The next morning, Alice has us out the door, and in her Porsche before seven o'clock in the morning, on the way to Bella's house. Alice's short black hair is not in its usual spiky do - it is smoothed into sleek pin curls around her pixie face, which bare a contrastingly businesslike expression. She's practically flying to Bella's door as soon as the car is in park, dragging her future sister, and at that thought- mine-, to the car, Bella climbs in as soon as Alice does, before the pixie-like girl turns to appraise Bella.
"Oh, hell, look at your eyes!" She tsks in reproach. "What did you do? Stay up all night?" I practically bite back a snort at that.
"Of course!" Alice looks back at me in disdain as she starts the car once more.
"Almost." I can see Alice glower at Bella's answer.
"I've only allotted so much time to make you stunning, Bella - you might have taken better care of my raw material." Alice points out, a slight pout to her lips.
"No one expects me to be stunning. I think the bigger problem is that I might fall asleep during the ceremony and not be able to say 'I do' at the right part, and then Edward will make his escape." Bella voices her concern, I know she's attempting to play it off as a joke, but I also know she's honestly worried about something happening to the wedding.
"I'll throw my bouquet at you when it gets close." I offer, beaming as Bella rolls her eyes at me.
"Thanks." Bella grumbles as I lean back in my seat.
"I live to please." I answer, causing Alice to let out a laugh.
"At least you'll have plenty of time to sleep on the plane tomorrow." Alice concedes, causing Bella to raise an eyebrow at Alice's slip. "You're all packed and ready." I can tell Alice only said that to distract Bella, it's worked considering Bella looks at her aghast, and I merely close my eyes, letting Bella and Alice hash it out, attempting to get some rest because of how terrible last night's dream was.
"Well," My eyes open at Bella's voice, seeing as we're turning down the drive. "I see you got to reuse the graduation decorations."
"Waste not, want not! Enjoy this, because you don't get to see the inside decorations until it's time." She pulls into the cavernous garage north of the main house; Emmett's big Jeep is still gone.
"Since when is the bride not allowed to see the decorations?" Bella protests.
"Since she put me in charge. I want you to get the full impact coming down the stairs." Alice counters, she claps her hand over Bella's eyes before she leads us inside the kitchen, where I break away to go up the stairs, and let Bella marvel over the scents. Entering Alice's room, I grab my white garment bag with my bridesmaid dress, and walk into the bathroom, where I shower swiftly, before toweling off. My dress is a Short Chiffon Sweetheart of a very light lilac color, that ends just above my knees, paired paired with black, peep toe, kitten heels, gray eyeshadow, and my black locks are in a curled updo ponytail, with a loose strand to frame my blue eyes. I sit on the bed behind Alice and Bella, watching Alice do Bella's make-up while Bella attempts to take a nap.
It's after lunchtime when Rosalie glides past the bedroom door in a shimmery lilac gown with her golden hair piled up in a soft crown on top of her head, only to sweep down her shoulder from the side of her head. "They're back," She calls in that lilting voice of hers.
"Keep him out of here!" Alice hisses.
"Don't worry, he won't cross you today," Rosalie reassures her. "He values his life too much. Esme's got them finishing things up out back. Do you want some help? I could do her hair." I watch as Bella's jaw falls open, causing me to laugh as she flounders about, trying to remember how to close it.
"Sure," Alice say easily. "You can start braiding. I want it intricate. The veil goes here, underneath." Her hands starts combing through Bella's hair, hefting it, twisting it, illustrating in detail what she wants, making me feel a bit grateful that I got to do my own today. When she is done, Rosalie's hands replace hers, shaping Bella's hair. Alice moves back to Bella's face. Once Rosalie receives Alice's commendation on Bella's hair, she is sent off to retrieve Bella's dress, and then to locate Jasper, who had been dispatched to pick up Bella's mother and her husband, Phil, from their hotel. Downstairs, I can faintly hear the door opening and closing over and over. Voices begin to float up to us. Alice makes Bella stand so that she can ease the dress over her hair and makeup. I notice Bella's knees shake so badly as Alice fastens the long line of pearl buttons up Bella's back that the satin quivered in little wavelets down to the floor, making her look that much more enchanting. That's when Charlie and Renee enter the room, I take that my cue to leave the room, finding my fiance waiting at the bottom of the steps in the kitchen, away from all of the humans and other vampires, and Seth.
"Hey, darlin', you look beautiful." He greets me with a wide smile, and soft kiss on the cheek, and I smile up at him.
"This," I gesture to everything all decorated, and all of the guests in the yard. "is why I wanted to run off to Vegas." I pointedly look at him, causing him to grin back at me. He's in a form fitting tux, with a white bowtie, his hair is slicked back, and his tawny eyes are hinted with yellow, telling me he's feeding off of everyone's energy.
"Well, it's too late now, Alice sent out the invitations today." He says softly, causing me to laugh, leaning up to press my lips to his own.
"Just so you know, you will not be slicking your hair back for our wedding." I state.
"Yes, ma'am." He gives a mock salute, leaning down to kiss me again, when someone clears their throat behind us, causing me to look back to find Alice, dressed, giving me a pointed look.
"I'll see you in the crowd." I whisper, before turning and hurrying up the steps after Alice, who leads back into her room, and we start the march down the stairs, once Alice and I are down the aisle, we split off, she goes to sit with Pandora, while I sit with Jasper, who grasps my hand, and smiles at me, I smile at him, resting my head on his shoulder as the watch the ceremony swing by, and the reception is filled with familiar greetings, and new friends, before we all bid the newlyweds adieu, and people start to ebb away, leaving, and going home. Jasper and I are among the last to leave, and only because I am practically falling down exhausted, wanting to stay and help clean up, yet Jasper insists on taking me home, and tucking me into bed.
Darkness, the scent of tart iron, the heady tang of blood, and agonizing pain racking my body, a scream spilling from my lips, begging for it to end. Then choking, paralyzing me, freezing me in place, I can't run, I can't hide, I can only scream as pain zips through my body, and blood fills my mouth. The darkness bares down on me, pressing against me from all sides, crushing me, then… "NO!" I fly up in my bed, hands flung out with a screech of fear, magic pulsates from me in waves, and I causing hear groaning as my head snaps over, finding Jasper shoved against the wall, causing my eyes to widen, magic dying in an instant, causing him to fall to the ground, catching himself on his hands and knees. Tears fill my eyes as I curl in on myself, grasping my shoulders as I rest my head on my knees, sobs rack my body as Jasper collects himself for a moment, before rushing to my side as soon as he's sure that my magic won't fling him away again, and he pulls me close.
"Breath, darlin, just breath." He pulls me into his arms, allowing me to curl up on his lap, rocking back and forth as he card his fingers through my hair, tears falling freely as I shake, and cling to him. "It's alright. Everything's alright, darlin." He soothes, I look up to see a shadowed figure looming over the side of the bed, familiar red eyes bearing down on us, causing me to let out a shrill scream, scurrying out of Jasper's arms, and falling off the side of the bed. "Lilith?!" Jasper calls frantically, hurrying over to the edge of the bed as I peek over the top, seeing the shadow has disappeared, Jasper pulls me back into his arms as I shake in fear, tears still falling. "It's okay, I promise. Everything's fine."
"No, Jazz," I sniffle, clinging to him tighter. "I-I don't think it is." He looks at me in confusion. "S-Something's coming, something's coming, and I can feel it." He freezes at my words, eyes wide in worry. "We might all die." He frowns, pulling me into his lap, and he strokes my hair, attempting to sooth me.
"It's alright. I promise you, it all will be alright." He presses his lips to the crown of my head, and slowly rocks me, fingers carding through my hair as I shake in fear, tears falling as I rest my head on his chest, listening as he hums softly. The next morning, I open my eyes, stretching as a happy ache settles between my legs, and in my bones as I sit up, Jasper is sitting on the couch in the corner of the room, flipping through his book as he looks over at me, smiling softly. "Feeling better, darlin?"
"Much." He walks over to me, setting on the bed, his hand brushing my cheek. "Good morning, my love." I smile up at him, and he chuckles, leaning down to press a kiss to my lips.
"Good morning, to you too, darlin." He answers, rubbing my bare arm. "What do you want to do today?"
"I have to go dress shopping, with Alice." I answer, twirling my hair around my finger, Jasper smirks at the humdrum tone in my voice, then his pulls me closer, kissing me once again.
"I can tell that you're all excited for that." Jasper teases as I stand from the bed, only for a rush of vertigo to hit me, and Jasper grabs my arm as I stumble a bit drunkenly, he pulls me close, and my head falls onto his chest as I let out a laugh.
"Headrush." I laugh, causing Jasper to chuckle again, before I press up on my tip toes, kissing him softly on the lips, and walk over to our closet, opening the doors. I enter the closet, getting dressed in blue jeans, a green, off-the-shoulder, long sleeve, and black boots, braiding back my hair. Wandering back into the bedroom, Jasper's shrugged on a black long sleeve, and has on his blue jeans, and dress shoes. "Don't you look dashing!" I tease, causing him to smile, pressing his lips to my own, then he presses a hand to the small of my back, leading toward the front door, and down the path, towards the main house. Walking inside, Jasper is practically tackled by Emmett and Garrett, roughhousing into the kitchen, and out the back door, causing me to roll my eyes, entering the kitchen to find Jennifer, Esme, Rosalie, Alice, and Pandora all around the aisle while Esme is cooking chicken and steak, causing me to hum aloud. "Something smells good."
"Lily!" Alice chirps, twirling around the counter, pulling me into a hug. "Good morning!"
"Morning!" I answer.
"Esme's gonna finish cooking, so you, Pandora, and Jennifer can eat, then we'll go." Alice explains.
"That's fine." I answer, sitting beside Pandora, who smiles sweetly at me.
"So, anyone else you want to invite to the wedding?" Pandora asks.
"Well, we've got the Denali clan, and the Irish Clan, Bree, the wolf pack, and my coven." I let out a hum. "Charlie, Billy, Sue, and Mike, Jessica, Eric, Angela, Ben, Taylor." I answer after a moment of thought.
"Ben and Taylor? Are you sure?" Jennifer asks, looking at me in concern.
"They were my foster siblings for the longest time." I point out.
"Yeah, but after their parents died, they cut off all connections with you completely." Jennifer points out, causing me to frown.
"Right, scratch Ben and Taylor. Oh!" I look over at Alice. "Peter, Grace, and Charlotte." Her eyes widen at that.
"Really?" She asks, causing me to nod in confirmation.
"If you guys want to invite anyone, I really don't know many people." I offer.
"We could invite Alistair, and Amun and Kebi." Esme points out.
"Guys, won't it be dangerous, having all these non-vegetarians, around Charlie, Sue, and Billy? Let alone the others from school?" Rosalie asks.
"True." I nod, huffing as Esme plates the food from the pans, putting it before Jennifer, myself, and Pandora. "Hey," I turn to Jennifer. "have you been getting any nightmares, as of late?" She picks up a slice of her apple frittata, then looks at me, cocking her head to the side. "Not just nightmares, but like, waking up screaming, using magic on accident, terrifying chills, night terrors?"
"No. Are you okay?" She asks, reaching across the table to press a hand to my forehead, then frowns as she pulls it away. "You're burning up, you realize that?"
"It's nothing, I feel fine. It's just the night terrors." I explain.
"Well, you might need to check with Sheryl. She might understand what's going on." Jennifer answers, causing me to shrug, biting into my chicken and steak burrito.
"Maybe it's your eating habits." Rosalie teases, holding out a napkin to me as piece of steak fall from my face, causing my the wipe my face, then clean up my lap.
"Doubtful. We're only pigs, because we burn off more carbs than even the wolves do." I provide, setting the napkin on the counter beside my plate. "It's the magic coursing through our blood. Have you ever seen or heard of a fat witch?"
"Uh-!" Pandora opens her mouth, then closes it, shaking her head as Jennifer snorts, rolling her eyes as Emmett, Garrett, and Jasper all enter the kitchen. I watch as Garrett wraps his arms around Jennifer's waist, leaning down to press a kiss to the pulsepoint of her neck, while Emmett kisses Rosalie on the lips sweetly, pulling her into his arms with her back to his chest, and Jasper wanders over to my side, leaning close enough to press a kiss to my forehead.
"Did you tell Jennifer?" He asks softly.
"About the nightmares?" Jennifer asks.
"No, about the smoke figure she saw in our room, last night." Jasper answers.
"What smoke figure?" Jennifer asks.
"There was a figure standing over the side of the bed, when I woke up from my night terror last night. He has red eyes, and the smoke was black." Jennifer sits up, face morphing into one of worry. "Weirdest thing is, the entire thing felt… familiar. The figure had a familiar vibe to it."
"Alright, we're going to talk to Sheryl right now!" Jennifer jumps up, surprising us all as she cross to me, grabbing me by the wrist, and tugs me out the door. "Garrett! Jasper! You coming, or not?!" She scream back into the house, suddenly both the men appear in the doorway, Jennifer points to the ground where we're standing, causing them to hesitantly cross before, Jasper take my own hand, and Garrett takes Jennifer's hand. "Lanuae!" The world around us lurches, filling with bright colors, bolts of lightning crack around us, and red engulfs us, before the world connects with our feet, and it feels like a thousand pounds of bricks suddenly lands in my stomach as I sway on my feet, causing Jasper to reach out, catching me.
"Are you alright, darlin?" He asks, his voice is thick with worry, and I can't help, but smile up at him.
"Fine." I answer, he helps me stand again as Jennifer frowns, then hurries up the back path to the front door, we follow closely behind, and as soon as we get to the door, it opens with a surprised Max standing there.
"Hey, guys, what's up?" He asks in confusion.
"We need to talk to Sheryl." Jennifer answers, Max moves out of the way as Garrett and Jasper follow my sister and I into the foyer, through the kitchen, and down to the basement, where Sheryl is pointing out potion ingredients to Mary and Melody, who look up in surprise at our interruption.
"Girls! What a surprise to see you, today!" Sheryl steps forward to hug us, but Jennifer holds up a hand.
"We need help. Shadow figures, with red eyes, produces night terrors." She states, causing Sheryl to blink, walking over to the library, and pulls out a book there.
"They're called Shadow people, most of the time, they want to observe the human world, they are usually not a danger." Sheryl flips through the pages of the book, the pauses, sliding the book over the table top towards Jennifer and I, the parchment page has a humanoid shadow figure on it, two bright red eyes glaring out of the page.
"What do you mean, usually?" Garrett inquires.
"Well, sometimes, they're trapped by other witches, with lower power levels, and they're tied to a higher level witch. To absorb the witch's powers levels, and transfer them back to the other witch. That's what the nightmares are for, they're drawing your powers out through dreams, but sometimes, they're also warnings." Sheryl explains.
"Warnings?" I ask, shaking my head.
"Yeah, it says here, that Shadow People, though often used to draw on your powers, are more often sent to give you night terrors as warnings of incoming danger. They'll often know about the danger, long before it even happens." Jennifer reads from the book.
"Well, how do we tell which is happening to me?" I ask, finally.
"Well, if you feel weakened, and are fainting more often, then you're fine. That just means they're warning you, in order to do that, they draw on your energy instead of your magic, to give you nightmares." Sheryl answers. "It's if you feel paranoid, and like everything's out to get you, that you need to worry about your magic."
"Wait, so someone's trying to warn me?" I ask in confusion.
"Exactly." Sheryl nods.
"About what, though?" Jasper asks.
"I'm not entirely sure, that's just something that you will have to figure out, for yourselves. Until the time that you figure it out, the night terrors will continue, and you will feel weaker. So, you're in danger, until you discover what the Shadow Person is trying to say." Sheryl explains, causing me to sigh.
"Aw crap!" I look over at Jennifer. "Alice is gonna be so pissed, we took off when we were supposed to go dress shopping today!" Jennifer's reminder causing me to jump.
"Crap, right!" I start towards the stairs in a hurry. "Thanks Sheryl!" With that, I bolt up the stairs, the others following just as quickly, and out the back door, another teleport, a stern look from Alice, and we're in a car, on the way to Seattle, with a lackluster amount of excitement, to go dress shopping. Yay.