Breaking Dawn
Chapter 7: I Do
"Do you, Edward Cullen, take Bella Swan as your wife?"
Edward ran his eyes over me, a smile creeping onto his face. "Yes."
"And do you, Bella Swan, take Edward Cullen as your wife?"
I looked at Edward, and he grinned at me. My heart fluttered in my chest. At that moment, I knew that I was making the right choice for me. "Yes."
"Then you may kiss the bride."
I leaned toward him, our eyes closing slowly in a similar beat, as if we were one body. An electric shock went through me, and the need to kiss him increased. However, he pulled me away before I could make a fool of myself. "Later, Bella."
I blushed. He gently took my hand and we walked down the aisle. My eyes ran over the people in the crowd, hoping for a glimpse of Jacob. Nothing.
"Charlie!" I said as soon as I saw him. "I didn't think you were going to come!"
Charlie hugged me, "Of course I was going to come. I may be shocked and a bit mad, but you're still my daughter."
I grinned. "And I thought that you were going to disown me."
"Me? Why would you think that?" Charlie said with a broad smile.
Edward cleared his throat, "Hello sir."
Charlie turned toward him, his fists clenched to his sides. I dragged Edward away before he could hurt himself. "Come on Edward."
He chuckled and whispered into my ear, "You look absolutely stunning tonight." He leaned down and kissed my cheek gently.
"Nothing compared to you," I muttered. We walked around the reception, greeting and thanking those who had come. Everything seemed right. Perfect.
Peaceful.
Edward, however, felt something completely different. He slipped his hands from mine, his white hands clenched together. I looked at him, confused with his sudden change of emotion.
"What's wrong?" I whispered.
He managed to change his expression into a pained grimace. "Nothing, Bella. Everything is fine, don't worry. I'll protect you."
I paused at these words. "Protect against what?" He didn't reply, instead, he looked at Alice, her expression mirroring Edwards. "Edward," I said more urgently, "What do I need protection against?"
"Come with me," Edward said and slipped his hand into mine once again. "Alice will have the answers."
We swam into the mass gathering of people, nobody noticing our rushed steps. Edward nodded his head toward an abandoned room, but Alice shook her head.
"No, Edward, better to be out in the public, where the humans will see us," she whispered as softly as she could. "They won't risk doing anything in front of the crowd."
I stiffened. The only people that fit this description…. The Volturi. They were here.
Edward nodded, "What did you see Alice?"
Together, we walked toward a more secluded corner of the room, where only another was dwelling. The couple seemed to be attached at the hip, their black coats swishing together in the same rhythm.
Alice's eyes widened at the sight of them, opened her mouth, "Bella-," she stopped midsentence, looked around and walked the other way with a spring to her step.
Edward looked at her, completely bewildered by this abrupt change. He looked in the direction Alice was looking and tensed up. "Bella, walk away, go to Alice, now."
Taken aback, I walked away from him, never keeping my eyes off of him. Something changed in him, however. He shook his head, and then he walked away, his worried expression gone.
"Come, Bella, let us dance."
I looked back at the corner, my eyes focused on the darkly dressed duo. "The Volturi…" I whispered in acknowledgement.
Edward didn't hear me, his attention focused on the crowd around us. "Many of your friends have come. Are you going to talk to them?"
I stepped in front of Edward and shook him lightly. "Edward, do you remember anything that just happened?"
His smile vanished from his face. Edward fell to the floor and groaned in agony. The people around us stopped there joyful partying and focused on Edward. Worried, they all tried to reach the center, desperate to help the groom. I tried to reach him, but the crowd pushed me farther and farther.
"Come on! I'm the bride, let me get to my groom!" I yelled over the noise. A firm and icy hand grasped my wrist. I gasped, trying to escape from the locks. "Help!"
They whisked me away, their black coats rushing into the darkness of the night.
The Volturi.
What was I going to do?
