CHAPTER FORTY SIX
FACE TO FACE
LEAH LUCIER:
The full moon shone down on my husband and I as we hunted together in the woods which lay on the outskirts of Forks. Hunting wasn't a new concept to me, although I was rather exceptional at it since becoming a vampire. I wanted to face everyone in the morning with light coloured topaz eyes. I needed to have no trace of hunger within me before I saw my family and friends. Finally when our thirst was sated we gave into our other desires, underneath the moonlight on a bed of leaves and pine needles. How I loved my beautiful husband. His pale skin glinted and shone like marble in the waxy light of the moon above us. His dark hair fell enticingly in luxurious waves to his shoulders, soft as silk to the touch. His cool lips made me shiver as they always did, except now everything was more heightened, more magnificent. Etienne was perfect. He was mine and I adored every part of his mind, body and soul. It was easy to lose track of time, to lose ourselves in each other. Soon the grey light of dawn lit up the misty woods with an eerie glow. It was time to disentangle myself from Etienne. This part was always difficult. I wondered if my obsession with him would ever wane? I guessed not. I sighed as I pulled myself out of his strong arms reluctantly. It was time to face my old life.
Once Etienne and I were respectable again, we held hands as we made our way through the woods. We didn't run, we didn't even walk fast. We ambled along like we didn't have a care in the world, two newly weds out for an early morning stroll on a Spring morning. Truth be told I was in no rush. Seeing everyone again filled me with apprehension. Etienne was so attune to me and my feelings that he knew exactly what was going through my mind. This was a situation he had never come across when he'd been changed. Victoria did not allow him to see his family ever again. But that probably had been for the best as Etienne had been vicious as a newborn, something I know he hates about himself even after all these years. I just knew I could not go forward with my new life until I had said proper goodbyes to my old one. Just as we left the woods a figure appeared before us. To my shock it was Sam Uley standing in front of me. Face to face with my killer! He looked just as shocked to see me. "Leah?" he asked in astonishment as Etienne issued a low hiss through clenched teeth beside me. I squeezed my husband's hand tighter as we faced the reason for my untimely human death. "Hello Sam" I smiled, dazzling him. He gazed at me as if in a stupor. In fact he looked like he had been sleeping rough for a few days. He wasn't his usual clean and tidy self and his eyes were wild and bloodshot. What had happened since I had left?
To my utter shock,confusion and amazement Sam threw himself at my feet and began to sob uncontrollably. "Leah I am so sorry I hurt you! Are you okay now? You look fine. You look really good! " he gushed weirdly. This was so unlike Sam, my worry began to increase with each passing moment. "Get up Sam. Come sit here with me" I softly said, indicating to a soft mound of grass which looked comfortable. His troubled dark eyes looked into mine with pain and fear. He didn't seem to notice that my eyes were now topaz. I took his hand as Etienne looked at the scene with quiet disgust. There was no way he would forgive Sam. I didn't feel the same. Yes, my first love had caused me to leave my human life, but how could I be sad when I now had an amazing new life with Etienne forever? There was nothing to forgive as far as I was concerned. "Sam, after the incident in the clearing after the wedding I was badly injured beyond repair. I'm afraid without Etienne's help I would have died. Well I say died, technically I am dead, but I am more alive than I have ever been if that makes sense. I am a vampire now Sam, I have become like one of our old enemies. But I am not your enemy, I am still your friend and I forgive you all of the things you tried to do to me and Etienne. Okay?" I asked as I squeezed his hand. He looked up at me with that vacant far away look again. Even though I could not feel cold any more I felt a shiver run through my veins. Just what had happened to the confident, cocky Sam I once knew? His eyes were sad but in the depths I thought I saw a trace of his old self resurfacing.
"Etienne changed you? I was so worried you might be dead Leah! Then I was worried you might be undead! I hurt you, I hurt Emily! My Father hurt Tiffany and probably countless others. I felt like I was losing control, losing my mind! I went into the sea, I didn't really want to die, I just wanted to stop the pain! I didn't want to be evil like my Father! Then she saved me! Rebecca! The dark haired demon! She must be evil right Leah? She must be! My Father's bad blood runs through us both. Why did she save me? Jacob hates me, everyone hates me! I've been living in the woods for weeks now, I keep thinking I may just phase and never change back! Run free and wild as a wolf with no human concerns to plague me!" he sadly exclaimed as he slumped down with his head in his hands. I gazed up at Etienne, who suddenly looked worried too. His hatred and distrust for Sam had been replaced by something else. I recognised the change in his expression. It was pity which now laced his perfectly beautiful features. I put my strong arms around Sam and pulled him towards me. "Oh Sam! You really are in a bad state of mind. You need to be with Emily, not running around the woods half crazy! Now you listen to me right now okay?" I said firmly as I stroked his dark cropped hair. He nodded against my shoulder in tired defeat. "Okay" came the muffled reply. I could smell his scent, feel his warmth and hear his blood rushing through his veins right next to my skin. There was no way I would attack Sam nor anyone else. I simply had no desire to. Unbelievable really wasn't it?
I pulled Sam onto his feet and gazed into his dark troubled eyes defiantly. "For once Sam Uley you will let me tell you what to do! You are going to call Emily on my phone and tell her to come pick you up. You are going to tell her how sorry you are for messing up. You are going to tell her exactly what's been happening okay?" he nodded and half smiled at me. "You really are a bloodsucker huh? Still a bossy madam though!" he added cheekily. I laughed and shook my head. "Sam, I just want you to be happy all right? Emily is your imprintee, you can't just leave her just cos times got a bit tough for you! You two are meant to be together. Just like Etienne and I are. No one can tell us any different now." I stated with a defiant glint in my eye. Sam nodded. "You are right Leah. I have been an idiot, but it's not too late to change! I love Emily so much! I'm so sorry I gave you and Etienne a hard time! I'm sorry I tried to arrange a marriage between you and Embry! Now we can both be happy. I hope it all works out for you Leah, but can I ask what are you doing in Forks? It seems a weird, but lucky coincidence that I ran in to you today?" he asked me curiously. His dark eyes seemed brighter now, more like his old self. I was glad. I reckoned I had helped him. I made the decision to tell him the truth, seeing as there was nothing he could do to stop me any ways. He was powerless against me now, that was the absolute truth of the matter. "I've returned to see my family and friends, Sam. I need to show them that although I am now changed, I am perfectly fine and more alive than I have ever, ever felt before. I need them to believe this and I need them to let me go. I want to move forward with this new life whether they accept it or not. Hopefully they will still love me as I am. If not, I have Etienne's utter complete love and devotion. " I stated confidently as I reached out for my darling's cold hand. Sam nodded and smiled hesitantly. I could see he was still struggling slightly with the concept of the new me. It was strange that I felt so nervous, but Sam had been my first love, my teenage sweetheart, the one I thought I'd grow old with. I never once thought he would turn out to be the death of me. The old me. I stared him straight in the eye and took a deep breath.
"Etienne and I are together forever in this new life of mine." I exclaimed proudly, before adding, "I am forever his and he is forever mine, the way it should be; everlasting, as husband and wife"