Darkest Light

Secrets Exposed

Cal won't answer his phone. I called him twice last night before bed and twice this morning when I woke up. Now I'm looking around the parking lot at school and his truck is no where to be seen. It is one of very few sunny days in Forks and I turn my face up to let the sun warm my skin, but it doesn't erase the sickening worry in my stomach. 

Cal isn't the only one who doesn't show up today. Neither does Edward or his family. And to my surprise, it isn't Cal that I miss the most. In fact, without him watching my every move, I feel much more relaxed. Except for the worry eating away at my stomach as I wonder why he isn't here and why he isn't answering my phone calls. It does not bode well. But my worry about Cal is pushed to the back of my mind by thoughts of Edward. I miss him terribly. I miss seeing his face and watching him look at me out the corner of my eye. I miss hearing his voice that is like the most unattainable of songs, who's complicated melody is just out of reach. 

So all in all it is a terrible day. I spend my entire lunch in the music room but I can barely play and end up just sitting at the piano spacing out, thinking about Edward, or more specifically, Edward's lips on mine and by the time the bell rings, I can feel my blush to the roots of my hair. After the final bell rings, I walk out to my bike and I can't help looking around the parking lot one more time. Not for a green truck, but for a silver Volvo. As my eyes scan the tree line on the edge of the pavement, I swear I see a glint of something bright and movement, but when I look again, it is gone. 

Grumpy and ready for this day to be over, I head home for my piano lesson. My teacher keeps me at it for over 2 hours before she finally goes home and I decide to head over to Cal's to see what is going on. 

When I get there, the house is silent. I call out and receive no answer. I look around for him, but the house is empty so I decide to leave. It isn't until I am almost out that I see him, and he is blocking my only exit. He is leaning against the front door with his arms crossed and his black hair falling in his face. I stop and watch him for a moment, but he doesn't move. 

"Cal?" I say nervously. My heart is pounding a hundred kilometers an hour and my palms are sweaty. Something is off and it is a lot worse than usual. I should never have come here. 

"Did you have a good time with Cullen last night?" asks Cal in an emotionless voice. Oh no, he knows Edward came over, and judging by his behavior, he knows exactly what happened. 

"We worked on an English assignment," I tell him and he finally looks at me. His steely gray eyes are full of hatred, but there is a glint of excitement that terrifies me. 

"Oh you did much more than that Melody. I suppose you came over here to break up with me," he says, pushing off the door and slowly walking towards me. 

"No, not at all. I came to see if you were okay. You weren't at school and I was worried," I try to explain, stepping back as he advances until my back hits the wall. I am trapped and he keeps stalking slowly closer with a dangerous, mad glint in his eyes. 

"Remember what I told you last time you tried to leave me Melody?" he asks quietly and he reaches into his back pocket. I see a glint of silver and my gaze falls on a razor sharp chef's knife in his hand. 

"You don't want to do this Cal, please," I beg. I can feel hot tears stinging my eyes, but I refuse to let them go. I will not die crying. 

"You are right Mel, I don't want to do this. But you leave me no choice. I warned you what would happen, but you obviously didn't believe me. Do you believe me now Melody?" he asks and I can barely stay upright. My knees feel like water and my heart is pounding so fast I'm sure it just sounds like a constant humming. 

"Cal please, you said you love me," I try, knowing it won't work. Knowing I am about to die. 

"I do love you Mel, with all my heart. That is why I can't let anyone else have you. You will be mine forever Mel," he says and then he is right in front of me. 

I stop trying to talk him out of it. I refuse to beg for my life. I feel the cool blade of the knife bite into the skin over my collar bone and I can feel warm blood flowing over my skin. I close my eyes and think of Sylus. He has lost his parents and now he will lose me, the only mother he has really known. And I realize now that I am his mother, even more than his sister. I feel the knife again, this time it is across my ribs right below my chest. The cuts aren't deep enough to kill. He is just toying with me, drawing out his pleasure. 

I can see Sy as clearly as if he was in my arms. His curly auburn hair and his brilliant green eyes that are so full of life. Then the image changes to Edward, standing in front of me, staring right through me with those golden eyes that see so much. I can feel his touch through the pain, hear his voice telling me to hold on. But as another slice opens up across the top of my shoulder and the burning pain blinds even my visions, I can feel myself giving in. 

"This is much more enjoyable than last time. Last time it was over too fast, they didn't suffer like they deserved to. They tried to keep us apart. But no one will ever take you from me again Mel," soothes Cal and though I can feel fog trying to engulf me, I feel a spark of interest. What does he mean last time? Has he done this before? 

As I am slipping down the wall, trying to hold on to consciousness, there is an ear shattering crash and then Cal is slammed against the far wall. He is held two feet above the floor by a pale hand at his neck. A terrible growl rips through the air, and Cal is slammed again and again against the wall until he goes limp and is dropped to the floor. I knew from the moment the door slammed open who it would be and I was right. Edward is standing over the barely conscious Cal with murder in his black eyes. 

"You will never hurt her again or I will kill you. Do you understand?" growls Edward in a terrifying voice that could scare serial killers. 

"I will kill you, you freak," says Cal, struggling to get to his feet. Edward grabs him under the chin and lifts him again. For once, Cal's eyes are full of the fear he has filled me with so many times before. 

"If you ever hurt her or speak to her or even look at her again, I will kill you, and it will be very long, and very painful. You will beg for death long before I give it to you. Do you understand?" says Edward and even Cal can't deny the truth of the threat. Edward means every word, and Cal knows it. 

Finally Cal nods and Edward drops him. He scrambles to his feet and runs out the door. It is then that I notice Alice right next to me. Her face looks strained and her jaw is clenched tight. 

"Edward, we need to get her to Carlisle. She is losing a lot of blood. He cut her up good," says Alice, her voice as strained as I have ever heard it.

Edward spins and takes a step towards me. A step that brings him straight into the sunlight flooding through the door. I barely notice the look on his face, so similar to Alice's, because suddenly the room is full of prismatic light glinting off of every surface. It is like someone scattered diamonds through the entire room and each one has found the light. But it isn't diamonds casting rainbows of light on every surface. It is Edward, and he is shining as bright as the sun itself.