Chapter Twenty-Three - EJ's POV

I tried not to moan as my body bounced up and down on Jacob's shoulder, which only made my headache worsen. Mei's hand brushed my hair in sympathy as she ran behind us, her brown eyes nearly black with worry for me. I wanted to tell her I was fine, but I didn't even think I could muster up the strength to speak, let alone lie convincingly. And if I told her through our bond, she'd know for sure it was a load of crap. Fine was the furthest thing I could be.

But that was on its way to changing. I was free and soon to be reunited with the rest of my family. I hoped there was a meal waiting for me when we arrived at wherever we were going: starving to death just after being rescued would be a tad too ironic for my liking. Not that my opinion would matter much, with me being dead and all. If humans actually had souls, do vampires? It wouldn't make sense to have an eternity after having already lived an eternity...though in my case, I've only lived for five years.

Jay, stay with me. My sister's voice brought me back to reality, and I realized my rambling thoughts must have leaked through the shield I'd struggled to place between us. I didn't want her to realize how much I was in pain, but the wrinkle in her nose and her next words informed me that I'd failed to do so. If you need to rest, we can take a break.

No... I winced as Jacob cleared a log, Mei wincing with me. Too dangerous. And besides...sooner we get there, sooner...I'm fed. Right?

Course. She couldn't hide her fear from me, and I forced myself to smile at her despite my cracked lips. The wrinkle disappeared even though her eyes stayed dark, so I went back to concentrating on keeping up the shield.

Thoughts of Ciel distracted me, and I cursed my stupid heart for not listening to my brain. She was the reason I was in this condition: starved, hurting, on the run. She had never loved me. You didn't do this kind of thing to people you loved.

But she tried to free you, the voice from earlier said.

I nearly growled. So the damn dhampyre had driven me crazy as well. ...ha ha, nice use of allusion. Or was it alliteration? Yeah, it was definitely -

Focus, EJ, my new inner voice snapped. You can't fall asleep.

Asleep. That's what my twin told me to do when they knocked me out. But that couldn't be right, because that would mean Mei was working for the Volturi like Ciel. She wasn't, right?

Of course not! You're losing your grip on reality. You need blood, now.

Well, thank you, Mister Obvious. Heh, that was a better name than "inner voice" - then again, inner voice wasn't even a proper noun. It was like saying my name was dhampyre when my name was obviously...Jay. EJ. Edward Junior...no, Jacob...no, Jacob was named Jacob. What was my name again?

EJ! Mister Obvious shouted, but the volume didn't make my headache worse. Get. A. Grip. Think about what's happening. Think about where you're going.

I used to play the same game with Mei when we were smaller. Where was she, anyway? Oh, right in front of me. I tried to lift my hand to wave, but it just dangled limply. Since when could I not move my hands? Maybe I could get Jacob to wave for me...no, he was too busy running. Wait, I could just say hello. Hey, Mei!

Yeah? she asked, wiping her brow. Sweating already - how long had we been running? Jay, what's wrong?

I wanted to tell her everything, but then her nose would wrinkle again. I hated it when her nose wrinkled. So I fished for something else to tell her as Mister Obvious got quieter and quieter, looking over her shoulder and spotting something else. There's a guy chasing us...are we playing tag?

What?! Mei looked behind her and saw the tall vampire who was almost upon us. "Jake, we have company!"

Suddenly, I was in her arms, and there was a huge russet wolf standing at our side. It (no, he, he was Jacob after all) snarled at the vampire, who came to a stop several yards away from us. I belatedly noticed that we had been crossing a glen when I spotted our pursuer. His smile was fierce from behind his curtain of long dark hair, and I realized that I knew who he was. Demetri! Mei, that's Demetri!

I know, she replied shortly, subtly inching backwards as Jacob continued threatening the Volturi tracker.

Demetri just laughed. "Now where do you think you're going, little half-breeds? You just got here!"

"And now we're leaving," Mei shot back, but she stopped inching away. "EJ is a member of the Olympic Coven. We have a right to leave with him."

"Ah, but our esteemed rulers have decreed him a threat of exposure."

"Aro already ruled that we - "

"Have you looked at the guy?" the vampire gestured as he casually took a few steps forward, sending Mei skittering a few step back while Jacob held his ground. "You let him loose, and he'll hunt down the first human he smells, regardless of if it's in broad daylight in front of a crowd or not. He has to come back with me."

"You guys are the ones who put him in this state." My sister carefully maneuvered me so that I was riding piggyback as she bared her teeth. "No way in hell is he coming with you."

"It's almost laughable, how you think you have a choice," Demetri smirked. "You think your little dog is going to hold me back long enough for you two to escape? There's no where to run where I can't chase you; there's no where to hide where I won't find you."

Playing hide-and-seek with him would be a bitch, I thought to myself distractedly. Realizing what was happening once more, this time I was able to reign myself in. Keeping track of the conversation had kept me focused, and now I wet my lip to add hoarsely, "Even you can't track us if you're dead."

"And who's going to kill me? Your mutt?"

"Jacob isn't going to kill you," I gasped, beginning to lose conscious from the effort. "She is."

Ciel fell from above at that moment, landing right atop Demetri. He snarled and threw her off, but Jacob seized the opportunity to attack. Howling, the wolf sprang forward and snatched the vampire's arm, shaking his head wildly in an attempt to tear the limb off. Demetri stopped him with a backhand that sent Jacob flying into a tree on the far side of the clearing while Ciel darted in to finish what the wolf had started.

She yanked hard, managing to rip his mangled arm out of its socket, but the vampire kicked her in the stomach and sent her flying as well. However, Ciel was better prepared than Jacob, and turned so that she landed on her feet before rushing forwards once more. They began fighting in lightning fast strokes, and the dhampyre was holding her own despite being significantly slower - no doubt do to her gifted intuition.

Bending down to avoid one swing, she countered with a kick that pushed Demetri back right in time for Jacob to grab his leg and drag him to the ground. The vampire thrashed wildly to free himself, but Ciel was already straddling him, leaning forward as her lips parted to rip open his throat. He was able to give a final scream of agony before his vocal cords were torn asunder as his head went rolling.

I struggled to keep my eyes open, though the fight had lasted less than a minute. Ciel stood to her feet clutching her arm as Jacob began dismembering Demetri. The scent hit me, and suddenly I felt more alert that I had in my whole life as I stared where she held her arm.

And through her fingers trickled a thin red trail of blood.

~~~~~

Updated right on schedule! Told y'all the rest of Sunset wouldn't be far behind. Only two more chapters and an epilogue to go - are you guys as excited as I am? Another fight scene in the next chapter involving Ciel. Will EJ lose control despite the fact that dhampyre blood holds little attraction since it's basically cannibalism? Why didn't Nessie run when she had the chance? Does she have a grudge to settle with Ciel? And Demetri - pulled apart but not yet set afire. Is he really gonna die?

Stay tuned to find out! xD