Okay, I've had this chapter outlined for a couple of days, but my bestest friend in the whole wide world is moving back to his home country of Brazil in a week's time… so I'm as majorly depressed as can be without succumbing to tranquilizers. I might not update as much this week, since I'm busy planning the farewell parties and writing him this looooooong goodbye letter so… maybe only 1 more chapter this week. After the 20th, I'll have more free time for writing (and moping and crying a little, probably). Reviews would really cheer me up.
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Lost in the wild moors of England nearly a century gone, I waited a reasonable amount of time before I thought that the Cullens would be asleep. Setting the book down on the bedside table, I slipped out of bed, careful not to fall off it. It was a tall bed, on a wooden dais, ridiculously princess-like. The ghostly white of the cast contrasted with the white fabric of my attire.
I was still wearing a nightgown; it was something silken and thin. I wrapped the blanket off the bed around me. I couldn't find my clothes anywhere. My eyes travelled to a tall, carved armoire in the room. Perhaps Alice had put my clothes away. I tiptoed to the doors, and pulled them open.
There were dozens of dresses—embroidered, sewn with pearls and ribbons, rustling taffeta and muslin in rich hues, the kind of dress Alice always had on. The plain dress I had been wearing that day in the woods was nowhere to be seen. I swore under my breath; there was no way I was wearing any of those dresses. The nightgown it was, then.
I walked stealthily to the door and reached for the golden handle. I opened it slowly, and the hinges didn't so much as creak. I stepped into a richly carpeted hallway. There were dimly lit sconces embedded in the wall. They cast some light onto my path, and I was grateful. I took a clumsy step, wincing as it thumped softly on the floor. Walking with a cast was going to be awkward at best, and treacherous at worst. An eerie silence had settled all around me.
As I walked further down the hallway, I found a small landing. Glancing about, I found the house was riddled with staircases. I didn't want to find myself trapped in some turret far away from the exit. I decided to take the first set of steps that led down.
I hadn't descended more than five steps before I tripped over the stupid, long nightgown. My hands were still clutching at the blanket to protect me from the chill, and I couldn't find purchase on the banister. I panicked as my arms flailed about, but I rolled down a few more steps. My injured ankle banged on the edge of the stairs, and I stifled my cry of pain.
I sensed a blur of motion and suddenly, I wasn't falling anymore. I gripped the front of a familiar-looking shirt and inhaled a sweet, spicy scent that made my head whirl. Something like honey… and lilac… before I found the courage to look up at him.
Edward gazed at me, his mouth set and disapproving. I blushed hotly, but I couldn't look away. How had he heard me? I had been so careful, so quiet… hadn't I?
"What were you thinking?" he hissed.
"I want to go," I said stubbornly, frowning. Never mind that those plans were now ruined. His tone irked me, made me want to argue.
He rolled his eyes, and glided up the staircase, back to my prison—the golden cage. It took him only a few seconds, whereas I had traversed the distance in five minutes.
As he pushed the door to my room open, I spoke again. "If you're keeping me against my will, the least you could do is tell me why."
Edward set me on the bed, and turned to go. Before he could, I reached out and touched his fingers. He gasped, and pulled his hand away. I frowned, sure I hadn't hurt him.
"What has Alice told you?" he asked, gritting his teeth.
"Nothing, really," I shrugged. "She told me about your family's history."
"Did she tell you about my gift?" He practically spat out the word.
"Yes," I said simply. "You read minds." I sensed he expected me to be afraid or shocked; I refused to give him the satisfaction.
"Well," he started, hesitant. Edward raised his eyes to me, and I didn't flinch, despite the intensity of his amber eyes. I waited.
"I can't… read yours." He sighed.
"Why not?" I was startled. I had assumed that he would be picking up on my less-than-kind thoughts towards him and the whole situation. Not to mention, thinking that his eyes were luminous and his smell… embarrassing.
"I don't know." There was an edge of frustration to his voice. I wanted to reach over and smooth the slight crease between his eyebrows as he frowned. No, that wouldn't do at all.
"There's really only one thing on my mind right now," I murmured. "Leaving." I crossed my arms and leaned into the headboard.
"There's more to what you saw in the forest," he said, taking a seat in what I thought of as Alice's chair.
"Please, enlighten me." I was tired of all this secrecy and lame We can't let you go excuses. My tone bit with sarcasm, which caused Edward to raise an eyebrow in my direction.
"You're in danger. Beyond what could have happened if the nomad had… hurt you." He clasped his hands in his lap. "There is another problem. I don't think Alice has told you about the Volturi."
I shook my head. "I live in a house full of vampires. How could I not be in danger?"
"We are no danger to you. The Volturi, however… they are an ancient, powerful coven that rule over the Italian city of Volterra. They are like vampire royalty, I suppose. The Volturi are responsible for keeping order within the vampire world."
"Royalty? There are vampire kings?" I very nearly scoffed.
"They are regarded with the utmost respect by all."
"Surely they are too far away. How would they—"
"They have powers beyond what even Alice and I could do. It won't do to provoke them. As for how they could endanger you… you see, vampires are meant to keep their identities secret. And what you witnessed… myself, fighting with the nomad… no human is ever meant to see any such display of our abilities. And those that do…" he trailed off.
"What?" I felt uncomfortable, worried about what he might say.
"They must die," Edward whispered. That same heavy silence that always seemed to befall us rushed to fill the void.
"Do you mean to kill me, then?" I whispered back, after some time. I didn't understand why they would take such good care of me, heal me even, if they meant to kill me in the end. "Why did you not leave me in the forest to die, then? Or feed on me?" I was disgusted at the thought.
"I—I couldn't—" Edward seemed mortified. His long, pale fingers clenched tightly, and he looked down.
"Perhaps it would have been easier on all of you. You could have spared yourself all this regret." I hurled the last word at him, an accusation.
"Bella… Carlisle is trying to come to a decision. You've been gone almost four days. The search parties are about to give up."
My heart tugged at the idea of the townspeople, worried, looking for me. And it hurt worse to think of the idea of them giving up on finding me—dead or alive. And I remembered Alice's words to me.
"Your sister… she sent you after me." I traced the pattern on the quilt absently with my fingertip. I saw him staring at my hand, as if mesmerized by my touch on the bed. I swallowed hard. "Thank you."
"You shouldn't thank me. Not when you're so unhappy now." Edward tore his eyes away from my moving hands and held my gaze. "Seriously, what were you thinking, trying to leave? You're safe here."
"I thought you'd be asleep," I huffed. "I wasn't loud until I fell." I blushed, embarrassed, remembering how he held me as he lifted me effortlessly from the floor.
"Bella," he laughed, "we don't sleep."
"Ever?" I asked, intrigued.
"No, not at all."
"Then how did you know—"
"You weren't quiet, not remotely. We all heard your door opening and your footsteps as you attempted to navigate the hall without falling." Edward's tone was almost lighthearted, the closest I'd heard to happiness. I blushed even more, if that was possible.
"And also…"
"Yes?"
He sighed, as though defeated. "Your scent."
"You can smell me?" Was it rank? I had made it a point to take a washcloth bath every day, but… this was beyond embarrassing.
"We all can. But it's particularly strong for me." Edward inhaled and a smile crooked the corner of his mouth. If it made him smile, it couldn't be bad. "It's intoxicating. Like wildflowers—freesias, and lavender…"
I decided not to mention his own delicious, mouthwatering scent. He probably was already aware of the effect he must have on women.
"Please don't try to leave again. Alice will see it if you do."
"Am I truly a prisoner then?"
"No," he sighed, after a second's consideration. "Let's compromise. I will take you out on the grounds tomorrow. But you must promise to stay with us as long as necessary."
Necessary? I thought. They are 100 years old. How long am I likely to be kept here? Edward's eyes bore into mine, and I lost what little coherent thought I had left at that late hour.
I agreed, nodding vaguely. I could not refuse him anything when he looked at me like that. As if to prove a point, Edward smiled crookedly again, and wished me goodnight. I followed him with my eyes, feeling sorry as he left.
I blew out the burning candle beside me, but I could still see his golden eyes, burning too. I eventually fell asleep.
