Chapter 10 – Reunited
Part 56 Edward's POV
"Bella, it's just us!" I said, trying to calm her down so she wouldn't make any more noise and alert the Volturi. Her blood was racing; I had forgotten how amazing it smelled.
"Edward!" she cried, "I was so worried!" Bella kissed me with an alarming intensity; then she dug her face into my shirt, sobbing.
"Bella, I'm fine." I tried to reassure her, but she wouldn't stop crying. I could feel her trembling against my chest, and I held her close. "Bella, everything's okay now…you're safe." Alice looked at me, raising her eyebrows. Bella continued to shake uncontrollably.
"What did they do to you?" I asked, feeling anger at the Volturi flare up inside me. Bella didn't speak; she just kept crying.
'Edward,' Alice thought to me, 'We need to get out of here…now. We don't want to push our luck.'
"You're right, Alice."
"Right about what?" Bella had finally emerged from the folds of my shirt, her face streaked with tears and her eyes startlingly empty. I knew that face would haunt me for the rest of my existence.
Part 57 Bella's POV
For a moment, he didn't answer; he just looked at me, worry creasing the lines in his face.
"Bella, what did they do to you?" Edward asked once more, his voice becoming urgent. Again, I didn't answer, pulling myself closer to his cold, hard chest and feeling a wave of panic wash over me as I thought of the Volturi.
"Bella!" Edward sounded slightly angry now. "Did they hurt you?"
"No," I choked out, my voice muffled by the fabric of Edward's shirt. I didn't want to let go of him; I never, ever, wanted to leave Edward's comforting embrace again. "It's just…you…" My voice trailed off.
"I know, Bella, I know. I'm here…don't worry…shhh…" Edward gently picked me up and began walking down the street, cradling me like a child. Alice walked in silence next to us, not wanting to intrude. I breathed in Edward's intoxicating smell, sighing deeply. I nestled against Edward's chest, and I drifted off to sleep, feeling safe for the first time in weeks.
Part 58 Edward's POV
I couldn't believe it. After an entire month of believing Bella was dead, an entire month of thinking my existence was worthless, Bella was alive. I felt like I was in a dream—even though I hadn't been able to dream for almost a hundred years. Less than a day ago, I had thought Bella dead, and now I shivered at the thought. Countless times Bella's life had been put at risk because of me. Now that Bella was back in my arms with her warm, frail body huddled against my chest, I wanted to make sure her life would never be put at risk again. I finally wanted to make Bella indestructible.