Chapter Nine

Edward's POV:

Her warm lips sent delicious shivers against my cool mouth as I kissed her attentively but as always, ever so softly and gently as I tried to rein in my passionate desire for her. She assures me she is strong but look at her! She is a fragile ethereal beauty with her long dark auburn tinged hair and mysterious chocolate brown eyes. I am completely besotted with her. She is my world now. I let my fingers glide slowly under the soft material of her checked shirt. I stroke her warm skin and sigh against her mouth with pleasure. She echoes my moans and sighs and my senses overload on her taste and scent. Oh my.

"Isabella Swan, you drive me crazy!" I whisper against her smooth flushed cheek. How delicious and warm she is, how tempting and beguiling. She laughs hoarsely and her warm breath tickles my ear.

"Ditto, my love," she purrs seductively.

We are laying in the meadow; the autumnal weather is surprisingly mild for Forks. Bella pulls away from me and sits up hugging her knees and peering at me through her veil of thick hair.

"What's wrong Bella, love? I wish I could read your mind!" I state wistfully.

She smiles at me, that lovely smile which lights up her eyes.

"I was just wondering what your "sister" Victoria had to say about our first meeting?" she asked shyly.

I laughed, trust Bella to worry and wonder what vampires thought of her!

"She adored you, as did Aro, but she did say that she thought you were no ordinary human," I stated.

Bella raised her eyebrows at me wonderingly, "Why would she say that?" she asked.

I smiled, "Bella my love, you are far from ordinary! You are the most extra ordinary human I have come across in my long life!"

She whacked my arm playfully with a snort of disdain.

"You only say that because you have to! You are my boyfriend, you have to be nice!" she stated self deprecatorily with a shy smile.

I shook my head in exasperation, "When will you see yourselves as others do? As I do?"

She only smiled again and I couldn't resist pulling her down towards me so our lips could join together once more in a longing kiss. Ice and fire. Could the two exist together? I only knew I never wanted to be without her, but I did not want to change her into a cold marble being. I loved everything about her humanity, especially hearing her fragile little heart beat so fast when we kissed. It stuttered wildly in her chest and it made me desire her even more. I did not want us to be the same. I loved our immense differences.

Victoria disagreed; she said I should change Bella as soon as possible. She warned me how terrible it was to be without your love. She had endured centuries apart from Aro, but eventually they had overcome all obstacles and could now be together always. Of course I didn't want to lose Bella ever, but if she stayed human I knew it would happen one day. If she became a vampire would the Volturi hunt us down? If Alice's visions were correct then the ancient coven were coming for us anyways. Athenodora was livid that Bella knew all about vampires and not only that but she was having a relationship with one! I hadn't shared this snippet of information with Bella yet. It would keep for now. I had proposed to her, she said she would accept if I changed her. So that was that, we were stuck with no solution to our problem.

I suddenly felt overcome with worry for my beautiful Bella. There was possibly a very real and dangerous threat coming our way very soon. I must speak more with my sisters, Alice and Victoria. We would think of something. Even though I was cold already, despite the mild day, I was suddenly overcome by icy fingers of fear creeping up my spine. I stood up, pulling Bella to her feet in one swift move. Something was wrong. Something was coming. I looked around the meadow searching for the source of my bad feeling. Bella was looking at me quizzically. I instinctively shielded her body with mine.

A striking young woman walked out of nowhere into the clearing and gazed directly at Bella and I with violet shimmering eyes and cropped blacker than black hair. She was petite and unassuming but I just knew she was something more than human. Surprisingly I could not read her thoughts! Just like Bella! Who was this strange intruder? She addressed us in a surprisingly sweet yet powerful voice which was tinged with an unrecognisable accent.

I am Lilith, you are Circe, and we have met many times before in many guises. I will reveal all to you and your vampire now…..