Mimic | Jacob Black

36. Bond

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River watched the Cullens getting ready to train again. He leaned back against the tree from the branch he was sitting in–not that high off the ground, barely sticking out from the treeline around the clearing. The woods felt strange now–especially under the soft moonlight, though it was definitely brighter tonight–and he attributed it to what was apparently his soul. His life was starting to feel like this a lot now. Pretending everything was normal at home–telling their parents they would be out and about camping with the Cullens over the next few days, given that they couldn't be at home when the newborn army showed up–and then jumping right back into the supernatural world as soon as they left. Well, after sleeping for most of the day, that is.

He looked up at everyone around him. Emmett, Alice, Rosalie and Esme were further into the clearing. Carlisle, Jasper, Edward and Bella were close by. River closed his eyes and tried to replicate what he felt that night he saw everyone's soul for the first time. He didn't know exactly what he did, but he tried relaxing his body, thinking about what he saw. Nothing happened for a while, but right before he gave up, he started to see flickers of light in his black vision. They grew until he could tell them apart. Bella's was the easiest to identify, since it was different from the rest–the same as the last time he saw it. A muffled light flickering in and out. The rest intrigued River.

Edward's was the same as well–the crystal looking one. But the other vampires were incredibly similar, just with slight variations. Were all vampire souls the same? That made River wonder if the same could be said for humans and wolves. He assumed his and Bella's souls were the same due to the whole mimic thing, but maybe that was just what all human souls were like. The wolves might be the same, with their burning flames, like a freshly lit candle.

Interesting.

"You seem a lot calmer than earlier," Bella said suddenly, pulling River back to reality. After a few seconds, the visuals of everyone's souls disappeared.

"Yeah, I guess," he answered. "Just thinking about stuff."

"About that weird stuff that happened?" Bella guessed. River nodded. "That was so strange, especially since I was able to see it."

That gave River an idea. He beckoned her to step closer, so she was within arms reach.

"What is it?"

He reached down slightly for her hand from his position in the tree. "Like you said. You were able to see my soul, so I want to try something." Bella walked forward, reaching out and locking her fingers around River's. He tried again, closing his eyes. After a few seconds, Bella gasped, and River opened his eyes to see her wide ones staring at his chest.

"No way..." she said in astonishment.

"What is it?" Edward asked, attention captured by Bella's sudden mood shift. She looked at him, laughing a little. She pulled away from River and placed her hands on Edward's chest, right above the glittering crystal.

"Your soul is so beautiful! Oh..." She removed her hands, looking around at everyone and then River. "It's gone."

River examined his own hands. "It must be a physical contact thing. I didn't even know it would work."

Edward's face held a soft expression. It didn't seem like he doubted River's credibility the first time, but hearing Bella herself call his soul beautiful was probably the best thing Edward had ever heard in his immortal existence, because he picked her up and spun her around, pressing a kiss to her lips.

"That's wonderful, but nothing will ever be as beautiful as you."

She smiled as he put her down. "You try it! It's so surreal to see."