*** This story contains some mild language, suspense, romance, and some frightening images and situations—13 and older, please.
In the Grip of Twilight
By:
Olivia Tannis Moore
Chapter Seventy:
Decisions and Consequences
I didn't answer Demetri. I couldn't. It was an impossible request.
"I have some things to discuss with Muriel," I said as I got up and walked to the door. He looked up at me as I hesitated at the door and our eyes met briefly and almost sorrowfully. His boyish face was so naked and vulnerable—it hurt to turn away, as if I were rejecting his plea. But my eyes were misting and I didn't want him to see my own pain. I didn't want him to see any sign of weakness or indecision. He had to realize that I was going back home with Edward.
I went inside where the Cullens were still huddled around Muriel. Although it was only a few feet that separated the front porch from the living room, it seemed like a different world—and I was caught in both, neither fully here nor there. By simply opening a door, I seemed to float in and out of both worlds as if I were a wraith.
"It's no wonder that old cavern gave you the creeps," Muriel was telling Rosalie. "It has a very ominous history."
I sat down next to Esme and listened to Muriel, grateful to turn my thoughts toward something else for a while.
"After the first war between the Lycans and the Vampires—when the vampires were found to be too weak to win the war—Aro placed his vampire army and their human helpers down there and shut them in for all eternity. He turned his back on them, many of who were his own creations. He left them down there to grovel and starve and wonder if their master would ever find forgiveness in his heart and release them… And after the humans were consumed, and it was apparent Aro had no such leniency in mind, they turned on one another in a form of vampire cannibalism, where they tore each other apart searching for the last drop of human blood that was to be had."
"How horrible," Esme whispered.
"So that's where the wall murals come in…" I muttered.
"Oh yes," Muriel said. "They were terrified that no one would ever find out what happened to them. And they knew that Aro was busy creating another brood of vampires—perhaps this new brood would suffer the same fate as they had. So the last two survivors entered a pact: they would work together and try to get out. They survived on rats and whatever else they could catch, and worked tirelessly to burrow up to the surface. And after countless years those last two did manage to get out. Their names were Linus and Uldren. Uldren is the vampire that changed Demetri in 1066. We have no record of him since. Whether he chose to cease being or has gone into solitude, we don't know; the runes have gone silent. But that was the last known sighting of him."
"And Linus?" I asked. "What happened to him? Is he still in hiding?"
Muriel shook her head. "Linus confronted Aro at the beginning of the Tenth Century—and lost. It was a foolish thing to do…perhaps if Linus had waited on Uldren they would have had a chance. Uldren was the stronger of the two, a very powerful vampire." She gazed toward the window and mused, "It didn't make sense that Aro should put him down there with the rest of the vampires…unless he was one of those who had spoken with Thaddeus and knew too much."
I thought of Demetri's natural strength and wondered if that was why Aro had such an affinity for him. Was it because of Demetri's father? Demetri didn't talk about Uldren; he hadn't even bothered to mention him by name when he told me of his history.
"Halfling?"
I looked up, jarred from my thoughts.
Muriel stood and said, "You wanted to talk to me?"
I nodded.
Muriel went out the front door and I followed. Demetri was no longer lounging on the porch. I looked around the perimeter of the forest, but didn't see him.
"He returned to Edward's bedside while we were talking," Muriel said. Her tone seemed to have a touch of disapproval in it. "You're going to have to decide between the two, Halfling. You can't flitter back and forth."
"I know," I whispered. It was shameful that she would so boldly confront me about this. It was something Charlie would say; and in his absence, I felt like Muriel was trying to provide some guidance.
"Deep down, both are good men. Tonight you will decide which path you take," she told me.
"I've already made my decision," I said stubbornly.
She smiled sagely. "No. No, you haven't."
It was impossible that Muriel would know my indecision, my private ache that I'd have to leave Demetri behind… I crossed my arms and gazed at her. And then I let it go to focus on another topic.
"I want to know why you wanted to talk to Edward. What was so important that you would forfeit your own life just to talk to him?"
Muriel shrugged. "It was in the runes. It's not my place to question the runes—that insight comes from a higher place."
I was puzzled by her words. "But the runes said nothing about Alice?"
"No, but she must be part of the plan somehow. The runes don't give specifics."
Consulting runes, it all sounded so ancient and archaic. "Is that how you know I'll have to make a decision tonight?" I asked. "Did the runes show you that, too?"
She chuckled lightly. "You're coming upon a fork in the road of life, Halfling. Yes, they showed me that. And your decision will have far-reaching consequences no matter what you decide."
***
(Thanks for everyone's concerns about "Gunnie". He's doing much better and is even playing now. We still don't know what made him so sick—but the vet said he could've developed an allergy to his food, so we changed to another brand. I'm just glad it's over and I didn't lose him. OTM)