This took too long, but to be honest? My muse is all but gone. There's no way I'm canon reviewing for this, so maybe watching New Moon will bring it all back. XD idk exactly what's going on, but it's not really that funny anymore... so I apologize.
Title: Rising Phoenix (Part Five)
Fandom: Twilight [AU]
Summary: Halloween's getting weirder and weirder, it seems...
Disclaimer: Unless stated otherwise? Not mine in the least. D: Thank god.
41.
Most kids were trick-or-treating in the evening, but what of the high schoolers? Most were headed off to Ben's house for an evening to remember, but Edward had other plans. He was supposed to head off to face the gun-wielder in the forest again.
Bella insisted that he'd stay. He wanted to be with her and Jake so badly... but in the end, he had to resign himself to meeting the gun-wielder again tonight. Alice wouldn't be able to see these future events, so he was safe from the Cullens' interference.
Funny how he was fighting to save Dr. Carlisle Cullen's life. Edward barely remembered that name - it was almost like a far-off memory - but he was supposedly the best doctor in Forks. It would be a shame to lose him to some punk who thought he was special just because he had two handguns. (If that were true, America would be a very war-ridden country right now!)
Transforming into his angelic form, Edward again cursed the utter lack of subtlety the angelic realm had to offer. He hated the light show that usually followed - complete with matching glowing wings! - and wished sometimes that it could just turn itself off.
He took to the skies and smiled softly to himself as he reached the rooftops. At least this time, he was prepared. He knew who the gun-wielder really was.
42.
"This is our fair town of Halloween~"
He could hear someone singing. Landing on the rooftop, Edward's wings fluttered quietly as he watched the gun-wielder sing. For someone who wanted a grand battle, his opponent sure liked musicals.
"What're you doing?"
Edward crossed his arms, "I wanted to hear your song. Haven't heard Nightmare Before Christmas in a long time."
"Is that so?" The gun-wielder glanced over his shoulder. A rare hint of a smile appeared on his face, "You're more childish than I thought."
The angel wanted to protest, but he wasn't supposed to be emotional. Instead, Edward barely managed to reply, "Is that a bad thing?"
The gun-wielder tilted his head to the side, "Mmm... not particularly."
They were having a peaceful conversation. How was this possible? Edward watched the night stars, his wings fluttering as he finally said, "Why do you hate the Cullens?"
The gun-wielder laughed hollowly. "You'd hate them too if they gave you a fate worse than death."
"Fate worse than death?" Edward questioned, cautiously stepping back as the gun-wielder rose from his position.
"They don't deserve to live like this," The gun-wielder sneered, pointing his gun straight ahead. "Isn't that enough of an excuse?"
"I don't get it," Edward blinked, rising towards the sky as he summoned his staff. "What's so wrong?"
"They relive high school over and over," The demon spat out. "You'd think they'd find better things to do with their time."
"So?" Ed tilted his head. "They need to spend their lives doing better things. Does that affect you?"
The gun-wielder shot bullets at the angel. Edward sighed, effortlessly blocking each one. "Really?"
He then twirled his weapon as he shot a burst of light in the gun-wielder's direction. The gun-wielder howled as he fell over the edge of the roof. Edward immediately flew down -- god, how could he know the guy was on the edge? -- and gasped.
Long, black wings sprouted from the gun-wielder's back as he flew back to the rooftop. Snarling at the angel, the demon snarled, "What was that for?"
But Edward couldn't find it in himself to respond.
43.
How much irony could keep existing in his life? Edward couldn't help laughing hollowly as he studied the gun-wielder's long, black feathery wings. So his opponent was a demon after all. (And he thought he was avoiding most of the cliches altogether. Angels and Demons? Really? Now there'll be vampires and werewolves duking it out a la Battle Royale.)
"What's so funny?" The demon snarled.
Edward's smile stayed in place. "You wouldn't get it."
The demon glared from behind his long, spindly fingers. "Tell me. Now."
"It's cliche," Ed sighed, making his weapon disappear. "You'd think that angels and demons wouldn't be fighting after all this time. It's not like we're in Heaven or Hell or whatever, right?"
"Hmph. That's all you can think about?"
"Well, yeah," Ed blinked, hovering over the demon. "You're sorta-kinda making me miss the new Pokemon episode."
The demon grimaced. "You couldn't Tivo it?"
"Tivo?"
"For an angel, you sure are dumb," The gun-wielding demon rolled his eyes. "I mean, you couldn't just record it for later? Assuming that you'll still live after this?"
"We're both immortal," Ed pointed out. "Seriously. A fight's useless."
"Perhaps," The demon smirked, "But you can't amuse a poor old soul like me? A little combat never did either of us harm."
"Not us," Edward sighed. "Try the townspeople who live here. We have a masquarade to keep up, you realize. They can't know angels and demons and elves and even vampires still exist and walk among them."
"No?"
"No."
The demon threw his hands up in the air in defeat, "You wound me. I just wanted one little fight against the family who made me immortal, and you go berserk at the mere thought of innocent people being hurt. Shall we fight elsewhere, then?"
"That's not what I'm upset about," Ed blinked. "... And how'd you know I was mad, anyway?"
"Upset a bunch of angels in your lifetime, and you learn to read the signs," The demon shrugged.
Edward raised an eyebrow as he watched the demon circle him. Neither of them spoke for a minute, until the demon finally flopped onto a couple of cartons.
"Angel."
"Yes?"
"Celebrate All Hallow's Eve. But I want to propose another challenge to you before you go."
Edward immediately focused all his attention on the demon, "And what is that challenge?"
"You have three months to protect this," The demon held out a pendant. Swinging it before Edward, he also added, "You can't tell anyone what you're protecting, but this cannot be injured or hurt in any way. And you must keep it with you at all times.'
"Protect it?" Edward gently took the pendant and wore it around his neck. "Am I allowed to open the locket?"
The demon's face darkened, "No. Protect it with your very existence, Angel. That's all I ask for."
A swarm of shadows surrounded the two. Within seconds, Edward found himself completely and utterly alone on the tallest building of Forks. Staring down at the pendant, Edward frowned, "Huh. What a weird request."
Tucking it under his clothes, he flew down and disappeared into the sky, "... But I have no choice but to obey, like I always do."
44.
Bella couldn't help noticing how sullen Edward looked tonight. It was Halloween night! They should be cracking lame jokes at each other and telling each other how lame vampire movies were. But instead? He was staying by the food and munching on trail mix more than normal.
How was she supposed to cheer him up? Tugging on her witch's hat, she saunted over to him. "Ed~ Wanna hear the joke about the country song?"
He attempted a smile, "Heh. I think I've already heard that one."
"Aww," She pouted, lightly poking his chest. "Come on! I mean... I want you to be happy, Ed. Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
Taking her hands, Edward nodded. "Of course I'm going to be okay." He paused for a moment, letting her head lean on his shoulder. "... Did you think I was upset or something?"
"Sorta-kinda," Bella admitted. "You looked so worried."
"Because I am," Edward shrugged. "But you know me! I'll get over it and everything'll be a-okay, won't it?"
"Yeah," Bella giggled, letting her hands go from her guardian angel's grasp. "You're Edward Masen. Everything's definitely going to be good in the end."
And as she wandered back to Mike and Jessica, she had yet to notice that her words? Had absolutely no effect on him at all.
45.
Leaf came over to Edward's apartment the next day. Carrying a volume in his hands, he gently set it down on the table before he came to inspect the pendant in Edward's hands.
"What do you think it is?"
Edward shrugged, "All I know is that I have to protect it for three months. This game I'm playing with him is really weird."
Fingering the pendant, Leaf then remarked, "It's not weird considering your record as a guardian angel."
"H-how'd you find--"
Leaf blinked, "Anyone who knows angels can find it." A smirk danced across Leaf's face as he chuckled, "But you didn't want Bella to know you've failed before, right?"
"Of course not," Edward sat down on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. "I've nearly failed countless girls before her. How'm I supposed to know I'll succeed in protecting her from whatever happens to befall her this time?"
Leaf stared at his friend. "What makes Bells so different from all the other girls?"
"Her personality," Edward finally stated. "She's so forceful and wild... but at the same time, she's carefree and doesn't want other people to suffer because of her. I've never met anyone with so many different layers."
"So maybe that personality'll end up saving her," Leaf plopped down beside his friend. "That, and she's got amazing friends who care for her."
"That too," Edward nodded. "But Leaf... weren't you going to tell me something about Bella and Jake? Something I should know?"
Leaf nodded, his face turning pale as he stared down at his shoes. "... I think Jacob's in line to become a werewolf."
46.
As Ed and Leaf mulled over the pendant, Bella and Jacob were sitting outside a small bakery in La Push. Gently sipping on a glass of Coke, Jake couldn't help noticing the worried look on his friend's face. "Bella? What's wrong?"
"Hm?" Bella blinked, looking up from her glass of milk. "Nothing's wrong. Promise."
"You can't fool me. Something bad's going on, isn't it?"
Bella didn't reply. Instead, she stubbornly continued drinking her milk.
Jacob sighed, waiting for her to finish before he added, "Is it something you're not supposed to talk about?"
She slowly, hesitantly nodded, "... Yeah. And I don't even know why he's so upset."
"Huh? Who's upset?"
"Edward. Haven't you noticed, Jacob? He seems... especially uneasy."
"Oh yeah," Jacob sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Ed's been sorta-kinda out of it lately, but I figured that was because he was a senior and seniors're always busy with things."
"Can't be," Bella bit her lip. "Because then that'd apply to me too, and I'm okay."
"Yeah, that's the point," Jacob leaned back in his seat. "... Hey, Bella. You think we should go ask Elizabeth about it? Or just check through his stuff?"
Bella looked almost hurt, "We just can't snoop through his things!"
"We so can," Jake smirked. "Come on, Bells, Ed's our brother. If something's bothering him, we definitely need to find out."
"If you say so," Bella nervously laughed, finishing the last bites of her cookie. "When should we go?"
"Hmmm... how does this Saturday sound?"
"Saturday it is," Bella smiled. "I'll see you then."
47.
Edward shot out of his chair, "Whoa, what?! Jacob, a werewolf? That's not---"
"He's Epiphany's great-grandson," Leaf protested. "And I've been sensing uneven proportions of mana around him lately. Unusual for a human..."
"... but not so much around a werewolf," Edward finished with a sigh. "I get it, Leaf. You're just as bummed as I am about this."
Leaf shrugged helplessly, "I'm sorry, but we can't reverse it."
"What can we do, then?"
There was a moment of silence before Leaf finally, slowly headed towards the kitchen. Taking out some crackers and peanut butter, he sighed, "Well, there is one thing we can do."
"Name it."
"Edward..." Leaf stared at his older brother. "You're that concerned for Jake?"
"I don't want him involved with whatever the Cullens are doing, Leaf," Edward solemnly spoke. "And especially not with this demon roaming around the city. Whatever it takes, I'll do it."
Leaf put a finger to his chin, "Are you sure about this? I don't know it'll be successful."
"I'm sure," Edward knelt before his friend. "Please. Whatever'll help Jake."
Leaf too knelt down. Placing his arms around his friend, he whispered something into the boy's ear. Edward's eyes widened, but he slowly nodded as the two boys let go of each other. Fixing some peanut butter onto the crackers, Edward couldn't help that small smile across his face.
"It's settled, then," Edward nodded. "We'll have everything ready by Saturday night?"
"Sounds good," Leaf smiled. "We'll meet each other then."
48.
The rest of the week was incredibly slow. Neither Bella nor Edward had thought of life in Forks as anything beyond dreary, but surprisingly? Life just became that much more boring. Bella spoke less to Edward - the less she had to think of snooping through his room, the better! - as Edward purposefully tried to avoid Bella - the less he had to think about hurting Jake, the better! - the entire time.
Spectators were equally confused ("Weren't Bella and Edward really good friends?") as they watched the two amusingly avoid each other.
Finally, Alice stopped them both at their usual lunch table on a dreary Friday afternoon. Sipping her blood-red tomato juice, Alice sighed, "Is something wrong? You two seem... kinda off. Lover's tiff or anything?"
"Huh?"
It was the first time Bella and Edward had properly looked at each other in a whole week. Slow, confused smiles appeared on their faces as the two realized they actually had been avoiding each other.
"Not really," Edward confessed, stuffing some mashed potatoes into his mouth. "Bells and I've been busy with afterschool stuff. You know, we're planning a surprise for each other."
"Basically," Bella beamed at Edward's skills for a cover story, "So we don't hate each other. Promise!"
The answer may have satisfied the rest of the table, but as Bella and Edward watched Alice carefully, it became pretty obvious that she wanted more.
49.
Right before she was ready to leave school, Bella was stopped at her locker. Not by Jessica or Angela, as she half-expected to see them, but by none other than Alice Cullen. Pressing her lips together, Bella remarked, "Is something wrong, Alice?"
"I just thought of something," Alice shrugged casually. "You're going to Edward's house this weekend, right?"
How did she know about that?
"I mean," Alice laughed, "You're always at his house, right?"
Oh! She really hadn't seen anything. Bella looked relieved as she laughed, "Oh, of course! Did you want me to tell Edward's mom anything?"
"Could you give Edward this letter for me?" Alice dangled out an old envelope in front of her friend's face. "I'd give it to him myself, but he left school before I could catch up to him."
(It was a bold faced lie, and both Bella and Alice knew it.) Bella nodded, taking the envelope from her classmate and friend. "O-oh, of course. I'll give it to him right away."
"Good," Alice beamed. "Because I wanted you to go shopping with me this Sunday!"
... So that was the catch. Bella laughed nervously, "I'll see," as she packed up her books and slung her backpack across her shoulder. "Have a good weekend, Alice!"
And as she left her friend behind, Bella couldn't help think about how weird her classmate had truly become.
5o.
Those internal monologues? Hadn't been for nothing. Jacob found himself gasping for air as he stared up at the ceiling in his bedroom.
What happened last night? Why did everything feel so hot?
God, this felt like one giant dream. He would just wake up the next morning and everything would be all right in the end---
No, wait. Those weren't human hands he was staring at. Was he wearing one big wolf costume all this time?
Gasping, Jake ran to his mirror.
No. No. NO.
That wasn't a human boy staring back at him. He wanted to scream - scream as loudly as he could! - and roar against the unfairness of it all. Oh, god, god, god. Why him? Why now?
And then? As his father came up the stairs, Jake hid back under the covers.
Please go away. There's nothing wrong with him! He's perfectly normal! He's... and then everything went black as he decided sleep was the answer to this horrible, not-good dream he would never, ever wake up from again.