Chapter 9:

"The decision has been made, clearly," Talia told Lucas as she walked beside him.

"I told her to wait," Lucas said.

"It has no changing effect. I'm sure she tried, but with what went down between them…Don't give me that look, I only know from looking at their tapestries. Anyway, after that her decision was finalized," Talia explained.

Lucas sighed. "It does not explain why all of you are here," he pointed out.

"We want to suggest something," Ariel said with a caring smile.

Lucas motioned for them to go on.

"We think that having Erlos here with you as he can let you easier feel what is in your possible connection, and giving you something more to go on before it actually happens – would be good for both of you. If you will let him of course," Ariel explained.

Lucas looked at Talia. "Your plan?"

Talia rolled her eyes. "No, we have all talked about it. Your possible love-life is actually quite exciting for us. So in part, yes, but it is all of ours plan, if you want it."

"I'm not sure, I don't want to manipulate the decision more. And what if when I apparently sever her bond, nothing happens between us?"

"You're afraid of feeling the possibility just to have it taken away," Erlos said. "Have you considered the happiness the next weeks can give you, even if you won't have that again?"

"I would not mind feeling a sliver of what you feel," Talia admitted.

"It has to be her decision," Lucas then said, thinking it over.

"Then ask her tomorrow if she's ready. Erlos can stay anyway so he can help you understand everything that will be going through you. And he can base himself in Seattle," Ariel said, knowing they needed someone there. Talia nodded in agreement beside her.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" he then asked, watching them.

"No," Ariel said softly. "But we do want you to be happy."

"I am happy."

"Fine, to have a soulmate then!" Talia exclaimed.

"Care to share why you think after all these years alive the creator decides to give me this chance?" Lucas wanted to know.

Erlos shook his head. "No one knows how the creators work. Considering you are getting a mate, be happy. Just knowing that mine is close gives me an easier rest."

Lucas stared at him. "Do you know where?"

"Oh, she's close. But apparently I won't meet her yet. And as we all keep saying, we can't miss what we don't know."

Lucas agreed with that, as all his siblings did.


Emmett and Jasper flanked Lucas while he was in full angel form. The field around them had been cleared, yet they were not too far from the house. Again and again he showed them how to fight against a demon if they ever crossed one, Erlos being their assigned demon. Ariel had drawn several different types of demons to show the Cullen family before she returned to the angel plains, and those Carlisle got to keep with his notes after everyone had studied them. It would be a risk if they ever engaged one, as a demon, like an angel, could actually hurt vampires. But, if they ever noticed one or suspected they had also gotten several contact numbers to reach the angels that mostly stayed down on earth.

"Only these knives can actually hurt a demon, to any other creature they will be as any knife, but to a demon, it can be lethal," Lucas said as he gifted them a knife each. "Keep this with you, always. And should you somehow lose them or they break, get in contact and we will provide you with new ones."

Erlos nodded. "Remember, a human possessed by a demon cannot be saved as the human will already have passed to a peaceful rest. The mannerisms will always be similar, but they are good at blending in if they take over. A few tricks can trip them up, but you don't want any other humans around if you are going to end them." He mimicked a few odd movements that could overcome them uncontrollable, and a few controlled ones.

"They will also have other creatures on their own side to fight their battle against us. And they will also carry weapons that can hurt us. If you come across those, get them and try to destroy them, or call on us," Talia said from the sideline.

"And these weapons? What do they look like?" Jasper wanted to know.

"Ah, that's a bit…" Lucas started, unsure how to explain it all.

"Their claws can be lethal if they hit us right. It's not unheard of that they bite off a finger or pull out a few claws to make their own weapons. They can look shadow-like. Dark," Talia filled in.

Lucas nodded then turned to face the two vampires and he crouched. He mimicked lashing out with his arms, pretending he had claws instead of nails and moved quickly. They jumped out of the way, a bit startled perhaps by the turn of events. Emmett grinned then as Jasper had gone further out at the edge, observing. Then Lucas changed his mannerisms and fought with one of his own weapons, pretending it was something else as he moved differently once again. All the millenniums of fighting demons made him know it so well. Emmett lost his grin as he noticed he was not able to get closer.

"They will usually not care for other creatures, but if you do attack," Erlos started as he joined Talia on the side. "Then they will fight until death or they manage to run away and hide again."

Lucas stopped and pulled his wings into his back.

Seeing his chance, Emmett tackled the angel and the two rolled, laughing as the surprised angel did not mind. When the two jumped apart again Emmett goaded Lucas to attack him head on as himself.

"That is not what we are practicing," Erlos said with heavy sigh.

"It's to be expected," Jasper said with a grin as he walked around the two in a circle. "Emmett has been itching for a different fight, and I must say I myself am intrigued. My money is on Lucas of course, but then I would like to try."

"Ah, I'm up for it," Erlos said and spread his wings while he widened his stance.

With a shake of her head Talia knew that the four males were done with the lesson. She let light engulf her and she went back to the angel plains. There was no reason she had to join.


Bella let Alice paint her nails as she worked on her homework as it was also supposed to be quick-dry. A loud noise from the woods made her head snap up and she stared out the large windows. She could see nothing. Alice giggled.

"It's nothing to worry about, the boys are just being boys," Alice said.

Rosalie scoffed from her chair and rolled her eyes. "Would think they were old enough to behave themselves." She did not fool either of the girls with the small tilt at the corner of her lips.

"They just need to play a bit; it makes them happy." Alice continued to smile. "All done!"

"Thanks," Bella said softly. "They won't hurt each other, will they?"

"They will behave," Alice confirmed.

"Hah! You see Emmett behaving?" Rose wanted to know.

"No, I see Lucas winning in a matter of moments, I think he's only let it drag on this long to indulge Emmett, and your darling husband will understand that and he might even pout about it for a bit," Alice answered.

"In the end he'll be happy about it all anyway," Rose stated.

Alice nodded.

Bella moved her hands and toes carefully so she would not smudge any of Alice's work. Shifting a bit she let her gaze fall on the page she was now reading for the third time. "Ugh! I think I fried my brain," she complained.

"You just need a break," Rose said and came over to close the book for her.

"Probably," Bella agreed.

Movement from between the trees caught the girls' attention and the four males came out of the tree line, laughing and smiling widely. It was a relaxed air about them that only could exist within the freedom of their home.

Bella stared as Lucas hugged Erlos before the other angel disappeared within shimmering light. He looked up then and she met his eyes. The heated stare was different than the usual looks he gave her. Jasper said something and the connection was broken as Lucas turned towards the blonde vampire. Had she imagined that? Had she conjured up her own fantasy into her daily life?

With a groan she let herself fall backwards and she stared up at the ceiling. She really had to be tired if her mind was this scrambled.

Lucas walked in, feeling the effects from Erlos as he had connected to him now that he was staying close in Seattle to help him along a bit. He still struggled to put words to everything he felt with this new range of emotions and had been glad for Jasper's distraction. However, he could not let himself be distracted if he was going to learn how to maneuver like this. He approached Bella as she laid on the floor, blinking up at him as he leaned over her. The smell of fresh nail polish clung to the air, but it did not take over her scent completely.

It was hard to swallow with all that arose within him as he again met her eyes. He helped her up, and she stumbled straight into his chest and he felt her warm body press against his. He swallowed. Everything seemed enhanced as heat flooded his own cheeks and he felt himself tense with other needs that arose. He wanted to hold her close like that forever, to kiss her, to be even closer, to feel all of her in his arms. He wanted to be her future.

Bella did not move from the embrace as Lucas' strong arms held around her after she stumbled. Part of her was glad as she was not sure she could stand on her own. His scent engulfed her and drew her in. She felt his arms tighten a bit and she relished the feeling. No words were spoken but at that moment it did not matter. It was no need as he kept holding her. If she had been uncertain before she knew for sure now that he too could feel something between them. She did not want to get her hopes up, yet she wanted to be his, and no one else's. Tilting back her head a bit she stared up at his jaw. He too was flushed. His eyes were soft and tender as they looked down at her. There was also an underlying heat that fueled the flame within her.

Lucas was thankful that the family that had been in the house had gone to give them a moment, but it would not last, that he knew. Pulling slightly away, but still keeping her close he knew he wanted to ask her two things. One was if she was ready to make her final decision, even if the time had not yet come that he had set. And two, if she would go out with him. His inner debate kept on.

"Lucas," Bella breathed.

"I apologize," he then said and released her. He took another step back and she took one after him. "Bella?"

"Ask me," she said, her tone determined.

"Wait, I… I wanted to ask you something else, and talk with you," he finally said.

Bella was tired of waiting, but seeing the look in his eyes she agreed and gave a small nod.

"Will you have dinner with me?"

She felt her lips part in surprise. She hadn't been sure what to expect, but it hadn't been that either. She gave a brief nod, although finding that to be a bit lacking, she whispered, "Yes."

He gave her a wide smile in return and picked her up to twirl her around, laughing happily. All the blossoming feelings felt ready to burst and he could not understand how he could feel even more.

"Put me down," she tried, but her own giggles betrayed her. She wasn't sure how to feel about all of this and the intensity between them. She wanted answers, and she would have them. First, she would have to get ready for dinner. Alice, she then thought and looked down at her freshly polished nails with gratitude, surprising even herself.