(A/N): I was hoping to get this chapter done yesterday, but due to unforeseen circumstances, I wasn't able to write much until Sunday. And then, the weather got really, really hot so I kind of couldn't do much thinking without getting a headache over how hot the weather is. I can't say I exactly love this chapter as much as my previous ones...but...oh well... It didn't help either that when I was really bored and didn't feel like writing this story, I was busy putting another story up on the storyboard (but you probably won't see that until this one's at least nearly finished)

Chapter 3 – Revelations and Marvel

The music of the night came to a graceful finish when Bella's head dropped to Edward's shoulder, sound asleep. Her hair tumbled from its loose pins, falling over her shoulders and her face like a silky curtain. Edward was almost mesmerized by her innocent features. Tenderly, so as to not wake her up, he brushed the hair away from her face and carried her up the stairs into her room. The warm, sleeping body never awoke on the way, though she unconsciously snuggled into his chest, hugging him with her warmth. He nearly dropped her in surprise and the daze the gesture brought. His mind trailed onto uncomfortable foreign lands where he realized an uncanny need to touch her, hold her, and even kiss her.

Tucking her in bed was both a relief and a torture. The night with her had passed in a sensual daze…something that still had not worn off. It raised new feelings in him that had a strong sense of dèja vù – a night of nothing but music was not something especially new. He had actually enjoyed himself, reveling in the skill and ability of his partner while being so emotionally involved in the music. He had never been so emotional in all of his memories.

And then, carrying her back…. He felt such warmth and…longing…that the loss of it so suddenly made him feel so empty. He was glad of the respite from the unfortunate turn of his thoughts…but the emptiness could not be ignored.

Puzzled, he stayed in her room, sitting on the rocking chair by the bedside, half watching her, half contemplating everything new he had experienced in the presence of the girl. He sat there hour after hour, strangely comforted by the slow rhythm of her deep breathing, lost in his own thoughts. So lost that when someone whispered his name into the dead silent night, he was nearly startled out of the chair…not an easy feat, I assure you.

At first, he thought it was one of his family calling. Closer examination of their minds told him otherwise. Jasper, Alice, and Charles were attempting to play a game of fetch in the courtyard. Carlisle and Esme were in the library trying to get some quiet time; and Emmett and Rosalie were doing who-knows-what – there minds full of nonsense that it made his head hurt just thinking about what they were thinking.

"Edward…" There was the voice again – soft, sweet, and angelic, it spoke his name as if it were a prayer, a blessing.

"Bella? Are you awake?" he whispered to the once-again silent room.

She only turned over and continued sleeping as if nothing happened.

He was puzzled. Had he only imagined it? Yet, the feeling it left him was still lingering. Marvel, wonder, and another strong tide of warmth flooded him, filling in his emptiness, and leaving him gasping in its wake. She had no idea what she was doing to him…

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Bella woke up in 'her' bed to the soft music of a few birds singing on her window sill. Languidly, she stretched, not recalling how she had gotten here. Perhaps…

She sat straight up, suddenly remembering how her captor had played the wonderful piano, his hands only grazing the keys slightly, flowing with such grace on the keyboard; how he had not acted like an evil cannibalistic monster but rather just a miserable and sad man. Maybe…just maybe…he was not a monster to begin with. She recalled something a wise man once told her: "All men ain't bad, ya know. Everyone's born in kind. One's character and charisma come's from their environment as much as from their mom 'n' dad."

Her stomach growled softly. Realizing that she never ate dinner yesterday, she quickly dressed and hurried down to the kitchen.

The smell of something almost burning reached her nose as she neared the large kitchen. She peered over the threshold, only to see Esme attempting to flip a pancake with a spatula while attempting to give orders to her daughters-in-law on how to stir the batter and mix ingredients without making a mess. It was not working so well.

Hiding her amusement at the kitchen activity, Bella stepped into the kitchen as if it was everyday she saw a wolf flipping a pancake and a bear mixing the eggs with batter. "Do you need help?"

Esme turned around and smiled to the best of her ability. "Yes, dear. It's kind of burnt…but I swear it is much easier to flip them when I have fingers instead of paws to work with…" She turned away in embarrassment. "Not to say I could also be a little taller…"

Rosalie grunted in concurrence while Alice just seemed to jump everywhere, cleaning up messes and making new ones in their wake. Bella chuckled. "Alright. I'll clean everything up and put them back together. You guys amuse yourselves with cooking on another day, okay?"

The animals seemed happy to be relieved of their work, and walked away with only the slightest hint of embarrassment. Esme stayed to help clean up some of the bigger messes as Bella tried to salvage the near-burning pancakes and the half-sloppy dough.

As Bella ate her breakfast, Esme and Alice sat beside her, telling her about the history of this castle and how they had come to be this way. But never, at any point, did they ever say anything about how this curse could be lifted.

"Edward was not all bad…even when he turned selfish, he was not thoroughly bad. It was only after the old woman wiped him of his good memories that he acted like a monster. But…it seems like he is gaining back more humanity ever since you arrived," Alice was saying. "His eyes…"

Whatever she was about to say was cut off by Edward, who just happened by the kitchen. Infuriated by what his family was spilling to the innocent girl who was making what emotions he had go into great turmoil, he growled menacingly; his eyes flashing a pure black that seemed to be cold and merciless.

"My story is not yours to tell," he said, his voice with an icy edge to it.

"You have no right to treat your family this way. Your story is also theirs – most intimately connected with theirs. Your command is most illogical," Bella replied defiantly. Though quivering inside, her outside demeanor showed no sign of fear.

"It is mine! Mine alone. You have no right to contest my decision in that way. A perfect stranger…allowed perfect freedom in my castle, and you selfish woman repays in this way!"

"My God, Edward! If you have even a tiniest scrap of mind, you would recall that I did not choose to stay here on my will!! You're the one that forced me to stay here. You're the one who gave me my freedom in the castle. And now you're the one who says it's all my fault! Are you so selfish and conceited? A fool you are! I hate you!" With that, Bella stormed out of the kitchen, leaving behind a confused vampire and several even more confused animals. What just happened to make them explode like that? was the question running through everyone's minds.

Edward stood near the doorway of the nearly-empty kitchen, stunned. He could hear the uniform thoughts of his family. If the situation were different, he would have laughed. However, he felt neither humor nor amusement. A girl had insulted his intelligence…and no one insults him with impunity.

Without another thought, he stormed out of the kitchen, trying to find the fleeing Bella. He followed her fresh scent around the castle, almost like a wild-goose hunt. Her mind, as always, was a complete blank – invisible. Yet, her scent wove around so many different places, going around this hall and through that hidden door. Edward stopped. He was going in circles, perhaps even following the very same scent around and around. His ears strained to catch any faint sound. Apart from his breathing, his part of the castle seemed quiet as velvet.

The sudden revelation made all his pent-up anger disappear into oblivion. He was suddenly worried about Bella. Where was she? Was she lost? What was she doing? What was she thinking? How could he find her? Question after question poured into his mind, driving him nearly insane. There were no answers, only impossible questions, plaguing his mind until his legs gave out underneath him and he crumbled to the floor.

Once his head hit the wall of the small corridor, though, his mind cleared miraculously. It was as if everything ceased to exist, though its price was a void of emptiness in his chest that gave him no relief. The candles that lit the hallway were dim, casting long dark shadows everywhere. The sudden quiet seemed unnerving. As if careful not to break the silence, Edward softly walked through the halls, going back to his 'childhood' bedroom.

When he neared his destination, however, he heard a soft whimper…

The only time when the three princes were allowed pets, they had a German shepherd named Peanut. The little puppy was adored by everyone, especially the young Prince Edward. Peanut followed him wherever he went. The loyal dog loved the boy. Every night, it slept with him…except for one. A servant who was walking the dog never came back with it. Apparently, Peanut ran off as soon as he came back on Kimberley grounds. Edward looked everywhere for his beloved shepherd, but it was nowhere to be found. Late that night, however, when a depressed and disappointed Edward returned to his mythical bedroom, he found Peanut curled up on his pillow, fast asleep, softly snoring. The joy the little boy experienced was so great, his smile and good mood carried for the next week and a half.

Edward shook his head to clear the new memory, wondering why these random memories he never knew he had just kept on popping up.

There were hushed voices coming through the attached room when Edward entered, but he paid it no attention. Surprise and satisfaction was filling him – filling the gaping hole that worry had left. He bathed in the glorious sensation, feeling the waves of happiness wash over him. It was as if he was enchanted, floating on a cloud, and feather-light.

Time passed as he laid on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling just content to hear the quiet murmurs of conversation in the next room. Suddenly, the voices stopped. There were a few footsteps and the sound of a door opening.

Before he could even think, Edward sprinted out the door, appearing seemingly out of nowhere in front of Bella. She gasped in surprise before loosing her balance. He caught her as she fell. Suddenly, it seemed like, she was in his arms again. This time, however, she was awake. Her deep innocent brown eyes drew him in until he was lost in its depths…hopelessly lost…

"I'm sorry for my behavior earlier," he heard himself saying. "It was completely rude and utterly out of line. I have no excuse…" A warm finger stopped his flow of words.

The air suddenly intensified. He realized that she was still in his arms, though she made no intention to move. His keen senses all focused on how warm her body was…how soft and yielding was her touch. A fire seemed to burn everywhere they touched, leaving a pleasant tingle.

"It is my fault as much as yours. There wasn't a reason that could justify me…" Her confession faded away. Her eyes stared intently into his. "Did you…how…ummm…how did you change…your eye color?" she whispered.

"Mmm?"

"H-how did you c-change your eye color?" she tried again, stuttering.

"Hush," he reprimanded, not paying attention. His mind was elsewhere. Unconsciously, he leaned in closer and closer until their noses were almost touching. Her breaths were coming quick and shallow; her heart beating two times its normal rhythm. He was no better as he leaned even closer…

"Bella! Where are you, honey?" The voice, though not sharp, was enough to start the pair. As if just noticing their proximity with each other, they jumped apart; both muttering incoherent excuses and sorry's; both feeling a ghostly tingle where they were touching before. Bella blushed bright red.

"I-I have t-to see what s-she wants," she muttered quietly, avoiding his gaze, before running down the hall where a stone wolf was sitting. Edward stared at her retreating figure, feeling strangely dissatisfied. His heart seemed to twitch in his chest and he had a sudden urge to chase after her, hold her, and finish what they didn't finish…though he himself had no idea what it was that he felt they didn't finish. He glared at his mother for interrupting…something; she gave him a wolfish grin and a quick wink.

Bella avoided him the rest of the day. That night though, when she fell deep asleep, Edward slipped into her bedroom, listening to her deep breathing; barely noting the fact that he felt satisfied somehow for the fist time since that morning.

So yes...they didn't have that much of a conversation after their night of music, but be assured that they both have very fond memories of the night and that it may come into play sometime later ;) Review!

Cathy