Thanks to all!
With a quick glance at his pocket watch, Edward doesn't waste any time and heads down the street, his eyes scanning his surroundings with each step. It's almost midnight, and while most of the residents of Port Angeles are tucked safely inside their beds, there are still a fair amount of people loitering on the streets as they come and go to their favorite late-night establishments. He recognizes most of them and nods at them in greeting as he continues on the uneven path. There is only one place he plans on visiting, and he has no intention of staying long – just long enough for him to get his point across, once again, since Marcus Volturi has chosen not to follow his request.
The Lost Key isn't a far distance from Dark Shadows; he can still see his pub from where he stands in front of the steps. Judging by the sounds coming from inside, Marcus has never suffered a loss in clients from Edward's opening of The Lost Key. Guests spill out down the steps and onto the streets, and music from a live band streams through the clear glass windows. A man stands at the door and holds his hand out in front of Edward to stop him from walking inside. Instead, he leans down and whispers into the ear of another man. Edward watches the second man disappear inside, only to return a minute later with a single nod in Edward's direction.
Acknowledging his gratitude, Edward steps inside and removes his hat, ignoring the stares he receives as he walks to the isolated room in the back corner where Marcus spends his evenings. He has been in here before and knows he wouldn't be allowed inside without permission from the man himself. He knows to knock twice, wait for a response, and to enter with his hands visible to all.
"Mr. Cullen," Marcus says as Edward is let inside, his face distorting into a slow smile. He tells one of his men to fetch Edward's drink of choice as he sits down at the table across from him. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Good Evening, Marcus. This won't take long."
Marcus nods. "I didn't think it would."
The man returns with his drink, sliding it across the table to Edward. He brings it to his lips out of respect for his present company. "You still have some of your girls at Rosalie's down on Hooper?"
"Several," Marcus nods with slight hesitation. He brings a cigarette to his mouth, prepared to remind his visitor with few words to remember where he stands. "Rosalie included."
Edward ignores the implication in Marcus' words. "How many others?"
"Why does it matter?" Marcus deflects. "I've had this arrangement with Rosalie long before you came into town. She boards my girls, lets us use some of the rooms for whatever purposes I need, and I let them take home a considerable amount more than some of the other men around here for their services."
"You're leaving out an important detail," Edward says, his voice unwavering before he downs the rest of his drink. "Your arrangement with Rosalie excludes you from entering her house."
Marcus exhales a cloud of smoke between them. "I haven't forgotten."
Edward shakes his head. "I've heard you have. On several occasions."
"Must be Victoria who's talking to you," Marcus chuckles, pointing a loose finger in Edward's direction. His dark eyes squint as he tilts his head to the side. "She just came back not too long ago, no?"
Edward inhales slowly, his gaze never leaving Marcus on the other side of the table. He repeats Marcus' words from earlier back to him. "Why does it matter?"
The two men say nothing, letting the conversation settle in the air between them. Eventually Marcus shrugs his shoulders and reaches for his drink. "I've only been making sure my girls are all right. Where's the problem in that?"
"There is no problem." With that, Edward stands, his chair screeching on the hardwood floors. He reaches into his pocket and tosses the money for his drink onto the table. "Yet."
He doesn't bother to wait for an escort to show him out.
When he steps outside, he feels the rain on his skin before he sees it and pulls the collar of his jacket up higher on his neck. With his hat on his head and his eyes forward, he walks down the steps and heads towards Hooper Street. He doesn't come to Rosalie's often for business or pleasure, but sometimes he allows himself exceptions to his own rules.
Weeks earlier, when he had first learned of Victoria's reappearance in Port Angeles, he had told Rosalie he would give Victoria one week to confide her secrets to Rosalie before he took control of the situation himself. Rosalie had provided him an answer before the week was over, ultimately swaying Edward from speaking to Victoria himself. However, after again learning from Isabella that Marcus had been visiting Rosalie's boarding house, he felt it necessary to pay a visit to both Marcus and Victoria.
His visit with Marcus had gone exactly as he wanted. He didn't tell Marcus to stop going to Hooper Street; there was no need for that. All he wanted to do was let Marcus know he was watching the house – and knew everything that was happening under its roof. Whatever seed was planted tonight, he would allow it to take root.
He did not want Marcus Volturi anywhere near Hooper Street.
"Who're ya in the mood for tonight?" He hears from an open window in front of the house. "Take your pick, Mr. Cullen."
"Not tonight," he replies, walking into the house without a proper knock. He follows the thin, wilting wallpapered walls and finds Rosalie in the kitchen. She doesn't look up at him but knows why he is here.
"She's in her room."
He nods, taking the hat off his head, unintentionally sending drops of rain all over the small table. "Alone?"
Rosalie nods, turning her back on him to head toward the front of the house again. Not that she minds Edward coming, but it reminds her to keep an eye on anyone else who may forget to knock tonight.
He remembers her room all too well, pausing outside as a memory of her and one of her men flashes before his eyes. This time, he has the decency to knock. "Victoria?"
She doesn't answer him; in fact, all he hears is the screaming sounds of silence as he waits for a response. He doesn't let it get the better of him. "Open the door."
When she does, the sight before him almost brings him to his knees.
I've been able to write a chapter a day, so as long as I keep that pace, you'll be getting frequent updates!
See you soon!