The smell of food and grease filled her nose. Low chatter hummed in the air and Anala found a soft smile reside on her lips. Emmett had arrived at the house earlier that evening and told her to get dressed before leading her out to his massive jeep. He had driven, humming along to the radio as he held her hand in his. It had been so familiar and something she'd missed more than she realized. He had always held her hand when he drove, reaching over at some point and linking their fingers. Emmett had kissed the back of her hand before she rested them in her lap like he had done on so many rides in his car; trips to and from school, longer rides to the city. Anala had been surprised when he pulled into the little diner in town. He had taken her here on the first day they'd ever spent together. But why? He didn't eat. Emmett sat across her, scanning his eyes out the window. The crimson of his irises had finally began to fade, now a rusted brown color. His eyes would be more orange if it wasn't for the fact he had to feed, hunger darkening the color. They drew stares and curious looks, but Anala could only focus on the immortal across her.
"Em?" He looked at her, a slight smile on his lips.
"What?"
"Why did you bring me here?"
He reached out and took her hand in his. He played with her fingers, a slight frown on his lips. "I want to do this right." He explained. "We went through a lot and we might've never gotten back together if I . . . I know that we're kind of shaky right now, the wounds are still tender. Things are different but I want this to work. I want us to be better. I'm not going to lose you once I found you again and I thought coming here would be nice. I guess I'm just trying to get us on solid ground again."
The waitress approached, setting down a plate piled with a burger and fries. Anala thanked her before she smiled and walked away, giving Emmett a flirtatious once-over. Anala ignored the food as she looked at him. It had only been a week since they had taken that leap. Anala was still a bit unsure, but she knew she wanted him, them. They had lost two years and their relationship had taken near-irreparable damage and it had left them at a standstill, one she and him were trying to move past. Seeing Emmett put in the effort, reinforcing the notion that he really did want this, wanted her, made her heart race. Anala tucked a leg beneath her comfortably in the booth. She wanted to speak but she wasn't quite sure what to say to him. Everything she was thinking of saying felt inadequate.
He leaned back. "Eat babe, your food is getting cold."
Anala released his hand and took a large bite of her burger, moaning at the smoky flavor and tangy sauce. "I missed this place."
"Isn't it disturbing with a deer head watching you?" he grinned, eyes twinkling.
Her nose wrinkled. "Don't remind me! You know I hate that thing." She glanced at the mounted deer across the room and away.
"I thought you missed it?" he asked mockingly.
"Not that." She took a sip of her iced tea.
Easy conversation flowed between them as she ate. Anala found herself losing her appetite quickly, but dismissed it. She eventually stopped eating as she and Emmett sat in their little booth, talking as the clouds opened and rain began to fall outside. The sound of the water hitting the window was soothing. Emmett was twisting a straw wrapper between his fingers, a thoughtful look in his eyes. She wondered why he seemed so far away suddenly.
"Are you leaving?" he asked after a quiet moment.
How did he . . .? She had been debating when to tell him but it seemed now he knew. Oh well, at least she didn't have to determine when anymore. "Yes."
His fingers paused. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well, I—"
His expression twisted. "I'm trying here Anala but I can't if you're just going to . . ." he stopped, lips pressing together as he twirled the tightly wound wrapper between his thumb and forefinger, shredding it effortlessly.
"If I'm just going to what?"
His eyes met her own. "If you're just going to keep things from me again."
Anala stared at him. Moments ago they had been laughing and now a shadow had fallen over them. The waitress made a reappearance and placed the check on the table as she cleared the table after making sure Anala was done. A phone number had been scribbled at the bottom along with a name. Christine. Anala watched her walk away and a man at the bar trailed his eyes to the woman's ass. "I didn't keep anything from you."
"Then why didn't I hear it from you?"
Anala looked him in the eye, hurt by the steely edge there. She kept her eyes on his, unwilling to accept his words. "Emmett you had made it very clear you wanted nothing to do with me. As far as I'm concerned you didn't have to know anything. If you had let me speak instead of jumping to conclusions I would have told you that I had made that decision before everything that happened between us. I've been trying to decide when to tell you but I hadn't found the right moment yet. I wanted to be the one to tell you but I guess there's nothing left to do now."
Emmett's hand reached out and Anala pulled her hands into her lap as his fingers brushed them. She looked away, a sick feeling forming in her gut. "Anala—"
"I need some air." She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. She skipped down the wooden steps and pulled on her jacket as she walked out into the cold rain. The sound of the door opening and shutting a few moments later followed her.
"Anala, wait!" the voice gained on her quickly. She pushed her fingers into her hair as a large hand touched her arm. She stopped.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have accused you."
"Why? You meant it."
"I jumped to conclusions." He moved around to stand facing her. She looked up at him, hot tears pooling in her eyes. "It's not what you said Emmett, it's what it shows."
A frown marred his flawless face. "What?"
"You don't trust me! It was so easy for you to automatically assume I was hiding something from you. Did any other possibility come into your head or did you go straight to thinking I was keeping secrets?" her voice softened, emotion making it tremble faintly. "I want us to work too."
Emmett stood silent.
Anala stepped towards him and reached up to guide his lips to her own. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I don't blame you. Really, I don't. It's my own fault you're thinking like this." She pulled away but Emmett drew her against him. He kissed the top of her head.
"But it hurts you nonetheless. I'm sorry sweetheart, I'm hopeless."
She pulled back and looked at him. "No more than I am."
He took her hand. "Come on," he said softly. Emmett guided Anala to his jeep and assisted her into the massive vehicle. He turned on the heat and Anala was grateful for it, cold and wet from the rain. She didn't feel too well. Not sick but simply off, weary. As he began to drive down the road, Emmett reached out and pressed his palm into her own, linking their fingers and gave a gentle squeeze. She lifted their hands and pressed a soft kiss the pale back of his, accepting the silent apology. It was quiet for a few long moments.
"When are you leaving?"
Anala stared out the window. "I don't know yet," she said quietly. "I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"To Transition."
"Take me with you." She looked at him, surprised. "When you leave, take me with you. I won't be separated from you again, especially not now. It's obvious we have some stuff to work through, distance isn't going to help."
"You don't even know where I'm going."
"Does it matter?" he grinned. "I'd follow you anywhere woman."
"You promise?" Anala had asked it jokingly but Emmett looked her in the eye, suddenly serious and genuine.
"I promise."
Alice held her head in her hands and shut out the outside world, focusing. She had been trying for hours now but nothing seemed to be making sense. She couldn't figure out what it all meant, what she was even seeing. Usually the things she saw followed a path or timeline, even if they were not in proper order. There was usually . . . more to them, a sense of direction, which was not the case today. The images in her head were a tangled web of random images and snippets of visions. A yellow ribbon, Javan's wolf moving through the trees, Nolan standing in a sea of darkness, a grainy, unfocused image of Emmett pacing anxiously. Alice growled and rubbed her temples, steadying her thoughts.
A disturbingly clear flash of Anala on the ground, her screams loud and pained.
A woman with long, long hair. The brown of it smooth and warm like chocolate.
A vast looming shadow.
This wasn't working. Alice stood and sighed.
"Any luck?" Rosalie sat on her bed, painting her toenails a blood red.
"Not really."
Irina looked up from her book. "Take a break then, the future isn't going anywhere."
She turned to the blonde. "I don't know. It's really strange this time. Nothing feels complete."
Rosalie's eyes moved to her, brush pausing above her foot. "What did you see?"
Alice shook her head, slightly irritated. "I'm not sure anymore."
The door opened and Emmett walked in. he sat on the bed and fell back on the mattress. His huge body easily swallowed much of the bed space, despite its size. Rose growled irritably as she moved the bottle of polish. "Sure," she said sarcastically. "Come on in Emmett."
"Bite me."
"That bad huh?" Alice asked. She saw him earlier that day, taking Anala out but hadn't searched further out of respect for them.
"No it wasn't bad, it just could've been a better night." he said, staring at the ceiling. "I just wish you hadn't told me she was leaving Rose."
"I thought you knew," she said, becoming worried. "Why? Did something happen?"
"I reacted poorly."
"Not surprising. You didn't insult her did you?"
"No! No I just . . . screw it."
Rosalie's hand lashed out and smacked his head. Alice exchanged an amused look with Irina. "You did didn't you?! What did you say?"
"Nothing!"
Her eyes narrowed. "I don't believe you."
"Why the hell not?!"
"Because you can be a moronic ass who sticks his foot in his mouth more than anyone I've ever met!"
Emmett groaned. "Fucking hell, Rose!"
"Shut up. Don't fucking hell me Emmett Dale McCarty. Whatever you did—"
"Don't tell me what to do!" he growled.
Alice giggled. "You realize you sound like an old married couple, right?" They glared at her and she laughed harder. Divorced and they still got under each other's skin. They heard a heartbeat approach and near-silent footfalls. Nolan appeared a moment later, slipping inside and moving across the room smoothly. He grinned. "Sorry, I won't interrupt. I just need a minute."
Alice smiled at her newest brother. "You aren't interrupting. The resident elderly couple are just at it again." Nolan moved forward and sat on the bed, looking at Emmett.
"Em, how's my sister?"
He sat up. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, physically? Does she seem okay?"
"Yeah, I guess. Why?"
"I'm keeping an eye on her. You have to be sure. What about food, is she eating properly?"
Emmett paused. "No, actually. I haven't really seen her eat much of anything all week. Why, what's wrong?"
Nolan shook his head. "Nothing's wrong. Her Transition is starting."
Ah, Alice mentally nodded. Emmett frowned. "She mentioned something about that. What is it?"
"You were already gone when I went through it so it makes sense you don't know what it is." Nolan ran a hand through his hair. "Basically it's the Layame version of hitting puberty. It usually happens within the first twenty years or so but it just depends on when the body and energy are in harmony with each other. The power in the individual increases exceedingly in a short period of time, usually more dormant than not until that point is reached. The body changes in reaction, senses become better, faster, to keep up with the advancement of their gifts. Our marks appear along with fangs and our wings and our nature shifts, become less human and more . . ."
"Animal?" Emmett guessed.
"No not animal exactly, just more. Don't get me wrong, we do become more animalistic, it's just part of the behaviors of our race. Sorry, it's hard to explain when all you've had to compare is Human and Vampire nature. I can only describe it as a wakefulness. When we met, that was not our natural state. We are not human, just lived as they do, and for all intents and purposes look as they do as well because we are human to a certain extent. Anala's been delayed long enough. It was bound to happen sooner rather than later but as you can remember, she never got the chance once she was taken and her return was a bit unstable in the beginning. Transitioning also serves as natural selection. It's very rare but sometimes a body can't support the changes."
"What happens when that occurs?"
"They become something else." Nolan didn't elaborate.
"Will . . . will Anala—?"
Nolan was shaking his head. "It's not exactly pleasant but she'll be fine. We've been through this before, remember? I only want to be there for her. It's not something anyone should go through alone, and for a reason. I know the entire time all I could think of how much better I would feel if I had my sister with me."
Sadness pierced her heart. Alice had seen how painful it had looked, how afraid she had gotten for Nolan. She remembered how he had fallen to his knees after stumbling outside. He had pulled off his shirt and hunched in the dirt, screaming as if he were being ripped open.
He smiled, pushing a hand through his black hair. Surprisingly enough, the shaggy, tousled hair looked good on him. It brought attention to his jaw and made his pale eyes gleam from the dark contrast. But still, Alice craved to give him a haircut, and change up his wardrobe. He was too casual. "We're going to have to keep Rowan close in the next few days."
"Where is he anyway?" Alice asked him.
"I'm not sure actually." Nolan laughed. "But he's probably more aware of her condition than I am."