CHAPTER SIXTY FOUR
INTO THE LIGHT
KATHERINE CONSTANTINE:
I inhabited a strange shadowy world now. I heard muffled voices. I saw shapes which were fuzzy. Everything seemed out of reach in this new place I dwelled in. It was like existing in a hazy bubble of air, there was no exit, no substance and no sunlight. It was twilight all the time here. I felt as if I wasn't alone in my new world though. I felt a presence. I didn't know how long I had been here or how long I was going to stay. Something was niggling away at my brain, something very important. Embry. That word swirled around my brain constantly when I was conscious. I sometimes slept here in this strange universe. That's when I dreamed of a different place and a different time. Images that were fleeting and insubstantial. I knew I didn't belong here, I knew I was meant to get back somewhere away from here. I felt like I had no body. How do I get home, wherever that might be, without a body? Frustration poured through me as well as sorrow. I had no body, so no eyes to shed tears when I was sad. It was all very confusing and strange. Embry, Embry, Embry. The word teased me and drove me insane. I had to get out of here somehow. It was of paramount importance that I did. Although I wasn't sure how I knew this. I couldn't fathom how things worked here, but I knew without a doubt that I had to go back to my old life very soon indeed.
Suddenly a door appeared before me and I was bathed in a pure brilliant white light as an angel greeted me warmly with an outstretched hand.
ETIENNE LUCIER:
A vampire as old as I should not be able to use the word heaven in any sort of context. When I was a human I had firmly believed I had a soul which left our mortal bodies for somewhere infinitely better when we died. But I had been living as an immortal being for so long I reckoned I had no right to believe in my old human ideas any more. When I was hunting in the dense woods near the Cullen's house tonight I found my piece of heaven. Leah's arms had encircled me as I fed on a deer. I had gasped with pleasure as I felt her cool lips on my neck, her sharp teeth lightly grazing me. I loved her to bite my skin, it caused electric shocks to run up and down my spine and I had surrendered to her passionate embrace willingly as I always did. Tonight had been even sweeter as I had been apart from her for what seemed like an eternity. To us vampires a day was like a second, so you understand how much I had missed my dearest wife! Her wild cold fire kisses penetrated my being with their longing desire. Her marble white arms pinned me to her with passionate strength which would take my breath away if I still had oxygen to steal. As we sunk to the forest floor clinging together desperately I was happy to the very depths of my cold still heart that she had clearly and undoubtedly missed me as much as I had missed her.
Much later as we lay under the stars she whispered words of love and adoration to me. She spoke of her time in London with Daniel and why he was now in Forks awaiting on a meeting with us both. I didn't want to leave our makeshift bed in the leaves but Katherine needed our help once again. So we made our way to the Pacific Inn Motel to pick up Leah's new friend. We sped off into the night in Edward's borrowed silver Volvo, Daniel looking sombre and pensive in the back seat. He was staring at Leah intently as she obviously ignored him. What was going on between them? Leah had failed to mention any thing to me. I was old and wise enough to know that Daniel Merryweather had an insanely huge crush on my beautiful wife. I didn't blame him nor did I feel the need to warn him off. Leah loved me without question and besides we were used to dazzling humans, it happened all the time. I wondered why there was an uneasiness between them though. I concentrated on the road ahead as we approached the Cullen's home. Once inside, we led Daniel to Katherine's bedside. Embry was keeping vigil of course. Only brief introductions were required as Leah had already explained things in length to Embry on the phone. Daniel would enter the spirit realm to bring Katherine out of the limbo land which she was currently living in. She was precariously balanced between life and death at the moment but Daniel could go into a spiritual trance and talk with his angel guide who would hopefully help him bring the love of Embry's life back to him. Carlisle had worked his miracles to keep all of Katherine's vital signs functioning. Her baby grew healthily inside her despite the coma. You could see the slight swelling of her stomach which gave her pregnancy away. Carlisle had scanned her, revealing a healthy foetus with a strong heartbeat. In only a few weeks he would be able to tell us if Leah's prediction of a boy was correct.
Once everything was in place Daniel began his preparations whilst Leah, Embry, Carlisle, Rebecca and I looked on. Luckily Mike and Angie Constantine were at home in Vancouver just now and weren't due back until tomorrow. We had managed to keep the supernatural hidden from them so far. Leah gripped my hand in a tight squeeze. "Are you having a vision?" I whispered. She nodded, but I noticed instead of her usual panic she was calm and serene. Daniel had really done a good job with her. I needed to thank him personally for that when all this was over. We all stood around Kat's bedside praying that Daniel's plan would work. It had to. Embry was very nearly destroyed by this. Carlisle had researched the subject of coma patients who were pregnant and found some information which was useful to know when and if the time came. Actually, although it seems counter intuitive,women in coma's are capable of birthing vaginally. In fact, it is often considered safer for these women than a c-section because of the risks of anaesthesia. The body does not need the conscious mind to be on board whilst the body labours. There does often need to be some interventions during the final delivery, however, because the woman cannot participate in the actual birthing. I hoped tonight would work so that situation would never arise.
Daniel's eyes were tightly closed and he muttered incantations under his breath. The lights were all dimmed and the room had a surreal atmosphere. Daniel's hands were lightly resting on Kat's small pale ones. Embry was sitting close by watching the goings on with tired dark shadowed eyes. I reckoned he was in two minds about this all but was willing to try anything. Kat's eyelids began to flicker as Daniel's lips silently moved faster and faster. Leah squeezed my hand again with a small half smile on her face. I turned quickly back to the scene unfolding before my topaz eyes. Kat's eyes began to slowly open. Rebecca and Embry both gasped with surprise as she smiled beatifically at Daniel's shocked gaze. Maybe he hadn't truly believed in his own powers of the mind? My mind control was good, but even his feat had amazed and astounded me beyond my wildest dreams. Kat was awake! She truly was awake! Embry was crying happy tears which fell onto Kat's hand as he brought it to his lips. "Oh Kat!" he exclaimed. Rebecca began to cry too. I gazed at Leah with a happy smile. She was smiling back too so I guessed her visions had been good. Kat turned to look into her beloveds dark eyes which brimmed with tears of joy. "You came back" Embry whispered as he kissed the smooth pale skin of her delicate wrist. Kat's voice was hoarse and raspy when she spoke. "I had to. For you. For us. For him." she whispered as she gently rubbed her swollen belly. Embry's eyes widened with joy and surprise. "You know?" he whispered back. Kat's big sapphire blue eyes gazed up into the depths of his dark ones serenely, as she smiled beautifully and knowingly.
"Of course, my love. The angel told me all about him. Our precious son. Our precious Nathaniel "