*** 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 Five:
Reforming Adel: Part One
"Are you alright?" Adel was asking. She was sitting on the sofa with one of the throw-pillows hugged tightly to her chest.
"Sure," I told her, trying to smile, but I was still reeling from the strangeness of taking Zeke's venom—its taste was still on my tongue, metallic and oddly sweet at the same time. My entire body seemed alive to its presence, the way it hovered at the back of my throat. And I couldn't keep my tongue from smoothing over the tips of my canine teeth which were back to normal now, yet still tingled with the sensation of their growth and contraction.
Adel leaned forward as if taking me into her confidences again, and whispered, "It's a bit alien at first, isn't it?"
I nodded. "I feel like a big vessel...holding my own blood, and Edward's venom…and now Zeke's," I blurted, and then recoiled in horror. Adel didn't know that it wasn't Demetri's venom used to transform me. But now I could see that she was putting the pieces of the puzzle together as her eyes searched mine.
"Of course, it makes sense now," she said in awe. "I'm happy for you—that you've bonded in that way. Especially after everything that's happened." She flung the pillow aside and hugged me to her. "What's it like? Having Zeke's venom inside you? I'm a little jealous, you know. I mean…you get to experience it first."
There was none of the old spite in her words, only sadness and longing. It was there in her thin arms as she trembled and clutched my shoulders.
If I was a lesser person, I could've exacted a great amount of revenge for all the wrongs she dealt me in the past…the pain she had put me through. But I never even considered it. Although for the present she was still a vampire, she was like a fragile little bird clinging to me like that. And I tightened my arms around her and whispered, "Nothing to be jealous about. I tried to keep it as impersonal as possible. Mainly, I just felt the overwhelming pain he felt—still feels—about losing you."
Adel's voice was husky and choked, "You're the kindest person I know…I'm so ashamed for what I did to you. If only I could take it back…"
I took her by the arms and gently pushed her back so that we were face to face. "This is a new start for you," I told her. "Everybody deserves a second chance. Take that second chance and run with it." And as I said it, I knew I was referring to more than just Adel. I was thinking of Edward...and this life…and my own blunderings. I was suddenly eager to get all this behind me. I wanted nothing more than to fly to the castle and get Alice and the God's Eye so that I could begin my second chance with Edward. I was so full of purpose. Somehow I would convince Demetri that he, too, deserved a second chance at love, that we were not doomed to repeat our past over and over in some vicious cycle.
I was so certain that I could accomplish these goals that I stood up, rather impatiently, "I'll go get Zeke. I think we're all ready to get this show on the road."
**
When Zeke and I returned to the living room, Adel was stretched out on the sofa with her eyes closed. She looked so small and vulnerable that Zeke instantly leaned over her and touched her hand. It was the closest I'd seen him get to her, and the first time I'd seen him actually touch her, as if his concern took priority over the fact that she was vampire.
Her eyes flew open in surprise.
Zeke stepped back from the sofa. "You looked so still…I was afraid…"
Adel gazed at her hand where Zeke had touched her. "If it doesn't work, I want you to promise me…"
Zeke turned from her, suddenly angry. "No! I won't do it. It will work."
Adel paid little attention to his outburst. "There are no guarantees, my love. Promise me. I can't live like this…I can't live without your touch."
I turned to leave the emotionally-charged room.
"Bella!" Adel pleaded. "Don't leave. He must promise…I don't want Aro to do it. And if he refuses I won't have a choice."
"Do you know what you're asking me to do?" he bellowed.
She nodded, "I'm asking you to give me peace…when all else fails. An act of mercy."
Zeke looked at me, but I held my hand up, refusing to take sides; it was something they would have to sort out without me.
"It's going to work, so what have I got to be afraid of?" Zeke said matter-of-factly.
"So, you promise?" Adel asked.
Zeke sighed. "Yeah, I promise."
Adel turned to me. "I'm ready now."
**
The curve of Adel's neck smelled warm with the scent of cinnamon, but her skin was cold as ice to my mouth. And as my teeth grew into daggers, and slid effortlessly into her neck, the surrounding cold made me shiver.
Adel's history flew by in bits and pieces, but it was as if it were restrained by something. There were the green lush hills of a place I thought could only be Ireland, and a woman with one of the most beautiful faces I'd ever seen that could only be Adel's mother. Her belly was large and round with child, her eyes wide in panic as she stared at me. But then it occurred to me that I wasn't getting Adel's history from Adel—she was the baby in the womb—but from the fiend who'd just bitten her and that had hoped to get both a bride and a child from the bite.
He was obsessed with her. Her beauty and refusal of his offer for eternal life had driven him mad. Now, she stood, still defiant, against the railing of the bridge, nowhere to go except into his arms. She would be feeling his venom coursing through her body by now, making her his. Perhaps by this time the baby was his too. He'd felt the baby's strong heartbeat, felt her push against the mother's ribcage in terror…and then with what seemed like an extraordinary strength of will, the woman had pushed him away. But she seemed to know it was too late. Her teeth chattered as she wrapped her arms about herself, seeming to already feel the cold invading her body.
The wind whipped her long red hair as she shook her head in denial. Then she grunted, reaching for her belly. "No…."
He held his hand out to her. "Cassandra, my priestess, come be with me…forever."
But she'd had a different idea, and as if giving his demand no more consideration that swatting at a fly, she'd flung herself over the railing into the river before he could stop her.
He'd searched for her, even though he knew she had to be dead from such a fall. It was her intention, death before an eternity with him. And she'd taken his daughter with her…selfish bitch.
For days he had roared his rage on the village. From that wooden bridge down to the river depths that he returned to every night to look for her…his Cassandra.
And it was then that Aro's venom broke from my grasp. I could feel its outrage…its possessiveness spoken as if in words: She's Mine!
Suddenly I was pushed from Adel's throat by a strong current, a bolt of lightning it seemed like. I shook uncontrollably, rattled as I sprawled out on the rug.
Zeke ran forward and tried to help me to my feet. But I was too exhausted. "What happened?" he asked fearfully.
I tried to catch my breath. It was as if someone had sucker-punched me in the stomach. After a moment, I managed to answer. "He's not going to let her go without a fight."
***
(Thanks so much for reading. Another update will be posted Thursday or Friday. OTM)
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