Temporal Tide
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, nor any of its characters or franchises, I am not making money for this, so please don't sue me.
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Chapter 05
Bella
Stumbling into the side of my tent as I reappeared in the 21st century, I felt a wash of disappointment. I didn't want to leave Tanya just yet. Sad as it may be, she was literally my only friend.
As I straightened it occurred to me that I had probably tripped or lost my balance more than any vampire alive, thanks to my power. I had no idea why I'd been sent back, after days in the past, but I was definitely starting to build a greater understanding of what was triggering my episodes in the first place.
Broken pottery, an injured limb, a trapped rabbit; there were always connections, even if at first they seemed unimportant. However the one large theme was Tanya and I could only guess as to her role in things. Why would my power send me a thousand years to the past to interact with a little girl? I was unable to provide an answer.
To my aggravation, there didn't seem to be a way to predict or avoid when I would cross another 'trigger event'. There was no rhyme or reason.
I was also afraid that the abruptness of my 'episodes' would cause problems. In fact, it already had. Tanya was in possession of my dictionary so she could study it, now that I'd returned to my own time, it seemed unlikely that it would ever be recovered.
It was impossible to guess how that little book might affect things. Still, there was a part of me that couldn't regret leaving it. Tatyana might be able to learn something from it.
Slipping into the tent, I changed out of my damp clothes and into a pair of women's cargo pants with a tank top. I donned a hoodie as well to fit in with the colder weather. It was difficult to believe that seven months have come and gone since I was turned in February, and that the winter season was upon us once more.
Not that the seasons really mattered anymore, but it would hinder my efforts to blend in if I didn't pay them at least a little attention.
Deciding I wanted to reacquaint myself with all the wonders of modern civilization, I head into town to buy a few more books. Not only that, but a nice belt satchel to keep things in. Just in case I make another random trip to the past.
A couple hours pass as I speed read through wilderness survival, basic medicine, and hunting/tracking guides. If seeing Tanya is going to be a regular thing, then I'm going to do my best to help her in a society that still thinks 'bleeding' your patients is a good way to get rid of infections. I truly shudder to imagine what would happen if she ever got sick.
Thanks to all the time I'd spent in close and consistent contact with Tatyana, I was doing a lot better in public. I didn't feel like I was on a hair's edge waiting to tip over and massacre everyone. I still struggled, but unless someone started bleeding I was fairly confident I wouldn't lose my cool.
I'd gotten all my purchases and was walking out of town, merchandise placed in my new belt satchel, when a news report coming from inside a nearby bar caused me to freeze in my tracks.
"-n other news, small town Police Chief Charles Swan was admitted to Forks General Hospital yesterday after being brutally attacked in his own home."
Knocking open the door, I rushed inside, unmindful of the surprised looks I was getting. All of my attention was focused on the TV situated over the bar.
"Investigators are unsure what prompted the assault, but police from all over the county are lending a hand to try and catch the culprit. There is some suspicion that this may be linked to the tragic disappearance of his daughter Isabella Swan. We'll have more on that as details become available."
Staring blankly at the screen, I felt a familiar numbness settle over me.
Charlie was hurt.
He'd been attacked in his home.
He'd been attacked in his home and I wasn't there to protect him.
Grief and regret washed over me like a tidal wave, drowning me in a sea of self-loathing. It was obvious who was behind Charlie's hospitalization. As far as I knew only one person had the capability and motivation.
It had been my hope that cutting all ties with my father would keep Victoria from taking her vendetta against me out on my father. A hope, I now realized, that was entirely too foolish.
Placing my hands on the bar, I let my head fall forward, obscuring my face from the rest of the patrons as I tried to figure out what to do next.
My first and almost immediate response was to run back to Forks, but something about the whole thing seemed off.
Why was Charlie alive? Victoria must have known I'd had no contact at all with my father, and she could have simply killed him when she realized she wouldn't be able to ascertain my whereabouts from him.
She didn't seem particularly merciful, if my own torturous dealings with her could be relied upon.
So why?
The answer hit me like a cold shock of water.
I'd been in this situation before, except I was remembering a ballet studio not a hospital in Forks. Victoria was using Charlie as bait in an attempt to draw me out. She was obviously counting on me to fall into the same trick I had with James. Only this time she didn't have to pretend she held my father's life in the palm of her hand.
It seemed likely that she'd gotten tired of waiting for me to show up and decided to take a more active approach.
Unfortunately as I was dealing with my conflicted emotions, a drunken patron decided that now was an excellent time to sidle up to my side and place his hand on my ass. He didn't even get a chance to whisper whatever dirty pickup line he had in my ear before I snapped.
Snarling, my eyes black as night, I whirled on the man faster than he could blink. Placing one hand on his chest I shoved, hard.
The guy flew back, crashing into a table that upended itself with the force of my blow. Glass shattered and the other occupants scrambled to get out of the way. Rooted to the spot, my chest was heaving, I tried to reign in my anger. My fists and teeth clenched as I watched his head loll unsteadily, but the man wisely remained down.
The establishment was dead silent as every pair of eyes in the room watched me, frozen like rabbits. It was almost as if their long dormant instincts were screaming they were in the presence of a predator. Gazing around the room, I glared challengingly before walking out.
Running back to the forest, I uncaringly tossed my purchases into the tent as I paced the lake. I didn't know what to do. I had no doubt that I didn't stand a chance against Victoria alone, but on the same token I couldn't leave my father to her tender mercies either.
Tears of frustration welled in my eyes as I forced myself to take a deep breath and think.
If I couldn't match Victoria in a fight on my own, how could I even the odds? My mind immediately flashed to the Cullens, but I dismissed the possibility along with the sharp pain in my chest. For Charlie I would swallow my pride and debase myself for their help, but the fact of the matter was that I had no idea where to find them. By the time that I did, it may be too late for my father.
I could try to contact the Volturi, but they were on the other side of the world. Not to mention I was afraid of what might happen to me and the Cullens. If the Volturi discovered that the Cullens knowingly left me alive and human for those few months before Victoria changed me, who knows what punishment would await them.
As upset as I was with my former family, I had no desire to see them die.
But who was left?
My mind was blank, and just when I started to panic all over again, I remembered one seemingly trivial thing.
Throughout my relationship with Edward, before it had all ended in disaster, he had mentioned another coven of vegetarian vampires in Alaska. It was a little fuzzy, but I even remembered him saying Jasper and Alice were heading up there after my disastrous birthday party.
I recalled feeling guilty; it was my fault he was being sent away from his family.
If I wasn't so clumsy, if I hadn't gotten that paper cut…
My life was filled with 'if only' moments. Unfortunately, the only additional thing I could recollect was that they lived somewhere in Denali, Alaska. Truth be told, I was reluctant to interact with anyone with ties to the Cullens, but at this point they were probably my single remaining hope.
However, first thing's first; I had to try and get Charlie out of danger first. Even if it meant kidnapping him from the hospital, although I was anxious about that plan because I didn't know the extent of his injuries. The News hadn't been specific and I couldn't rescue Charlie if unhooking him from some vital machine would result in cardiac arrest.
Now that I thought about it, even if I did manage to get into the hospital and snatch my father, would I be able to outrun a vengeful red-head while carrying him to safety? Again, my first thought was 'no'.
No matter how I thought about it, it was a lose/lose situation.
Regardless of the risk, I knew I at least had to make an attempt.
Taking only the things I would need in case I took another trip to the past, I left the rest in the tent and hoped it would remain undiscovered. Despite being tempted to pass through Seattle, being the quickest route to Forks, I knew I wasn't ready to face the droves of humanity I would face if I did. So, much to my aggravation I took the long way around. Circling around Washington's galling amount of bays and inlets, I passed through the outskirts of Olympia and straight through the Olympic park.
When I finally reached Forks my shoes were worn to scraps, the legs of my pants were coated in mud, and my hair was a windblown mess. Frankly, I looked like a wild woman straight out of a Tarzan film.
Not a bit of it mattered as I approached the hospital.
Before I could get within a hundred yards, a cloying scent stopped me in my tracks.
Vanilla and ginger, accompanied with a sweet tint of the supernatural, swirled in my senses.
Victoria was nearby.
Or at least, she had been recently. Glancing warily around the area I concealed myself behind a nearby building as I debated what I wanted to do.
Was there any way I could get Charlie out of the hospital without going in directly? Then it hit me, Charlie had been alone in Forks for several years before I moved here. As a police officer, it would be important to have someone to make medical decisions for him, in case he was ever injured and unable to make his own.
There was only one person in Forks I could think of that my father would trust in that role.
Billy Black.
Even if Charlie was still able to medically make his own decisions, there was a chance I could convince Billy to have him switch hospitals. If I'm lucky Victoria wouldn't even realize I was making a play before it was too late.
Having made up my mind, I retreated from the hospital and began my run to La Push. I had almost crossed onto the reservation when a pungent scent brought me to an abrupt halt. I had to resist the urge to gag it was so awful. It was like someone had decided to combine wet dog with compost and two weeks of body odor.
What kind of animal smelled like this?
I covered my mouth and nose with my hand as I fought the instinct to run in the opposite direction. Before I could make a decision one way or the other, a low growl filled the air and I tensed as six gigantic wolves melted out of the forest in front of me. A twig snapped at my back and I whipped my head around to see four more cut off my escape route.
Every one of their teeth were bared as they boxed me in, but the growl was emanating from the chest of the lead wolf. A monster of a canine with black fur.
It was only now, faced with wolves the size of horses, that I remembered that bonfire so long ago when I learned of the cold ones. What I'd obviously overlooked was the part where the Quileutes descended from wolves, and conveniently forgot that vampires were their mortal enemies.
Terror streaked through me, and I thought it was entirely likely that I was about to die without getting the chance to save my father's life.
Slowly pulling my hand away from my nose, I put my hands up in a gesture of surrender.
"Please," I said. "I don't want any trouble. I just want to speak with Billy Black, and then I'll leave." The lead wolf blinked with what could only be confusion. His growl eventually tapered off, but his eyes remained hard as stone. "My name is Bella Swan. I just want some help for my father. I promise not to cause any problems."
One of the wolves made a choked sound from behind me, but I didn't dare turn around to look. I did flinch however when one of the wolves began to approach. It was almost as big as the lead, but with beautiful russet colored fur.
Nervous, I allowed it, despite the urge to hiss and run.
The wolf's eyes were dark, almost black as it roved my features with undeniable intelligence. We locked gazes and I found myself unable to look away. I knew those eyes.
"Jacob?" I asked with strangled disbelief. The wolf huffed before turning its head to peer at the Alpha. The tension eased somewhat, but I remained rooted to the spot as they disappeared into the trees. They weren't gone for long however, because not long after ten muscled Quileutes stepped out in their place.
Most of them were shirtless, only wearing tattered shorts or jeans, except for the lone female among the group; who I recognized as Leah Clearwater.
I felt my eyes fill with unshed tears when I singled Jacob out of the rest. His face was lined with sorrow as he gazed back. Cut off from friends and family for so long, I hadn't expected that the sight of a familiar face would affect me so deeply.
"Bella Swan." A voice broke my reverie and I turned my attention to the muscled man at the front. "You cannot be here. As a vampire you are unwelcome on our lands. It is only out of respect for your father that we haven't killed you outright. As such, we will give you this one opportunity to leave in peace."
"Sam!" Jake interjected, his body trembling slightly. "We should at least hear her out. It's our fault she's like this in the first place. If we hadn't failed that day in the woods…"
The man, Sam, twitched but otherwise seemed unaffected by Jacobs words.
"We did our best to save her. The red headed vampire was too fast. There was nothing we could have done."
Massaging my forehead with my fingers, I frowned and vaguely recalled my encounter with Victoria in the meadow. I remembered hearing wolves howling.
"That was you?" I interjected, my eyes widening with astonishment. "I remember hearing wolves when she took me, but I never thought…" I trailed off as I watched the regret on Sam's face.
"We couldn't reach you in time. I'm sorry we couldn't keep you from becoming a monster, but it doesn't change the fact that you are a danger to our people." He firmly reiterated.
"Sam, she has gold eyes." Another muttered, a boy it took me a moment to remember as Seth.
Immediately his eyes sharpened and zeroed in on my own. A look of bafflement donned his features, as if it was a surprise that I wasn't a rampaging murderer.
"Have you been in contact with the Cullen's?" he barked.
I shook my head.
"I've been hiding in Wenatchee National Forest for the past seven months. I've been too afraid to venture out until recently, out of fear that I would hurt someone if I did. I'm only here now because I heard Charlie was attacked, and I needed to talk to Billy."
Sam's posture seemed to relax a little, the suspicion easing from his face.
"Why do you need to speak to Councilman Black?" he asked.
"I'm hoping that my father made Billy his medical agent. I'm sure that Charlie was only attacked to lure me out of hiding. The red haired vampire you chased, her name is Victoria, and she has a grudge against me because the Cullen's killed her mate in my defense.
I've just come from the hospital, and her scent is all over the place. I'm afraid if she realizes I'm nearby she'll use my father as a hostage or at worst kill him. I need Billy's help to get him out of the hospital so I can take him somewhere safe. Just until I can find help to deal with Victoria."
The wolves growled, clearly incensed with the news that a vampire has been sneaking into Forks under their noses.
"This is more complicated then I first thought." Sam sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll allow you on our land for now. I must consult with the council before I make any decisions, but we don't want any harm to come to Chief Swan as much as you do. We will escort you to my home, but be warned that if you attack a human your life is forfeit."
"That sounds fair," I mumbled. "I do not wish to hurt anyone, but I still occasionally have problems controlling my impulses. My only request is that you at least attempt to restrain me before you decide to take my head."
Grunting his assent, the pack took off on foot through the trees. I meekly followed, although it was hard not to grimace with the wind blowing their scents in my face.
Eventually we came up to this small worn house that must have been grey at some point, but had been worn away in parts by the weather. There was a single window on the front, with a flowerbox below filled with fragrant flowers. Next to the window was a beaten old door painted a charming shade of blue.
As we neared the house, the Quileute's converged around me, hemming me in with their bodies like I was a prisoner being taken to the gallows. It wasn't a pleasant sensation but I endured. I could tell that the house was empty even before knocking on the door, because I couldn't hear a heartbeat or the sounds of shuffling coming from inside.
Without pause, Sam opened the door and ushered me inside, although a few of the wolves grumbled about getting my scent all over the furniture. For the most part I ignored them, because it wasn't like they were a fresh bed of roses to me either.
Pointing to a chair in the kitchen, Sam indicated for me to sit, which I did out of politeness.
"Now," he stated. "Tell me everything that's happened to you after Victoria kidnapped you."
Slanting my eyes across the room to Jake, who gave me an encouraging nod, I explained what I'd been doing over the past few months. For reasons I couldn't explain I left out the fact that I'd time traveled, but told them that at random intervals I would disappear only to show up in unfamiliar places hundreds of miles away.
I told them about Victoria's motivations, and how I'd only started interacting with people this past month. I made sure to explain the series of events that had lead me to learn Charlie was hurt, and that Victoria was definitely the cause.
At the end the entire room was silent as they digested all that I'd told them. Sam's face was more compassionate as he looked at me, and I felt more assured that I wasn't going to die at any moment.
"You are very brave Bella, and I commend you for having the control to isolate yourself as you did. As Alpha of the Quileute pack, I vow to help you dispose of the vampire threatening Forks. There are ten of us and only one of her, bring Charlie here and we will protect him from the red haired leech."
With those words I felt like a weight had been lifted off my back. I had allies. Allies who would keep my father from harm when I couldn't.
"I thought you said you needed to speak to the council?" I hated to bring it up, but I didn't want him making decisions he would simply break later on. Still, if I could get their cooperation I didn't have to run all the way to Alaska for help. Truth be told, it was a meeting I hadn't been looking forward to.
"In this matter I do not need their council. What we shall do about you is another. Paul!" he shouted, looking at one of the shifters in the room. "I want you to call Billy and invite him over. We'll see what we can do about devising a strategy to take this leech out."
I opened my mouth to make a few suggestions when I heard the front door open. As one, every gaze turned to the front. If I wasn't already on edge I might have found the situation funny.
A young woman, in her mid-twenties, walked into the living room. She was carrying two bags of groceries in her arms. Except for the three jagged scars running across the right side of her face she was stunningly beautiful.
I cracked the table.
Every pair of eyes fastened on me as I kept a vice grip on the chunk of tabletop clutched in my hand. I wasn't breathing and I'm sure my eyes were the color of obsidian.
Sam began to growl low in his throat, and the camaraderie that had pervaded the room was instantly gone. The girl, who had obviously picked up on the mood, was staring at me nervously. Several wolves were already inching in front of her in case I lost control and attacked.
Closing my eyes, I grit my teeth and tried to regain a semblance of control.
"She's bleeding." I choked out, trying to give an explanation for my actions. Sure enough, the attention went back to the woman, who was blushing to her roots.
"I started my period this morning." She mumbled, but I didn't hear because a familiar ringing had started in my ears.
Jacob met my eyes across the table just before I faded out.
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Hungary – 1013 A.D.
When I came to, I was spread eagle on a lakeshore. Water was lapping at my bare feet and I took a moment to center myself by staring at the sky. It was bad enough to be surrounded by ones natural enemies. Adding bloodlust to the equation, even menstrual blood, pushed my already strained instincts too far.
Taking a deep breath of the clean air, I noticed how thick and humid it seemed compared to my last visit. The sun was high in the sky and that, coupled with the heat, told me that I'd probably arrived in the middle of summer. Sitting up, I confirmed that I was lying on the beach of Zlaté Piesky.
Considering the nature of time traveling, I was a little apprehensive of what changes I might find. Walking along the shore in the direction of Ruzinov I felt my heart sink when I noticed that the small village had grown considerably. It was at least twice the size it had been previously, but I tried not to jump to conclusions.
My vampiric memory came in handy as I recalled the route to Tatyana's abode. Since I didn't have to keep pace with a cart, I arrived in a matter of minutes.
The village wasn't the only thing to change. Tanya's dwelling had expanded to include additional rooms. The construction was sturdier and better designed.
The rhythmic 'thunk' of an axe striking wood attracted my attention. Moving around the side of the home I caught sight of a young boy, perhaps fourteen or fifteen, chopping a pile of wood. Against the side of the house was an impressive stack of logs and I noticed how practiced the motion was for him. To my annoyance, I was unable to catch a glimpse of his face due to his long hair.
Hoping to identify him through scent instead, I took a deep breath.
For the third time that day I was shocked into stillness.
The young man in question shared a scent with Damek, Tanya's older brother. Despite knowing that many years had passed in the day I'd been gone, what really had me worried was the lingering aroma of blood.
Not any blood.
Tanya's blood.
In a panic, I held by breath and dashed inside. A whimper coming from one of the side rooms was all it took for me to throw aside the cloth partition. My Tanya was curled up on her cot, clutching her stomach and the red stain on her linens.
Yet it wasn't the Tanya I knew.
This Tatyana was long limbed and gangly, on the cusp of puberty. She looked no more than twelve or thirteen and appeared to be entering the awkward phase where all your appendages are clumsy and every protruding surface is a daunting challenge not to trip. Unfortunately, unlike most other adolescents, I never grew out of the clumsiness.
Having sensed my presence, Tanya opened her eyes and pierced me with her remarkable blue eyes. A whimper escaped her lips, and I felt my heart ache with sympathetic pain.
"Mari," she cried. "I think I'm dying." My eyes grew to impossible proportions as I tried to put together what was happening. "I'm bleeding," Tanya moaned. "on the inside." To illustrate her point, her hand reached down to touch the blood on her thighs. It had also soaked the seat of her white dress, painting a ghastly image of violence.
For a moment I was frozen, unable to react.
Until, like a brick, comprehension struck me upside the head. I felt my shoulders relax as I figured out the situation. Tanya had started her menstrual cycle. Nothing to worry about.
However, I guess Tanya hadn't gotten the memo because she still seemed rather freaked out. Was it possible that she didn't know what was happening to her? I wanted to help, but I wouldn't be much use unless most of the blood was cleaned up.
Grabbing a blanket, I wrapped Tatyana up and ran her out to the stream. I could have taken her there as is, but I didn't want to risk any of the blood getting on my clothes. I'd have to burn them if I did, walking around in bloodstained clothes was not a good way to avoid temptation. Damek was so absorbed in his work he didn't even look up.
Setting her down gently on the water's edge, I retreated a few yards upwind to regain my composure. Even holding my breath, reigning in my inner vampire was no easy feat.
"Mari, why are you so far away? Do you hate me now?" Tanya's voice was a weak groan, but it sliced into my heart like a knife.
"No Tanya. I don't hate you. I just need you to wash off the blood. I don't feel well when I smell it, and I might attack you if I'm not careful. I never want to hurt you, which is why I'm standing so far away."
Struggling out of the blanket, Tanya waded into the stream and sat down. Since the water wasn't very deep it only reached to her belly button. Dashing over to the blanket I inspected it for blood and found it clean. Laying it out on the ground I took a careful sniff of the air.
I could still vaguely smell a hint of copper and salt but it was greatly muted by the water. Meanwhile, Tatyana was staring pitifully at me from the brook.
"What's happening to me Mari? It hurts."
"Oh, sweetheart," I murmured. Entering the stream I sat beside her; unmindful of my soaked clothes. "You're growing up. This happens to women when they're old enough to have babies." Gathering Tanya in my lap, she wrapped her arms around my neck and hid her face against my collar. "It's called the menstrual cycle, and it happens every month. The only time you shouldn't bleed is if you're pregnant. Hasn't your Mama told you anything about this?" I inquired.
I mean, I knew sex education wasn't very comprehensive back in the 11th century but there was no reason I could think of why Elya wouldn't have told her daughter. Actually, considering how ignorant people were at this point in time, I might have to look up some ancient methods of birth control.
Slowly Tatyana shook her head, her eyes filled with tears.
"Mama died a few seasons ago bringing my little brother into the world, but Papa said that God loved them so much, he took them back to heaven."
Tightening my arms around her frail form, I kissed the top of her head and murmured my condolences against her hair.
"Come on, let's get you out of the water," I soothed; hoisting her out of the stream and carrying her to shore. Placing her on the blanket, I flashed away and gathered some kindling to start a fire. In no time at all I had a nice little blaze going, and I carefully placed some smooth stones from the brook among the embers to heat up.
Helping Tanya to dry off, I bundled her up again as we waited. Tatyana leaned against me, her strawberry blonde hair falling across my shoulder to mix with my own auburn locks.
"If your mother is gone, why didn't your father explain what was happening to you?" I gently inquired, puzzled about the whole thing.
"When I told Papa he told me to stay in my room until it stopped. He said it was improper for a man to be around me right now, and he wouldn't let Damek visit me." I felt a growl rumble in my chest, and it took a supreme effort of will not to box Yakov about the ears. The only thing that kept me from doing so was the knowledge that people were very superstitious and taboo about a woman's reproductive cycle at this point in history.
It wasn't an excuse, ignorance didn't make it right, but it made me fearful that such a sweet girl was living in such a backward time.
"Your father was wrong to do that. It's not improper. It's a natural part of being a woman and not something you should be ashamed of." I muttered, unwilling to scare Tanya with the full measure of my displeasure.
Deciding that the stones had been in the fire long enough, I used a stick to maneuver them out of the small blaze until I had a small pile of them.
Pushing my ward onto her back, I draped the blanket in a few layers over Tatyana's stomach. Picking up the rocks, which felt hot but didn't burn my diamond skin, I carefully deposited the stones on top of the cloth.
Tanya sighed as the warmth filtered through the fabric to alleviate her cramps. If I wasn't afraid the stones might singe her, I would have instructed her to put them directly on her skin. Heated stones weren't as good as a heating pad, but it seemed to work well enough.
We sat in companionable silence for a while, enjoying each other's company, although part of my mind was focused on my father.
"Are you going to leave again Mari?" Tatyana eventually broke the quiet, her voice softly tinged with hurt.
I sighed, wondering how I could possibly explain my situation to this young girl.
"I wish I didn't have to Tanya. I have a power that I can't control. It randomly sends me across the world in the time it takes you to blink. It feels like trying to keep from sneezing. It's a nigh impossible feat.
Still, I can't regret it. It's only because of this talent that I met you, and that's something I can't regret. It's also the reason why I could unexpectedly disappear at any time. I want you to know that I don't go away because I hate you, or because I don't want to see you anymore. It's just something that's beyond my control."
She nodded solemnly and seemed to think deeply about something.
"I bet you were cursed."
"Cursed?" I repeated, a little startled by the turn in conversation. "Who would want to curse me?" I questioned, but regretted the words the moment they left my mouth. I could think of at least one red-head who might try.
"It was probably the man Papa brought to the house yesterday." She grumbled, crossing her arms as she played with the frayed edge of her dress. I frowned.
"Why would you think that?"
"I don't like the way he looks at me." She uttered uneasily. "He looks at me the way Papa always looks at his pelts when he's trying to figure out how much they're worth. He probably cursed you just cause he's mean and doesn't want me to be happy. Papa says I should be respectful because he's a nobleman and wears nice clothes, but I don't like him."
The way Tanya was describing this man left me edgy and unsettled. He sounded like a pedophile or some sort of psychopath.
"I think you should follow your instincts. Avoid him when possible and make sure the two of you are never alone."
It was times like these that I wished I had taken Charlie up on his offer for self-defense lessons, just so I could teach her a few moves. Taking lessons at this point would be dangerous unless my teacher was another vampire. There were too many opportunities for me to hurt someone if I ever tried to participate in sparring. Still, maybe learning through observation and practicing on my own would yield results.
"I've been practicing my words like you taught me." Tanya eagerly conveyed, seemingly forgetting the subject of our earlier topic. "I wrote every word in that book you left."
"Oh really?" I exclaimed dramatically, unable to keep from smiling.
"Yes! And Papa is always bragging to other people about how I can read and write. Damek even came and asked me to teach him how to write his name."
"And did you?"
She nodded.
"Well. I'm very proud of you." I wanted to expound on the issue, but the smell of blood was getting strong again, and I had to hold my breath. I really needed to find a way to overcome this whole bloodlust problem.
Gently tracing Tanya's features with my eyes, I thought it was rather bittersweet that I was already missing so much of this girl's life; it would pain me to miss more because I couldn't control myself. Maybe I could overpower the scent of blood with something stronger. It would require some thinking.
I was wondering what Tanya would look like when she was older when I felt the pull.
Trying to ignore the ringing in my ears, I tenderly pressed my lips to Tanya's cheek. My body was already starting to fade. The last thing I saw was Tatyana's wide frightened eyes as she tried, and failed, to keep me.
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A/N: Finished. Hope you guys liked chapter 5. It was longer than expected but im fairly happy with it. How many of you totally hate me right now? Lol
Let me know what you thought of the chapter and the characterizations. As always if you find any plot holes, grammatical errors, etc let me know.