24; just another sad story

Btw if this seems different it's because it had altered scenes from the new moon book...

Just to Clarify; being alive isn't hard anymore, not like it used to be anyway.

Elias doesn't go through everyday with resentment- at himself, at everyone, at the whole damn world. Each morning, waking alone or next to Bella, he doesn't wonder if that day is going to be a good one- he makes sure it's a good one.

Of course, it isn't all freeing so quickly. Elias still has those thoughts- the ones where he wonders about him. Some part of Eli still burns knowing he's probably just another story to him. Like Maria maybe, or something even worse- a sad story of a human who he risked too much for.

Elias doesn't want to be just another sad story anymore, not if he can do anything about it.

"How can you not like movies?" Elias asks incredulously, mouth agape. They're waiting in line at Port Angeles at night and Jace's amused eyes are glinting like usual under the moon.

"I can always guess the ending!" He shrugs his leather jacket clad shoulders, cheeks pink from the harsh wind.

"You're not that smart. I bet there's a movie out there even you couldn't predict," Eli challenges, stepping closer to the boy having noticed the way his teeth start to chatter. He tugs on the heat resting inside his body and pushes out until he knows it's radiating from him.

"Well when it happens I'll tell you," he mocks. Elias notes the way he moves closer, meaning his trick is working.

"I'll find one," he promises, already planning to find the most complex film possible, "and when I do I'm going to make you watch it a hundred times over."

The older teenager just grins wider. "That's a bit excessive, but I welcome the challenge," Jace nods.

Someone coughs behind them, loudly. Elias goes to turn around to ask what their problems is when Jace's hand picks up Eli's, pulling him forward. It takes a moment for Eli to realise they've both been teasing each other and not realised there's a gap in the line.

"How come you invited me anyway, Grey?" Jace's dark eyes flicker to the other part of the group gathered at the front of the theatre.

Eli shrugs, looking down at their conjoined hands. Jace's hand almost wraps around his entirely, and it doesn't feel bad. He shouldn't mind it- he hold hands with Bella all the time and it means nothing. But with Jace it brings a odd tug to his chest- maybe because he doesn't know if Jace knows the boundaries of their friendship. The last thing he wanted was to give the other boy hope.

"A few old friends invited Bella and I," he sucks on his teeth, feeling a little ashamed. "I used to be good at this socialising thing, putting up a front to people I don't like. But now..." he trails off, not knowing how to explain it.

"So does that mean you like me? Cos' you don't seem to put up a front with me," Jace teases, tone light, his hand squeezes slightly over Elias'.

Eli feels that grin come out again- the one that's too sharp and cunning and he uses whenever he says something that isn't exactly good. "Maybe I'm just really good at hiding myself."

Jace's face doesn't waver at that- he'd known that all along. But what he didn't know is, "So you don't like me?"

"Next!" The ticket seller shouts their attention, making them both break away from each other and go to the stand.

"Of course I do, you cocky bastard," Elias mumbles, just not in the romantic way, he wants to add, but doesn't want to ruin the way Jace is beaming at him.

"That's good, otherwise it'll really unbalance our friendship," he nods, turning to the women at the booth,  asking for the tickets.

The word friendship settles any nerves in Elias, that is until Jace turns back with a thoughtful yet mocking expression, "Wait, does that mean you have no friends in Forks?"

Elias thinks back to the time he spends at school- it doesn't seem a big part of his life anymore like it used to. Maybe because he'd already started pushing his human friends away the moment he decided he was going to change into a... now that wasn't happening, he hadn't tried pulling them closer again in- fear? Fear or apprehension?- of the person he was now.

"I talk to people when they talk to me, and I sit with a group at lunch because Bella and I are a package deal... I just don't actively seek out conversations," Elias tells Jace, a little guilty but ultimately knowing he won't change his habits. He'd got his quota of friends.

"Oh," Jace realises, glinting eyes shading in fake judgment, "you're one of those loners."

Elias glares at the laughing boy- especially since the girl behind the booth smiles a little as she hands the tickets over, like she found the snippet of their conversation she had heard as funny as Jace.

"Tell me again, how many friends do you have at community college?" The wavy haired boy reminds, knowing despite the way Jace spoke about the people in his classes, he never tried inviting them to outside plans or actually befriending them.

"Loads," Jace pouts, thanking the ticket girl quickly before both teens stepped out of the queue and start the small walk back to their group. "I'm a very sociable person if you didn't notice. I just don't mix school life with personal life."

Eli feels his lips rise in a mocking smile as he takes the tickets from Jace's hands, "Spoken like a true weirdo."

There's an awkward atmosphere surrounding Bella, Jake and Mike as they get to them- Eli can tell from Bellas expression, mostly. He looks around rapidly, trying to figure out why.

"Ive got the tickets for us. Are the others on the way?" Eli asks, showing them in his hand like a prize, trying to break the tension.

Bella shakes her head, lips in a fine line. "Jessica bailed, Erics got the stomach flu so Angela is taking care of him, It's just us." She doesn't sound too excited about that.

"Great," Jake beams, eyes hard as he glares at Mike.

Mike looks nervous. "Great," he echos, almost determined despite Jakes looks.

Elias looks at the two males and then towards the only girl in the group, finding it hard to not keep his amusement to himself... now he gets it.

Bella smacks his arm as she walks past Elias and into the cinema. "Shut up," she orders, already knowing what he's thinking.

"I didn't say anything!" he laughs, followed shortly by Jace.

The commercials are playing when they get in. Elias' amusement only intensifies as he goes to sit down and realises both Jake and Mike are next to Bella, both their palms upwards on the arm rests, as if waiting for her to grab one of their hands.

Bella kicks his ankle when he walks past her, one hand trying to smother his giggles. It doesn't help that Jace is behind him, not even trying to hide his own laugh.

Elias takes a seat in the middle of the row, trying not to laugh to himself again- it feels freeing after bring so down for so long. It feels fun for once. It doesn't help that Jace is right next to him, lips almost touching his ear as he whispers the 'endings' to trailers showing on the big screen. Some of the stuff he comes out with is absolutely mad- Elias is almost crying by the time the actual movie starts playing.

"They're gonna be brothers and they're gonna have a show down at the end," Jace predicts, eyes still onto where the bad acting and even worse special effects play. "Or they are weird ass gay lovers with a killing kink."

Elias snorts on his own laugh. "Stop, stop it," he demands.

Jace grins wider, "I'm sorry, it, I'm sure that the guys intestines was made of sausages," he points to the screen, where one of the side characters have been gutted- and Jesus it does look like plastic meat pulled out his stomach.

Elias bites his knuckles, trying to not look. It probably isn't that funny to someone else, but knowing you shouldn't laugh makes the whole thing funnier.

Jace is almost sliding off his seat with tears in his eyes, "Elias, look, look, it's sausages or he just has a really long and lumpy dic-"

They're interrupted by two things. First, Someone shouts behind them, telling them to shut up. Second, Mike stands up abruptly and makes a run for the door, his hand pressed over his mouth.

Bella gives Elias a nod to follow before she and Jake follows Mike. Elias, still in the last moments of laughing, doesn't make a hurry to get up after them. Especially since Jace's head is practically wedged into his shoulder to try smother his own amusement.

"Sorry, we're leaving," the Sherwood boys whisper laughs to the annoyed crowd, dragging Jace up and out the theatre by his leather jacket.

"Enjoy your shitty movie," Jace calls over his shoulder, because he's a bastard like that. Elias pushes him harder, almost running out the doors and into the hallway.

"You're a bastard," Elias accuses in a giddy tone.

Jace moves behind him, wrapping his large arms around Eli's torso, swaying them side to side like kids. "I am a bastard," he agrees, pressing a sloppy kiss on Eli's cheek.

Something pings in Eli's mind, in the place that can never truly be quietened- the mental sensor of heat. It's abrupt and almost like a warning of heat building up, to Eli's left and down the hallway. "What the..." the boys inhales in shock, turning to the place. Half expecting a fire or something since the waves of heat is so warm but so large.

It's nothing like that. It's large, because it's a person- but there's no fire. It's just Jake... but Elias can tell he's burning hot, much like Eli usually is- more than Eli usually is. No human should be that warm, not unless they could burn like Elias...

Elias pushes the thought away, especially since Jakes not just physically burning on the inside- he looks it on the outside too. He's towering over Mike, his face enraged and Bella's half a step next to him, looking torn between trying to calm him and shocked at what's happening. Elias doesn't like that, he doesn't like how out of control Jake is, or his heat, or how the sweet boys personality has flipped so much that it's hard to recognise him- Eli especially doesn't like how Bella is too close to it all. It makes the corners of his vision start to blur.

"Woah, woah, guys come on!" Jace shouts, also catching the interaction. The two move in sync, running a short distance to them. Jace pushes back Mike and stands in front of him to shield him from Jacobs growing anger.

Elias goes to Bella, placing a arm in front of her, guiding her backwards and away from the shaking boys form. "Bella get behind me," he orders roughly- his voice is too dark, too dangerous. His hearts hammering in adrenaline.

Out of instinct Bella grabs his hand, from trying to calm Elias and to test if he's burning. There's a scolding warmth building there and the way he's standing shoes how he's ready to use it. "Elias, don't," she warns in a whisper.

"You!" Jacob snarls in a voice not his own, his eyes suddenly piercing Eli's. "All the rules are different for him," he scoffs, and his eyes linger on where Bella is holding his hand for the moment and back up to where Bella is pressed into his side and back.

Whatever building friendship, whatever good and happiness Jake has brought Elias is forgotten the moment Jake steps forward to him and Bella, still shaking and still so angry it's like Jake could reach out and harm one of them.

Eli's fingers flex and he moves his hand from Bellas as they start to burn, "Jake, step back, I'm only going to ask you once before you piss me off," he says coldly, meeting the boys gaze head on- Jake might have been stronger physically, but Elias is more powerful.

"Elias," Bella almost warns, her hand pressing into his back, "cool it," she begs- never the one for fighting. Elias shrugs her off, moving a little until she's behind him more.

Jake catches the way he shields her and his face erupts in fury. "Get away from her," he shouts at Elias, fingers reaching out quickly and clamping on his bare wrist as if he's going to tug Elias out of the way. Big mistake.

The warmth rushes to where Jake is touching him instantly, burning his palm. Jake gasps, letting go when Elias flicks his wrist out and wraps his hand over Jakes wrist.

"You feel that? That heat? That uncomfortable boil building on your skin? It's little compared to what I can do," Eli's voice is like a quiet form of thunder as he ducks his head to make eye level to Jake. The grey eyed boy pushes the heat from himself even more. Jakes already sweating, his mask of anger finally cracking away into fear and confusion, especially as the burn on his wrist feels like it's spreading up his arm.

"The last time someone touched us, I burned out their vocal chords so they couldn't scream for help," Eli's lips rise into a dark smile of memory, especially since Jake is trying to tug his arm away from Eli. He gives Jake one last squeeze of fire, of warning and a promise as he whispers, "Try grab us again and that'll be minor in comparison."

Jake takes a step away from Elias, one hand being brought up against his chest as the other starts rubbing the injury. A red burn mark stands out against his copper skin. Elias knows he should feel bad- it's Jake after all he's hurt. But all he can focus on is the fact the rush of warmth is still pushing around his body, ready to spring up again to protect.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Jake pants, looking at Elias with a sneer, his body still shaking.

"Hey, get back," Jace orders, his voice reminding Elias that they aren't alone. The whole interaction had only lasted a few seconds, and he'd spoken so quick that only Jake really knew what Eli was threatening. Hell, even the position Jace had initially pushed Mike back hid what Elias was doing.

Elias isn't sure who Jace is talking to- for a moment he's scared it's him- until he stands with his back to Elias and Bella. The pair watch as he pushes Jake by his chest, making the boy take a few steps back. "What's wrong with you, Jake?"

"I," Jake stammers, looking around the people in the hallway and down to where his hands are shaking and burnt. "I don't know what's happening," he whispers, almost vulnerable looking.

"He's burning hot, like a fever but even more intense," Elias notes in a whisper to Bella.

Jace must have seen something on Jakes face, or known something since his voice turns higher in panic and he starts urging Jake away. "I'll take you home Jake, lets go."

Jacob looks directly at Bella, like he wants to apologise, then Elias, his expression turning to what it was a moment ago... a little afraid but almost... grateful. Elias can't decrypt the look since the copper skinned boy turns around and starts jogging down the hallway.

Jace turns to Elias with half assed smile, trying to calm him. "I'm sorry I've got to get him out. I'll call you tomorrow to tell you on what the hells going on." It sounds like a promise, Elias wants to talk on, to ask him what the hell he's thinking, but Jace is turning and almost running out of the building after Jake.

The silence that settles around them feels threatening, it makes Eli's skin prickle in goosebumps... as if the situation they'd just went through wasn't the worse thing imaginable.

"Come on," Elias debates, turning to Bella first to check on her- she's paler than usual and she looks a millisecond from questioning him- if only they were alone. "We should get him home before he blows."

Mike- who's a soft shade of green at this point and sweating so much from his fever- holds the back of his hand over his mouth. "Don't talk about throwing up," he begs.

The prospect of someone else needing attention steers Bella away from staring at Elias with big brown questionable eyes. Fast thinking, she walks to the concession stand and mentions for something to the girl working there. A empty popcorn bucket gets thrust into her hand and she returns back to Mike, handing it him with a grim look of sympathy. "Just Incase."

"Can you walk to the car?" Elias asks, trying not to cringe at the thought of holding onto Mike- the touch isn't so bad, but the prospect of being thrown up on is.

"Yeah," Mike sniffs, his back straightens and stomach gets sucked in. As if he's holding the sickness in.

The three walked quickly out the theatre and into the cool wet air of the parking lot- Jakes rabbit is gone from where it was parked next to bellas truck, so at least Elias doesn't have to start worrying about Jake and Jace... for now at least. The worry of whatever the hell just happened is undoubtedly going to come later.

Bella helps Mike into the truck- after Elias slides into the middle seat. He looked greener now, if possible, and Eli feels a stab of pity for the dude- being sick and far away from home sucked.

"I think I have the stomach flu that's going around," Mike breathes heavily through his words, head against the open truck window.

Elias cocked a eyebrow up, "You think?" He asks dryly. Usually it would make Mike mock him back, but all the boy can do is groan.

"Be nicer," Bella reminds Elias as she starts the truck up. The Sherwood boy sighs, but complies.

The ride home feels twice as long- maybe because Mike heaves at every bump and because Bella and Elias are obviously trying to help but stay away from the sick boy. More Elias with the help, since he tries patting Mikes back and giving him water. Bella has to concentrate on driving to not throw up at the smell wafting from the popcorn bucket.

It's when they're back in town when someone speaks for the first time. "Your La Push friends are weird," Mike announces, chin resting on the open window, trying to breathe in fresh air again.

The reminder of what just happened makes Bellas lips purse. "Focus on getting better Mike," she orders stiffly in defence of their other friends. The reminder of his illness makes another round of throw up start. Elias sends her a look that says, 'happy now?'

The sight of the Newton home is like a billboard of relief. Elias has to climb over Bella to help Mike out, and if the burn of the blondes cheeks is any indication, he feels as embarrassed about it as Elias.

"Can we never speak or acknowledge that this ever happened?" Mike croaks out as Elias slings one of his arms over his shoulder, half dragging him to the door of his house.

"Trust me Mike, I'm way ahead of you," Eli scoffs out a laugh, opening the door for him. The boy shuffles in on his own, Eli's arm dropping off his shoulder as he heads tiredly for the stairs on the left of the front room. He looks a second away from dropping and crawling the rest of the way, but he doesn't ask for help.

Elias takes the initiative and almost runs back to the car- as much as Bella can persuade him to be nice, she won't ever be able to persuade him into looking after Mike Newton for the night.

"Is he okay?" Bella asks as soon as Elias shuts the truck door, her teeth chewing on her bottom lip in worry.

Eli nods, buckling his seatbelt back up, even if it is only a five minute drive, its habit at this point. "He's definitely got the flu. He's burning up."

"Talking of burning..." Bellas voice warps in intensity as she glances at Eli as she drives. "What happened back there?"

The wince comes naturally as the memory from the movie theatre comes back. He doesn't like lying to Bella, and doesn't feel the need to, so the words come out casual but true. "I don't know- no, don't give me that look, okay," he groans as she stares in disbelief. "Look, usually I'm good with controlling myself, or at least reigning myself in when I've lost it."

She nods, brows pulling together in concentration. "I remember you saying you react like that when you think you're in danger. Or when an emotion is so abrupt and strong you burn in defence, right? At least until you can calm yourself?"

Elias knows what she's thinking- that Elias was caught off guard at the sight of Jakes anger, or that he was protecting himself in default when Jake reached out...he wish it was been like that. He wishes it was his body's fault and not his mind orchestrating the reaction.

"Or when I think someone I care about is in danger," Elias reminds her, his guilt clear. Its easier to think now he's away from the situation, and now Mike isn't throwing up to distract him.

Bellas mouth opens and closes a few times, oddly touched at the way he'd reacted in protecting her, and half shocked at why he'd done it in the first place. "Did you think Jake was going to hurt me?" She shudders.

"I panicked!" Eli defends himself at her tone, his hands being throw up in exaggeration as the memory plays over and over. The words come out broken as his chest starts to heave. "I felt the heat rolling off him, and how he was threatening Mike and when he turned around on us both, I just... I-I couldn't reign it in, I couldn't-"

I couldn't control myself. He thinks, frightened. He'd never lost control like that- not even when his life was threatened or when Bellas life was threatened by something much more... frightening of a predator.

Bella reaches over, linking her hand through his as his face breaks down, like a child's would as they realise something they did was wrong. "Do you think it's a emotional thing?" She encourages.

Eli shakes his head surely. "I've been pretty all over the place for the last few months and I haven't melted anything to ashes," he reminds, shivering. If he's honest, he hadn't used his power for much of anything physically- unless it was warming Bella up- it was more of a mental effort of seeing where the heat was. He hadn't actively tried using it.

"So..." Bella hums, looking at him with a bright look, like she's figured it out, "your powers getting stronger."

Elias goes to argue- surely it couldn't be. He'd had his power for years and... then again. It started off slow, of little things- stopping feeling temperature physically, but being able to detect it with his 'extra sense'.  Having the urge, the buried feeling of wanting to touch the fire, to use it. And finally, when the urge got too much to handle, he'd done it- only to figure out he couldn't be hurt by fire anymore, but he could burn.

And now... as he thought about the interaction with Jake...He'd never had that much of a burn ready for use- it used to feel like pulling all his heat into one part of his body... this time it was as if it was a endless supply of burning- he could feed and feed and let it go burn brighter...

"I fucking hope not," Elias gulps, though it feels useless. She's right. "I'm already stressed about the side effects of this gift now," and now it was getting worse. Eli feels his head start to form a headache, a seriously pulsing one, as the possibilities became real. "What if one day I lose control and instead of burning I start to actually burn?"

"Like fire?" Bella specifies in a gasp, looking at him seriously- his eyes are dark and almost scared... not of the fire, but of the prospect of not controlling himself. "We'll figure this out," she reassures, and to take on the role easing the tension like he usually does, she half smiles out a joke, "and if not, I'll carry around a pocket sized fire extinguisher."

Elias gives her a mocking look...but can't help the way his lips uplift.

•••

That night he stays at Bella's- even if he has started repairing the relationship with his parents, started staying at home, started forcing himself to live through the pain of the memories, he still likes it at Bella's. They'd never be able stop him from going there at least once a week.

So, as Bella sleeps beside him- or half cuddled into him, is more accurate- Elias stays awake. He spends the night thinking, and worrying.

First, about Jake- even if Elias had threatened him in the moment, he still felt something for the kid. Especially since it was so out of character- maybe he was sick. He looked it- and his heat was off the charts... but how Jace had looked at Jake, at the shock and apprehension... it made some part of Eli's stomach flip. He looked like he knew what was happening.

The second thing was about his power. He tried, desperately- ignoring the burning ache of the wound where his heart was- to remember about the conversations he had with Carlisle about people having gifts when they were human. He knew humans brought them into their vampire life and they could only grow from there- but strengthening whilst still human? Was that possible?

Or maybe it was with use it got stronger- practise makes perfect. Maybe that's what made Eli's power grow- every-time he used it, it got stronger... it should have brought relief. But it just brought more questions... ones he didn't or couldn't answer.

I wish you were here Carlisle, Elias thinks sleepily, on the edge of sleep, the place where his thoughts come alive without command and he can't stop them. I wish Carlisle was here to bounce back his ideas and help me, I wish Esme was next to me, eager to help, even if it was by just sitting there as support. Hell, I wish Emmett was here, eager to tease and encourage me to start a fire, or for Nate to talk about how he wants me to set his brother on fire instead. I wished Rosalie was there next to him, fondly rolling her eyes at her husband and her siblings. I wish Alice was next to me, being weird as usual as she picked apart the future and rattled off courses I could take to get answers. I wished Edward and Bella was there, together, their joint thinking always offering some type of plan.

I wish you were here, Jasper.

The last thought knocked him out of the edge of unconsciousness. He pushes it away, ignoring the burn of his heart and his headache that makes his blood pound in his ears. That's the bad parts of finally making himself feel after so many months of denial, of pushing everything away... he'd slip back into hope and want, and he knew he couldn't do that. It lead to nothing but more pain and heartbreak.

Elias doesn't have to push the thought away with too much difficulty; Bella, half asleep still, bolts from her slumber with a troubled, "oh no," and a stumbling run to the bathroom. Elias hears the sound of her throwing up soon after and all he can think as he gets up to hold her hair back is, thanks Mike.

Charlie finds them hours later when he gets up. Bella, dressed in shorts and tank top on the cold tile floor, her face ashen and green as she laid her head on the edge of the toilet. Elias next to her on the floor, his back against the wall, rubbing her back with pity.

He looked at the two teens for a long moment, and Elias settles any of his confusion with a simple, "Stomach bug."

His eyes widen. "Both of you?" he ask.

Elias grins in perfect health.  "No I'm just here for support," he tells, wincing as Bella heaves again. He leans over her, scooping back the strands of hair falling into her face from the shitty ponytail he'd done for her- he doesn't have much experience with them.

Charlie hesitates by the door, wanting to help but Elias seemed to have things under control. "Do you need anything?"

"A better immune system," Bella groans, the words muffled by the toilet in her way. Eli pats her back sympathetically.

"I'll stay with her, don't worry, you can go to work," Eli encourages the man as he still lingers near the door, his eyes on Bella and then the watch on his wrist. It'd been a few hours since they'd taken residence in the bathroom, it must have been almost time to leave for work.

Charlie huffs, a little stiff at being told what to do, but even he knows Bella probably wants Elias more than her dad at the moment.  "I'll call David and Cassandra and tell them you're staying here for a few days, the last thing they need is Easton catching the flu."

"Thanks Charlie!" Eli calls out as he goes downstairs for the phone.

Bella collapses from the toilet, her head smacking against Eli's knee before she moves it to rest against his lap. "You're so lucky you don't get sick," she sighs, looking up at him with hate and envy. "Stupid body heat burning bacteria."

Elias winces at the sight of her, again. "I feel lucky," he declares.

Charlie comes back on his lunch break when both of the teens don't answer their phones. Though it was clear why when he gets there- both Bella and Elias haven't moved. He peers into the bathroom, not surprised at the sight of Eli still there next to his daughter despite not being sick- he and Bella are stubborn to the bone.

"Good news, Mike rang and said he got better. You should too soon," he toys with the words, "or at least by tomorrow morning."

Bella groans again, and Eli- from sleep deprivation and the fact his head is pounding so much he's sure he might throw up too- can't find it in himself to answer either. Charlie doesn't stick around- after a few more of the, 'do you need anything' questions of course- he leaves again for work.

Elias falls asleep with his head against the wall, for only an hour or two, but its enough for him to have a kink in his neck when he tries to move it again and the headache to ease up until his vision is clear.

"Okay," he yawns, trying to crack his neck. Bella looks up at him with blurry half open eyes, especially since he tries sitting her up. "Come on Bells, you can't stay here forever, it's not sanitary or comfy."

"I can," she protests, half asleep still, so she doesn't put up a fight as Elias picks her up. He carries her back to her room and places her down on the bed. Like always, she curls up onto her side, snuggling into one of the pillows. She looks more relaxed now, it makes Eli relieved.

Its only half two- from what the clock points to in the kitchen. Elias gets himself busy doing the things Bella usually does when she isn't sick- the house is clean, other than a few dishes in the sink, so that's done. He tries thinking about what he can cook for dinner for them all- but even he knows it's hopeless to try. Also, as far as Charlie is concerned, Elias can carry germs and illness- he probably doesn't want his food being handled by Eli.

So instead, Eli checks his phone, fingers crossed for a missed phone call from Jace or Jake... but nothing. He feels his jaw tick, and without enough time to convince himself otherwise, he rings the house phone for both of their houses. No answer.

A bad feeling creeps up in his stomach- he pushes it away. He'll deal with his friends when Bella is better and capable of talking and helping him wonder what the fuck is wrong.

So as Bella slept, Elias decided to do something different. He thinks this plan through this time- and it takes an hour to work out all the panicked 'what ifs' his brain shoots out. Finally though, he know what he wants to do and how to do it

Stripping out of his clothes until he's just in his boxers, Elias sits in the half filled bathtub he'd ran. He places one hand out in front of him, fingers spread apart, palm facing upwards, and he starts pulling on the heat inside of him.

It is endless, like he thought, and it's a struggle for him to focus only on channeling it into his one hand this time as there isn't no adrenaline fuelling his attempts. Though as the minutes go on, it feels easier.

But, fortunately, as the his hand burnt in a fire like fury, no actual flame appeared- no matter how hard he concentrated- which is a relief. That probably means he isn't going to burst into flames whenever he lost control of his temper.

This time, though, Elias lifts his other hand and flicked the lighter to life. A red flame blazes up, and Eli feels that similar struggle inside himself start up- did he want to use the fire physically, did he want to take it and put it on his skin?- or did he want to control it without touching it? Did he want to carry on feeling the heat around him and try persuade the flame without touching it?

Elias presses his fingers over the flame, urging himself to use it, to steal and make the flame grow. Without realising, he starts holding his breath, ready to plunge his hand into the water at a moments notice of losing control.

Like someone flicking a match into a pool of gasoline, his hand and wrist erupted with a audible whoosh- just like he wants it to. Red and orange flames shoot up a good foot from his hand as he gets too eager- he wasn't expecting that big of a reaction. In a panic, he slams his hand under water, and the flames go out with a struggle and a lot of smoke.

Ok... he thinks with a sigh, pulling his hand out of the water. Theres no flames and any lingering droplets of water start evaporating as he focuses of his skin burning again, this time, tone it down.

•••

Jace doesn't call.

It becomes a odd routine for them both. Everyday, he and Bella wait for a call. Or for someone to answer their calls...but nothing. And afterwards, Elias climbs into Bella's bathtub and starts practising with the fire. It's surprisingly easy every time - but theres some things he can't do. Like make the flames appear on will, or make them travel up more than his elbows without fearing of setting the house of fire.

But even the new adventure of fire can't cure the absence of Jace and Jakes presence in Eli's life. It's painful. Apparently he's sick, that's what Billy says- about him and Jake. But Elias doesn't believe it, Bella doesn't. Those two boys could be dying and they would still try crawl their way to a phone.

So what the fuck is really happening?

"Mom," Elias calls out to her. They're all in the living room, halfway through a movie that Elias hasn't been watching, and god the worry can't be kept in anymore. "have you heard from Jace's mom? Has she said anything about Jace?"

"Nina?" David notes her name in surprise. Elias nods, looking at his mom for answer.

"No honey, apparently he's sick," she mutters, still looking at the screen.

The answers not good enough. "Is that all she said?" He pushes, fingers running over the scar on his neck.

The eager tone worries his parents. His mom pauses the tv, looking at him nervously. "Apparently it's something his brother had. Is everything okay?"

His twin brother- who had stopped talking to Jace and started hanging with Sam. Apparently he went through a fever too, at the beginning. Elias remembers now, and feels stupid for not connecting it sooner. Jace told them one of the days when they were all in Jakes garage... the erratic behaviour, the anger, the fever. Fuck.

"He's just not talking to me. I guess he is too sick," Eli shrugs, trying to push the panic down to not alert them. This isn't good, not at all. He needs to talk to Bella- right now.

Just as he's about to make an excuse to disappear, his dad coughs loudly, moving Eli's attention to him.

"You seem, better," he winces as the words come out awkward, and he scratches the stubble on his jaw as Eli continues looking at him, "better than what you was, anyway."

The words make Eli feel guilty- it didn't used to be hard to talk to his parents before Forks. But then the lies started pulling up, before Eli closed in on himself and forgot how to be a normal functioning human.

"I am," his voice is weaker than intended to, He coughs, trying again. "It's easier, everyday," he nods, only half lying. It was easier and harder everyday- because Elias continued to allow himself to feel about them, but feeling came with thinking about them- about how much he continued to miss them. And hate them, for leaving. And whatever else emotion ripped Eli apart.

Maybe one day he'd look back, when he'd fifty or sixty, and have nothing but gratitude and fondness of the time he had with them, with him...but right now, it wasn't like that.

His moms hand slides over his own, squeezing his fingers, "We love you, you know that?"

Eli's brows pull together, "Of course," he promises. He'd known that the minute they adopted him. Even after running away, after the months of hell he put them through.

"And Bella loves you, your brother does. We think you're the best son we could ask for," David adds, smiling, and the walls start closing in on Eli- this felt like a setup.

"What's this all about?" He asks defensively.

Their happy personas falter, showing exactly how this had been planned. It's David who talks first, "You might be happier, or getting to something like that. But you're not confident, not how you was. We just want to make sure you're as amazing as we know you are."

There's those words again. Confidence, happy. He thought he had those, or was building up to it, then Jace left without a goodbye- just like He did. Is Elias really that easy to forgot about?

"Oh son," Cassandra sighs as his son looks close to tears. She leans over, aiming to kiss his hairline like she normally does, but Elias flinches back, almost protectively.

"Headache again?" David asks, worry lining his eyes. "Should I book a doctors appointment? You're getting them a lot."

Elias got them a lot more than he told them. They were worse in the morning, and sometimes they pulse so hard Eli has to sit down for a few hours. "I'm fine."

The doorbells rings. Elias is up on his feet and running before any of them can stop him. Elias swings his front door open, revealing a soaking wet Bella Swan and the distraught expression on her face.

"He's with them. He and Jace are with Sam Uley."

•••

It hurt more than Elias would ever admit to anyone that Jace hadn't said anything to him, that he'd said his 'we can't be friends anymore' through Jake and Bella- as confusing as they were. He'd rather had them face to face... preferably where Elias could punch some sense into him.

"Do you think bad things follows us?" Bella asks, almost making Elias trip over a tree root.

It's early morning, and the suns shining for a rare occurrence for Forks. They've been hiking silently for an hour through the woods and Elias has a idea the only reason she spoke in the first place is because there's a creepy atmosphere around them.

If it weren't for the relaxing smell of wet soil, the moss and the way he can hear a low trickle of water in the distance, Elias would feel creeped out too.

"Whoever we were in the past life must have been evil," Elias trips again as he speaks, Bella catches him by the crook of his elbow, which isn't much help because paying attention to him causes her to trip as well. "Because we're paying for it in this one," he laughs out, making the girl glare at him.

"What if we just leave?" Elias questions back, ducking under a low hanging tree, paying closer attention to where he places his feet.

"Leave town?" The brunette says, shocked, as if she'd never thought of it.

Elias nods, sending her a small pained smile. "They aren't coming back. Being around here isn't helping us. Lets just go," he encourages, reaching out to hold a branch out of the way for Bella.

"And Jace and Jacob?" She quizzes.

"We'll kidnap them," he assures instantly, feeling his anger show in his voice. Bella reaches out and places her hand into his, "They don't want to be with Sam, I'm sure, we don't want to be here..." he trails off as the details are unsure.

Bella looks like she's contemplating it. "I don't think that they would come with us..."

"That's why I said kidnap," Eli deadpans, glad to see how it makes her shake her head.

"And where would we go?" The brunette asks, comical with how Eli has every answer planned.

Elias clicks his tongue. "My family have a lake house in California. We don't visit it often because it's in the dead end of nowhere, but it would be perfect for us."

Bella actually looks like she's considering it. "I don't know about leaving right now, but we definitely can visit it, try and-" the words get cut off as they push their way through the thick ferns, revealing a perfectly circle meadow stretching out in front of them, "-this is it."

Elias makes a noise of surprise in his throat. The place looks almost out of this word, something you'd see an artist paint. To the east of them the trickle of water is louder, it's noise relaxes Elias deeply. The trees are all around them and tall but they don't block out the sun...

"It's beautiful," he murmurs, looking at Bella- she's a little pale, but her eyes are alive in grief and the memories. Elias grips her hand harder, trying to comfort her.

"It's not got the wildflowers like it had last time," she notes thickly, taking a few steps into the meadow, Elias follows her, trying to think of a way to comfort her better. "It feels empty, like their house."

"Bella-" Elias sighs, but her head suddenly lurches upwards, eyes wide.

"Laurent!" Bella cries out in surprise.

Elias spins his head, watching the dark skinned man step into the meadow, his immortal beauty so horribly different from him but so similar at the same time. The pain lashes across his chest like a whip, then a sting of fear comes after- the last time Eli had seen Laurent was under bad circumstances...what is he doing here?

There's a soft unnatural wind before Laurent is a few feet in front of them, his skin reflecting the sunlight. "I didn't expect to find you two here," he notes causally, not surprised though. The fear intensifies, Bella must feel it too because her grip on his hand turns to painful.

Laurent picks them apart with red eyes, gaze flickering to their hands before going back to their faces. "I went to visit the Cullens, but the house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind," he's walking now, circling them. Flashbacks of James doing the same thing blurs Eli's vision. "Weren't you sort of a, um, pets of theirs?"

"Yeah," Bella mutters, the fear concealed poorly, "You could say that."

Elias straightens up, knowing the girl can't lie. "They tend to use the word mate," he supplies, using the fire in his heart and forcing it to spread over his body.

Laurent makes a sound in the back of his throat, as if he's amused. "Yes, Elias, mate-" Eli shivers at the sound of his own name, "But do they Cullens visit often?"

Bella makes a shuddering sound too, as if something scares her. "Yeah, absolutely, all the time," she says lightly, she turns to Eli, her worry real, a hidden message in her eyes easily detectable, "Actually, we shouldn't..."

Elias nods at her, turning back to Laurent with a fake thoughtful expression. "I'll tell them that you stopped by. But they won't be happy, it might cause an argument..." he causally lets go of Bellas hand, scratching his throat, as if his own thoughts makes him nervous.

"Because your boyfriends are pretty protective?" Laurent almost mocks, his smile more a show of teeth than a amused expression. The two humans don't mean to, but they wince, causing Laurent to smile wider. "They are far away, aren't they?"

The eagerness in his statement terrifies Elias. "Why are you here? I thought you were with the Danalis in Alaska," he asks, forcing his hands hotter, mentally thanking he isn't wearing a long sleeved shirt otherwise it would be smoking.

Laurent edges closer, still light on his feet, like a cat around prey,  "I tried their diet, if that's what you're asking..." his gaze slides directly to Bella, "but it's hard. Sometimes there's a scent so mouth watering that I just have to cheat."

Bella takes a tiny step back, almost hiding behind Eli's shoulder, showing exactly how she feels in Laurent's presence. Protect her, his mind screams, do anything and everything.

"Yeah," Eli sympathises, and he has to swallow down the lash of pain that tears his chest as he continues on, "Jasper has that problem, you know... it was hard in the territory battles, always fighting, he didn't know there was another way of being a vampire." The words are light but packing a punch.

Laurent falters, taking half a step back. "Battles?" He echoes, and his expression turns to wonder and something close to being weary.

"You must have noticed the scars on him, the last time..." Elias trails off, and he sends Bella a smirk, but his eyes scream how sorry he is about bringing his name up. "Edward can beat anyone with his little mind reading trick, but he and Jasper can't spar without a obvious winner," Eli chuckles, trying to not sound theatrical.

Laurent chuckles too- a short burst of the sound, and it's not reassuring Eli of his plan to subtly threaten him,"I'm sure, both of them are extremely... dangerous," the last words dripping in mockery, and Eli knows them his attempts are futile. He saw right through the act.

Still, he can't help the way his lips upturn in his own snarl, "They killed James easy enough."

Laurent's face mirrors Eli's, and his snarl is more animal. "I haven't forgot that, either," and he's almost mocking looking again as he admits, "neither has Victoria."

"Victoria?" Bella inhales sharply.

The vampire nods. "I also came to Forks for a favor to her," Laurent edges forward again as he speaks.

"Victoria wants something," The two humans state, knowing exactly where his loyalty lies, they know what's about to happen.

He nods, moving a long dreadlock out his dark angel like shining eyes face. "She asked me to see if you two were still under the protection of the Cullens... the things she had planned to do to you two," his excitement brings a french accent to his words, "Victoria feels it's only fair she kills Edwards mate... given he killed hers."

Elias glares, full of hatred, forgetting the formalities and his will to live.

"And you Elias," Laurent purrs, only a arms distance away now, "she'd like to finish off what James started, before Jasper killed him that was."

His name changes the heat into a inferno, especially out of Laurent's mouth. Elias is almost panting in effort now, the heat pouring off his body in waves.

"Edward would know who did it! He'll come for you," Bella shouts, her hand gripping onto the back of Eli's shirt, Like she's scared to die alone, or scared he'd be pulled away from her.

Laurent shakes his head slowly, top lip pulling over his white teeth, stance lowering down as his fingers curling into claws. "I don't think he will," he muses, words almost a hiss, "After all, how much could you mean to them, if they left you here unprotected?"

Bella's face hardens. "We're not unprotected," she whispers, quickly flicking the lighter in her hand to life, thrusting at against Eli's right palm.

Elias' hand explodes in fire. He pushes his arm out, eyes alive in concentration, the fire throws itself high and wide, like a small explosion that Laurent can't escape from.

It attaches to his clothes, gnarly screams tear though his mouth as he stumbles backwards, hands ripping his jacket off and against his marble skin. Bella and Elias freeze in shock, not quite believing he actually did it.

Then the flames start to decrease as Laurent's hands move at an undeniable speed, leaving him with traces of ash and smoke over his dark skin, and a crack against the marble texture of his bare shoulders. It heals with a audible sound, like metal being pulled together.

Elias connects the fire from his right hand into his left, the red flames lick and dance high, cut off just near his wrists. He spreads his palms out in front of them like a weapon ready to be fired.

"You're dead," Laurent snarls, coiled to spring, ready to end their life. Eli pushes his hands out at the same time, the flames get ready to flare out.

But fear flashes across Laurent's face... fear not directed for Elias. He turns to look at something behind them.

Elias turns too, hands still alight, scared of whatever the vampire is afraid of. He doesn't see anything at first, only the sound of snapping branches and Bella's quick breathing... then he spots it.

A huge black shape eases out the trees like a shadow, stalking deliberately to the vampire. It has the characteristics of a wolf, but so much bigger- more like a horse, but thicker. The animals muzzle pulls up, snarling deeply in his chest, warning Laurent with dagger sized fangs. It's silent steps pause, colossal paws and sharp claws dig into the earth as it tenses up, getting straighter, taller than Elias and Bella.

And six more flanks the first, coming out the woods like a pack surrounding prey- but all of them are looking at Laurent, not the two humans, one of which that's still burning by the hands.

The black wolf jumps forward, snarling, Elias stumbles backwards into Bella just as Laurent turns and runs.

Most of the wolves chase after him in less than a second, their snaps of powerful jaws and angry growls almost deafening. But two stay, staring at Elias and Bella with almost... human eyes.

Elias steps in front of Bella again, rising his hands, wanting to push the fire out to them in case they attack, but one of the wolves- a smaller one with deep sandy blond shades of fur- it's eyes make Eli falter. They're black, deep, almost guilty...they glint.

"Elias lets go!" Bella shouts, pulling him by his shirt, the two wolves fly past them, chasing the vampire like the rest of its pack.

Elias forces the fire to smoke in his palms and proceeds to run.

It takes them almost twice as long to get back to Charlie's house, not that Eli really notices. The time stretches and blinks past in horrifying black moments- like he's passing out but he's still moving.

His minds a buzz of thudding worry, his chests heaving in strain- by the time he's standing in the Swans living room, his visions going in and out like it would when he'd pass out the normal way.

"Elias!" Bella shouts him in alarm, grabbing his arms, pulling him up. He doesn't know if he's falling or swaying or what he's doing- he can't concentrate as the world starts to feel very fuzzy. He doesn't remember anything other than what's just happened, about the fact Victoria is still after them- he can't stop thinking about it.

And for the first time since he was a kid...Elias feels cold. He doesn't sense it- he feels it.

A cold numbing feeling starts at his fingertips, like what he'd always imagined sticking his hands in a ice bath. It's travels, it crawls up his hands and wrists like running spiders. Alarm flashes around him- this is wrong. This is so wrong.

"Bella, I-" he tries telling her, but his jaw locks up, his throat locks up- so does the muscles in his legs. Elias hits the floor just as his shoulders start jerking uncontrollably and his vision blacks.

... all will be clear in the next chapter.

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