one who posed no physical threat to us, but then I saw them and the words froze in my throat.
Oz and Al emerged from the distance, their pace steady yet forceful as a barely distinguishable form hung between them.
They were dragging a body.
I began to squirm for release from Brice's grip, pushing forward towards the one whose arms were clamped unforgivingly in the hands of Alvar and Oscar.
Hardly walking, her long, dark hair hung over her face, and her white dress dragged across the forest floor each time her body dipped as the boys wrenched her along with them. I gasped as she lifted her head and smiled a small, desperate, relieved smile.
I thrashed violently in Brice's arms, but he didn't let me go.
"No Smee, it's under control." I didn't understand the pain in his voice, for some reason it sounded as though he would sob, as though what we were witnessing before us was causing him extreme grief. As I leapt forward again I saw his face, he stared behind me, not bringing himself to look at Alvar and Oscar, or what they held between them. I lunged forward again.
"Brice let me go!" He didn't, instead he lifted me in his grip and slid slowly to meet to boys. I clawed my hand forward to the one that now outstretched to me, desperate to touch it. Oscar snarled, pulling at the body he held aggressively and an equally uncompromising snarl rose through me, and I felt as Brice staggered slightly in shock from my response.
Her wrist stretched to me, and on it I made out a faint crescent, a scar. My body wriggled harder in Brice's grip as I screamed.
"You assholes bit her?!" Alvar looked me over in bewilderment and Oscar scoffed, yanking again at the arm he gripped.
"As if. I wouldn't touch the bitch." Behind me Brice seethed at Oscar's words the same time I did, causing Oz's black eyes to roll and his teeth to grit.
"Oscar, put her down, now!" A menacing grin spread across his lips at my words and he nodded slowly before releasing the arm and sending the body crashing to the floor.
I was free from Brice's grip and scrambled down beside the body.
"Cora?" She looked up and smiled, but it soon faded into a grimace as she began to sob.
"I'm so sorry, Nessie." She wrapped her arms around my neck and I pulled her to me. When Alvar and Oz growled and snapped forward behind her Brice slid between us quickly, laying a hand on each of the boy's chests.
"Enough. I've told you already, leave her." Alvar took a deep breath and nodded slowly, his black eyes didn't shift in their protective consumption of me. Oscar just snarled again.
"Brice, she's one of them. You should have let me tear her apart when we found her." Brice snarled again and slid forward, quickly bringing his face inches from Oscar's.
"You don't touch her. She is no threat to us, no threat to Smee. You don't touch her, do you understand me?" Oscar nodded slowly, glaring at Brice in his yield.
I rocked Cora in my arms as she sobbed, her hands wrapped though my hair and she repeated her apology over and over. I pulled back and took her face in my hands, discovering another bite mark at the base of her neck. I stood to lift her but Brice's hands came beneath mine, beckoning me to let him take her. I grunted and pulled her back to me, but Brice bowed his head slowly.
"Let me, Smee. We'll get her up to the cabin." Oscar took another quick step forward, but it was Alvar who snapped before him, holding him back.
"Over my dead bo-" Quick warning glances from Brice and I shut him up, and he made a huffing noise before disappearing in the direction of the cabin. Brice took Cora in his arms and I turned to follow him as he headed through the trees.
Alvar's fingers snapped through mine and I turned to him, his eyes begging me to explain. I had no words. No words could describe what I was feeling. Relief, fear, regret, anger. I watched as he searched for something to say, and I realised that with Cora here, with my bond with her now apparent, the truth would out, and they would know about Victor. I ran forward, throwing my arms around Alvar's neck and pulling him to me tightly. Slowly his arms wound round me too, and I whispered in his ear quickly before turning to run to the cabin.
"I'm sorry."
{--}
"Put her on my bed." Brice complied, and placed Cora atop my still-unmade bed with extreme care. When he turned to me I gave him a grateful smile before turning my attention back to Cora. Looking down on her now I felt the same nature that had drove me to take care of Brice, Al, Oz and Sonny go into overdrive. I pulled off her muddy, brown suede boots and covered her with the duvet, ignoring Alvar's frustrated sighs behind me. Brice remained beside me on the bed, his eyes fixed intently on Cora. Oscar swept in and I could hear Sonny stomping about in his room, just above mine. Oscar had put him on lockdown, protecting his brother from the outsider, just like he had when I first arrived.
Cora wrapped her fingers around one of my hands and brought it down to her chest,
"I'm so very sorry, Ness. I never wanted you to be hurt, I promise." Alvar and Oscar hissed from their corner of the room, but a quick glance from Brice silenced them. I could feel the tears rising from the ducts in my eyes as I perceived my former-protector, who now looked so broken and weak. I brought my spare hand to rest just below her ear, where her spread out hair revealed a third crescent shaped scar, just where her jaw line met her neck. I ran my fingers gently across it, it was just as faint as the others, but the sight of it sent a stabbing pain through my heart.
"Cora, who did this to you?" I didn't need to ask, I knew already. Cora's eyes squeezed shut and I brought my palm to rest against her cheek to send her a comforting thought.
It's alright you're safe now; I'll take care of you. I remembered that on occasion, Cora had probably said very similar words to me. The act of affection as I held her cheek in my hands, proved too much for Alvar and Oscar, both of whom now took a quick step towards the bed.
"Smee, what are you doing? She's one of them. She would have turned you over to the Volturi had we not found you." I grimaced at Al's words; Cora picked up on the expression and squeezed my hand tighter.
"I would never have let them hurt you, you understand?" I nodded, not quite sure if I did understand. My eyes fell back on the scar, and by breath hitched as I remembered Victor, and the fact I had kept him secret from the three men stationed around me. Time for the secret to out.
"Cora, did Victor do this to you?" I heard sharp gasps from behind me and Brice' eyes shifted from Cora to me, but mine fixed on hers as she nodded slowly. "I'm sorry Brice, I should have told you." He didn't flinch; his eyes just focused in on me a little before he took a deep breath.
"No. Don't be foolish, it cannot be the same person." My grip tightened on Cora's hand as his faith in me stabbed guilt into my heart. I turned my head slowly to Alvar, who watched me with curiosity. When I turned back to Cora I whispered slowly,
"The Victor we know, Cora, what can he see?" Her eyes narrowed cautiously, her incomplete understanding of the situation obvious as she murmured.
"He sees shadows. He sees the past." Before she had finished speaking Brice's whole body went stiff at my side, and Oscar stepped protectively in front of Alvar, hissing furiously.
"Smee, how could you do this? How could you put us all in danger?" Oscar's words seethed through his clenched teeth, his anger clear. I turned to meet his aggressive expression, his frame blocked out Alvar who he was still stood in front of. I looked back to Brice who still sat beside me.
"I'm so sorry, Brice." He nodded slowly, before standing quickly to face Oz.
"We should leave the two of them alone, come" He extended his arm and beckoned the boys towards the door, but neither moved. "Come." His tone was hard; Oscar complied first, shooting Cora a threatening glance as he slid through the open door. Alvar's eyes met mine as he slunk slowly after him. I watched him desperately through my tears, but he looked so hurt that my hand tightened even harder around Cora's. Brice left after them, not looking up to either of us before he closed the door behind him.
{--}
I lifted my eyes to Cora, determined not to let her see how much their departure had hurt, I had to focus on her.
"Cora, what happened?" I didn't know exactly what I was asking, but any answer would be helpful.
"I never thought anything bad would happen to you, I swear. But I didn't have a choice, it was all Victor's plan, I had no choice." Her distress grew and I stroked my hand across her forehead, shushing her.
"You had a choice. Cora, they were never good for you, why did you stay with them?" She nodded slowly, taking her top lip between her teeth before she spoke.
"I always wanted to tell you, but I couldn't."
"Tell me what?"
"Everything, Ness. You should know it all."
She wriggled her body slightly, and focused her eyes on the distance, taking a deep breath before slowly telling her tale. "When I woke up, I was in a church." Her eyes were far away as she spoke, fixed on the past.
"All I could remember was the burning. It's still all I remember, I can recall it so vividly it's as if it still rages in my veins. I wanted to die the whole time, and I was terrified I was already dead, and that this was just what was to incinerate me for all eternity. When it stopped, my eyes flew open and I was in the church, a beautiful stone building. I was on my back, staring at the carvings that adorned the roof, and the beautiful stain glass windows, and I was wearing the most stunning white dress."
At this her fingers dug into the lace of the arm on the dress she wore now, so that's why it was always white? "I looked at the building from my position for a while; I was scared to move because the fire hadn't fully gone yet."
Her hand moved from her arm to her throat and she massaged it soothingly. "But that burning didn't go away. I remember getting to my feet, and being terrified at how fast it happened. I didn't know who I was, or where I was, but I knew that it was not ordinary to move so quickly. Then I saw them"
Her whole body shuddered and writhed a little beneath the sheets. "People, everywhere. Lots of them, dead. They were all sat in the benches, in the most beautiful and colourful clothes. I stood in my white gown, before the altar and looked at them all. I counted thirty. Men, women, children, all cold, all gone. I wanted to cry as I walked past them all, but I couldn't, and I hated myself for not being able to shed a tear for all those poor people. I moved through them, trying to remember their faces, but I couldn't. I slid from the church and just outside it there was a big fire. It had been extinguished, probably by the wind or the rain, but the smell around it was so strong it terrified me. It made me want to run away."
I remembered that feeling all too well. I remembered how the smell of Francesca's burning body had triggered my survival instincts. "It was then I realised I could smell things. There were three scents heading east, those three scents were of ones like me. I was ready to follow them, desperate for answers when I caught another scent. This one went south, it was the sweetest thing I have ever experienced. I followed it down from the hill the church was perched on, it was weak and old but I followed it. It lead me to a little stone cottage, the whole place was wrapped in the delicious scent that made the burning in my throat even stronger, so I could not resist. A window was open and I leapt through it. My whole body froze when I landed. There was a man, the most beautiful man, sat in a little armchair across from me, and he smelled so good. I stayed still, I was sure he would have seen me enter but he didn't flinch. His eyes were just fixed on this little piece of paper he had in his hands. I wanted to be closer to him, so I rose slowly. Still, he didn't see me. Even when I came to stand right beside him … he didn't see me. I peered over his shoulder, letting his scent intoxicate me as I took a look at the paper in his hands. It was a photo, brown and grainy as that was all technology could muster at the time. It was a photograph of a pretty young girl. Her hair was thick and dark and flowed freely past her shoulders. Her skin was like copper and her eyes were the most captivating emerald green. I watched as he wept over the photo, running his fingers over the face of the pretty, smiling girl. I pulled away when my body told me to do something very bad. I didn't want to kill him, but everything inside me was screaming for me to. I backed away from him, shrinking against the fireplace, and then I saw me. In a mirror across the room, I saw myself. I was the girl, the girl in the photograph. I was different, paler, stronger and my eyes were no longer green but the most unnatural shade of red. The man still stared at the little photograph, stroking it and mumbling. I leaned closer to make out his words, but it was difficult through his sobs. After a while they were easier to distinguish. 'Cora,my Cora.' I stood before him and shouted, sure that I was Cora, I had to be. He didn't see me though, he never saw me, I was invisible. I shrank further from him, my body shaking as my insides fought over my want to kill him. I was so focused on his sad, beautiful face that when she entered, she shocked me. I wasn't prepared for her, I had no control."
Cora took a breath to regain herself as the sobs squeezed at her useless lungs. "I didn't know what I was doing until it was over, until she was dead. This little, old woman lay in my arms, and I had killed her. She was dressed in black, with a little white bonnet, and I have never forgotten her peaceful little face. I felt I knew her, as she lay in my arms I loved her. From behind me the man screamed. It was agonising to hear him, but he still could not see me, so I ran. I ran so far, Ness."
It was a shock to hear her address me; she had been so far away. Her eyebrows squeezed together and her nose wrinkled as another dry sob passed over her. After a few deep breaths she continued.
"I was invisible for a long time, and I was glad. I didn't want anyone to see me for the monster I was. I killed so many, I couldn't help it. I hated that they were all so helpless, I hated that I could approach them however I liked, because they could not see me. I held each of them after they died, begging for forgiveness, and wishing I could follow them."
Cora's gaze fell reassuringly on mine as my grip on her fingers tightened. "Being invisible is so horrible. I though that it was my punishment, that I was to be all alone because of all the things I had done. It only ended a few months before I met you."
A phantom smile spread across her lips, and she just shrugged at my shocked expression. "When I first saw Francesca, I knew straight away that she was like me. Her eyes were the same as mine, and nobody had eyes like me. I was so scared that I would be invisible to her too, and for a moment I was. She was with Victor; they'd just been running when she came to this sudden stop. I stopped too, just watching them. He kept pulling at her hand and asking what was wrong, but she just stared all around her, spinning as she searched for whatever had caught her attention. I was so disappointed when her gaze passed over me, again and again. Victor was still tugging at her, getting a little worried when she finally spoke. 'There's someone here.' Victor froze, and so did I. I moved closer to her, hoping against hope the time had finally come for someone to see me."
"How did she know you were there?" My heart leapt when Cora released her hands from mine so that she could move them around when she spoke; I used to love how she did that.
"It was part of her gift. When a power was close, she could sense it. That sense then grew into understanding, until finally; she was able to use it herself. That's what happened to me; she focused in on my power, and used it. Victor's face was priceless when she disappeared!"
Cora giggled as she remembered. This both overjoyed and angered me. I was so glad she appeared happier, but so angry she could harbour anything but hatred for those two monsters. "Well, when she disappeared, she came into Invisible Land." We both laughed at her phrase, and I was so glad that my Cora seemed to be resurfacing. "When she stared at me I leapt into her arms, which of course, she hated! After that she taught me how to control my gift, and I wasn't invisible anymore."
"But that doesn't explain why you stayed with them, Cora."
"I didn't want to be lonely anymore. And Victor kept telling me how useful my gift was."
Her eyes rolled as she remembered the uses her gift had been put to. "I was still tortured by my memories of the church, of the man, and the little old lady in the bonnet. And Victor promised …"
For a moment I thought the sobbing might return, instead Cora just wriggled a little beneath the sheets, her breath catching in what seemed more like anger than sadness. "He promised he'd tell me. He said that if I helped him find you, he'd tell me my story. I'm so sorry Nessie, I'm so sorry."
I'd buried my face into her neck, all forgiven. "After I found Francesca, I followed your trail. I had to run so fast to keep it though, it was fading so quickly."
I shrugged, stupid, fast Oz. "When I found this house, I saw you were safe, so I ran back. I made sure your tracks were all gone so that Victor would never find you, and then I waited. When he came back he tried to make me tell him, but I wouldn't. He told me if I didn't tell him where you were, he'd never tell me my history. I didn't care though; I didn't need a history, only to keep you safe." Her hand came to my cheek and she smiled gently.
"Cora, why didn't you disappear? Then he couldn't have hurt you." I traced the fourth discovered scar, one partly hidden by the white lacing of Cora's sleeve.
"His love was dead, Ness. I had to be there for him."
"Cora, please tell me you are not defending him, not now!"
"No, Ness, of course not. I did disappear, but I had to tell him first. Tell him I was sorry for Francesca, tell him I was grateful for him accepting me into his coven," Cora seized my chin in her hands is I threw my head back in frustration. "And I had to tell him, that if he ever came anywhere near you, I'd build him a fire twice the size of Francesca's, and watch as he burned on it."
Coming Soon: Will Cora ever have to fulfill that promise? Also: Lakes, New Places, Old Faces, Kidnapping, A Hand In The Freezer, Overprotectiveness, Tree-Climbing, A Very Uncomfortable Car Ride, An 18th, True Love, Momma Issues, Harsh Words, Apple Pie, Violence, And A Road Trip .... To Washington .... To Forks.
Any of that make any sense??
