In Dire Need of Cessation

Fourteen

Anticipating, waiting, expecting, I could only hold my breath and count the milliseconds until I caught another glimpse of Bella. However, unexpectantly, the instant reaction of Carlisle's transformative words was a black out.

As I was on the edge of my seat, eyes wide, and holding my breath, the flickering hands of flames were harshly quenched, drowning me and my family in a suffocating darkness. Although the seven of us could see perfectly without any light, I could hear my family's panic and alert thoughts.

I stayed still, motionless, stretching my vampire capabilities all over the territory for Bella, hoping I would now hear her breathing, at least. Anything. I wouldn't care what indication I received of Bella's arrival, I merely (needed) wanted to know if she was here (with me). I waited, impatiently, while the darkness sailed around me, rippling over the furniture and me as my mind was pelagically wondering with a crate of hope. (I just hoped my ship wouldn't sink).

I was so awfully attuned to my surroundings, focusing my mind on even a shift of the wind outside, that when I heard the unfamiliar sounds of movement above, I jumped up, unequivocally startling my family. Bella was here. Bella was upstairs on the ground floor.

Why was everyone hesitating?

Did I care? No.

I hardly realized Carlisle's hand on my shoulder, for he had also stood with me. Please be careful son, if there is any danger here I will relocate us without a second thought, for I would hate to see anyone hurt, physically or emotionally, by this new stranger presence. Carlisle's warning did not alarm me as I had expected nothing different. I understood his need to protect the family, and I respected it. I would sacrifice myself for the family undoubtfully.

Since I had been momentarily postponed from my destined future, I had been able to distinguish the sound that channeled above us. It was similar to light taps, delicate and fragile with a slow rhythm. In the blackness, my family watching and wondering, I pulled my chair out of my way and began my trek up the stairs first- leaving my family to hesitate behind me.

Of course, being in a family who stuck together, they trailed soon after me. But I was already gone, following the taps of Bella's footsteps that were sounding from the lounge- directly above the basement. The strong feeling of hope stood boldly on my horizon as it shone its bright beacon to beckon me forward; in all my years, even as a human- from what I remembered- I had never been brimming with this much enthusiasm as I chased my future with my vampire speed.

I didn't know why I was so affected by her presence!

It wasn't as if I truly knew Bella, of course, I knew parts of her history and biological family, but the woman who had a personality with preferences, opinions, and a sense of humor, I knew naught about. Yet, here I was running at a speed that was close to my highest, in the direction of someone who was practically a stranger! Even with this new revelation in my mind, I didn't slow.

It was only when I was in the center of the living room, embarrassingly rotating around more than once- just to see her- that I started to become desperate. I had this building hope within me, rising and bubbling to the surface, to meet Bella and uncover this stranger who I had been forced to view through time-travel. However, whenever I became the slightest bit closer, I always lost her. She was always one step ahead of me, like parallel lines, so close but never touching.

Like now.

The taps of feet still echoed through the silent halls of the house, but I saw no beautiful woman before me. It was as if her spirit was here but in no form.

Aware my family were behind me, their expressions matching their thoughts, pity, I turned away from them and glanced out the window.

I wanted to shout her name, to see if I received a reply- but I knew what would happen if I did that: the seven people behind me would witness the sincere boy who had just been disguising his longing by an authentic smile. I wouldn't allow my family to see me in that state.