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Chapter Four: The Annoyance
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EdwardPOV:
It was easier for me to think when I was far enough away from her. Even though her scent still lingered in my head I was no longer dizzy and thirsting desperately.
I don't know how long I ran but I only remembered stopping when Alice's thoughts left my head. It was sickening to see her try and defend me. I was not the hero she believed I was. I wasn't meant to be on the pedestal she had put me on. I could never escape the evil lurking under my skin, ready to pounce and consume my whole body. I was no better than a nomad, chasing after humans with no thoughts to who they were. I was basically turning my back on all of Carlisle's words and everything he had taught me. How could I be so selfish? How could I act like such a monster that I had always feared I was?
But I knew that the girl's life, one way or another, would be ended by me.
I still saw the picture from Alice's vision in my head, replaying over and over again as if it wanted to make me insane. The girl's blood surrounding me as her limp, pale body lay lifeless in my arms. I looked up, deviating from Alice's vision, as I stared into my own eyes. They gleamed a bright, ruby red, her sweet blood dripping down my chin and a triumphant expression across my face. The red eyed monster's smile grew into a full out grin as he chuckled darkly, his head dipping back to the girl's neck…
I gasped for unneeded air, as I looked around myself, my eyes suddenly shifty as I if I was waiting for the monster to jump out of the bushes with the girl in his arms. I tilted my head back to rest on the tree I was sitting against, my eyes closed as I took deep breaths of the muggy air.
Even though the ground was wet I had dropped myself at the base of the tree, not feeling the cold. It had not stopped raining before I ran out of the house. I let the anger at myself push me farther into the forest, the rain pelting against my skin but I felt no sting of the cold water. I needed to be alone with my thoughts but I knew I had to get out of there before my sister started to try and paint me as a 'good guy'.
Alice had entered the room with such confidence in a friendship with the girl that she barely noticed the intoxicating aroma swirling around her. She was so happy to finally have someone she could talk with, what she hoped, was like her. I knew she hadn't seen it yet but my sister seemed to believe the two of them would be the best of friends.
Tough chance with the plans I'd already sketched out in my head. No, I wasn't settled on anything yet. I had to look at this… problem from every angle, not only my own. Alice deserved to have someone to talk to because let's face it, I wasn't much of a brother to her anymore. I was the worst of my kind and she needed someone she could relate to. Someone she could open up to other than myself. Wouldn't the girl be the perfect solution? But solution to what, my thirst or my sisters loneliness?
But at least at this moment Alice was happy and that's what mattered, right?
So Alice had introduced herself and I was waiting on the edge of my seat for the girl's name. I wondered if knowing her name would help me hold off on my graphic thoughts. But she ignored Alice's prompting for her name and I clenched my fists together. Why couldn't she act like everyone else and answer back with her name? Why did she have to be so curious? I wanted to know the answers to these questions but all I heard were Alice's calming words to me. At least Alice wasn't surprised or insulted by the subject change. I on the other hand was not amused by this girls antics.
I watched as Alice walked over to sit on the bed with her. Again I was amazed at my sisters restraint. She was so close to the girl that she could touch her, feel the warmth radiating off her body, smell that sweet scent. I pressed my fingers to my temples again, concentrating on the conversation instead of the monstrous thoughts plaguing my mind.
Alice asked for her name and she answered with a timid voice. "I'm Bella," she said.
The first word that came to my mind was beautiful. But that was because it was the meaning of her name in Italian, I was sure. I knew the language quite well. After a century of studying I was sure to pick up a few languages and be able to speak them fluently. Then she stated her last name. Swan. Beautiful Swan? Even though Bella was not very graceful she seemed have an air of radiance about her. Like the swan and it's white feathers and long, pale neck…I shook my head and continued to listen to the conversation.
Alice continued with a large smile on her face. Bella just looked very confused. What was she thinking? It was driving me insane not knowing what was going on in that mind of hers. Of course I was sure it was like every other teenagers. Why should I be so interested in the thoughts I already knew would be there?
She asked the girl her age and she answered in a defensive tone. Seventeen? You have got to be kidding me! I put my head in my hands and groaned as Alice giggled in her head. I knew it! I knew she couldn't be older or younger than us, Edward! Isn't that great?
"Yeah, just perfect," I muttered and she grinned at my less than excited reaction.
Suddenly Bella's puzzled face disappeared and instead we were focused in on one of her pockets. A golden, circular object fell and hit the floor where it smashed into a million tiny pieces. It looked to be some sort of old compass.
Alice snapped back into reality as the vision faded. Bella was leaning closer to my sister and jerked away when she heard Alice's warning. She didn't react fast enough as the compass fell from her pocket. Before it could hit the floor Alice snatched it out of mid air and brought it back in font of the girl.
Her brown eyes were wide as she stared at Alice's hand, and the object in it. I was beginning to feel nervous as I watched through my sister's eyes. She wasn't moving her eyes glazed over in shock. "Alice," I hissed, my voice strained.
I know, I know! I'll fix it! I will.
I watched with bated breath as Alice stuck out her hand and shook the girl's shoulder lightly, calling her name again. I felt the heat coming from her shoulder through Alice's arm. She seemed to keep that in her thoughts and my hand suddenly felt warm. I stretched my fingers, staring at my hand as the warmth faded. I had been out in the sun only a few times and I could feel the heat but this was different. It was like it was heating from the inside out.
The girl snapped out of her shocked state, holding out her hand for the compass. Alice dropped it in her palm as her fingers curled around the cold gold object. My sister tried to talk with her again in a soft voice that I remembered hearing from Esme. The motherly voice that always calmed us down when even Jasper couldn't.
The way the girl answered Alice's question was disheartening. It was like she had guessed my plans, not that I'd made up my mind. She looked so hopeless like she'd already given up on an escape. I sighed, leaning back and inhaling deeply. Her scent was still around me but not as strong as it was before. I kept taking in large gulps of air. I should get used to this, I thought.
Once I focused back in on their conversation, the girl's eyes were closed and her expression was slightly surprised and awed. I was confused but Alice seemed to understand what was going on. She was doing the exact same thing you were doing, she giggled. She found it funny but of course I didn't. That was just silly. She wasn't a predator like I was. She was the soft lamb, too innocent to hurt anything or anyone.
Her eyes snapped open again and her cheeks burned red. I swallowed the venom in my mouth as she looked away, hiding her face. I sighed in relief when she looked back up and her face was pale again.
She became sarcastic and that smile that Alice had seen earlier surfaced. It felt good to my sister to see her smiling and joking.
They began to talk about Bella's basic life then. That she was born in Forks but her parents were divorced, her mother taking her away from her father. Alice already knew the police chief was her father when she heard her last name but neither she nor I knew that Bella ever existed before today. As she tried to verify this fact Bella changed her attitude suddenly.
Oh no. She wanted to know more about us. I knew this would happen and my suspicions of Bella being curious were proved correct. She couldn't know about us. It was against the law of nature, the law of our kind. "Alice," I warned again as she agreed to answer questions. "Don't tell her anything. You know what will happen."
Oh quiet, Edward, she said, blowing off my threatening voice. I won't tell her anything. I breathed a sigh of relief. I'll let her guess it. I growled as Bella continued, unaware of the conversation my sister and I were having.
The girl started to list what she saw. I couldn't help but be surprised at how observant she was. She caught everything. But she just didn't know what we were. I could tell she was waiting for Alice to announce what we were: monsters. But she looked overly embarrassed as if she was insecure about her words even though she was completely right. I just hoped her cheeks stayed pale, not to bring that temptation to me again.
Alice could see what I planned to do next. I was going to go up there and stop all this. I wouldn't let Alice get hurt all because she wanted to be friends with a human. I knew what would happen to her if our 'government' found out about what she had told the girl. I stood but Alice's hissing voice entered my head before I could make it up the stairs. I stood at the bottom, waiting to get up there before she said too much.
Calm down, Edward, she thought. Everything is going to go well. Don't over react.
"How can I not?" I snarled as she mentally rolled her eyes.
The girl was looking away from Alice, her eyes on her hand. She was silent for a few tense moments and I could feel the need to grab Alice and run. I wasn't going to let her get hurt in anyway and this girl was a problem…a danger to us all.
"Vampire," she suddenly whispered and my fists clenched thinking of the different ways I could shut that mouth of hers. Alice flinched at my graphic plans. She hissed quietly at me and I held myself back from running up those stairs and snapping this Bella's neck. It wouldn't be harder than snapping a swan's neck but I would also get the blood I craved. I squeezed my eyes closed as Alice continued to scold me for thinking such things. I think I even heard a few threats in her mind. She had become so protective over this timid creature that I knew was a danger. But why was I saying she was a danger when the real danger looked exactly like I did?
I spent a good few minutes trying to control myself. My hand was gripping the banister of the stairs and the wood was crumbling under my strong hold. They're conversation had left my mind for a moment as I desperately clung to every part of humanity I still had. I couldn't kill the girl. Alice had become too attached to her and I could already see the way she would react if I did kill her. I couldn't loose Alice. I was too selfish not to have her in my existence. Of course I wanted her to be with Jasper but I also wanted her to stay with me.
She's curious about you, Edward, Alice's singsong voice said in my head, catching my attention. Asking about me? She's probably asking if I'm the worst of our family, which I was. No one could be as terrible as I was. I was the monster; the rest of my family were angels without wings.
"Don't say anything, Alice," I hissed. "Don't do it." She ignored me and started to talk to Bella. "I'm serious. I'll come up there and finish what I started." She faltered when I said that, deciding to change the subject with Bella. Maybe she'll stay on that subject and away from me. This girl didn't need to know anything about her murderer.
I continued listening as she told her story in a more detailed way. She was sad, broken as she talked. You could tell her parents divorce had a large impact on her emotional health. The girl looked like she could break into sobs at any moment. So fragile, so innocent…so selfless. But she was. She left a place she liked to be in so her mother could be happier. She had given up her happiness to makes others happy. Not many teenagers around here did that. Usually they cared for themselves, and only themselves. Bella Swan was…different.
Alice continued to question her, asking how long she had been in Forks and if she had friends. I was surprised to see she did have friends. She seemed like the outcast type of person by the way she acted but she admitted she was quite popular at her school. Of course she was popular. She was the new girl and the town of Forks barely had any new residents. She was the interest. Then there was the fact that she was very…I had to loose that train of thought as I insulted myself from the inside. I couldn't think that way about her. She was seventeen; I was past a hundred. I was sure she probably had the boys on a leash at her school. Who wouldn't want to –?
Alice interrupted my thoughts with a smug comment. Watcha thinking about Edward? She asked with grim satisfaction. You've been quiet.
"None of your damn business," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. I had to get myself under control. My human side had become a little more predominant but not in a good way. She just tittered inside my head and went back to grinning at Bella.
Alice patted Bella's knee and again I felt the heat on my hand. It left tingles on my skin as I flexed my fingers. The warmth was amazing I couldn't believe I didn't notice it as much as I did now.
There was a silence as Bella stared at Alice. We could both see the questions burning in her eyes and Alice acted before I could tell her not to. "Alice," I warned.
She's going to find it out sometime.
"Don't -"
Stop, okay? I'm going to tell her and that's final. She's my friend now, Edward. I want to protect her and I won't let you hurt her.
Perfect! My sister had just been turned against me!
Snarling profanities at her, I spun on my heel and retched the doors open. I slammed it after myself before running to the gate, throwing them open and taking off down the path. I could hear her mutter of 'pessimist' as her voice slowly faded. So what if I was? I wasn't going to hear her try and make me sound like some hero.
And so here I was, sitting on the damp ground.
I didn't know why but suddenly I was very curious as to what Bella's reaction was to my story. Did any of it scare her like it should? I wondered if she even cared about what had happened to me. Had Alice got through to her and made her think that I was a 'good guy'?
I could feel the guilt seeping through my body as I thought about what I'd done to her.
I frowned as I thought about this. I thought I retained none of my humanity but wasn't the emotion of guilt apart of that? But there it was, burning in my chest and making my mind curse itself. It was maddening as my mind went back and forth between considering myself good or evil. I knew that one would win over the other, but what one? Was I really as good as Alice was trying to describe? The better question was what did Bella think of me?
She hated me that was obvious. I had kidnapped her so why should she believe Alice and find me a good man? I was guilty for every crime I'd committed so why would she think the same way as my sister. It was insane but I still had that hope that she would believe Alice.
But I had to know for sure. I had to understand what was going on in her silent mind. I got to my feet, suddenly excited. I was going to talk to her and find out what she really thought.
By the time I'd got back to the house Alice and Bella's conversation was over. My sister had left Bella to pace in her room as she came down to meet me outside.
She stopped me, putting her hands on my chest and looking determinedly up at me. I know what you want to do, she thought with a frown. It's not a good idea right now.
She showed me the end of her conversation with Bella. She was very angry with me and I couldn't help but chuckle as I heard her stomp her foot and continue pacing. The glare on her face was what made me grin. Her eyebrows were scrunched over her eyes and her mouth pulled into a grimace. She wasn't happy.
"Edward!" Alice warned as I brushed past her. She caught up to me, grabbing my sleeve. "She's not ready! She really hates you. Do you understand how she would react if you just strode in there?"
Badly, right. "Well then what do you suggest?" I asked already knowing the answer. "And I am doing this today."
She scrunched up her face as we glared at each other. "Can I at least tell her you want to see her?" she asked with pursed lips. I thought for a moment before nodding. With a loud huff and a roll of her eyes Alice disappeared into the house as I followed slowly after her.
She already had Bella's door open as I reached the staircase. "Bella?" she questioned the lump under the blankets. Huh, I hadn't noticed that she'd stopped pacing. She stuck her head out from under the covers to look at Alice who was standing beside the bed.
I'm blaming you if she doesn't want to be my friend after this, Alice threatened and I chuckled at her dark voice.
"My brother just got back." Bella visibly flinched when I was mentioned. "And he wants to speak with you."
The glare came to her face and she hid her head under the pillow. "Tell him to go away!" she moaned.
"It won't be so bad, Bella," Alice tried to tell her but Bella wasn't listening. This was going to be difficult.
Alice sighed before turning for the door and shutting it behind her. I was in front of my sister in seconds and she crossed her arms over her chest. She doesn't want to see you, she thought frostily.
"I gathered that much," I replied with a sigh, rubbing my eyes. "But I'm not going to just give up."
She scrunched up her face one more time before pushing past me and down the hallway. Don't eat my best friend or I'll rip your head off your shoulders. How pleasant, thank you dear sister.
I shook my head before listening to what Bella was doing on the other side of the door. I heard the shuffle of the blankets but only her heart beat and breathing after. Taking a breath of fresh air, which had a small amount of her scent from the crack under the door, I knocked.
She grumbled and there was a loud smack against the door as she threw a pillow at it. "Go away Alice!" she yelled. "I'm not talking to him!"
I couldn't keep the grin off my face as I answered. "It's not Alice."
There was a gasp and I heard her feet hit the floor as she ran across the room. I had to laugh when I heard what she was doing. She was pulling a chair in front of the door, her breathing heavy as she used all her strength. Like that could keep me out. "Stay away!" she screamed. Her scent was stronger which meant she was standing right by the door.
"I haven't come to hurt you," I answered truthfully and I heard her heart beat increase as my voice sounded. "I promise."
She laughed and shaky laugh. "That's what they all say!" she called back. "I'm not that stupid!"
I shook my head before sighing. "Are you going to let me in?" I questioned.
"No!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "Now GO AWAY!"
I shrugged before leaning against the wall by the door. "Well then I'll just have to wait, won't I?" I asked her, crossing my arms and looking at the ceiling.
She was quiet for a moment, surprised at my response. "Well I…I'm not opening the door!" she yelled and I heard the springs from the chair that was against the door move as she sat down on it. "You may as well just leave!"
"I could," I admitted but grinned again. "But where would be the fun in that?" I heard her exhale in annoyance and I wondered what the room smelled like. I asked a questioned before I knocked down the door in blood lust. "So if I'm standing out here, may I ask you a question?" There was another sigh from inside the room but no answer. "Am I annoying you?" I questioned but still there was no answer. "I suppose that answers my own question."
"Why do you even care?" she asked.
I frowned to myself, wondering if my intentions were selfish or not. "That's a very good question," I muttered.
"Well why don't you take my advice? To help you understand what's going on," she said in an innocent voice. "Listening?" She paused. "GO AWAY!" She shouted the last part, the back of the chair hitting the door as she got up and crossed the room to fall down on to the bed. A large sigh escaped her as she fell, covering herself with the blankets. I knew that this was going to be a long night.
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The grandfather clock in the hall struck twelve, loud and chiming throughout the house. Alice was in the sitting room, making blueprints for the basement (she had just got off the phone with Esme, resident decorator). Many of my prized possessions were down there, not to be touched my anyone so I'd have to talk to Alice about that after I finished what I was trying to do right now.
Bella's breathing faltered and I knew she had woken up from her short nap. She had been unable to sleep fully; waking up at random times during the night. She was restless during those short moments as well.
She sat there for a moment, listening to the trees blowing around outside. The howl of a wolf made her cringe, her breathing fast. I frowned at her reaction as I sat at the same place I had been leaning against hours ago.
At least Alice, who had remembered that humans had to eat, had fed her. I was too enraptured with my ideas on how to talk with her. Alice had to push the chair out of the way and she got through the door. Bella didn't talk with her as she tried to converse. She finally gave up and left, closing door behind her and glaring at me before walking away. As soon as Alice left, Bella was up and pushing the chair in front of the door again before she began to pick at the banquet Alice had picked up from town. At least she was eating.
I enjoyed knocking on her door at random times. The way she would jump and her heart would pick up speed made me laugh. Alice of course had put a stop to this and before long Bella had fallen asleep.
I heard her get up from her bed a moment later and quietly walk over to the door, kneeling on the chair as she listened through the wood. I rolled my eyes. Did she really think I'd give up that easily?
"I'm still here," I called and she stumbled backwards in surprise.
"Why won't you go away?" she asked, her voice high.
"Because I haven't had my chance to talk with you," I answered. Then a thought came to my mind. A sneaky way of getting her to talk with me. Edward, Alice warned from downstairs, her motions stopped. "Obviously," I continued in a smug tone. "And Alice told me you were smart." I waited for my words to sink in.
There was a small gasp of disbelief before she stomped back over to the door and pushed the chair out of the way. I got to my feet quickly, waiting for her to open it. I took a few deep breaths of clean air, just being safe. I had to get used to it. The handle clicked and turned as a tiny half of her face was shown, her brown eyes blazing with fury.
As soon as she opened the door her scent hit me like a bomb exploding. I became slightly disoriented again as the smell washed over me. I inhaled and felt the burn of my throat and the taste of venom on my tongue. Feel the burn! And get damn well used to it.
Her chocolate brown eyes collided with mine and I felt like I could right into her innocent soul. Her eyes were wide with surprise as if I'd caught her off guard, her mouth hanging open. We stared at each other for a moment before she shook her head and her brows furrowed her full lips pursed and her eyes back to that blazing loathing.
I noticed she had her hair tied back so that the smooth skin of her throat was visible…I mentally kicked myself as she kept her glare on me. Stop thinking about that! Look into her eyes! See the innocent, selfless soul in her eyes!
"You're bothering me!" she growled. "I order you to GO AWAY!"
I clenched my teeth together, a sudden anger ripping through me. I hated to be bossed around, especially by some little human girl. She was not going to give me orders.
She blinked in shock as I leaned forward slightly, her scent assaulting my mind again. "My house, my rules," I whispered to her in a menacing voice. It must have been scary for her because she swallowed quite loudly. "Got it?"
She stared at me for a moment, leaning away from me with her eyes wide in fright. Suddenly her glare returned. "No!" she yelled. "I don't get it! It's a free country!"
"Not where you are," I said darkly, a growl building in my chest. Alice's voice kept coming up in my head, telling me to calm down. Dammit, I wasn't going to calm down!
"Then let me go!" she cried, her eyes glistening. "Then you won't have to deal with me!"
"I can't do that," I snarled, leaning away from her. Her tears were making the scent even stronger.
"Yes you can!" she yelled.
That's it. She was getting on my last nerve. Didn't she know that I was trying to save her and she was making even harder for me to do that? You don't annoy the monster, didn't she know that? "I'm not listening to this," I said. "Get back in there."
"Fine!" she screamed, slamming the door shut. I glared at the place where her face had been. A few moments later the door opened again and she stared me down. "You are so annoying!" she growled.
I shrugged, wanting her to be even more annoyed than she already was. "I try," I answered.
She slammed the door again and screamed loudly in her room. Grimacing I left the hall and ran down the stairs, past a worried Alice and into the basement, my sanctuary. Here at least I could have a little time to myself, away from the annoying creature that was Bella Swan.
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X Author's Note X
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Guess what? There is a whole lot of foreshadowing in this chapter. But which parts is it? (insert evil laugh here) Did you know I wrote a lot of this during my Animation class? Lol Don't worry. I finished all my work! Smarty pants, I know. This chapter was eight written pages and six typed pages. Plus I added a lot to the typed part, more detail you know? Anyway my local newspaper is having a contest for writers. I have to write a short story and you could win $5, 000 and a scholarship to a pretty good writing school (I'll have to look it up to make sure I'm right). I think I might enter. :D Wish me luck, huh? You guys might be buying my books in the near future so keep a look out. Oh, this is for my Mum: "Get in the car." :D Giggle.
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X Next Chapter X
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I don't really know the whole lay down for the next chapter. I'll probably wing it but it will most likely be a chapter of Bella being shown around the house with Alice. Bella's snooping might get her in a little trouble. ;)
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X Music X
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Don't Speak – No Doubt
Stolen – Dashboard Confessional
Face Down – Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Come Sail Away – Styx
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