Nightfall

Nightfall

Chapter 1: Say it Again

Say it Again—Marie Digby

I'd like to state again that THIS IS A THREEQUEL. Haha. That means, if you're new, Go back and read Moonrise, then Sunrise, and then you can come read this.

And I'd like to say, Welcome Back!! to all of my loyal readers and reviewers. I'm sorry it took me so long to write this, so I'll try and be better about that for now on. I was just going through a really long slump.

This story's plot is not set in stone at the moment, so I have no idea if it will be longer then Sunrise or not. Please leave your feedback, not because I'm a review whore, but because I would HONESTLY like to know what you'd like to see within this story.

So, for future reference, I am not Stephenie Meyer. I can't be, because then I would worship myself, be mad at myself for making Jacob kiss Bella, and I'd be married, so Edward would be off limits. : (

OOO

I was in a beautiful meadow. Flowers of purple, red, and gold swayed in the slight breeze, which ruffled my hair. The warm sun beat down on my back as I fell into the sea of flowers, and I inhaled their rich sent. My cheeks warmed against the grass, my eyelids fluttering closed. I smiled, soaking in the sunlight, which had risen in me so long ago. And then, I reached to pluck a flower from the soil. The purple and gold—such like a sunset—was dancing, twirling wildly. I brought it to my nose and drew in the strange, exotic sent.

And suddenly, the blue in the world disappeared, and the sky ripped open. A cascade of water fell upon me, and the flowers shriveled, wilted, and I shielded my eyes against the downpour. I looked up and noticed stars just beyond the atmosphere, and I realized that maybe the sun had set.

The sky roared, and I winced, drawing my hands away from my eyes to cover my ears. Hair plastered itself to my neck, my cheeks. I felt cold size me to the bone. My clothing clung to my skin, and I felt uncharacteristically exposed. I wrenched my eyes shut against the torrent of ice, huddling into myself.

I used to like the rain, I remembered. But not when it looked ready to kill me.

Fire ripped down to the earth, creating strange, eccentric shadows and images that did not belong in such a place of beauty. I whimpered at skeletal trees loomed over me, as a flame erupted in the center of the clearing. I watched in horror as it engulfed the grass, the fire casting odd, forbidden glows on my skin. My eyes trained on the flower—the one I'd been holding—as the fire inched toward it. The flame turned it orange, a demonic color mixed with the beautiful gorgeous purple and gold. "No!" I shouted as the fire devoured it, left no trace…

I screamed as I was shaken awake. Matt leaned back, startled. I realized I was shaking, and wrapped the covers around me to stop it. I watched Matt—my lover—as he watched me. Neither of us showed any emotion, a thing we were getting quite good at in front of certain roommates.

I lived with the most powerful coven on the planet, and that wasn't a huge comfort in some areas. Aro was like a vampire king, and his assistant, Jane, was all too eager to help. Her powers scared me, as well as the rest of the Brady Bunch. Caius and Demetri and Marcus were only three others, whose powers I didn't care to delve into. And then there was Alec, and the rest of the whole damn guard to worry about, which included Matt.

Or "Matthias" as they called him.

Needless to say, I preferred Matt. I think he did, too.

Now we just stared at each other, and Matt gave up the mask. It was January, and the breeze came in through the window, ruffling his brown hair. Concern made a new appearance, and he stroked my cheek. "Are you alright?"

"Fine," I lied.

He frowned. "Are you quite sure?"

"It was just a dream, Matt." I scowled at the blanket, ashamed of my weakness. "If I was running around naked or something, then you could worry about my sanity."

His brows rose mischievously, but he only said, "I don't think I would mind, so much."

"You would if I was prancing in front of the rest of the guard, dear," I replied casually, trying to keep the smile off my lips. I caught his eyes narrow in my peripheral vision. Oh, how I loved taunting him so.

"Liar."

I smiled again, running a hand through my hair. "You caught me," I whispered, not at all meaning for the seductive tone to overpower my voice—I swear. But his expression became dark, hungry. He pushed me back, his lips forcing their way to mine, and I tensed underneath the sudden action.

His hand ran down my side, bringing my leg up against his hip. This was a familiar process. It had happened… Oh, I lost count of all the times between last night and early morning, before I phased and slept. Being away from someone for a year, someone you deeply feel a desire to be with, can do that. He teased my lips with his tongue, and I gasped loudly, trying to recall what time it was. The sun looked to be setting, and it reminded me of my dream.

Matt must have realized I wasn't responding, and he pulled away, quirking a brow at my antics. I didn't want him to feel neglected, so I leapt forward and pushed him to the bed. We were modestly clothed—or, modest as two could get in a closed off room. I was in his shirt, and he had his boxers on. Modest.

His hand inched up my shirt as it had so many times before. I kissed him again as he reached his destination, and our lips moved against each other like cool water, flowing into itself. My back arched and I stretched, moving against him like a cat. He growled and flipped us, his hand on the hem of my shirt, about to take it off.

A door opened, and we both froze, glancing at the door. A girl, maybe fifteen in the eternal sense, stood in the doorway, eyes wide. She had red ones, and a smoky cape drifted around her ankles. I rarely saw vampires surprised, but this girl looked as if she'd never expected—or wanted—to see any form of sex in her entire life. Or what happened before it. Her red orbs took in the seen embarrassingly slow for a vampire, and she blinked rapidly, her gaze going from my face, and then to Matt's.

My gaze went to Matt's, too. His eyes were hard, his face stony. He glared at the intruder with enough annoyance to send any mortal running. But the girl was no mortal, and only held her hand in front of her face to block out the scene, sighing under her breath.

"Is there something you want, Aida?" Matt demanded. The name was Latin. I'd seen it in his book.

The girl smirked, and I could barely see her eyes roll. The tension in the room crackled, sparking between the two guards with a vengeance. They had a past, I knew, but what, I wasn't sure. My eyes darted in between them as Matt and I stood. He'd crossed his arms, trying to rein his temper. Aida lowered her hand, grimacing at me. "Sorry about this," she said in mainly my direction. "I didn't mean to upset you."

I shook my head mutely, my gaze still darting between them. Aida noticed my discomfort and redirected her voice to Matt. "Sorry, dear brother. Didn't mean to interfere. Do carry on."

She turned to leave, a smile playing at her lips, and I suddenly found my voice. "Brother?" I asked Matt, trying not to sound to surprised.

He grimaced as the girl turned around, a too-innocent expression on her face. His expression melted into a glare, and her mask vanished in earnest as she met his gaze equally.

They did look a lot alike, I noticed now. They had the same hair color—dark, chestnut-like brown. The same eye shape, too, except Aida's were surprisingly larger. I began to notice subtle differences, probably eroded by perfection. Her lips were full while his were not. Her mouth turned upwards into an amused smile while his was molded down into a frown. She was all grace and beauty, Matt power and refinement. Aida looked from me to Matt, and I realized I had indeed seen her before, during the year I was here as Matt's slave.

"Is this the Cara? You remember, the one you never wanted me to talk to?" she asked, frowning. I caught a wink directed at me, and smiled as Matt's temper flared.

"Did you ever suppose there was a reason I didn't want you toying with her?"

The charm and laughter disappeared from her tone. "I don't toy."

"Not usually," he amended dryly. Aida scowled.

Something in my mind was clicking. It started off slow, but then it went full throttle. My mind recalled another sibling of Matt's, one who nearly destroyed me. If Aida was Matt's sister, and Lucas his brother, and they were all around the right age for sibling to be birthed apart in their time period, then that meant they had to be changed around the same time. My mind was so close to having the answer when Matt spoke, his voice angry.

"What is it, Aida?"

She frowned, twirling a long braid in her fingers. "Does a sister have to have a reason to pay a visit to her brother?" she asked innocently. Matt scowled.

"Aida…" His voice was a sheer warning, and her head snapped up, momentarily frightened. Or so I thought.

In a moment the bored expression was back, and she rolled her eyes. "Your shift starts soon, dunce. Besides, I thought you might like to know Aro wants to talk to you. Or he could just come in here, of course, but I thought it would be better if you were decent." She closed her eyes in mock exhaustion. "My brother about to have sex with someone is not something I have ever had on my list of things to see."

Matt was unbothered by the comment. "Did Aro say what it was about?"

"I'd say…" Aida trailed off, glancing at me pointedly. Matt didn't reply, so she jerked her head at me. He still made no move. I was practically positive he understood, but he noticed how hurt I was by the fact that he still seemed to have secrets… not that I didn't. "It has to do with her," Aida sighed at last, shooting me an apologetic look.

Matt nodded. "Do you want to go?" he asked me.

"Are you kidding?"

"Stay here, then." He shrugged on his usual attire in a matter of seconds, and Aida looked away, a sick expression on her divine face. When Matt reached the door, he turned to me, seemed to remember I was alone, and glanced at Aida. She seemed to be very interested in the fruit dish across the room, suddenly, and Matt sighed loudly.

"Oh, dear God, what?" Aida queried at last. Playing with a free strand of hair.

"Watch her for me?"

"Are you kidding?" I repeated, this time with anger. Matt shot me a helpless look, and I felt a frown mold onto my face. "I can take care of myself."

"Of course you can," replied Matt tensely. I turned, my pride wounded. Aida watched this scene silently, and then Matt was gone, the door shutting with a soft click.

"Oh, brotherly love," Aida sighed, steering clear of the bed. She sank into a chair, watching me. "He just worries, you know."

"You sound like my mother."

She shrugged. "Don't be mad with him. I'm the one who's made him so careless." Aida may have enjoyed annoying Matt to death, but she didn't want his lover upset with him. She covered the desperation in her tone carefully, her eyes keen with interest.

"How come I've never learned of you?" I snapped suddenly. "He didn't tell me about your other brother either."

Aida visibly winced. "Ugh. I heard about that."

"Glad to be the gossip of Italy." I turned to the mirror. I didn't know why I was upset in the least. Matt had obviously hadn't been ready to share his past yet. How was that a big surprise? But, then again, his past was also his present, and likely, in one case, his future.

Calm down, I told myself. If Jasper were here, he'd be reprimanding you about controlling your emotions in his presence. Your girly emotions.

And I did. When I turned back to Aida, she was still watching me with expressive eyes, confused at my sudden change in mood. "I feel the need to apologize," she confided, tapping her chin with a slender finger.

"Oh?"

"Yes. Our… family is a bit… how do I put this delicately?" She made a face. "Screwed."

"Extremely delicate."

She grimaced. "He just didn't want you to freak out when you learned about us. He didn't want me making impressions on you, whatever that means." She shrugged, the long braid plaited with jewels glimmering in the lamplight.

"Jeez, that reminds me of someone."

"Who?"

"Do you remember an apparently emo guy who was set on killing himself?"

Her eyes went wide. "Edward Cullen?" she gasped. Then, "He's emo?"

"No. He's my father."

She blinked. "Luck to you, girlie."

I smiled in spite of myself, and Aida smiled back. "Mind telling me how come every kid in your family got turned into a vampire?"

Her smile faded. "Maybe another time."

"What other time is there?"

Her eyes lost their luster. "I'm positive I'll see you again soon. Please do not make the mistake of pushing your luck, Beloved." My name meaning. I blinked at her, and she grinned without humor. "Don't you think it's ironic that I'm supposed to be helpful?"

"What do you mean?"

Her brow knitted. "Aida, you know—aid? Means helpful. I think my parents made a mistake."

Mistake? Maybe. But so far, she was being pretty helpful. She was making me forget at why I felt bad, and that was helping. I didn't even notice that the sound of moving paper was happening until I looked to where she was suddenly standing. Over my duffle. I frowned, crossing my arms, as she lifted up a folded piece of paper. I had no clue what it was, but I felt obligated to say, "Hey—that's private!" anyway. Aida ignored me, unfolding the paper and staring at it.

From where I was standing, I could barely make out the photograph. It was in sepia tone, and I remembered it was the one Lucas had shown me in the prison. I was motionless as Aida traced the rim with gentle fingers. "I remember taking this."

"What?"

She glanced back at me. "I remember taking this picture," she repeated, holding it up to the light. "You guys needed someone to operate the camera."

I didn't say anything. She sounded a little sad.

"I wonder why I wasn't more a part of his life. Ever since I've been turned, he's always…" She broke off, dropping the picture back into the duffle bag.

"Always what?"

"Nothing," she said at once. "Never mind. Don't worry about it. Look, I gotta go. Someone's got to make sure the festival doesn't get out of hand for the drunkards."

"I'm sorry?"

She looked fidgety. I mean, twitch-like. She was restless, and I had the impression that there was no festival. "You can take care of yourself, right?" she asked me, hand on the doorknob. I nodded slowly, still unsure with her sudden change in mood. "Um, okay, then. I'll catch you later."

"Bye," I called out, but she was already out the door.

I stepped out onto the small balcony, watching the sun set into the trees. My skin sparkled, and my eyes took in every detail. I watch as some of the guard left the castle grounds, and as others sparred in the field. I watched as the townsfolk bustled by, some yelling at each other in random Italian. There were buses on the streets and business men buying ice-cream for their daughters, but just as I suspected: No festival.

I stood there until the moon began to lift into the sky, and the streets began to grow quiet and the lights went out in homes one by one. My eyes trained on the square, and then below me, back to the castle courtyard. I saw a small vampire leap onto a fountain, and walk the rim. The moonlight glinted off a line of jewels in a dark russet braid.

Aida.

I wasn't one to reserve judgment for people—I just wanted to know what I was up against—and I wasn't about to do so for Matt's sister. I watched as she flipped a gold coin into the fountain, thought better of it, and retrieved it. She seemed indecisive, to say the least. She seemed almost… vulnerable. Like she'd lost her role model. I scowled at the silhouette as she twirled her braid in one hand. Maybe "Helpful" needed some help.

All of the sudden, she tensed, her whole body going rigid. The braid flew out of her hand as she twirled around to see me. I stepped back a moment before her eyes trained on the balcony.

I stood there, not breathing, scarcely moving. I felt her stare on me as if she were x-raying through the wall. After a while, it stopped, and I heard a faint splash as she tossed the coin into the water again and quick steps as she walked away from the courtyard. I didn't move until five minutes later.

I made sure she was gone before I pushed myself back to the railing. I looked back at the city, completely dark now, and I could barely make out the time on the clock tower: 1:47.

I sighed, letting the cool night air rippled around my robe. Move my hair. I barely breathed as I heard the footsteps outside the door, and a terrified pause before it was opened. "You can leave, now—Oh, no."

I didn't say anything. I was still trying to mull over my thoughts. I didn't feel like being mad for no reason right now, especially after I'd been away so long. I also heard the owner of the voice rummaging through the room, glancing behind chairs, then opening the bathroom. My heart wrenched as I wondered if this was what it was like for him when I left.

"Cara?" The sound was just a terrified whisper, and I closed my eyes, forgetting why I had been upset in the first place. I stepped back into the room as if I was walking on broken glass, and I saw him poking his head into the closet.

"Matt."

The word had slipped from my lips before I'd meant it too, and suddenly he was up and staring at me. I took a step back from the expression on his face: Scared, worried, and even a little angry. It was the first time I'd felt truly scared—I wasn't sure what for. And I wasn't quite sure why I said, "I'm sorry," either.

"God, are you alright?" he exclaimed, rushing to me. "Where did you go?"

"I was on the balcony." I jerked my thumb backwards, but his gaze didn't leave me.

"Where's Aida?" he asked, still looking over me.

"Left."

He cringed at my choice of words, and I took his hand in mine as his face made a frown. "Are you alright?" I whispered.

His expression clouded over. "Damn it, Cara, I don't need you worrying about me." His eyes locked on my scar, and my gaze fell down to the floor.

We stood there, unmoving. I couldn't bring myself to look at his face, even glance up. I suddenly felt so much remorse, so much self-loathing, that Matt's head snapped up. I still didn't look at him—I was ashamed I had made everything so bad. I was trying to erase it from my mind, trying to draw back. There were some things I never wanted to lay eyes upon again.

"Cara." His tone had changed.

I shuddered from the phase that went through my body. "Did you think I left? You know—when you were looking for me just now?"

"No. I thought something had happened to you."

That sounded a lot better. "Promise?" A tear rolled down my cheek. I didn't want him to think for a moment that I'd left so soon.

"I swear," he murmured, crushing me against him. I sagged against him, starting to shake. I wondered how our positions had suddenly switched around. I wanted to comfort him. But here he was—comforting me. "Stop worrying, will you? It's not good for humans."

We didn't say anything for a long time. He laid us down on the bed together and just held me for a while. "I never did quit," he whispered after a moment, and I was confused. Quit? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Did vampires smoke now, or something? But then he said, "As much pain as it brought me, I also knew you were alive with each emotion I felt."

Oh. Feelings.

I buried my face into the crook of his arm. "I hated that place."

"I know."

"You wonder what happened." Not a question. We were good at interpreting each other like that.

I felt him nod anyway. "Of course. But that doesn't mean I'm going to push the story form you."

"Speaking of stories… you have your fair share of them to tell," I muttered half-heartedly. I had almost forgotten what I'd wanted to know. Almost.

When I lifted my face to his, he smiled at me. "You thought I was trying to hide it from you?"

"More or less."

"Oh, ye of little faith," he teased, grinning at me. "You didn't try to ask Aida?"

"She escaped before I could wrestle it out of her."

He laughed quietly. "Of course she did." He shifted me so I was sitting up, leaning against him, and he stroked my hair. "Are you sure you'd like to know? It's not a very happy story."

"None of our stories are… so says a certain Rosalie Hale."

He allowed that, kissing my forehead lightly. I snuggled closer, closing my eyes. And then his voice filled the room, telling a tale forbidden to most.

I was only special enough to hear it.

OOO

I was reading some of the comments for Chapter 21 in Sunrise…. Some of you guys thought Matt was a werewolf!? AHHHH! I almost fainted, people! FAINTED!! Let me put your minds at ease:

1: A werewolf in the castle would make the Volturi kill it before it got anywhere near Matt's room.

2: "Husky" could mean that he's trying to cover up some emotion.

Just wanted to make sure that was well known.

I must claim full credit for all the love scenes. Julie is no longer working for me, so I'm branching out, because this story deserves that kind of attention.

Always,

Jamie.