Going Under
Sub-chapter: She's Back
Edward's POV
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or New Moon.
As I stood in my room in front of my mirror, tying my bowtie in a matter of milliseconds, I wondered what tonight would be like. It's not often that we go to public events, especially involving Carlisle's co-workers. But tonight was a special exception; he had to introduce us to his boss, and also to a new coven of vampires that worked at the hospital.
We lived in Banks, Oregon now. It was odd at first, the town looked almost exactly like Forks; still very rainy, but less 'squishy green stuff'. I smiled as I recalled Bella's description of our old town. It was so painful to recall what I had left behind when we moved to Alaska. Such a fool I was at the time.
Looking back, I see that I never really got it right. I never stopped to think of her, of my Bella, my sweet, sweet Bella. I was always wrapped up in things I could not win, and never will win. She truly was my heroin. Never had I meant to be so cold. What I really had meant to tell her was that I'm sorry. And I had done that so wrong that it disgusted me.
If I could tell her anything right now, even though I knew I never would have that chance, it would be sorry. I would whisper a million sorry's in her ear, breathing in her floral scent. But no, Bella had moved on. She had gotten married, and had a houseful of kids, just as she had always wanted. That is what I kept telling myself, and a small part of me believed it.
I lied to her, I know. I had promised her forever, and had given her two years in return. I had single-handedly destroyed the most important thing to me, and I knew it. Instead of giving her forever, the forever that I would be able to spend with her, I had given myself a forever full of loneliness and guilt.
"Edward, dear, it's time to leave!" Esme's voice floated up the stairs and reached my ears. As if on cue, I exited my room and descended the stairs, taking my time. Alice whizzed past me and joined my parents, Rosalie, Emmett, and Jasper by the door. My parents and I would be taking my Aston Martin, while Rose, Emmett, Alice, and Jasper would be taking the BMW.
There was no need for small-talk on the drive there, especially for me, since I had nothing to talk about. As we pulled up into the driveway, a flashy limo caught my eye. There were plenty of them here, of course, but for some reason, this one had attracted my attention. Carlisle handed the keys to the valet parking attendant, and we made our way up to the door. Alice and the rest of them joined us within a few seconds.
We were still half a parking lot away when the driver of the limo I had noticed was letting the passengers out. There were five of them; two males, and three females. They were all exceptionally well-dressed, wearing designer clothing. "I love her dress," Alice said excitedly, watching a small-framed girl with beautiful chocolate-brown hair who was wearing a stunning black dress that hugged her perfect frame wonderfully. That hair…
I smirked when I saw her trip going up the stairs. She reminded me so much of somebody that was always on my mind. "Goodness Bella," I heard a male's voice say. Always tripping, the same man thought; he found this clearly amusing. Bella, I thought, feeling a surge of pain and ecstasy at the same time as her name crossed my thoughts. It's just a coincidence; there is absolutely no possible way. Stop thinking that way, the sane part of my brain said. I pressed the issue no further.
My expression must have been quite weird, for I was receiving interesting looks from Alice. "What?" I said, and she mumbled something inaudible and looked away. Upon entering the building, I noticed two things simultaneously.
First, I knew that the family from the limo was a coven of vampires. They were obviously so, to educated people in the subject, such as myself. I knew this simply because the one whose dress Alice liked had stopped and was staring at the dance floor, while the rest of her family walked on. The younger of the two girls had turned around to retrieve the other one, and she was too beautiful to be a human. The only human more beautiful than any vampire would be my Bella. My theory was confirmed when I threw a curious look at Carlisle, who returned it with a nod.
Second, I noticed that it was done up so beautifully inside this place. There was maroon and white linen everywhere and strands of lights put up on the ceiling, giving the room a beautiful glow. Everyone was dressed so nicely, too. It looked more like a wedding than a hospital party.
"Edward, cheer up, son," Carlisle said quietly to me as we were seated at our table. I met his eyes and nodded. So I pretended that this was the reception after our wedding. Bella was my bride, and I was the happiest man on the planet. I was getting so into the daydream that I thought I even smelled her for a moment.
I scanned the room for anything interesting to keep my attention for a while, and noticed that the family of vampires was also being seated; the male that had called one of the girls Bella had just pulled the seat out for her, and was smiling down at her. It wasn't the same kind of smile that Bella and I had shared, but more like the one that Alice and I shared.
"Come on Jasper, I love this song," Alice said, taking Jasper's hand and leading him out to the dance floor. They began to dance gracefully, and they were the only ones out there. I hope they don't take that for granted, I thought to myself, watching them twirl, lost in each other's gazes.
The Bella that shared much in common with my Bella was staring at them, too. But there was a different expression on her face than mine. It was cold hard fear. Carlisle had excused himself, and was striding confidently across the room to their family, and was soon shaking hands with the dominant male. He looked no older than thirty, but he still was older than the other male, who was in his late teens or early twenties.
This is getting interesting, I thought as I watched Carlisle and the new family as the leader introduced each member of his coven to my father. He shook their hands and smiled at each of them, but the cycle was broken when the girl staring at my siblings did not answer to her father. "It was my pleasure," Jasper was saying to Alice as they were seated next to me again. Though they were gone, the girl's gaze was not.
She jumped as someone touched her arm, and turned to be introduced to Carlisle. Funnily enough, I could not register his thoughts, or any of their thoughts, no matter how I tried. And the look that Carlisle was sharing with the girl was more than enough for me to wonder what in the hell was going on. I glanced over quickly to see if Alice was watching this, and when I looked back, the girl was gone and Carlisle was coming back to us. His thoughts returned, too, and they were a flurry of emotion. The most prominent, however, were shock, amazement, curiosity, and…relief.
Carlisle caught my eye, and immediately I understood.
My Bella was back.
