Chapter 12:
"Congratulations!" Alice yelled and threw herself at Lucas. His good reflexes had him catching her. "This is so wonderful!" she continued as he let her down again and she bounced back so the rest of the family could hug him as well.
"I hope you'll make me an uncle in no time," Emmett teased and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Emmett," Esme said with a scolding tone.
"Really subtle," Jasper commented.
"They just got together. After all, we have plenty of time to become aunts and uncles," Rosalie commented with a grin.
"If babies are all you're going to think about I'm out of here," Edward threatened. "I am happy for you and relieved to be honest," he said as he too hugged the angel.
"Thank you," Lucas responded with a relaxed and happy smile.
"I hope you will continue to stay with us. You are a part of this family," Carlisle said.
Lucas felt an overwhelming love for the family. He was truly a part of them and it seemed that everything was falling into place. There would be no question where he belonged and would stay for the immediate future, even as human.
"I'm going to text Bella and pick her up," Alice then spoke up, interrupting his thought. Seeing his question before he asked, she said, "Might as well get her over now, there is no sense in dragging this out." Her large smile made her eyes shine brighter.
"I will call to get the final paperwork," Jasper spoke and disappeared.
"How much more papers do I need?" Lucas wanted to know.
Alice was texting quickly on her phone and then she rushed out.
"We only covered what we needed to have you enroll to Forks high in the first place as we did not know how long you actually would stay at the time," Carlisle explained.
"We are very happy that you will stay with us," Esme said and her eyes sparkled with unshed happy tears.
Lucas gave Esme another hug, knowing she would relish being able to care for him as a doting mother, even if he was still supposed to be the cousin in public (and technically much much older than all of them). Bringing that joy to the female vampire he would gladly provide if he could.
He met Edward's eyes then. "Did you feel the bond disappear?" he wanted to know.
"It was a bit odd. One moment I was still drawn to Bella and everything that had been our relationship, and then it was as if everything calmed. I made peace with myself that we were done and grateful for what I got to experience. Now I don't have that same pull towards her. Not the same feel and need to go see her or talk to her. It's more in a relaxed way. I can imagine talking with her and it won't feel strained, or so I do believe." Edward had already also seen as much in Alice's mind after he had thought those things through. It had been a relief, really. He was no longer pulled in a different direction. He felt like himself, just now he had a different experience to carry on in his vampire life. Of course, it had not escaped his notice that he had really blundered a chance with a mate, but now he had hopes that he one day would find his other half. His second chance. And then he would not make the same mistakes.
"And hopefully you won't want to eat her either," Emmett boomed.
Rosalie rolled her eyes.
Jasper grimaced to Emmett's comment while he scanned over the e-mail he was ready to send off.
"That shouldn't change. The alteration will stay, both Bella and I will carry myth traits, and therefore not be on the eating list for vampires," Lucas responded.
"That's a relief," Esme said, thinking of the protection it would give them from other vampires as well.
"Have you decided when to give up your wings?" Rosalie asked.
"I need to wait. Apparently, there is something that I will need my wings for. After that, I'm giving them up for my life alongside, Bella."
"Any ideas of what it could be?" Carlisle asked.
Lucas shook his head. He really had no clues.
It felt as if time moved incredibly fast from the moment Alice had picked Bella up and brought her over to the house. Embracing the family, even Edward, she felt the ease as everyone slipped into questions and answers and plans for the future. At this point now there was a clean canvas. No big decisions had been made. Not even for the next place to live. That would be up to Bella and Lucas' choice on what to do next after high school. The family would follow either way.
School would prove to enhance the annoyance Edward felt amongst the students of Forks high. Even if Lucas tried to not be too affectionate towards Bella, enough had seen through him to start the rumor mill. People really did have nothing better to do than gossip it seemed.
Jessica was happy that she had been right, and was not afraid to point so out at lunch. Tyler was fuming and angry at Lucas for apparently lying about his interest in Bella and had stalked to a different table. Mike was defeated once more. Lauren was pissed that nothing changed and she was still not able to get Edward to ask her out. Angela, Ben and Eric were happy for the new couple. While the rest of the minds blended to a blur of noise.
He tried to zone out the thoughts as best he could by focusing on Lucas at first, but he was now more open again and he heard a buzz of thoughts coming from him too, even if they were quieter and still some protected. He focused in on Bella's silent mind, trying to not space out too much. Alice was happily chatting with everyone as usual.
"You seem better," Jessica told Edward.
Edward blinked.
Alice laughed, her tinkling laughter pulling in not only their table, but drawing curious glances from tables close to theirs.
"Sorry, what?" Edward asked.
"You seem better. Have you been sick?" Has he got a new girlfriend? Jessica wondered in her thoughts.
He decided that lying would be the easy way out and he was trying to be better. "No, I'm fine. I was depressed and it took me quite some time to get better," he answered.
Jessica nodded.
"Sucks, man," Mike commented and thought, As if he couldn't just move on to any girl here.
Edward did not let his irritation show.
"Oh, at least you did not have to live with him," Alice commented and grinned.
"How does this work anyway?" Lauren wanted to know. "You live together, and now he's together with your ex." How much could this split the family I wonder. Not that I can blame Bella, Lucas is absolutely yum!
"There's no hard feelings if that's what you want to know," Edward answered, trying not to let his smile turn sour.
"We're ok," Bella then said, meeting Edward's eyes. He nodded in agreement.
"Quite impressive," Lauren muttered, spiteful.
"I'm happy for you guys! It all worked out in the end," Angela said kindly.
Jessica nodded her agreement. "It took you quite some time to notice Lucas," she called.
Lucas stopped chewing and felt his cheeks heat.
Bella thought that the pink that dusted his cheekbones were adorable. He had seemingly been in his own little world of heaven from Esme's cooking and had not expected the conversation to go straight to him.
He moved a strand of his hair that had loosened from his braid behind his ear. He finished chewing and swallowed before answering. "I honestly did not expect it. It felt as if all the feelings snuck up on me." His eyes sparkled.
"I called it," Jessica gloated.
"You never told me," Lauren muttered beside her.
Edward listened in to the group at the table. Angela had noticed too, but kept it to herself. Lauren had refused to see it. Mike had stayed with his hopeful ways. Ben had been unsure of what to think. Eric had not observed the two as much and had been kind of bummed that he had not been present for the gossip previously.
Lucas breathed out when the conversation moved on and he could get back to his lunch. Bella squeezed his free hand and he met her eyes as they smiled up at him. He felt himself getting lost. He could look into her eyes forever it seemed like. Only the ringing of the bell made the two break off their stare, oblivious to the calls and tease from the table.
Alice pulled Bella up and with her before Lucas could get distracted again. Edward got up with a small smile and shake of his head and waited for him. Secretly he wondered if he had looked the same when he had been with her and if he ever would get to experience such again.
Christmas and new year passed with joy. Bella and Lucas lived in their own peaceful bubble when together, and when apart they missed each other and texted frequently. When they were with friends and the family, they were good at dividing their attentions and not overdoing the physical closeness. Instead sharing looks and knowing smiles, as their own little secret. They were truly getting to know each other on a deeper level. And when alone, they rested in each other's embrace.
Bella tried to not dwell on the hot feeling after kissing and touching as far as it was possible, and as far as Lucas' angel traits would let him go. She accepted what she had for now, despite the acceptance she also had to admit she yearned for more. Waiting for Lucas to forsake his wings seemed to take forever, even if it was not so. He had told her that the time seemed to near, although it was not quite clear yet or how or even why.
They had listened to Charlie quite well and if there were any sleepovers, they usually happened at the Cullen residence. A lot of the time it was reserved for family time – all of them – and at the rarer moments it was only the two of them. Even if nothing more could happen, they were grateful for the hours of privacy until sleep claimed them both.
Erlos showed up by the end of January, feeling some sort of stir nearby. He knew there was wolves close and that the tribe needed to meet with both Carlisle and himself and Lucas. The pieces started to fall into place, but when Carlisle had reached out, the elders had not wanted any meetings.
Erlos met Lucas' gaze from the other side of the room. "It's not like they're not aware of you," he pointed out.
"And they do not owe us any meeting," Carlisle said. "I put forward that we need to meet due to other supernatural circumstances…"
"Apparently the tribe wants to handle it their own way, without interference of the Cullens," Edward spoke up, plucking out from Carlisle's mind, whom in turn gave him a look.
"Would think that knowing their own vulnerability when it comes to numbers, that they would not refuse any meeting that could only help them," Esme said.
"Is it fear of you then?" Bella wondered.
"More likely the fear of the unknown. Fear is a strong emotion," Erlos said and shrugged his shoulders a bit.
"Fear can overrule, and when it does, there is no saying how a human – or myth – will react," Lucas added.
Jasper nodded his agreement to the two angels.
"They don't need to fear us though, it is why we made a treaty in the first place," Rosalie said, if a bit annoyed.
Bella zoned out as she observed her mate and his brother. They were only looking at each other, but making the smallest of facial movement, they were so subtle, and she was sure she did not catch all of them, but she was certain they were communicating in a way only they recognized. A way after spending millennia together.
"We will go," Lucas spoke up.
"What do you mean?" Alice asked, not able to see anything according to their decision.
"We will meet the wolves and introduce ourselves," Erlos clarified.
"Alone," Lucas added.
Lucas felt that the moment was getting near. His change into a full human was coming closer. Closer to where he could shed his wings and fully be with his mate. The demons in Seattle did worry him some, but he knew his siblings were on it, and more angels had gathered in the city in the search of them. There was notice of another darkness growing there of other vampires, but they were not to interfere in that according to their creator.
He joined Erlos in several hunts and sent back more demons than he had done in a long time. It could only mean they were able to get through a rift due to the amass of rising vampires that were crazed in their first year – spreading dread and fear. He did not like it. They were too close to his mate, to his family, to his friends. Charlie had been pulled into the search of several missing young ones that took him to Seattle, not knowing the true danger. He made it part of his assignment to keep his future father-in-law safe when there (when not in school) and when he was not, he made sure either Erlos, Talia and other siblings kept a close eye.
It irked him that he could not interfere. That the creator had such a bond on him and his siblings that they had to keep away and let the unnatural rise of vampires happen. He was thankful though that he could push it far back in his mind when with his mate, though he knew she saw through him at times and wanted to ask what bothered him. Oh, how he wished he could tell her everything. Instead he told her about the demons and their numbers and how they were being careless. For a portal had opened somewhere, and it could only close with time as their numbers lessened. He felt it clearly each time one of his siblings fell, some new, and some really old. He felt it as their light left the world. He felt all as their creator had new angels appear in greater number, having Ariel train them as best she could (beside the knowledge they would hold already have knowledge of), before them too ventured out with their already programmed bodies, to do their duty and protect.
The angel plains had become chaos as siblings looked for siblings, some more known faces, while others more unknown (but yet known as they all had the knowledge). As new ones appeared in big numbers, needing guidance from the older ones before they could venture down to earth and do what they were created for. The dream angels struggled to stay a moment awake as they had all assembled in the plains to fight off the bad dreams caused by fear. The nightmares seemed to take over the natural patterns of dreams.
How could he leave when his brothers and sisters needed him the most?
"Lucas?" Erlos clapped his hands in front of his brother's face. Noticing the spaced look in his eyes. He was not the only tired angel.
Lucas shook his head and blinked. His gray eyes met purple and he felt grounded once more.
"Our creator?" Erlos asked, and flicked his golden locks behind his shoulders.
"Not this time, I was deep in thought," Lucas responded.
"We've been through similar problems before," Erlos said, guessing where his brother's mind had taken him. "Up through history there has been enough demon attacks. If darkness is dominant for a while, they will flourish."
"I know, this just feels a bit too close to comfort. If it was another part of the world and away from my soulmate I might not have worried as much as I do now. I've always known the way, but now, with my expanded range of emotions and my connection to my true mate, I feel that it can all slip away so easily. If she gets hurt somehow…" He could not bear it, he knew as much.
"Talia would have prevented it if it was in her tapestry," Erlos reassured.
"Assuming she could – would be allowed."
"What is the point of giving you a soulmate if she's going to be taken away at once? I do not believe that will happen, and I'm sure that deep down, neither do you."
Lucas nodded once. He stared into the trees in front of them. They had crossed the borders and Talia was due to arrive in any moment. The wolves would cross their paths within moments of her arrival, of that they were certain.
"Good to see you again my dear brothers." Talia's green eyes sparkled and seemed enhanced with the green around them. Her white wings were spread out beautifully, not hiding what she was.
Erlos shook out his golden wings and spread them widely as well.
Turning, Lucas copied his siblings and they now stood quite apart, wings nearly touching, but their gazes resting into the woods.
The two wolves that approached halted as they took in the three – winged – beings. The eternal beings with a glow that offered comfort and safety.
The large black one disappeared before he came back as human, the other wolf following close behind, keeping guard.
"Greetings Sam," Talia said as she met the man's eyes.
"I'm not sure saying someone's name without them knowing you is the best step to take," Erlos muttered and grinned.
No other wolves approached and they all faced the two, their wings lowering against their backs.
"I am Talia, and these two are my brothers, Erlos and Lucas."
"What are you?" Sam asked cautiously.
"Angels of course," Talia responded with a wide smile.
"We are all part of myths, I'm not sure how much your stories cover us though," Lucas said, meeting the other wolf's eyes. It huffed.
"Not much apart from the usual I would think," Sam responded, arms crossed.
"We tried to arrange a meeting with the elders through the Cullens, however, that did not seem to work. We decided that this approach was our last way. You need to know of our presence here. I live with the Cullen family at present as my soulmate is in Forks. Erlos here lives in Seattle and visit enough. We pose no threat to your kind. You do need to be aware of other supernatural creatures though. Most are good at hiding, but know that you are not the only ones," Lucas explained.
"Soulmate? In Forks? And why would you stay with the Cullens?" It did not help on Sam's suspicious feelings.
Erlos subtly tried to send trust his way. A wall met him, despite this, he could tell it would not be impossible to breach and he worked his way around and then through. They were speaking truth, and the wolves had to get past their own fears to hear it.
"The Cullen family helped me when I arrived and have taken me in. They have become family," Lucas responded with a smile. "My mate is a human. Her name is Bella Swan. Not long now I too will become human so I can be with her."
"I will keep coming by to visit and make sure they are safe," Erlos then spoke up. "Do not be surprised if you encounter more of our kind. We tend to like visiting our siblings. Even if you and the vampires have a treaty, no boundaries apply to us when it comes to demon hunts. If there are demons on your land, at least one of us will appear to get rid of it."
Talia knew the wolves would need a bit of time to get used to them and the thought of them so she intervened. "We shall leave your land now. If you have any questions, you may call this number," she said and handed out a note. "I know this is a lot to take in. Brothers, come."
Together the three returned directly to the angel plains. Around them as the light faded and a being of pure light appeared in their minds did they first wonder what in the heavens were happening.
