Chapter 9 – Hope
Alice practically dragged me up the stairs to the second floor and into an empty bedroom. Alice sighed, "Ok, this is your room. We are going to get you adjusted in no time." I looked around the room, "Alice, you really don't have to this. Really." She scowled, "Bella, you heard Esme and Carlisle. You should stay here. It'll be more fun than you being on the run from your father." I looked out the glass wall, "Alice, will you see if anyone comes here from Volterra?" She stood at the glass wall with me, "Yes. Bella, in the short time we spent with you, all of us have come to care about you. Really, you did the right thing coming here." I sighed, "Alice…" She giggled, "Ok. You must be thirsty. Come on." She held out her hand for mine and I took it. She opened the door and Edward, Jasper and Emmett were there. "Really, you guys. I could have handled it," Alice huffed. I looked to her, then to Edward, "What?" Edward stepped forward, "Bella, I saw you needed to hunt. Are you willing to hunt animals?" I sighed and nodded, "Yes. But I want to know something." "Yes, what is it?" I smiled, "Are there any bears nearby? I liked it." Emmett chuckled and took my hand from Alice, "I know where some are." Jasper smiled and descended the stairs. The five of us bounded out of the house. We ran through the forest together and I slowed. I realized I have never hunted before. Edward doubled back, "What's the matter?" I looked up at him, "This is embarrassing." His eyebrow furrowed, "What is?" I grimaced, "Don't laugh, but I've never hunted before." He chuckled, "So the princess now has to get her hands dirty." I huffed, "Not funny." Edward stepped towards me, "I'm sorry. We will help you. When we hunt, we give ourselves up to our instincts. Our natural instincts guide us and help us take down our prey." I bit my lip, "Will you help me?" He smiled, "That's why I'm here." We laughed and ran further into the forest.
We reached the others in no time. They were crouched down in the shadows. Edward took my hand, that sent a shock through my system, and we hid behind a tree. He didn't release my hand, "Now, close your eyes." I complied. "Now, what do you hear?" I listened. The forest was so alive, "I hear several large heartbeats." "Good, what do you smell?" I inhaled deeply. The trees had a beautiful scent, "Animal." "Now, what do you want to do?" I opened my eyes and looked at him. He smiled and looked around the tree. I copied and saw several large bears. The venom in my mouth overflowed. I leaned into a crouch and stopped breathing. I leaped into the air and land on one of the bears. My teeth sank into its fatty body and sighed deeply. The hot, wet blood flowed into my throat. The bear was done almost immediately. I stood up and licked my lips. I watched as Edward and Emmett take down the other two bears. Alice and Jasper came towards me. She smiled, "Well?" I wiped my mouth, "Good. Not as good as human males, but it was different. I like it." She giggled, "Ok. What until you try a carnivore? Those are the best." That sounded tempting, but I felt sloshly. "That's one good thing about bear. One just filled me up. Usually I'd need two to three humans to satisfy my appetite." Jasper chuckled, "You were worse than me." "Shut up."
He smiled, "Well, how do you feel?" I thought about that, "Good. Full, but good. The bear satisfied me." He folded his arms, "When was the last time you feed?" "Ten days ago. Since all of you left, I felt….. well, I felt bad about killing humans. To be kinder, I broke my preys' necks before I drained then. Before it was fun for me to have them trying to fight me off, but now, I wanted to be merciful. I didn't want to hear their screams of torture." Edward and Emmett were listening. Emmett stood next to me, "How did you make it through all those humans in the airport and planes?" I smiled, "I didn't breathe for one. And I was distracted. I was excited that I was out of the tower. I was busy looking at the human stores and looking at the view from the airport windows." Edward chuckled, "Wow. That's very good. Do you want to still hunt?" I shook my head, "Unless you want to see me explode." There was a sudden crash over thunder. Emmett beamed, "Anyone up for football?" Jasper and Alice smiled. "We'll meet you in the clearing," Jasper said taking Alice's hand and ran into the forest. "Edward, I will go get Carlisle, Rose and Esme, you explain the rules to Bella." Emmett ran towards the house and I looked up to Edward. We were alone again. He was chuckling and shaking his head, "He thinks that since you're here, his team will have a better chance of winning." I giggled. "Well, with you here, we'll have even teams now," he looked down at me. "Well, how do we play the game?" Edward broke down the family's rules of football. We ran in the same direction as Alice and Jasper.
Alice and Jasper were sitting in the middle of the field. They were very close to each other, with their fingers intertwined. Edward and I stood by the trees and waited for the others' arrival. "Bella," I looked to him, "why did you leave, really?" "I told you already. After what my father said, how could I stay?" He sighed, "Bella, remember I am a mind reader. Though I cannot read yours, I did hear the minds of your father, Caius and Marcus." I looked at him and sighed, "I know, but…." The others arrived. "Can we discuss this later?" I whispered. He brushed my cheek, "Of course." He walked ahead of me. I exhaled deeply and followed him.
I played with the Cullens for the rest of the afternoon and majority of the night. Even in the rain, we played. Esme, Rosalie and I had to pull our hair back into ponytails while we played. Alice, Edward, Emmett and I made up one team. It was like brunettes against blonds, except Esme. Emmett was a powerful quarterback and Edward was the fastest runner. Our team won against Carlisle's. All of us were covered in mud when we reached the house. All of us climbed the outside of the house into our rooms. Mine was right underneath Edward's. After changing my clothes, I sat at the glass wall. I watched the water in the river flow. I was here. Not in Volterra. There weren't members of the Guard watching out for me. I was concerned about my mother. She would be devastated when she finds out I am gone. I wanted to talk to her, but it would be better that she didn't. The sun began to rise. I saw the sunlight pushing the shadow of the house over the river. The view was so beautiful. It was similar to the view from my room in Volterra, but here, it was a forest, not a plain. I could see the animals coming to the river to drink. I watched a deer drinking, until my view was blocked. Edward was on the exterior of the glass, looking at me. He was being funny; he was upside down. I stood and opened the glass door, "What are you doing?" "Can I come in?" I laughed, "It's your house." He swung into my room, "I know, but I didn't want to be rude." I sat on the floor, "I appreciate that." He sighed, "As I was saying in the clearing," I looked at him. Get it over with. "I heard the thoughts of your father and uncles. Bella, Marcus began to feel a bond between us the first day I met you. I didn't think much of it. But, when they found us alone in the courtyard, he scrutinized me. He thought 'What is it about him that she is drawn to?' He planned to tell your father right away." I sighed, "Well. I'm surprised they didn't send you away from then." He chuckled, "Our bond made Marcus concerned. When your father found this out, he shared Marcus' concern. That's when he had his idea. He hoped we would get closer. That is why he allowed our interactions. Hell, he pushed them. Didn't you find that strange?" I nodded, "But I was too happy to question it." I looked away. He reached out and cupped my chin to make me look back at him. "Bella, I considered leaving. To deter your father's intentions, but I couldn't. I wasn't lying when I said you were unlike anyone I've ever met. You intrigued me too much. Please, remain here. I don't care if your father comes here himself. If he tried to take you back, I will go with you." I held his hand, "That'll be exactly what he wants." Edward stood up and sat down next to me, "Bella, I don't care. Wherever you go, I will be with you. Even when we returned here, all I thought about was you. I considered coming to see you. I even considered letting Aro talk me into staying, just so I could be with you." I exhaled, "You would have done that? Why?" I held my gaze, "Because I wanted to be with you. You fascinate me." I smiled, "As do you." "Bella, I could read anyone I encounter, but you," he drew his face closer to me, "I had to make an effort to get to know you. I'm glad I did. Bella," I raised my fingers to his lips, "Wherever I go?" He took my fingers from his lips, "I will follow."
Our faces drew closer and our eyes closed as our lips met. His arm came around my waist, pulling me into his lap. What was I doing? I am kissing Edward in the corner of my new room. I was hoping. But I could hope. There was nothing holding me back; restricting me. I was free. Free to live, free to run, and free to hope. His fingers held the back of my neck, keeping my lips on his. My palm was pressed against his cheek. I readjusted my body, so each of my knees was on either side of his waist. He broke the kiss and began on my neck. His hand locked in my hair. I felt the tip of his tongue going along my jaw line. I exhaled as he turned my mouth back to his. "What are we doing?" I whispered. He drew back from me, "Being together." I smiled and raised my fingers to his lips. He took that hand and kissed my fingertips, "Bella, I don't care what you feel, but I need to let you know." I waited. "I wanted to return to Volterra and take you away from your father. I didn't want the woman I loved to be trapped any longer." "Love?" He held my face, "I have wondered this earth alone since the early 1900's. I have watched my family find the ones they love and now I found mine." His eyes blazed. "I couldn't let you remain there. When I was here, I practically spent my nights dreaming of you. Of your smile," he kissed my lips, "Of your eyes," he kissed my eyelids, "and of your body." He held me closer to him. "I was already making plans to go back and get you. In my entire life, I have never felt so alive since I met you. Bella, I love you and I don't care if it takes a century, I will make you love me." I exhaled, "It may not even take you a month." And I kissed him, hard. My eyes prickled. Edward loved me and I could hope. This is more than I've ever wanted. More than I ever deserved.
