NOVEL NEXT Chapter 66: Chapter 66 - Un-Ringing The Bell
February 9th, 2005 – Wednesday – Just After Midnight
Xavier felt the sickness deepening in his bones as he flew through the night sky.
It was deeply annoying, feeling sick without exactly being sick.
It felt like one of those off days that made you think everything was normal.
The Eternal's body ached as if each muscle and joint was on fire, and his vision blurred with the strain of keeping control of the fluctuating gravitons.
Every breath was labored, his nose inflamed and tender from the cold air rushing past; each pulse running through the gravitons seemed heavier, the cool air that usually invigorated him now feeling like a weight pulling him down.
Xavier could barely keep himself aloft, his vision blurring as the world tilted around him; his head throbbed, and the once crisp, star-filled sky above him now felt like a chaotic, swirling mass.
The experience was made even worse by The Eternal Physiology, which was resistant to unconsciousness, even when it was a necessary shutdown to protect the mind.
Struggling to maintain his flight, The Eternal knew he needed to land.
The skies, usually where his senses were sharpest, now seemed to betray him, making every maneuver feel clumsy and dangerous; he touched down clumsily in the forest, his legs giving way beneath him.
The ground had approached too rapidly, leading Xavier to try in vain to control his landing position but his weakened state made it impossible; he stumbled forward, his feet dragging through the underbrush as if they were weighed down with lead.
The next thing Xavier felt was chaotic tumbling…
The ground swayed beneath The Eternal, and he rolled down a hill, crashing through trees that splintered and cracked under the force of his body.
For an Eternal like Xavier, the impacts were disorientation but not deadly; the sensation of tumbling down a hill that would kill ordinary humans felt like being battered by waves of pain, each collision jarring his already fragile state.
If anything, the pain was cathartic…
For as many days, Xavier had felt out of place and stressed with no indication of either, his mind barely registering there was something wrong with him, but tumbling down the hill meant something was obviously wrong.
A long life didn't make one immune to fear of the unknown – it just meant you knew more, leading to fewer things to fear…
The hill gave way and The Eternal felt the momentary embrace of the wind; his movements were erratic and uncoordinated as he felt a cold, wet embrace the next second.
The river was fast-flowing, cold, and deep enough to drown him in one gulp…
And it did…
Xavier floundered in the river, his limbs thrashing against the current; on an ordinary day, The Eternal was a strong swimmer but being so deeply disoriented forced him to choose all the illogical decisions.
The cold water shocked his system, but it did little to clear his mind.
Somehow, he found the strength to paddle, twist, gasp for breath, swing his arms erratically, and even intermittently manipulate some gravitons – all of these chaotic actions and more allowed Xavier to fumble towards the shore, his strokes weak and desperate, his head dipping below the surface randomly as he gasped for breath, water splashing into his mouth and eyes.
The Eternal crawled onto the rocky riverbank, panting and trembling, reduced to a shell of the glory he usually carried himself with.
"Ausdrücke!" He growled.
In his disorientated state, Xavier's language had slipped back to his time in Ancient Greece, highlighting his unique accent and the vulgarity hiding beneath his calm façade.
The Eternal stumbled to his feet and started to walk, turning the walk into a weak jog, then the weak jog was completed when he crouched and launched himself into the air.
One meter…
Two meters…
Three meters...
Xavier gently floated for a few seconds before drifting back to the ground; the first time, he leaped with all his might, rising three meters before his strength gave out, and he plummeted back down.
The second attempt was even weaker, his legs barely pushing off the ground before he collapsed back onto the earth.
The third time, he managed to hover for a few long seconds, his body straining against the pull of gravity before he was gently lowered back to the ground as if by an unseen hand.
"Getting better," He murmured, mind lingering between horrific and tolerable.
The Eternal raised his hand to the skies, trying to sense the trickle of Cosmic Energy that was present, especially at night, but what he found was a fading sense of heat.
Xavier's cosmic powers were failing him, leaving him weaker with each passing moment; he began to run through the forest, his steps faltering as he navigated the dark terrain, determined to go anywhere, everywhere, but where he currently was.
For some reason, The Eternal felt as if he was being chased…
Something promising death was actively looking for it and his body was reacting to that more than anything else.
"I should trust my instincts," He whispered.
This sense of defeat and uneasiness had been present throughout the last couple of months since The Eternal woke up, becoming more prominent as he departed Forks.
Something was always telling Xavier that he needed to return to Forks as soon as possible, almost as if he wasn't merely living in Forks but hiding.
The trees blurred around him; his path was as erratic as his thoughts, too fogged to form a clear direction but heading somewhere intentional regardless.
As he stumbled through the forest, each step felt like a battle against his own body.
"Who knew an Eternal had so many issues?"
The Eternal's breathing was ragged, and his vision swam with dark spots; he tripped over roots and rocks, his hands and knees scraping against the rough ground.
It did nothing to his durable skin but it did not favor his Esme-granted clothing.
The Cullens were insanely wealthy, such that, a casual set of clothing gifted by Esme was worth thousands of dollars.
Xavier sighed as he examined the tatters that remained after several life-threatening tumbles; the pain was a distant sensation at this point, overshadowed by the overwhelming fatigue and disorientation that constantly threatened to consume him.
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya ,
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya ,
Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya ,
Oh Lord, kumbaya ✨.
The Eternal had no idea when he started to sing but it instantly made the journey more tolerable.
The song, his injuries, and his chaotic mind were Xavier's only companions on his way to nowhere in particular.
After what felt like an eternity, he exited the forest, surprised to find himself staring at a familiar house – that of Charlie Swan.
The sight of the house brought a momentary clarity to his mind, cutting through the haze of his thoughts; he had not intended to make an appearance in front of Bella, but somehow, in his weakened state, he had found his way to her.
'I should trust my instincts,' he pondered, already surprised by his growing mental acuity.
As The Eternal approached Bella's home, he climbed up from the outside, his fingers gripping the cold, rough surface of the house with what little strength he had left.
Charlie's home was a modest, cozy, and somewhat rustic two-story abode located in a tucked-in corner of Forks; it exuded a warm and inviting atmosphere, reflecting the simplicity of Charlie's personality.
The wooden sliding was weathered and rough, and Xavier's hands scraped against the splintered edges as he pulled himself up; his progress was slow and arduous, the uneven surface and old latticework barely supporting his weight.
Loose shingles threatened to give way under his grip, and a particularly treacherous section forced him to leap to a nearby window ledge, his heart pounding with the effort.
"Made it," he murmured, eyes swimming.
The Eternal took a deep breath, smoothed his tattered clothing as best as he could, and gently tapped on the window to Bella's room, the sound barely audible in the still night.
It was an old, single-pane window with a wooden frame, painted white but chipping places, and the glass was slightly fogged from the cold, giving him only glimpses of the figure sleeping on the bed.
The sleep was not comfortable, or perhaps, Bella was a rough sleeper.
Inside, Xavier heard Bella groan as he continued to gently tap the glass; she shifted beneath her blankets, her brow furrowing in confusion as her sleep-fogged brain registered the noise.
She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes and pushing her hair out of her face, her movements sluggish and cautious as if afraid to skip a few steps upon awakening.
The Eternal taped again, more insistently this time – it may as well have been grounding chalk against a board.
Bella, still groggy, swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, staggering in place briefly before her feet steadied and she shuffled across the floor.
Xavier kept his taps consistent but applied less strength the closer Bella approached…
She moved cautiously towards the window, her eyes squinting in the dim light; she paused for a moment, fear flickering across her face as she peered through the glass.
The Eternal felt completely clearheaded at this time; he scribbled a quick "Hi!" on the window as Bella peered through and for a moment, her face grew pale.
But as thoughts flickered through her mind, she quickly identified the one person who would bother her at midnight with such a trick. "XAVIER!" she growled, almost certain with her deduction.
After all, in some ways, she would have preferred if it were an actual ghost instead of the enigmatic Xavier Aionios.
The Eternal chuckled…
After a few more careful glances, Bella finally recognized it was indeed Xavier; her second reaction was one of disbelief. "What are you doing here, Xavier?" Her voice was a mix of irritation and concern as she rubbed her eyes and looked at him.
Something was off…
The smile on his face was bright but not as relaxed and poised as she knew him to be, almost as if he was looking down on everything with playful annoyance.
Now, there was a keen sense of morality to his gaze…. Of weakness…
Bella scanned The Eternal for injuries, noting his exhausted state; if anything, the rumor Edward had started that Xavier had faked most of his injuries to get out of school was not entirely accurate, not based on the signs of weakness Bella was currently witnessing.
Xavier didn't respond to Bella's question immediately, too exhausted to form coherent words; instead, he climbed into her room as soon as she unlatched the window, his eyes scanning the familiar space.
The room was small and cozy, filled with the scent of vanilla and old books.
Posters of bands and scenic landscapes adorned the walls, and a small desk in the corner was cluttered with textbooks and notes. "Xavier you can't just –" Bella began, her voice trailing off as she tried to process his sudden presence.
"Let me explain," Xavier said, his voice hoarse and pleading as he took a step forward.
Bella crossed her arms, her expression one of reluctant concern, which was comedic given her mismatched pink pajama pants with the yellow t-shirt she was wearing.
Still, even in the depths of her disagreement and displeasure, she could not find the mental strength to force Xavier back through the window… she was too concerned about his mental state to do such a thing.
"Explain? In the middle of the night?" Bella protested, her voice rising slightly. "What if my dad—" she stopped abruptly as, true to her clumsy nature, she stumbled over her own feet.
The world in Xavier's perception slowed and he watched with startled clarity as Bella's face headed for the floor, her eyes wide open as her hands rose to protect her from the worst of the impact to come.
At a glance, with such conditioned reflexes, The Eternal could tell she was already accustomed to the constant tumbles in her room, and the fact that it was a little after midnight did not help her reflexes.
Xavier blurred into action and the next thing Bella knew, the waist, another hand under her left leg, was holding her delicately balancing her on one foot in an intimate hold.
Bella immediately thought Xavier was taking advantage of her but little did she know, that was the only way The Eternal could hold her with being absolutely certain he wouldn't accidentally crush her leg or waist.
After all, his strength was currently erratic…
Just as she was about to spiral into a complaint sure to awaken Charlie, Bella's eyes connected with Xavier's and for a moment, the room seemed to shrink around them.
Her breathing quickened; her inexperience evident in the way her breath hitched and her cheeks flushed.
Xavier's grip was gentle, but the strength behind it was unmistakable, his hands steady and warm against her.
Bella stuttered, her pale cheeks slightly flushed as she bit her lip. "Xavier put me down," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
She enjoyed the sensation of being held by him but was conflicted, her mind racing with a mix of unfamiliar emotions.
The Eternal nodded, carefully pulling Bella into a bridal carry and setting her on the bed; their faces lingered close, and for a moment, the room was filled with a tense, charged silence.
Bella had long since noticed Xavier's torn, dirty clothing but only now, desperately searching for a way to get out of this romantic predicament did she truly pay attention to it, her irritation softening into concern.
His sneakers were scuffed and muddy, one sole partially detached; his shirt was torn at the shoulder, and along the side, splinters of wood and fragments of leaves clinging to the fabric.
"You're a mess," Bella voiced, and as if she could read Xavier's next words, she hurriedly added, "Even more than usual."
The Eternal chuckled, a sound that seemed to ease the tension in the room slightly.
Bella quickly pats Xavier down to check for immediate injuries – there were none; for a moment, she thought she saw a couple of bruises that vanished quickly beneath her inspection but wounds couldn't heal so quickly.
She moved to her closet and rummaged through it until she found an old goodie of Charlie's from his days as a Forks Soccer Player; it was buried behind a ton of boxes in a corner.
'Good thing nothing in my room changes,' she thought, tossing the shirt and baggie pants to The Eternal.
"You know where the bathroom is?" Bella asked, quirking a brow.
Xavier nodded.
It confirmed Bella's suspicion that Xavier had been in her room many times, perhaps to keep Charlie company during her long hiatus from Forks.
"Remember to be quiet," She warned, gesturing to the door. "Leave your clothes in the pink basket," she urged. "I will find a way to get rid of it tomorrow."
"Thanks, Isabella," The Eternal was genuinely grateful.
Before Bella could respond to the unexpected sincerity, Xavier was through the room door and down the landing towards the bathroom.