Chapter 13 Questions (last chapter)
I stood, the body of the man crumpled at my feet as I took in Edward's stony expression. Disapproval poured off of him. Truthfully, now that the hunger no longer gripped me, I felt pretty awful. I hadn't meant to kill the man, I just needed his blood. I never gave any thought to what that would mean for him.
"Come, Felix; let's leave these two lovebirds alone. They have much to discuss and I believe Demetri and Jane are back with an update."
All eyes were on me when he mentioned those names, but again, I had no memory of them. Edward looked venomous for the briefest moment and just as quickly his features smoothed into an expressionless mask while Aro beamed at him, obviously taking pleasure in Edward's reaction.
Edward glared at him. "Don't you have somewhere else to be?"
"Indeed." Aro turned to Felix. "Remove this," he said pointing to the body on the floor, then he bent - a cross between a bow and a nod - at both of us and brushed my shoulder tenderly as he glided through the door with Felix at his heels like a devoted puppy leaving me alone with a man my body craved…It recognized him even though my mind did not.
Both of us remained motionless, regarding each other thoughtfully. He looked like he was straining, but over what I didn't know. He grew frustrated after a few moments of this intense scrutiny.
"I thought perhaps once you were transformed your mind would be open to me, but it is still as much of an enigma as it was before." He chuckled a little. "Aro was testing the same thing just now when he touched your shoulder, but he was as unsuccessful as I was."
My brows rose in surprise. "You guys read minds?" Thank the gods I had some built in protection from that invasive talent.
A small smile curved those sinful lips and my body ached for him, but I did my best to keep that to myself until I figured out what this man was to me. "I have never encountered a mind I could not access…until your's."
I laughed, greatly relieved. "I feel like I should apologize, but honestly, I'm thrilled that you don't know what I'm thinking."
He stepped closer, not much, but enough that I could feel the warmth of his body and I wanted to rub myself all over him like a cat and bathe in his heat, so I took a small step back. I shook my head trying to dislodge the image of us naked, my body draped across his.
From his expression, I'd say he had a pretty good idea what direction my thoughts were traveling – straight down the gutter. "Why? Are you thinking terribly inappropriate things?"
If I could have blushed, I'd have been cherry red, but there was no reason for him to have to know how close to the mark he was. My jaw jutted out stubbornly and I replied coolly, "If you consider me thinking what an infuriating, irritating vampire you are inappropriate, then yes, I'm afraid I am."
His laugh sent shudders of pleasure through my body touching parts of me that no amount of physical contact could have touched. "I'll give you this - your lying abilities have vastly improved since you can no longer blush scarlet for me." He almost looked disappointed, but he covered it quickly enough with a brilliant smile that showed perfectly white teeth. "Do you want to know how I know you're lying?"
He'd moved even closer and somehow I hadn't seen him do it. He was but a few inches from me and the intensity of his gaze had me mesmerized like a snake charmer with his snake. I swallowed past the lump that was nearly choking me. "How?" I asked, my voice low and almost unrecognizable with desire.
"Because the bond that was between us when you were human has been magnified a hundred times over with your transformation. You are my Blood Singer, Bella, and I know that you are feeling the same things I am feeling. I can barely breathe for want of you." His words had lowered until they were mere whispers that caressed me, begged me to go to him and ease the deep ache in his very soul.
I was still trapped by his dazzling gaze, intrigued by his eyes that had slowly bled from a warm topaz color to a cold black of a moonless, starless night sky. "I do not know this term," I admitted. I had to fight my body. My hands were balled in tight fists, my nails biting into my flesh in an effort to not throw myself into his arms and attack him with my lips. No one should have such power over another. I didn't like it, and I didn't trust it.
He shrugged slightly drawing my attention to the rippling muscles beneath his thin shirt. "It is similar to a soul mate."
I nodded, about to ask him about our relationship, when another vampire entered.
The man took three large, bounding steps and scooped me into his arms heedless of Edward standing right behind us. "Bells!" He pressed his lips against my forehead as he spun me around happily. Laughter bubbled up in both of us. My memory didn't fare any better with this man than it had the others, but as I had with Edward and Aro, I felt at ease with him and knew that he was someone very close to my heart.
We were still spinning and giggling like kids when Edward interrupted in a hard voice, "She doesn't remember anything, Dylan. Not her human life, not me, not you." There was some satisfaction in his tone, the same note of pleasure that Aro's voice had held when Aro had introduce Edward to me. It was petty and unbecoming. Maybe I'd put up with that sort of behavior before, but I wouldn't now.
The spinning stopped and Dylan peered intently at me before he released me. "Is that true?"
I bit my lips hating that I was hurting these men by my broken memories. "Yeah."
"Damn, woman, that…just fucking sucks."
"I'm sorry," I murmured.
"Well hell, there's no reason to apologize. It's not like it's your fault, right?" He stared between me and Edward for a moment. "I guess for you, losing your memory is a good thing."
What an odd thing to say, and yet, I was starting to think he was right. "Why?"
"Because there…are things you might rather forget." He never took his eyes off of Edward when he spoke.
Edward stirred. "We all have certain memories we'd like to forget, but I wouldn't trade all of my good memories to rid myself of a few bad ones." It was a warning, but about what?
Finally Dylan broke eye contact and returned his attention to me. "They have news about your father…though…I guess you don't really remember him or any of the shit that's been happening this past week."
Edward glided between me and Dylan and took my hand. "She may not remember, but I'm sure she'd still like to know."
"You should also know that the rest of your coven came back too."
Tapping his head with his index finger, Edward smirked. "I already read that from your and Aro's minds."
The throne room was lovely, nothing like the dismal room I woke in earlier. The only discomfort? The many pairs of eyes focused on me all filled with some unknown expectation. I was beginning to wish that Aro would gather everyone I knew so I could deal with the whole memory lapse issue at once.
Dylan had settled himself by a woman of great beauty, her mahogany hair skimming over her lush hips. She automatically positioned herself in the crook of his shoulder and smiled at me like the Cheshire Cat. Dylan seemed uncertain, shooting an almost apologetic look at me.
On either side of Aro were two others that shared the same translucent skin and odd eyes which were fixed unblinkingly at me. I understood that they were all terribly ancient. Thousands of years most likely. I shifted anxiously under their scrutiny. You could clearly see how eager they were to meet the new and improved Bella.
It wasn't until my eyes fell on the man just off to the side of the three thrones that Edward reacted. I could hear just a hint of a rumble emanating from him as I took in the man's exquisite form. My body reacted to him almost as strongly as it had Edward and gauging Edward's reaction, I'd have to say that that reaction was garnered from intimate knowledge. How intimate, I had no idea.
He paid no attention to Edward's clear warning and crossed the room to embrace me. In more of an automatic gesture than anything, I released Edward's hand and returned the hug taking in a lungful of his aromatic scent that stirred things deep inside me. When his lips grazed mine in a quick greeting, I pulled back just as Edward pushed him away from me.
"You have no right, Demetri," Edward snarled looking feral.
The man's face twisted into an angry smile. "About as much right as you have." They stalked toward each other sizing one another up. "On second thought," Demetri quipped, "considering the night Bella and I-"
Edward's fist lashed out so fast that I only noticed when Demetri crashed into the dais below Aro's throne where Aro was sitting with an amused expression carved into his ancient face. The other two men looked bored and completely unconcerned by the events unfolding before them.
"For goodness sake, Edward," I sighed in exasperation. "Was that really necessary?" I drew away from him, my hand reaching out for Demetri, but Edward pulled me out of reach. This tendency of his to control me was getting old and so not a turn on.
The blonde woman's laugh was laced with sarcasm. My breath caught in my throat as I took in her beauty. Surely no being had ever looked more perfect. Even Edward with his astonishingly gorgeous looks couldn't compete with this woman. Angels must weep when they looked upon her majestic form.
"Rosalie," a maternal woman warned.
Aro stood distracting all of us. "As entertaining as this all is, let us get to the status of Isabella's human family." Emotion slowly seeped from his eyes. He waited for Edward to move back to my side and Demetri to get out of his way before he continued.
"As you pointed out three days ago, Isabella, I am head of the Volturi, and if I am so inclined, I may alter any rule as I see fit. For you, my dearest, I have agreed to give the wolves of Forks a reprieve."
The others across the room with the goddess of a woman, who appeared to loath me, all stirred, looks of shock, happiness, and in some cases, weariness fluttering across their immortal faces. Clearly this was good news and very unexpected, but it meant nothing to me.
The man that looked like their leader stood. He was the one that appeared more cautious than relieved. "And what of her father, Charlie?"
The ancient vampire to the left of Aro scowled as Aro replied, "He is betrothed to the mother of two wolves. It is my belief that he will bear our secret just as he bears the burden of her family's secret. Therefore, I have decided to allow him the chance to remain human. He will be closely monitored, and if ever he proves to be a liability, he will be destroyed."
I should have felt horror at that declaration, but I did not know this man called Charlie.
Edward wrapped his arm around me offering comfort, and I could tell by the tension now zinging through him that there was more to be said. Something bad.
"What aren't you telling me, Aro?" I asked.
Aro sank back into his throne, his eyes unable to meet mine, and I was suddenly grateful that I had no memory of my past. It would make whatever he told me significantly easier to bear.
"The vampire that attempted to kill your father was not working alone. His partner, Victoria, was in Florida while Laurent searched for you in Washington."
The room was now so silent you could have heard a pin drop. I searched Edward's face to judge his reaction, what I saw tore at my soul. He looked close to tears. His tortured face turned toward me. "It's all my fault. If I'd never left you, your family wouldn't have been placed in this situation."
I didn't know if what he said was true, but I comforted him just the same, my arms pulling him against me murmuring softly against his ear as he clutched at me desperately.
My eyes met Aro's as I waited for him to tell me the rest.
"She tortured and killed your mother and stepfather."
The other coven gasped in unison, even the blonde beauty, who flashed me a look of such sorrow and concern that I almost wondered if I'd been wrong about her hatred for me.
The idea that my mother had died a horrible death saddened me, but as I couldn't remember the woman, I was saved from the brunt of the pain that Edward and the other coven were clearly experiencing. Even Dylan was affected, the woman by his side attempting to sooth him.
"And this Victoria? Does she still live?"
Demetri stepped forward. "No, Bella. Jane and I personally saw to her destruction along with the small newborn army she had created."
I nodded as Aro addressed me, "You must understand, Isabella, that you cannot attend her funeral. Your newborn instincts would make you slaughter every human in sight. As soon as you have that under control, I will arrange to have your father and his family brought here for a visit. Perhaps by that time, some of your memories will have resurfaced."
"I thank you, Aro, for your generosity and aid in this matter." Edward scoffed, but I ignored him. "And while I do not know who or what these wolves are, I am grateful that you would alter your rules for me."
"You must thank Carlisle for that," he admitted. "I spoke with him at length after you asked me to disregard my laws. He is the one that convinced me that those wolves could be trusted to keep our secret."
I quickly thanked Carlisle, wanting nothing more than to escape their many questions. Carlisle and a small, pixie-like girl moved toward me, but I turned my back on them and Edward. I just needed some time to myself. So much to think about, not the least of which was my twisted relationship with Edward. I could see by the way he treated everyone around me, that we had some serious history. By his own admission, it wasn't all good, and I was starting to believe it wasn't the healthiest thing for me.
Edward caught up with me and pushed open the slick, black door that opened into a room of darkness. Though the lights shined, everything was black. The only other color was white and it only appeared in the background of the five large photographs that were framed on the wall.
"Are you okay?" he asked while he slipped off his shoes and fell into the chair closest to him, completely exhausted.
I shrugged. What could I say that didn't make me sound callous? How could I mourn a woman I did not know? Of course, I was bothered by the notion that my mother died, but it was a very abstract concept. "I wish I could tell you that I'm sick with grief; it would be the natural response, but, Edward, I'm just not."
He patted his leg but I shook my head and leaned against the arm of the chair across from him.
A hint of frustration showed before he wiped all expression from his face. "I understand. Truthfully, I almost hope you don't get your memory back anytime soon so you don't have to go through the heartache."
"Are you sure that's the only reason you don't want me to remember?"
He ran one hand through his mess of bronze hair in agitation. "No, I did something…unforgivable…I hurt you so thoroughly. I would love the chance to have a clean slate."
"So, what are you saying? You don't intend to fill me in on…anything?" He was crazy if he thought I would move forward with any kind of relationship without full disclosure of our past.
He exhaled slowly. "Do we really need to get into it tonight?"
He was right. I'd only been awake a couple hours and already I was weary. "Answer me this one thing and the rest can wait." I waited for his permission. He was nervous, but finally he nodded. "Are we…together? " I couldn't think of another way to word it. He felt like my other half, but I had to know for certain. Clearly, I felt something for him now. My body certainly responded to him, but there were other aspects of his personality that I found unappealing. Also, I had to take into account Demetri's greeting - the light kiss - and Edward's reaction. It all made me wonder. What if I had been involved with Demetri before my transformation? What must the sight of me holding Edward's hand have done to him?
Edward didn't hesitate. He closed the distance between us and brought one of my hands to his mouth to brush a tender kiss across my knuckles and then across my lips the way Demetri had. "Yes."
I was no expert on discerning fact from fiction, but he appeared honest enough. But there was just something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I pushed it aside. After all, I had all of eternity to piece together my memories.
A/N: Thanks for reading. I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed writing; I just wish I had more time to do it. I guess, I'll have to get to work on the sequel ASAP. For those who need some reassurance…Edward won't be able to get away with that lie for too long. Anything you want to see or not see happen in the sequel please include it with your review. I write as much for you guys as I do for myself.