Author's note: You aren't going to be very happy with me on these next updates but it's okay, i swear.
Enjoy. :)
Anala gently sifted dirt over the seeds in the pot before her. There wasn't much sunlight in Forks, she knew, but she had faith they would live. She pushed a bit of energy into the soil to aid in the seed's future development. She placed the pot in the windowsill along with the others. She stared at them. Anala had always understood this. Plant the seed in good soil and it will grow. Tend to it and it would flourish. There was no secret, no complicated truth in nature. The dark haze that had been over her since her return to the living world was gone and it had been just over a week since the day Nolan had evened the balance of power within her. She had awakened clear, calm and rested with his words echoing in her head.
"O wausn's jionj si lus wie faull."
I wasn't going to let you fall.
It was quiet in her head and the painful pressure was gone. Realization had hit her with the force of a truck. She had attacked Javan out of pure instinct, too overwhelmed and confused and frightened to think, then went on to kill two men. The gap in her memory had been filled by brutal, violent images that seemed more like a bad dream, and if that was what she had ended up doing then Anala was grateful she had left before Javan was seriously injured. Or worse. The dark-haired man had found great amusement in her apologies and brushed them away casually before pressing his lips to hers and asking if she felt sane finally. He wasn't taking her seriously, of course. If only he really knew what kind of danger he had been in that night. Anala expected to feel remorse for killing those men, but she hadn't. Initially she was shocked by the suddenness of it but then the dark had stirred and in the next moments she had . . .
It had come so naturally.
Anala walked towards the stairs. She had fallen into an easy rhythm. Talks with her brother, hanging out with Alice and Rose. She was catching up with the others, adjusting to the time she had missed. It was nice but Anala couldn't help but feel like she was simply lingering here, suspended, and she wasn't sure what to do with herself. Anala entered her bedroom. She had unpacked her things and was left with a single neat stack of items on her dresser, varying from clothes to a pair of sunglasses. All Emmett's. She had found a shirt first. Plain white and big. Anala had pulled the material to her face, inhaling. It didn't smell like him anymore. The only time she had felt clear of the agonizing haze of voices and illusions was in his presence, even as he raged at her, Anala had been steadied. The heat radiating from him had encased her and despite her confusion at the red of his eyes she was transfixed on him, her heart swelling with emotion. Though it saddened her. Anala didn't understand the changes in him. The anger and hate, she understood completely. She had been the one to cause it. But it was more than that, there was a look in his eyes that she couldn't comprehend.
She looked at the pile of his things. I should give this back to him. She'd been stalling. He didn't want anything to do with her, as was his right, and this was an excuse to see him for a few minutes and try and get him to talk to her without losing his temper or dismissing her completely. If only for a few minutes. Anala wasn't naïve enough to assume anything. Somehow, she had always known she'd cause Emmett pain and was able to accept his hatred because he survived everything he had been hauled into because of her. Anala just wanted to be able to tell him she was happy that she was able to know him and thank him for it. But a part of her couldn't help but hope. Anala sighed and bit her lip, debating with herself. She should get it over with, right? She couldn't hang on to his stuff forever. She just wished it didn't feel so . . . final.
"Just do it," she whispered to herself. It was ridiculous to be so nervous.
Anala pulled on her shoes and gathered Emmett's belongings. She relaxed, letting herself melt into the shadows, shifting through the darkness as everything sped past in white, spectral blurs. Walls melted into place, her feet were on a solid light wood and the shadows retreated. Anala couldn't be sure if she heard the moan or if her mind processed the scene before her first. Emmett was naked on his bed and an equally naked woman straddled him, hips stopping mid-rock. Her hair was flaxen and straighter than corn silk, falling around her shoulders and upper back in yellow locks. Gold and dark crimson eyes snapped to her at once and Anala stepped back, forgetting there was nothing but wall behind her.
"I—"
Anala could feel heat rising to her face. Her mind delayed then moved into overdrive as the air rushed from her lungs and her lips formed words as she tried to get herself to move. Neither vampire stirred. "I'm sorry, I didn't—" She looked away from the bed, down to the floor where she didn't have to see. "I just . . . wanted to give these back to you. I found them and I thought I'd—" She was babbling. "I'll just—" She moved and placed his things on the nearest surface which happened to be his desk, swallowing thickly. "I um—sorry."
Anala let the shadows take her and she emerged deep in the woods. The shock dispersed quickly. She was trembling, the sharp pain in her chest forced her to double-over, bracing a hand on the nearest tree and the other over her pounding heart. She couldn't seem to catch her breath, her lungs seized and her chest burned. Blood rushed loudly in her ears and her vision swam, blurred with tears. Why couldn't she stop shaking? Images filled her head, taking notice of details she hadn't perceived at first. Like how the woman's hands braced on his chest, over the black markings there, his on her pale thigh. The heated look in the woman's eyes, the clothes tossed uncaringly over the floor. Don't be so shocked, she told herself. You were dead for almost two years. You can't be surprised he's moved on. It didn't make it hurt any less.
Don't cry.
Don't cry.
Hot tears stung her eyes as a choked sob burst from her chest, forcing them to spill down her cheeks. She heard a growl before cold hands spun her around and slammed her painfully against the tree she had been using to support herself. Pitch eyes stared at her and deadly fangs were revealed to her as the vampire before her hissed menacingly. The black faded to gold and the hands lifted away suddenly as the woman stepped away. She was fair and stunning, strawberry blonde curls framing her heart-shaped face.
"I'm sorry, please, I'm not going to hurt you!"
Anala blinked.
"Anala?" Edward. Anala looked back to the unfamiliar woman. Edward was in front of her, a frown marring his lips. "Anala are you okay? What are you doing out here?"
Rosalie was suddenly there, then Esme and another blonde woman who Anala didn't recognize. They had been hunting, that much she could tell. Anala couldn't think. She choked out a quick "I'm fine," before pulling the shadows around her and leaving. Whatever hope she had been clinging to was gone now, and despite what she told herself, the pain of the reality didn't diminish.
Emmett sat in the leather desk chair, motionless. Outwardly he was silent and stationary but inside he was in restless turmoil. He was agitated, unreasonably so. His return from yesterday morning's hunt had greeted him with Tanya, Irina, and Kate sitting in the living room. Of all things they were visiting now. Technically, this had been planned weeks before Emmett returned home. Carmen and Eleazar were in Moscow and Esme invited the girls for a visit. Anala just happened to return from the dead before they arrived. It wasn't that Emmett didn't want them there, he was very fond of the three and could go on for days about the crazy shit they'd gotten into in the past. Emmett just didn't think he could deal with them and his family while trying to hold himself together and keep Anala out of his head, which had proved to be a demanding task. It was unmanageable. Anala was less than five miles away from him, she was close. Every urge his inner monster had was to go to her. To seek her out. Fuck, he needed to get the hell out of this town. Pale hands touched his shoulders and slid down his chest, followed by pale arms that wrapped around his neck loosely.
He sighed. "Kate."
Cool lips moved up his neck and brushed his ear. "Still brooding about I see." Kate was suddenly sliding into his lap, smirking at him. The others had gone hunting. Emmett, having fed already, stayed behind and apparently so had Kate. Her pink lips met his own. Emmett pulled back distractedly. "Kate I'm not in the mood."
"Really?" She asked. Kate rocked her hips against his half-hard erection and his hand moved to her hip. "I only want to play with you." her hands moved down his chest, painful shocks radiating through his body. He growled and shoved her off him. Kate was grinning at him. Emmett stood, half angry, half aroused and fully agitated. His eyes trailed over her tall, slim figure covered in a deep purple dress that was short and left little to the imagination. She was pale and beautiful and had never had an issue challenging him. Emmett had always had a strange attraction to Kate, one of the things that drew him in the first place. Maybe it was just chemistry, he didn't know.
"Fuck off Kate," he muttered snappily.
She laughed. "So tense. I can help with that." Kate pressed her body against his. "It's not healthy. Especially for a man of your . . ." her hand rubbed the hardness pressing against his jeans. "Appetites."
Emmett was going to tell her to leave when something clicked.
This was exactly what he needed. A distraction. He liked Kate. Kate was fun. Kate was uncomplicated. Emmett had always enjoyed fucking her when he'd pay her a visit and vice versa. There were no expectations. They understood they could never feel enough to be Mates but were fond of each other and she was easily one of his closest friends. Emmett wasn't driving himself crazy with fury because it had always been unproblematic with her. Kate brushed her blonde hair off her shoulder and her golden eyes raked over him shamelessly. It was like the universe had sent him a present. A hot, blonde present. The hurricane of emotion inside sent anger and frustration tearing though him and Emmett wanted to rip the house to pieces in a furious rage and erase the last month of his existence. Or he could do something less destructive and harmful.
"So what's got you all pissed off and aggressive?"
Emmett's lips pressed into a hard line, the build of emotion bubbling over. "Kate? Do something for me."
She looked at him, hand on her hip. "Hm?"
"Shut the hell up." He kissed her, grabbing her and pulling her against him. Kate responded enthusiastically, curling a hand around the back of his neck. Her skin was tepid. Emmett wanted heat. Her hands pulled at his jeans, ripping them open and pushed them down around his knees. He pulled his shirt over his head and smirked as she shoved him back into the bed and pulled off his jeans. She stared at him as she pulled down her dress. Stunning Kate. Pale marble flesh was revealed to him. He envisioned soft caramel. He sat up and pulled the blonde against him and twisted so that she lay under him. Her pink lips were smooth and Emmett craved soft lips a deep, lovely red. Kate raked her nails down his sides, sending electric volts through him and Emmett snarled, biting into her shoulder.
"That hurts you sadist!" he barked, trailing his mouth to her chest. A different body preoccupied his mind. A smaller one with an hourglass shape instead of a long, slim one. His fingers threaded through thick black hair instead of fine blonde. Brilliant emerald stared up at him in place of amber. Emmett shoved the images away, focusing on Kate. He trailed his tongue over her pink nipples and bit down on her flesh in retaliation to the zap she sent careening up his arm. She smelled like sunflowers and winter.
"Poor you. Let me fuck it better, alright?" her voice was a silky, mocking, purr.
Emmett moved over her and thrust into her body with a hard plunge, half-expecting a tight channel of liquid fire to surround him. Kate was pulling him against her, meeting him on each thrust. She moaned against his lips. In an instant he was shoved onto his back. Kate sat atop him looking like a fucking warrior princess, which wasn't too far off if he thought about it. She raised her hips and lowered, grinding against his own. Emmett ran his hands up her body. Kate's eyes were dark and low, sexy moans were leaving her lips. He held her thighs, groaning at the feel of her moving atop him as he took in the sight of her. Her walls pressed around him and the sensation of her riding him was quickly making his thoughts disperse. It wasn't . . . right, but it was enjoyable and comfortable and more than anything distracting.
The heartbeat hurtled him into reality.
He looked over and there she stood. Anala. Her striking eyes stared at them as she pressed into the wall. Emmett was frozen. She looked away from them, a flush moving up her neck and cheeks as she began to talk, giving an explanation and looking like she was going to bolt. He recognized the items she removed from her arms and placed on his desk and in that moment Emmett wanted nothing more than to say something, anything, but what the hell did a vampire say to the woman who had shattered his world and returned under impossible circumstances when she walked in on him buried balls deep in another woman? Before he could even begin to form a sentence Anala was gone.
"How did she . . . ?" Kate looked down at him, surprise layering her voice. "Emmett who was that?"
Emmett rubbed his face, cursing lowly. That is the woman who's been haunting me. He shouldn't be feeling like shit. His heart shouldn't be plummeting into his gut. There was no need for it. He wasn't with Anala. But he'd be lying if he said that the distinct pit in his core wasn't guilt.