This is dedicated to Bad Alice, She Emmett 101, and art of exasperation. Also to those who continue to support me, and no matter what, continue to love this story, to my extreme disbelief. But thanks so much, you guys, you completely rock! This will be a little short, though.
I don't own Twilight or New Moon. I do, however, own Don't Go Into The Woods Alone, so go me! I own something! And the Volturi aren't mine, either. Oh, but Llewellyn's bad ass coven belong to me…love them! And the saying "Those who walk in sin embrace it".
Chapter 6
I ran blindly through the forest, the rain starting to fall. I didn't care. I didn't dare glance behind me, for fear doing so would just send me over the edge completely, past the point of no return. No, I needed to flee while some amount of sanity remained.
"Bella!" His voice echoed behind me, and I could hear someone. Refusing to let myself hope, I ran through the thickening rain, sobs escaping as I did so, wishing lightning would strike me when I did eventually stop.
The feeling in my chest of agonizing loss was increasing, and it began to actually ache, leaving me unable to breathe. Rain whipped my face, striking it hard due to the speed I was running at. I had never tried this pace before.
"It's not real, it's not real, it's not real…" I repeated the words out loud as I ran, a chant, a spell, praying I'd convince myself. "Don't go there, too much pain, no…" I stopped where I stood, finding where my legs had carried me.
The meadow, our meadow, once beautiful in sunlight was now morose, dreary, grim, in the clouds and rain. I fell to my knees, letting the rain soak me, and instinctively turned as someone caught up.
My heart lurched. He was there, his sculptured face damp with rain, almost like tears. His eyes, almost black, were pools of sadness, and I would do anything to change that emotion. His body, so strong, yet perfectly proportioned, becoming easier to see as the clothes clung tighter. His hair, flicked through with raindrops, glistening like diamonds…
I covered my mouth with my hand, stifling a sob. This Edward was too painfully real; too much like my Edward…this was their secret weapon. What would break me. What would bring me to my knees, begging them to stop, as I was now.
"No…no…no…" I wanted nothing more than to run to his arms, bury myself in his chest, sob, allow him to stroke my hair, soothe me, tell me everything would be all right now, he was here, and he would never leave me again…
But that was a dream now. A memory.
"Bella, it's me. Can't you see that?" A smile, almost forced, played on his lips. A half smile. The smile I treasured so dearly. A smile that now made me tremble with pain. "Why don't you believe me?" He held a hand out. "Trust me?" He stepped closer.
I forced myself to stare at him, drink in every part of his appearance for when he vanished. The face my subconscious now identified as painful, and was attempting to lock away. I'd never let it.
As he stepped closer, I could smell him. The scent I had once inhaled from a jacket of his, so much stronger from the rain. Not for the first time, I wondered how perfect Leolinus' visions could be. Maybe it was worth me creating some, just for my own sake…
"I trust Edward." I said shakily. "He…he died…I didn't save him…and now he's gone…" My voice shook, as though I was on the verge of tears, and his eyes darkened with anguish.
"Oh Bella…" He considered his words carefully. "It's me. The day I took you to this meadow, I told you I was a sick, masochistic lion. And you replied you were a stupid lamb. When you were first changed, the first thing you did after seeing your reflection was to hold your breath. You discovered your power when you heard my thoughts, and then had a vision. I stopped you from biting Billy Black. Our first real kiss, without the need to be careful, was after Aiden attacked the house. I first saw you on the eighteenth of January…shall I continue?"
I looked at my hands. They were a blur of motion, I was trembling so hard. Sick to my stomach, not wanting to hope and have that happiness so cruelly torn away from me, I stared at the angel who had once owned my dreams, and now plagued my fears.
"What was the last thing I said to you before I lost you?" I asked the question hesitantly, breathing long forgotten. Edward's smile grew a little more.
"You screamed my name." His voice, so alluring, said quietly. I reached for his hand, expecting nothing to be there as I reached for it.
It was real.
"Edward?" I murmured as I stood. "Can it be…?" He nodded, and I threw myself into his arms. He hugged me to his chest, attempting to hush my hysterical sobbing. I wouldn't be calmed. I pulled my face from his chest, pressing my lips against his passionately.
The kiss told me he was really my Edward. My angel. Everything I had thought was gone, but now so magically returned to me. I embraced him so tightly that I couldn't tell where my body ended and his began. They fit so perfectly, two halves to make one perfect whole.
"You're really here…" I whispered. He nodded, tilting my face up so I was staring directly into his eyes. They were full of anguish.
His lips met mine briefly before he spoke. "And I'm never leaving you again, Bella. I promise you." His fingers traced my cheekbone, brushing my lips gently. They wiped my damp hair out of my face, and I realized what I must look like. Hell. But I no longer felt like it…
"How are you living…dead…whatever you are?" I asked. The moment the words left my mouth I couldn't help but laugh. They sounded so ridiculous. Edward smiled.
"Honestly? I can't remember. My only reasoning is that I was only burnt, and not ripped apart…but I have no memory of the last few weeks…it was almost as though I awoke when I heard his thoughts, saw you being attacked…I remembered. I remembered you." I rested my cheek on his shoulder, still unable to believe he was here.
"I thought…I thought it was just another one of their tricks…they were going to send me insane…oh God, Edward, I thought I lost you. I love you, more than you'll ever know. I wanted to die when I thought you did." I shook my head, and felt his lips press against my forehead softly.
Wrapped in his embrace, I felt more real than I had in a long time. I had been pieced back together…he had pieced me back together. Edward touched the ring, strung on the silver pendant, and smiled sadly.
"She gave it to you." He whispered. I nodded, my hand covering his, and bit my lip gently. I knew what he wanted to know.
"My answer…it would have been…still is…yes." I murmured. Edward's eyes snapped to mine, and a smile grew. "I want to be with you…forever." It was then that I remembered his family. Reluctantly, I pulled my body away from his, glancing back in the direction we'd come. "Your family…"
Our fingers entwined, we ran back to the clearing. I froze when we entered, and all eyes snapped towards us. Alice was lying on the ground still, jerking uncontrollably, as Jasper was poised above her.
"Edward?" Esme spoke, her face full of sadness. Edward nodded, smiling, and all at once someone knocked me backwards, my hand tearing out of his.
I rolled, and pulled myself to my feet. A wall of Llewellyn's coven separated me from Edward, and I knew he was real. Anger boiled within me; I had just gotten Edward back, they weren't taking him away.
"Get out of my way." I hissed, lunging forward. I hit Llewellyn, and he caught me by the arm, pulling me with him as we tumbled. Edward was there, growling as he dragged me away from Llewellyn.
My breathing was erratic as I glanced back. We were severely outnumbered, even with Edward. Jasper wouldn't leave Alice alone, and the rest of us were beginning to tire. I heard a rustling, and smiled triumphantly as Aro, Demetri, and Felix appeared.
"Took you long enough." I remarked. Turning back to Llewellyn, I saw the fear on his face. It was different when it was us, but the Volturi…he need only strike Aro and all of them would be against him.
I took my mind off the battle long enough to focus on Aro. Rifling through his memories, I found a vampire with a talent I needed. I looked at Alice, healing her silently. Her whimpering silenced, and Jasper pulled her into his arms wordlessly. I turned to face forward again.
"Do you dare harm us now?" I asked. Carlisle stared at Aro, still confused as to his presence, and Aro turned to look at me, nodding slightly. "You see, I have powerful allies. And you just broke the rules."
"She's a mere child, Aro." Llewellyn sneered. "What do you want with one like her? Or rather…she's one of you now, isn't she?"
Aro stepped forward, his fragile body seeming every but breakable. His eyes narrowed, contrast to his smile. "Ah, Llewellyn, you always were a trouble maker." Felix and Demetri stiffened at Aro's side, both tensed, ready to protect their master.
Meanwhile, Esme had taken the chance to step forward and embrace Edward, kissing his cheek slightly. Edward turned to look at Carlisle, and his father enveloped him in a tight embrace.
Alice had walked to my smile, still slightly weak from the poison, smiling at me. I heard a growl, and turned to face the other coven. Amber and Caterina glared at me, and I looked at my mother. She was standing still, the same as she had been the majority of the fight.
"Isabella, I think it's best if you leave now." Aro said, fake cheer beginning to slide from his voice, leaving only coldness. I looked at Carlisle, and nodded.
Esme, Alice and Rosalie all started back first, eventually followed by Jasper. Emmett hesitated, growling at Llewellyn momentarily, before thinking the better of it and running. Edward looked at me, urging me to give up, and I started back with him at the same time as Carlisle, glancing backwards long enough to see that nobody was following.
The rain continued to pour as I ran, glancing at Edward every so often. My hair stuck to my face, and as we entered the house, he lifted me up, spinning me around, inhaling my scent deeply.
Then his family swarmed around us.
Emmett pulled Edward into a rough hug, clapping him on the back. Jasper was next to embrace Edward, then Alice threw herself at him, squealing as he hugged her just as tightly. Rose hugged me as she waited for her turn, and I smiled.
"He's really here…" I whispered. Edward turned to Rosalie, holding his arms open. She hugged him tightly, and Alice wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
Edward took his place by my side again, arm encircling my waist. "I think there's an explanation due on both sides. Am I right?" I looked down at the ground, and he noticed my unease, tilting my chin up so he could stare into my eyes. "What's happened?" He asked quietly.
I looked at Carlisle, and he nodded at me. "There's a few things I have to tell you, and some of them…I…" I trailed off, unable to finish.
Edward nodded, kissing my lips gently. His black eyes were sympathetic. "Just start from the start."
It's a bit short in comparison to some of my chapters, but this was so hard to write. I think it was dodgy, but it's up to you. I will say this though, Edward is not a fake, he is back, and I swear this on my copy of Twilight. That's like swearing on the bible! I wont be updating for about a week, on holidays, so fare thee well til then.
You guys wanna do me a favour? I'm editing three different stories, all of which rock. One is "We Don't Need To Whisper" by art of exasperation, one is "Things Change" by MyForbiddenFruit, and one is "Fired At Point Blank" by Bad Alice. Read them! Except Bad Alice's story isn't posted yet…but it's wicked.
I also just updated my story "Vampires And Technology Don't Mix" which is the Cullens at school, all on a chat room. Please check it out.
Please review, for our beloved Edward Cullen, who is back!
Just A Little Bit Dramatic
PS – MY NEW SONG by me (parody of The Adams Family)
They're creepy and they're kooky,
Mysteriously spooky,
They're all togetherooky,
The Cullen family!
