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Edward POV
Edward stood in front of Stefan, who remained seated calmly on a log, as if the weight of the conversation didn't affect him at all. The words that had just left the Romanian's mouth had shaken him more than he wanted to admit. He didn't know if the vampire in front of him was truly mad or just pretending to be, to watch his reaction… though something inside him compelled him to believe the former.
How can he speak like that, so calm… as if his own destruction or the world's were a reasonable possibility?
Feeling an uncomfortable knot from his earlier outburst, Edward tried to compose himself. He no longer saw the point in continuing the conversation; he was certain he would gain nothing but more questions. He stepped back, looking for an elegant exit, but the movement did not go unnoticed.
Stefan tilted his head in an almost curious gesture, the glint in his eyes sharp as a blade.
"Leaving already, Jasper?… And we were just beginning to talk."
Edward forced himself to stay calm. He could no longer avoid finding the Romanian unsettling; he was used to seeing vampires who had left behind facets of their humanity… but this man seemed more demon than vampire.
As a reflex to calm himself, Edward began reading his mind, trying to see through the vampire's facade. No matter how well he acted, he couldn't deceive his own thoughts.
What he heard only heightened his alertness. Stefan had been sincere throughout the conversation. He said exactly what he thought, without filters, without the slightest intention to deceive… and the most disturbing part was that he knew the effect his honesty would have. Now, in his mind, he expected to get something more from "Jasper."
Edward swallowed—more out of reflex than need—and replied, burying his discomfort under a controlled tone:
"I think I've spent too much time here… besides, Nate asked me to take care of a few more things."
Stefan barely furrowed his brow, thinking at a dizzying speed.
Until a few minutes ago, he had seemed genuinely interested in the conversation, almost captivated by it. How curious.
Even if I couldn't extract more information about our mutual friend, at least I made good terms with his companion's family. One never knows when that could come in handy.
The Romanian also stood, with a graceful, deliberate movement, as if he were in no hurry. The novices around him tensed at the sight of both standing. Their gazes locked onto Edward, expectant, silent. Some even seemed to notice that the visitor was about to leave and intended to memorize every feature of his face, as if that information could be useful in the future.
Stefan approached with a controlled smile and placed a hand on his back in a gesture meant to seem fraternal, though the touch felt like a veiled warning.
"I understand, I understand… Nathaniel must have so many things to do before the week ends. I hope you take your time to stop by and say hello as well, Jasper."
The way he pronounced his name at the end sent a pang of distrust through Edward's body. There was something in his tone… something that made him hesitate for a moment. He almost felt tempted to read his mind again to confirm if he had discovered his lie, but his head buzzed, saturated by the echo of everything they had talked about.
Without another word, he nodded lightly, careful not to commit too much. Then, with an impulse, he vanished into the trees, leaving a gust of cold air behind.
He ran without looking back, his thoughts spinning like a storm and his steps trying to match the speed of his mind.
And though he didn't know it at the time, the decision not to look back spared him a disturbing sight: the malicious smile slowly forming on the Romanian's face.
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Edward ran with all his might. Each stride was a way to escape, not from danger, but from the thoughts chasing him like shadows. He could almost feel them at his heels, breathing down his neck. He wanted to put as much distance as possible between himself and that encounter that had left him unsettled… between himself and Stefan's cold voice echoing in his mind.
When he finally advanced far enough and the houses of the small town of Forks began to appear between the trees, he slowed down. His steps, once fast and precise, became mechanical. For a moment, the silence of the forest felt deafening.
He had not forgotten his purpose: he needed to take some bags of blood home. A necessary task to maintain appearances in front of Esme. Even though the idea of pretending normalcy seemed absurd after everything he had just heard, he forced himself to do it anyway.
With an impulse, he resumed running and headed to the hospital in a blink. He moved so fast that no human could have perceived him. The air curved around him, and Forks' perpetual mist seemed to conceal his movements.
Along the way, his eyes—too sharp to ignore the details—caught everyday scenes: a couple laughing on a bench, a group of children playing with a ball, an elderly woman lazily feeding pigeons in a park.
For a moment, he felt a pang in his chest.
If the Romanians were to regain power, would all these people end up as livestock? Their lives reduced to mere playthings for our kind?
The thought wounded him more than he wanted to admit. A pang of disgust and guilt pierced him. He had always recognized himself as a monster, an abomination. But after speaking with Stefan… that man made him seem almost saintly.
Edward knew perfectly well he was not innocent. He had killed before, many times. Criminals, murderers, predators… humans rotten on the inside. But they were still human.
If God truly exists… and if I have a soul… then my path to hell is certain.
Now, however, he had encountered something worse than damnation: a being who saw purpose in destruction. Stefan was the kind of man who would burn the world just to get what he wanted.
A demon who not only believed in hell… but could bring it to Earth.
Still running, Edward shook his head, trying to rid himself of that image. He felt Stefan's words had imprinted themselves in his mind, like venom coursing through his veins. The mere memory of his calm, calculating tone made him sick.
He tried to rationalize. Stefan's speech had been mostly hypothetical, though it was clear how much that idea had haunted him. It did not seem to be his immediate goal. In Stefan's thoughts, there was no intention of rebuilding the old vampire order; his purpose was something else, more personal, more dark. Revenge. Edward could almost taste it in his mind: a burning, suffocating desire that kept the Romanian and his comrade clinging to an existence with no purpose other than destroying those responsible for their fall.
How far could someone driven only by hatred go?
The question chilled his soul.
With a weary sigh, Edward arrived at the hospital. His body moved by pure instinct, without conscious thought. With the precision of an experienced thief, he traversed the empty hallways, took the blood bags he needed, and vanished without a trace.
With the bags in hand, he crossed the town's side streets, moving through the most discreet areas, where hardly anyone was around and the mist hid his steps. As he sped along at impossible velocities, a flash of red caught his attention. Almost instinctively, he looked up and saw a large truck parked in front of a store.
The scent gave her away before his eyes did. Bella.
He stopped, almost without realizing it. His chest tightened, and for a moment, the impulse to go to her overwhelmed him. He wanted to see her, hear her voice, to release everything weighing on his mind, and find in her the calm he couldn't find in himself.
Just a minute… just to see her.
But the thought died as quickly as it had arisen. He couldn't drag her into that darkness. Not when danger was looming so close.
With one last glance at the truck, he vanished into the trees, leaving behind only a gust of cold wind.
The forest welcomed him again, silent and heavy.
Now more than ever, I must keep her away from all of this.
His thoughts were a whirlwind.
And even more now, since I'm not sure how far Nate is willing to go… he thought, remembering how Nate had held him at his grandmother's house, how for that instant, his eyes had reflected a darkness as deep as the Romanian's.
Whether he would choose to protect what little he has left… or burn it all to get what he wants.
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Nate Pov
Outside the Cullen house, Nate, Alice, Jasper, Emmett, and Rosalie were gathered. The air still smelled of wet earth from the competition, and the soft evening light illuminated their faces. After the partial revelation of Nate's ability, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable; Alice, in particular, seemed to radiate happiness, her smile always managing to infect everyone around her.
They chatted for a while longer, using the excuse of waiting for Edward to see how he would fare against Nate, at Emmett's suggestion—a notion Nate did not like in the slightest. However, after a few minutes, everyone agreed to postpone it for another day. Finally, they entered the house, and the warmth of the home added an even more relaxed air to the evening.
Seeing them arrive, Esme offered a tender smile:
"Did I hear all the commotion outside? Were you having fun?"
Emmett, with his usual overflowing energy, patted Nate on the back—who didn't bother avoiding it—and replied:
"If by 'fun' you mean he beat us up… then yes!"
The joke elicited soft laughter from Alice and Esme, while Jasper and Rosalie gave more restrained smiles. As the Cullens recounted to Esme, in vivid detail, every blow and maneuver of the fight, Nate's gaze drifted toward his clothes. Though they hadn't touched him directly, moving across the earth had inevitably dirtied them slightly.
Without drawing attention, he slipped toward the room he shared with Alice and entered the shower with calm movements. Though he couldn't sweat, the sensation of the hot water running over his skin brought a strange sense of relief and cleanliness, as if he could wash away, even partially, the tensions of the day.
As the steam filled the room, he heard Alice's light footsteps approaching. He didn't want to make her wait too long. Wrapped only in the towel around his waist, Nate stepped out of the bathroom and found her reclining slightly on the sofa, a radiant smile illuminating her face.
Seeing her in good spirits, Nate approached slowly, his tone warm and gentle:
"What's making you so happy?"
Alice wrapped her small arms around him, pressing her lips softly against his chest. She rose on tiptoe, reaching his neck and gently pulling his head toward her to brush her lips against his. The kisses were quick and audible, and between them she murmured:
"It's because of you…"
Carried away by the warmth of the moment, Nate lifted her by the waist and sat on the sofa, with her on top of him. A playful smile accompanied every one of his movements, matching Alice's tenderness and enjoying her closeness.
For a moment, Alice pulled back slightly, and Nate saw her bright, satisfied eyes:
"You really have no idea how happy it makes me that you're trying… You were kind to them today and shared yourself. I know it's hard, but I appreciate you giving them a chance."
Then she lowered her lips to his neck and gently traced her hands along his back and shoulders. Nate closed his eyes for a moment, letting himself enjoy the sensation. He felt Alice's hand dangerously sliding toward his waist until a knock at the door abruptly interrupted them.
Nate frowned, feeling irritated. With a deep sigh, he walked to the door, while Alice watched from the sofa with restrained impatience. As he approached, he sensed other presences inside the house and noticed that Edward had returned… but it didn't seem to be him knocking.
Opening the door, still wrapped in his towel, he found Emmett. The vampire looked him up and down and, almost comically, glanced past Nate toward the sofa, where Alice gave him a small, silent wave.
Emmett, somewhat embarrassed, commented:
"Uh… didn't mean to interrupt… but since Edward arrived, we thought we'd all watch a movie together in the living room… You know, Esme's ideas."
Nate looked at him for a second, intending to close the door again, but Alice's pleading eyes made him hesitate. With a slight sigh, he nodded to Emmett. The vampire grinned enthusiastically and ran back to the living room to inform everyone.
Nate, slightly regretful, looked back at Alice. She had come close to him again, brushing his chest playfully, and whispered:
"Don't take too long…"
Nate could only sigh, slightly regretting having broken the tension with his partner's family at the cost of his privacy.