34; choose your fate

Just to Clarify; Elias can't remember the last time he had such a peaceful sleep.

He wakes up naturally, unaware of his surroundings but so blissfully calm that Elias isn't sure he is awake as he cracks his eyes open. For a second the rooms unfamiliar, the scent on the sheets isn't his own but something better and there's something under his outstretched palm. It's cold. There's only one thing he can feel that's cold. Jasper.

That triggers last night memory- most of it anyway. The shower part feels like a dream, especially the part where Jasper undressed. Jesus, how did he manage to even look without touching? Talk about self control.

Without thinking about it, Elias states in a rough morning voice, "Am I dead?"

Whatever part of Jasper Eli is touching vibrates as he laughs lightly. "Do you feel dead?" He asks.

Elias turns over from where he's been staring at the glass windows of Jasper and actually faces the boy. His arms got a weird ache from how awkwardly he'd reached out for Jasper in his sleep but it's all worth it when he's met with the sight of Jaspers smile.

"I want to say I'm in heaven, but I don't think I've been good enough to land myself there," Elias yawns a little, which causes Jaspers lips to stretch more. A shot of warmth lingers on Eli's skin. "Also, my hearts racing so much right now, so I think I'm alive."

Another laugh, deep and real. Elias presses his head into a pillow to stop the way he wants to giggle in return.

"Good morning darlin," Jasper says quietly, as if to not break the tranquillity cast over them. His eyes are dark yet warm as they trace Eli's face; clear tan skin touched with a hint of red, thick lashes covering thunderstorm grey eyes, plump lips that are desperately trying to not upturn.

Jasper reaches out tentatively, unaware of what the boundaries are now, what's too much and too little. He decides to test his luck and trace his fingers over the warmth of Eli's cheek. The humans eyes slip close for a moment, liking the feel, so Jasper takes it as encouragement to carry on dusting his fingers over different parts of skin.

They stay there for a while. Elias' hand still over Jaspers silent heart, his head buried in the pillows, the vampires fingers feeling Eli's exposed skin. By the time he's starts tracing the scar embedded across the humans throat, Elias finally decides to ask. "What time is it?"

"Almost eleven," the blond replies without moving or looking at anything. Elias still trust the answer.

"Shit," the curly haired boy hums in delight. Jasper smiles to himself as it tickles his fingers, "I haven't slept that long in a while."

The movement of cold fingers against Elias' skin stops. "Are you having nightmares again?" He asks sternly.

The human cracks a eye open, his tone light and joking despite how his heart plummets to his stomach. "Why did I say something in my sleep, did you catch anything with my emotions?" Please say no, please say no. I do not want to explain my nightmare right now.

Jaspers gaze could make the toughest criminal confess. "Snips of happiness, relaxation. Very calming," he taps his fingers rhythmically on the dip between the dark haired boys collarbones, "you didn't answer my question."

A pout comes naturally as Elias states sarcastically, "Why ask a question if you know the answer?"

"Because I want you to talk about what I'm asking about," Jasper encourages seriously, concern darkening his gaze.

Silly boy, Elias doesn't do serious. With a fake yawn, Elias sits up in the bed, stretching his arms up to move and crack his bones. Jaspers hand falls limp onto the mattress.

"I think we have a lot going on without worrying about my dreams, don't you think?" The curly haired boy asks, albeit rhetorically, starting to move his way to sit on the edge of the bed.

Jasper moves too quick for the human to see, but Elias has his back pressed on the bed, his legs half off still and his heads half turned to the right. Jasper sits in the exact same position he was in before, only this time he's very satisfied of the eye contact they're holding and the fact he can state in a warning, "Elias."

The human boy matches his expression and tone, "Jasper."

The blond goes to open his mouth- a worried lecture no doubt- but stops, sighs and turn abruptly towards the closed bedroom door. "Come on in Carlisle," he says, no louder than a whisper.

The door opens, a bashful looking Carlisle steps in, dressed in casual clothing and holding a paper. He scans how Eli's positioned and chuckles, "Sorry to interrupt, but I thought I'd show you the recent newspaper." He holds it out and Elias quickly sits and leans near Jasper, reading the headline.

Murder epidemic continues. Police have no new leads.

An unknown emotion, or possibly too many to pinpoint, crawls down Elias' throat. He looks towards Jasper first, awaiting his reaction. He scans the heading and reads the article with a stiff face, when he speaks it's through a clenched jaw. "It's definitely a newborn, possibly more than once since this multitude of of murders can't be from a single person."

He hands the newspaper back, he and Carlisle sharing a somber look. There must have been prior plans, conversations to this Elias hasn't heard. But right now all the human can realise is, "If the Volturi come to silence them, they might come to Forks since it's so close. Bella is still alive."

And they'll kill her, and everyone in this family, if the promise is broken.

"And so are you," Jasper adds, his gaze heavy with the temptation of words Elias already hears in his head. For now, but if you accept the offer of immortality...

Elias looks away, not able to stand how Jaspers eyes make him feel like he can't breathe, like every moment he walks is his last. It isn't intentional, but like he's realised recently- he's become a little paranoid.

"You're going to have to stop them, aren't you?" Elias asks Carlisle.

"Not stop," he corrects, sounding hopeful. "Not if I can help it, it might be possible to socialise with these newborns, explain to them what mess they're creating has a consequence."

Jasper sighs deeply, staring at the doctor intently. "If we act too late Carlisle," he warns.

Carlisle nods, understanding. "We'll discuss this later, I have a feeling Alice and Edward will want to weigh in and see our options." He comes to Elias, resting a soft hand on the teens tense shoulders. "Don't worry about this Elias, Alice has her eye on this as well. We're prepared to do everything to protect you and Bella."

"I don't want any one of us hurt," Elias corrects, which makes the older vampire smile.

"They won't," he says it like a promise and Eli has no choice but to feed into the compassionate man's words.

Carlisle leaves after that, the door clicking shut behind him. Elias waits a few seconds- as if distance will help anyone not overhear their conversation- before saying, "You'd rather stop this now, wouldn't you?"

Jasper stands up, moving into the walk in wardrobe attached to the room. When he comes back, he's carrying a pair of black jeans and shirt for Elias and has a less serious expression than before. "If I recall, the doctor ordered you to stop thinking about this."

Eli's eyebrows rise in a condescending way. "This, mystery guy in Bella's room, Victoria, the Volturi, having the wolves work with us, you. It's a lot of stuff to not think about," he utters with mirth, standing up and going to take the clothes out of Jaspers hands when he holds them above his head suddenly.

"And what hard decision has you thinking about me?" He asks mock seriously- if only his eyes didn't harden in genuine curiosity.

Eli reaches up on his tiptoes to grab the clothes- they're only a inch in height difference- and accidentally comes face to face with Jasper. He leans forward, their noses brushing, as his hands wrap over the materials. "Dickhead," he's whispers, before pulling the items from Jaspers slack hands.

The vampire huffs, nudging the dark haired boy with a racing heart into the bathroom. "Come on, you're also forgetting your human problems. You have a hospital appointment and if you're not there, David might come hunting me."

Elias throws his head back with laughter at the mental image of that.

The laughter doesn't last long. Not once he heads downstairs in clothes that are a little too nice for his usual comfortable feeling, not when he hears the family discussing shifts and how to communicate with the wolves, especially not as Jasper drives him to the hospital before leaving to hunt. No vampire exclusively walks with him as protection, but Nate stays hidden outside as watch as Elias gets his annual checks and it makes him feel better. Even if the doctor shows Elias the scans of his tumour- bigger, but his growth rate is on track.

There's definitely nothing amusing about the silence that suffocates him and Cassandra in the hospital hallway, or the car, or the living room once they're back. Without warning, Elias is back in those dark months of depression, remembering how tough it was to talk to them, how they looked at him in trepidation.

He wishes he was at the Cullens.

"Elias?" Cassandra calls from across the living room. The teenager blinks, drops his hand from where he'd been absent mindedly rubbing his heart- remembering the pain that used to burn him- and turns to her.

"What?" He coughs, aware he's been caught daydreaming.

Cassandra swallows thickly, clicking the tv off. Not that even of them had been watching it. "I said your dad is gonna be home soon, and he'll be picking Easton up from his friends. Should we start making dinner?" She's unsure as she speaks, hopeful non the less.

This feels like a intervention, or something like a trap. "Uh, sure," Eli nods unsurely, standing up from where he'd been balled up on the love seat.

She leads him to the kitchen, taking lead of the whole process. Elias stands to the side, taking instructions, trying to not feel bad when she asks him to grab a strainer for the pasta and he can't remember where it is.

Then there it is, the comment under the breath. Probably not meant to sound mean, but it feels like it. "Would you know where it was if it was in Charlie's house?"

Yes. He would. But Eli doesn't answer that. His hands warm from the spark of irritation and he slams the cupboard door close to turn to glare at his mom. "Seriously?" He scoffs, "what the hell does that mean?"

"I'm sorry," Cass sighs, averting her eyesight as she moves closer to Elias, "I didn't mean to start the conversation like that, I swear."

Between her and the countertop there's not much space to move. He starts to feel boxed in. "What conversation?" He quizzes, crossing his arms, ready to move away incase she tries touching his already too warm skin.

"I'm just... I'm upset because you're hardly here anymore. Between Bella and now Jasper-" she starts.

"I stopped at Jaspers once!" He interrupts in shock, his volume loud.

"-Yes I know but it's not that, it's just. When you are here physically, it just doesn't feel it," she reaches out, going to press her palm on Eli's forearm and he steps away. Hurt flashes across her features freely.

"You and dad don't exactly make it easy," he sniffs, ignoring the apology wanting to realise from his lips for the way her eyes are glossy. "When I'm here you hide things from me, you're so stressed about me having a tumour you forget I'm still an actual person who's capable of being anything other than weak. And if we're being honest, even before the tumour you still didn't look at me like I was a actual person, like I was your son. I was just some broken hearted teen you didn't know how to help."

The hurt on his mothers face turns into a rare form of anger. Her finger rises, a indication she's really pissed off even before her words start rising into a shout. "You're speaking as if we gave up on you. We tried! You didn't speak! You didn't want to speak to us no matter what we did!" She steps forward, her finger jabbing Elias in the chest with every word. "We tried treating you exactly like the person you was portraying, a weak person. We tried treating you like a son, we did everything and you didn't respond!"

"Because the response you wanted was a bad one!" he yells as his patience incinerates. He feels his anger show so clearly that he's scared he's smoking. He can remember the months of them talking to him. Tell us what he did to you Elias, tell us why you're like this because of him. "You wanted me to throw Jasper under the bus and scream about how he hurt me in this tragically, horrible, monstrous way! You wanted me to feed into the hate you have for him, and I refuse."

Cassandra doesn't back down from his volume. Her eyes might be watering, but her voice is steady and like steel as she starts to say, "he made you that way when he left-"

"-Jesus fucking Christ," Eli shouts, his hands coming up to his hair and tugging. How can she still not hear what he's trying to say? "All he did was leave, mom! He left because he had to! Everything else, every result, every time I didn't speak or open up to you- that was my fault. Not his. I was the one who fell into depression, I was the one who changed, because that's what love does to you. It makes you feel great, it can make you into the best version of yourself and it makes you see everything in the best of ways...But it can also ruin you completely until you're a totally different person when it's gone."

His chest is rising rapidly at the end, his palms are clenched so tight he's scared he'll break a bone and he can't stop staring at his mothers face. Waiting for the realisation to sink in, for Eli's words to resonate with her. But she stands just as tall and stubborn as him, hearing upon death ears and all she can seem to say back is, "it still started because of him."

And Elias laughs. Manic, humourless, sad. It makes his mother flinch in shock at the switch in atmosphere and Elias can't find another word to say to her; There they were, standing a foot away from each other but feeling as if they're on different planets. Every attempt of understanding, of building a bridge to meet each other to speak, left them knocked back down with more anger than anything else. All because Elias had forgiven Jasper, because he realised not everything was his fault, and his parents still blamed him for everything. For liking spending time at bellas, for being quieter around them because of his own secrets, for the bout of depression. Maybe even the tumour, who knows.

Hell, Elias is sure he could grab a knife, tear himself open, bleed red all over the kitchen floor and he's sure his mom would look around the room as if Jasper was the one who'd done it.

By the time he's stopped laughing, he's tired and his head hurts and his moms still looking at him like he's partially crazy.

"Look," Eli resonated in a final tone. "When you stop blaming Jasper for how I am instead of realising how happy he makes me. When you stop hiding things from me, because I know you and dad are, I just don't know what it is. That's when I'll speak to you."

She must realise how completely serious he is. At a last ditch attempt to prove her own point, she whispers, "You hide things too."

The teen wants to shake his head in disappointment, "yeah, I do," he shrugs, moving around her, aiming to grab the strainer from where he now remembers it is. Bottom cupboard next to the oven. "But those are my terms."

With that, and a choking amount of tension, they carry on cooking. Side by side physically, but feeling like they're on different planets.

•••

The days that follow are bad and good. His house, the relationship with them, it stays exactly where it is. Outside, things are better. Lessons with Jasper leave Elias smiling, afternoons at the cullen home are comforting- especially when Bella is there. On the days Elias looks out his window and sees a vampire or wolf on his tree line- a silent reminder that yes, things are still serious with the intruder-  is... weird, to say the least.

On the days the Cullens hunt, the wolves take watch. The days where their defences grew thin, the humans go to La Push. Or they should have, if Elias wasn't so scared shitless to leave Forks. Or so utterly admin on not being around a wolf other than Jace.

Its a bad day when Elias learns that the killings in Seattle, the ones supposedly done by one reckless newborn- is now revealed to be more. Many more- an army.

"If you have a problem with me than I suggest you say it," Elias calls calmly, his eyes never leaving its spot on his spread palm in front of him.

He and Rosalie have been sat in the same room for hours without speaking, both of them on the opposite ends of the large white couch. Its one of those nights that the family hunted and he stays. Elias was surprised to find Rosalie offered to stay with him. That surprised turned to suspicion when she sat in the same room as him.

"You've been staring at your hand for an hour," she states, almost a question if not for the way it's littered in ridicule.

Elias sighs, finally breaking his concentration. "I'm trying to conjure a flame," he reveals, pushing the heat evenly around his body instead of focusing it just on his hand.

Rosalie sounds amused when she asks, "And how's that working out for you?"

The human scoots backwards on the couch, relaxing in position now he's not burning. "I've got a headache," he chuckles, which is true.

The slight amusement on Roses beautiful face doesn't goes away as she turns to stares out the window. "Do you know you're starting to smell different?"

Okay... Elias isn't expecting her to say that. His head snaps to her in a instant, worry clouding his features. "Different?" He repeats.

"Like death," she mutters, and surprisingly it's not as venomous as Eli expects it to be. "We can smell that you're dying, well, that the cancer is overtaking your brain."

Elias is strangely relieved - for a moment he thinks shes going to say his clouding scent is fading, that it no longer has its numbing effect- no longer helping Jasper. "It is really bad?" He asks, teeth etched in his bottom lip.

Rosalie looks at him, golden eyes a mask. "Your smokey scent is stronger than the cancer smell," She breathes in deeply, calculates for a moment, "but it's there."

Elias frowns, feeling his heart lodge in his throat. How long has that been happening? Why hasn't no one mentioned it before?

Before he can spiral down that rabbit hole, Rosalie speaks again, her voice accusing, "What are you playing at Elias?"

The humans curved eyebrows rise, "Excuse you?"

His attitude almost make Rosalie's perfect lips twitch into a smile- if it isn't for the disgust ripping over her. "Don't get me wrong, as much as I hate this life and I don't want another person to be like us," she cocks her head, "that doesn't exactly apply for you."

"Why?" He forces through his clogged throat, "What makes me so special?"

Rosalies quiet for a few seconds, contemplating how to explain. "Because you're already dying," she starts and Eli is surprised to see sadness line her eyes, "You don't have the possibilities of a future, you don't need to worry about leaving your human family," the pity washes into a disgusted look.

"By all means I understand the repellent of becoming one of us. Yet I don't understand why you aren't jumping at the chance at carrying on your life," she snorts the last word, shaking her head, "your existence I mean, with Jasper. Especially when you know yourself how much you change him."

She's saying the things Eli already knows, things he's questioned himself, yet they still slice across the insecurities he has like a whip.

Rosalie reads him like a book. "It's Jasper isn't it? You're scared," she sighs.

Eli's face hardens. "I'm not scared," he defends, glaring at the blonde girl.

"Being scared isn't a bad thing... Only stupid in your case," she grins, teeth as bright as her skin, "for how hurt you were with Jasper when he left, you're doing the exact same thing he did."

That slashes like a physical blow."How the hell am I?" He growls, unafraid.

"Leaving without a goodbye," her eyes daze, "taking the path you desire no matter the destruction left behind, or the people you leave hurting."

Some part is embarrassed that she'd heard that conversation- the bigger part of Eli is absolutely furious for throwing the words back at him. He goes to open his mouth- to swear, to shout, he doesn't know- but Rosalie speaks again. "Do you really think Jasper will be able to continue in this life when you're gone?"

"Stop," he tries to say at her, but it comes out weak and he can't seem to muster energy to say it again as the mental image of a depressed, hurting Jasper, leaves his head spinning.

Elias is up and on his feet, storming out the living room without really meaning to. Well he means to, because he knows he's close to spiralling and he doesn't want to do that in front of Rosalie, but he doesn't remember the thought to move.

He ends up in Carlisle office, slamming the door shut behind him. Part of him doesn't know why he's gone to find solace in that room- especially since he usually retreats to Jaspers room. But then Elias sees the ancient fireplace on the east of the wall.

He sighs, walking across the room and sinking towards the floor, leaning against the black marble.

His arm outreaches, fingers spreading over the dancing red flames. They welcome to his skin as if he's the spark of their existence. Elias can feel the urge to pull the fire from the fireplace, letting it spread up his fingers, his hand, arms, to be completely consumed by the element.

He pushes the urge down, easy as breathing. The fire stays dancing in the fireplace, and his hand continues to thread through it with ease.

Then Elias starts laughing. Here he is, arm in fire and feeling at ease- over a year and a half ago, when he first moved to Forks, he woke up screaming every night because of the memories of smoke spilling into his childhood bedroom, fire claiming him.

When did Elias get over that fear? When did he no longer get repulsed of the fire and instead welcome it like a long lost lover?

What if he can get over his fears now if he had more time?

To his surprise, he feels Rosalie move around the house, closer to his position. He masks his face of emotion as she opens Carlisles door and takes a step in.

She watches him, his hand in the fire, for a few moments. "I apologise for upsetting you," she whispers and she sounds it.

Eli's lips upturn, showing his dark humour of the moment. The end must be near if Rosalie sounds genuine in apology.

"You only upset me because you made me realise the things I've been trying not to think about," he says, finally looking away from the fire and towards her golden eyes.

They're beautiful like all immortals, but this time they're hopeful, desperate. "Please, for the sake of my brother, think about it," she whispers.

•••

Elias knows it's Bella who walks into the office almost an hour later- her footsteps are uneven and loud, unlike the other graceful creatures of the house. He also hears her ancient truck a mile away.

She doesn't say anything as she sits next to Elias, nor when she threads her fingers through his. She takes in his conflicted appearance, the flames reflect in his grey eyes. Some part of her wants to ask, a bigger parts knows he doesn't need the curiosity right now. He'll talk when he's ready.

"I love you," she declares, because he looks like he needs to hear it, she knows he does.

Elias blinks once, then turns to Bella. "I love you too," he smiles, so small anyone who didn't love him wouldn't notice it.

As his thoughts wash against his reality, Eli scans the room, nodding to Carlisles grand desk, "Pass me that pen please," he murmurs, letting go of her hand.

Bella turns, stretching out on her knees to pick the ink pen on the side of the desk. When she sits back next to Eli he has a small black book in his hands. She sees him write a lot, but never in the same book- they're all black coloured, but they're always different.

"What are you doing?" She questions, passing him the pen, peering over his shoulder.

Elias shows her the pages of the book without a hint of doubt. Her chocolate eyes widen as she reads it. "Is that the book Nate brought you?"

"I put it to good use, a important use. I have two bucket lists, the first three points lead to the same thing," his finger stops on the pages, showing her.

3 - choose your fate.

"I needed to finish task three before continuing onto just one list," he purses his lips, looking at both lists, weighing his options. Weighing how he feels. What he fears most.

"And which one are you choosing?" Bella whispers, her hand resting on his knee in silent confront- he knows she'll support him in any decision he makes.

Elias looks away from the brunette as he rips one of the papers out his book, scrunching it up and throwing it in the fire without a second thought. He then ticks off point three of his list, officially having chosen his Fate.

Next to him, Bella sighs loudly.

•••

The next morning Elias sets into action to completely fill in his bucket list.

"Jasper," Elias sighs the boys name, a usual occurrence, only this time it's in annoyance, "I'll be fine," he repeats, looking at the blond with a glare.

Clingy and overprotective aren't strong enough to describe the vampires behaviour ever since he had a scare in the woods. Well, since Eli got scared in the woods. He gets it- he does. Elias is human and soft and spongey- but it isn't like he's totally useless. Anyone even try put a hand on him and they'll be cradling their burnt skin. Or on fire, since he's learnt now he needs to carry a lighter wherever he goes.

Jasper grumbles under his breath, still surveying the woods around them as if an intruder will pop up.

"It's you I'm worried about, if I'm honest," Eli says, touching the vampires hand with his own, ignoring the cold electric that pulses between them.

The words snap Jasper out his head. "Me?" He almost laughs, the idea ludicrous.

Elias doesn't laugh. "How are you feeling? Now you figured out there's a army in Seattle?" The word army is spat out.

Jasper understands the humans mind instantly.  "This situation is fairly different from my time in the south Darlin," he soothes, something warm flashing in his eyes at the human caring for him.

Elias shakes his head, not looking at it like that. "Newborns coming for your coven, having to fight-"

"- there's no need worry about me Elias," Jaspers dazzling eyes pour into him, "I'm the most qualified to deal with that problem," the blond twists the humans hand up, lips pressing into his knuckles for a kiss. "I'm more worried about you."

"I'm fine today, no pain," he smiles charmingly, glad the empaths talent doesn't work on him, otherwise he'd know he is lying. Recently Elias is always in pain- emotional, physical, it's all the same.

"Jasper, this whole thing with the army, it's not going to be easy. Especially since your cousins refuse to fight," fucking Irina, Fucking Laurent. Elias would spit on his ashes if he knew where they were... especially since now it's the Cullens versus twenty off vampires. Without realising, Eli's grip on Jaspers hand is tight, like he's scared Jasper will disappear. "It's not an even fight, you're, I," the words can't come out as his chest rises and falls too rapidly, his breathe an uneven tempo.

"Elias, we have less numbers but better experience. We'll be fine," the blond assures, bringing one hand up to cradle the humans face like he loves doing. Only Eli's eyes remain fearful, the pupil massive. Panic attack.

"It's okay Elias, come, breathe," Jasper encourages, sliding the hand on his jaw to the base of his back. He pushes the human closer, until the literally chest to chest. Eli allows it, his eyes foggy as he spirals in panic of his family dying.

"Listen," Jasper grinds out in a order, in a soldiers voice. It gets to Eli, makes his look up and pay attention. Albeit only a little. Jasper starts taking a breath in, holding it, then letting go. He repeats, showing his pattern, letting each intake rub against Eli's chest. "Copy my movements, breathe in with me, then out."

He keeps repeating calmly, his eyes careful and shining in encouragement. It takes a few minutes until Eli's heart calms and he can think clearer, until both of them are breathing in the same pattern. Both of their chests moving in sync, sharing the same air.

"There you go," the blond encourages, rubbing circles into Eli's spine like a reward. "How do you feel?"

Elias hears the question, he simply chooses to ignore it and get straight back to their prior conversation. "If it means the chances of no one getting hurt are lower, I want to fight too."

If Jaspers heart could beat, he's sure it would have stopped. "No," he denies strongly, stepping back from the human all together.

Elias steps with him, grabbing the boys hand, basking in the solid feel of his fingers and the coldness that radiates from them. "Come on," he eggs on, going to speak more when Jaspers narrowed eyes find his and oh, he's all soldier like.

"You'd distract me, I'd keep half my attention on you when I should be killing. You can't face a army and I won't allow you with that type of risk." He stops, allowing the orders to ring out, to break past the humans thick skull. With a softer tone, he whispers, "I'm trying to keep you alive Elias."

Elias feels his eyes narrow. "So am I."

Jaspers shoulders stiffen, body buzzing in tension. Eli is sure he's gonna have an argument or something but then Jasper turns to the side and faces the road. The roar of a car comes later for Eli's human ears.

"What are you planning today?" Jasper questions curtly to Jace when he pulls up beside the couple, one arm perched on the open window and with a wide smile. As if the whole situation is normal.

"We're gonna go to some dingy bars in Port Angeles and rob the biggest guy there," he grins at the vampire, who isn't as amused as Elias is.

"You'll be the biggest guy in the bar," eli points out in a chuckle. Then he turns to Jasper, bidding a soft, "be safe," whilst pressing his own lips into the boys cold knuckles.

The action warms Jaspers heart but doesn't break his cold exterior, especially as he glares Jace down. "Keep him safe," he snarls, literally, eyes drawn to Elias as he opens the car door.

Jace tips his imaginary hat mockingly before flooring the car forward.

"So," he starts, looking at the human with a welcoming smile, "what's on the agenda today as your vampire family hunt?"

Eli looks away from Jace's eyes, not wanting to test his lying ability. The wolves don't know about the army, and Elias isn't going to be the first to blab.

Instead he pushes a small ripped off paper towards the boy, "Can you take me to this address?"

Jace eyes the sloppy writing, thinking to where the street is. "Sure," he agrees, pressing harder on the accelerator, "Whats there?"

Elias exhales, muttering a small, "You'll see," before looking away from the wolf, keeping his mouth shut the whole journey. If Jace knows exactly what he has planned, he'd call Eli crazy, but at least he'd take Eli.

Jasper wouldn't because he wouldn't want Eli's to go alone. Its why Elias didn't invite him. Rude? Yes. Necessary? Definitely.

As soon as they're around the corner from the address, goosebumps prickle against Eli's arms. Childhood memories aren't exactly reliable, but they matched the scenery almost perfectly.

The whole neighbourhood is mediocre, just another normal American small town street. Then as they drive deeper down the one road, the houses separate, getting further apart, older, more abandoned.

By the time they stop at the dead end road, there's one left and Jace's face the exact shade of green Eli's is.

"Jesus Elias. Is this..." he trails off since he can't speak, looking out the window with his mouth open.

Behind them, a truck with a particular loud engine, comes barrelling down the road.

"Stay here," Eli commands, hands shaking as he pulls the door handle, "I just want to check something off a list," he states, more to himself, as he slams the car door shut and waits for Bella to park up.

Once she comes close enough, she asks, "Is this?" The words trail off as she looks at the house.

"Yep," Eli says, reaching out for her hand. "Let's go."

The two story victorian house is in ruins, only the basic structure of downstairs remains, but all of that is charred black. Elias and Bella walk up the weed grown path slowly, sweat licking the back of their necks.

The original door- a faded green colour if his memory is right- is gone. Elias ducks under the burnt doorframe that remains and into the house, vans crunching against the burnt floor. He makes sure to not step in the missing pieces of floor.

Despite it being over ten years, the scent of fire still clings to the wood. Elias circles his surroundings, taking it all in, heart pounding in his chest so hard he thinks it might come out.

This place was the subject of his nightmares for years. Growing up he used to swear he could feel the crackle of flames attacking his back, like all those years ago when the accident occurred.

"Jesus Elias...this is, this is bad," Bella murmurs, tears in her eyes as she images her brother being brought up here- having to escape here with flames chasing after him. Only a child, she thinks, he was just a kid when he escaped here. She'll never take his power for granted or say it's without price, not if this is the place that triggered it.

"It wasn't always ugly," Elias finds himself saying, his memory foggy but still good. He's over the terror of his past, all is left is curiosity.

"Not that I'm questioning your judgment, but why was this on your bucket list?" Bella asks, gripping his hand tighter as their weight on the burnt floor makes it creek.

"I always wanted to see it again," he shrugs, "it's also a good neutral spot for a meeting. You see, it took me a few days, but I finally figured out what, or who, my parents are hiding from me."

"Hayden Cole died here, Elias Sherwood was born," a woman's voice, older, deeper than he thought possible for someone of her age, comes from his right.

Elias spins to her, feelings the urge to rise his hands as protection. But even he knows the seventy year old woman isn't much of a threat. Not physically. Still, he nudges Bella behind his shoulder.

She doesn't look as old as she is. Her hairs a solid grey colour and curled around her wrinkled fave- it's her eyes, ice blue, just like his dads, that shatter his little confidence.

"It's says a lot, doesn't it?" She steps into the burnt house, she's half a head shorter than Elias and in her hand is a cane. "Being burn to the ground and rising from the ashes, it says a lot about what kind of person you are."

Elias knows what kind of person he is- and he doesn't like small talk, or riddles.

"Adeline," he greets, straightening up, ignoring the rise of his arm hair. "Bella, meet my grandmother."

"Hello," Bella nods timidly, politely yet distant, knowing the stories of the women.

The old woman doesn't smile, not really, but her facial muscles pull up. "Hello grandson, hello Bella," she nods, taking him in with curious eyes.

Elias cocks his head. "Surprised to see me alive?" He asks, neutrally, trying to not give anything away.

Adeline hums, almost amused, "You won't be for long though, will you?" She says more than asks, her gaze lifting to his hair, as if she can see the two tumours under his skull. The grip of Bellas hand tightens.

"Is that why you're here? Why my parents stopped telling me you called? Are you here to gloat at the fact everyone thought you were crazy when you was actually right?" He scoffs, not angrily though. The old woman only predicted his illness, not caused it.

She waves the hand that isn't using the cane, "Life is too short for grudges."

"And to spend time with your family, apparently," he accuses, because that's the other reason he rang her back, "David knows all about that when you abandoned him and started ranting about curses."

Her face wrinkles further, tightening her sharp eyes, already picking up on Eli's hidden tone. "I did that for him, for all the Sherwood's. It's why I've been admin on trying to see you."

"Why?" Elias and Bella exclaim in the same sharp voice.

"The curse-" Elias scoffs at the word and Adeline narrows her eyes, "The curse that makes one member of each generation know when each Sherwood is to die, is finally going to stop."

"It is?" Elias almost sang, perking up, "No more murders?"

"It ends with you, it has the minute you stepped foot into Forks, that's why I've been contacting you," she wobbles closer to him, as if her eyes aren't good enough to see him from far.

"You were predicted to die the minute you came to Forks?" Bella asks in a wobbling voice, her eyes on his face. He gives her a small nod, then turns back to his grandmother.

"How do you know?" Eli almost barks, forcing himself to not back away from the woman.

Adeline smiles this time, but it's painful. "Like I said, part of the Sherwood curse is that whilst people die, another person is cursed to predict it. But there's a loophole. Or so my grandmother told me, when I was a young girl."

Eli's chest rises rapidly as her words sink in. He wants to pity her, but he's never been good at that, especially for people who hurt his family. "So after me, every Sherwood is safe? Easton? Octavia? Violet? Any kids they have? Anyone who comes into the family?" He clarifies.

"On one condition," Bella interrupts, her face pale as she looks at Adeline, "what's the loophole?"

The teens don't know if Adeline is smug or sad as she tells them, "The curse won't live on as long as the last person to die, is murdered."

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