As always, characters belong to SM, but I am delightfully molding them into my own creations...
Big shout out to my incredible beta who is 100% awesome. Gondolier, you make this beautiful...
And so begins the next chapter...
Chapter 1
Unwelcome Intrusions
The way I imagined it, Felix would have been alone forever. Not that he deserved an existence of solitude, but because I couldn't stand to see another woman in his arms. Even if I did have Edward. But the way she looked at him was positively sinful, and it irked me to no end. Her tittering giggle made me want to hit something. Or vomit, I really hadn't decided which it was yet. Jasper, noticing my obvious discomfort, winked from across the room. I don't know how he could stand it, pretending to be related to that.
I rolled my eyes at him. So, I was selfish. I was a jealous and petty woman, who despised this flippant hussy on first sight.
The blond was wrapped in Felix's arms, Alice and Rosalie talking excitedly to the pretentious couple, their respective mates watching the girls fawn over each other. Tanya was giggling at whatever foolishness had recently slid from Felix's mouth, and I had to bite my tongue not to make retching noises at the cozy little scene. Even the soft warm browns and gold of my office did nothing to prevent the upsurge of venom as her kittenish voice gnawed at my ears. I suppose the girl could be considered pretty, if you liked the full figured, succubus type, but I was not impressed in the slightest. She was overly clingy, blinked her eyes too much in attempt to appear coy, as if she had a massive glob of mascara in her eye. She was irritatingly dressed to the hilt in spiked red heels and the perfect little black dress, which unfortunately looked amazing. In fact, I was even a bit jealous of the dress itself. I'd pull it off so much better. But what made her absolutely unbearable was the fact she had spent the better part of the past century desperately trying to snare Edward in her meticulously painted clutches.
Furthermore, she was obviously dense, even for a blond.
Stupid bloodsucking blonde cow, my thought turned icy as she snuggled closer into Felix's chest. At least Tanya appeared bloated. That made me feel better, if only slightly.
Felix, the dumb son of a bitch, found her somewhere in Alaska, whoring herself to the humans. I imagine it hadn't been hard to convince her to accompany him home. The Cullens referred to the coven in Denali as an extended family of sorts, but it wouldn't have taken even that much, I'm sure. I knew better than anyone the things Felix was capable of in the bedroom. Put that next to some measly human cock, and was there a decision, really? So, he brought her home to my complete displeasure. She was already grating on my nerves, and they'd only officially been back two hours. Lord, why did I agree to receive them at all? I should have put it off until this evening.
Like a messenger sent by God, Alec chose that moment to step into the meeting room. He caught my eye, and I gratefully followed him from the room. I didn't bother with a goodbye. Volterra was a small city. I undoubtedly would run into them sooner rather than later, even if I tried to hide.
I followed Alec down the stairs of the building to its heart deep below ground. It still smelt of new carpet and fresh paint, though it would hardly be considered new anymore. I suppose I would always think of it that way. It was easier than to remember the ancient arrangements of stone, each holding a thousand memories of my previous life.
Before, Volterra had been steeped in history, aged with the evils of its past. I had played my own role, notoriously staining the city with death and torture. On the outside, it had once boasted of an arrogant and ageless society behind the enclose walls. The side of Volterra that lay hidden in the darkest corners was nothing so obvious. It was as bloody, cruel, and foreboding a place as had ever existed. The very thing of nightmares just inside the edges of its pressing darkness. So, I was glad the familiar stonework of old now lay in unfamiliar patterns. It helped to disguise my own monstrosities.
Since the initial debate over the best way to rebuild the city, I had quietly pushed for the ghosts of the past to remain buried in the ashes. I wanted the brothers to be remembered only for what happened when the mighty fell. Atop their graves, at the very site where the Volturi met their end now stood the modern superstructure where I had my offices. It jutted an excessive hundred stories into the sky, making it visible from almost anywhere in the countryside. The monolithic building pierced the landscape like a marbled knife, placing me at the very top of my little corner of the world. And to be honest, I liked that feeling.
The streets of the city remained cobbled avenues, because humans delighted in their quaintness. I gave in to that, as well as the reconstruction of the walls around the city, as long as the underground remained intact. The tunnels beneath Volterra served as the very lifeline of vampire society for centuries. Without them, we'd be useless in daylight hours. With them, we maintain our secrets, while living and working in such close quarters. Thus, they remained a necessity, but served to recall I had spent the beginning of my existence inside these miles of twisting corridors, committing unspeakable horrors. It hadn't been easy to talk the humans out of more modern, sanitary septic replacements, but, in the end, everything turned out the way I desired. It helped that there wasn't a human male who absolutely could not say no to Rosalie when she turned up her charms. She was certainly a piece of work, and had been instrumental in many of the changes New Volterra had under gone.
The things that had remained unchanged, the streets and walls, along with most of the human domiciles around the edges of the city, served as bitter daily reminders for me. It was perhaps only further reason to build my tower so high. I could look over it, pretend like it never existed in any other form, even like it didn't exist at all. I tried to convince myself none of it had actually happened, but it was impossible. My mind was regrettably too perfect, and all the memories of my polluted deeds hid in pristine condition and just at the edge of conscious thought.
Alec ushered me into one of the old cells. It was similar to the ones where I had met Alice and Jasper for the first time, when they struck like lightening and changed my destiny. But the soft curves of the cave, deeply surrounded by hundreds of feet of earth and rock in all directions afforded a privacy that was rare anywhere in the city. Especially with Jasper and Edward around. And Alice was, as usual, another story entirely, but I was able to keep her fairly shielded from having visions about me.
He closed the door with a resigned slump to his shoulders that was his constant companion.
"Still no sign of her," he said quietly.
I began pacing the short length of the barren space, immediately forgetting the uneasy feeling this particular part of the tunnel system put in my stomach. "Why?" I muttered to myself, thinking everything through. "Why can't we find her?"
"Maybe there's nothing to find, Bella," Alec tried to soothe my anxious mood. I stopped mid-stride to look at him. With his shoulders drooping forward and face blank, a surge of pity swept through me. Despite the fact I had taken his twin from him, Alec remained ever faithful and diligently stayed by my side. When he'd attacked me after the brothers' fall, he had naturally acted out of grief and I understood. In our willingness to move away from the sins of our past, we had forged a stronger bond than we'd shared before. But he seemed more a man than he had ever been. He was no longer afraid of the world outside the box his sister built for him. In fact, he seemed utterly thankful to be on his own for the first time in his life, able to branch out, find his own way. And each time I saw him, he seemed a bit more confident, a bit more cautious. Those were the reasons he was the one, instead of lovesick Felix or my pure, loving Edward, whom I entrusted with the darkest of secrets.
"She's out there, Alec, I know it. Maybe if we searched Edinburgh again—those networks below the city…"
"I've been through Edinburgh, Cappadocia, Rome, Paris, Berlin, even Sicily, Bella. Godamnit, there isn't a single underground city I haven't searched through. She's gone. Move on."
I pinched my nose in an attempt to reign in my building anger at his insolence. It was a mannerism stolen by countless days spent in Edward's company, and yielded comfort when there was none. Things had settled down considerably since Volterra's fall, but I still couldn't shake these nagging suspicions. Even if Alice had seen anything, she probably wouldn't realize what she'd seen, and I wouldn't risk leaking anything. Maybe nothing was wrong. Maybe I was just overreacting, but I wouldn't gamble with any of their lives just to find out. Searching her out would have to be meticulous and dependant solely upon Alec's silent stealth and rigid training.
"I'll keep looking," he sighed, catching a glimpse of the turmoil playing over my features. "Perhaps South? Or I could try east again."
Yes," I interjected. "The Orient seems as logical as any other place, but I don't think their elders were lying when they said they hadn't seen her. I suppose they might be hiding any knowledge of her whereabouts. They've always been tightlipped creatures."
He was nodding, agreeing, like he was in a hurry to get away again. "I'll be on it right away. I'm thirsty, as it is."
It was my turn to nod him off. Alec lifted my hand, placed a platonic kiss on its back, and disappeared from the room.
I had strictly adhered to the idea of not hunting inside the city of Volterra, but I went a step farther, demanding anyone who wished to feed on human blood leave the city to do so. There would never again be a tour bus that would enter Volterra and not leave. No more meals served on the silver platter, so to speak.
I also had my Cullens to protect. They did not wish human blood, so they did not have it. I tried to follow their dietary habits as best I could, but was not able to abstain fully. Even though they all swore up and down it mattered not what color my eyes were, but that I was now capable of love I still felt wholly inadequate.
I personally hated that I couldn't stop drinking from humans. I was weak compared to the Cullen's resistance. But it was more than that. It was shameful when Edward was pure and strong in his desire to save a part of his humanity, and I couldn't even withstand a slight shift in the breeze. Fifty times in the past decade I had "slipped" with the wind and killed humans while hunting. Sometimes I disgracefully thought it might be easier to take the route Alec chose all along—admit I was a monster and give in to the guilty pleasures human blood afforded.
Like a coward, I found myself slipping into the sewers from the basement rather than joining the impromptu family reunion going on above ground. I belonged with the Cullens, but no where near that annoying wench Felix dragged home like a caveman. So I sneaked into the dark bowels of my city and raced toward home, where I knew Edward would be waiting.
The notes of his piano hit me as I neared our home. Waiting hadn't exactly been an apt description. He had become immovable for the past three days, lost in composition, and wouldn't be roused for anything, though lord knows I tried.
In fact, the more my mind thought it over, the more the idea sounded simply delicious. I was going to pry that man's fingers from the ivory keys, if it was the only thing I accomplished today.
Edward's hair was in complete disarray when I entered our sparsely furnished home. His head was hung over the black and white keys as if willing them to speak. Dark circles ringed somewhat sunken eyes, while he stared downward. But even from across the room I could see the desire of his act blazing in their depths. The stress was etched sharply into his brow. He was obviously struggling, and if I hadn't known better, I might have thought the strain would kill him. As it was, he looked thoroughly drained, beaten by his own foolish whim. It apparently took much more effort to compose music than I might have believed, but something told me that this was just Edward, who strived to be perfect in all things.
I found myself smiling as I watched him angst over his music. Gradually, he realized I was standing there. His smile was slow, but I saw the way his eyes lit when he looked at me. My own body reacted, sending a feverish tingle down my spine. Edward had always affected me so forcefully, and the magnetism between us had never faded. As if physically pulled to him, my body gravitated forward, with slow, sultry strides. His eyes absorbed my every move.
"You work too hard," I told him, sliding onto the bench next to him.
My absolute perfection of a lover leaned forward and touched his lips to mine briefly, tenderly. "Not hard enough or I'd be finished." His mind was still on his music.
A situation to be rectified shortly.
I leaned in again, taking his mouth more decently, and pulling his pouting bottom lip between mine. I backed slowly away from the intimate kiss, and now Edward smiled in earnest, giving me his full attention.
"Thanks," he murmured softly. Then, in answer to my raised eyebrow, he added, "For reminding me why I'm doing this in the first place."
He stared deeply into my eyes, piercing me with an intensity that forced me to glance away. A plethora of emotions swirled inside those eyes, love, respect, adoration, awe.
He was simply too beautiful. And then that beauty was bending toward me, lips grazing my neck as they traveled toward my collarbone. His fingers played along the path his lips made, tracing my skin with the same attention, same grace he gave to his music. I moaned. I couldn't help it—this is what he pulled from my throat every time he created a symphony on my body. My hands swiftly wound through his hair and gently tugged him closer.
"You," he began between kisses, "are the most amazing creature in existence. It was foolish of me to think I could do you any justice with my notes. You are far too complicated, far too sensual, to be duplicated in any form."
I laughed lightly. His pillow talk wasn't always so delicate these days, having spent so much time beneath my sex driven body, but it reminded me desperately of the gentleman I once had beneath me. I turned the laugh into an inviting smile. I could be soft, too.
In a breathless voice, I purred into his ear. "I'm only those things because of you."
Edward laughed aloud before his lips touched mine again, still soft, but with an underlying passion that was less than chaste. My tongue teased against them begging to be closer, my fingertips trailed down his back. With hands on his waist, I moved closer and swung a leg over his, gracefully pulling myself onto his lap. His hands caressed my thighs eliciting a groan of triumph, having succeeded in stealing the attentions of the eternal beau. His arousal pressed between us, inviting me closer still.
I couldn't help but push back; an invitation of my own.
Breaking the kiss, in the same heated voice, I murmured, "I'll give you something more useful to do with those fingers, love. And I'll be much more appreciative of your pounding."
Well, so much for keeping it soft.
Edward growled, his muscles tensing at my words. He smiled wickedly into my skin. Then, my sweet gentlemanly vampire vanished. He ripped my shirt away too swiftly for my eyes to catch. It was another insignificant loss to the Alice mandated wardrobe, but I didn't flinch. In the next instant, his mouth was on my nipple, his hand following the soft curves of my chest. I let my body fall back against the ivory of the piano. A jarring sound reverberated from the instrument. Edward winced, but didn't stop, and I smirked, enjoying his increased attention to my body.
It was gratifying to know I had replaced the former love of Edward's life. It buoyed my spirits to be the one thing he treasured above all others, regardless of my own nagging beliefs that I was pitifully unworthy of it. Still, there was nothing in this world I would rather have than the unconditional love he showered on me so freely.
Edward's lips left my erect peak and deliberately kissed down the valley between my breasts, finally settling on the other. His hands trailed to the waist line of my jeans. My own arms frantically grabbed at his pants, pulling him even closer. One of his fingers slid under the denim, then lower, slipping beneath the fabric of my underwear. They pulled tight against my waist, barely conceding the space necessary to accommodate Edward's able fingers. But he applied a steady pressure between my legs, rendering the awkward position irrelevant.
A low growl escaped my throat. It was raw, unbridled, and aroused. I needed more. As ever, Edward was a step ahead, and he brought his eyes to mine. For a moment, we only stared into each other's eyes. Then, our mouths fell upon each other again, devouring each other in our arousal. This fervent pull between us had only strengthened during our years together. I craved Edward in every way possible; his body, his mind, his soul. And when I was in his embrace, I was lost to him.
That was why, when Jasper burst into the room, I hardly realized the compromising position in which I'd been caught--sprawled across the bench like a slave giving into the orders of her master. My head was thrown off the edge, looking right at the door as he ducked into the room. I hardly remember Edward ripping my jeans away and tossing my naked body this way. He'd proceeded to attack my center with a desire and ecstasy I had only known with him.
So, it had been as I lay there, absorbed in Edward's expert fingers and mouth making their own music upon my body that Jasper was suddenly inside the room.
"Edward!" he shouted, as if he'd been calling him for awhile. His eyes were cast downward, and an amused embarrassment washed over me, courtesy of the unpleasant situation. I reminded myself that he probably had been shouting silently at Edward all along.
It was only when I saw Jasper bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet that his intense unease penetrated my mind above his embarrassment. It apparently had a similar affect on Edward as well. My lover looked up from between my legs. I could only hope he wasn't grinning, but I couldn't, from my current position, see.
"What do you want?" I rasped, still too incoherent to not pant out my words.
The two of them had a silent conversation that only last half a second. And Edward was tucking his shirt around my exposed body. He was standing straight, staring hard at Jasper as he pulled on his pants, without bothering to find his underwear. The abrupt mood shift left me a bit unbalanced, even as he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on my lips. Tasting the results of his nimble tongue caused a growl to vibrate through my throat once more. Instead of sounding seductive as the earlier ones, this one left no doubt to my darkening temperament. Edward attempted a smile, he didn't achieve, his gaze never quite settling back to mine as he whispered a rushed goodbye.
"Meet me in the tower," he told me, and was gone.
Naturally a bit piqued and completely unsatisfied, I took my time redressing. I knew it was important, but I also had no doubt they would tell me everything, no matter when I arrived. Slowly, I made my way back through the city's deep bowels. I was already speculating on what had happened, but given Jasper's wild state, I could guess it had something to do with Alice.
I ran my hand along the stones of the underground tunnel, the walls already slick with grime despite their newness. It was then a scene flashed in my mind's eye. Something in the familiarity of the greased stones sparked a wild memory.
I was running down a similar corridor, but it wasn't Volterra, and I didn't recognize the place as anywhere I had physically been. Someone was chasing me, and I felt a fevered thud in my chest, as a human heart frantically pounded its terror. My feet slid against the slick moss of the rocks beneath them, while I cast nervous, expectant glances behind me. Any moment, my pursuer would be on me.
I fled, deeper down the blackened tunnel, relying simply on the human sense of touch to continue on the path. Despite not being able to feel both sides of the tunnel with my arms stretched out wide, I felt the overwhelming constriction of the blackness. It seemed to press in against my lungs, making each winded breath more difficult to inhale than the last. But, still, I kept running, constantly aware where I was heading, despite my conscious being wholly unfamiliar with the place, and ever aware of the menacing presence that cackled out from behind me.
It was a woman's laugh, drowned with malice and hatred. Even as I saw this, recognizing it as a lost memory, terror flooded my system. It was as if I was caught back in the moment of pursuit. Nothing I'd heard to this point in my existence ignited the feeling of hopelessness that my mind recalled.
That was why I ran; because there was no hope.
My feet hit a raised surface, throwing me forward with enough force to slam my chin into the stone staircase. The warmth of an open wound spilled down my face, and I brought a trembling hand forward, touching the sticky surface of my face. The tacky blood that smeared across my fingertips when I brought my hand away to inspect it was a sickly velvet, and my mind swirled dizzily at the sight of my life force freely seeping from the gash.
I gasped, both in memory and in present, as the final blow took my mind. She would have me now for sure. Holding a gentle hand to my chin, I stumbled up the winding staircase, following it all the way to the roof of the castle. I was only partially surprised when nothing grabbed me from behind as I threw myself higher up the castle.
I reached the uppermost balcony, providing an unobstructed view down the side of the mountain to the Arges River, and the dreary little village nestled between the steep incline and the river's edge. Far below me, my eyes fell to the silhouette of a man I knew immediately, though I was too far above him to see properly.
The woman's voice cackled from behind me, sending ribbons of shudders down my spine, as I hesitantly leaned farther into the railing. I could feel her cold skin as she closed the distance between us, with slow steps. Her breath touched my neck, causing my instincts to react, further leaning away.
In the end, there was still no hope in my mind.
Tremors shook my body, pushing the hazy memory back into its hole. I stood in the tunnel, beneath my city, breathing in the stale scent of mildew and musty stench of ancient rotting earth. It took a moment for my eyes to readjust to my present surroundings. One hand was braced against the curve of the wall, and the other across my knee. My body was bent forward trying desperately to suck in the useless oxygen. I felt like I had died all over again, but this memory did nothing to correspond to my actual recollections in regards to the end of my mortality.
As my breathing slowed, I righted my posture, but kept a firm palm against the wall, like it was the only thing keeping me upright. My knees felt weak, rubbery, while my eyes roved over my surroundings, half expecting the madwoman to corner me in this reality as well. I could still hear the ghosts of my heartbeat as it echoed through my ears, fading slowly into each other, until there was only my even breathing disrupting the silent hallway.
I took another long moment to reign back in any lingering emotions, so as not to alert Jasper. My vision seemed too personal to be answering questions, so with a hard swallow, I continued on my way to the tower where I had left the rest of the Cullens only hours ago.
In an attempt to push the feeling of trepidation back inside, I forced my mind back to the matters at hand. Many of these past ten years had seen the Cullen family spread far and wide across the globe, each playing their own unique purpose in the development of my empire. Emmett had led a group that canvassed the Eastern hemisphere, leading a mostly peaceful mission, much to his displeasure. Felix headed the other group, spanning westward, and flushed out my would-be enemies. Alice had gone with him, mostly to keep her from beneath my toes, as I uprooted the current system of laws, but also because her accuracy for prediction was uncanny. A true asset in the field. Rosalie remained at my side, becoming the official spokeswoman for my campaign. I had to settle myself in a position of power with little human notice. The immediate aftermath of that day had left the name of vampire spilling from nations worldwide. It had been genius in ridding the city of the larger portion of Guardsmen, but the problems created after were trying. Even as my small armies fanned outward, we were battling against resurgence in human belief in our kind. We were forced to tread lightly in all matters, as we fabricated a seamless bridge between the end of the Volturian dictatorship (as all of the royal family was decimated in the collapse of their tower during the earthquake) and the new elected government. I retained the position of High Advisor with little falsehood, and sat happily aloof at the very top of the newly established government, above even the elected executive. I had the final say in all things if I chose. Rosalie had been largely in charge of portraying the new face to the vampire society as well. Though stunningly gorgeous, her eyes alone were hard as any, and even colder. Despite her husband's sheer brawn, hers was the strength needed to sell the new leadership.
My unexpected family set about their various missions and fancies, but over the last two years, they had begun to trickle back to Volterra in pairs, ready to settle for awhile. I'd missed them all during the long absences, but remained content, having Edward stay at my side. But, the consistency of the loyalty and friendship of the Cullen family knew no restraint, and served to fulfill my life in ways I had never known possible, even when they were away. As a result, I felt gentled, less cynical, guided by their loving influence. I was a changed woman in so many ways because of their unconditional love and respect.
I stepped back into my office, not entirely surprised to see Edward and Jasper gravely sitting on a small bench with Alice sandwiched between them. Her head hung in her hands, as her shoulders shook softly with emotion. Emmett and Rosalie stood to one side next to Felix, and the blond bimbo was on her knees, patting Alice's leg in a comforting way. I tried to push back my jealousy as it began to bubble to the surface. I had to remind myself that she'd known the Cullens much longer than I, and had every right to try to comfort someone she considered family.
I purposefully cleared my throat and all eyes turned to me, including Alice's, which were dark and strained. The sudden attention made me uncomfortable, and I hesitated near the doorway. It was Jasper who spoke first, his face still bearing the signs of his earlier panic.
"Alice has had a vision," he said simply.
"Of course." I hadn't meant to sound curt.
The blond had risen to her feet with my entrance; I coolly moved past her and sunk to the ground in front of Alice. Gently, I took her hands with mine, careful not to break our eye contact.
"What have you seen?"
She swallowed loudly, and I felt all eyes bore into us.
"Someone will betray you."
Her whispered words hung in the empty air, like a grenade with the pin missing.
The panic trickled through my body. It took my last bit of resolve to push it back down and hold my hands steady.
"Who?" I finally asked.
She could only shake her head. "It's not good, Bella, but no decisions have been finalized. My visions are all over the place." She paused for a moment and squeezed my hand tighter. "I'm glad you're here so I can block them, even if it is temporary."
I was afraid she might miss something by repressing her visions, but I was hesitant to make Alice feel uncomfortable. I also didn't want her to know more than she should. If her vision had anything to do with Alec's mission, I knew exactly who would betray me.
That was the simple answer.
The harder part was trying to figure out what would happen next.
"What did you see?" I repeated my voice steady and firm.
In a low, detached voice, Alice spoke. "There are fires...purple fires, rising into the black sky... tall, sharp trees pointing to the sky … shadows dancing at the edges of ancient forests … winding rivers … roads …" her voice quavered as she paused, looking into her own mind. "… and ... there is laughing, screaming, and pain ... and ... and death." Her words finished in a strangled sob.
I gently extricated my hand from her grasp and lifted it to her face to keep her eyes on mine. She was trying to close them.
"Who dies?" I pressed.
Alice only shook her head back and forth, incapable of answering.
The following silence was palpable, and from the corner of my eye, I saw Edward reach up to slide his entire hand slowly down his face, shielding his eyes as if he were trying to hide the swirling emotions from the room. But, the haunted shadow over his face betrayed his pure misery.
It did nothing to prevent my earlier day dream from jumping back into my mind, as details I hadn't noticed originally swam into the foreground of the memory.
As I stood, precariously perched against the railing of the high balcony, my eyes had been drawn downward, settling on a naked patch of forest beneath me. Tall timber, cut to sharpened points, stood in rows like soldiers at attention. It was in the shadow of the stripped and naked trees that a shadow stood. My human stomach roiled and emptied itself over the rail. The female's voice cackled from behind me.
The memory faded again. I didn't need Alice's answer. I knew who had died in her vision, but remained at a loss to explain why her premonitions correlated to memories my mind had repressed until this very day.
Though the weight of this knowledge fell on to me like a landslide, I straightened up, and looked around at my family. Felix had just slipped in the door and moved directly to his newly formed growth with long legs and blond hair. Seeing the woman I despised for no reason other than her proximity to Felix, allowed me to summon a confidence I didn't feel. I was determined to protect them. All of them--blond included, only because she seemed currently attached to my sidekick.
"I won't ever allow anything to happen to any of you," I vowed.
"You think we care about what happens to us? Bella—" Edward began, a sudden and intense stare melting into me.
But Rose spoke through his protest, completely unconcerned, "You know Alice's visions aren't set in stone, Edward. This probably isn't anything to worry about."
Edward's anger began to visibly boil. Jasper stood to lay a comforting hand on his shoulder, but the look in his eye told me he was far from appeased. Before he could open his mouth to begin the long winded rant I could already see him building, Carlisle stepped forward.
"As always, my family thanks you for your desire to protect us, but we won't allow you to risk your own safety for the sake of anyone else. I believe we can look at this and find a rational way of dealing with any of the implications." He turned to look at Edward. "As it stands, nothing Alice has seen has given any indication of time, or reason, so all we can do at present is wait to see if she develops further insight." There was finality about his tone that left Edward little for rebuttal. He swallowed hard, and set his face with cool indifference.
Still, despite any assurances, Alice still looked no better. She kept her eyes trained to the floor, hands rubbing up and down her own arms.
And Felix stood still as stone, arms wrapped around his shiny new toy, and sent his cocksure gaze at me the way he always did. He always was confident in whatever I did, backed whatever decisions I made, and now was no different.
"I trust you to protect us." He said like I was the only other one in the room.
But Edward ... poor Edward was devastated, in a way I hadn't seen him in a decade. His whole body seemed crumpled, and his face was ashen and dark. It would scare me, if I didn't understand what caused his anguish. He knew, above everyone, I would hold true to the words I spoke, no matter the cost.
A grimace settled over Edward's features, while he continued to look directly at me. After a moment, his normally velvet tone was masked by an even dullness that I'd never heard before, and he said, "I know you will."
He spoke as if it were the worst possible thing I could do, as if loving them so much was suddenly an unforgivable sin.
No one else said a word.
A/N: Reviews are ecstacy.
And when you're done with that, I have to reccomendations for you...
My new Canadian Cowboy friend( and he probably will not think its funny I called him Canadian Cowboy), Master of the Boot at Twilighted, has written a crossover worthy of both the Hellsing Magna and Twilight (fanfic style). This isn't your normal fanfiction, ladies (and gents?) but its packed full of action and intrigue. And Alucard - star of the Hellsing Magna? Oh my god...If the bad guy gets you off, check out both MotB's story and the youtubes of the anime. Something about him (cartoon or no) is too hard not to be frightfully attracted to... And come on. Doesn't a guy's take on the Twilight world just totally intrigue you?
And (Beware of the shameless plug) if you haven't read Changing Sides, by yours truly, go check it out. I'm going to make references to it, but it's not like you have that much to do, right? It's only the size of a small novel...
Just kidding!~
Now, go review, and keep reading!