I woke up, as always, too late.
So, when the bell rang I was all but finished "Just a minute!" I yelled as I spat out a mouth full of toothpaste and
rinced my mouth with water.
"Coming!!" I yelled again as I rushed down the stairs, into the narrow hallway and sprinted to the door.
When I opened, there was nobody there.
I saw a shiny, silver Volvo in the driveway.. but no Edward.
"Are you expecting anyone in particular?" the voice came from behind me, from INSIDE the house.
"WhaaH" I shriekt when I saw him standing behind me "Pfff, you startled me. How did you get inside anyway?" but he just
looked at me with an amused expression and said teasing "You should learn to lock you windows, and by the state of your
hair I take it you're not ready yet?" I gasped and reached for my hair in shock.
I'd completely forgotten my coupe du ravage, he just chuckeled "It lookes like a haystack, I like it".
When he took in my appaled expression he just turned and sat on a green chair in the kitchen "I'll wait here".
My bright coloured kitchen faded to grey compared to his beauty, his touseled hair always in its semi-casual place and
his mocking topaz eyes.
I gave up and shrugged in defeat "I'll be back in five" and flew up the stairs.
We had decided to go shopping for some groceries -though I doubted he needed any- and then to swing by Newton's Outdoor
suplies for an inflatable pillow.
The store was owned by Mike's parents and as he worked there on weekends I asked Edward to wait for me in the car.
"Why?" he'd asked "aren't your friends allowed to see me with you?" he asked with doubtfull eyes.
I smiled slightly "No Edward, it's not that. It's just.. I don't want any awkward conversations with Mike. He asked me
out last week and I told him I wasn't interested. He's my friend, I don't want to hurt him".
Edward's brows shot up in confusion, but I wasn't sure of the honesty in that "he asked you out? really?.. and again,
I can't come into the store with you, because..." he trailed of sugestively.
His eyes turned smug, though I didn't think I was meant to see that.
I rolled my eyes at him an stepped out of the car.
When I came back five minutes later, Edward was sitting in his car.
He had rolled his windows down and turned the volume of the cd player so loud, that even I knew it was him from the back
of the store.
When I walked past the front of the car to the passenger seat I could see him sitting with his hands behind his head,
a gigantic grin across his face and flashing his blazing white teeth intently.
I stepped back into the car, and he turned the volume back to normal, looking at me with a mixture of sarcasm and smugness.
I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn't help gigling under my breath.
Somehow underneath my irritation, I couldn't help but feel a little flattered by his action.
He clearly wanted Mike to notice his presence one way or the other.
His eyes turned to false innocense "what?" and then turning smug again "I did what you asked, you just forgot to ask me
to wait in silence. That's not my fault" he snickered, "He's going bezerk like you wouldn't believe" he was now roaring
with laughter -a clear, charming sound- as he turnt his car back onto the road.
"So" he said after we'd swung by my house again -offcourse I'd forgotten my inscence- "where do we go now, mylady".
I unbuckeled my belt and lifted myself off the passenger seat to get my list out of my back pocket "Let's see.. nope, I
think this is it. What would you like to do in the remaining hours before dusk?".
He shrugged "Why don't we go back to the campsight? The sun'll be here in a few hours" he said, checking the digital clock
of the dashboard.
It was now ten past eleven, and I got a little nervous.
I thought about us, stepping into a swirl of bright sunlight together.
My voice sounded hessitant as I said "O-oK, that's probably the best idea".
Too hessitant, because he noticed and looked at me with cautious eyes.
After a moment he just said blankly "It might be".
We hadn't spoken a word since we'd left the car and the tension built up, with every taken step.
We were almost at the creek were we would spend the night together, when the first rays of sunlight touched the forest a
few meters above us.
He suddenly stopped walking "Mi'kha?" he grabbed my hand before I could walk past him.
I turned around to ask him what was wrong, when I saw his eyes filled with fear "Yes Edward. Is something wrong?".
I couldn't keep my voice even, I knew exactly what he was about to say.
But when he spoke, his choice of words caught me off guard, "Shouldn't we talk first? Before we reach the creek, I mean?"
I waited, taking in his expression for a moment "Why don't we just go and see what happens?" I said, just as nervous as he
was.
What if I'd been wrong about him?
Offcourse if I turned out to be right, he would blaze in the sun, like made out of a thousand diamonds.
I, on the other hand would just have a faint shimmer, like the sun's reflection on water or the soft gleam of perls.
After a moment of thought I decided it was inevitable.. we would find out in a matter of minutes anyway.
So I took a few steps towards him, until we stood so close I could feel my body heat mingle with his cold breath.
As my body reacted to his, I fixed my eyes on him "You don't have to hide, not with me" and he let out a big sigh.
My heart skipped a beat as my mouth filled with his cold, sweet breath "I..."
He took a deep breath as if to say something, but didn't finish.
His eyes examined mine, searching for a trace of fear or doubt.
After a few minutes, he turned and we walked towards the edge of the trees.
Still holding my hand and his eyes never leaving mine.
When the sunlight touched the tips of my shoes, I let go of his hand.
I put down the grocery bang in my right hand and pulled of my black knitted sweater, revealing the tanktop underneath.
For a moment, he looked at my action with surprise and when he understood what I was doing he started to unbutton his white
shirt.
He took it off and hung it over a branch of the tree next to him, revealing his muscular, marble, white chest.
It was perfect, with rock hard abs and long, lean triceps.
Then without a moments thought, he took my hand like before and we stepped forward.. Into the sunlight.
I saw the sun radiate off his pale, white skin in a thousant facets.
Casting off tiny hints of every colour one can imagine.
I huffed in amazement "hah... I was right.." with wide eyes I looked at him.
His eyes on the other hand, were incredulous and shaken "What?... How?..You.." he managed to choke out when he saw the
gleam of perls on mine "I don't know.. what you are.. but you are.. beautiful" he whispered.
I blushed while I uncontrolably failed to keep my hands to myself.
My all to willing hand raised up towards his chest, touching the contours of his cold sparkling skin "It's like diamonds"
I whispered softly, mesmerised.
He shivered and his breathing sped up while the tips of this fingers now hesitantly touched my shoulder.
Then he gently stroked it with his hand, moving slowly towards my neck and my heartbeat sped up while my throat burnt
like wildfire.
I looked up at his eyes, gasping for breath and there they were.
His eyes were full black with a hunger I'd seen only once before, that first night in my dream.
He smiled at me and a soft rumble roze from his chest.
I giggled and I growled softly, overcome with an unknown desire.
Then Edward took a deep breath as if to speak but stopped before the word when a clowd covered the sun, dropping us harshly
back into reality.
I shook my head to clear it and saw Edward pull back his arms, gasping for breath.
He laughed, breathing heavily "Well, that was interesting" he said while walking towards the rock to sit on it.
I wiped my hand underneath my eyes to regain focus and then just landed myself in the sand with a light thud, not bothering
to find a better place to sit.
"Yes, it definately was" I said with an amused smile.
We sat like that for a while, looking at eachother, with a wide range of wet sand between us.
During that moment, I thought: I'M SO GLAD HE DIDN'T GET TO SEE MY FANGS because I'd felt them growing with the tension.
But only because I couldn't know if he'd ever actually seen anyone with teeth like mine.
My existance was, for some reason, supposedly the biggest secret in history.
And Elvira thought I was the only human-like creature with fangs, for the purpose humans feared.
When twilight was at it's end again, I straigtened up and siged with deliberation "Alrighty then, why don't we set up the
wood for our bonfire" I said when I walked towards my tent.
We'd put our dry logs in it, so we'd be sure to have dry wood it when we were ready for the bonfire.
He stood up and raced into the tent like a lightning bolt, took out the wood, rushed to put the logs in a pyramide and
stood next to me within a mere second.
"Yes, why don't we" he chuckeled with a sarcastic tone.
The only thing I could do at that moment, was gaze at him with wide eyes "Eh.. right.." I stuttered unable to think.
I wasn't used to this "I'd prefer it if you'd walk in human speed, when around me" I said, still flabbergasted.
He flashed a wide grin "This to fast for you? How 'human'would you like my speed?".
I bit my lip, and with a mocking smile I took his arm and practically dragged him towards the wooden pyramide.
"Wow, you're strong" he said in surprise.
I shook my head at him "Be silent for a moment, you think you can shock me? Well.. I'll teach you" I said sternly.
He just chuckeled while I stopped him, with the gesture to stay there "Yes Ma'am" he said, giving a soldiers Salute.
Then I walked over to my bag, took out a bag with homemade 'fairydust' and a small bottle of dragon blood and went to
stand opposite of Edward, with the wooden pyramide in between.
"Ready?" I said, with a challenging look.
He looked at me with suspisious eyes, just noddig slightly.
I let out a roaring laugh while throwing half the content of the little leather bag onto the dry wood.
As soon as it touched the wood, fire combusted like a small vulcano break and I threw the bottle of dragonblood at my feet.
It took about fifteen seconds before the flames took a normal size, and I saw Edwards eyes widen when he saw what the
Dragonblood had done to me.
He gasped as I walked towards him, slowly.. but smiling a wide and dazzling smile.
When I stood but inches away from him I could see my reflection in his clear Topaz eyes.
My real form, Red and black curly hair down to my waist, a pale white skin and firey red lips.
My saphire blue eyes blazing with joy, to finally be myself again.
His eyes wandered and grew wider when they wandered along my hair, to my face, my black satin dress accentuating every
curve of my tatooed body, to my long legs and bare feet.
His eyes finally recognised the vampire, the witch and the human in me "you're all of it.. every theory I had.. I was right
all along, with all of them" he relaxed his muscles.
I looked at him with the most tempting smile "Can we talk now? No more hiding?"
He looked me over once more and said "This might be the right time for it, don't you agree?" he chuckeld and muttered
something under his breath while he laid down a blanket for us to sit on.
Before I sat down, I remebered the bottles of red wine in my backpack "I don't think the goddess will mind if I opened one
of her wine bottles.. do you?" I grinned as I walked to the tent.
Edward called after me "No I don't think so, wasn't she a recovering alcoholic?" he said in a joking tone.
A growl roze in my chest when I turned around abruptly "What did you say?" but when I saw his expression, the anger faded
guickly "I'm sorry Edward. I'm not used to being myself around anyone. I didn't mean to growl at you".
He made a gesture as to wave the situation away "It's ok, happens to the best of us from time to time".
I sighed, grabed the bottle of red wine and the calyce from the altar.
While walking back I cheered up when I saw the label 'Chateau-neuf-du Pape' of the year 1973.
And while he watched the cork force it's way out of the bottle at my command, I looked at Edward.
He didn't seem shaken or uncomfortable, and a happy feeling started to bubble up in me, along with my nerves fluttering.
This would be the first conversation in history, where I explained to someone what I was.
YOU CAN DO THIS, HE'S WORTH IT: I encouraged myself, and I sat down on my knees next to Edward.
"What time is it? I'd like to start my ritual before midnight" I asked him almost in a whisper.
He looked me with a warm expression in his eyes and just a hint of a smile.
It felt comforting to me, so I smiled back at him despite my nerves.
He moved his left arm over his right towards me, so I could look on his watch.
I gently took his wrist into both my hands and looked at it"Ah, Almost eight.. Thank you" my voice sounded shyly.
Edward nodded in understanding and looked back into the fire.
He wrapped his right arm around me and I let my calves slide out from under me, so I could lean in to him.
We stared into the fire, enjoying our shared silence untill he spoke "Would you like me to tell you about me first?"
I turned away from his embrace -there would be plenty of time for that later- to sit opposite to him.
He did the same, and he saw I was nervous "Are you ok?" he asked me guietly.
"Yes, I just haven't told anyone about me before this moment. I'm supposed to be the greatest kept secret that ever lived"
I said, looking at my hands.
He took my face in his left hand so I would look at him "No, you're wrong. You're the best kept secret that ever lived"
he said with a kind voice.
The topaz eyes clarified he ment it.
I exhaled heavily and I took his hand away from my face with both my hands moving it to lay down on my lap.
The story of my life, without exeptions flowed from my lips.
He listened patiently, untill I wavered, trying to find the words to explain my origin.
He stroked my face with his free hand in encouragement "No Edward" I said almost pleading "You don't understand.. What I'm
about to tell you is very important to me. And most of all, it's vital that you listen and ask me all you want to ask
before you get mad at me. That is, if you feel I've betrayed you on any part.." I felt really anctious now.
He didn't speak but his eyes examined me carefully, and I closed my eyes so I could speak propperly "Elvira, the women who
raised me told me something else.. She told me of my biological family.. And she was almost certain ONE family member still
existed."
I quickly glanced up at him and closed my eyes again "Oldone is not my real lastname.. It's kind of Elvira's personal joke.
Mi'kha means 'little one' and Oldone is a combination of 'old-one'... my biological family name.. is Cullen".
He was silent for a while, and I dreaded his reaction.
Tears started to roll down my cheek, I was almost certain he'd explode on me any second, accusing me of using him to get
near Carlisle.
I waited, but nothing came.
So when I finally looked up at him he wiped the tears of my cheeks "Carlisle is biological family to you?" he asked me
quietly.
I nodded and another wave of desparate tears took over "Yes, I've been searching the world for him for almost two
centuries."
He husht me gently and pulled me into his hard but comforting arms "Come here, we'll find a way to tell him. I doubt it but
in case they do, do you have any proof of that?" he spoke as he ran his fingers through my hair.
I tried to control my breathing to calm down this wave of emotion and then grabbed two hands of sand, blew in it and pulled
out an old handkerchief.
It was made out of white, worn cotton and I gave it to Edward.
He took it with caution, folded it open and saw the antique piece of jewelry.
"The Cullen crest.." the whispered in awe.
I sniffed slightly "Yes, passed down to me when my mother left me on Elvira's cottage steps that morning".
He rocked me in silence untill I was completely calm "Are you ok now?" and I nodded "Are you mad at me?".
"No, on the contrary. Do I look angry to you?"he said a hint of comedy colouring his tone.
My body rolled slightly so I could look at him "If this is angry, I'll have you mad at me every day" I chuckeled under
my breath.
He lightly chuckeled with me.
Suddenly his face grew serious "My birth name is Edward Anthony Masen, and I was born in Chicago. And I was turned into a
vampire at the age of seventeen in 1918 by Carlisle".
He spoke quickly, avoiding my eyes "It was my mothers dying wish, she asked Carlisle to save me from the Spanish influenza
with any means necesary".
I could see he was having a hard time so I put my fingers to his lips "It's ok Edward, I've known all along, since the
first moment I laid my eyes on you" and then he took my hand and kissed it carefully.
The topaz eyes across me gazed deep into my soul and I followed "My name is Mi'kha Cullen, I was born in London somewhere
in the 1650's. That makes me 359 years old. I have never been bitten by a vampire, and I probably never will be. I will
never grow a day older than 16 and I will never die. I've been the 'best' kept secret in the world and you've set me free"
I said as a statement.
And at the sound of my words, his eyes drew closer untill his face was just an inch from mine.
I could taste his cold breath on my tongue, and his breathing sped up and grew deeper.
My hands placed themselves on his bare arms, sending an electric current through my entire body.
We shivered simultaneously and suddenly, his lips found mine.
His vampire lips were softer than I could've ever imagined, and our lips moved together like they were shaped just for
this moment.
And then his tongue was softly tracing the contours of my lips.
At that moment, I lost al train of thought and I opened my mouth in acceptance.
For a moment, that seemed way to short, our tongues melted together, passionate and fiery.
But eventually, I was in desperate need of oxygen and I was forced to break off our passionate kiss.
His desirable lips left mine and I gasped for air while his eyes stayed locked on my mouth, a greedy grin across his face.
Now it was my time "That was also interesting" I breathed and he laughed mesmerized "Hmm..Yes it was".
He pulled me closer to him again, and I leaned my head against his shoulder.
The fire was still roaring, as was the one in my heart.
Edward kissed my head "It's time to praise the goddess for leading you to my life" he said softly "Do you know how long
I've waited for you?".
My most loving smile couldn't have shown him what I felt at that moment "Not as long as I've waited for you" I winked at
him.
He laughed silenly and simultaneously we stood up to perform our ritual to thank the everloving mother that led me to him.
I woke up late the next morning, and I found Edward shamelessly staring at me.
"Nooo" I moaned turning over in my sleeping bag and Edward chuckeled behind me.
He pulled de bag I was lying in towards him, so I'd automatically face him again.
Then he kissed the tip of my nose "good morning sleeping beauty, the sun is already up" and I slowly opened my eyes again.
His perfect face stunned me and in one very long second, the pictures of last night flashed by.
And, I also remembered the dragon blood and I realised I had gone back to my everday self.
Still red and black hair, but now straight and flat and my eyes were still blue, but a faint shade of what they'd been last
night.
"Hi" I whispered.
He smiled his crooked grin "Hello, would you like some breakfast?" and he stroked my haystack hair with his fingertips.
I nodded "yes please, and to straightend myself up" and I smiled a little.
Before I knew it I felt his hand at the back of my neck and his cool lips touched mine gently.
My arms folded themselves around his waist to pull me closer to him "I must say, you are a great cook" I giggled as he
softly pushed me away.
He winked at me and said "So you like this kind of breakfast? I'll remember that" and I giggled again.
When we got into the car to drive back to civilisation he said "If I drop you off, when do I see you again?" his eyes were
eager.
I winked at him and rumaged through my bag for my keys "When would you want to see me again?"
He clearly hessitated and them smiled my favourite crooked smile "Well, how about I take you to my place tonight?".
My eyes shot back to him immediately "What?" I gasped.
He left out a quick chuckle at my reaction "How about I take you to my place tonight? I think it's the propper thing to do"
My thoughts swirled up like a helicopter, to tell Carlisle?
Or..Or.
So I said "But what if they don't like me? I'm not like you, you know" and searched his eyes for an explanation.
He sighed patiently and humor coloured his tone "So.. you're worried. But not because your vampire boyfriend puts you in a
house full of vampires, but because you're affraid they won't approve of you?" he laughed.
My expression turned sarcastic "I am so glad I amuse you."
He laughed again and parked his shiny silver Volvo on the driveway, behind my truck "Why don't we unpack the Volvo before
we start a new argument".
I sighed and opened the door to step out, but he was already there to shut it behind me "Edward, could you at least ACT
human? I have neighbours you know" I whispered with a chuckle.
"And they're supposed to believe MY act of being human" I said as I softly nudged him with my elbow.
He winked at me with an enigmatic look in his eyes "allright then, I'll behave" and I padded his shoulder "good boy".
As a responce to my joke, Edward swiftly kissed my cheek, winked again and singlehandedly carried all our heavy camping
supplies inside.
I was glad to be home "Put it anywhere you want ok, my first priority is to propperly greet my coffeemaker" I giggled
dubeously as I prepared to do it's job.
"Allrighty then, over here looks fine to me" Edward said, dropping the bags with a loud bang.
Before the bags hit the floor I felt his cool body behind me "Whaah!" I shriekt again, dropping half a spoon of ground
coffeebeans.
"you promised not to do that again, at least not untill I'm used to being around vampires ok" I flicked the swith to
turn om my favourite kitchen appliance "Hmm..." he replied while kissing the back of my neck.
A soft moan of pleasure roze from my chest "Didn't we have something to discuss?".
He stopped kissing me to look me in the eyes "You have a point. Allright then, I'll give you a coffee break" he said
mysteriously and turned around to sit on the same green chair as last time.
"How very generous of you..Right, coffee" I said a bit dazzled by his bold comment.
He chuckeld frankly and I went to sit next to him, me in my red chair.
I lit a sigarette and he wrinkled his nose in disgust.
I shrugged "Well.. let's start our argument, as you put it.. Why should I come tonight?" I asked in a teasing, innocent
tone.
To my surprise his face was serious "To be honest, I would like to introduce you to my family as my girlfriend".
Though I knew we both felt that way and my heart fluttered at the thought, I said "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean,
It is so soon and we don't know eachother that well.. And what if they don't approve of me? And I can't just come in and
say HI I'M WITH EDARD AND BY THE WAY ALSO CARLISLE's NIECE.." I was babbling in uncertainty and he knew it.
He lay his finger against my lips to silence me "They will love you just as much as I do. And you can tell Carlisle
whenever you want, we have all the time in the world for that now".
My heartbeat slowed down as this words, HE LOVES ME.. I thought "If you're certain than I am too" I smiled my most loving
smile and pressed my lips softly to his.
Then he took my hands "Mi'kha, you are my life now" and kissed them tenderly.
A satisfied sigh escaped my lungs "Ok you win. I'll come with you.. as you GIRLFRIEND" I winced slightly at the word.
I'd never been great with titles like girlfriend, fiancee and wife.. Ugh!
He pulled up his eyebrows in confusion at my reaction.
"I'm almost 360 years old and I'm being introduced as a girlfriend. It's weird" I giggled with a pained expression.
Underdstanding crossed his face and soon he was shaking with laughter.
