LVII. Who Are You?
The abrupt silence rang in my ears and an eerie stillness ensued.
The second fire was lesser, but nearly as excruciating. It localized across the length of my esophagus, tattering the vulnerable muscle into raw strips of bleeding flesh; tissue dried up and flaring red-hot with agony. And in the grim absence of a heartbeat, my ears were flooded with the sounds of the world around me―rain gently pattering against the roof, winds howling and branches shuddering, a distant fluttering of something, and even further out, the roar of car engines fading in and out of focus.
When I opened my eyes, I was met with an endless expanse of blue. Even under the dim light of an overcast sky, every detail was so vivid. I could make out the fine width of every last thread, feel the smoothness of fabric clenched between my fingers, taste the scent of cotton on my tongue.
And as my eyes climbed up, I realized I was in somebody's arms.
"Isabella?"
A beautiful voice chimed in my ears, a divine melody.
It perfectly matched the exquisite face of the being who held me. I counted the hundreds of thick lashes lowered over dark, molten irises; admired the expanse of smooth, luminous skin; cataloged the fine hairs that made up flawless eyebrows drawn tight with worry; marveled over the millions of shades of red I could distinguish in the gleaming strands of hair tumbling over his forehead.
The lovely curve of his lips moved again. "It's me. It's Edward."
"Oh." The sound was a small, tinny echo; a voice I didn't recognize; a ring that perfectly masked the abrasive pain searing brutally across my throat.
But I remembered him. I remembered Edward.
My mind, spacious and quick, registered every sense that had once been imperceptible to me. I was no longer human; the hellish fire made that abundantly clear. But memories eluded me, like trying to grasp water. They seeped through my fingers before I could make much sense of them.
Edward, though, inspired feelings of warmth and love. The sight of his face alone made me inexplicably happy. I knew without a shadow of doubt that I could trust him.
"How are you feeling?"
Thirsty, was my helpless thought. Despite Edward's presence and the sweet scents that flooded my nostrils; despite the individual raindrops and the rustling of vegetation that drummed in my ears; despite every microscopic detail my senses could distinguish, the most powerful presence of all was the unquenchable fire that scorched and maimed.
Every breath raked down my cracked trachea and uselessly expanded my lungs.
"It hurts," I said, lifting a palm and pressing it against the hollow of my throat as though to quell the scalding pain. I was both shocked to see the polished white of my skin instead of something black and charred, and alarmed by the metallic ringing that replaced my voice.
"You need to hunt."
Yes.
My body responded as though it were weightless. In one fluid motion, I launched myself to my feet, escaping his loose grasp and standing beside a lovely bed of twisting wrought iron and silken gray sheets. I didn't have to think about it; it was instantaneous.
That's when I saw them. They stood at the other end of the room, blocking the doorway with a menacing air. One was enormous and the other one―
Violent, jagged lines disfigured his neck, jawline, and forearms, where teeth had pierced, torn, and mangled. Again and again and again. But every piece of granite flesh was restored, sealed back together like a cadaverous jigsaw puzzle; a Frankenstein.
I flew back against the wall of glass and dropped into a crouch. The defensive feeling was strange.
There was no spike of adrenaline, no blood rushing in my ears, no pounding of a heart against my ribcage, merely a vacant silence and a primal instinct; a deep certainty that the men before me were dangerous.
I curled my lips and snarled.
"Easy, Isabella," Edward cautioned me, slowly rising to his feet and stepping in between us, foolishly putting his back to them. But then, he raised his hands towards me, palms open in surrender, as though I were the danger that needed to be warded off. "It's just Emmett and Jasper."
The names meant something to me, but I failed to grasp their significance.
"Who?" The demand was a sharp hiss.
Edward's expression startled and then darkened, handsome features carved from stone.
"You don't…remember us?" he asked, hands abruptly dropping to his side. He could not fully disguise the pain in his voice.
If my heart could, it would've lurched. Instead, I was left with a strange ache in my chest.
"I don't know," I confessed. "I'm trying to."
But it was difficult to concentrate. Everything was so distracting. And the caustic flames, intolerable.
"Then let's introduce ourselves!" the herculean vampire boomed with a sharp-toothed grin.
I growled, muscles tensing like tightly coiled springs, ready to pounce, but to my aggravation, he hardly appeared threatened.
"I knew you'd be feisty," he snickered and then gestured towards himself. "I'm offended you don't remember me though. I'm your big brother, Emmett."
His words brought me up short. I was so stunned, that for a moment I forgot to be irritated with him.
"My brother…?"
"Yep," he beamed, and then casually threw an arm around the monstrous creature at his side. "And this is Jazzy, your bestest friend ever."
I stared, nonplussed. "Jazzy?"
"It's Jasper," the mutilated vampire corrected blandly, guarded eyes still watching me closely.
"I want to go next!" a high voice trilled from somewhere behind them.
I crouched further back, glass now pressing against my skin. There were more of them. I was far outnumbered.
"Is this a good idea?" Edward asked, directed at no one in particular, gaze cast aside. "She needs to hunt."
The blistering agony blazed even hotter and I winced.
"I agree," Jasper said. "Take her. I'll be with you shortly."
My eyes narrowed. "I hardly think I need a whole entourage," I bit out scathingly.
"I guess you hadn't noticed," Emmett butted in again, far too cheerful. "You're a second away from tearing somebody's head off, Iz. We're responsible for you, meaning we can't let you accidentally slaughter the whole town."
I snarled at him.
"See? You're just proving my point!"
"Cut it out," Jasper snapped. "Quit antagonizing her, Em."
"Sorry, sorry," Emmett said, though his wide, dimpled grin could hardly be construed as apologetic.
Edward carefully walked around me with slow, graceful steps, telegraphing his every move, and unlatched the pane of glass beside me, pushing it open.
The fragrant perfumes of fresh rain, rich cedar, and wet soil gusted into the room.
"Isabella," he said, extending his hand down towards me. "Let's hunt."
To my bewilderment, Edward no longer appeared uneasy. He smiled boyishly, patiently awaiting my response, every sharp line of his lithe body relaxed, hand unwavering. I gazed up into his eyes, colors of melting honey that were both familiar and deeply comforting.
I knew in that moment―I would follow him anywhere.
I flew up, instantaneously straightening out of my crouch, and reached out, placing my palm against his―
―words exploded across my vision.
I stared, wide-eyed, as a wave of shock rippled through me, keeping me frozen in place.
"Isabella? Is something wrong?"
But I couldn't answer him. I didn't know how; couldn't articulate the words swirling around him like gales of wind, rising and falling and collapsing completely, to be replaced by new words. Words that curled into sentences, amalgamated into paragraphs, unfurled into an entire chronicle, until I knew Edward far better than I knew myself.
For a split second, even the fire ceased to matter.
"You love me." It wasn't a question, but a statement of fact.
Edward's expression softened and his honeyed eyes glowed with wonder. Slowly, he raised my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against the curve of my palm. "I do."
Inexplicably, I felt like I could cry. Raw, unfiltered emotions swelled and crested, magnified to staggering heights, beyond anything I could've ever hoped to once feel.
But the tears never came.
I pulled my hand away, the motion far too abrupt, forcefully shattering the tenderness of the moment.
"I…need to cover my hands," I said, drawing them close to my chest, fingers curling into fists, as though it would disguise the power they now wielded.
I was positive that I hadn't been able to do that before, but Edward's knowledge of me said differently; told me that I had always done this, always known things no one else knew.
"Here!"
It was the same chiming voice from earlier. A tiny, fairy-like girl pushed past Emmett and Jasper, skipping merrily into the room and holding up a pair of dainty gloves.
Jasper shadowed her footsteps, eyes locked onto me. I tensed and glared at the potential threat, but this time I didn't fall back, or even hiss in warning. Now, I knew him as Edward knew him. In the same vein, I recognized the small girl as Edward's Alice; his best friend.
"May I?" she requested.
I broke off my staredown with Jasper as she gestured towards my fisted hands. Knowing I could trust her, I shoved my hands forward in another split-second motion.
Alice gently took them one at a time, slipping a glove over each. The material was a light beige synthetic leather that stretched thinly over my diamond skin and secured snugly around my wrists.
"You might tear them anyway, but don't worry. I have more," she assured me with a bright, sparkling grin.
I relaxed the tiniest bit. "Thank you, Alice."
"You're kidding me," Emmett huffed, crossing his arms over his broad chest and shooting me an unimpressed look. "You remember her, but not us?"
Alice turned and stuck her tongue out at him. "Maybe I'm just more memorable than you!"
"Children, enough," a different voice softly admonished.
I stiffened.
But when I looked past Emmett, I was met with a warm pair of golden eyes. And I knew then he was not an enemy, but another one of Edward's beloved people.
"Carlisle," I said.
"It is good to see you are well, Isabella," he greeted me, more affectionately than I'd anticipated.
"Seriously? You remember him too?" Emmett grumbled.
I wanted to explain everything to them, about the words, about the story I'd read that did not belong to me, but belonged to Edward. But razor sharp metal dragged across my throat in fiery trails, a torturous demand for blood.
I swiveled my gaze back towards Edward and at once, he read the unbearable anguish I could not put into words. He reclaimed his hold around my now gloved hand, and then, we were flying.
It was as though the world around me was moving in slow motion. I could see everything. From the individual raindrops, to the face of a lone leaf a mile away, to the distinct feathers of a bird perched on a branch, to the single row of ants marching steadily across the craggy surface of a tree. Everything was so clear and pristine, as though I were truly seeing for the first time.
We landed lightly on the thick grass below and darted across the field, before launching ourselves over the width of a roaring river and vanishing into the thick maze of the forest.
(There was something deep-rooted inside of me, an instinct almost, that warned me not to touch the water.)
The woodland was no match for my newfound strength. Running and scaling the uneven turf was simple, the earth around me a fragile entity of soft branches, brittle roots, and flimsy vegetation.
My lungs expanded and compressed rapidly, automatically seeking out the thing I craved most. Unfortunately, due to Edward's knowledge now swimming in my spacious mind, I knew what needed to be done. The sweet, ambrosic blood of humankind was barred from me. I was not allowed to touch it, let alone taste it. Animal blood was the only, sickening compromise.
But every breath scraped down my throat in acidic agony and brought me closer to the insanity that had chewed through my mind in the midst of the raging fire. I would do anything to quench the raw thirst, to smother the violent flames.
So, I listened, breathed sharply, and searched, ignoring every small critter that hid in fear at our passing, their quickening heartbeats a mere, pathetic flutter. They weren't large enough, their blood hardly registering as anything but a tiny, repulsive drop, no more appetizing than the branches I batted aside.
And then I heard it―the large, wet thumping of a heavy heartbeat and the rhythmic rush of pumping blood. Venom gathered on my tongue, coated my teeth, and dripped from the roof of my mouth, as a bloodthirsty haze settled over my mind.
I ripped my hand out of Edward's hold and twisted around, shooting like a comet through the dark green labyrinth. I catapulted over a ditch, landing on the thick bough of a spruce, and launched myself from branch to branch, until I spotted the gleaming gold fur of an enormous mountain lion prowling the forest floor.
In the next instant, my body collided against the thickly muscled creature and my teeth ripped apart fur, hide, and sinew, until its sweet earthy blood flooded my mouth and coated my esophagus. It roared thunderously, struggling futilely in my arms.
Meanwhile, I gulped mouthful after mouthful without taking a breath, the hot blood taking the edge off of the acrid fire that torched my throat, until it muted to a gentle burn. It settled heavy and warm in my stomach. It made it easier to think, easier to focus.
"Better?"
I shoved aside the drained carcass and flew to my feet.
"A little," I responded to Edward, using the long sleeve of my shirt, wet from the light rain, to wipe away the blood dripping across my lips and jaw. "I'm still thirsty," I admitted, throat dry and aching. But my mind was clearer now, my body energized, flushed with fresh blood.
Edward sat high above me, along the length of a branch, leaning forward and watching me with a tender gaze, damp hair sticking against his forehead. "You're young," he said. "It won't always feel this intense."
That was difficult to imagine.
Again I turned, listened, but flew west this time. A part of my mind noted Edward following behind me at a distance.
In a single glance I registered the various deer walking leisurely along the edge of a creek. I dropped in and grabbed one, ignoring its struggles and fleeing brethren.
This time, I mercifully snapped the neck of the creature before sinking my teeth, cutting through its skin like butter. The bitter, mossy blood gushed into my mouth and I instantly dropped the dead animal, spitting out its blood.
"That is vile."
"You get used to it."
I turned and glared up at Edward, where he sat on the tip of a rock outcropping this time, watching me from across the gurgling creek.
But he became the least of my worries when I heard someone else, their steps moving so swiftly over the terrain, it could only be another one of our kind.
"It's just Jasper," Edward assured me, as I prepared to sink into a crouch.
"What is he doing?" I asked tersely, turning to face the direction he was approaching from.
"He's securing the area," Edward said, though that hardly explained anything.
In the next instant, Jasper appeared at the edge of the tree line. It was easier to see his ravaged face the second time. Though I didn't immediately fall back into a defensive stance, I remained cautious.
"Watch the trails on the southeast end," Jasper warned. He eyed the corpse of the deer, bleeding sluggish across the pebbled creek. "Not a fan of deer, I take it?"
"What's on the southeastern trails?" I demanded.
Jasper and Edward exchanged a loaded glance and I quickly caught on.
Humans.
I hissed in annoyance. "I think I'm done."
"No," Edward disagreed. "You're still thirsty. I know it's unappetizing, but finish the deer. You'll feel better."
My esophagus flared dryly and I gritted my teeth, but did as told.
At least this time, I was prepared for the grass-like flavor. I sucked and drank the still hot blood, ignoring its repulsive taste and realizing it didn't matter. It soothed the burning in my throat regardless.
"How was it?"
I sneered, dropping the carcass, until I realized Jasper's question wasn't directed at me.
"It was remarkable," Edward was saying. "Hunting animals isn't immediately instinctive for us, but she needed no instruction. She was a natural."
"Hardly," I scoffed, as I wiped my face clean. "I'm aware that animal blood isn't our kind's conventional diet. It is for us though. That much I knew."
Jasper and Edward exchanged another look.
"How is your gift of knowing manifesting?" Jasper asked. "You refused to talk about it in detail before, but is it any different now?"
"Couldn't tell you. I don't remember much of anything from before," I admitted with a shrug. "But when I touched Edward…I knew everything about him."
Edward leaned forward with a curious expression. "You read my thoughts?"
"No, nothing so invasive," I said, touching the edge of my blood-streaked gloves. "But I saw you; your life up until this point."
I glanced back at Jasper and recalled Edward's irrational jealousy towards him. This dangerous man was meant to be my best friend, but after my callous behavior, I imagined he didn't like me so much.
"That's incredible," Edward said softly, not appearing at all bothered by the breach of privacy, merely looking at me in wonder. Something rigid inside of me softened under the weight of his gaze.
"It's undoubtedly curious," Jasper agreed more mildly. "How's your thirst?"
I grew dour at the reminder. "It still burns," I admitted sourly, "but I don't think I can drink any more blood."
I was absolutely glutted, my insides practically sloshing.
"The intensity of the pain will lessen in time," Jasper said. "For now, you'll have to hunt a tad more frequently than the rest of us."
"Sure, whatever," I grumbled and glanced down at my worn state. The ends of my long hair were tangled and wet, my jeans had been slashed through by the swipe of sharp branches that were but feathers against my skin, and the fabric of my shirt was thoroughly soiled with a mixture of loam, rainwater, and blood. "I need a change of clothes."
Jasper's expression relaxed and his mouth stretched into the first grin I'd seen from him. It emphasized the brutal scars along his jaw. "Alice can help with that."
"Come on," Edward said, dropping from his perch on the rock and landing on the other side of the creek. "Let's go home."
At once, we simultaneously launched ourselves through the twisting forest, Edward and Jasper on either side of me. My first instinct was to break away from the formation, to flee from them before they could box me in. But my thoughts were clearer this time and I knew that I trusted them. So, I smothered the instinct and allowed my eyes to wander instead.
It was still bewildering. Every color was intensely bright and the amount of minute detail my eyes could see was inconceivable. Even speeding through the forest as we were, I could discern the smallest of features, from the unique patterns of a singular wildflower petal to the number of raindrops gathered across a lone tree leaf.
I was so mesmerized by it all that when we arced over the river, I was almost disappointed.
As we began approaching the soaring white mansion, I unintendedly slowed my steps, until I came to an abrupt stop.
Edward and Jasper turned to me.
"Isabella?"
This time, I recognized the fluttering sounds I'd heard when I first came to awareness. A pair of heartbeats pulsated, quicker than anything I'd yet heard, but unmistakably human.
And Edward's sparse knowledge made more sense. A pair of children resided in the mansion, cared for by Rosalie. He had not seen them for himself, far too focused on me―on ensuring I was alive when he found my discarded body alone and cold on the forest ground, on pumping my heart with venom through the stab of a needle, on making sure I lived long enough to endure the brutal fire, on holding me as I screamed and begged for mercy.
But I knew, as intimately as I knew the flames of my torment, that those children were mine.
"Where's Alice?" I asked.
Edward seemingly relaxed at my inane question, though Jasper still appeared concerned.
"Up here, Isabella!" Alice cheerfully called, popping into view from the third story balcony and waving down at me.
"I'll see you later?" I asked Edward.
There was still so much I didn't know about us. But another thing I understood: I loved Edward. And though I didn't exactly remember what that was like, I desperately wanted to.
"Of course," he assured me sweetly.
I nodded sharply and leapt upward, landing beside Alice with a quiet thud of my feet.
"Isabella, you're a mess," she huffed and whirled around. "Follow me."
It took me a few seconds to match her stride as I followed her inside the house. It was so…slow. It felt absurd to limit my pace to such an intense degree. Was this really the extent of normal human speed?
Alice lead me down the hall and into a luxurious bathroom.
"I've already run a bath for you," she said, indicating the porcelain tub. "Get in. I'll be back in a sec!"
"That's not necessary," I muttered, but she simply skipped off, shutting the door behind her with a quiet click.
I scowled and turned―
―I flew back, pulling my lips back to bare my teeth at the dangerous creature before me, a roar building in my chest, until I realized―
I was gazing at my reflection.
I straightened up and stared in morbid curiosity. I was a ghastly sight―hair, a wet gnarled mess of knots, dirt, and leaves; blood smeared across my face and spilled down my bedraggled clothes; brilliant red eyes narrowed viciously.
I'd known that I was no longer human. From burning on the pyre, to the unbearable thirst, to the supernatural strength and abilities that rendered the world around me a frail existence, it was a simple matter of fact. My alien appearance was merely the final nail in the coffin.
Still, it was unnerving.
I turned and went to remove my clothes, but simple gestures that I knew from before were far too violent now. The attempt to lift my shirt resulted in the sharp tearing of fabric, and I ended up peeling the sullied material from my skin in tatters. The jeans, shoes, gloves, and underclothes fared no better, but I figured they would've been tossed out regardless of whether or not I could keep them intact.
All too aware of the raw strength I possessed, I cautiously stepped inside the bathtub and sat down. Around me, rivulets of red and brown tainted the soapy water.
I listened to Alice's approach, a rustling of fabric and rhythmic steps clicking lightly against the floor. She tapped on the door, needlessly announcing her presence, and stepped inside before shutting the door again.
She eyed the pile of ruined clothes with pity. "Don't worry, Isabella," she assured me as she moved to set a new change of clothes on the counter. "You'll soon learn how to control the strength of your grip."
"I'd like that," I sighed.
Alice approached me and lowered herself to my eye-level, kneeling daintily beside the bathtub and gesturing towards my hair. "May I? I promise I'll stay within your line of sight."
I frowned. "Why can't I wash my own hair?"
"As a precaution," Alice said, undeterred. "It's beyond tangled and I'd hate for you to accidentally rip out any strands."
"I wouldn't rip out my own hair!" I hissed.
"Not intentionally, I'm sure," she said, trying to placate me. "But you still don't know your own strength."
I glared and bit out, "Fine."
"Oh, thank you!" Alice squealed and whipped out a wide-tooth metal comb out of her dress pocket. "Let's see now…"
Alice hummed happily as she parted my hair and began to gently brush the ends, picking out twigs and leaves as necessary. At first, she remained in my line of sight, where I could see what she was doing.
"Ah, there are some knots towards the back of your scalp that I can't reach from this angle," she said with a pout. "Do you mind if I…?"
"Go ahead," I grumbled, mildly annoyed, but more at ease in her presence. She was Edward's best friend and my sister. I could trust her.
Still, I tensed when she kneeled at my back, her hands dangerously close to my neck.
"Just a few here and here," she chatted, working delicately through the lower roots of my hair. "And…done!"
Alice reappeared at my side and my shoulders dropped from their tense line.
"Okay, we can shampoo it now!"
I felt no embarrassment as Alice assisted me, helping me cleanse my hair and body of all grime. It felt familiar somehow.
"Have we done this before?" I asked, as she gently wiped the blood staining my face with a washcloth.
"Hm? No, not with me," she said, expression softening. "You might be thinking of Rosalie."
Somehow, I knew it to be true.
I remembered cold hands wiping my face and gently running over my hair, a comforting voice―the love of a sister.
Finally, Alice took my wrists, carefully avoiding my palms, and drew me to my feet, helping me towel off before I stepped out of the drained bath.
"I'm going to help you get dressed," Alice said, guiding me to stand beside the shining marble counters where a set of clothes were neatly folded. "But trust me, you'll get the hang of it quickly."
"Sure," I said resignedly, allowing her to maneuver me this way and that, until I was dressed in a long-sleeved, seafoam green blouse tucked into a loose pair of stylish jeans, low platform heels, and a new set of thin white gloves pulled over my hands.
"Can I style your hair?" Alice practically begged, eyes big.
My single, jerky nod earned me another squeal.
"Thank you!" she cheered and gestured for me to sit on the stool near the counter.
I sat with care, trying not to break anything, and gazed at my reflection for the second time. This time, I appeared less monstrous despite the angry shade of my eyes. My face was colorless and scarily symmetrical, in a way that was meant to be beautifying but was more eerie than anything else. And my damp hair was clean, the color a deep shade of mahogany
I remained a motionless statue, face impassive, as Alice gently combed the thick, heavy strands, humming softly to herself. "Any preferences?"
"Not really," I said.
Alice flashed me a smile through the mirror, before returning her attention to the top of my head, using her nimble fingers to deftly section my hair. In mere minutes, she braided different sections along my scalp, and then gathered them all together to tie it into a neat ponytail.
"What do you think?" she sang.
"I like it," I smiled, and was momentarily stunned by the alluring effect it created, my face suddenly becoming a lovely and pleasant picture. "It's very pretty. Thank you."
Alice beamed. "You're welcome!"
"Is this something we've done before?" I was sure of the answer before she said it.
"Oh yes," she chirped, tugging a few chunks of strands to tighten the ponytail. "But not enough times in my opinion, so let's change that, yeah?"
"Maybe," I allowed, still smiling.
"You say that now," she huffed. "Now come on. Edward has a gift for you!"
I flew to my feet, following her out of the bathroom and down the hall. The slow pace was uncomfortable, but easier this time. Learning wasn't difficult, but the practice, irritating.
We entered the same room I'd woken up in, the thud of my heels muting as I stepped onto the thick carpet. I instantly felt at ease. I knew I'd been here before, though the memories were dim. It was all the same―the tall shelves crammed with stacks of CDs, books, and a stereo system, the soaring, glass walls framed by heavy fabric, and the pretty, wrought iron bed at the other end.
Edward turned from where he stood by the wall-sized windows, and met my eyes, smiling a charming, crooked grin. For an infinite moment, I grew dazed, hardly registering Alice turning and skipping away.
"Isabella," he murmured, striding across the room far too slowly, until he stood before me, a hand held out. "Come in."
I instantaneously pressed a gloved hand against his palm, and he tenderly wrapped his long fingers around mine, languidly guiding me inside. He pulled me in the direction of his shelves, and then I lowered myself along with him, until we were sitting on the floor.
Edward turned and withdrew a stack of journals and notebooks from the bottommost shelf.
"These belong to you," he said, setting the stack before my crossed legs.
I gazed at them uncomprehendingly, an elusive memory brushing the edges of my mind.
"They're your memories," Edward added gently. "You entrusted them to me, before…everything."
"Oh." As of now, I only knew his memories. But his words matched with them.
"I don't know what you wrote in these, but I believe they will answer some of your questions," he continued. "The pages are fragile, so take care."
"I will," I said, and locked eyes with him. "Thank you."
"Of course. I'll afford you some privacy."
With that, Edward stood and vanished from the room.
Using the utmost caution, I picked up the first notebook and opened it. Once I started, I couldn't stop. With careful flicks of my fingertips, I flipped page after page, picking up the following journals in quick succession. In minutes, I had read every messily scribbled word.
It was like unearthing memories straight out of a forgotten dream―everything was shrouded in darkness. It hardly felt real.
But…I remembered. With weak, human eyes, I could dimly recall my first life with my brother, my death, my strange appearance in a storybook, Azmon, Edward and the Cullens, Charlie, my friends at school, and Leah.
And the memories I hadn't written about after I'd been taken by Serena, were even harder to remember. But all the same, they lurked somewhere in the crevices of my mind, a horror waiting to be unveiled.
I tensed, flitting to my feet and turning towards the open doorway when I heard a commotion down below.
"This isn't a good idea," Edward was saying. "She's been a newborn for hardly a few hours."
"I don't care," someone snapped, a sharp contrast from the metallic ringing of a vampiric voice. It sounded rough and grating against my ears. It sounded…human. The accompanied hammering of their pumping heart flooded my ears and venom gathered on my tongue. "I need to see her for myself."
"Leah―"
"Out of my way, you anemic bastard!"
I remained a statue as the conflict welled inside of me. Leah was a friend, but I could barely think around the sudden stab of hunger, an acidic fire fiercely climbing up my throat―
I nearly gagged when a revolting scent rushed up into my nostrils. It wasn't just animalistic, the blood itself was nauseating, even worse than that damn deer I'd forced myself to drink. My frayed nerves practically screamed in warning, a deep-seeded instinct that shrieked danger.
And then she appeared before the open doorway, tall and imposing, hair shorn off to the edge of her chin.
A savage snarl ripped through me, instantly shattering the strained silence.
A/N: I realized I don't need an epilogue for this story, so there's three chapters left after this one. And thank you to Raviyoli for your help :)
Be sure to review! :)
