reaching dusk (WATTY Awards 2013)

chapter 7

hey guys back again so I had a little writers block  and was gonna stop this story but had a few ideas so here you go..

Nessie's POV

Felix had stepped outside and even though he was out of sight no one in my family dared speak while he was still in earshot. Meanwhile, the grouping had moved into the formal living room. My father was on the phone with Rosalie and Emmett telling them to return to home.

The plan was to leave this newly founded home and return to forks- mostly due to the urging of my mother who feared for Charlie's- her father's- safety if we weren't nearby. Her rationalization was that Aro knew we had an extension of living, human family nearby and he may use them to persuade us if things didn't go according to plan.

I still hadn't strayed far from the door the frame bordering the dining room hoping to blend in with the shadows, but my father noticed right away. He was sitting on the sofa next to my mother, but smiled warmly despite the omniscient atmosphere that surrounded us.

"Come and sit, love" he urged patting the empty space beside him.

My mother looked over at me and mirrored his smile as she moved to sit opposite me. I moved at a glacial pace as I made my way over to them seating myself in the middle between them and curling my legs up under me. My mother wrapped her icy arms around my waist and laid her head against mine.

"Everything will be alright," she said, out of what I guessed was maternal habit. I nodded reluctantly, but all I could think of was the horror I was bringing down on my family.

I put one hand against her cold arm and buried my face into my father's shoulder. He felt like a living statue as he tucked his arm around my shoulders.

"I hate this is happening," I said my voice muffled in his shirt. The tears welled up behind my eyes- another human weakness I had inherited. My emotions were not only marked by my face but other biological functions. My mother leaned over and kissed me on my temple.

"This is not your fault," she assured me. I don't know if it was my stretched nerves, or the severity that was bearing down on us but I couldn't control myself.

"I know, I just wish I could show them!" I wailed into his shirt, "I would never hurt anyone…I just want everyone to be h-happy. This isn't fair! I'm an a-abomination" I sobbed violently. My father pulled me up against him and whispered into my hair.

"That's not true. Never say that….just because others of our kind don't understand doesn't mean this is your fault," he insisted. He reached down and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Alice?" he said to her hopefully. My aunt was sitting on the recliner motionless, her face a statue and I could tell when she was trying to 'see.' Her eyes fluttered and she looked around the room eventually fixing her eyes on me. She smiled at me and walked over.

"Let's go upstairs," she said. Her eyes danced and she held her hand out eagerly. I was positive girlie-ness was on the horizon. I loved my aunt but I was in no mood for diversions. She had just gotten back from a shopping trip and dress-up was inevitable. My natural aversion to clothes and fashion engulfed me and I sank back into my mother's arms.

"No thanks, Aunt Alice," I said, "I want to stay here for now." She glanced at my father warily, but he nodded obligingly.

It had been at least two hours since Jacob had left and I was getting nervous. The wolf pack was extremely effective in battle, but subtly and patience was not their strongest asset by far and away. I was happy that Jacob would have to appeal to Sam- he was the alpha, and far more level headed.

Jasper was pacing by the window taking in Felix's every move. Felix floated back into the room after an hour of so.

"Aro is pleased so far," he informed us. "He said he is most grateful and if you need our assistance he is prepared to send part of the guard once we have established Marcus's plan. He has requested that Demetri go to Brazil to bring the others here as well. It is mostly a precaution so we don't have to divide the guard." He affirmed.