Edward POV
"Show me again" I demand through bared teeth.
I have seen it a hundred times, a thousand- but I fear it will never be enough.
One more time.
One more time, to satisfy what is left of my soul.
With a suffering sigh, and a long roll of her amber eyes, Alice once again allows me a glimpse into the events of the next day.
The standard issue wall clock reads nineteen minutes past two, and the students in Bio lab 16 of Forks high can sense the impending Bell for the end of class.
Sixteen lab tables face an exhausted Mr Banner, who has a well worn text book in hand, and is watching the clock with as much as anticipation as his students.
I drink in the vision; hoping to find something there that I haven't before. The morose part of my psyche hopes to find that it has changed; that is she dead.
116 victims have become 117
Not her. .
Anyone but her.
But thankfully it is the same. And I am given yet another reprieve.
The harsh tones of the buzzer rings out through the room, and Bella Swan rises clumsily from her stool, the straps of her bag wrapping around the stool's legs; as her eyes are trained on the boy that sits next to her.
She throws me a pained smile that I am unable to return before rushing out of the room, and into the throng of people that have no doubt clustered in the corridor.
"I don't kill her. . She doesn't die. . . ."
Not then at least.
The whispered words bring me from the vision, as Alice places a comforting hand on my shoulder. The bare white walls of my room, my sanctuary comforting my heightened senses.
"See, I told you it would be fine, now can you please drop it?" The emphatic plea makes me smile apologetically at my favourite sister. In truth she has been incredibly patient with me, but even Alice has a limit.
"Yes" I allow simply, standing from my leather couch; pulling out the keys to the silver Volvo.
"So why are you going over to her house Edward?" Alice asks harshly, her eyes that had been glazed for less than eight tenths of a second, are now blazing into my own.
"I. . .I just have to." I reply lamely, shrugging my shoulders, because in truth I have no idea why I have to do this. Why I have this need to be watch Bella Swan.
All I do know is that I need to know that she is safe, that she is protected.
"No, no you don't. Jesus Edward, you are the one that has just been spent the better part of eight hours searching my visions; praying to God that you have the strength to let her live. And now you are going to go spy on her?"
Alice's tone hints at anger, but I can tell that she is more exasperated, than anything else.
"I have seen you" she continues "Every single night since Christmas day, you leave after sunset, and you creep to her house and watch. For hours at a time; you spend more time watching Bella Swan than her boyfriend does."
The growl that emanates from my throat is uncontrollable and completely unexpected.
What's that for?
I shake my head, dislodging all my thoughts in that direction.
"I don't know." I reply carefully sidestepping the issue of Jacob Black. "At first It was curiosity. No it was more than that. I needed to know what she was. In my head she couldn't possibly be just human. Her mind was closed to me- that scent. . She had to be something. . Other."
A monster. . The devil. . My own personal demon sent from hell to torture me.
"But she isn't- is she? She is just a girl."
"No. . she's not just a girl . . .she's. . . Bella Swan is anything but ordinary. She's. . . special"
As soon as the words escape my lips I regret them. Alice eye's bubble as they meet mine once more.
"Special?" she breathes
"Yes Special. . ." I search for better words but I find none. How can I explain this to Alice when I don't even know myself "she needs to be protected. . ." I finish lamely
"Why?"
Because if I can't kill her, than no one else can
Yet I leave the thoughts unvoiced, prompting Alice to ask another hard question.
"Do you really thank that you are the right person for the job? The chief of police is her father for heaven's sake. She is probably the safest person in Forks."
I can't help but disagree.
"There are things out there that the police chief cannot protect his daughter from."
From the scattered thoughts that I have garnered from Charlie his daughter is one of the most clumsy women on the face of the planet, and that accompanied with her obvious bad luck, means that she needs me.
Her very own vampire angel.
"He loves her" I want to ask her who she is referring to, but we both know who it is.
"I know that" Of course I do. I heard his thoughts; that night, as I fought the temptation to drain his girlfriend dry.
And they have stalked me every day since.
It should be more difficult. All those stories, Her beloved Romeo and Juliet, they all had to fight so hard to be together. . It's so easy with Bella.
We are young but it won't be a barrier, all I have to do is wait. . .
Half realised visions of bridal gowns and wedding nights, had flowed through his adolescent mind.
"She loves him too. . ."
I don't react to her words, as I drop the keys on the floor.
"it'll be quicker to run. . .I'll see you tomorrow. . . When they return don't tell them where I've gone. I promise I'll be back to drive us to be school."
I make it to the house in record time; my legs now accustomed to the four mile trip to her modest home.
The house Is cloaked in darkness, aside from the kitchen and living room, and I know without looking that Bella stands in the kitchen, while her father remains in the lounge.
I don't allow my temptation to stare through the kitchen window take hold. Even with their blind senses, Bella would notice me in a minute.
"Bella?"
Charlie's voice is gruff, and hides the inner turmoil that he is experiencing.
Get this over with. . Jesus do I have to?
Yes. Yes I do.. .she needs to know this
"Yeah? Do you want another can?"
I pull myself a step further into the encroaching forest before I can inch toward to the sound of her voice.
I have tried over the past week, to find one thing. . . One thing that is not appealing about her. . And I remain empty handed
"Could you come in here please. . . It's important..
The speed of Bella's heart increases.
"Please sit."
I can here Charlie's hand pat the coarse fabric of a chair, obviously trying to entice his daughter to sit down
Here goes nothing
"Will this take long, it's just that I need to get a move on, I'm supposed to be in La push tonight to see-"
"-Jacob" Charlie finishes; and a small smile plays across my features as I hear the slight annoyance in his thoughts. "Yeah I know that's kind of the reason I wanted to talk to you. We haven't really spoken much about your relationship with Jacob, and well I think it's better that we do it sooner rather than later."
For the first time this week, I feel wrong.
I shouldn't be here.
I am hiding between the trees, no better than a peeping tom. A voyeur.
I should leave.
Yet my legs refuse to answer my command, an I remain rooted to the spot.
Listening. . Violating her privacy
Their conversation continues, as Charlie's thoughts, become more and more distraught.
This is why she needs a mother. A proper mother. . .Renee should be having this conversation with her daughter, not me.
But since when did Renee ever do what was expected?
"I found these in the washing machine. . I promise I wasn't snooping, it's just they were there, and well. . As much as I really don't want to be having this conversation; I just can't ignore this."
I can't see what he is holding but I know what it is. . .
No. .
Charlie holds the clothes as if they were nuclear waste, his hands itching at it's touch.
Tell me you didn't.
Lie to me. . Say anything but don't tell me you slept with him. . . I like Jacob but I cannot accept this.. .
"Dad, I can explain . . ."
Can you?
Do I want you too? Could it be worse than what Is going on in my mind
Both Charlie and I think simultaneously, as I try to close off any thoughts of the man child's hands over her ivory skin.
Caressing. .
Kissing . . .
Biting. . .
NO!!!
It is no longer Jacob's naked body looming over Bella but my own. .A gentle rose flushes her body, brining her blood to the surface of her skin.
This our first and last time. She will not survive this encounter but I can't bring myself to care.
She is mine.
My skin sparkles as I trace her form; my hands soft and searching; memorizing every detail, but my mouth is insistent, as I tare through the thin layers of skin to her jugular.
Charlie's words are now merely a buzz in the background.
"Look Bells, I'm sure that there's a hundred different reasons for his clothes to be in my washing machine, and ninety nine of them are most likely innocent, but I can't ignore this. . .I know you're a sensible girl, you've got a good head on your shoulders, and I trust your judgement I really do. . . . But he's sixteen Bells, and he loves you. . . He idolizes you. . . Just look after him okay. . . He doesn't deserve to get his heart broken."
Wait. What?
"dad. . .I would never do anything to hurt Jake . . . I love him too."
I love him too. . .
The words shouldn't hurt.
They shouldn't burn through my impenetrable skin, but they do.
I can't explain the emotions that coarse through my veins.
I want her. Of course I do, it is as if she has been created for me.
No God is not that kind.
She has been created to tempt me; her blood sings to me; her body calls to me, and I can do nothing but follow.
If only it were that easy
"I understand Bella. But I need you to understand something. Jacob black has always been in love with you. Ever since you were kids, he worshipped the ground you walked on. And no disrespect Bella, but I know that women can be cruel. ."
No kidding
I close myself off from the rest of the conversation as the realisation hits me.
I want Isabella Marie Swan.
I want to make love to her.
I want to drain every drop of her ruby red blood; and listen to her heart beat it's last.
And it sickens me.
I want what I can't have.
With heavy heart I make my way to the front of the house, preparing myself to follow Bella Swan to the treaty line.
We can uphold our side of the bargain even if others can't
As her fifty year old truck roars to life, a familiar Volvo drives past, stopping directly in front of me.
Alice winds down the window, brandishing an easy smile.
"I thought you could do with a lift. . And a hand. . After all I will love her too. one day . And I'd hate that to go away if you go and do something stupid."
Without another word, we speed down the road in pursuit.
AN: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know some of you may find Edward's reaction to Bella a bit sudden but he is slightly OOC compared to the twilight books, and now that the Bella and Jacob relationship has been established I needed to quicken up the plot.
But rest assured that Bella won't be rushing into his arms anytime soon. Un-like most Jake/Bella fictions I have read Bella is in love with Jake, and is happy! She doesn't want anyone else.
So as always review, I would like to know your ideas on the story, and maybe your own ideas on what you would like to see.
and just a side note, as I have explained before but to those to who have missed it, the italics and underlining in my work is incidental and not done on purpose. I have tried to remove it to no avail. So to those who have reviewed to moan about them I am sorry, but complaining won't change anything. J