Chapter Nineteen (Second Half) - EJ's POV

I was sitting on Momma's lap as we watched Daddy and Mei play the piano. While I liked the sound of the music, my impatience was getting the best of me. Momma had promised to come with me to see the fireflies emerge, and I didn't want to miss a single minute of it.

Finally, the song was done, and I asked, "Can we go now?"

My twin looked at me. Won't you stay just a bit longer? I need you to show Momma something.

It's not as if you can't just tell her yourself! I thought back crossly, green eyes narrowed in anger.

Mei's face flushed before crumbling slightly, and suddenly I was on the couch as Momma tried to comfort her while Daddy told me sternly, "EJ, that wasn't a very nice thing to think to your sister."

"Well, neither was what she thought!" I replied stubbornly, crossing my arms.

Momma looked towards me, and my scowl softened slightly until she said, "Honey, I could really use you right now. Nessie's too upset to talk, and - "

"No!" I interrupted loudly, springing to my feet as my face grew flushed. "I'm tired of always being used by you and her! And you can stay here for all I care - I'll just go watch the stupid fireflies by myself!"

With that I sprinted out the door, ignoring the calls of my parents. All I allowed myself to focus on while running through the forest was my instinct to escape. The scent of wolves soon caught my nose, and I changed direction to avoid them. Jacob was the last person I wanted be reminded of at the moment, especially since he'd no doubt take his imprint's side as well. Everyone always took her side.

Slowing down as I neared the cliff face, I wiped the trail of tears that streaked down my face. Why did everyone always take her side? It was always Mei who got her way, Mei who got the attention. Sometimes I felt like the only time anyone paid attention to me was to use my gift. Sometimes I hated my gift. Sometimes I hated my sister.

But most times, I just hated myself.

Because would anyone pay me any attention without my gift? Would anyone have stopped Sam's pack from killing me without Mei? Would anyone ever love me for just me and not what I could do?

Grief quickly turned to anger, and I spun to punch the wall of rock to my right only to stumble forwards as my hand met nothing but empty space. Pushing past the curtain of moss, my eyes quickly adjusted to see that behind it lay a passageway. Curiosity claimed me as I walked at a human's pace along the path, inhaling only the smell of dust and rocks and...saltwater? The minuscule light that illuminated my path suddenly brightened from up ahead, and I emerged into a round well lit cavern.

The pounding of waves alerted me to the far half of the cave, where the waves of a luminescent pool lapped the shoreline that immediately dropped down to a deep depth. Amazed, I walked to the edge and peered down, trying to find out where the source of light was emanating from. With my enhanced vision, I could see several small glowing creatures swimming through the water.

They had to be the source! But how? Searching my memory on bioluminescence, I realized then that I hadn't gone to see the fireflies emerge. It was just as well; despite what had occurred, that was an experience to be shared. I couldn't enjoy watching the flying insects lit up the night without having Momma or Daddy or even Mei with me.

However, I could enjoy this amazing place I'd found all by myself. And that's what I decided to do.

* * *

My eyes snapped open as the hunger pains wrenched me from my dreams once more. The cold was growing more unbearable by the hour, and I drew myself into a tighter ball in a futile attempt to keep warm. Shivers wracked my frame as I tried desperately to escape from my reality back into my unconscious mind. How foolish I was to get so angered over nothing; I gave up precious moments with my family. A family that I now might never see again.

You're not alone, EJ. I'm with you - I'm here. Now get up and get out.

You're not real, I replied, unable to speak aloud due to the chattering of my teeth. You're just my mind, playing tricks on me. Go away and leave me alone!

Do you really want to be left alone? he asked with a derisive scoff.

Of course I didn't, but he already knew that. The question was obviously rhetorical. I'd never been alone a day in my life before now. Calling out for my twin or my father only left me feeling more isolated from the lack of response, but I tried again anyway as the tears that had followed me from my dreams ran down my face. If only that had been the reality and this the nightmare.

No one's coming, I told myself, as he was me and I was alone, alone, alone and thirsty, so thirsty for something, anything, watery blood or bloody water or anything in between. Something to slack the thirst and take my mind of the bitter loneliness. My heart began pounding faster as adrenaline surged within me, enough to give me the strength to rise and throw myself against the bars. "Let me out!"

Heaving with all my might, I continued to wail, "Let me out let me out let me out!" Over and over again until the adrenaline surge was gone and I could barely muster the energy to crawl away from the beams of moonlight that only reminded me of my lack of freedom and into the shadows of my cell where I sat there alone, alone, utterly, completely, inescapably alone, and so so thirsty.

That's all my thoughts became of as the dual pain of thirst and loneliness began to eat away at both body and mind. The sound of a door opening and footsteps approaching barely registered to my starved self, but one thing did: the scent of blood.

My gaze immediately shot up to see the fat squealing rat fall from a hand, and before it could even touch the ground I was there, ripping into it with nails and teeth as the sweet liquid poured down my burning throat. I couldn't be bothered to keep clean as I devoured the rodent whole, licking the remaining entrails and blood from everywhere it lay - my fingers and face, the bars and floor - until not a piece remained.

It wasn't enough, wasn't nearly enough, but my focus returned as I looked up from where I sat, crouched on the floor like some savage animal, into the mesmerizing eyes of the one who'd reduced me to this. The dhampyre who'd stolen my freedom along with my heart, and who had yet to return either. My love, mon ange, my -

"Ciel." The name sounded harsh and grating coming from my parched throat, as did my haltingly stated question. "Why...are you...here?"

Those violet blue eyes flashed with pain at the words, and I could see myself reflected in them as she replied, "So that you could meet someone."

I frowned, confused until Ciel shifted to reveal a figure standing behind her wearing a dove gray cloak that's hood was raised to reveal an immortal child. The red eyes and pale skin proved it, but did not explain how he could exist. It was against the Volturi's law; they would have never allowed her to make one. Unless - "No. He...can't be."

"He is," she affirmed, pulling the vampire boy closer to her side. "This is my younger brother, Julien Belaire. And he is the reason why you are here."

~~~~~

Now I KNOW no one saw that coming!

You guys are no doubt bursting at the seems with all your questions, and they shall all be answered in chapter twenty-one! The rest of Sunset has been meticulously planned out, and I've found myself able to write the story with the same kind of ease that from earlier. This means that even if it kills me, updates will be coming out every week like before, but the new update day is Saturday.

See you guys on the 31st for Nessie's POV as the Cullens inact their plan to get back EJ! x)