Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight.
This story has been adopted. The original was written and discontinues by Amiiix3. I was graciously given permission to continue the story as I saw fit. Thank you Amiiix3 for your trust.
"As a human?" Edward asked softly, voice floating to the heavens above.
"As a human." I inclined my head. "I believe I was between the ages of ten and fifteen when my mother finally grew tired of living in the gloomy place. She never enjoyed the city life. She left my father, taking me with her.
"We moved to a small town in Italy. I don't quite recall...what it was called." I paused, frowning, as I attempted to remember the simple details. Nothing came, only the blank slate that remained of my human memories.
"And...how were you changed?" The rough voice he had used before, in his fear and confusion, was now a peaceful tone, musical and calming.
"Have you ever heard of the Volturi?" I did not turn to him, but I felt him flinch at the name, a common reaction.
"Of course," he answered gruffly.
I smiled, nodding. "I would be worried if you hadn't. Well, I was a human, and I did not know of the Volturi, or vampires in general. I believe the one who changed me was part of the Volturi, but I can't be sure. It was my fault; though my mother had always disliked cities, I found them fascinating.
"I was eighteen by that time. I convinced my mother to take me to Volterra as a gift for my eighteenth birthday. It was many hours from our rural home, so we stayed in an old woman's home.
"I will never forget the first morning we awoke. The woman was gone, but my mother told me to think nothing of it. She believed all city folk were messy people, like my father had been; she said the woman was likely at some sort of wild gathering, but I felt uneasy. I should have known- it was a foreshadowing.
"We explored the edges of Volterra that day. I forced my mother to make me the promise that we would go into the deeper part the next day. I could hardly sleep that night, so I decided to sneak down and see if I could have a snack.
"A man stood in the kitchen. He was watching the stairs as if he expected me to be coming down them soon. I only know darkness after that.
"I awoke a few days later- and after so much pain- beneath a willow in the rolling hills of Scotland. There was no one with me; it took me a very long time to realize what I had become. I spent the first two decades of my change searching for my past, and that is all I've found." Just like Edward, the release so many emotions collapsed me. I sunk into the earth, letting my fingers grip the strands of grass, nails digging into the soggy dirt. I felt his gaze on me, but I continued to watch the stars, memories of the last four decades flicking across my mind like an old film.
"I'm sorry..." The whisper shook me from my thoughts. I turned my head to see Edward watching the stars as well. He felt my gaze and shifted to see me, our faces inches apart.
"Why?" I mumbled, confused. What did he have to feel sorry for?
"I couldn't imagine so much time alone. How frightening must it have been to wake up one morning and not know what you were..."
I could not figure out why I was suddenly smiling, but the way he watched me, red eyes glittering solemnly, churned my stomach pleasantly. He was the first to understand.
We lay in silence for much longer. So long, eventually the sun moved before we did. It lifted above the horizon, first peaking over and surveying the land. Then it floated high above, spreading its rosy fingers and enveloping New York in its warmth.
I turned to Edward. He seemed to be asleep. His eyelids covered his chilling eyes, and he looked just the man I remembered from Denali. A soft breeze lifted a few strands of his hair, attempting to carry them away.
I smiled; even the wind wished to run its fingers through his satiny hair.
"Edward," I whispered after I had filled my eyes with him. I nudged him lightly, feeling a shock run through my hand. He felt so warm, though he was just as cold as I was.
His cerise eyes opened slowly, reflecting the light like drops of freshly spilled blood, and the warmth evaporated. I shifted away from him inconspicuously and glared up at the sun through its blinding light. It was already noon. We were lucky to be in the shade.
"Perhaps we should move," I suggested, nodding my head at an ornately dressed woman eying the two of us suspiciously. Edward grunted in agreement, his eyes on the woman's large husband who, in turn, had his gaze fixed on me, or rather, my extremely bare legs.
Edward looked at me too, pursing his lips thoughtfully.
"Perhaps you should change," he suggested lightly, looking away.
I knew his reasons, but I could feel how uncomfortable he was and a game was a game.
"Why would I need to do that? These clothes are comfortable." I pulled my legs out from under me and stretched them luxuriously, peeking at him from beneath my lashes.
He still refused to look at me. He was so flustered, it was cute- in a completely childish, third party observer way, I reminded myself.
"It does look comfortable," he agreed, running a hand through his hair.
I raised an eyebrow at him, attempting to hide my growing smile.
"I mean to say, Bella... They are perfect clothes for hunting, but they attract far too much attention to us." He twisted his fingers together again and again.
I cocked my head innocently, eyes wide. "I don't notice any more attention than usual."
He frowned. "Do you always wear clothes like this?"
"Of course! Sometimes I wear even less." Not. His eyebrows rose higher and higher, his eyes growing wide. I could not help but let the laugh leak through now, a wide smile flashing my pearly white teeth.
"I'm just joking. This is a 'special' outfit for hunting. I have extra clothes stashed away. Would you like to help me retrieve them?" He nodded, still looking confused and flustered.
Alleys, such wonderful places for creatures of the night. They were shadowy even in the bright, springy sunlight.
Edward and I remained in the shadows, moving quickly between them, but once we reached my alley, relief cascaded down my spine. I knew were were safe here.
"Is this where you hid them?" Edward eyed the rank trash bags furtively.
"No one would dig through trash in an alley- especially one as disgusting as this." I pinched my nose, gagging on the sickly sweet scent rising from all
around me. "It's back here."
Edward followed me quickly, holding his breath, to the very back of the alley. I reached behind a pile of flattened boxes and pulled out a black, cotton tote bag; exactly where I left it.
We stood at the edge of the alley, watching the road, but hiding from the sun. "It's too bright to go out there now. And there are too many people watching," Edward stated obviously.
I nodded, glancing around with worry. I could hardly stand being among the putrid scents for a few minutes, but until the sun went down?
"What now?" Edward wondered aloud.
My eyes paused on a dark, horse-drawn carriage. I pulled the black tote tight against my chest as it paused only feet from the entrance of the alley.
"Come on!" I tugged Edward's sleeve. We moved quickly, almost in one leap, to stand beside the carriage. Edward pulled the door open and gave me a push towards it. I slid in quickly, reveling in the sudden darkness, and he followed as well, closing the door behind us.
"Excuse me! I was just about to go to a luncheon. You two will have to..." The angry driver paused. His eyes widened when he caught sight of our beautiful faces, shimmering in the dim sunlight.
"I'm sorry, sir." I glanced at him sympathetically. "It will only be a moment."
"Well, yes. Of course. I suppose I could be a few minutes late." He pulled his glazed stare from me and began fidgeting with the reins, agitated.
Edward grinned at me and I suddenly felt embarrassed. I turned to the window and pulled the velvety curtains back a few inches, ignoring the driver's flowery blood and watching the street begin to pass as the carriage moved.