Sorry for the hiatus…
I went to Italy, visited Rome, watched my favorite Futbol team play, went to the vatican, etc….all in my head. I've actually spent myself reading books (textbooks), writing (notes), and barely getting any sleep.
Here's an extra long chapter for all the wait. Don't worry, come hell or high water I will get another chapter done today. Screw school, for the next two hours at least.
"So what's going on Jasmine?" Bella asked as she sat down on the small kitchen table. She didn't know what was Jasmine wanted to say. Actually, she didn't really care, she was still thinking about Edward's abrupt goodbye. He was strained and fighting an internal dilemma, of that she was sure.
"Well," she started as she worked around the kitchen. "I was finishing up the last couple of details for my exhibit and I asked Lali to come and give me her expert opinion."
Bella looked confused. "wait, who's Lali? I don't think I've met anyone by that name."
Jasmine turned sideways and matched Bella's confused expression. "Hmm, yeah, I guess you haven't. Well her real name is Citlali, it means Star in her native language. I can't ever pronounce it right so she lets me call her by her nickname. Anyways, she is a tribal elder. I've spoken to her a lot about the legends. She's helped me with some herself. She's the sweetest and most wonderful person I've ever met. …"
Bella ignored the rest of the ranting. She had never noticed that Jasmine spoke a lot, maybe a little too much. Well, she'd never seen her so excited either.
"So we were finishing up the cold ones exhibition and I told her that it was crazy. There was no way that vampires were real."
"Wait what?" Bella asked as she caught the end of her continous stream of unimportant information.
She looked at Bella from the stove. She was stirring the contents inside. "She said that the legends of the cold ones remind her of vampires. You know for an elderly lady she sure is knowledgeable. She comes into my office all the time to get on the internet. I almost laughed out loud the first time she asked…"
"Why did she say that they were vampires?" Bella interrupted.
"Well, she is fascinated,no, more like obsessed with them. She looks information about them all the time. I think she's nuts. Not really but you know in the figurative form. So she said that they were and that they lived closer to us than she'd like. She said even though the eyes are different it is them and they came to stay."
"Who do you think she was talking about?" Bella tried to keep a low level of interest meanwhile wanting to jump out of her skin with surprise. He wasn't a God! he wasn't good! He had said as much. But it was too far fetched to think that he was a vampire, especially if the credible source turned out to be a senile tribal elder according to her loose lipped aunt.
But it all added up. He was super strong, fast, and dangerous. Even Lali had said that the eyes were different but they turned the same color red when he bit into Jaime. He had killed Jaime but he had left her alive. So he couldn't be bad, he wouldn't have left someone who knows about him alive. At least that's what a regular vampire would do. Wouldn't they? Besides aren't they supposed to only come out at night?
And he had taken her to his house. He has a house! Surely he isn't a vampire. He was something else, he had to be. Maybe a magician, or fairy or angel.
Yeah, she'd believe that he was an angel, her own guardian angel before she thought that he was a bloodthirsty vampire.
"I don't know. She's rather old, maybe she's becoming senile. But she is the most wonderful person ever. So then…" and she continued on her monologue. Bella ignore her and began to turn green at the unexpected truth of Jasmine's words.
"Umm, jasmine, I don't feel too well, I'll be back." She said as she turned towards the back door.
"Where are you going honey? Do you want some medicine?" Jasmine called out but Bella was already halfway into the backyard. She continued walking into the jungle oblivious to any dangers that might lurk in the dark. When her gears in her mind began whirring she was rarely aware of her surroundings.
"He simply can't be. Can he? I mean he's nice, wonderful, thoughtful, beautiful, intelligent. He was definitely well mannered. And beautiful! But he did drink Jaime's blood and his eyes turned color. But it wasn't permanent, only temporary. And intellingent…and the most wonderful person in the world…and so…beyond words." She began listing the pros and cons to this new information.
After considerable debate, time, and distance later she admitted to herself the truth in Lali's words. He was a vampire. And no matter what, she loved him. That much hadn't changed, no matter how much she thought about it. It truly didn't matter. She nodded to herself as she was sure of her decision.
It was then that she looked up and around her.
"Dammit" she muttered as she looked to her back, she was completely lost, again. Thinking and walking are not things she should do together. She began walking backwards hoping that she left a visible trail. It was getting darker and the night animals started making their nightly symphony.
"Oh great!" she was beyond anger, she was completely livid. She had done the most stupid thing possible. She had done it again. "Well, no hope of finding Edward or Alice this close to my home hiking."
"And why would that be?" His smooth, clear voice sent shivers down her back. She turned around to make sure it wasn't her mind playing a trick on her.
She jumped on him and hugged him with all her strength. "Edward, you found me again." She smiled. He held rigid, his muscles tense. She took a step back and dislodged herself from him and looked at the beatific smile on his face, the hunger in his eyes, and the restraint in his body.
"Oops." She said looking down. It was several minutes later that Edward regained enough composure to speak again. "Bella, please tell me what you're doing in the middle on the jungle at night."
"I could ask you the same question Edward Cullen and I've got another one to add to that. What are you doing in the jungle, at night, close to my house?" She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.
He chuckled lightly, amused. "Well, I hike a lot and you're not that close to your house. You're closer to mine."
Bella's eyes shifted around to take better note of her surroundings. "What time is it?"
"It's nine. At night!" he aswered after a quick glance at his watch.
"Shoot!" she muttered as she turned her back on Edward. "I'll be on a one way ticket home tomorrow that's for sure."
She scratched her head as she tried to come up with a good excuse for getting lost this time.
"I can take you home if you'd like." He murmured.
"No Edward. The last thing I want is for us to show up in your car and then you'll get in trouble too. NO." She didn't add the embarrassment that she'd feel if that were the case. "Besides, Jasmine is on a crazy theory right now and the last thing I want is for her to figure it out."
She turned to look at Edward letting her arms flap down in defeat. She was apprehensive, she had involuntarily told Edward what he wanted to know. She knew.
"Yes, I heard her theory this afternoon. But tell me, what do you think?" he asked as he circled her. Bella took in a sharp breath. She could feel Edward's eyes on her, analyzing her as he circled.
"I don't know what to think." She whispered, looking down. A hand appeared in her sight and pulled her chin up. Edward was staring with profound intensity. "What do you think?" he whispered again.
He was so close to her face that the intoxicating smell of his breath sent shivers down her back and a fog of euphoria inside her mind. She had forgotten what he asked.
"Umm…what?" she mumbled as she continued to stare at Edward. He closed his eyes and the smirk of his face was…ethereal. He shook his head softly and took a step back.
"tell me." He ordered with as much authority as a puppy.
"I…" she closed her eyes. "I think… you're a vampire." She muttered as her ragged breath betrayed her.
A soft caress on her cheek caused her to open her eyes. "Are you afraid?" he asked as if he was asking her if she loved him. The tender tone was enough to melt any heart. He kept his hand on her cheek as he stared into her eyes.
"No" she whispered as her cheek burned with his touch. The burning started spreading to the rest of her body. Following the trail that her nerves had so easily provided.
He smiled, but his eyes didn't lose the intensity, the hunger and this time it wasn't for her blood. It was an alien hunger. A yearning to hold her close to him. So close that their bodies would melt and form one.
"Are you cold?" he whispered as he noted her shivering body.
"No" she whispered back. He took a step back and let go. The cold crept in like an invading enemy. Without any remorse or regret, her body cooled.
"So what do we do then? You have to get home but you don't want to take the car." He mused out loud. His eyes twinkled as the thought entered his mind.
Bella frowned, not knowing what he was getting at.
"Would you mind if I was really close to you?" he asked and suddenly he was there. Just inches away from her body. She gasped at the unexpected speed. She shook her head unable to speak.
"Would you mind if I carried you?" he whispered again in her ear. She shook her head again. And before she was done shaking her head she was in his arms.
"Close your eyes." He ordered softly as she looked up at him. She was fighting the yearning to touch his face. It was so close and so beautiful. It might be easier to ask an art robber to leave the Mona Lisa alone than it would have been to ask Bella to leave him be.
She closed her eyes and the only movement she felt was his rythmic breathing and her swaying hair. She leaned her head to his shoulder and she hugged his neck with her free hand. The safety she felt was enough to relax her whole body. Quicker than she would've liked, she fell asleep.
She felt a quick temperature change and her hair stopped swaying…
"I don't know where she could be. She just went outside and that was it. She wasn't in her room and I don't know…john? What if something happened to her? We have to find her." Jasmine's usually soft and perky voice was suddenly wary and frightened.
Bella opened her eyes and looked around her room. She was laying down on her bed with the net billowing as a breeze was coming in through the open window. she looked everywhere stunned and she couldn't find Edward anywhere. He was gone.
She got up and headed out of her room. She ran her fingers through her hair trying to make sure it wasn't all over the place. The brightness of the other room blinded her momentarily.
"Uncle?...Um what's going on?" her voice was hoarse as she walked in to the living room.
All five people turned to look at her as if they'd seen a ghost. After a second to process all the thoughts that crossed their minds they stood up and ran over to Bella.
In an instant she was the center of a group hug. From the tiny Jasmine to her burly cousins.
"What in the world happened to you?" Jasmine almost growled when the hug was over.
"I went walking in the backyard. I wasn't feeling good and I thought that fresh air would help. It started getting late and I had gone into the jungle so I came back. I'm still not feeling so good." She trailed off.
"Yes, I guess it must be some kind of bug that got you. You were sick in the morning too." John added.
Had it really been that morning that she left with Edward? It felt like a lifetime ago.
"Yeah." She mumbled.
"But how did you get in without us finding out about it?" David asked.
Bella shrugged. "I can't really remember. I just remember needing to get home because it was dark and waking up to hear you guys worried. I thought I had let you know when I came in, I must have been dreaming. I'm sorry."
Everyone had a frown on their faces but they couldn't argue it further. Well, they could, but what good would it do? She was home safe. It was all that mattered.
"Well, I'm going back to bed. I'm sorry." She trudged back to bed. She closed her room door and headed straight to the window. A small breeze came in. she looked directly towards the jungle and then she headed back to sleep…
It was an uncharacteristic night. The full moon shone with exceptional brilliance and the breeze came in and cooled the air more. It felt almost as cold as Forks. A soft touch across her face made her sigh.
She cuddled even more tightly into a ball. She had the sheets wrapped around her. "Bella." The same melodic whisper stirred her mind. It was too good to be true, this dream was the best she was having. Just the voice was enough to make her want to melt into a pool of sunshine.
"Bella, wake up."
She grudginly stirred from her happy ball. "No, I don't want to wake up." She mumbled.
A soft chuckle permeated the last level of sleep and she opened her eyes. Edward sat on her bed softly caressing her face as he had before. She leaned back to get a better view of this excrutiating beauty that sat so close to her.
"Edward. What are you doing here?" she asked as she sat up from her bed.
"I came to visit, of course. How was everything here?" he asked as he looked towards the door.
"Everything was fine. I think… to be honest, I can't really remember much." She mumbled.
He chuckled again and as he got up he held his hand out to hers. "Come with me." The netting moved aside with a simple movement of his arm. She took his hand as she started moving out of her bed. She had her sleeping shorts on and her tattered and holey tshirt. She looked down at her clothes embarrassed.
"what are we doing?" she asked. Making mental notes on the clean clothes she had available.
"We're going to take a trip in the jungle. You are perfect the way you are." He said seeing the uncertainty in her face.
She bit her lip. "I still have to change, though. Can you give me a moment?"
"It would be my pleasure." He murmured through the wind as he disappeared. She quickly ran over to her clothes and got a pair of jeans and a white shirt with a tan sweater. She put her sneakers on and she was ready. She tried to brush her hair but it was too tangled.
After she gave up she put her hair up in a pony tail. She sighed for along moment. He was back with invisible speed. He stopped by the door and looked her over with intense scrutiny, he liked what he saw very much.
He took the last steps slowly and deliberately. "I'm going to carry you." He said as he leaned towards her and picked her up.
They flew out of the room through the window. She closed her eyes again but peeked as they continued to move through the forest. For once, the animals didn't quiet down, they sang with stronger and happier songs. Adding to the already incredible night. They reached the top of the cliff that she had been rescued by them the first time. He set her down on the ground as the pale moonlight reflected off of his deliciously butterscotch eyes. The light turned them silver and they shone with exceptional beauty.
"So, what are we doing here?" she asked as she looked around. He had taken several steps back and leaned against one of the trees. She looked to where he stood and waited for him to say something. She looked for signs of danger, he wasn't tense, he looked flush and well fed, and he had the most loving smile on his face.
She took several steps toward him and he put his palm up. "Wait." He said.
She stood waiting and looking at him. Several minutes passed and the moon was exactly over the cliff. Suddenly everything was well lit or at least shone. The scraggly greenery shone with a soft green and silver mix. Flowers, she had never noticed, began opening up all around her. Their stamens glittering gold and blue and purple and all colors. Their petals were so slick and oily that they reflected everything, the moon, the shadows of the huge trees, the colors of the stamen.
But though the flower was a visual treat it had nothing on its smell. Cinnamon, lilac, rose, lavender, freesia and other smells wafted out of the flowers.
She looked all around her with open mouthed awe. It was truly breathtaking. "Edward, do you see this? Do you smell this?"
His chuckle soared with the breeze and reached her ears. She looked up at him and he began walking towards her. As he did the flowers immediately shrank back into ugly brown and green pods. He walked silently, slowly.
He grabbed her hands and kissed them gently. She all but swooned. It was all too perfect.
"Do you love me?" he whispered to her as he took the last step to her. They were inches from touching.
"Yes." There was no hesitation in her body, in her mind, and in her heart.
"Would you die for me?"
"Of Course, I'd do anything to keep you safe." She answered wondering why he'd need her to spell it out for him.
"Would you really be willing?" he eyed the purple-blue vein in her wrist.
"Oh." She said as it clicked together in her mind. "You want to know if I'd be willinging to let you drink my blood. What would happen if I said no?"
He raised his eyes to hers, visibly tearing his eyes from the vein. "Well, I'd have to leave you. I can't stay with you any longer. It's too hard, you're too…much. Your smell, your blood, your mind, your body. It's waking things in me that I am not familiar with and that I can't control without and exponential amount of self-control."
She swallowed as her mind sifted through the fog and registered every word.
"Okay." She whispered as she moved her hair away from her neck. She closed her eyes waiting for it all to end. At least she had met and died at the hand of the one she loved. At least she had seen an angel and loved it and now she would nourish it. Either way, it didn't matter whether she lived or died if he was not in her life."
He leaned in to her soft neck...
Life Sucks! Big Time!
Here I thought that in the summer I'd take classes and have time to write. That hasn't been the case. FYI, for those of you who haven't made it into college, summer classes are not all fun and games and they are TIME CONSUMING!
I've been working on this chapter since last time I sent a chapter, sad isn't it? I think so.