A hiccup in the schedule

Usually, we tease a new ITB chapter on Monday and post it on Wednesday. Because of the general chaos that is my RL, the next chapter will be postponed a week and posted on 2/10/2010. While I think Greta is the only one whose entire Wednesday is planned around a new chapter *wink*, I'm sorry for the delay.

In The Blood Chapter 16Pictures of Jane's Chicago digs

When I was trying to figure out where Jane would be hanging out while in Chicago, I came across the following pictures of an actual, abandoned firehouse in the midst of the old stockyards. I've lived in Chicago almost my entire life, I even worked in a warehouse in the stockyards as a teenager, and I never knew this house existed. Thanks to I, Splotchy for the find and the amazing pictures.

The interior I found was of an abandoned NYC firehouse, but I still think it works.

In The Blood Chapter 16 Teaser

So seriously...who else cheered when Bella told Emmett they were going to pay Edward's office a visit? Uh, oh, Edward! Bella's tired of taking all the blame. And let's face it...that boy has some explaining to do. Fortunately for him, he won't be called upon to account for his actions in this chapter. Well, let me know if at the end of this chapter you think he should feel fortunate, because an old 'friend' is coming to town: Jane.

That's right girls and boys, this week's chapter is from Jane's point of view. Here's the teaser...Enjoy!

Silently Jane turned, making her way back to the main part of the castle and to her chambers beyond. Upon entering them, she removed her cloak and hung it in the wardrobe that sat unused on the far end of the room. Since she had joined the Volturi over four centuries ago, she had worn their cloak as a sign of her allegiance. She had never had any reason to set it aside, not even to exchange it for street-ware, as her talents elevated her above the menial tasks that called for their kind to mingle with humans. Now the dark grey fabric was gathered on a hanger and shut away in the wooden closet. She felt uncomfortably bare without it. As she glanced in the mirror that hung on the wall nearby, she was almost blinded by the stark whiteness of her peasant blouse. Unsettled but still determined, Jane shifted her eyes away from her reflection and set about preparing for her departure.

She moved swiftly about her room, collecting the few things she couldn’t bear to part with, leaving everything else untouched. As Jane’s hand closed around the tiny miniature of her brother, she closed her ruby eyes and sighed. Her face, always so carefully blank, cracked for a moment, revealing the heartbreak and frustration of a constantly thwarted girl. For an instant she appeared as what she had once been: no more than a child, overwhelmed by the world and so very powerless in the face of those around her. A quiet, tearless sob leaked out of her mouth and she clutched the image of her brother against her, holding onto it as if it were a talisman against her grief. A moment passed and her face calmed; the tightening of her jaw the only indication that any emotions had just passed over her visage. She tucked the miniature inside her shirt, just below where her heart had once beaten, then turned and calmly walked out the door.

The playlist song for this chapter is Hell's Bells by AC/DC:

In the Blood Chapter 15 Teaser

Comfort, Munch, 1907

During Aro's story, Bella sat up in the bed, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping herself up into a tight ball. Emmett held her, stroking her hair as she rocked back and forth in stunned silence.

"Why will you not destroy me?" she finally whispered into the phone.

"You have asked me this favor twice before: once when I found you with Adam, and once when I told you Edward had died. Do you remember my answer?"

Bella leaned her head against Emmett's shoulder. "I remember, but I want you to say it."

Aro sighed. "A parent would never destroy their own child."

Venom pooled in her mouth and sprayed as she screamed at the phone. "Yes, but a parent would apparently betray their child!"

Bella knew that, even though Aro loved her, she was risking death by speaking to him this way. Part of her wanted the freedom and peace death would give her, but it was slowly losing ground to the part that was deeply wounded by Aro's lie and desperate to find a way to overcome it. She felt Emmett's body stiffen next to her, and she remembered her existence was no longer simply her own. She'd been selfish and forgotten her protector and friend needed her.

The playlist song for this chapter is "Back in Black" by AC/DC:



P.S. One Pushy Fox and I are each contributing a one-shot to MsKathy's Haiti Relief Twi FanFic Authors Compilation. Donate at least $5  through 1/24/10 and receive fanfic from over 200 Twific authors. For more information, visit MsKathy's blog.

Chapter 14 is up

Chapter 14 is up and I completely forgot to mention in my Author's Note that the inspiration for the Denali scene with the Vanquish was none other than Mrs. Vanquish herself. She was so helpful to me with the science stuff in Chapter 12, I just wanted give her some loving. :)

Claire Danes is my Tanya

Mrs V. - Sorry I couldn't write you into the story line, but.... hope you enjoy the lemon anyway.

In The Blood Chapter 14 Teaser

Photo by Justin Williams courtesy of fineartamerica.com

I know things are getting hairy for our erstwhile lovers and some of you are wondering if they're ever going to find their way back to each other. I'll tell you up front, that's not going to happen in this chapter. No, unfortunately, Edward hasn't hit his rock bottom yet. He has to sink just an inch or two lower into the sea of angst.

But before I give you the teaser I wanted to address the question of why. Why are we torturing these two characters? Why can't we just let them have a bit of happiness? Why do we insist on being cruel women? Good questions. And the answer, in my humble opinion, is because angst is an essential part of the narrative arch. There can be no light without dark, no love without hate and frankly Edward can't come to grips with who Bella truly is without walking down some dark roads of his own.

So he's a bit of an asshole when he's hurt. He says things he shouldn't. He does things he shouldn't. And it's not just there to yank your chain, it's because that's what real people do. At least it is in my experience. But at least working through these challenges is what allows us to grow. Right? And Edward needs to grow and in particular, grow up. However many years he's existed, he's still an 18 year old boy when it comes to romantic relationships because he's never allowed him self to experience these emotions with anyone else. And clearly he needs to work through some issues.

Who knows angst better than a 15 year old guy living out in rural Virginia?
I don't know but Justin Williams, the artist who took this photo,
definitely has my vote for best pictorial capturing of this emotion.

So....please bear with us through these next few dark chapters. We're getting to the end of the self-inflicted pain and soon we'll be moving on into the land of catharsis. And just so you know, Catharsis-ville is filled with lemons. Whole groves of them. *wink* And now, this week's teaser:

“Slow down there, Edward,” she grabbed his arm, breaking his stride as he tried to streak past her. “Who lit a fire under your ass?”

Edward shook her off angrily. “Leave me the hell alone, Rosalie,” he spat back before pointing an accusatory finger in her face. “Not one more word out of you. ‘Maybe you still have a chance at happiness,’” he sneered as he quoted her words from just a few days ago. “’Don’t you want some sort of closure?’ Ha! Closure?” He savagely dragged his hand through his hair in order to prevent himself from shaking the living daylights out of his sister. “Do you know what kind of ‘closure’ I got, Rosalie? Can you guess?”

Rose’s eyes were wide and wary. “I’d be willing to bet it wasn’t what you were hoping for.”

“And the lucky streak continues!” Edward whirled away, forcing the palms of his hands into his eye sockets as if he could somehow block out the vision of Bella entwined with her lover. “No, it wasn’t what I was hoping for,” he whispered bitterly.

So what now? You’re going to run away, then? There was no accusation in her thoughts, just regret for somehow precipitating the pain her brother was in and sorrow for how their parents would ache for him during his absence. Will you come back?

“I don’t know,” he sighed wearily. “I just can’t…I can’t be here; not knowing she’s here too.” With him, he silently added. He looked up into Rose’s eyes, struggling not to break down like a child, begging for her to understand.

Go…I’ll explain to Carlisle and Esme. She stepped aside so he could get to his car. “Just…please call them so they know you’re ok.” Don’t stay away long, Edward. Please. He saw her standing in the open door of the garage, watching him as he sped down the drive and out of sight.

The playlist song for this chapter is Wasted by Def Leppard:

In the Blood Chapter 13 Teaser

Edward has found his Isabella in the throes of passion with Emmett. His discovery is has broken his heart and made him question everything he thought he knew. What he doesn't realize is that his sudden appearance at Bella's window has made her question her own sanity. Once she sees truly sees Edward and hears his words, her entire world is turned upside down.

She was haunted by Edward's black eyes, full of hate and contempt, piercing her as his beautiful mouth spewed acrimony. He called her a monster. He compared her to the man who changed her and tortured her body and soul. She tried to explain, but he wouldn't listen.

He didn't care why she changed him.

He didn't care why she left him.

He didn't care that she thought she'd lost him forever.

He didn't care that she loved him.

He didn't care, because he didn't love her anymore. The realization left her cold and empty, and she lay in the wet, grimy street, praying that the same God who'd seen fit to take away Edward's love would see fit to take away her pain as well.

When I read Pushy's wonderful last chapter, it was painful, and she told me how hard it was for her to write. After writing this chapter, I understand what she meant on a whole new level.

The playlist song for this chapter is "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard.