Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.
Chapter Eight
Isabella Swan
"I've been having dreams."
Edward studies my face, his mint eyes gentle on my own; and what a dichotomy that is, a gentle vampire. "Dreams," he murmurs.
"About dying," I say.
His face turns stricken and he reaches for my hands – I let him, wanting, needing that contact more than I am willing to admit. His fingers wrap around my own and my skin feels alive. "Tell me more about these dreams," he requests.
I stand before him, realizing that my body is wedged between his legs as he sits on my bed, and nod. "I've had them since I was sixteen, since coming to school here. They're more nightmares, really. It was always the same – feeling the smoke choke me…" I pause, gauging his stony, heartbroken face. "And until last night, I thought they would stay that way."
"What changed?"
I remove one of my hands from his, pushing his hair back and revealing the smooth expanse of his forehead. "I dreamt of events before the usual nightmare. I dreamt of you and a carriage and a party. A dance," I whisper, watching as he shuts down before me. "Edward?"
"What else?" he manages.
I sigh, having the distinct notion that my next words were going to break him and wanting more than anything to prevent that.
I simply didn't want to cause Edward pain.
"I dreamt of you kneeling above me, saying things that I couldn't hear. Dreamt of you…growling."
Edward's eyes snap up to mine, wide and astonished.
He shakes his head.
"No, no," he tells me. His hands start to shake. I didn't think vampires can do that. "No, you were already dead-"
"Edward, it was just a dream."
"It's more than a dream, Bella!" he shouts, obviously distressed. I see tears well up in his eyes – pink tears, as odd as they are. "It really happened. It did. It happened years and years ago and I couldn't save you. You were alive and I couldn't save you-"
Without really making the decision to do so, I throw my arms around his lean body, hugging myself to him and marveling in how much I enjoyed the bodily contact. "Calm down, Edward. It was just a dream."
He's wrapped his arms around me and looks down pensively, his sharp features somehow more heartbreaking. "Do you believe in reincarnation, Bella?"
I blink up at him. "What? Like being born as a flower? No."
It wasn't logical – of course I didn't believe in it.
Edward smiles a bit. "Then how do you explain your dreams? All those little details I'm sure you noticed?" He frowns at me, holding me arms-length away. "Bella, why else would you freak out so bad if reincarnation wasn't real?"
I stare at him for an immeasurable amount of time, my mind roving over the last fifteen minutes.
Hadn't I just thought of myself as a vampire-version Cinderella story? I might not have had two step-sisters, evil or not, or a fairy godmother – though Victoria and Sue could easily fill those rolls respectively – but I did lose my own metaphorical shoe.
I lost my life in the dream.
In the recurring nightmare
What if Edward was the Prince, I was Cinderella, and the explosion was the clock striking midnight? And instead of running off and losing a shoe, I just died?
Every recreated Cinderella story out there was proof enough that Cinderella always gets her shoe back.
Was I really willing to discount the theory of reincarnation so easily?
How could I prove that I wasn't wearing my lost shoe right now?
And Edward – the likely immortal vampire – seemed to be adamant about this reincarnation idea. He'd probably been around and seen it all.
He thought the idea had merit.
Plus, the most logical part of me added in the unexplainable familiarity I felt for Edward – like I'd met him before.
I might have met him before in another life.
Apparently, the life I'd been dreaming about for three years.
I sigh, already knowing that my mind had made itself up and, apparently, I was Edward's French Cinderella come-back-to-life. "So, say I am this French girl from my dreams," I start. "Why are you only finding me now?"
Edward's hands flutter over my shoulders, just ghosting over the thin material of my Navy shirt, and move down to grasp my hands. "It took a while to find you."
"You'll need to explain a lot more than that if I'm to believe that this isn't bullshit, Edward."
Edward frowns. "There's so much you don't know, yet. So much that can make you run away."
I squeeze his hands, silently imploring him to look at me again. "Edward – and I can't believe I'm saying this – but there will be no running from my end. You killed someone for me. Saved my life. I swear, I'm not running."
"It's vampire things, Bella."
I wave a finger at his mouth. "I've seen the fangs," I tell him. "I'm more than aware of what you are. And…I'm interested in you. So, stop holding back and just tell me."
And that is when my stomach lets out a massive, angry growl. I feel my face heat in embarrassment, growing hotter when Edward's wide eyes move to my belly with shock.
He shakes his head slowly. "I must be a terrible mate if your hunger is this aggravated," he mutters.
I stare at him with wide eyes, processing that one word; mate.
It had so many implications.
I was shocked that I wanted every implied notion available.
"Mate?"
Edward's eyes snap to mine with panic and he shoots across the room. "A saying," he says quickly, almost fearfully. "It means nothing, really."
I wonder, briefly, if Edward appreciates just how smart I am.
But even an idiot would know that he's lying.
There was real fear on his face, though – and I recognized it for exactly what it was. Edward was walking on eggshells, trying to win my affections, and had an obvious, deep-rooted terror that I would leave him.
I couldn't even conceive leaving him, if I was being honest.
"Edward."
He looks back at me, clearly nervous.
"Edward, what am I to you? And don't lie."
Both of his hands push through his hair, a mix of agitation and nerves battling on his face. He moves to the bed, sitting down heavily, my mattress squeaking in protest at the sudden weight; he gently takes my hand and pulls me down beside him. "Vampires only fall in love once," he tells me solemnly. "And two hundred and sixty years ago, I fell in love with you.
"It was instant, though I didn't recognize what it was at first. I thought it was passing attraction…but then that dance with you…When a vampire finds his mate, his heart begins to beat," he whispers, moving my hand to his chest and holding it above his heart. I don't feel anything at first, but after a few moments, there is a distinct, single thump below my palm. "Mine began beating right before you died. And after you were gone, it didn't beat until 1993. I knew that you had been born again and I just had to find you. I didn't care what you looked like, what you sounded like, what nation you belonged to – I just had to find you. But the world is a very large place and I had no clue if I was looking in the right places. I didn't even know who I was looking for. I sent out so many trackers, Bella…
"It took nineteen years. My best pair of trackers finally found you here and I set out to see you immediately. Isabella, I have waited centuries to find you again," Edward whispers. "It's been agonizing, existing without my mate by my side. And now that I've finally set my eyes on you, I don't want anything to take you away from me. That must sound incredibly selfish."
I shake my head, having already accepted everything he told me as the truth – it felt right. Of course, I hadn't fully grasped the fact that I was his mate, but I could understand his waiting, his longing, his fear and passion. I could even appreciate the full feeling in my chest that I'd begun to associate with Edward's presence.
Everything about what was happening made sense.
There was no way I could question it.
"It's not selfish," I tell him, my fingers trailing the length of his. "I'm your mate, then?"
"My one and only, forever, Bella," he answers, the mint of his eyes glowing again.
"What exactly does that mean for me?"
Edward smiles, a slow, gentle curve on his lips. "It means I get to take care of you and share my body and blood with you."
I shiver races up my spine, my skin suddenly alive again.
There was a certain appeal to sharing his blood, though I wasn't quite ready for that. "What about the bond? What is that?"
"It's the vampire equivalent of marriage. A vampire can only be bonded to one person at a time, human or vampire. The first bond, the one that allows me to find you, is more of a declaration of sorts. The second blood exchange is me claiming you to my society; it protects you more, lets me feel your emotions. And the third blood exchange is the most sacred – this is when the bond becomes permanent and you can feel my emotions. We would be married in the eyes of my people," he explains.
I nod, following the logic – the progression from boyfriend to fiancé to husband that comes with each exchange. "What about me just drinking your blood?"
"The first time, it would start the bond. Other times, if you are the only one having the blood intake, the blood acts as a healer." His thumb rubs over the top of my hand.
I feel myself leaning into him. "And if you are the only one drinking blood?"
Edward grins suddenly. "Bella, that's pleasurable for both of us. I get to taste you and, from what I hear, you experience the most unbelievable ecstasy. It does nothing for the bond."
My face heats again and I can almost feel my body calling to his, inviting him to drink from me. I clear my throat and continue in my line of questioning. "So, the bond is only progressed if both parties drink?"
"Yes," Edward answers, flashing me a bit of fang even though he was clearly not angry – it must signify other emotions, then. He stares at my lips, then my neck. "Preferably, at the same time."
I shiver.
I'd never had the opportunity to become sexually aware but even I knew that the thought of a blood exchange with Edward turned me on.
There must be something fundamentally wrong with me to think so.
But he was a vampire and I was his mate.
Again, everything made sense.
My stomach growls again just as I am leaning towards him, intent on finally kissing him and Edward frowns. "I'm being a bad mate again. Hold on," he says, pulling out a sleek black phone that seemed dwarfed in his large hand. He hits a button and the phone automatically dials. "Alice. I need a breakfast," he demands.
"Edward?" What was he doing?
The woman on the other end must ask something, because Edward's brows furrow. He looks at me. "Are you vegetarian?"
"What? No. I love meat," I answer.
"One with a lot of meat, Alice," he tells the woman on the phone. "Yes, I'm sure you're right. The more expensive the breakfast, the better."
I feel my brows raise and I can't help but laugh at his logic.
Edward glances at me in confusion and I wave him off, listening to his one-sided conversation. "As soon as possible. Her body is revolting against her," he exaggerates with a perfectly serious expression. "And an electric blanket, Alice." He hangs up without saying good-bye and smiles at me. "You will not starve."
I roll my eyes.
Like, really roll my eyes at him.
I might even do it twice.
And when he makes a face at me, I bust out laughing collapsing backwards on my bed, holding my ribs when they begin to ache from the hilarity of the last few moments.
And it was so perfect.
Because I knew that this wonderful, over-reacting vampire seemed to be mine.
And that feeling? That knowing that I wouldn't be alone anymore?
It was amazing.
A/N: So, I obviously updated a day early. Why? I'm happy! My brother visited today, brought me this awesome German chocolate. Say what you will about how amazing Swedish everything is, but German chocolate? Mind. Blowing.
Reviews!
LunaDiSangue85 – Ahhhh….I don't know. This Bella is really rational? Lol I don't do angst well so…Bella shall be calm now!
Princessnerra – Edward had a lot to say!
SrslyGiGi – You shake a fist at me?! I bite my thumb at you ;)
Twivampchick – Thank you so much for your review! Totally helped me a bunch!
james3142 – She copes! Good lol
Lilypad10 – Hope I answered your questions in this chapter!
Flavia Ribeiro – Right! Poor Edward! Stupid vampire should have made sure she was dead first, instead of going all catatonic/revenge crazy!
Headinthecloudsss – yes! A lot like True Blood. In fact, I've borrowed a lot of concepts for my vampires from mangas and animes, Ann Rice, some SM and a lot from the Sookie Stackhouse vampire books, of which I have only actually read fanfictions of lol
IDreamOfLullaby's – You and me both! Well…I'm in love with all my Edwards lol I might be a bit biased, though.
XhowtosavealifeX – Ahh Bella/Cullen interactions are coming soon. I think.
Debslmac - :D
Kaygou – A version of Charlie is in her past lol His name was Simone then, but yeah!
CdrIvanova – Nope. Edward was too heartbroken to even think of saving French Bella. He thought her heart had stopped, poor thing. He apparently could have saved her though…
Welcome2MyWorldxoxo – Interesting is one of my middle names! I think.
twilight-saga-lover95 – Ah, he knows more than he let's on lol
Nalia-R – I wanted her to be more brave than previous Bella's. That might also mean she's a bit rash, but that's okay!
Lauran24 – I think the fangs are hot, too. I just….had to have them lol
Michangelina – Chills?! Just wait to see what I have planned for them!
Iamdarcie – Naaah…..Mom doesn't need to see the naughty stuff I write lol
LazerBeams – I don't like to linger on situations and neither does this Bella! We think, why draw it out? Get it out in the open!
FLOW LIZ – Me. Too!
Twilight Rocker 12 – I'm trying to get the chapters out as soon as possible because these characters just won't shut up! Lol
Wendemyre – I might borrow from some stuff, but original is what I aim for ;)
YesMyRealNameIsBella – Ah, she said no to be stubborn. And, she still had questions. So, for now, no blood drinking lol
vampyregirl86 – I think the memory was triggered by him and Emmett and what happened with Paul. It was just…time for her to remember.
Maysnrs – Right! She's a Jedi, he's just plain sexy….what better combination could there be? Lol
Krystalwinds1990 – Now, you can certainly imagine Edward to be the cannon Twilight one, but I don't lol It's personal preference. I kind of got tired of bronze hair.
DoubleFate – Yep! The only SM factor I'm taking is the physiology of their bodies – more stone than flesh, you know.
Guest, Ordinary-girl-XD, angelari7, lovestwilight2010, Katherine Jimenez, cbmorefie, jmcfall, dinotopian and tiffyboocullenjonas – thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm thrilled that each of you are loving the story!
And super special shout out to the first review of the last chapter, Edward's spouse – I believe you! I was an ugly baby but my brother wasn't! lol
Alright, off to eat lasagna and watch X-Factor!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it!
~cupcakeriot
