Love Never Dies
Ok it's what you've all been waiting for….
;)
Act IX: All I Ask Of You
Christabelle
I changed into my riding habit and gloves, noticing the steady march of grey clouds across the sky. Evening was racing in but summer had come early so the sun lingered in the sky. Most people were resting or preparing the evening meal, and so the streets would be deserted.
I inhaled a shuddering breath as I descended the stairs, and despite myself, I lost my mind in thought.
How could I face Aro, with all that I had learned?
How could I still love him?
He was a monster, a soulless creature that survived off of the blood of others, or at least that is what I had been taught. But then…
My mind supplied images of my time with him, and the laughter and the gentleness. His manic, impossible mind, and his stone beauty, the way the light glinted off of his raven hair.
"Christabelle?" his voice punctuated my thoughts as I looked up, startled out of my reverie. He was leaning against the marble balustrade of the staircase, his cloak shoved back over his shoulders, revealing the strong musculature of his torso covered by heavy gold silk. The Volturi crest glinted on his chest. He held out his gloved hand to me, and I took it unthinkingly.
"Forgive me, my mind ran away with me for a moment," I mumbled, as I led the way out. Outside, our horses were already saddled, and I strode to my little bay mare. Suddenly I felt Aro's hands around my waist, as he lifted me into the saddle. I fought back my gasp, my lungs seizing as they lingered for a few moments, then eased away.
"Thank you," and even I could tell I had spoken a touch breathlessly. I ignored his smug smirk playing around his austere mouth, and settled my reins while he mounted beside me.
"Shall we?" he asked, gesturing with his hand elegantly. I took a deep breath and nodded once.
Aro
My thoughts were centred on the young mortal riding beside me as we rode out of the gates of Volterra. To be so close to her, so close to her enticing scent and intoxicating heartbeat was maddening, especially when I could not yet have her.
But soon.
Today, just hours from her triumph, I would take the first steps towards making her mine.
She seemed pensive and tense, her breath stuttering whenever I touched her, and it did begin to worry me. There was a new awareness in her eyes, not just the sensual one I had been seeing for days, but one which mingled fear and…could I dare hope, love?
I knew I loved her, beyond a doubt, and I felt hope she could feel the same, but that fear, nebulous and worrying had my mind racing.
Had she discovered the truth about us? About me?
If so, how?
I doubted it would be in the way I had intended.
As soon as we cleared the first hill that rose before the gates of Volterra, Christabelle looked around surreptitiously, and I grinned, knowing what was coming.
She reined in her mount and rearranged her skirts before swinging her leg over the other side of the saddle. She flashed me a mischievous look.
"You should be used to this by now. You know I can't stand riding side-saddle," she murmured, and I couldn't help but laugh. The flash of satin-soft skin above her boots wasn't exactly displeasing either.
It seemed her fear and tension had dissolved, when she flashed me a wide smile and dug her heels into her mount's sides.
"Race you!" she called, and I laughed again, following her closely. On foot I could have overtaken her within seconds, but on horseback despite my mount's longer legs, I was heavier than her and her horse was faster and more agile.
We raced towards a small forest, as I noticed some rain clouds coming our way. I pulled my horse in, calling to Christabelle.
"We should take shelter," I replied to her questioning look, pointing to the iron-grey clouds approaching. Her dark eyes flicked to them and back to the city for a moment, but she realised as I had, that we were now too far to get back without a soaking.
No problem for me, but I did not want my star soprano and future mate to come down with a cold or worse, just hours before her triumph.
With a softly spoken curse, she pushed on her mount before our eyes met, and I knew her thoughts despite not being able to hear them.
Race you.
I could not help but smile at her exuberant wildness, as I watched her dark hair ripple behind her from the wind of her flight, as I followed, content to watch my little swan fly.
We reached the shelter of the trees with time to spare, as only the first few drops of rain began to shower the parched ground. We slowed to a walk, and I took the lead, taking us to a grove I knew well. I often came here, sometimes only to think.
We walked in silence, and passed under the trees into a secluded circle, hemmed in by foliage and roofed by the leafy branches of the trees above.
I dismounted, hearing Christabelle do the same as we tied our horses' reins to a strong branch, while the rain began to pelt down in earnest. They skittered and were restless, but I left Christabelle to care for them, her soothing voice hushing them.
They were naturally wary of me, sensing my predatory nature.
Not that I would ever drink from an animal. The very thought repulsed me.
No, right now the only elixir calling to me was standing not six feet away, within easy reach.
Soon, I reminded myself.
I stripped off my riding gloves, and walked around the glade as we listened to the pounding of the rain. Inside the glade, the air was warm and a little stuffy for a human, and it tasted tangy on my tongue as I drew it in, my senses becoming overwhelmed by Christabelle's scent.
She stepped away from the horses, and our eyes met.
Hers reflected the look of a prey scenting its predatory, wide-eyed and ready to run, and yet she did not want to. It was more than just pride or stubbornness.
Maybe the dam was about to break at last.
Christabelle
I looked into his eyes across the glade, and felt a shiver run down my spine. Thoughts whirled through my mind, but it was for naught.
No matter what my logical mind threw at me, it was no use. Not even thoughts of my dearest Giacomo could intrude here.
"Why do you tremble so?" he asked me, slowly walking towards me. I fought deep for my composure. "Are you cold?"
"No, not at all," I replied, turning away until I felt his hands on my shoulders, holding me still. A moment later I felt his cloak over my shoulders, and he pulled me back slightly against him.
"Then why do you tremble so much?" he asked, his lips caressing the whorl of my ear, as I shuddered. He was danger and sensuality and strength, and I could resist no longer. Looking back over my time with him, I realised now he had been wooing me, for so long.
And now perhaps the dam of the tension between us was about to break.
"I am not trembling," I still stubbornly fought my attraction, but it would not be long. But I was shaking, although not with fear. Not even his true nature could frighten me away now.
Not even Giacomo.
Aro's hands on my upper arms turned me to face him, and I shivered forcefully even through his thick cloak.
Even now I still tried to fight.
"We should try to ride back, I have much to do for tomorrow-" I began, trying to move away but his grip on my arms was unyielding. He hauled me closer, so my arms rested against his strong chest, and I exhaled shakily.
"Oh, no I'm not letting you escape me now," Aro breathed against my lips, and I could only shudder in his hold. I sucked in a breath, and his lips swooped down to cover mine.
I was lost.
His kiss was achingly tender, eliciting an answering ache in me, as my desire rose and I felt my limbs slowly weaken. It was gentle at first, but then it turned demanding and I returned it wholeheartedly, opening my lips and letting him devour me, pressing passion back on him for the urgency washing over my body. His hands slid down my arms and over the curve of my waist, travelling up my spine, pushing me against him.
I looped my arms around my neck, kissing him as urgently as he was kissing me. His hands tangled in my hair, tugging away the bonds until it fell loose around my shoulders.
I slid mine into his, relishing the ebony silkiness under my fingers, so strong and reassuringly real under my hands. He moaned into my mouth, and I returned the sound of his pleasure, my own only increasing.
Need washed over me, and I wanted him so badly.
His lips wrenched from mine, kissing feverishly down my jaw and down to my neck, laving my pulse points with his tongue and passion. I moaned, and arched my neck back, my hands curling around his skull to hold him to me, uncaring of my danger.
Aro raised his head, and I blindly met his gaze, our bodies intertwined.
"Christabelle, now I have you I don't know if I can let you go," he breathed against my lips, before he took them again passionately. I moaned and pulled myself closer.
Where the words came from I do not know, but they seemed to come from the very depths of my soul.
"I will always belong to you. I'm forever yours," I whispered when he let me go, and our eyes met. Crimson to brown.
My heart pounded and I could only pull his lips to mine, to break the intenseness of our stare. It was like a joining of souls, while I longed for a joining of flesh.
All thought of what he really was had faded.
"I'll hold you to that, il mio piccolo cigno," Aro murmured, when I pulled away to breathe deeply.
"Love me," I breathed, almost against my will as the rain penetrated the shelter of the trees, and rained down upon us.
"I do love you and I will love you forever," he replied, before pulling my lips to his in a kiss that burned.
The vow resonated deep within my soul, settling into my heart, forever.
Bella
I will always belong to you. I'm forever yours…
Those words flowed within my blood as I sat bolt upright in bed, the journal laid open across my lap. My heart was pounding, and the music sang in my mind.
I touched my lips, feeling them tingle as if someone had just kissed me.
I stood up from my bed, and went to the window, as I felt my soul slowly awaken within me, like fire raced along my veins.
I'll hold you to that, il mio piccolo cigno…
My little swan.
I do love you and I will love you forever…
I could not get his voice out of my head. I closed my eyes, and leant my head against the cool glass of the window, breathing deeply, as the moon waxed overhead and cast its silvery light over Forks.
More soon!
