I've been looking forward to writing this chapter since I started writing Sun and Moon as the piano scene is what first inspired me to write the story. The song that Rosalie plays is "Moon and Moon" by Bat for Lashes which I was learning to play on the piano one day when I was suddenly hit by this image of Rosalie playing the song for Leah. I couldn't shake the scene from my mind, it was so potent, so beautiful and thus Sun and Moon was created. This chapter is very special to me, the piano scene in particular, so I hope you enjoy it too :)
Chapter 11- Revealed
Leah's POV
The two days absence from Rosalie passed slowly and insignificantly. I wasn't miserable or aching terribly as I had been before, I realised that it seemed a bit ridiculous to be constantly sullen when we were apart. I was happier than I had ever been before and I owed my family better than to sit around and sulk. I still skipped my pack duties and Seth took my place without question. I would never be able to repay him for what he was doing for me, never show him just how grateful I was. I helped my Mother to cook and clean, watched old movies with her in the evenings and helped her out at the shop. I even played videogames with Seth and Embry when he had come round for an evening. Every once in a while I could feel Embry's gaze upon me, eyeing me speculatively, as if he knew what was really going on. I shot him a glare whenever I caught him in the act, bringing back some of the anger that was ever present in the old me. Though it now felt unnatural, it was also necessary in order to keep my cover. Seth was blissfully unobservant as always, one of his great personality traits was that he accepted people as they were without asking questions. Embry, on the other hand, was much more observant, the silent studier of the pack. Jacob was also very aware of what was going on around him but I hadn't seen him much over the past couple of days. When I had seen him he had simply frowned at me for a few seconds and then looked away. I shrugged off his hostility.
Friday came eventually and I was practically bouncing off the walls in my excitement as I got myself ready. I put on the sexiest underwear I owned, black lacy panties and a strapless bra, and began rummaging through my scantily stocked wardrobe, trying to find something decent to wear- in other words an item of clothing that wasn't ripped, tatty, worn or mud stained like the vast majority of what I owned. It was impossible to be fashion conscious when you were a werewolf. I stuck with cheap, light clothes that folded up small, were easy to tie around your ankle and didn't matter if they got ripped to shreds in an unintended phase.
The pile of discarded clothes was growing larger and my wardrobe was nearly empty. In the very back of my wardrobe I found a dress that I had owned for a few years, though it had barely been worn. I eyed it reproachfully, the red material alarming me slightly. It was daunting for a girl who lived in cut off jeans and plain t shirts to be confronted with a dress. I sighed and slipped into it, looking sceptically in the mirror. It looked okay, it was shorter than I remembered it being, it used to come to my knees and now it was mid thigh due to my drastic growth spurt. It was simple, the red material soft and slightly stretchy, straight at the top and bottom with spaghetti straps and it clung attractively to my curves. Though I felt a little uncomfortable I decided to stick with it, teaming it with my favourite flip flops. I packed a little overnight bag to take with me, moisturised my legs and applied mascara. I wasn't used to beautifying myself and I had to admit that it felt nice, I felt more feminine.
I called goodbye to my Mother who was on the phone in the kitchen, conveniently distracted, before slipping out of the back door. My car was parked on the grass next to the house and I smiled as I walked towards it. I owned a blue Volkswagen Polo that was a little rusty in places, scratched and muddy but I loved her. She had been my solace when Sam had left me, my escape from La Push. I didn't drive her much anymore, being able to run faster than I could drive made her a little unnecessary, so I was glad that I could finally use her again.
It was very quiet, my house was the only one for a mile around and the trees shielded it from view. Most of the houses in La Push were this way, very private and spread far apart. It was nice. The forest was all I could hear, it sounded alive, beautiful. I stopped to listen for a few moments and I closed my eyes.
"Going somewhere Leah?" a deep voice sounded from behind me.
My eyes snapped open; my heart jumped into my throat, beating rapidly; my stomach clenched; my hands immediately balled into fists, ready for a fight; my senses snapped into focus and I span around wildly. I saw Jacob momentarily, standing a few feet away from me with his arms folded across his bare chest and a smug look on his face, before I burst uncontrollably into a wolf. Jacob's expression changed from smugness to panic and then he was a huge russet wolf before me, crouched low, teeth bared.
"Damn it Jacob!" I screamed in my head as I snarled at him. "What's your problem? Why did you sneak up on me like that? You've ruined my dress!" I shrieked a list of profanities as I looked at the shreds of red material that littered the grass. "Damn it! Damn it! Fuck, shit, crap! Argh, Jacob you DICK!"
I was furious, I wanted to bite his stupid head off. Now I would have to see Rosalie with nothing decent to wear. I had wanted to impress her, to make tonight special, but no! Of course not, why would things be that simple? I would have to go back inside and change. Great! Just great! I swore at Jacob again, snapping my teeth and snarling viciously. Rosalie would be wearing something gorgeous no doubt, looking stunningly beautiful as always.
I gasped then, my eyes widening in terror. My rage had allowed my stream of thoughts to run wild. Jacob was wide eyed, staring at me with his mouth slightly open in shock.
Shit! I tried to hide my thoughts but it was like trying to hold water in my hands as it seeped unstoppably through the cracks. My thoughts spilled out... how I had felt when I had first seen her, how her staggering beauty and the piercing stare of her golden eyes had made my heart stop beating, how I had imprinted upon her, kissing her, the soul consuming love that I felt for her, every emotion that I had experienced laid out bare for Jacob to see. I tried to close my mind, to reel back the flood of memories.
"No!" I cried out in pain.
Jacob was still standing motionless, stunned and he stuttered even in his thoughts. "Leah... oh... oh my God."
I was sobbing now, my wolf body shaking with rage.
"Leah... When?... How?..." he stammered.
"Jake... you spoiled... EVERYTHING!" I cried in broken sobs before turning and running into the trees.
The forest passed by in a blur as I ran as fast as I possibly could. It was silent around me, I couldn't hear any of the thoughts of my pack, nor could I hear anyone running after me. I was too fast, they would never catch me. I knew that the Cullen's lived outside of Forks, up the freeway but I did not know the exact directions so I retraced my route along the road towards the meadow. I was there in mere minutes and I picked up her scent, following it into the trees.
I ran the details over and over in my head, screaming out in my thoughts about how stupid I had been. Why did I have to phase? Why couldn't I have just controlled my temper for that one moment? Why did I have to think of her? Jacob knew everything and it was only a matter of time before the whole pack knew what I had done. The secret was out and there was nothing more that I could do. I couldn't turn back time like I so desperately wanted to. I couldn't make this any less real.
But it was too soon, I needed more time to be with Rosalie, to be with my love, to get to know her and spend time with her before it was all snatched away from me. Why did fate have to be so cruel? I had let Rosalie down, I had let us down. My eyes remained dry but it felt as though I was holding back a huge dam which threatened to burst any minute. As her scent filled my nostrils and consumed my soul, I felt burdened by guilt.
"Rosalie, I'm sorry," I cried out, letting a low howl follow my thoughts. It was too late to be worried about what the rest of my pack might hear if they were listening and for now they were silent. I followed her scent which grew stronger with every step my paws took upon the ground and it pushed me forwards in a burst of speed. A large, white shape loomed in the distance, almost hidden by the tall, green trees.
The enticing floral essence of my love lingered in the air, so beautiful even in this ugly hour and I bounded forwards, eager to be in her arms once more where I would be safe from harm. The trees were suddenly behind me, leaving me standing on a vast, gravel driveway that lay in the shadow of a massive house. If I hadn't been so upset, I may have marvelled at the grand building.
I stopped, my paws digging into the gravel as I shuddered to a halt. Rosalie appeared on the porch before my heart had taken another beat and she ran over to me as I phased back into human form and fell, sobbing, into her arms.
"Leah?" her smooth, silken voice was strained with worry and anxiety as she crouched on the ground with me clinging to her desperately. "Leah, what's wrong? What's happened?" Her tone portrayed panic, sounding as though her heart was breaking at my pain and sadness. She shook me a little in an attempt to get me to answer her but hot tears ran uncontrollably down my cheeks and words escaped me. She quickly lifted me from the cold, sharp gravel and into her arms, carrying me as though I was weightless into the house. She gently sat me on the sofa and dashed away, returning with a blanket before I'd had the chance to blink. She wrapped the fluffy blanket around my naked body, giving me back some of my dignity and stroked my back comfortingly as I tried to calm my cries of despair.
Her scent and her cool touch made me feel safe, far away from the troubles that plagued me... plagued us... plagued our future. My body shuddered, my breathing was ragged and uneven, my chest ached and my eyes were sore and burning.
"I'm so sorry," I whispered.
"For what? What happened Leah?" Her voice was soft and heavenly.
"They... know..." The words tumbled from my lips as a sob broke free from my chest. The words stung like salt on a wound. Rosalie's mouth was slightly open, her eyes unfocussed and she was frozen for a long moment.
"Oh..." she said quietly as realisation washed over her. "How?"
"Jacob startled me when I was walking to my car. He'd been watching out for me, he must have known that I was sneaking out. He made me jump and I lost my focus... I just reacted on instinct rather than rationality. I sensed danger and I transformed," I explained. I was no longer crying, but I felt a dull ache in my chest and my body felt strangely heavy and slumped. My voice was low and flat and I cradled my face in my hands, not wanting her to look at me. "At first I was mad at him because he made me ruin my dress but then I thought of you... and I couldn't stop. He heard my thoughts and now he knows everything." I spoke very quietly and slowly.
She paused for ten seconds to make sure that I had finished speaking. "It's not your fault," she soothed me but I shook my head vigorously. "Leah, look at me," she said as she gently took my hands in her cool palms and revealed my face. I looked at the ground but she placed her hand under my chin and angled my face towards hers so that I was staring into her golden eyes that were filled with honesty. "It's not your fault," she repeated softly.
"It is, if I hadn't lost my temper this never would have happened," I cried in despair.
"Yes it would, it was waiting to happen. It's been hanging in the air ever since we met and it doesn't matter. We will work everything out," she promised and her gaze was so sincere, so trusting that I could not argue.
I nodded and laid my head against her shoulder. It began to sift through what had happened in the last twenty minutes, the expression on Jacob's face when he had realised what I had done, the way that he had stammered in shock, how I had yelled at him. I was in trouble, a lot of trouble and I didn't know what would happen to me now or what would happen to Rosalie. The more I thought about it, the more ridiculous I realised it would sound to the rest of my pack, a werewolf imprinting on a vampire, a woman falling in love with a woman. My unintentional act had nullified the treaty completely. Werewolves were not meant to harm a pack member's imprint, though would this still stand considering the imprint was our loathed enemy? I didn't want to think about Rosalie being in danger and I dragged my mind away from that idea, shuddering slightly. I would not go back, that was the only solution. I would not change into a wolf again, I would not return to La Push and my pack members. We could go on the run, go somewhere far away where we would be safe. This idea comforted me slightly, though it was daunting knowing that I would never return to my home, at least I would have Rosalie with me... that is if she agreed to join me.
For now, I would banish these thoughts from my mind. I had until Sunday morning alone with my love, no interruptions, no complications and I wasn't going to let anything ruin it. My vision became clearer and I realised that Rosalie was wearing a black dress that plunged lusciously at her chest, revealing her cleavage. She looked gorgeous and I suddenly realised that I was naked, only covered by a blanket.
"Can I borrow some clothes?" I asked, feeling my face redden in embarrassment. "I ruined my only dress."
She laughed and the sound was like tinkling bells. "Of course." She took my hand and stood up, pulling me to my feet. She didn't let go of my hand as she lead me up the spiral staircase to the third storey of the house, around a corner and into a large bedroom. The house was beautiful, spotlessly clean and decorated with a modern style, though some of the furniture looked very old. The classic and the modern designs complimented each other so perfectly and it was clear that a lot of time had effort had been put into decorating this house.
Rosalie's bedroom was amazing. A king size bed made from a rich mahogany dominated most of the large, square room, adorned with crisp white sheets. The floor was covered with a thick cream carpet, deep purple curtains hung at the windows and a mahogany wardrobe, ornately patterned with carved roses, stood next to a chest of drawers and a full length mirror. Everything was clean and tidy but not in an intimidating way. A book lay open on the bedside table, little trinkets were scattered around the room, the walls were filled with pictures and posters and a beautiful, white orchid sat on the windowsill. The room felt homely, lived in. I looked over to Rosalie who looked slightly nervous.
"Do you like it?" she asked apprehensively.
"I love it," I grinned.
She breathed a sigh of relief and gestured to the wardrobe. "Help yourself to any clothes, I'll wait outside." She moved towards me and I was stunned by how breathtaking she looked. She kissed me softly on the lips and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her with a faint click. I walked over to the wardrobe, dropping the blanket onto the floor as I went, my bare feet padding on the luxuriously thick carpet. I opened the doors, smiling as they creaked ever so slightly and stared at the vast expanse of clothing that met my eyes. There were at least twenty dresses of all styles and colours hung in the wardrobe and they looked very expensive. It was obvious that many of them had never be worn as the tags still hung from some of the labels, boasting Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton and extortionate price tags.
"I can't wear these!" I muttered under my breath.
A low chuckle sounded from the other side of the door. "Of course you can!"
I grinned and picked out a white dress, short and simple, the material flowing and gorgeously soft with a tie around the waist. I placed it delicately over the end of the bed and walked over to the chest of drawers, pulling out a pair of white, lacy French knickers. I slipped them on and walked back over to the dress, noticing as I passed the mirror that I had several scratches littering my back and arms. I had obviously not paid enough attention to my surroundings when I had been running through the forest, I had never injured myself before whilst out on patrol.
I stepped into the dress and pulled it up, closing the zip and fastening the bow at the back. I snapped off the Chanel tag, purposely averting my eyes from the price label. The dress fitted me perfectly, highlighting my curves and revealing my long, slender legs, the white material contrasting attractively against my copper skin. I pulled my fingers through my hair, trying to regain the choppy style that I had adopted before I had phased. I pulled a twig and a few stray leaves from the tangles and continued to rake my fingers through until it looked somewhat decent again. I strode into the massive en suite bathroom and splashed some water onto my face, rubbing my tear stained cheeks and red eyes. I borrowed some of Rosalie's mascara which lay next to a vast collection of beauty products. The presence of these items confused me slightly as Rosalie clearly did not need to use them.
I heard music playing downstairs and realised that Rosalie must have stopped waiting for me outside the door. I checked my appearance for a final time and left the room, my feet leaving the soft carpet and meeting the cold, hardwood floor of the landing and the staircase. The music was played on the piano, a complex but beautiful tune. I walked towards the sound, expecting to find Rosalie standing beside a CD player but my eyes instead fell upon her sitting behind a black, highly polished, grand piano, the melody flowing from her fingers and onto the ivory keys. My jaw dropped and she looked up at me, her pale, stunning face radiant in the soft glow of the lamps, her long hair rippling down her back. Her lips drew into a small smile that sent my heart racing and her fingers performed an elegant dance across the keys, morphing into another tune. This song was simple and steady and the pitch of the notes made the hairs on my arms stand up. Her golden eyes gazed into mine and her lips parted.
And then she sang. Her voice was clear, smooth and heartbreakingly beautiful, reaching the higher notes with ease, softly singing the words. It was an unfamiliar song, yet at the same time I felt as though I had known it for my entire life. The melody flowed freely from her fingertips as she stared into my face, her lips still turned at the corners, smiling as she sang.
My skin tingled with emotion. She sang about the moon, the moon that had always been present in our night time meetings, the moon that guided me towards her, shone upon her pearly skin and illuminated her beauty. Her voice was filled with emotion and my heart felt strangely heavy, as though it could no longer take it, like it was suddenly going to cease to beat. Every sinew in my body was burning with emotion, with love for this gorgeous woman who played this song for me on her piano.
She looked away from me for a moment, her gaze lingering on her fingers. In this moment it became crystal clear to me that this was all real, that it wasn't a dream that I was going to wake up from. Rosalie was mine, she loved me as I loved her. She was perfect, as though we were designed specifically for one another by a higher power. What had I done to deserve this? How could I show my immense gratitude to my fate?
Tears prickled the backs of my eyes and I moved my body which had been motionless, frozen in place up until now, slowly walking towards her as she sang the last few words of the chorus. I was consumed by her beauty, pulled in by the light that radiated from her perfect, white skin. She looked ahead as I sat down beside her on the piano stool, watching her hands with awe as they performed magic on the keys, the notes melting together with graceful elegance. I admired her flawless movements, her dexterity.
She began to sing the second verse, her lips wrapping around each word. My skin barely touched hers as I sat beside her, but every slight brush of her cold skin against mine sent shocks through my body. She leant her head slightly in my direction, touching it against my forehead, singing softly into my ear. My skin goose pimpled and my heart felt heavy with emotion. It felt as though the oxygen had been sucked from the room and I struggled to draw breath. Her luxuriously textured voice sang the chorus again, slightly higher this time until she reached the last line which she sang low and slow. I felt a little pang of despair as her lips closed and she became silent. Her voice had warmed me, set alight to my soul.
She played the last few bars slowly, pouring all of her emotion into the keys, ending on a chord that coursed through my body and rang in the air for what seemed like an eternity. I let my breath out in a silent exhale and her fingers left the keys, ending the note, though it still lingered in my ears and in the air.
I could think of no words to say to her, nothing that could describe the beauty of her music or explain to her how it had made me feel. I could barely discern the emotions for myself. She turned to face me, her golden eyes sparkling with fire and life, and my breath caught in my throat.
She leaned closer to me. She was so close now, I could feel her cool breath tickling like a gentle breeze against my lips. Her sweet scent knocked me momentarily senseless, washing over me and consuming me entirely. Every fibre of my being melted for her, faded into nothingness as I was captured by her alluring scent. Her eyes closed and her lips parted slowly like the gates of heaven, waiting to allow me entrance. I sank into the blackness behind my eyelids and her cold lips that had portrayed so much beauty in her singing, closed against mine, leaving me completely at her mercy.
I may not be able to post the next chapter for a while as I'm going to be very busy over the next few weeks with starting uni and stuff! But I will try and post as soon as possible. Thank you for reading :)