CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
Alice was on one side of me and Rosalie on the other, effectively creating a shield from the brooding figure sat on the row of seats opposite us. I could feel his gaze on me though and it was making me squirm nervously in my seat. Rosalie glanced up from the magazine she was reading and half turned in her seat to fix Edward with a look that could have made a stampeding herd of wildebeest stop in their tracks. He met her gaze though unflinching and then resumed his perusal of me. Alice reached across and squeezed my hand, before looking across at Edward. It was taking every ounce of strength in me to not look across at him; to not meet his gaze.
Carlisle cleared his throat from his seat next to Edward and tried to catch his attention, but Edward was having none of it. He would not be distracted from his charge, which currently seemed to be making me as uncomfortable as was possible. I moved my bandaged hand on my lap and knew when his gaze flickered down to it and then back to my face; his look was like a burning laser; I could feel where it rested. My hand was no longer broken; healed by the blood I had consumed the night before, but it was still bruised and aching.
"Hey, Edward!" Emmett's voice boomed from the row behind Edward and his hand came down on his shoulder. "Quit doing that. You're being a jerk!"
Rosalie sniggered next to me and leaned towards me to whisper in my ear.
"I love the way he just tells it like it is," she said. "So full of finesse!"
"He has no idea the risk he takes," Alice murmured. I stiffened. Would Edward hurt Emmett? Alice sighed. "But then again Edward doesn't seem to have Emmett on his radar in quite the same way as he has others. Perhaps because he has never felt even remotely threatened by him."
Her voice was very soft, but I knew from experience that Edward would have heard every word she said. I risked glancing up and saw that he was still staring at me, his eyes dark brown, just on the edge of being black. For a moment our eyes met and I felt a flush of heat surge through my body, making my cheeks redden.
"Edward." Carlisle's soft voice pierced through the uncomfortable silence, but it made no difference. Nothing would make him look away from me; I don't think he had even blinked in the last hour we had been sat in the plane.
"She might not want me to speak to her or be around her, but I can look at her as much as I want to," he growled. I shifted nervously in my chair, biting my lip.
"You are intimidating her," observed Jasper.
"I am doing nothing to her," he replied, his eyes never leaving me.
"Edward Cullen, you need to stop now!" said Esme, in a very firm, motherly tone of voice. For just a moment, Edward's eyes flickered to his mother, but then he resumed staring. And at that moment, I finally found my voice.
"It's ok," I said, quietly. "Let him stare if it makes him happy." I forced some nonchalance in my voice, though in my head I was thinking I would do anything to make him happy. I could see the pain in his eyes when he looked at me; the pain of what he had done to me and the pain I had caused by keeping him away from me. But I could also see the underlying anger; the darkness within him that did not see why I would keep him from me.
The rest of the flight passed in silence and when we reached the airfield, a limousine was awaiting us. Edward managed to grab a seat next to me, but thankfully had stopped his stare-down. Instead he sat close enough that his body brushed against mine, our thighs pressed together on the seat. No one commented, but I felt their eyes flickering across to us and I heard Rosalie snarl once, before Emmett squeezed her hand and shook his head.
We arrived at Carlisle's villa and when I went to take my bag from the driver, Edward got there first, picking it up as if it weighed nothing and stalking towards the house without giving me so much as a backward glance. I followed behind him, unconsciously admiring the strong sweep of his back, his tight jeans sculpting against his butt and his bulging biceps. He half turned to check I was behind him and then carried on walking.
"Bella," said Emmett, quietly, grabbing my arm. "You ok? You want him to back off a bit?"
"No, it's fine, Emmett. I guess it's time I spoke to him," I replied, giving him a smile. "And you'll be around if..."
I saw Edward's shoulders tense, though he didn't turn to face us and Emmett scowled.
"As always, Bells."
I followed Edward into our room and he kicked the door closed behind us. Chewing nervously on my lip, I went across the room, putting the bed between us. Edward dropped our bags on the floor and then leaned back against the wall, his foot resting there, his arms folded.
"Ready to talk to me again?" he asked. I lifted my head and met his gaze momentarily before ducking away, returning to the floor; it seemed infinitely safer than Edward's overpowering eyes. He sighed and pushed himself from the wall, crossing the room with vampire swiftness to stand directly in front of me. There was nowhere to go with the bed to one side, walls to the other two sides and Edward filling the remainder of my personal space. He suddenly reached across to take hold of my injured hand and I flinched at his touch. Edward bit back a sigh and then brought my hand tenderly to his lips, kissing it, as his eyes met mine, forcibly. "Will you be able to forgive me?" There was infinite sadness in his voice and I felt an answering wave of grief sweep through me.
"I... I guess so," I stammered. He dropped my hand and then took a step back, raking his hands through his hair and then slumping down on the bed, his head in his hands.
"Bella, I don't want you to be afraid of me," he mumbled. I watched him warily and then sat down beside him, struggling to not touch him. We needed to talk and I knew if I put my hands on him we would not be talking.
"I don't want to be afraid of you either," I murmured. "And I am not afraid of you as such. I'm afraid of what you can do to me... what you have done to me..." I broke off when he groaned audibly. He suddenly took my bandaged hand in his again and then he reached up to cup my face in his hand.
"Bella, it was not me that did it; it was the curse. You can't keep punishing me for it..."
"But it's ok for you to punish me?" I responded, softly. Edward visibly forced himself to stay calm and I reached up a hand to cover his. "Edward, I love you so much, but I can't allow you to keep hurting me, because every time you do it hurts you as much as it hurts me."
He bowed his head and then brought our entwined hands down to his lap.
"Then what do we do?" he asked, almost nervously.
"I... I don't know."
We sat in uncomfortable silence for a while and then he suddenly reached across and pulled me to him, folding me in his embrace. Our mutual grief surged between us and we stayed there for the longest time, simply holding one another. Eventually, he pulled me back a little and his lips found mine, covering them for the sweetest kiss. And then he surprised me by sitting us up and he started to unwrap the bandage on my hand. I winced and watched his expression as he took in the bruising, the shape of his fingers marked on my own in shades of red and purple. His eyes narrowed and then he brought my hand to his lips, tenderly kissing it.
Edward got to his feet, drawing me up with him and he bit his wrist, before pushing it forcibly against my lips. I wasn't hungry, but I drank, knowing he wanted me to and his eyes darkened with lust. He leaned down and kissed my mouth as I withdrew from his wrist and then lifted my hand, showing me that the bruises were gone.
"I don't know how to stop myself from doing this, my love, but I will not see you unhealed. If my blood can heal you, you will use it."
"Edward..." I broke off, unsure how to continue with what I wanted to say. Finally, I turned back to him, tears burning my eyes. "I... I... don't think I can do this anymore."
"What are you saying?" he asked, his gaze darkening.
"If the Volturi cannot lift this curse, Edward, I think it would be better for both of us if..." I could hardly bear to say the words that I knew I had to. He looked across at me, understanding clouding his eyes in a veil of misery. "It would be better if I left. Because otherwise one or both of us will end up dead."
"No!" he cried. Tears ran down my cheeks freely now and I reached across to him, not wanting him to feel this pain.
"I will stay until we can be sure, but if they cannot do anything about this then I have to go. We cannot live out an eternity in this way, Edward. You must be able to see that."
"No! I cannot live without you, Bella. If you leave me, you will achieve nothing, because I will die anyway!" he said. I stared at him and choked back a sob, because I knew that what he said was true. We would die if we stayed together; we would die if we were apart. He reached across and pulled me to him, hard. His lips found mine, giving me an aggressive kiss. The kiss was so dominant that I whimpered slightly from the violence of it, but then he pushed his body against mine and I shivered.
"Edward..." He pushed his hand over my mouth and gave me a harsh look.
"You have said enough for one day, Bella," he growled. "Now put your mouth to good use and give me a kiss." He claimed my mouth again and I sank against him, with a quiet moan. He held me against him tightly as he kissed me and I felt his growing hardness against me. Edward manoeuvred me back until my legs touched the side of the bed and I fell back against it, with him on top of me. Edward's hands deftly moved down my body, caressing me gently through my clothing. I needed him so much, but when I reached down to try and touch him, he growled and pushed my hand away. It was apparent that he wanted to be completely in control and so I gave up.
He removed my clothing slowly, torturously drawing his hands down my body as he did so. I was like putty in his hands. Once I was completely naked, he leaned back, his eyes raking over me until I blushed pink. Edward chuckled darkly and then leaned down, kissing my throat until I moaned with desire. I couldn't stop myself from wriggling, trying to push my body closer to him, but he stopped me with a growl.
"Stay still," he commanded. I struggled to comply and he smiled down at me, before he started to kiss his way down my body until I was squirming again.
"Please, Edward," I begged.
"Are you begging me, Isabella?" he said. There was a teasing note in his voice and I smiled up at him.
"Please, sir?" I tried, with a small giggle. Edward laughed out loud at my attempts to persuade him and I rejoiced in having my Edward there for the time being.
"Please what, Isabella?"
"Please, I need you now," I begged again. And this time Edward complied, entering me forcibly making me gasp.
"I love you, Isabella," he said, as he pounded into me.
"I love you, Edward, so much," I cried out. Afterwards, we lay in one another's arms for a long time, Edward cradling me against him. He brought his lips to my head, his fingers playing with my hair.
"Bella, please don't ever leave me," he said, suddenly.
"I won't," I promised him. "Edward, I couldn't leave you... I couldn't."
"Good," he said, softly. "Because without you, I am nothing. You are my oxygen, Bella; the blood that gives me life."
"I'm sorry I said I would go," I said, softly. His grip on me tightened for a moment and then he sighed deeply.
"I understand, Bella. I wish I could promise that I won't hurt you again, but... I have no control over it. All I can promise is that that side of me cannot take over indefinitely. And when I am me, I love you with every fibre of my being and I will do whatever it takes to overcome this curse."
I bit my lip, but before I could reply there was a knock on the door and Alice entered. She took one look at us, naked on the bed and then rolled her eyes, diverting her gaze.
"Forgive the intrusion but we have a visitor," she said.
"Who?" we asked in unison.
"It's Caius and he's alone. He says he needs to speak to you both, urgently, before you meet with the Volturi tomorrow."
I glanced up at Edward, nervously, but he got to his feet and blurred, appearing fully dressed in seconds. He disappeared out of the door, leaving me alone with Alice.
"What does he want?" I asked, nervously.
"I don't know, Bella. I can't see anything beyond him being downstairs." She tried to give me a reassuring smile, but I could see how nervous she was.
"Isabella!" called Edward from downstairs, sounding very impatient. Alice pulled me to her for a quick hug.
"Come on, let's go see what Caius wants," she said. And then she grinned. "I'm very glad you and Edward made up, by the way. He really does love you, Bella."
"I know," I said, softly, following her from the room. We entered the living room to see Caius standing by the window, his hands behind his back. His red eyes narrowed as I entered the room and he took a step towards me, pausing when Edward moved across to me, grabbing my hand in his.
"I have come to warn you," said Caius. "Jonathan has arrived at the Volturi headquarters. He is claiming you have stolen his mate, Edward."
"That's ridiculous!" cried Alice. Caius turned to her, a sneer on his lips.
"You forget that Jonathan is Volturi and therefore can claim whatever mate he wishes. You may have to step aside if the Volturi accept Jonathan's version of events."
Edward snarled and I gasped.
"N... no... I... I can't go back to him. Please, please..." My voice broke off as Caius turned to face me.
"You can plead your case tomorrow, Isabella," he said. "But I suggest, Edward, that you control your temper, or you will only anger Aro and then he may decide against you just to spite you."
I stared up at Edward, terrified and Caius gave us a grim smile.
"Until tomorrow," he said, giving a small bow and then he disappeared in a swirl of fabric. Edward tightened his embrace and then released me quickly, as his eyes turned black. Alice grabbed me before I could go to follow him, as he hurried out of the door. I heard him roar with rage and gave a small squeak of fear.
"Alice, please, please tell me they won't give me back to Jonathan," I cried, fearfully. She looked at me and then closed her eyes, willing her visions to come. And when her eyes opened, they were black.
"Pain and blood. Death," she cried out, her voice sounding deeper, colder than usual. "Beware, Isabella. Beware."
