If anybody is reading this who originally read my story so many months ago, then you are a bloody legend! (Except you, Libby, you owe me!)
I'm so so so so so so sorry this took so long… but better (almost a year) late than never, right?
Your thanks should go to the person who asked to by updated on my story, reminding me of the sorry excuse for a fanfiction writer that I am… but I'm finishing it now, promise!!
BELLA & EDWARD DOWN UNDER
Chapter 4
After all this time of wanting to be closer to the glorious earth, I suddenly detested it. Red dirt tastes awful.
But I was too shocked to do anything but turn my head back to the scene unravelling in front of me and my glittering husband standing alone in front the army.
An army of wild animals.
There were the kangaroos, standing tall and proud at the front of the pack, with koalas poking their heads out of their pouches. It would have been comical, but the whole situation was so bizarre and frightening that it was anything but. Behind the kangaroos were emus, with their necks pointed downwards toward us, staring us straight in the eye. Above this army was a flock of kookaburras, which were flying slowly and purposefully within a five metre radius of their friends below.
Perhaps the most bizarre thing of all though, was the platypi who were emerging from behind the rock. I was sure they lived in the water, but there was not even the smallest source of water anywhere close. What the hell were they doing prancing around the middle of the dessert?
Edward's expression seemed to be asking the same question, except his enhanced capacity for though was also thinking about our (meaning my) safety. He had thrown me to the ground in an attempt to shield me if need be, but the animals still hadn't attacked. They just stared, and I could swear the colour of their eyes was a deep crimson, even though the light wasn't right to be reflecting the earth.
My senses caught up with me, and I started panicking. My gasping breaths caught the attention of Edward, who looked like he'd forgotten about me since he'd thrown me. Well, as much as Edward could forget about me anyway. This meant the situation was very, very serious.
Just like that, everything happened at once. The army advanced, and became a blur of colours disrupting the red dust that was flying behind them. Edward moved just as quickly, scooping me up in his arms and running faster than I'd ever seen him to the caravan. Luckily, Edward had insisted on the most expensive one possible, because it reached speeds I'm sure even his Volvo couldn't.
But the advancing colours kept pace with us, and Edwards's eyes flashed black, revealing the whites and making the contrast to his blood-thirsty black irises exaggerated.
I was truly terrified.
My terror only increased as I began to become aware of a buzzing sound, so faint at first that I thought it must be a ringing in my ears, but rapidly becoming so loud that I couldn't ignore it anymore. It tipped me over the edge.
"EDWARD ANTHONY CULLEN, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?!"
His face turned to mine, and if I didn't know better, I would've said he was a corpse. His white skin was now like snow, and an age was reflected in his eyes that didn't fit his seventeen year old body. For the first time ever, I think I truly saw some of the pain that existed deep within my new husband.
The self-loathing, anger and regret. For have ever being saved for death. For living as an outsider, who didn't really fit anywhere. And for ever having tangled me up in his strange world of fantasy.
But I knew if it was anyone besides Edward driving me at deathly speeds away from an army of red-eyed animals in the Australian bush, then I would be already be insane. As it was, I could control my terror and shaking hands enough to grab hold of his, which I'm sure was using every ounce of control not to crush mine.
But I trusted Edward fully, with my whole heart, and I knew that we'd be ok.
The buzzing sound was now a deafening a roar and I felt a change in Edward's whole body. He instantly became relaxed, and I though I even spotted the hint of a lopsided smile on his face. Then he muttered the explanation, and a definite grin was on his gorgeous face.
"Alice."
The helicopter landed beside the caravan just as Edward braked, gripping my arm to stop me from flying forward and out of the windshield.
A little pixie jumped down from the cock-pit and was dazzling in just a tank top and shorts. She really was glowing from the light that created blinding sparkles on her skin. If I didn't have complete faith in her ability to see the future, then I would've yelled some word of warning to her.
Something like "Alice, watch out for the army of mutant native animals!" would have done it.
But as it was, Jasper jumped out of the helicopter a few seconds after Alice and gave us a wink before a carcass with legs jumped out and gave me another minor heart-attack.
The walking carcass ended up being Emmet, who threw the dead cow towards the army and began laughing hysterically, doubled over and slapping his blood-covered legs. I was so stunned by the sight of him that it took a couple of seconds for me to remember to wind down the window and look back at the scene behind me.
The army was ripping at what I supposed was the carcass, because all I could see was the pile of fur and feathers with red-eyes. I didn't have time to question the absurdity of the solution to the army's advance because Edward was quickly leading me towards the helicopter where Alice was waiting to grab my hand and pull me in.
Within seconds, we were in the air and speeding away from the now tiny dot of colours on the red plain. Tears were rolling down my face, but I didn't feel upset. Maybe I was going into shock, even though I thought my breathing was beginning to calm down. Edward was stroking my face softly and Alice hugging the other side of my body.
"It's ok Bella, everything going to be fine now, you're safe." She murmured, but I barely heard her above the roar of the helicopter.
After a minute of regaining myself, I turned towards Edward and asked the first question that came to my lips.
"Edward, who's flying the helicopter?"
He chuckled softly before replying.
"Emmet, of course. He loves any excuse to fly something big and noisy, so I'm afraid they had no other choice when Alice let them know of the situation."
"So what exactly was the situation? I mean, what the hell was that!?"
"It seems Australia has its own version of mythical creatures." I heard a southern accent reply from in front of me. Jasper turned around and gave me a small smile before continuing.
"Alice could see them doing some things that were very vampiric. It seems there are mutant animals here that have been isolated from society by the bush, but if they weren't then all of Australia's wildlife would be vampire animals."
What? But how could they even exist, the whole idea of vampires is that they feed off human flesh…
"We're fairly sure they also drink human blood, but because of the rarity of humans around here they must eat mainly their own kind. Much like us."
Alice smiled at me after answering the question in my head and I felt a wave of calm and fatigue wash over me. After yawning and curling into Edward and I managed to mumble "Subtle, Jasper…" before entering a peaceful slumber.
*
What seemed like minutes, but must have been hours later because the sky was dark and I no longer felt the restraints of a chair between my side and Edward, I awoke. Waiting a couple of seconds to get my night vision, I turned to face my marble husband and whispered "Where are we?"
I felt his hand lightly stoke my hair twice before he answered.
"We're in a hotel in Sydney. Our plane leaves at about midnight tomorrow, or today, I guess…"
I yawned and stretched, careful not to put too much distance between myself and my husband, before snuggling back up to him. He continued stroking my hair while we both thought about the events that had passed. One thought that was at the forefront of my mind bubbled to my lips.
"I love you, Edward."
He kissed me softly but passionately before replying.
"I love you too, Bella."
"But really, I do so much, Edward, I don't think anyone but you could comprehend. Yesterday, there was this calm about me that existed at the core of me, even though I was also terrified. And it was because you and my complete faith in you and your love for me. This has probably been said too much to have anymore meaning but thank you for saving my life, Edward, again."
At the end of my speech he gazed into my eyes and I felt like he was really looking into my soul, the one that held him, before cupping my face in his hands and kissing me again.
I was all too eager to further the kiss, and was suddenly glad that we were alone in a hotel room. I was so happy that I didn't care if a vampire-koala had hung onto the bottom of the helicopter and followed us here, because I knew I was absolutely safe with my husband whom I loved so, so much.
It had been an eventful beginning to a new life of adventure with my true love.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!!!
Please go see 'FreesiasAndStrawberries''s page and check out her stories, they're brilliant!
Much love, Rosie xoxo