Shifting Moon

-(Edythe POV)-

 After Edward stormed from the house out into the wall of rain coming down. I turned to Alice, "What about Thomas? Can you see how he is affected by all this?"

 Alice looked uncomfortable, "You know I can't see him in my visions, Edythe. I don't understand why I can't." 

 The only thing keeping her semi-calm was the happy look on Bella's face in the 2 visions Alice had seen, not knowing that she hadn't been fast enough to see a third vision. She wouldn't look like that if something happened to Thomas, right?

 Timing was impossible to see in the visions, Edythe knew this. She also knew that outside events could change the visions in unexpected ways.

Edythe was getting more and more upset with Thomas, first he blocked her from reading his thoughts and made it painful to even try. Now he won't provide her with any comfort through Alice's visions. She was tempted to run to his house and demand he explain why he was doing this to her. 

 "There has to be something we can do Alice, I… I don't want him to suffer because of us. We can't take his sister away from him." There was something in my voice I didn't recognize. 

 Alice walked to Edythe and hugged her after hearing the panic in her voice. "We will work it out sis, maybe I can see his shadow if I look at those around him." The idea getting firmer in Alice's mind. "Maybe I can see him through the actions around him. Like in a photo where someone has been removed. You still see the people adjust for his presence, even if you can't see him." Alice felt a major headache coming on. 

 In probably the most classic female move since the invention of the internet, Edythe said, "I am going to look him up online. Maybe I can find something there."

 Later that night she called out for Alice to come to the computer. "I think I have found something. A few years ago, there was a mass shooting in a Denver Mall. Apparently, it was a group of four individuals that went into the mall with multiple weapons and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. They went on a killing spree that ended with over 100 dead and many more wounded. A manifesto that each gunman had on them cited racial injustice as the cause for their actions." 

 Alice looking over Edythe's shoulder, "I remember hearing about that. It was just before we left Alaska. How does this connect to Thomas though?"

 "I came across the name Nancy Raizel as a victim in the shooting. The story goes on to say her son survived but due to his age, they didn't name him. I then found work records for a Nancy Raizel in one of our affiliated offices out of Denver. The records showed her life insurance policy beneficiary was one Thomas Raizel. His relation is her Son."

 "She was a financial Lawyer for a company Jasper set up under the Cullen umbrella. One of the real up-and-comers according to the personnel file they have on her. She was being groomed for a top position once she proved herself a bit more."

 Esme joined the two girls at the computer, "What about his father, is there anything there?"

 Surprised at her interest, Edythe shook her head. "I haven't found anything yet. Wait here it is. The company did a personal background investigation during the hiring process. Says her husband died in an animal attack of some sort while she was still pregnant." 

 Esme raised her hand to her mouth. "That poor boy. What happened after his mother was taken?" 

 Edythe goes back in her search, "Right after that happens, he starts to mirror Bella in Arizona, so I assume he went to live with his mother's sister there, Bella's mom. It also shows a few court dates in his time before coming here. The little I can tell; he was a victim of bullying and once it got so far, he reacted violently to the bully. To the point, the judges of the cases were of the opinion that he overreacted."

 Jasper spoke out from the other side of the room. "He does have an inordinate amount of rage in him. He hides it well, but I can feel it when I am around him. A few times I have actively suppressed it, like our first meeting."

 Edythe started to get suspicious at this point. "Why all the concern over Thomas? I don't think I have ever seen so many in our family focus on one person so much."

 Jasper just chuckled and shook his head. Holding back the thought of amping up the emotion Edythe was feeling the most at the moment. Alice just looked at him with a smile in her eyes. "You bad boy!" Apparently, she saw a vision where he acted on his impulse. 

 Esme smiled, "I am only focused on him because you are, my dear child." She started to stroke Edythe's long hair. "Would you like me to do your hair special for school tomorrow?" 

 Edythe looked at her mother suspiciously. 

-(Scene Shift Thomas)- 

 Thomas woke the next morning at his usual time. Even though he wasn't going to work out, he didn't want to get his timing messed up. It would have been nice if he and Alice had drawn the first subject for their art project. 

 He grabbed his phone, but he put it back down after realizing that he only had Ben's number and he was most likely asleep right now. He decided to knock out the essay for Government that wasn't due for a couple of weeks. It was a boring but fulfilling thing to do until an hour later when he decided to go downstairs.

 He started to pull out the ingredients for making French Toast and bacon, not forgetting to start Charlie's coffee. French Toast was one of his favorites to make because you could get everything set and only cook when someone was ready to eat. 

Charlie got up around 6:00 am as was his normal now that he was getting used to having us in the house. I started his first piece of egg-covered bread as he poured his coffee. By the time he walked back inside after going to get the newspaper and started to read, I finished putting the powdered sugar on his first piece and flipped his second one. 

 The smell of bacon cooking filled the kitchen, and I slipped Charlie his plate. Two pieces of French toast and 4 pieces of bacon. I had already placed the syrup on the table.

 Charlie looked the plate over, "Nice to see you can do more in the kitchen than eat. Looks good."

 "Yep. No fear of me being like you and eating out for every meal while single." I chuckled.

 His offended look was interrupted by the flavor of breakfast hitting him just right. He made no more comments and just smiled as he ate.

 Shortly after, Bella came stumbling into the kitchen in her ratty sweats and bed hair. 

 "I didn't expect you for another hour, why so early today?" 

"You know why you traitor. It's a good thing you made your special breakfast, or you would be eating dry oatmeal today. Making me deal with Mom. I tried to tell her you were hurt worse than me, but that just backfired on me." She sat down at the table pouting still. 

I started her breakfast and held up a slice of bacon for Bella to see. She held up two fingers and I doubled the size of her breakfasts. She must be hungry this morning. 

 "Before I forget, I have a friend Billy Black coming over tonight to watch a hockey game. He will most likely bring his son with him. Bella, I'm not sure if you remember his son Jacob, but you played together some as kids." 

 Bella just gave him a questioning look to indicate her lack of memory. 

 "Anyway, to save you from having to cook, we will get a couple of pizzas delivered. If you have a preference for something other than all meat and supreme, speak now or pick topping off your slice."

 "I'm good with that selection, but I doubt your thinking that a couple will be enough." I gave him a thumbs up. 

 "This glutton is a Family and a Half all by himself when it comes to pizza, Dad." Bella points at me with her fork.

 "I am going to have to sneak in a raise at the next town budget meeting the way you eat boy."

 I just smiled at him and cooked up the last of the bacon and French Toast. Before heading to the bathroom so I could be out of Bella's way when she wanted it.