THE PIANIST'S MUSE
Prologue
The characters below do not belong to us in any way they are owned by Stephenie Meyer
BELLA POV
A sweet melody came to me and took me out of the arms of Morpheus. A glance at the clock told me it was too early to listen to any kind of music.
He does never sleeps !
It's been three weeks since I had woken up in that room with the most total amnesia. My only memory was the face of this man who took me out every night a little more of my silence. He was familiar to me, my body was deeply attracted to his. But in the depths of my being, my mind was screaming for me to escape. Since I got here, my way of life was kind of different in a way but in his opinion it was all my choice. I had to learn to live, to rebuild a person in this mortal coil in which I felt so uncomfortable. Head trauma change your life !
He told me that I had always been awkward. This may be one of the few things I agreed to accept. The day I'm all alone and I immersed myself in the maze of my mind not to capture even a small detail that would make all the difference.
This song intrigued me. I had this sense of déjà vu. Suddenly the music changed and sweet notes came to calm the turbulence that raised my body from my alarm clock. I sobbed in that bed that seemed too big. The music attracted me. As quietly as possible I left the quilt that was definitely too sweet to be mine. I could not explain this feeling. It was strange to me, that's all.
In this endless corridor, every door was closed. I walked over and approached the music. I had never before noticed that there was a piano in this house but could not be otherwise, the musician was sometimes brutal, sometimes delicate over the ivory keys. Away from it all the discs he had learned to appreciate.
On my right was his bedroom, I knew it because he had forbidden me to enter. The music was stronger than ever. I felt my stomach tighten, my hand grabbed the handle like a slap, the memory of my accident whipped me in the face.
Flashback
The Adonis that haunted my nights stood behind the door in this room I was supposed to clean. His behavior the previous day had much upset me as excited me. All would have been more simple, too simple if he had not been there tonight.
A deep breath later, he was there before me. On his black grand piano, hundreds of partitions. The atmosphere in that room was electric. But the sweet music of the Claire de Lunecame to caress my ears.
- Um um, excuse me sir, I am responsible for cleaning the room tonight, you may want to step outside or I can go back later.
- WHAT NOW ? YOU ARE ALL TRYING TO PULL MY LEG TONIGHT NO!
- I am ... I'm sorry sir, I am only doing my job.
- Your work! YOUR WORK! And I do what? I'm here to buy the land perhaps ? OUT NOW!
- Very good Master ... uh sir! I'll come back when you're ready? Goodbye Mister.
Then he raised his head, having no doubt heard my slip and my cheeks crimsoned immediately. Then I lowered my eyes, looking frantically at the tips of my shoes as this one was going to blow the course of action. After a few seconds that seemed like an eternity, he lowered his head again on the piano and in what seemed like a whisper, uttered these few words that left me speechless.
- That's better !
"The Queen of dumbs is what you are Bella! "Master", I only needed that! "
The door slammed, and a host of questions crossed my mind. "That's better!" What? What does this mean?
The altercation left me perplexed. "You're a dreamer Bella. Back down to earth, he is way too good for you and he is certainly not the one you would like him to be ... "
I turned then way behind me pulling my cleaning trolley. "It's just your luck Isabella Swan! You manage to dig up a job but you must still get noticed! It is a gift at this level! Already last night and you did it again today! Damn if God exists, he really wants me! "
After an hour wait and polishing every corner and the lower flight of stairs. An hour during which I heard harp on his piano. An hour during which I fantasized about this man, during which my conscience kick my ass. If I stayed here, I would explode! It was time for me to go back to my dingy little apartment! Once changed and the material stored, Jake was going to be freed from the Conservatory Garden. At least on this one, I could say I was lucky. I can not imagine how bad it would have been if I had to leave Jake in the living room! The poisoned gift ! thank you Charlie! "You'll see it will do you the company to New York!" Okay, forced to admit that his mug made me crack and now if he was not there I would be unhappy.
As a usual large English bulldog that he was, Jake made me a welcome lick!
- Jake, big dog Roooohhh disgusting!
- Wow! Wow!
- Well, yes we go now, you will not get upset either, will you ?
The parking lot was dark. To think that the Juilliard School could not afford to change three neons ! I walked in the dark while Jake would run to my Chevrolet. I thought I've seen no threat in the distance, but quickly came a dazzle of lights and the noise of an engine roaring sounded in the parking lot. This car was speeding! I cast a look behind me.
- Damn Jake, where are you fucking going ?
The car was rapidly approaching ... too quickly ... a look on the right and I saw my dog on the path of the drunk driver!
- JAKE COME HERE NOW!
He stopped on the road ... Paralyzed! I ran to catch him up. Too late! A violent stabbing took my breath away! I collapsed to the ground. My head hit the pavement head-on. And nothingness ...
My legs were shaking like leaves in my body, I saw the ground get closer and I collapsed on the floor. Sobs shook my being. Everything was there! All my memories had regained possession of my mind! This man was Machiavellian! I had to leave! Quick! Why had he done that? I could be his if he had not deceived me. I returned to my room in a hurry. I put on a pair of jeans and a black sweatshirt I was wearing the night of my accident. My bag was in the cabinet. I checked it quickly. Everything was there! Everything was there! Unless Jake! Oh god Jake !
I had never seen my dog here. My sobs redoubled intensity. My instinct led me to leave quickly. I was so scared. A memory glared my mind. The safe word!
"With that word Isabella, you are free to go. I will not keep you, I will not go after you. It will be like I've never existed, I promise. It is irrevocable"
I returned to the living room without a word from the apartment by stifling my sobs in my throat.
I took out a pen and a piece of torn paper in a hurry in my diary.
With trembling hands I undid my pearl necklace that made me feel terrible, choking me since my memories returned!
I placed it on the console of the living room, the little gold medallion located on the clasp sending me his initials: EC-4-B
EDWARD CULLEN FOR BELLA
I seized the pen and wrote these three words that would set me free out of this hell: Claire de Lune...