RANDOM DAYS AT FORKS

The scent was a memory, a whisper on the wind – faint, dusty, yet undeniable the boy he had been hunting for over a month.

James’s hunger told him he was looking in the wrong places and though his instincts had never led him wrong, his pride protested that a prey could slip past him when he was this riled up.

He snarled…

Victoria grabbed him, already familiar with his irrational state of frenzy.

They were apex predators, capable of killing countless humans in the blink of an eye; yet, they were still required to hide from humans.

Ancient myths haunted The Volturi, which in turn haunted Vampires like Victoria, James, and Laurent.

James, a tangle of taut muscle and feral hunger, strained against Victoria’s restraining hand.

His nostrils flared, catching the tang of confidence mixed with a threat clinging to the air like cobwebs – the scent of Xavier, someone who wanted to be hunted.

“We should circle his place one more time,” Laurent suggested, knowing they would find nothing like previous weeks, but it was best to find nothing and move on accordingly.

James growled.

Recently, his hunting instincts had sharpened into a gnawing need of unease.

“The boy will not be there,” Victoria mentioned with certainty, her voice a dry rasp. “Are you sure he is still in Forks? We have been spending too much time here… the local Coven may become aggressive.”

“Could they be hiding him?” James frowned.

Laurent sighed. “For what reason?” he interrupted such thoughts, wanting to avoid a confrontation at all costs. “The Cullens are powerful. It is best if we leave them be…”

James snarled, a low guttural sound that sent chills down even Laurent’s spine.

Laurent was older and more controlled, but even he lacked control over James and Victoria… especially James, he was a constant tremor beneath the surface, a reminder of the beast barely leashed within.

“We leave,” Victoria finally decided. “My instincts are telling me to escape today.”

James and Laurent were stronger but when it came to survival, Victoria went unrivaled.

Victoria’s talent aided in escape…

James’s aided in hunting…

Laurent’s aided in sensing power…

Victoria was the clear balance between James’s untamed hunger and Laurent’s stoic indifference.

Knowing James would be unwilling to depart; Victoria turned and caressed his face. “We will find him,” She declared, soothing her beloved.

Their departure was swift, silent phantoms slipping into the night.

They followed the memory of the scent, a threadbare map leading them out of Forks and onto the desolate highway.

The hunger gnawed at James, a relentless drumbeat in his chest – not that he had a heartbeat but his hunger was just that strong.

James, Laurent, and Victoria did as they have done for nearly half a decade.

When hunger dried their throats, the easier way to get prey was by relying on human kindness – simply waiting by the side of the road until someone stopped.

Usually, that would snatch them a serial killer or two but in the end, Victoria preferred the innocent taste of kids, James preferred the salty taste of experienced men, and Laurent craved strong women… single mothers often satiated his pallet.

A car stopped, revealing a lone couple, their car spluttering as it died on the roadside.

“Hey…” A muscular, dark-skinned male exited the car with his girlfriend, a brown-haired woman with a cigarette between her lips.

Victoria stared at the woman and she immediately froze, backing away on instinct.

“She is one of the sensitive ones,” Victoria mentioned.

“Indeed,” Laurent voiced. “Then, I guess she is yours and mine. We must share.”

Victoria nodded, not willing to share with James since he was mostly feral while feeding.

James lunged, a blur of fangs sinking into the man’s neck…

Victoria, swift as a shadow, blurred to the woman’s side, her movements efficient and emotionless as she snapped the woman’s neck and proceeded to feed.

Laurent stood and watched, an indifferent observer until it was his turn.

Couples tended to feed at the same time, while sharing was more nuanced, taking turns.

The taste of blood, metallic and warm, shortly, quelled the churning in James’s throat… his instinct sharpened, enhancing the hunting instincts embedded deep in his subconscious.

“I smell him,” James whispered.

This caught Laurent’s and Victoria’s attention…

They were curious about the human who could not only evade them for so long but also inspire such cautiousness in Laurent.

…

After days of relentless pursuit, capturing and losing the scent half a dozen times, the scent led them to a clearing in the dense California forest.

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Dawn was breaking, painting the sky in bruised hues of purple and orange.

James whined, frustrated by the dwindling light.

Here, the scent vanished entirely.

“Los Angeles,” Laurent murmured, his voice a whisper lost in the rustling leaves.

He pointed towards the horizon, where a faint haze hung over a landscape that seemed to have been the site of an unimaginable battle.

A new energy surged through James.

Los Angeles, a sprawling metropolis, a feasting waiting to be devoured.

“We are banned from the cities,” Laurent voiced.

Victoria and James smirked. “When has that ever stopped us?” They questioned.

The decision had been made…

∞

Jessie adjusted her worn baseball cap, shoving a stray strand of brown hair back into its messy braid.

Her heart hammered a nervous rhythm against her ribs, a counterpoint to the distant screech of gulls fighting over scraps on the docks of Mora.

Brittney, unlike Jessie’s usual camo and boots, wore faded jeans and a hoodie pulled low over her face.

The shadows beneath her eyes were darker than usual, a constant reminder of the hell she was desperate to escape at home.

Her father – a man whose name hung heavy and unspoken between herself and Jessie – was more than just an abuser… he was a monster, and her mother, a hollow shell of a woman too terrified to stand her ground, offered no refuge.

Brandon, her older brother, was a wildcard who found his sanctuary in Angela once upon a time, of course, Angela had found her sanctuary in Xavier.

Leaving Brittney a boat caught in a storm with no way to dock, and as much as she hated to admit it, Brittney knew Jessie was merely a buoy in that storm… a buoy could do nothing to help a sinking ship.

‘You can only keep me afloat for a little longer,’ Brittney thought, staring into Jessie’s eyes.

Their escape plan, a boat from the docks into the open ocean, was not exactly Robin Hood and Maid Marian, but it was theirs.

It involved Xavier’s stash, the boat upon which he hid the stash, and the contact list for his fake ID person when they got to New York City.

Blake, who had been in contact with many people behind his back, was more than happy to share the information of his contacts for a bit of extra cash.

The boat ride from Mora would end in Oil City, where everything modern went to die… from there, Jessie and Brittney imagined a struggle to find their way in a much larger world but it was better than the hand they were dealt in Forks.

A bus out of Oil City would complete their plan…

The escape plan was set for a week later, giving them just enough time to get their affairs in order.

And if Xavier reappeared during that time, Jessie was prepared to cut their losses and depart early; which was why she took his money stash in advance.

At the end of the day, Brittney and Jessie had to drive back to Forks, also in Xavier’s car, but they knew within a week, it would be a one-way journey into the unknown.

∞

Alice dreamt…

But vampires couldn’t dream…

She dreamt of a girl, much younger than herself but she was frozen at the ripe age of 19…

She was lucky, compared to Edward who didn’t make it to eighteen.

Alice’s thoughts were clear; yet, she couldn’t awaken, as if trapped in a picture of the girl, who was both herself and not herself.

In the monochromatic stillness of the image, a young woman stood, embodying a delicate and ethereal beauty that was both timeless and striking.

Her eyes, large and expressive, dominate her face with a profound depth, as though they held countless unspoken stories and emotions.

They were framed by long, dark lashes and perfectly arched brows that added to the intensity of her gaze.

Her hair was long and flowing with strands playfully escaping to soften the sharp lines of her hairstyle.

Her skin was smooth and flawless, no longer so pale with a luminescent quality, but it was an easy trade for the natural blush on both her cheeks.

Blushing meant flowing blood…

‘Wait, the eyes…’ Alice was startled. ‘Those eyes are ruby-red…’

Could she have slipped and killed someone?

But the blush on her cheeks gave the distinct impression of flowing blood – her flowing blood.

Her style had also changed…

The dress, a harmonious blend of noble grace and contemporary casual style, designed from the finest white linen, ensuring both comfort and elegance.

The image distorted and shifted as if breaking but reforming, and then, there was someone standing at her side.

Not Jasper…

The person exudes an aura of godlike power and timeless elegance.

Mature, chiseled features with a semi-commanding presence highlighted his ascent into adulthood; yet, there was still something missing.

It was a ruthlessness Alice had come to expect from vampires… he was not a vampire.

His piercing blue eyes reflected a depth of emotion, a thousand lives lived, and even more untold stories.

Tall, slender but also muscular…

His semi-blonde hair styled neatly, with high cheekbones and a strong jawline that add to his regal demeanor.

There was an intensity in his gaze that hinted at the weight of centuries lived and responsibilities too heavy for one man to bear.

‘This is…’ Alice recognized the figure, minus the glow that usually accompanied him in her visions. ‘This is Xavier…’

There was a palpable vulnerability to Ikaris, a sense of longing and sacrifice that made him both sorrowful and relatable.

Alice, the older version, and Xavier, also the older version, stared at each other for a couple of seconds, something unspoken circulating between their eyes.

They did not have to say it, Alice could feel it…

“NO!” She yelled.

………

Alice snapped awake…

Jasper caught her in an embrace as soon as she blurred out of the couch.

Carlisle was seated in the club chair, Esme standing at his side with a caring, motherly expression on her face.

Emmett and Rosalie, ever the physically intimate couple, were seated in the recently purchased loveseat, finding comfort in each other’s presence in such uncertain times.

Edward was comfortable standing… standing and concentrating on the vision Alice was experiencing.

What Alice saw, Edward saw…

Though, as always, and much to Alice’s relief, he did not care to share her vision, this vision in particular, with the others… at least, not without her consent.

Jasper was always on edge, and telling him that there was a future where she would stare at Xavier with love in her eyes was bound to send him over the edge.

Besides, Alice had long since learned not to trust her visions without context... and she was hoping for some absurd connection to justify the future she witnessed.

“I thought I was asleep…” Alice muttered.

“It could be interpreted that way,” Carlisle replied. “You walked out of your room, lay on the couch, and fell unconscious. We all panicked… it would have been worse if Edward didn’t reveal it was a prolonged vision.”

“This is your longest vision yet,” Esme voiced, a concern in her eyes. “Is it something you would like to share?”

Alice slowly nodded, measuring her words. “I have been able to see Xavier more and more clearly,” She revealed to no one’s surprise. “I think his presence is becoming entangled with our family in Forks.”

Carlisle spoke first, his voice steady but tinged with intrigue. “He’s not a vampire that much is clear. But he possesses knowledge about Alice and Edward – their abilities. We never share such information.”

Esme, always the nurturing presence, looked concerned. “Could he be a threat? Or is he here to warn us about something?”

Edward, whose telepathy had yet to penetrate Xavier’s mind, nodded thoughtfully. “His thoughts are stretched. It feels like trying to read a book from the first page and last page simultaneously and you won’t understand the book if you can’t manage that.”

“I don’t feel malice from him, only urgency most of the time,” Jasper revealed.

Rosalie, skeptical as ever, added. “Why is his middle name Ikaris? It sounds almost mythical, like something out of an Ancient Legend.”

Jasper, sending the emotion undercurrents, leaned forward. “Carlisle, you’ve been researching ancient myths and legends. Do you think there is a connection?”

“For those answers, we would need to seek the person in question,” Carlisle replied, craving another bottle of Asgardian Wine.

Esme smiled, rubbing his shoulder gently as if telling him ‘I want some too’.

Alice stared at the wall for a couple of seconds, drawing everyone’s attention until she snapped out of it.

“Then, ask him yourselves,” Alice insisted, casually slipping the couch to the west-facing wall and then proceeding to pad it with all the pillows she could find.

A blotch of darkness appeared on the ceiling…

Three bodies fell out of the darkness, landing one on top of the other.

Philippe de Clermont, Leader of The Order of Lazarus…

Sam Uley, Alpha of The Quileute Pack…

And Xavier Ikaris Aionios, Prime Eternal…