Fated
By Ginamr
Summary: Edward's rebellious years were behind him and he was at last beginning to feel a modicum of peace through his family's vegetarian lifestyle. His life is turned upside down when Bella, the Human woman that he'd saved from the clutches of a murderous vampire, is again in need of his protection. He's forced to face his growing affection for her. He has two choices—create a future with the woman who draws him like no other or abandon her and his family for a second time.
Rating: NC-17
Categories: AU
This chapter is in Bella's POV.
One
1930
"This is ridiculous," I muttered to myself as I walked past the fountain for the third time.
I didn't understand how I'd gotten lost in Hyde Park of all places. I knew this place like I knew my own name. That's when I heard it. I stopped and turned sharply to look behind me. There was no one there.
'Great,' I thought 'You're hearing things now, Swan. You're losing your mind.'
I returned my attention to the path in front of me and continued walking. At this point, I was beginning to question the wisdom of slipping away from the man James had hired to accompany me on my journey home. I'd almost convinced myself I really had imagined the noise when I heard it again—a low growl. Before I could blink, there was a figure standing in front of me. I gasped in alarm and instinctively clutched my throat.
He smirked and dangerous amusement danced in his blood red eyes. Despite the alarm bells going off in my head, I couldn't help by be drawn in by his beauty. Every hard inch of him was chiseled perfection and his dark skin glowed enticingly. I wondered if his body was really as taut and solid as it looked. I reached out my hand to find out. His eyes beckoned to me and I heard his whispered 'That's right, love. Come closer.' It drew me like the moon drew the ocean. I was millimeters away when a shouted "No!" snapped me from my trance.
My attention refocused in the direction of the declaration. There he stood bathed in the glow of moonlight, his intense red eyes dark with fury. I shivered slightly as I felt the rage boiling off of him like a tempest. His bronze hair hung like a lion's mane about him and I expected the roar to burst from his lips at any moment. Everything about him spoke of the seducer of Bram Stoker's Dracula. It was odd how that comparison came so easily, for in that moment I knew by his eyes and his very presence that this man wasn't Human.
"Leave her be, Laurent," he hissed.
I got my first true look at Laurent. Dark dreads hung about his face. Despite his apparent beauty, he was truly ugly when compared with the other man.
Laurent chuckled. When his lips parted, I was surprised to find that he had no fangs. "Edward, my friend. Good evening. I saw her first, I'm afraid. But I can't blame you." I swallowed roughly as he bent toward my neck, inhaling deeply. "She smells so delectable."
The man called Edward took a menacing step forward baring his teeth. "Don't force my hand. I will kill you."
Laurent raised an eyebrow. "She's your singer. How charming."
My brows furrowed. Singer? What was a singer and why was Edward suddenly so tense? I searched his face for clues, but his features were unreadable. His gaze flickered briefly to me and then back to Laurent.
"That's right," he replied bluntly. "So you must be familiar with the code that ensures your death if you lay one finger on her. I'm nothing if not a man of my word, as I'm sure you know."
Laurent's fierce gaze locked with mine and I fought back a whimper of terror. I stayed strong, not allowing him to see my fear. He seemed torn between saving his own life and quenching his obvious thirst. Why, I don't know, but he moved away from me.
"This one is yours, then," he chuckled. "But you can't protect them all."
The man strode away, disappearing into the shadows of the night as his threat hung like a thick fog in the night air. Edward was in front of me so quickly that I wasn't even sure I'd seen him move. I took a step backward, creating a cross with my two index fingers. He merely laughed and gripped my wrists, tugging them downward.
"You Humans and your superstitions."
My ears perked at that. "So you're not Human, are you? You're a vampire."
He sombered. "Yes. I only wish that I hadn't needed to step in to protect you. We're forbidden by Volturi law from exposing ourselves to Humans."
I stared at him, puzzled. "Volturi? What's that?"
He paused. "They are our leaders—similar to royalty. They ensure that Humans remain unaware of our existence. They fear that we would be hunted to extinction if Humans knew about us."
"What happens if a Human finds out?"
Concern flickered across his features. "If the Volturi learn of it, they'll kill the one responsible."
"So they'd kill Laurent for being conspicuous?" I asked, curious.
Again, he was thoughtful. "Perhaps. But more than likely they would kill me."
I felt a pang of fear and gaped at him. "Why? You didn't do anything. You saved my life."
He grinned wryly. "If I hadn't interfered, you wouldn't have lived long enough to pose a threat to our secret."
I smiled wanly. "I'm glad you did. Thank you."
He sighed. "You are unusually trusting for a young woman in such a vulnerable position. I could take your virtue here and now with no struggle."
"But you won't."
I believed it so strongly that there wasn't even a hint of doubt in my voice. Sadness touched his eyes and my throat clenched as I bore witness to the raw pain I saw there. He suffered from a loneliness I sympathized fully with. I'd spent most of my youth with no friends. Only in recent years had I begun to blossom socially. There wasn't a man in town who wasn't seeking my hand.
But I didn't want them. They were after my father's vast fortune. I hadn't ever imagined marrying until I met James and now his image was wiped from my mind to be replaced by Edward's. I raised a hand to touch his cheek and suddenly, he was several hundred yards away, his eyes squeezed closed as though he was fighting back some horrible memory. He moved slowly back toward me, his eyes snapping open as he stayed a good three feet from me.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
He shook his head. "No, it's not your fault. I'm a monster."
I surprised even myself by retorting sharply, "You're no such thing. A monster wouldn't have saved my life."
He gazed at me, awe in his expression. "Bella...I'm dangerous. If I lose control for one second, I could bite you and draw every ounce of blood from your veins. I could incapacitate and kill you within moments."
"But you won't," I repeated.
I trusted him and I couldn't fathom why. A part of me knew that he was right—I should be running for home, screaming for help. Behind that beautiful face was a creature that sucked the life from its victims without mercy. But there was something more to Edward. Though I could easily become his prey, he'd exerted every ounce of his strength to keep me safe from his natural urges.
"You are unfailingly stupid, Bella," he murmured. "You're afraid, but you choose to stay with me in a dark place alone."
The comment regarding my intelligence made me bristle. "The only thing that scares me is your manners—or didn't you know? It's rude to comment on a lady's intellect or lack thereof."
I shuddered at the knowing smirk that slid across his lips. He stalked closer, his blood red eyes capturing mine.
"I can hear your thoughts," he whispered. "Does that scare you?"
I swallowed roughly. "N—no," I answered, wincing at how shaky my voice sounded.
His smirk widened. "I can hear your heartbeat and respiration rate increasing. Right now, you're deciding whether or not to run."
He drew closer until his face was inches from mine and my legs shook, barely able to keep me upright. His skin smelled fresh and delicately sweet. I couldn't quite place what it reminded me of.
He hummed. "Mmm. You smell so delicious, Bella—like lavender and freesia and perfectly ripened strawberries. I always did have a terrible sweet tooth."
I licked my lips as he leaned toward my neck. Warm honey. He smelled like warm honey and lilacs blooming after a winter in hibernation. I could almost taste the thick, sweet substance rolling over my tongue and I moaned softly as I imagined the feel of it sliding down my throat.
My gaze jumped to his lips and in that moment, I wondered what it would be like to kiss him. Would he taste sweet like honey? Before I realized what I was doing, I leaned forward to press my lips to his. I gasped when I encountered only empty air and opened my eyes to find Edward several hundred feet away again.
My cheeks burned in embarrassment. "I'm sorry," I murmured. "You smell so good and then I started wondering if your kiss would taste as good as you smell and—"
His eyelids drooped and I saw his jaw clench. It occurred to me that he was aroused. I felt my eyes widen at the thought of him over me, moving inside of me and a shudder rippled through my body. Before I could draw another breath, his lips were mere millimeters from mine.
"You mustn't think such things, Bella," he commanded, his voice a low growl. "I wouldn't be the gentle lover you need. If I lost control for one moment, I could kill you."
Despite the harsh reality of his words, the promise in his voice excited me. Yes, there was a possibility that he would lose control and kill me—but there was also the possibility that making love to him would be just as wonderful and earth-shattering as my novels described. I was snapped from my thoughts by a cold hand gripping my arm tightly and I winced as a sharp pain shot through it.
"That's it," he hissed. "I'm taking you home before you tempt me beyond my control and I steal your virtue right here."
"Not so firm," I whispered.
He jumped back as though burned and I immediately regretted admitting to him that he was hurting me. The self-loathing and guilt returned to his eyes and I wanted more than anything to hear the desire in his voice again. Without thinking, I laid a hand on his cheek and his gaze snapped to mine, his nostrils flaring.
"Don't beat yourself up over it," I joked. "You're not going to break me. I'm not made of porcelain, you know. Just—be gentler next time."
Despite my attempt to lighten the mood, he stayed broody as he offered me his arm. I couldn't stop the smile that slid across my lips at the sense of rightness. With Edward, I felt safe. I thought of him pushing me on a swing on a cool spring day just to see if he was still listening. He avoided my eyes, but the ghost of a smile on his lips betrayed him.
