~*~
Love;
that which transcends age, gender
and species.
~*~
Saving Grace
Chapter One:
Sometimes I wish I could save you.
The alleyway was dark and narrow, too far from the reach of streetlights to receive a ray of luminance. No ordinary human would dare invade upon these shadows. So it was here that Isabella Swan hid.
What was she afraid of? That was a question with scores of answers. But they could all be linked back to the same thing: life.
She wished she was dead; it had to be better than living in a world where nothing seemed to be going right for her. She caused others pain; whether directly or indirectly, it didn't matter in her mind. A plague upon her friends—not that she had many—and family; that's what she was.
Bella held her legs close to her chest as the shivers ran through her body. Her torn clothes were wrapped loosely around her skin, insufficient protection from the cold winter breeze that drifted through the lively city. She wished she still had her coat; that had been the first thing forcefully taken from her preceding the traumatic ordeal.
That memory stirred up a sob in her throat; she put a hand over her mouth to smother it. Even though nobody was likely to hear her amidst the bustling sounds of busy city life, she wasn't willing to take any chances. She tried her best to suppress the frantic screams and cries that threatened to escape her lips as she unwillingly thought over the events of tonight. The feel of rough, cold hands tracing her body, the sting of sharp fingernails against her flesh; they were all memories she couldn't seem to erase from her mind. Fear and disgrace mixed themselves in her soul, leaving her with a bitter, sickening feeling at the pit of her stomach.
She let her face fall onto her knees, hiding the tears that streamed endlessly down her cheek.
"Are you alright there?"
The unfamiliar voice gave her a shock; she didn't expect anyone to find her here. However, at the same time, it presented her with a brief flicker of hope; the words sounded gentle, sincere. Her heart pounded unbearably hard against her chest, expectation and apprehension warring inside her. She should have been scared, terrified, because it wasn't like anyone would gain from helping her; it would most likely be the exact opposite, another man out to use her and leave her for dead.
At any rate, her curiosity and longing for comfort unconsciously led her to raise her head and look her savior—she hoped that's what he was—in the eyes.
The person she saw standing tall before her was a teenage boy who looked no more than seventeen years of age. His tousled bronze hair could almost light up the dim alley. The expression he wore on his face was both kind and cautious at the same time; it seemed as if he, too, was keeping an eye out for something sinister to appear from the shadows.
The boy held out his hand.
She could only stare at it, unsure of his intentions.
"Don't worry, I won't hurt you."
She bit her lip. It didn't sound like he was lying, but she had been tricked one too many times to trust a complete stranger, let alone one who wandered these treacherous urban streets in the dark of night.
"Edward, we need to get moving; they're coming."
Bella started at the second voice. It was also compassionate and genuine, though it held more of an authoritative ring. She peered past the first boy—Edward, that is; she committed the name to memory—and studied the man standing behind him.
He was leaning formally against the brick wall that composed one side of the alley; it looked like he was intentionally staying hidden within the darkest part of the shadows. But due to their close proximity, Bella could still make out his features.
Styled blonde hair framed the smooth, angular face. He looked older than the boy but not by much; perhaps in his mid-twenties. However, his somber expression spoke of maturity long beyond his years.
"I know that, Carlisle." Edward's reply was almost silent, yet Bella could tell his elder had clearly heard it from the way Carlisle gave a sharp nod of his head.
Edward bent down and smiled at eyelevel with Bella. "It's okay, I will protect you."
She looked into the rich gold of his irises. She'd heard somewhere that you can find out a great deal about someone just by studying their eyes. So she looked, deep and hard, trying to unravel the mysteries behind this kind stranger. The way he controlled his eyes, guarded and watchful, convinced her he had some secrets he'd rather not share. However, she was also certain that this boy meant her no harm. And just like that, right then and there, she fell in love with his eyes, because, in them, she had found her resolve; she made a choice.
Every bone and muscle in her body still ached and throbbed from her earlier experience but she gathered the strength to lift an arm, entrusting her hand to Edward. Such a simple act, yet it meant so much.
His features momentarily betrayed the hint of surprise he felt when she bestowed upon him her faith.
She smiled weakly at him—the action made her cheekbones ache but she ignored the pain; it was only physical after all. "I trust you."
That smile made him feel alive again for the first time after almost a century of emptiness. He returned it with a crooked grin of his own. "That's good to know."
With her fragile fingers interlaced with his, he carefully pulled her up. Even under his grasp, her legs wobbled, thus he deemed it unsafe to let go of her hand.
"Can you stand?" he asked tenderly.
She doubted it. Nevertheless, she tried—even in situations like this, she was stubborn. As soon as her feet were flat on the ground and Edward relinquished his hold on her, the legs that had started to cooperate up until that point gave out and she fell forwards.
Luckily, he was there to catch her.
Edward smiled down at the slender girl in his arms. "There's no need to rush; healing takes time. I'll find somewhere safe for you to stay; all you need to do right now is rest."
But she couldn't rest. Even if her senses were pleading for sleep, even if her legs felt like jelly beneath her, she couldn't bear to let herself lapse into unconsciousness; it would mean taking her eyes off this beautiful savior from heaven. And maybe, when she woke up, he would be gone. It was stupid to cling to this foolish illusion of an angel, but what else did she have at the moment? It was a gamble, and she was willing to take a chance on him.
A/N: So, should I continue? I normally only post stories that I've thought out the entire plot and ending for, whereas this has only been forming itself in my mind for a day. I was going to wait to publish it but then I checked today's date and I thought, "Hmm, June 20th? That seems important..." Then I got on Wikipedia and found out that it's Edward's birthday! So, in honour of the sexiest vampire in the world turning 108 and still looking as gorgeous as a 17-year-old, I present to you my first Twilight story.
