Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
22. HIDE - AND - SEEK
It had taken much less time than I thought for the visions to come rushing in of just what James could potentially do to me. I could only be amazed at my utter lack of reaction to them beyond morbid fascination. All that violence, the unnatural angles, the horrible bruising, the blood.
Maybe I was in some kind of shock? To be honest, the scene of my being the victim of such violence was just so utterly surreal to me, so far removed from what I ever believed I would go through that it just didn't really register that it would happen to me at all. I doubted that it would fully register until it was actually happening to me.
All the better, I supposed. The longer I thought of the scenes I just witnessed as detached from me, the less time I had to grow fearful and chicken out and fuck things up. I wondered if canon Alice had seen such violence being done to canon Bella, pondering it to distract myself while I showered, seemingly for the sole purpose of at least looking good before looking like I had been the victim of a horrible car accident. With a punk rave spiderella top, cross straps mesh pantyhose wrap leggings, faux fur black lace up ankle boots, and a leather jacket*, that wasn't too difficult to accomplish.
I was barely out the bathroom door when Jasper brought me back into his arms, his emotions soothing my tension as much as his action of nuzzling my neck did. With both of us antsy, anxious to get this ordeal over with, it took less than ten minutes before we were on our way to the airport, Jasper shooting concerned glances at me the entire way. Likely because I felt far to relaxed and calm in this situation. I just thought I was prepared so felt no need to feel panicked or concerned.
"You're graduating this year, aren't you?"
Jasper gave a slow blink as he processed the seemingly random question. "Yes."
"What do you plan to do next year?"
"Wait for you," he replied instantly, no hesitation, as if the answer was obvious. Maybe it was.
"What college are you going to apply to this time?" I asked curiously.
"...I was thinking of giving you some options and asking which you'd prefer to attend."
I only laughed. "Jasper, college is great and all and I respect whoever chooses to further their education, but going there straight out of high school was hardly my life plan. I realize, though, that it is something Carlisle likes you to do and that you all choose to respect that, so so will I. That being said, I don't care which college as long as I'm with you so choose whichever one you'd like."
"And you're sure you can get in," Jasper smirked with a raised brow, already guessing at my reply.
"Love, my gift can be just as much of a cheat as Edward's. Not to say that I don't make sure I understand the material, but I've used it to see just what I need to study in order to pass important tests."
"You don't go straight to looking for the answers?"
"What? No! I just prefer being prepared...and winning." I muttered the last to myself, though obviously he heard.
"Ah, yes, your...competitive spirit," Jasper snickered. "Emmett has fantasized about playing or fighting against you once you've turned."
"And when did you think it best to turn me?" I asked curiously.
"Sometime between our second and third year of university. Long enough for your friends and family to be accustomed to you being distant and for you to cut off ties should you choose that over disappearing without a word."
He knew how likely the first option would be with me if turning Dad wouldn't work out.
"Everyone, but Edward is agreed. If it were up to him, neither you or your sister would be turned," he commented idly.
"Dickhead can fuck off, the final decision doesn't lie with him," I scowled. "I may want to join your family and be turned by one of you, but regardless of whether your family agreed or not, there's no way I would give up forever with you so easily. Worse comes to worse, I'll just find some other friendly vampire to turn me, it wouldn't be difficult with my gift." I sniffed.
From the corner of my eye, I saw that my sincere declaration visibly affected Jasper, his grip on the steering wheel tightening to the point that it groaned a bit in protest, his jaw taut from gritting his teeth.
"Damn, woman," Jasper growled with emotion, "you're the only one that can rile me up like this, the only one that tests my control more than my thirst."
His words only enflamed the warmth in my chest, heart fluttering as I took him in, body tense and struggling to reign himself in. I wouldn't have stopped the next words out of my mouth even if I could.
"I love you."
I'm sure if Jasper were human, he would have choked...or crashed the car. As it was, he only became unnaturally still and nearly rammed into the car in front when he sped up a bit too much.
"Ain't no way I'm gonna let anyone take me away from an eternity with ya, especially not Mason."
Oh, wow, he whipped out the last name, I thought. The hell has Edturd said in past arguments that's gotten Jasper so ticked at him? Well, at least that's what I assumed, it honestly wouldn't surprise me with how far Edward's head is up his own ass sometimes that all that comes out his mouth is insensitive, self righteous bullshit.
"Was that a proposal?" I smiled mischievously, refocusing on Jasper.
"If it was, then that means you proposed first," he retorted playfully before giving a handsome grin, "besides I think your daddy would about have a heart attack if ya got engaged so soon after we got together...maybe we can start out with this to show him we're serious, though."
My eyes widened when he took out a polished wooden ring box from nowhere and flicked it open with one hand, dispalying two rings of damascus stainless steel* nestled in soft white leather. One ring was wider and larger, the other thin and holding a single small white diamond. Engraved on the inside of the bands were 'together forever, never apart' on my ring and 'maybe in distance, but never in heart' on his.
"Jasper," I whispered breathlessly, unable to say more after he had parked the car and slipped the smaller band on the ring finger of my left hand, Jasper smiling when I shakily copied him with the remaining band.
"The engraving was a suggestion from the maker when I commissioned the rings," he confessed, a bit embarrassed, "and I had been goin' back an' forth 'bout givin' this to ya when we got some alone time after that game, but then..." he trailed off and shrugged, the interruption of the small coven left unspoken.
"You realize that a promise ring is not going to make my dad freak out any less, right? Especially such an obviously personalized ring," I informed when he unnecessarily helped me out of the car.
Jasper only chuckled.
"I know."
As expected, their plane was landing in terminal 4, the largest terminal, the most confusing, and the only one with a door on level 3 that would let even physically impaired Bella escape her vampire guard.
I confidently led the way from the fourth floor of the parking garage, obviously familiar with the place, taking the elevator down to level 3 where the passengers unloaded. I looked around in disinterest as Jasper gazed intently at the departing flights board, clearly calculating the pros and cons of every state.
I waited, impatient from where we sat in the long row of chairs by the metal detectors, making Jasper smile when I fiddled with our promise rings, hands entwined.
Finally, the numbers changed on the arrival board and showed their flight would arrive ten minutes early. It was the signal I needed.
"I want food."
Jasper simply stood wordlessly, gently guiding me to do the same with our still connected hands. We walked silently as he shifted his hand from mine to rest on my hip, the touch gentle but firm.
I was amazed when I not only managed to slip a note to a waitress for a food stand as we passed by, but also make sure to wink at them and make sure she knew I was serious about what I wrote, all without Jasper noticing, waiting until he was thoroughly scanning his surroundings again.
Not long after, we reached the corner where the level 3 ladies' room was, my target.
"Ima freshen up," I pointed to the door. "I'll come back." Eventually. Hopefully.
"I'll be here," he murmured, leaning down to give me a short peck on the lips before letting me go.
Once inside, I spotted the kind old woman I'd seen in my vision just reaching the sink to wash her hands.
"Hello," I greeted as softly as I dared while making sure she could still hear, hoping to all the gods the noise of the airport and Jasper's consideration would have him drowning out my words.
"Hello dear," the woman warmly returned, pausing from where she had been about to turn on the sink, obviously sensing I had more to say. Perceptive woman.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, but I was hoping you would pass on a message to my ridiculously handsome partner when you leave. I'm about to run off and lead him on something of a treasure hunt you see-"
"Say no more," the old woman chuckled. "It's nice to see young couples haven't lost the creativity and passion I saw in my youth. What would you like to pass along?"
"Only tell him I'll return if I can and to wait for my order at the Taproom."
"Bending the truth, I see," she chuckled again. "What does he look like, dear?"
"Trust me, you'll know him when you see him, but if you'd like-" I held up my left hand to show her my promise ring, "he's wearing a matching band."
"My, how pretty," she smiled. "No problem at all, darling, leave it to me." She winked as she turned on the faucet.
"Take your time. I need as much of a head start as I can get," I grinned, the action a bit forced before I took off sprinting, now assured my initial message would be delivered and extremely wary of being caught.
Out the second bathroom exit and straight into the elevator, I made a mad dash, blood pumping through my veins as I darted around people, using my size to my advantage. The only thing that kept me from squirming impatiently in the elevator I'd just barely caught was the presence of the other passengers squished in the compartment with me.
As soon as the doors opened enough, I was off again, ignoring the annoyed/curious murmurs behind me. Immediately, I slowed to a casual walk as I passed the security guards, using the small opportunity to catch my breath before returning to my mad sprint as soon as the exit doors came into view.
There was no doubt in my mind that Jasper had by now received my message, but with the crumbs I left and his inability to use his supernatural gifts in such a highly populated area, he wouldn't catch me.
Spotting no cabs out on the crowded curb, panic nearly seized me before I spotted a shuttle to the Hyatt preparing to close it's doors.
"Hold up!" I shouted eagerly, waving at the driver as I ran.
"This is the shuttle to the Hyatt," the driver said in confusion as he kept the doors open.
"Lucky~!" I sang, near breathless. "I made it just in time!"
He looked askance at my luggage-less state, but then shrugged, not caring enough to ask.
I simply shrugged, too, at his indifference before sitting far from the other passengers and bouncing my leg nervously as the scenery blurred and shifted the farther away we got from the airport. Worry was at the forefront of my thoughts concerning my mad scavenger hunt plan. Granted that I planned this down to the finest detail using my gift long before Jasper and I became a couple, only needing to adjust my plans a bit and double check with my visions every time I felt there was a change that affected said plans, but still... needing to rely on so many outside factors at all, rock-solid vision-ensured or not, was extremely daunting.
The whole point of me using my visions thoroughly enough to give me a migraine every time I revised them was so that I'd be assured everything would go off without a hitch, and even now as I constantly monitored the progress with my visions, it was all going perfectly. It was only my lack of trust in people in general that had me nearly nauseous with anxiety on whether they would do the small, highly unusual favors I asked of them.
Gratefully pulled from my thoughts by the shuttle stopping, I jumped out and continued riding my incredible luck, sliding into the seat behind the driver of a cab that had just dropped off a tired looking couple removing the last of their luggage from the trunk. The tired couple and the cabbie blinked at me in shock.
"Sorry, I'm in a huge hurry." I spouted out my mother's address. "I needed to get there, like, five minutes ago."
"That's in Scottsdale," he complained.
"And I'm sure a solid hundred will be enough for your trouble?" I retorted with a raised brow, said folded bill held up between two fingers.
"Yes, ma'am!" He grinned enthusiastically, quickly snatching up the bill.
I sighed heavily, slumping against the seat as the familiar city began to rush by me.
"So what's the big hurry? Late for some appointment?" The cabbie asked casually, obviously open to some conversation now that I'd tipped him generously.
"Sort of. I just ditched my intended and his family at the airport to start off a kind of scavenger hunt I've been planning for months," I replied honestly, needing the distraction from my doom-and-gloom thoughts. "The address I gave you is my next stop before I'm running to the final destination." Hopefully the last isn't literal.
"Ha, kids these days are getting real crazy about the romantic stuff they pull in relationships now, huh?" The cabbie grinned.
"Nah," I grinned back a bit tiredly. "I'd like to think that I'm a special case." If I wasn't, I'd probably crack my head on a wall in exasperation and disbelief.
The cabbie only laughed, content to remain silent until we got closer to our destination. "Hey, what was the number?"
"Five eight two one," I repeated airily.
"Gotcha." He grinned at me through the rear view mirror, saluting me jokingly. "Thanks for the tip. Good luck with your stuff!"
"Thanks," I replied dryly, making him laugh as I took off at a brisk walk, running to the door as soon as I heard the cab driver drive off. The house was, obviously, empty and dark. I turned on the kitchen light and snatched up the phone, only then noticing the small ten digit number written in a small, neat hand on the whiteboard.
My hand quivered as I slowly dialed in the number, feeling like the stupid protagonist of some b-rate horror film as I held the shaking phone to my ear. Mercifully, it rang only once.
Huh, I would have expected him to drag out the suspense to psych me out more. Impatient? Arrogant? High on his perceived success? I wondered idly.
"Hello, Maddy," that easy voice answered. "That was very quick. I'm impressed."
"Is my mom okay?" I questioned immediately. The last thing I needed was for him to find out his little trap had already been seen through. Just a hint that I'd caught on and the bastard would run to regroup, thinking(more or less correctly) that I was stepping in on purpose to act as bait and distraction so the Cullens could finish him off. True, technically, only the Cullens were not aware of the plan and, if I could help it, neither would James be.
"She's perfectly fine. Don't worry, Maddy, I have no quarrel with her. Unless you didn't come alone, of course." Light, amused.
"I'm very alone." I'm probably the only one who would think reenacting Bella's stupid martyr plan was the most viable solution to getting rid of James. But I could come up with no other plan with a higher guarantee of James being permanently dealt with in the end. If I had acted too early, either informing others or acting on my own, Victoria might have caught wind of the danger with her totally-cheat gift and if I had deviated after the initial confrontation, again either by telling others or acting alone, especially with Alice now in the mix, my visions wouldn't be enough of a guarantee for any plans we came up with in the future and circumstances created by everyone acting independent of my future knowledge wouldn't happen if I had told them everything, even if they tried.
Just having that foreknowledge would affect whatever decisions they may have made in the future and suddenly, James and his coven become a much bigger threat to the Cullens and the Swans than anyone ever thought possible. No, of course I would go with the one plan I knew had the highest chance of at least James and Victoria ending up dead, stupid-martyr-plan or not.
Well, it was a good start so far, what with Victoria already dead. I'd ignore red eyed Alice's involvement in that achievement for now, despite regularly checking on her unchanging position to make sure she had yet to bother looking into James' nonexistent future.
"Very good. Now, you do know the ballet studio just around the corner from your home, don't you?"
"Been snooping around in the photo albums, have you?" I scowled.
The hunter only chuckled darkly. "Cheeky thing," I could hear the smirk in his voice. "I'll expect you very soon."
He hung up.
I took a single moment to center myself before bursting into a small flurry of action. I hastily wrote a short note to the Cullens for when they finally got there, copying the number on the back just in case before erasing its existence from the whiteboard and darting out the door. I spared a long two seconds making sure the door was locked behind me before sprinting on the familiar path to the dance studio of my childhood.
Honestly, all the running was likely unnecessary, but I couldn't give myself leisure time to think, to convince myself that this was a terrible idea. If I allowed myself to relax and contemplate, the terror of the reality of what was going to happen to me would cripple me and put my loved ones in danger. I couldn't allow that.
I slowed to a walk, legs shaking as I rounded the corner onto Cactus. The parking lot in front was empty, the vertical blinds in all the windows drawn. I may not have been as athletically challenged as my sister, but that didn't mean I was anywhere near a star athlete either. I took deep lungfulls of breath to stop from panting like a dog, wiping away the thin sheet of sweat I managed to build up with a sleeve.
As I got closer, I could see the sign inside the door. It was handwritten on eye melting hot pink paper; it said the dance studio was closed for spring break. Unusual. I tugged at the door handle experimentally, unsurprised to find it open. My heart stuttered when the door audibly shut behind me.
The lobby was dark and empty, cool, the air conditioner thrumming. The sudden change in temperature, especially after my marathon, had goosebumps raising all over with a sudden cold wave sweeping over my body. Once again, I felt myself returned to the unpleasant sensation of being a horror film protagonist as I cautiously took a single echoing step inside the eerily empty building.
And then my mother's voice called.
"Bella? Maddy?" Yep, identical to the call given over the phone. Seriously, how much could panic and fear compensate for not recognizing the underlying sound of a prerecorded voice, or realizing it was the exact same call as the one over the phone. Quite a lot, then, if it fooled Bella, but maybe that was me giving her more credit than she deserved.
I just huffed and darted to the door where the voice sounded from.
"Bella, Maddy, you scared me! Don't you ever do that to me again!" Her voice continued as I flung open the door and stumbled to a stop just inside the long, high ceiling room.
My gaze immediately found the source, on the TV screen, just in time to see my mother laughing and tousling Bella's hair in relief, doing the same to me shortly after. It was Thanksgiving, we were twelve. We'd gone to see our grandmother in California, the last year before she died. We went to the beach one day and Bella had leaned too far over the edge of the pier. Typical that she had dragged me into it and knocked off my own balance to try and regain hers. All our mom saw was our limbs flailing, trying to reclaim our balance. "Bella? Maddy?" she'd called to us in fear.
And then the TV screen was blue.
I turned to where I felt his undeniable presence. He was standing very still by he back exit, in his hands a remote control. Our eyes locked for a long moment, and then he smiled.
He walked towards me, too close, and then passed me to put the remote down next to the VCR. I turned casually to watch him. Now he was starting the mind games.
"Sorry about that, Maddy, but isn't it better that your mother didn't really have to be involved in all this?" His tone was courteous, kind.
"Absolutely," I replied truthfully.
"But then, you suspected from the very beginning that I was tricking you somehow, didn't you?" He purred, stalking around me slowly, a true predator.
I could only stiffen at his words. Did he suspect?
"Clever, very clever, and gifted too, but your humanity got in the way. Your instincts were telling you I was lying, to run, to preserve your life, but the small, persistent doubt that I really did hold your mother captive won out over your logic."
Well, he wasn't entirely wrong. The niggling doubt was there, not large mind you, but the negative consequences of my existence in this world haunted me every day. It's why I tried so hard not to deviate from this first major event, the supposedly smallest and weakest threat out of all of them. I knew it had the potential to be so much worse. So: keep it more or less the same it was. My catchphrase really was becoming better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
"Then again, not many other humans would sacrifice themselves for another, family or no." His dark eyes assessed me with keen interest. His irises were nearly black, just a hint of ruby around the edges. Thirsty. "I will give your strange coven this much, you humans can be quite fascinating. I can certainly see the draw of observing you, even keeping one as a prized pet if they're as valuable as you. It's amazing - some of you seem to have no sense of your own self-interest at all."
He was standing a few feet away from me arms folded, looking at me curiously. There was no menace in his face or stance. Not that I needed the physical cues to understand he wanted to drain me.
"Where's Alice?" I asked, managing to infuse genuine curiosity into my tone.
"Ah, yes, you would be curious about my own little seer wouldn't you?" He examined me from head to toe and back. "A remarkable amount of similarities, but then that only means I have no need for two." He waved a hand flippantly. "Don't worry. It's just you and me. I sent dear Alice on a simple errand, to dispose of your pesky yellow eyed friends."
I openly scoffed at the very idea, though he only seemed to find my response amusing. Obviously he was unaware that Alice allowed Victoria to be killed allowed and that she, for some reason, was off relaxing and doing fuck all for some reason.
"I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you?" He asked, hopefully. "Or is it intended now? The ring is new. How sweet. Did he give it to you just before you ran from him to me?"
Yes, but I wasn't going to tell him that. Rather...
"Do you actually not know who it is you're baiting?" I asked in sincere disbelief. "Or is it because you know exactly who you're baiting that you're so twistedly excited?"
He paused, absorbing my words and looking undeniably intrigued.
"Oh? Do tell. I hope you're not exaggerating. You see, this was all just a little too easy, too quick. To be quite honest, I'm disappointed. I expected a much greater challenge, so if you're saying I've managed to bait something larger by capturing a smaller prey..." he trailed off, eyeing me intently. I obeyed the wordless command.
"Are you familiar with the name Jasper Whitlock?" I asked, truly curious despite myself.
"Assuming Whitlock is the true surname of your intended, my familiarity with the name ends there," James replied honestly.
"Perhaps you'd be more familiar with his moniker of 'the God of War,'" I continued slowly, keenly watching his face to see if the nomadic vampire even recognized it at all. From the way his eyes widened and his jaw dropped a little, I would say yes. I leaned back when James leaned in too close.
"Jasper Cullen? The God of War? What on earth is a vampire of his calibre doing picking off animals in that small town, playing at being civil?" He asked in disbelief. "The south is rife with tales of his ruthless efficiency, of the number of vampires, more newborns than anything, that he's decimated by himself! Even the Volturi are in awe of him and respect him! That is your intended?!"
Well. I did have a vague idea of how much of a reputation Jasper garnered from his times in the southern blood wars, but to have it lain out like that, it really was quite impressive. Oh, and James was apparently a total fan boy for him. Who knew?
"It's nice to know that you're so excited at the idea of being hunted and torn apart by your idol," I replied dryly.
"Him? Hunt me? Oh my dear girl, how very mistaken you are. You have no idea the effect losing ones mate has on a vampire do you? Especially if they die the way you're going to," he cooed, stepping back and reaching for a palm sized digital video camera balanced carefully on top of the stereo. A small red light indicated that it was already running. He adjusted it adjusted few times, widened the frame. "Now, smile!"
"You're a sick bastard," I grimaced, internally quite horrified as to what was about to happen.
"Yes, you already have an inkling of what I'm planning, clever thing that you are. Ah, just imagining the mindless rage the God of War will go through after he watches this...well, I wouldn't want him to miss anything. And really who is to blame for your situation but him for choosing such a vulnerable mate and you for being in the wrong place, the wrong time, and indisputably running with the wrong crowd, I might add."
"You're a sick bastard," I repeated with a bit more vitriol, the fear starting to claw at my pounding chest.
He stepped toward me, smiling. "Before we begin...I would like to rub it in, just a little bit. To have captured the human mate of the God of War so easily. He must have gone soft. If only I could do to you what I had done to Alice, all that time ago, but you have a much stronger grasp of your gift as a human than she did. I was so afraid that mind reader of yours would see it and ruin my fun. The one and only time my prey escaped me, but victory was mine in the end, in a way."
"What do you mean?" I questioned wearily, anything to keep him talking. He beamed at me, pleased that I asked.
"You see, the vampire that was so stupidly fond of this little victim made the choice that your Jasper was too weak to make. When the old one knew I was after his little friend, he stole her from the asylum where he worked - I never will understand the obsession some vampires have with you humans - and as soon as he freed her he made her safe. She didn't even seem to notice the pain, poor little creature. She'd been stuck in that black hole of a cell for so long. A hundred years earlier and she would have been burned at the stake for her visions. In the nineteen-twenties it was the asylum and the shock treatments. When she opened her eyes, strong with her fresh youth, it was like she'd never seen the sun before. The old vampire made her a strong new vampire, and there was no reason for me touch her then." He sighed. "But the old one underestimated my wounded pride, you see. He was far too satisfied, believing she was safe from me then. So I destroyed him in vengeance, but not before telling him my plans to make her mine. And make her mine I did."
"Your own pet seer," I sneered. "Who better to guarantee you more successful hunts in the future?"
"Precisely," James grinned. "And oh how simple it was, to have her become devoted to me. No memories of her past, no recollection of her sire-"
"A blank slate," I finished flatly.
"Yes, but she did smell so delicious as a human. I still regret that I never got to taste... She smelled even better than you do. Sorry - I don't mean to be offensive. You have a very nice smell. Floral, somehow..."
He took another step toward me, until he was just inches away. My jaw grew taut when he lifted a lock of my hair and sniffed at it delicately. Then he gently patted the strand back into place, and I felt his cool fingertips against my throat. He reached up to stroke my cheek once quickly with his thumb, his face curious. I was going to need a serious face scrub after this. Well, curiosity was better than fascination at least.
"No," he murmured to himself as he dropped his hand, "I don't quite understand." He sighed. "Well, I suppose we should get on with it. And then I can call your friends and tell them where to find you, and my little message."
Too late for that, I already told them. More or less. At least, I hope they got the information by now. I already knew this was going to be bad from the terrible glint in his gaze. The visions of what he'd do to me that I had earlier came rushing back and the gnawing terror at the sudden realness of the situation rushed through me and froze me in my spot.
He stepped back, and began circling again, casually, as if he were trying to get a better view of a piece in an art gallery, his face still open and friendly as he decided where to start.
Then he slumped forward, into a crouch I recognized, and his pleasant smile slowly widened, grew, until it wasn't a smile at all but a contortion of teeth, exposed and glistening with venom.
Every fiber in my being screamed at me to run, but I forced my body to lock in place, refusing to give the hunter the satisfaction of chasing me, knowing it was what he wanted, the thrill of it.
"Not going to run?" He questioned, his voice coming out as more feral sounding than the pleasant tone from before.
"Go fuck yourself." Any of my usual witty retorts were lost in the storm of terror raging in my mind.
He was in front of me in a flash, unsure if he used his hand or foot, and struck a blow I couldn't see to my chest. I flew backwards and heard a sickening crunch as my head smacked into the mirrors. The glass cracked, the pieces raining down in shattered, splintered pieces on the floor around me.
"That's a very nice effect," he said, examining the mess of glass, his voice friendly again. "I thought this room would be visually dramatic for my little film. That's why I picked this place to meet you. It's perfect, isn't it?"
"Give the bitch a Grammy," I choked as I heaved and struggled to stand, refusing to run or be on my hands and knees in front of him, the wind being knocked out of me temporarily numbing my pain.
Casually, he swept his foot to knock me off my own, the action looking light but resulting in the sound of a clean snap before I felt it as I fell to the ground. I couldn't help the guttural shout the new pain brought before I locked my body up, including my jaw, snapping it shut and hissing in agony, stiff hands fluttering over my now unnaturally bent leg.
"Your cheek in the face of death continues to amuse me," James chuckled, "but I admit to being a bit peeved that you're not showing more of the fear you're feeling. No sobbing, no shrieking, no running."
He sighed and nudged my broken leg with one foot, making me shriek in agonizing pain and anger, the anger fuelled by terror.
"I suppose I'll have to try a little harder with you, but it is half the fun." He smirked then. "Would you like to have your mate swear vengeance upon me?" He prompted eagerly.
"He hardly needs the encouragement, with how monumental a dic-" I croaked out angrily, only to be interrupted by a horrible smack to the face, throwing me back into the broken mirrors.
Fucking limpdick doucheprick! I cussed in my head, blinking rapidly when warm, wet blood began trickling freely through my hair and soaking my top, the sound of it dripping on the wood below loud in my ringing ears. The strong coppery smell was almost twistedly reassuring. It meant this small torture session was almost over.
True to my thoughts, a vision of my impending rescue flitted through my mind almost too quick for me to process in my current state, but there all the same. Through the nausea and lightheadedness I saw that James had finally lost grasp of his tight control at the sight of my life blood.
My heavy lids began to fall, slowly making the sight of James lunging at me fade from my sight, my last effort to dodge him being falling to one side from where I was slumped against the broken mirror wall. My eyes closed, and I fell to darkness.
AN: Praise above! I finished another chapter! We're so close to the end guys! Please don't worry about me ever abandoning this story, it's my baby and I've made a point to finish it. Also, for those wondering, yes I will be doing the rest of the books, I'm already half done with the first chapter of New Moon, that's how eager I am. Don't worry, though, I stopped to finish the rest of Twilight, already started the next chapter and it shouldn't take long, it's a short chapter. Finishing the first chapter of New Moon is my motivation to complete the first book because I'm so pumped for it .°•(OxO)•°
For those concerned with my long absence, well, this is normal for me. It's not so much busy life or writer's block that gets in the way of my writing but the crippling depression. My parents don't really understand that depression is a mental illness and not something you can 'get over' or 'fix' with positive thinking, and I personally have only very recently come to terms with the fact that I have a mental illness at all. It's not exactly something one would want to admit to having, but I've gotten so sick of believing that my apathy, misery, and perceived laziness is just innately who I am because it's fucking not. I barely remember being a cheerful, funny person more often than not and not this bitter, miserable lump...
Anyways, after some personal revelations and having some serious talks with my best friend/biggest support and finally getting up the courage to tell my family what was up with me (they still don't really understand, but they're more supportive than I expected), I finally feel like I have something of a grasp on my life, not much of one but it feels like I've finally found an oar after being on a rudderless boat for so long, more or less. Hence, my revived love for writing!(among other things)
Oh, and a reply to one reviewer from the last chapter:
XxBlindXxAngelXx: Sorry, I'm just following the same 'rules', so to speak, as the book was. Bella was in the same situation and a much more terrible actress, so I just assumed for the sake of the story that neither Alice nor Jasper could hear the other end of the line. And this is canon, I just made it so the same logic applied to Maddy, questionable as it is (trust me I totally agree with your skepticism.)
So! Here's the latest! The two * notes should be posted on Madsper dot Tumblr by now and as always thank you for the reads and feel free to review, they feed my motivation! All my love! ,(=w=)/
