OKAY Ya'll. Whew. I am so glad that's over.
Breathe.
I have fluff for you! Well. I say fluff. More like, tiny angst, fluff, and some sweet smut. NO MORE GROSSNESS I PROMISE!
SMUT AHEAD! LAST SCENE IS M for MATURE!
I had to take a few days, that last chapter ate me up. Whew.
REVIEW please, let me know I didn't scare you off.
Jeez.
THREE MORE CHAPTERS!
Hi, Siobhan and RKD! Are you still there?
Here goes:
LINKS:
DeviantArt:
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YouTube:
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Spotify:
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Bedroom Hymns
"Thirty minutes, Love. Then you can come get me. I'll be in your mind the whole time. But you must see Josephat, it can't wait. You need a healer, Edward."
Bella had been trying to convince Edward to let go of her for the last ten minutes. The healer was currently tending to Rockabye at his home but had sent word that he would be at the medical wing on the second floor of HQ as soon as possible. Bella itched to go see Rockabye, make sure she was okay, and dreaded leaving Edward almost as much as he was dreading leaving her; but there was no way in hell she was putting Edward through the conversation she needed to have with her regent and commander.
"Bella, why can't you come with me? I know you want a shower, but-"
She cut him off by shaking her head. "No, no. I just have to go to council, catch Marcos and Kay up on the events of the day. Thirty minutes, love. You can monitor me."
"I can't read your thoughts usually, just impressions. Don't ask me to let you out of my sight. Prisoner, remember?"
Bella's lips twisted in an indulgent smile. "Edward. We are in Camp. Look, I'll take Carlisle and Emmett with me, come on, let me go."
"And Jasper. Thirty minutes. Then, I'm coming to get you. Seriously. Don't- Please don't do anything stupid or selfless or brave. For me."
"Wouldn't dream of it." She shot him a reassuring smile. "Go on, Jo's probably there by now. He's gonna be pissed about your aura. Better not keep him waiting. I'll be in council chambers, just one floor up."
Edward narrowed his eyes at her, but unwound his arms where they were wrapped around her waist. "Take Rosalie too. Marcos will be there, if anything happens, right?"
"Yes. Nothing will happen. Go, Edward." He went, with Esme and Alice tugging him along.
As soon as she was sure he was out of hearing range, she sighed deeply. Taking in her vampire family around her, she almost sighed again. Nothing stupid, selfless, or brave. She was pretty sure what she was about to do qualified as all three. How was she going to get rid of the Cullens Edward had left her with? Before she could decide, Marcos and Kaedra ran to her in the courtyard, obviously fresh from the training grounds.
"Okay, what the hell happened now? I swear Isa, I can't leave you alone for two seconds." Marcos was breathing hard from his sprint and sporting a developing bruise around one eye.
"Her? I wanna know what the fuck happened to the vamp-lover. Did you see his aura? It looked like it had been put through a shredder. You have a story to tell, Isabella." Kaedra was imperious even in her training clothes, her boxer's wrap hanging from her closed fist.
"Oh, do I ever. Please don't kill me, Kay. I really need a little grace here, I am all out of fight for the day, and my shoulder hurts. Come on."
The group: Kaedra, Marcos, Carlisle, Jasper, Emmett, Bella, and Rosalie, made their way slowly to the council chamber. Carlisle fussed over Bella's shoulder the whole way, until Marcos finally passed him a strand of healing magick just to get him to shut up.
Bella felt much better after Carlisle healed her dislocated and strained shoulder, but she still really wanted a shower. She was frazzled and worn, and didn't want to have this conversation, ever, but especially not when she could still smell the Anubi on her skin. She felt a rush of energy and determination fill her. "Thanks, Jasper."
The council doors had barely closed behind them when Emmett pounced. "Okay, I, for one, would really like to know what happened. I have never seen my brother have such a meltdown, and you weren't exactly serene. And what the hell does Anubis have to do with anything? Isn't that like, an Egyptian thing?"
Kay's eyes went wide. "Anubi? Please god, tell me you did not aggravate that wasp's nest. Bella. What have you done?"
"Okay, so first, not my fault. Muse sent us in there. And second, um, well...Kasdaya might be dead."
Marcos and Kaedra blinked at her, long and slow. Carlisle cleared his throat. "Who's Kasdaya?"
"Fuck that. Vampires, out. NOW. Holy shit, Bella, what the fuck have you done? Ohmygod. This is bad. Like, I knew it was gonna be bad, but holy shit, bad." Kaedra had gone from zero to one hundred in two seconds flat, already flashing the Cullens out the doors and locking them. "The Anubi. Kasdaya. Are you sure she's gone? Oh no. Oh no. The Master is gonna kill us all. No wait, forget him, the Anubi are gonna kill us all. WHY would you kill her?"
"I didn't. Edward did. That's why his aura is all screwed up. It was sort of necessary at the time. She sicked Miko on me, she was gonna kill Edward if I didn't let her..well. You know."
"WHY were you even in her territory anyway?" Marcos cut in. "This is like, apocalypse now bullshit Isa. Wait. Did you say she sicked the Anubi on you, and you're still breathing? How did that happen? Oh god, if she really is dead, who's gonna hold the dogs' leash?"
"No one is. The Anubi will run free through Havana once more. Isabella, what were you thinking?"
"If you'll shut up for two seconds, I'll tell you. And I may have a plan to contain the dogs. It's not a very good plan, but it has a reasonable chance of success."
Bella explained what she knew of the situation to her Regent and Commander, watched their faces grow more and more horrified. By the end, Marcos had to conjure his own bucket to throw up in, and Kay looked distinctly green.
Kaedra took a long breath to center herself. "Well, that's horrifying. Jesus. What is it about you that attracts nightmarish crap? I can't even be mad the vamp killed her. Ohmygod. I might even be grateful to him."
"Yeah, but what do we do now? The Anubi can't be unrestrained, or others will have worse stories to tell. I'm not blaming you, Isa. But this is gonna be really bad, for a lot of people. They wont stay in the badlands. They'll cross the line, it's only a matter of time. You said you had a plan?" Marcos' practicality was very welcome.
Bella took a deep, centering breath to quell her shaking. "Yeah, I have a plan. You're not gonna like it."
"Spill."
Bella met Kaedra's eyes, serious as she could be. "The Master doesn't want the Anubi unleashed any more than we do. He could be convinced to help us. If I reached out."
"WHAT?" Marcos was thunderstruck, yelling. He grabbed her by the shoulders. "That's not a plan. That's suicide."
Bella kept her eyes trained on her Regent, and Marcos turned to Kay.
"You cannot be considering this. Kaedra, tell her no."
But Kaedra was silent. Bella nodded at her.
"Marcos, it must be done. The Anubi will kill hundreds, on both sides of the line. Those damn dogs are a plague, and without Kasdaya to restrain them, my story will be the least horrific. I don't want to any more than you want me to, but he will be reasonable about this. I'm not saying he won't try to twist the situation to his advantage, but he can see the bigger picture here. You can't dominate a population of dead people."
Marcos ran his hands through his hair. "NO. I mean, no. Where'd you send the vampires? They can talk some sense into you. Kay, why aren't you fighting her on this? She'll fall. It's dangerous."
Kaedra kept her eyes locked on Isabella's. "Because she's right, Marcos. This is bigger than winning or losing. This is apocalypse now, you said it yourself. They'll cross the line, wipe out every fae in Havana. No one will survive. He'll see reason on this. He's not insane, just greedy."
"And evil. He won't let her go. Kay, Isa. Please." He turned to Bella, forced her to meet his desperate eyes. Green, huh. Maybe she had a type.
"Don't do this. Don't do this. Bella, please. I can't lose you like this. What about Edward and the vamps? They'll be devastated. That man just tore himself to shreds to get you out of the lion's den, and you're just gonna walk right back in? Are you suicidal? What?"
"Should I let them die, then? If you have a better idea, Marcos, I'm all ears."
Marcos was silent. He released her, backed away. She could see him struggle to contain his temper. "Just- fine. Fine. God help us all, fine. There might be—I might be able to help you hold it, a little. Just hold on a second, let me grab something. Not yet, okay? Wait 'till I get back."
He unlocked the doors. On the other side were Carlisle, Jasper, and Emmett. Rosalie looked guilty as she straightened from where her ear had been pressed to the door.
Bella felt a slightly-hysterical giggle rise in her. "God, so nosy. I assume you heard everything, then?"
Rosalie nodded, looking pale. "And the boys?"
She shook her head, still mute.
"Well, small mercies. It's gonna be okay, Rose. It's almost over now. We've got this. Nosy vampires."
"Are you gonna fall?" Rose's voice was whisper quiet.
"Nope. Well, hopefully. There's a good chance I won't. Okay, 50-50. But there are worse things, believe it or not. Not many, but some. Your dad and Jasper will keep an eye on me, and Marcos will help. It'll be okay, lil' sis. Don't worry about it." Bella summoned up a wink from somewhere, ignoring Emmett's dismayed face.
Marcos flashed back into the hall, carrying a small silver box. "Okay, so these are called forget-me-nots. Some mortals use them to increase focus. The normal dose is one, but I'm thinking we should probably do three. They work pretty fast, they might help you keep your head. Should we do it here?"
"Wait, now?" Bella shuddered. "I was sort of hoping for a shower, and maybe a little time to meditate first."
"No time like the present. You really think meditation will help? Not to mention, if I were still your lover and I heard a whisper of this plan, I'd lock you in a steel cage for the rest of eternity: I might, anyway. I can't even imagine what Edward will do."
"I agree, let's get it over with, Isa."
Bella hadn't thought of Edward's reaction to this plan. She had avoided the thought deliberately. Fourteen minutes until he came for her. A lot could happen in fourteen minutes. She nodded. God, she hated lying to him. "Okay, well. We'd better hurry. God, Edward's gonna be pissed. I am so not getting laid tonight. I need a holiday. A long holiday."
She settled into her lotus pose on the edge of the steel table. "Carlisle can you monitor my reiki, please? Emmett, stand guard with Rosalie. Jasper..."
Bella trailed off, shocked, when Jasper came over to her and took her hand. "I'll be right here, Bella. We won't let anything happen to you. Edward would kill us. What, exactly, are you doing?"
"Um, well. That will be quite clear in a minute. Don't have time to argue. Just need to talk to the Master about something. No worries, it'll only take a second."
"One way or the other." Marcos snarked, pulling three red pills fromm the silver box. "Open. These will dissolve on your tongue."
Bella allowed him to put the drug on the tip of her tongue and closed her eyes. She straightened her back and felt her focus sharpen as they dissolved away. "Wow, those are awesome, Marcos. Fast too, no kidding. Alright, here we go. Be right back."
She fell into her meditative trance quickly, her mind already pushing her to escape reality, leftovers of adrenaline surging randomly. She thoroughly walled off the section of her mind that was telepathically linked to Edward, careful to keep her gold flowing towards him steadily, but muting her thoughts and emotions. The last thing her lover needed was more telepathic damage. She felt Josephat digging around in his reiki, trying to root out the insanity Kasdaya had left behind. Hopefully, Edward would be so focused inward he wouldn't notice her protective wall. Right. No more stalling.
She reached for the low chant in the back of her mind, removing and unlocking the defenses that held the Master at bay. Oh, this was gonna be bad. She could feel his fury from way over here. Her eyes flashed black and held. Okay. His turn. She braced herself for the explosion, but it didn't come. Instead, the Master sent her a thin thread of magick, an invitation to come closer.
Nonplussed and helplessly curious, Bella followed it. Her own voice echoed in the space, and a bass drum pounded.
This is as good a place to fall as any
We'll build our altar here
Make me your Maria
I'm already on my knees
When she arrived at where the Master wanted her to be, she felt a surge of tightly controlled frustration from him. He cut her off from Edward's telepathic link instantly, and his anger flared when he couldn't get past the barrier she had placed between Edward's mind and hers. She distantly felt Jasper's hand tighten on hers.
You had Jesus on your breath
And I caught him in mine
Sweating our confessions
The undone and the divine
She bowed low from the waist, let him take control of her physical form as he projected echoes into the white space of their shared mental link. Her friends could probably see him now. Oh, this was gonna suck so bad. It was always worse when the Master kept his control on his temper.
'Cause this is his body
This is his blood
Such selfish prayers
And I can't get enough
He swept her into a tango hold, forcing her to dance with him as he whispered into her mind.
Spilled milk tears,
I did this for you
Spilling over the idol
The black and the blue
He was wooing her, softly drawing her to his side with promises of non-harm and ecstasy. Her submission would guarantee her freedom. She could take Kasdaya's place, he said, be his new favorite. He would allow her to reign by his side, allow her to save her family and friends. He would teach her to restrain the Anubi: to save her people. He didn't want to hurt them, he whispered with sincerity, just wanted her soul. Such a small thing really, one person's soul. It was selfish of her to deny him. She was the cause of this war. All she had to do was give in. It wouldn't hurt.
The sweetest submission
Drinking it in
The wine, the women, the bedroom hymns
Bella didn't know if her desperate whimper was physical, or just in her mind. She felt someone shake her body, the far-off sound of distant yelling. The Master forced her focus back to him, kissed her forehead. He began to sway, holding her like Fio had, so long ago in the Attic.
'Cause this is his body
This is his love
Such selfish prayers
And I can't get enough
No. She was going too far, allowing him too much control. She threw magick at him, forced him to release her, spun to face him.
'Cause
I'm not here looking for absolution
Because I found myself an old solution
I'm not here looking for absolution
Because I found myself an old solution
He snarled, took her face in both of his hands and forced her to meet his eyes. He would take care of the Anubi, those pests. They would fall to his control as they had to Kasdaya's. She would give in to him, or he would release them on Camp, let them tear her friends apart, starting with Edward.
This is his body
This is his love
Such selfish prayers,
I can't get enough
She cried out, fell to her mental knees at his feet. She begged him not to be angry, tried to remember why she was resisting. She felt a surge of determination hit her: Jasper. She remembered, —Carlisle, Esme, Alice, Rosalie, Emmett- Kay, Marcos, Jo, Rockabye- Edward. Edward. Edward- She wouldn't, she couldn't. No.
This is his body
This is his love
Such selfish prayers,
I can't get enough
He petted her hair. They would be better without her, he said. She wasn't good enough for them. She was good enough, here. He would care for her, keep her safe. He wouldn't hurt her if she did as she was told. She was just right for him, all she had to do was give in. Fall, as Fiore had fallen. As Adeline had fallen. All she had to do was stay. She bowed her head, felt his smile grow pleased and gentle. All she had to do was stay.
Good Enough
Some small part of her rebelled. Wait. What about Edward? He would miss her, would follow her. A memory: "I won't survive it, love. If you fall, if you die, it doesn't matter. I won't live without you. I refuse."
The Master snarled, his hand on her hair grew tight, painful. He threw another of her memories at her: Alone in the forest, Edward's words as he left her: "I don't want you to come. You're no good for me, Bella."
She jerked back, felt him rip out her hair, stumbled to her feet. What was she doing? She didn't want to resist this. Edward had said it, hadn't he? He told her the words were lies, but once a liar, always a liar. Which was truth? Did he love her?
"Stop it! He loves me, he told me so. It doesn't matter if he doesn't, I love him. I won't let you hurt him. Any of them. Let me go. I won't stay."
The Master snarled again, reached for her, forced her body into his, back-to-front. He played the memories in front of her: Fio letting go, Addy's body, Edward leaving.
"You aren't good enough. He won't stay. You know he won't. No one can bear this. "
She stopped, paused the dance and spun away from him. "He can. He killed her; you know. Tore her up, ripped her head from her body. He won't let it happen, won't let me fall. He'll catch me, he always does."
"And what if it had happened? Can he catch you before you fall? You know now, the rush of it, the feel."
A memory: the view from the top of a cliff, that dark water raging below. Edward's misty form waiting to greet her, an echo of all that could've been.
"Stop it. It doesn't matter. I won't leave him." She replied with a stream of memories: Edward shining in the sunlight in Volterra, runes in a cave, and the meadow in forks- his eyes on hers.
"You're not good enough. You bring nothing but pain." James, Victoria, her father, Rockabye's white eyes, a knife in Addy's chest and Jasper's snarling face.
"He doesn't care. They don't care." Jasper across a chess board, Edward attacking James, Addy's laugh.
"They don't know: But I do. I know you, Isabella Swan. I own you. You're safe here, I won't leave."
Under your spell again
I can't say no to you
Crave my heart and it's bleeding in your hand
I can't say no to you
"I don't want you. I don't love you. Stop it. He won't go. He promised."
Shouldn't let you torture me so sweetly
Now I can't let go of this dream
I can't breathe but I feel
"Like you promised? Nothing stupid, or brave, or selfless, remember? Have you ever told them the truth?"
Good enough
I feel good enough
For you
She whimpered, clutched at her head. "I have. They saw, in the throne room. Carlisle killed him, broke the binding. They know me: they love me anyway."
Drink up sweet decadence
I can't say no to you
And I've completely lost myself and I don't mind
I can't say no to you
"But you lied to them, first. Do they know I could take your magick, make them mortal? Your blood would be the sacrifice. Think about it. They would have run for the hills, if they had seen your scars from the start. The blonde one, so deliciously broken. Little sister. She could have children with the big one. The seer: no more visions. Jasper wouldn't have to remember the war. No more bloodlust, no more different. The healer wouldn't have to keep his control so close to him. Sweet mother, she could have a baby too. Human, mortal. All of them. One big, happy family. They wouldn't even remember you. Are you really that selfish?"
Shouldn't let you conquer me completely
Now I can't let go of this dream
Can't believe that I feel
She felt Jasper send her a surge of hope and defiance. "Stop it. Let me go. They wouldn't want it, this way. They're not like that. The price is too high. They wouldn't pay it, wouldn't want me to die for them. Only you would do that."
Good enough
I feel good enough
It's been such a long time coming
But I feel good
She drew the Cullens, her protectors, in golden light between The Master and herself. "They wouldn't. They don't kill humans, don't hurt anyone, even though they could. They're not like you. They love me."
And I'm still waiting for the rain to fall
Pour real life down on me
'Cause I can't hold on
To anything this good.
"You're going to lose them. I intend to ensure it." The Master was reaching for her through the Cullens' glowing barrier.
"It doesn't matter. Even if they die, you can't change that they lived. That they loved me. That he loved me, and I him. I can do it. They think I'm good enough."
"Then they will die."
Am I good enough
For you to love me too?
"I won't be so scared of something being destroyed that I don't take hold of it. You can't have them. And you can't have me either." She grabbed the chains that connected her to him at her wrists and ankles, pulled hard. "NO. I'm going back. Goodbye, Master."
So take care what you ask of me
'Cause I can't say no
He lost his temper, struck at her, but he couldn't reach her through her family. His telepathic scream of rage was far away, echoing through the council chamber as she opened her golden eyes. No. She would not fall, today.
Victory
She blinked her eyes back to brown. Was she on the floor? What? She tried to sit up, but her hair was stuck to something. "What the hell?"
She was laying on her back, with Jasper's hand clutched in both of her own and Carlisle throwing massive amounts of the healing magicks Marcos was feeding him at her. Emmett and Rosalie were holding back a black-eyed and feral Kaedra who was fighting for every move. She let go of Jasper and snapped her fingers, froze Kay where she stood. "Ow, why is it so hot in here?"
She tried to sit up again, but she still couldn't move properly. She turned her head and saw that Jasper was on his knees, clutching her right hand in both of his now and looking at her like he was terrified she would slip away. He had echoes of death on him. She blinked. Had she hurt them?
Then, she finally noticed the source of the heat waving around her and Jasper. The stainless-steel table she had been sitting on had melted into liquid metal, glowing white-hot in a pool around her and her brother, but Jasper and she were floating a few inches above it, not harmed at all.
"Oh. Damn, I liked this table. Why can't I sit up?" She cooled the metal with ice from her fingertips, set Jasper down softly once she was sure it was cold enough not to hurt him.
Jasper croaked at her, "Your hair. It's stuck in the table. It's still smoking a little."
"Well, I guess I needed a haircut anyway. That was awful, let's never do it again. In fact, let's just delete this whole day. Ugh. Now I need a shower even worse."
She released her royal blade and cut her melted hair away so she could sit up. It hung down in a sheared and asymmetrical bob at about chin length. She'd have to go to the market, see if they could neaten it up.
"Bella, I could. I could hear him. In your head. I could hear you two talk." Jasper was almost stuttering. She felt her eyes go wide.
"Uh, okay. That's...awful, and weird. And unprecedented. Quit doing weird and unexplainable things Jasper. Vampires can't do magick. You're starting to freak me out. I'm really sorry you had to experience that. The Master is at his most deadly when he's trying to be nice."
"Does he—I mean, does he always play back your memories like that?"
"No, only when he's being persuasive. He knows it's a lot more convincing when it doesn't come from his lips. Are you okay? I mean, are you gonna be okay?"
"I'm not sure yet. You know he was wrong, don't you Bella? I would never, ever give you up for something as meaningless as mortality. We would remember you, somehow. We would miss you. Even Rosalie wouldn't. You are good enough, always. For anyone, but especially for us. You are part of our family."
"Uh, thanks, Jasper." Bella made a private note to investigate what it would take to make her family human again. She wasn't opposed to playing in the gray areas, she'd have to see how much power and blood it would take.
Jasper surprised her again, pulled her to her feet and embraced her roughly. Everyone was looking at them. "Don't, Bella. Don't look into it. Don't even try. Promise me, mean it. Please. I couldn't bear even the echo of the thought of it. You are my sister. I'd live through the newborn wars a million times if it meant I got to know you. Some things aren't meant to change. Please. Promise me."
Bella met Jasper's topaz eyes, startled, as a song began to play:
A man in a hat
Paused for the camera
And raised his hand for all to see
And with two fingers up
He then spread them apart
He said give us a sign victory
Alice, Edward, and Esme burst into the room in a panic; with Josephat and Rockabye right behind them. Edward rushed to her at vampire speed, took in the table, her newly shorn locks. He narrowed his eyes, but Jasper distracted him before he could start yelling, sweeping Alice next to him into a waltz.
And I walked down the stairs
Meeting the eyes
Of a woman who is not for me
But she's calm and she's sweet
And she's struck and imposing
Her name is pronounced Victory
Emmett took up the verse, dancing with Rosalie in the same hold, and tears pooled in Josephat's eyes. Marcos looked utterly flabbergasted.
And her wings have been tied on with ribbons
And the torch that she carries is dark
But she sheds her disguise when she follows my eyes
And she uses my teeth for a spark
Carlisle bowed in Bella's direction before he too, began to dance with Esme around the pool of metal on the floor. This was insane. Vampires couldn't do magic, couldn't hear the music it made.
But the Cullens could.
The question is are you
But some opportunist
A wolf caught befriending the sheep
And I answer that I am
Confused and aloof
And yet arrogant for victory
She says all the good words are the old ones
And the short are preferred to the long
She says you should be weak and be good as of now
You're just evil and trying to be strong
Carlisle broke from Esme, brushed his daughter's shoulders as he passed them, came to her and knelt at her feet, took her hand and kissed it. Edward had his hands around her waist.
But I don't make new mistakes
She thinks that I'm not awake
I should leave now
It's too late
Carlisle, Emmett, and Jasper turned to her, their hands each entwined with their lovers', and sang in harmony:
Well I'm not really sure what we're doing this for
Is there something to see underneath?
And I want to believe I am mine for the many
And title this one victory
Well I don't know if I'm where I'm needed
If you need me please raise up your voice
I hate being alive if it's just to survive
I'd rather sing than be left making noise
Edward turned to her; his eyes still sheened with a green that was slowly fading to a rich topaz. The words poured out of his mouth:
A man in a hat
Swallowed his history
And begged with his old colonies
He said give us the guns
The grenades and the mortars
We won't stop before victory
No, we won't stop before victory
And I won't stop before victory
Bella felt joy rise in her, unstoppable and strong. She turned to see Marcos and Kaedra reflecting her wide smile, Josephat crying and spinning Rockabye in a joyful circle. The music had shown it, had chosen them. The Cullen-line were Fae.
Everything has Changed
Bella almost didn't know what to do. She was so, so happy. The Cullen-line's song had rung throughout Camp. All her people would know what it meant.
She ran to Kay, clutched her in a tight embrace. Marcos joined in, squeezed them and spun them in a circle before he turned to Carlisle and shook his hand exuberantly. "Bloody good show. Oh, wow. Six becomes seven. Oh, oh, wow. How? No, you know what, I don't care. Welcome home, Cullen-line. Jo, did you see?"
He released Carlisle. Bella and Kaedra were crying, tears pooling to run unnoticed down their cheeks as they clutched to each other and danced ridiculously.
The Cullens just looked on, confused. Esme was the first to speak. "Okay, so that was an unusual experience. What was that? Why did everyone's eyes change color? It was kind of fun. Can we do it again? Bella did you cast that?"
"Nope! You did. All of you did. The colors were your auras. The magicks chose you. You're Fae! Oh my god, you're like, officially my mom now! Wait, am I still a Swan? A Swan-Cullen? You know what, we'll figure it out. I'll ask a librarian. Wow. That was the most amazing thing ever. Oh, the Master is gonna be pissed." She laughed exuberantly, kissed Edward on the stern line of his mouth, over and over again until he smiled her favorite crooked smile.
"What? Wait, we're official? How's that work?" Emmett was confused. "Shouldn't there be some forms or something? I thought there would be a vote, or a ceremony, or something."
"Nope! The bloodlines are defined by the magick in their blood, and you all just proved you can hear it, you can cast. Apparently, vampires can do magick. I should've realized. Jasper breaking Tomas' hold, Carlisle's healing affinity, all of you interacted with echoes. Man, I feel dumb. Hell, Edward danced with me in the throne room. Emmett, you've sung before. Wow, I am so stupid for not seeing this. Thank you, Destiny! This might make up for the shit you've put me through today. Oh, this party is going to be epic. They'll write whole books on you guys. Wow. What a day."
All I know is we said hello
Your eyes look like coming home
All I know is a simple name
And everything has changed
All I know is you held the door
You'll be mine and I'll be yours
All I know since yesterday, yeah
Is everything has changed
Edward picked her up in a joyful spin, kissed her exuberantly. "So, we're your family now? Like, for real? Legally?"
"Legally, Magickally, all the other –ally's out there. OH." She smacked a hand to her forehead. "Oh, Marcos, dude. I'm a queen-recessive." She laughed as Marcos and Josephat stopped in their spinning with Rockabye, Josephat's eyes growing wide.
"But, but. If they're your family, and you're you, then..."
She laughed again, almost gasping in her mirth. "Oh, oh. You guys, you're not just Fae. You're Fae Royalty. The new royal line. Oh man, the Salems' are gonna have a hissy-fit. Oh, this is great. And you're all immortal. This is gonna be epic. Oh, the Akira are gonna freak out. I'll never be able to keep them away from you all now."
She turned back to Edward, kissed him thoroughly. "Welcome home, love."
"Of course it's home." said Edward. "You're here."
All I know is we said hello
So dust off your highest hopes
All I know is pouring rain
And everything has changed
All I know is a new found grace
All my days, I'll know your face
All I know since yesterday, yeah
Is everything has changed
Need You Now (Mature)
The next hour passed in celebration. When Bella had swung open the doors to the council chamber, still explaining what being Fae meant to the Cullens, a deafening roar had echoed through all of HQ. It seemed that every Fae in Camp was gathered in the hallway, even back into the Library and up the stairs.
Lizzie and Alexandra rushed to hug Esme and Jasper before the kitchen staff could, and kids and parents embraced Rosalie. Emmett and Jasper were pounded on the back and hoisted on the shoulders of the first-year members of the Core. Carlisle got a shower of petals thrown in his face by the medical staff. The seers just bowed to Alice, not touching her, but each of them had wide smiles on their faces.
Bella laughed along with them, suddenly content now that the day was a victorious one. The librarians didn't know what to do with Edward, just shook his hand awkwardly and started interrogating him, pens and paper at the ready. She shooed them off as quickly as she could. Some things did not need to be public record, just yet. She wrapped her hands around his waist. "Well, lover. I'd call today a win." He turned in her hold, intending to sweep her up once more, but stopped suddenly as he caught sight of her shortened locks. Uh-oh.
"Not now, Edward. I'll catch you up. Put on a happy face, love. Camp needs to see it."
Edward smiled at her, but it wasn't her favorite one, the crooked one. He ran his hands through her shortened hair, gently kissed her forehead. Then, he turned from her and melted away into the crowd, shaking hands and accepting congratulations like a true politician. He wouldn't meet her eyes. Shit. She was gonna get it, later.
Kaedra eyeballed her. "Trouble in paradise?" she muttered.
"Nah, just my normal danger-magnet crap. You said it yourself, I attract nightmares. I sort of told Edward that I could stay out of trouble for thirty minutes. And I may have known I was lying at the time."
"Dang, well you almost got away with it. I like the hair, it looks good on you. You did it, Isabella. You got the Master to do what you wanted, for once. That's no small feat. Trust me, I know. Now. Marcos and I will get your vampires safely to the attic through the mob. You, girlie, are way overdue for a shower. You stink."
"I'll have you know this is miracle-sweat, Kaedra. Being a Queen is so much work."
"I know it well. Still, sunshine and daisies and your best foot forward. Can't let 'em see how much it costs us. Attic, Isa. Shower. And if you think Edward is mad now, scratch up your shoulder some. See how pissed he can get. Soap, water, shampoo, out. I will send Marcos after you."
"Please, please don't. I will never hear the end of it. Smile pretty, my regent. Smooth and steady wins the race."
Bella flashed out of the hall, to the entrance of the attic. Her small smile grew sad as she opened the door. It was rare for her to be alone these days. She didn't think she had been alone in her home since her return. She took a moment to take in the space, now that the Cullens had made it their home. The pillow was still on the floor where Alice had thrown it at Jasper just that morning.
She did a quick lap of the bedrooms. Addy's bedroom was more masculine now, with Jasper's touch. Fio's room looked the same, and she touched a hand to the painting she and her lovers had made to decorate the wall opposite the window sadly. Then, she giggled at the thought of how grossed out Emmett would be if he knew what hung over his bed. She'd have to save that little tidbit for one day when he was being particularly annoying.
The bathroom of the Attic was nice, utilitarian, but with a large shower. Addy had insisted, not that they ever got to try it out. A sigh escaped her. So much lost, so much gained. Sometimes, she didn't even know what the score was, whether she was winning or losing.
Bella caught sight of herself in the mirror. Jeez, she looked exhausted, hollow and spent. Her hair was crazy uneven, and longer in the front. Swords weren't really made for cutting hair. She had drops of blood on her cheek: Erik. Her shorts were torn and half undone: Miko and Kasdeya. She had dirt all over her, a spot of drool on her thigh that had dried and cracked. A shudder went through her. Shower. Yes. She would be quick, no need to freak out.
She stripped, took a second to examine Edward's bites on her wrist and above her collarbone. Damn, but they were awesome. She hoped they stayed forever, sealed them with a touch of magick to ensure they did just that. Okay: now for the hard part.
She faced the shower like she would an enemy, before she turned on the water, deliberately left it on cold. She stripped off her panties and yelped when she jumped in the water. Oh, she could already feel the tears coming. Shit. She poured massive amounts of soap on the loofa before she began with her feet, working her way up.
She did pretty well until she found one of Kasdeya's ebony hairs that had stuck to her upper thigh. Well, so much for the cold water. She turned it up to scalding in one smooth motion, added just a touch of fire to the pouring stream so it would burn hotter. She began to scrub harder, put her nails into it.
Right, Edward would be upset if she drew blood.
Was that her hair on her chest, or someone else's? She couldn't tell. She filled her hands with shampoo, scrubbed her scalp and shorn locks hard, felt them tangle. Why were people always pulling on her damn hair? She liked when Edward did it, but damn, she wished everyone else would stop.
The tears falling from her eyes were just from the shampoo, her ragged gasp nothing more than a twinge from her newly healed shoulder. She could still feel them touching her, still feel Miko's breath on her stomach. She was losing it. She needed to get out now.
She didn't.
She fell to her knees on the tile instead, wrapped her arms around her shoulders. She didn't notice when she began to scratch at the brand, felt the steam in her lungs as the water began to approach boiling. More soap. That would help. She just had to get up the strength to reach for it. She wouldn't make herself bleed, just scrub a little harder. She had to get the smell off.
She was scrubbing at her back when she felt someone behind her suddenly, yelped and spun. Edward. He was still fully clothed, reaching for her. He grabbed her at the wrist that held the loofa, took it from her grasp and examined the blood in her fingernails.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to draw blood. Here, jeez, let me turn it down some. It's gotta be really hot for you."
"Bella." His eyes were wide as he took in her form. What? Edward had seen her naked before. She looked down.
"Oh."
Bella was absolutely covered in deep red scratches. She had broken the skin in more than a few places, but most of them were just raised welts where she had scrubbed too hard, put too much of her nails in it. She was also bright red, like a sunburn: from the water. She winced.
"Uh, did I ever mention I have a thing about showers? Sorry. I'll heal them after. I should probably clean them first. Damn. Hang on, I'll just rinse. They aren't bad enough to get infected."
She turned her back to him to turn down the heat, and as she did, she heard him snarl and grab at her hips. "Bella, your shoulder. What the hell?"
"Huh?" She touched her fingertips to the brand, felt the stickiness of blood: lots of blood, she could feel it streaming down her side. Oops.
"Uh, okay. See, this is the part where I tell you it's really not a big deal and you agree and-"
Edward slammed her back into the wall of the shower with his hand curling around her left shoulder to protect the wound from the impact.
"- and then I remember you're my lover and a vampire and shut the hell up."
He growled at her fiercely, his hair wet from the spray and forced his mouth on hers. His hands were gentle until he got to her hips and pressed them into the bruises he had left this morning. "Mine. My Bella. Why? No, don't answer that, I know why. Dammit, Bella. Thirty minutes. Hell, this time it was less than fifteen. I swear, Bella. Prisoner. You cannot do this. My pleasure, my privilege. Reality. I will allow no one to hurt you, my Bella. Not even you. Give me that."
He motioned to the soap on the shelf with question in his eyes. She gulped, closed her eyes a moment, sought out his scarlet and removed the mental wall that held it from her. He was furious, concerned, loving, questioning.
She opened her eyes and reached for the soap. "Edward, you don't have to. It's not as bad as it could be. It's okay. I'll heal it when I get out."
"Does magickal healing stop germs? I don't think so. I've been reading up on it. There are limits Bella. I am not Atlas, my love. Turn around."
She swallowed again, turned so her back was to him. He washed her gently, started at her neck and worked his way down, the touch of the loofa light on her skin. He licked at the scratches on her shoulder to close them, and she shivered in want, opened to him, flooded his mind with gold.
His mind was healed, mostly, only little bits of scar tissue that quickly healed under her attention. She could feel the lovelovelove from him as he scrubbed her back with care and turned her under the spray to rinse.
"Edward..."
"No, Bella. Let me."
He lifted her arms above her head, crossed her wrists and held them there with one hand as he washed her neck, her arms, his bite, her chest. He dropped the loofa when he got to her breasts, ran his bare hand over them to cover them with soap. Oh. His hand was cold despite the hot water and she felt her nipples pebble under his gentle touch. He ignored them, swept his hands across her navel and hips, knelt and licked every place where she had torn skin until it stopped bleeding.
He washed her legs and her feet with infinite care, getting all the small spaces between her toes before he rose to his feet, soaked and hard under his jeans.
"Edward please. I'm sorry, don't be mad."
"I'm not mad. I'm furious. I can read minds, Bella. Did you know Jasper knew exactly how close you were to falling, in the council room? It's practically all he could think about. You promised."
"I know, I lied, I'm sorry. I had to protect them, Edward. I couldn't..."
"Don't. Don't you dare. You could have told me. I don't need you to protect me, little witch. Not when it hurts you, not when it means lying."
"Edward..." She sent him her want, her desire to make it up to him.
"No. You will let me take care of you, so help me god. No touching, Bella. I'm not going to undress, not going to take off a single layer. You are not going to push me. We are going to take this slow, and I am going to taste you, bring you pleasure. Then, you are going to heal every single one of those scratches and materialize me and yourself dry clothing, and we are going to go into the futon in the Attic, where you are going to sleep a full eight hours with no complaints, surrounded by our family. That is how you can make it up to me. Okay?"
She gulped, again. "Okay."
Edward kissed her gently, teased her thoroughly before he opened his mouth to her, along with his mind. She felt his want, his heat, his desire and protectiveness. It made her burn that much higher, her lust rising in response to his. He had on entirely too many clothes.
"Edward, please."
"No pushing, Bella."
She whined, a high pitched, desperate noise, tilted her head back against the wall and stilled her rolling hips. He rewarded her with cold hands on her breasts, long fingers pinching with steady pressure. Oh. Oh. She was wet, already gasping with the need to be filled. He pinched harder, pleasure-pain for just a moment before he released one nipple, replaced fingers with teeth as he twisted the other. She couldn't stop her gasping moan at his tongue on her peaked flesh. Oh.
He laved at her until her nipple was fully peaked, switched to the other one and sucked, hard. She felt her back arch, her hands scrambling for purchase on the wet tile. She found a handhold on the soap dish, knocked the shampoo to the floor so she could hold herself up before her knees could give out.
"Edward, Edward."
He kissed his way down her navel, approached her core before he hooked his hands behind her knees, pulled her up so her thighs rested on his shoulders, her feet dangling across his back. Oh, damn.
He looked up at her at the flash of heat the action brought, quirked a crooked grin when she met his eyes. "Vampire strength. Good for something."
"Yup, uh-huh, not complaining, not one bit. Edward, please"
"Please, what?"
"Touch me, kiss me. There. Please Edward, please, I won't push, please, give me. I want it, want you."
She felt a flash of heat from him in return, and he paused, flicked his eyes from her face to her core before he blew a ragged exhale on her wet flesh. Oh.
The pressure of his gaze on her most intimate place was exhilarating, made her adrenaline skyrocket. He looked up again as her pulse quickened. "Okay?"
"Yes, okay, good. So good. Please. Don't go, stay."
"Always." He nosed at her, ran his tongue over her slit. She had nowhere to put her hands except to bury them in his hair, brace her back against the wall.
It was all she could do not to roll her hips.
He breathed on her once more, took a deep inhale of her scent. And then, he spread her wide with two fingers, and licked her from the bottom of her entrance all the way to her clit.
"Fuck, fuck. Edward."
"Isn't that what we're doing?" He asked innocently, his face boyish and pleased as he met her eyes.
"Edward, love. Shut up. You are such a tease."
"Such language from a lady. That's no way for a Queen to behave."
Before she could reply, could snarl at him to get back to what he was doing, he dove back into her, pushed his tongue into her and followed her as she bucked, his nose against her clit.
"Oh, oh, please. Don't stop, please."
He thrust his tongue into her twice, three times, then licked her in a long stroke up to her clit and bit down lightly. She felt another whimper escape her, couldn't keep her hips from rolling, seeking pressure.
She felt his fingers at her entrance a half-second before he pushed two of them into her steadily, still licking and suckling at her clit. She gritted her teeth against a scream, pushed it out magickally instead, saw the streams of gold start to twirl in the air like ribbons.
Edward didn't seem to notice the sudden light show, his own heat rising quickly. He was really going after her now, thrusting his fingers faster and faster and increasing the pressure of rough tongue on her clit, lapping at her and sucking hard to catch her between his teeth.
She tossed her head, mewled repeatedly, tightened her fingers in his hair. "Edward, Edward, love, it's so good. I'm getting close, Edward. Edward, please, more. Please, may I? Let me come Edward, please, help me. I need to."
He ripped his fingers from her, and she shuddered. "No Bella, hold it. Say your spell, little witch."
"Hmm? Hmmmm, Edward I, okay, okay."
She started the cast as he began to lick at her again, lost focus when he pushed with three fingers this time, instead of two, and had to start over.
When she was done, she looked at him between her legs, tugged hard at his hair. "It's done, I'm done, please Edward, please. Please. May I? Please."
He shuddered this time, pushed harder, faster with his rough tongue. "Yes, yes. Edward, please, I can't hold it, love. Please, let me. Please, you have to tell me. Let me."
He twisted his fingers together hard inside her, hooked them up and back and hit a spot inside of her she wasn't sure she knew existed before, sending her his command to come, mentally, right as he bit hard on her clit and the sensitive flesh around it.
Bella saw gold and wasn't sure if it was the flash of her magick in the air or just her vision whiting out. He lapped at her through her orgasm, her blood and her come mixing on his tongue. When he purred against her flesh she jerked, oversensitive. He removed his fingers and lapped at her one last time before he shrugged her legs off his shoulders and rose, supporting her weight completely as he kissed her mouth, letting her taste herself. He was rock hard against her stomach.
She was shaking, her knees were weak. "Oh. I don't think, what? Okay. Um, remind me to piss you off more often. I am mush, right now. My brain has checked out. Can I, please? Just..."
"No, Bella."
She pouted slightly. "Okay, maybe not too often. Such a tease. I don't think I can walk. Wow. Did you enjoy that as much as I did, cause I'm pretty sure that's impossible?"
"Trust me, I enjoyed it tremendously. You taste like candy. I really kind of want to do it again, like right now."
She shuddered at the thought. "I'm not sure my sanity could take it. But I'm game if you-Mmph!"
He had put his hand over her mouth, shoved her into stillness against the wall and turned off the water with a finger over his lips.
She heard Alice's chipper voice in the main room of the Attic. "Bella? Edward? Are you guys in here?"
She felt her eyes go wide, looked at him helplessly. Seriously? She was going to murder Kaedra in training tomorrow. Afterglow, people!
Edward was completely motionless, his eyes closed as he willed his sister to have a vision that would send her scrambling from the Attic. Then it got worse.
"Alice, are they in here?" He heard Bella's heart skip a beat at Emmett's voice. "Kaedra said Bella was going to have a shower, but that she should be done by now. She said if she wasn't done, I should threaten to call for Marcos."
Her Regent was DEAD.
"Oh, but I won't have to. Here he is now. Hey man, I don't think they're in here. I can't hear the water, anyway. Why were the two of you so concerned about the length of Bella's grooming procedures anyway?"
The voices were getting closer to the bathroom. Fuck, fuck. She was never going to live this down. Edward looked at her, panicked, and she closed her eyes. Oh, hell. Should she flash them away? Could she do it quietly enough? She tapped his arm gently, indicated that he should let her down as quietly as he could. He did, and she grabbed his hand, tried to focus. The last thing she wanted was to end up naked in the dining hall.
She heard Marcos slide open the bathroom door and met his eyes for a millisecond as she flashed to the only safe place she could think of.
Edward cried out as they suddenly landed in the dojo, her still-naked form sprawled on top of him.
"That was close. So close to supreme embarrassment. Ohmygod, please don't let Marcos have seen anything. Towel, clothes."
"I have never been more grateful for magick in my life. Emmett wouldn't have shut up about it for a century."
She snorted. "You think brother-bear is bad, you have no idea. Marcos was the one who discovered my little problem with showers in the first place. He didn't even let me dry off properly before he dragged my stupid ass to the hospital. It was awful, easily top ten most embarrassing nights of my life. That's why Kaedra sent him, she knows I'd die of mortification if it ever happened again. God, I am gonna kill her in training tomorrow."
She finished drying off briskly, healed her scratches with a snap before she materialized a simple navy dress with long sleeves and began to tie back her damp hair. She caught Edward staring.
"What?"
"Nothing, I just, I forgot how amazing blue looks on you."
"Oh, he's a sweetheart. God, I love you. I cannot wait until we can get away for a holiday of some kind. Like honestly, I'd take a half-day at this point. I am really really starting to get frustrated with the afterglow-theft. My lover is a vampire, and I can't take advantage of the stamina. It's criminal. I should make a law about it. Come on, it's a long walk back to HQ."
She materialized him a cream-colored button down and black slacks and took his hand. "You were right, I am exhausted. No need to look so smug."
Edward smiled her favorite crooked smile. "I love you too, my Bella. Let's go get you some sleep."
It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without, I just need you now
I just need you now
Oh baby I need you now ooh