Most people had hobbies. Some created or built things. Some birdwatched, or played instruments, or participated in sports. The general concept of a hobby was usually harmless, catering to a specific interest. Edward just happened to be stuck with the one person on the face of the planet whose hobby was to annoy telepaths. Edward glared at his brother as he listened to the sound of Nolan's Camaro pull out and fade as it disappeared down the long drive. Emmett sat on the couch, resting his arm against the back as he grinned widely at the other. The inane and pointless, yet surprisingly well put together rant on some moss growing on a tree outside was enough to give him a migraine if he were capable. It would have been entertaining if Edward wasn't the one who was subjected to it.

"Stop it."

Fuck you, dude.

Edward had glued all of his belongings to the ceiling of his bedroom with industrial strength adhesive. But it had only been in retaliation to the other subsiding all of his CD's for paper cutouts with crude drawings on them that mocked him, the artist, or both. Ever the devious mastermind, Emmett had hidden them well, all throughout the house and his car. Edward had even found some in the clearing he often visited. He was still searching for about two dozen or so. So now Emmett had decided mental torture was the next course of action. He met his gaze directly, currently debating which way to go with this, to figure out what would bother him the mos—no.

Edward glared harder.

Emmett's grin widened.

So Ed, lately I've been thinking about this time Anala and I went to see this indie film in Portland. The movie was alright I guess, but I was a bit distracted. Soft lips were placing moist kisses on impenetrable flesh as a warm body pressed close, heating him to the very center of his being. One heartbeat rang louder than the rest, drew him in. she kinda snuck up on me, but I like when she does shit like that. We were in the balcony. It had been closed off that night, but we didn't care. The view was better. Not that it mattered. Large hands slipped pale blue lace down smooth warm-toned thighs. A soft moan ghosted in the air. Black pupils expanded in emerald depths. Her dress was all short and flowy. I wanted to fuck her so bad it drove me damn-near insane. Deft fingers made quick work of slipping small buttons from the peach material, exposing full breasts incased in matching blue lace. White teeth sank into a full bottom lip. Small hands guided a much larger one over its soft, curvaceous body and between warm thighs.

"Touch me."

He had always appreciated the man's mind. His stream of thought was always entertaining, funny and light and simple, as Emmett was known to be. Much like that of a child, Emmett had a gifted imagination. Edward had always enjoyed his outlook, and the sheer vividness and clarity of his thoughts. He could create entire images and scenarios with very little effort, never boring the other with his day-to-day musings. However this was Emmett. In his logic, if Edward was allowed to root around in his head then he should be rightfully permitted to use it to his advantage. And damn if he wasn't good at it. Bastard.

"Emmett."

Emmett's smirk was filled with amusement. Perhaps you'd prefer something a little more recent?

Edward twitched as another onslaught of images he really shouldn't be seeing filtered through his head. They were unfamiliar to him, and while he knew this wouldn't be good, Edward was fascinated.

A long corridor illuminated by ornamental torches. Thin red curtains swayed gently, the long material dancing out into the hall before gently falling back into place. A silent invitation.Emmett leaned forward a bit, a bright gleam in his amber eyes. As oracle, she has sisters, Mages that serve with her in the temple. They grow and learn together, are closer than blood really. He moved on silent feet, led by the sound of soft voices and familiar heartbeats. It was like my fantasies were coming true right in front of me, only I wasn't allowed to join. Long, long red hair spilled over deep violet covers. Pink lips parted, inhaling, then released a soft, airy moan. The pale goddess shifted graceful limbs and writhed as deep red lips moved over her pale breast. Burning emerald eyes watched the other as her hand moved steadily between creamy thighs, black bangs sliding into her face. The redhead shuddered, moaning as she was gripped in the throes of her orgasm.

If he got up, Emmett would simply follow. If he stayed he had to be subjected to looking at these strikingly clear images he couldn't help but react to. It continued and Emmett was enjoying himself much more than he should. "What if I told her you were showing me these things? Showing me her?"

Emmett shrugged. "Go ahead. I don't think she'd really care though." his unbothered tone made Edward doubt himself. Emmett knew Anala better than he did. It was more probable he was right. And if he wasn't there was a chance he would be included on the list of guilty parties, and Edward would have an even harder time if Nolan were to find out. It was almost a given he would not be happy if he were to tell him he and Emmett were sexual deviants, however unwilling Edward was. Damn!

The redhead and a lovely blonde were standing near a lit fireplace. They kissed and touched as they whispered to each other in a foreign tongue. A gorgeous woman with warm brown skin and endless hazel eyes sat behind Anala's reclining body, running her fingers over the markings on the woman's ribs. Stroked ebony locks. Cupped her breast. She leaned in to press her lips against Anala's own, absorbing her moan as the redhead trailed her lips up her inner thigh and the blonde crawled onto the low bed slowly. Emmett's mental voice entered his head.

Those girls really love each other.

Edward stood. He wouldn't give his brother the satisfaction of continuing this. He could run for it, Edward supposed, he was faster. But Emmett had . . . very loud thoughts. This was . . . and from memory too! Edward turned away, trying to ignore the image of Anala arching in pleasure and headed for the entrance, Emmett's amused laughter following after him.

He had just stepped out into the hall when he heard a sudden heartbeat and Anala was tumbling through the front door. Edward stopped cold, eyes wide. It was like he'd stepped into an alternate world where he was living a horror film. Anala was covered in blood. It soaked through the material of her towel and covered her skin. Her wet hair hung limply around her body, droplets of water mixing with the blood that was landing on the floor. Edward was stunned by the sudden and unexpected scene. He moved forward, having every intention to get her immediate help. He could hear the others, becoming aware of the disturbance, migrating towards the front hall. He reached out and her body swayed back.

"No! No, don't touch me."

Anala fell against the wall, sliding to the floor. Red smeared on the flat surface as she descended. Her face was ashen. Her breaths were labored and pained. Edward wanted to dismiss her. His thoughts were screaming at him, telling him to help her. But there was something stopping him, something about the sound of her voice that had made him halt in his tracks, anxious and worried and uncertain. Emmett was flashing around him. His thoughts were frantic and panicked. His hands were reaching, inches from her.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

A sudden force sent his body flying backwards. He would have gone through the wall if Emmett hadn't caught himself against it. No one moved. Even Javan, who was the epitome on Apathetic, looked stunned. Anala was pressing a hand to her side, breaths labored. Her blood smelled enthralling, deadly.

"Nolan, where is he?"

Alice was already on her phone, speaking lowly as she looked on with wide, upset eyes. Nolan's voice echoed softly, asking what had happened. Alice could provide no answers. None of them could. They could hear the screech of tires in the background as Nolan spoke tensely. "I'm coming back." the line went dead. Carlisle moved towards the injured woman slowly, hands posed unthreateningly. He knelt, eyes looking her over worriedly, assessing as he spoke in a calm voice. "He's on his way. Anala you've lost a lot of blood. You have to let me treat you."

She didn't even seem to hear him. Her voice was off, distorted. "Your bag, do you have it?"

Rosalie disappeared and reappeared in an instant, handing over the leather bag. Carlisle took it. Shadows whipped threateningly along the walls and floors and she backed away quickly, unease and worry clouding her features. Anala's eyes tracked her movements. She didn't really seem process exactly what she was looking at. Her eyes just appeared to instinctively follow her, not because of who it was, but merely because there was movement. That was how Edward knew something was amiss. Of course the blood and sudden appearance spoke for itself, but the one thing that truly said something was wrong here was not Anala's appearance. It was her eyes. Eyes that were usually warm and gentle and expressive burned like acid. Noxious. Lethal. The intensely green eyes stood out sharply. The jade depths were endless and consuming, the golden specks illuminated in the vibrant pools. It would have been beautiful if it wasn't for the fact there was nothing behind them. There was an emptiness there that made Edward afraid. This was not the same Anala. That much Edward was absolutely sure of. Physically she may have been present but he had to wonder if she were truly there with them, or maybe some strange in-between place where something unknown would be taking over.

Anala was looking at Carlisle. Well not at him. Beyond him. Through him. "Do you have a scalpel?"

Carlisle reached into the bag and produced the packaged items.

"Open them."

After a moment of hesitation, the man did so. He opened the sterile packaging and slipped the shiny blade into the handle. Anala let the towel fall as she took it and Emmett shifted anxiously, wanting—needing to get near but knowing full well he would not be allowed. The wound on her side was deep. Blood leaked steadily from the tear in her flesh. While severe, the injury itself was treatable on its own, but underneath the crimson lifeblood thin silver lines were slowly spreading underneath her skin, originating from inside the wound. That was something else entirely. Anala didn't hesitate. She brought the blade directly to her skin. The stream of blood thickened, running down her body. Had the circumstances been different, she would have been stopped. Only it strongly looked as if Anala would not hesitate to kill them if did so. Edward didn't understand this, couldn't. Why was this happening? How?

The scalpel clattered to the floor, the shiny metal glinting from beneath the blood. Anala hunched slightly and pressed her fingers to her flesh. Her body tensed. Anala released a shaky breath, pushing forward. She trembled, pushing her fingers deeper. Her lone heartbeat filled the house, pulsing hard and fast with pain-induced adrenaline. Her jaw clenched tightly, Edward could see the tendon's in her throat stretch taut. She looked to barely be withholding a scream. It was difficult seeing her like this. Anala didn't deserve it and yet Edward was helpless to stop it. He honestly didn't even know how. Anala suddenly coughed, blood spilled down her chin and splattered on the edge of her bloodstained towel. The thin silver lines were extending sluggishly over her ribcage, across her belly. Dark shadows flickered. Carlisle was watching her, evaluating her state. If she continued to lose blood at this rate it would it would kill her. Edward could hear the sound of a car turning onto the obscure drive that lead to the house. Emmett stepped forward and a flash of black snaked along the floor erratically, making the vampire stop.

Please. It was a single thought, but it resonated deeply with more than any amount of words would be able to convey.

Anala seemed to brace herself before forcing her fingers deeper. This time she really did scream. The pained howl echoed through the room. The lights dimmed and flickered as the shadows morphed momentarily, forming indistinguishable shapes. The air tremored with a restless, distressing buzz. Anala's fingers were suddenly retreating from her body. A rush of blood spilled from the wound and there was a soft clink. Anala fell against the wall, panting.

Emmett moved instantaneously, dropping to his knees and pulling her back against him as he murmured to her in a low anxious tone. Carlisle wasted no time, beginning to work over her diligently, staunching the bleeding as quickly as possible. A pointed shard of metal lay in a puddle of blood, adorned with the same silver lines that were on Anala's skin. Gravel kicked up as the vehicle pulled to an abrupt stop and moments later Nolan was storming through the front door, eyes landing almost immediately on his sister. Nolan's presence was loud and commanding in its own right. His very arrival was noted. The other seemed to resonate with an invisible energy that he gave off naturally, a mere hint of what lay under the surface. It hummed over Edward's skin like a low current and alerted his instincts that there was more there.

Something better left undisturbed.

The temperature dropped nearly ten degrees and Anala shivered. Nolan stood still, staring down at his sister's bloody frame. Jasper was frozen in the doorway, looking shaken. "What happened?" his voice was calm, neutral.

Anala laughed humorlessly, licking her bloodied lips. "Bella."

Edward was thrown. For a moment he was able to lie to himself and believe he'd misheard. He was supposed to believe Bella—sweet, shy, harmless Bella Swan was responsible for this? It couldn't be. It was impossible. Bella wasn't capable of such an act. Not something so terrible and violent. Anala hissed, looking down to where Carlisle was treating her. A shade suddenly fell over the pale-eyed Layame. Javan leaned in close and brushed his lips against his ear, an unsettling smirk on his lips.

"Do it." his suave voice low, almost sinister. Yet so, so lovely. "I know you are capable of orchestrating beautiful things Nolan. I've seen it. An opportunity to do so has been tossed into your lap." Nolan's blue eyes were wintry orbs of nothing. They were alarmingly bright and endless yet the subzero sensation emanating from them ran deeper and colder than any temperature could.

Anala hadn't heard any of the interaction, continuing. "I sort of left her unconscious in the hall so," she looked up. "Nolan you should know the blade—Nolan? Wait, Nolan!"

Nolan was already gone however. He was out the door and disappearing into the forest and Javan was following after him, that same little smile on his lips.