Okay, so this chapter is shorter than all of the others, but it's kind of like the end of part one. I've decided, after much careful consideration to make this story into a trilogy. It will be called Ambrosia, the drink of the gods,( or food). The second will be called a Delphian Utopia and the third still has a few choices for the title. Hope that makes you excited…?
I'm taking a year off after my senior year to work and do a little bit of the marriage thing. Yep, I'm officially an engaged woman. Eh, that just sounds so scary…Anyhow, this chapter is short, but it has to end here. You'll see why.
On another note, my Beta has obviously disappeared on me. Lol, if any one is interested in the position, let me know. I'll need some one fairly quick though, if you don't mind.
Thanks loves.
--
A Rogue Omega
6
.eta.
The old, beautiful brick house was amazing, and Bella had been staring at it all night. The foggy sun had set a while ago, behind the trees, but the brunette still sat on the expansive front lawn, her hair blowing behind her in the slight, nostalgic breeze. Her eyes were trained on the magnificent structure, trying to take in all of its ancient beauty in one sitting. Edward had left her to her thoughts moments before, while he fetched her something to drink.
The brick house that had been in his family for centuries still stood as a reminder of his childhood. Everything—from the wide, wrap around porch to the oak banister in the foyer—brought back murmurs of memories long forgotten. His room still sat on the second floor, large and brightly lit during the day. The aged wood floors were still any antique-lovers dream, as well as the ancient grandfather clock in the luxurious library.
A small smile stretched across full lips as Bella watched Edward walk across the barren lawn, glass of water in one hand, a sweater for her in the other—compliments of Alice she was sure.
"Thank you," she murmured as he settled down beside her, stretching out a hand to offer her the glass. She brought it to her lips and Edward watched as her throat allowed the water passage. His fingers reached out to touch the soft skin of her neck and she brought the glass away from her mouth, setting it down beside her on the grass.
Her soft gaze moved to his face as he traced the curve of her jugular, and then, almost hesitantly, he retracted his hand.
"Lay with me," he whispered, lying down on his side, staring at her with those eyes that could bend a will of steel. She smiled at him, stretching her arms out to rest on her side, facing him. Slowly, almost as if he wanted to cause her physical pain by prolonging his movements, he settled a hand on her hip, fingering the slight bit of ivory skin her shirt revealed.
"How beautiful you are to me," Bella focused on the practiced move of his lips, and the impact of his words, "what did I do to deserve you Bella?"
She brushed the hair from his eyes, and he tore his gaze away from her hip, to look into big brown orbs.
"You didn't do anything really," she joked, "you were just you. I fell in love with your smile, your heart. It was unavoidable."
He joined in her quiet laughter, scooting closer to her, "Do you regret it?"
"No," she answered quickly, "never," she chose her next words carefully, and they were spoken even quieter than a whisper. She couldn't deny that she felt a little afraid of the answer, "Do you… regret anything?"
"I could never regret anything to do with you Bella," he sighed, "but I do regret some decisions on my part."
She nodded, "I'm glad."
He kissed her forehead, "So am I."
Gently, she brought her hand up to tangle in his hair and his lips descended onto hers. Their mouths danced, and then, daringly, his hand ascended farther up her shirt than just the hip. She sighed at the cool contact, her fingers tugging mercilessly on his hair as their mouths fought for victory. Edward laid her gently back o the grass, his body hovering over hers.
"Bella," he murmured as he pulled away for her air, only to return to her hungry lips with his own within seconds. She mumbled his name as well, smiling as he nuzzled her neck. His nose tracing along her collarbone soon became his lips trailing sweet kisses down the valley of her breasts.
Her lips parted, and when she opened her eyes again, they were no longer outside, but in the bedroom they had claimed earlier in the day. She was laid down gently on the bed, and Edward continued to kiss her with passion, with care. To him, she seemed less fragile than porcelain.
Her shirt was unbuttoned and swiftly removed as she tried to steady her breathing. Edward watched as the soft fabric slid from her arms falling into a pool of blue beneath her. When he looked back up to her face, she was staring at him with adoration.
"I love you," she whispered, as their lips met once again.
--
Rue sighed dramatically, flipping her blond tresses over her shoulder as another person left the ticket line. She was now officially next and was glad, because sucking the life out of the overly made up clerk would almost be sweet relief at this point. The woman behind the desk had been lifting her finger in a 'one second' motion every five minutes. One second my ass, the vampire fumed silently, since when is traveling so difficult?
"Calm down darling," Declan appeared behind her, his strong arms wrapping around her waist, "you're damaging public property." As his breath blew over her ear, she looked down and sure enough, the heel of her stiletto boots was creating an indent in the faux-marble floor of the airport.
"Well if this bi--." Rue was cut off by the lady in front of her stepping away from the counter, and the clerk greeting her with a large, overly dramatic smile. Her nametag read Stefina, and she smiled charmingly at the couple. No, wait, Rue noticed, a slight growl building up inside her, she's smiling at him.
"Scusilo," she placed her elbow roughly on the desk and shoved Declan away from her, "Sono supposto di essere su un volo in dieci minuti." Excuse me. I'm supposed to be on a flight in ten minutes.
"S-Spaciente Signora," she stammered, tearing her eyes away from a Declan who was now grinning roguishly down at her. She typed a few words into the keyboard and, stuttering, asked for a name. I'm Sorry, Madam.
"Rue O'Callaugh," the blond answered boredly, shooting a disgusted look at her mate as his eyes wandered to a bunch of American tourists. All girls.
"Vedo. Tutti siete controllati dentro. Abbia un volo piacevole." I see. You're all checked in. Have a safe flight.
"Thanks," Rue snapped, snatching her boarding pass from the now wide-eyed clerk.
She motioned to Declan and he followed, waggling his fingers at the giggling American girls.
"Could you do me the courtesy of at least acting as though we're together?" she barked, once they had situated themselves safely in their seats. Declan turned towards her, smiling absentmindedly as he brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.
"Whatever do you mean, my love?" he asked sarcastically, placing his other hand on the inside of her thigh.
She rolled her eyes, but melted beneath his touch, leaning over to kiss his lips. Their kiss was soft and sensual, showing that there was, in fact, some indication of love between them. Their relationship was extremely physical, lust was its match but it seemed as though love kept the flame alight. Love, Rue thought fleetingly, testing the word in her mind, do I love him?
Better yet, was she even capable of such an emotion?
--
Alice snapped her eyes open, looking out into the pitch black darkness beyond her window. It must have been one, two in the morning, and the little nymph wasted the day away, sitting on her new bed, just waiting.
To anyone on the outside, it would seem like she was eager for an apocalypse, a turning point in the lives of her and her family. But it was just the opposite.
Alice longed for the next day to pass, just to know that she was wrong. It was not often where she pleaded with her powers to be faulty. This time, however, she needed them to be mistaken.
"Please," she whispered into the darkness, "just this once…"
Her words faded away as morning came, and she saw no change in her premonitions. Tomorrow, the wedding would come, and tonight… tonight was their last chance to determine who this mysterious vampire in her visions was. If only she could see, if only she could hear when the woman spoke. There was a block, however, something barring passage from her own power. It was torture, to have the means to know something, but to be restricted access. It was eating away at her, slowly but surely.
--
The two sat—their eyes only on each other. So many things to say and so many things that should be left unsaid were running around in their minds.
"When I was seven, I broke my thumb," the girl spoke quietly, in a tone full of wistfulness, "I shut it inside the car door on my way to a dance recital. Renee had no idea what to do."
Edward looked down at the woman in his arms and smiled as she lazily drew a pattern on his abdomen. Her eyes were trained downwards, and he could feel her soft breath slightly touching the fabric of his shirt.
"Is this the part where we spill our guts to each other?" he murmured, pressing his lips to her forehead. She laughed lightly and tilted her head to look up at him, nodding.
"I just want you to know everything before…" she took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "before we're married."
"You make marriage sound like a death sentence Bella," he chuckled nervously, his brow furrowing.
"No!" she amended quickly, pulling away from him, "I mean… I'll be changed afterwards. What if I don't remember these things? Wouldn't you want to know them?" her eyes frantically searched his, and he smiled confusedly.
"Of course, love," he soothed after a moment, "I hadn't thought about it that way."
"Tell me something about you Edward," she whispered, returning to tracing designs on his stomach, "I know you remember…"
He shifted, the placid smile falling from his face, "It… I haven't spoken about my past in a long time, Bella."
She smiled reassuringly, "There's no time like the present, Edward." She coaxed, hugging him around the middle.
He grinned, running hand down her long hair, "Well, I grew up here," he motioned vaguely around the room, "with my mother and father. My mother…" his jaw hardened, "she was a lovely woman. She would have loved you immensely. I know she would have."
His voice fell into a low whisper and Bella had to strain to catch everything, "When I was thirteen, I attended my first Opera with her and my father. I had fallen asleep, and father was irate," he chuckled at the distant memory, "but mother just smiled, shaking her head. It was as though she could never be upset with me. I was somewhat spoiled, I think."
She giggled, placing her cheek back to the space over his heart, "Carlisle says that… in the hospital, she begged him for my life. Somehow she knew that he could save me. She knew," he whispered, unconsciously pulling Bella's fragile form closer to him.
"You miss her," it wasn't a question, but a simple statement that Bell knew to be true.
"No," he mumbled, "because missing her would show regret, and I have none."
"Missing her, Edward," she sighed, "would show that you have a heart." Her eyes were stubborn, and Edward knew that look better than any other. Edward opened his mouth to retort anyhow, but she cut him off. "Don't you dare say you have no heart—no soul—because you couldn't love me the way you do if there was nothing here," she pressed her hand over the space his heart was supposed to be beating away, "and I know you love me."
"Of course," he breathed, and then smiled, "you always know how to prove me wrong," he growled playfully, "how is that?"
"Who knows?" she shrugged, grinning. They were silent for a moment, before Bella returned to the previous subject, "I think I would have loved your mother too. She brought you to me, after all."
He frowned, "She could have never known--."
"Always negative," she cut him off, shaking her head, "she knew Edward. Just believe that she knew."
--
"Spit."
Cards flew at an alarming speed, Kings, Queens, Jacks and Tens piling on top of each other as the golden orbs watching widened. It was only two seconds later that a hand was slapped down on one pile, and Alice Cullen jumped up from her place sitting the floor, fire radiating from her eyes.
"Emmett!" she screamed, "you cheater!"
"Me?" the giant, who still sat on the floor said innocently, "I would never."
She growled, and before her husband could restrain her, had pounced on the larger form of her big brother. Emmett escaped the grasp of her hands and only a ghostly chuckle was left in his wake. The back door swung on its hinges as Alice was left to fume in the living room.
"Stupid cheater," she growled as Jasper chuckled behind her. She stared at the door a moment longer before her eyes flicked up at the ceiling, or perhaps she was pleading to the heavens. When she looked back at the adjacent door, her eyes turned black, and she was gone after the burly giant.
--
Alice watched as Bella laid out her wedding dress in the spare bedroom, stepping back to admire it. The sisters were silent as they let the thought of a marriage in the midst of chaos sink in.
"It all seems so surreal," Bella whispered, turning back towards Alice.
"It does," she agreed, bobbing her head. As if sensing Alice's worried mind, Bella bit her lip, turning back towards the dress display. Moonlight cascaded across it through the open window.
"Everything will be fine," Bella said, more to herself than her sister. She smiled sadly, "I have to believe that."
Alice didn't—couldn't—answer.
--
It was getting closer to midnight and Bella was still unsettled, tossing and turning in bed as Edward watched her, bemused.
"What is it?" he whispered, brushing a few strands from her face glistening with sweat.
"I'm nervous," she said, slightly hysterical, "and I'm going to look like a zombie in the morning."
"Do you need some water?"
She bit her lip, "I need a walk."
"A walk…" he repeated, "I'll go with you."
"No," she whispered, "I meant… alone."
"Oh," he raised his eyebrows, "Bella…" his face contorted with something akin to pain, "are you sure you want to go through with this?"
She rolled her eyes, turning to face him. Her fingers came out to caress his face gently, "Nothing would make me happier than being with you, being your wife. It's just cold feet, Edward."
He tried to smile, but something in is gut was unsettled, "do you want Alice to go with you?"
"No, no," she brushed the offer off, getting out of bed and slipping on a fitted grey hoodie, "I'll be back in half an hour."
"Bella," he whispered, watching her from the bed, "I hope you know that I love you. Always."
"I know," she said sweetly, bending over to place a kiss to his forehead, "and I love you so very much."
She paused again at the doorway, "see you in a bit." Her smile was astounding, and he realized that he had never seen her look so simply gorgeous before. Her hair was in disarray, her cheeks rouged from her tossing and turning, and her clothing plain as could be. How she could manage to look so completely lovely was beyond him.
"In a bit," he echoed quietly, listening as she walked carefully down the stairs.
Bella escaped into the sweet night air, closing her eyes as the warm breeze washed over her, settling itself into her pores, and making her even sleepier than she already was. She stepped deeper into the backyard, seemingly unawares of the danger she, as a human, should have instinctually felt.
--
Rue watched, with Declan beside her as the frail, dainty human stepped out of the house and into the field beyond her home. She sneered at how common she looked, "She's plain."
"I'd say she's pretty hot," Declan said bluntly, earning a disgusted snort, and a smack in the head from his mate.
"Men," she muttered. Her eyes flicked back to the slow moving form of Isabella and she jetted out her lower lip in confusion.
Declan voiced her thoughts, "What are we supposed to do now?" His eyes filtered up to the shadows moving across the upper floor windows, "she's got half a dozen bodyguards on detail."
"You've been watching way too much James Bond, Dec."
He huffed, "still…"
Rue growled quietly to herself as her smirk faded, "We need Kale."
"How did I know this would be too hard for you?"
Both vampires turned at the sound of another voice entering into their conversation. Kale stepped out from the covering of trees, his long trench coat brushing the undergrowth. Beneath it, he wore a black tee-shirt and dark slacks.
"Oh," Rue sighed, a mixture between disappointment and relief, "well, I suppose this will be much easier."
Kale merely grinned.
--
Bella touched the tops of the long blades of grass as she made her way through the unkempt backyard. The lawn resembled something of a wheat field, from years of negligence, but Bella found it comforting. The way they blew in the wind reminded her of some old movie, or a scene from a classic novel.
"Isabella," The whisper was like a soft touch, and she felt more the breath blowing across her ear than the actual sound of her name being called. She smiled to herself, thinking the voice belonged to her fiancé.
"Edward," she sighed, "I thought I wanted to be alone?" she turned, and the smile crumbled from her face like stone. Declan stood before her, an insane smile on his handsome face.
"Hello Isabella."
--
They were trapped.
The Visionary, inside of her own mind, where darkness corrupted her and thoughts and glimpses drove her to the brink of insanity, like a whirlwind of madness inside her fragile head.
The Beauty saw his face, again and again, the smile of the man she loathed. Forced to watch from a distance as he butchered her soulless.
The Warrior, standing tragic and tall on a silent battlefield, the rivers around him running crimson with the blood of his men, only feeling lust for the loss of it.
The Hunter, staring into the eyes of his prey, two innocent kills of the blood that sung sweetly to him, not a note off tune. Their melodies haunting him once they disappeared into memory.
The Mother, her dead child cradled in her arms, the rocky cliffs calling her name like a sirens sweet lullaby. Singing her softly to sleep for the last time.
The Doctor, the fabled monster from the sewers becoming all too real, looming above him. The plague of death everlasting in his merciless bite.
And The Lover, his torment at seeing an angel strewn and chaotically massacred on the floor of a dance studio, the scent of her essence lingering in the air, her heartbeat all but vanished. The love and the beast fighting within him for dominance.
They were trapped.
--
And what a beautiful bride she would have made.
Too bad for her new fiancés blade.
Some say it was suicide.
Others say it was he who tried.
But most can agree on the fact that she,
would have made such a beautiful bride.
--
Well… review?
This chapter is certaintly confusing, but I don't really want to change it. Message me if you have any questions or leave them in a review.