So I changed my mind and decided to split the epic chapter I had planned, because I didn't want to keep you guys waiting so long. Sorry. I promise that it will be worth it in the end. Hopefully... It's just a bit difficult for me to continuously write all that is going to happen. In my mind this part and the upcoming fight are separate chapters. To me this chapter isn't a cliff-hanger... I didn't feel like teasing you this time. I'm not that cruel. Haha. Please review! They inspire me to write more.
All those arrows you threw, you threw them away
You kept falling in love, then one day
When you fell, you fell towards me
When you crashed in the clouds, you found me
Oh, please don't go
I want you so
I can't let go
For I lose control
Please Don't Go- Barcelona
While Bella was asleep, Edward reflected on what had just in the post-coital bliss and had a shit-eating grin plastered on his face. And although they had planned on waiting until after marriage, it had turned out more perfect than he had ever imagined. She was so sweet, beautiful, and innocent…perfection. He felt privileged and prideful that he could please her. He loved hearing her screaming his name over and over in ecstasy. In his mind he pictured her face after she had found her release the first and second time—her face that was filled with sexual tension had relaxed, her eyes closed, and her mouth parted and her lips formed a perfect O-shape. He remembered how sweet and wonderful she tasted on his tongue; a thousand times better than the blood of a mountain lion—his favorite. He remembered how being inside her felt like, but really, there were no words to describe it and do it justice. He felt raw, animalistic, and vulnerable. It was desperate, wild, needy, loving, patient…it was everything he thought it would be and more. And now, seeing her sleeping with her head and left hand on his chest and his arms wrapped around her, his heart swelled with his tremendous amount of love he had for this girl, his beautiful, sweet Bella. He couldn't imagine what he did to ever deserve her, but he knew that he wouldn't take a single day with her for granted. It was as if the angels up above created them perfectly for each other. They belonged together; it was their fate and their destiny to be with one another for all eternity. He couldn't believe how amazing that sounded. He never had dreamed in a hundred years that there was someone out there waiting for him to complete her, but here she was, and he couldn't let anything or anyone come between the two of them.
He would shred James to pieces for even thinking of taking Bella away from him. She belonged to him as he belonged to only her, always. James and everyone involved had to die. He couldn't ever risk losing her; he couldn't bear it and just thinking about it had him in excruciating pain. No, he could not think like that now, not after what they had just shared together. His family will come here, they'll figure out a plan, and then they will defeat James, Victoria, and Laurent. Then after it all went down, he and Bella will get on with their lives together. He would feel no guilt or remorse for destroying James and his coven; he would do what he had to do. It was all a means to an end, a happy ending.
James had found the perfect place, an old and vacant ballet studio. The surrounding area was practically deserted except for a few bums roaming the streets. No one would hear her screams except for him, his two accomplices, and her father. He loved to play games, and this was by far his favorite of all. Father and daughter watching each other die a miserable death…or maybe he could keep her for a while and use her as his own pet. Drink her blood and never take enough to kill her.
Bella slept peacefully all through the night-no nightmares of any kind. Matter of fact that was the best night of sleep she had ever gotten. She had the most fantastic dream ever that got the insides of her thighs moist just thinking about it. In her dream Edward had finally made love to her and she couldn't have dreamt it any better. It felt so real that she could still feel what it was like when he was inside her and saying the most dirty and delicious things to her. She couldn't say those things aloud without turning the brightest shade of red. Oh no! What if she said those things aloud or moaned in her sleep? What would Edward think of her? Wait a minute. Was she sleeping naked? And with Edward holding her still? "Love, your heart is pounding, did you have a bad dream again?" Edward asked, panicking and worried at the same time.
"No, I had a good dream actually. A very good dream in fact. Did we…?"
"Make love? Then the answer would be a magnificent yes, sweetheart."
"Wow. So it wasn't a dream after all…Oh dear Lord! We had sex?!"
"Technically yes, but I'd like to use the term make love. Did you not want to? It sure sounded like you wanted it last night…"
"I did! I do! I'm just in shock that's all."
"So you don't regret it all even though we had both agreed on waiting?"
"Edward, that was the best night of my life, so no, not at all."
"Great. So you wouldn't be opposed to doing it again, say like…right now?" Edward asked with a knowing smirk as he bent down towards her lips. He couldn't get enough of those full, pink lips. She parted her lips slightly and he slipped his tongue into her hot mouth. His dick was already hard to begin with and now it was so hard and ready that it was painful. He moved on top of Bella and put some of his weight on her, making her moan. Sadly, they were interrupted by a rude knock on the door. "Fuck!" Edward yelled. He could hear the thoughts of his family outside their suite and knew that they knew what the two of them were up to.
"Who is it?"
"My damn cock-blocking family. Alice is so going to get it!" Bella couldn't help but laugh at Edward's facial expression- frustrated. Sexually frustrated that is. "It's not funny, Bella! It's your fault! You're just so damn sexy that I can't help myself." Edward rushed to get his clothes on and so did Bella.
"You're insatiable, Edward." They left the room and opened the front door.
"Well, it's about damn time," Alice said as she brushed passed them. The rest of the Cullen family stood there with knowing smiles- Emmett's being the biggest grin of all.
"High five, my brother, you finally got fucked!" Rosalie smacked him upside the head and Esme reprimanded him for his crude comment. Bella felt so embarrassed because his family knew what they were up to and so she was as red as a tomato. Edward, however, did not feel the slightest bit embarrassed. Why should he? After all they were a couple in love, and not only that, they were soul mates.
"Now that you two aren't going at it, can we finally discuss a plan?" Alice said. The family was surprised by Alice's serious tone; she was usually the most bright and perky out of all of them. Jasper, however, understood her emotions, as that was his expertise. Alice was distressed over the situation. She felt guilty that she didn't stop Charlie from being taken and she felt helpless because she couldn't see much of what was to come. She felt irritated at Edward and Bella for finding happiness when they were all in danger. Most of all, she was worried about losing her best friend.
"Calm down, Alice, we just got here," Carlisle said. He was always the mediator.
"How can I be calm, when we don't know what's going to happen! How can you all just joke around now? How can you guys have sex while the rest of us are worried about you two? Huh?" Alice fumed. Bella knew she was right; it wasn't fair to the rest of them. Her eyes stung with tears, as the guilt hit her hard. It wasn't fair that they were fighting her battle. This was her problem. She should deal with it—on her own.
Edward disagreed immensely, "You're wrong! You don't understand. How would you feel if it was you and Jasper in our situation? Wouldn't you want to try to be happy, not knowing how much time you had left?" Edward glared at her and Alice realized that he was right. If she were in his position, she would want to show her love for Jasper and be loved by Jasper. Edward's eyes soften as he read her thoughts. They were all under so much stress that it was difficult to think rationally.
"You're right. I'm sorry," Alice apologized sincerely. Bella still couldn't let go Alice's previous words. Everything was her fault. She never should have let them into this mess.
"It's not your fault, Alice," Edward said in response to her thoughts.
"No, it's mine. I'm sorry, so sorry." Bella spoke up, still teary-eyed.
Edward turned around in a flash and held Bella tightly in his arms. "No, none if this is your fault either." Bella struggled to break free from him and he let her go, shocked that she was even trying to pull away from him.
"It's all my fault! I'm the weak one! Don't you see that? I'm the one putting all of you in danger. I'll deal with this alone," Bella said. She turned towards the door to leave, but Edward was too quick and blocked the exit.
"No! I will not let you do that!" Edward yelled. He felt so angry with her at this moment. How could she think that way of herself? Did he not tell her how beautiful and strong she was everyday and how much he loved her. Suddenly Alice had a vision of Bella and Edward breaking up. Edward's eyes closed as he tried to push away the vision from his mind and ignore the pain as his heart began to shatter. "No! No… you can't do this, Bella. Please…"
Bella realized that Edward knew what she was about to do to him, but she had to be strong. She couldn't let them risk their lives to protect her. She wouldn't be able to handle any of their deaths being her fault. She needed to sacrifice herself to save the rest of them. She knew that Edward wouldn't let her go, but she had to make him. She had to break his heart and lie to him. She had to make him believe the lie, because the truth was that she loved him with all his heart. "Edward, I'm sorry that it had to be this way…in front of your family, but we can't be together anymore."
"No, you don't have to do this, Bella. We can deal with James and his coven. Killing them is easier than you leaving me."
"This isn't about James; it's about you and me. You're no good for me. I don't want you anymore," Bella said trying to sound cold and convincing. She could barely stand to look him in the eye, but she had to or he would know that she was lying.
Did she finally realize that she could do better than him? Edward wanted to crumple down on the floor; the pain he felt was so strong. "You… don't… want… me?" Edward asked slowly, it was so hard for him to utter each word and every time he spoke, his heart would crack even more. He could hear the thoughts of each of his family members—they didn't believe her. But he shut them out, because he couldn't help but believe her. She spoke the truth. Why in the world would she want him, when there were so many out there that were much better for her than he was. He was a killer and a monster.
"No. I'm sorry that I had to drag it out this way. I never meant to hurt you. But, you'll get over this in time and you'll find your true mate. It'll be as if I never existed." Edward moved away from the door and collapsed onto the floor. He watched her leave through his family's eyes. Bella was right in that he was no good for her, but wrong in that there would never be another for him. No one would ever make him feel the way he does for her. He would always belong to her even though she didn't want him. He couldn't imagine Bella with another man and just the thought of it burned him worse than being changed did. In fact, he would rather endure that than be without his Bella. But she was no longer his. A part of him hoped that she would never give herself to another, but the other half of him wished she would find happiness. He found it with her and no matter how short their time was together, he would never forget it.
How could he believe her so easily? She thought that she would have to spend hours just to plant the seed of doubt in his head that she didn't love him. But for him to believe her so easily like that? It hurt immensely. She was alone, in New York, sobbing.
"How can you just let her go, Edward? If you don't go after her, I'll get her myself. You're a fool!" Alice said. No matter how stupid they were both being, she couldn't lose either of them. Bella was her best friend and Alice respected her, but she was making a huge mistake in leaving.
"Leave her alone, Alice! Did you not hear her? What she said…" Edward sobbed tearlessly.
"You are going to let her wander the streets alone in search of James. He'll kill her!"
"We'll protect her from James and his coven, but after that, we'll leave her alone. We will respect her wishes."
"Bella lied to you, Edward," Jasper spoke up, "She still loves you…very much. She felt for you the love someone shares with their mate."
"Don't lie to me, Jasper. I don't need you to make me feel better. I don't need your pity," Edward said, glaring at Jasper.
"Do my thoughts lie to you, Edward? You may not be able to read her mind, but I can read her heart. She. Loves. You." Edward gasped, hearing the truth in Jaspers words and thoughts. He was not lying; she lied to him. He ran after her, tracing her scent, and found her easily enough. She was sitting under a tree in Central Park, crying.
"You lied to me," Edward whispered. Bella gasped in shock that Edward was standing right in front of her. They stared at each other, a soundless conversation passed through their eyes. I'm so sorry. It's okay. I love you so much. I love you, too. Bella ran into his arms and he embraced her with all he had. "Don't ever leave me again. I don't think I could take it."
"I'm sorry. I won't run away again, I promise," Bella responded. "How could you ever believe that I could ever not want you? I'll always want you."
"I'm sorry, but I know now. But you have to know, whatever comes our way, we can deal with it together. You need to talk to me, Bella. Trust me."
"I will from now on," Bella swore.
"From now on and the rest of eternity," Edward said smiling. They made their way back to the hotel holding hands.
