Chapter Eighteen
I spent most of Monday afternoon at the station, answering questions about the events that happened the day before. I'd worried about lying and what version of the story to tell, but the positive thing about being drugged was that I had an excuse to not know any details. My official story of the event was that the officers cornered me while I was out for a walk, and the next thing I knew I was in the car with my dad.
Edward volunteered himself for questioning. He also edited his side of the story. He was truthful about the call from Officer Witherdale and his immediate call to Charlie—as cell phone records would support. As far as law enforcement was concerned, that was the extent of his involvement in my rescue.
The officers who interviewed me insisted I get a full checkup from a doctor, but I declined, stating I felt too violated already and would rather put the whole thing behind me, which was the truth. They didn't press further.
I worried about my dad, who was taking responsibility for murdering two people that he hadn't, and one that he had. How was he being treated now that everyone knew he was a vampire? How was he being treated as a cop in jail for murder?
They wouldn't let me visit him, but Deputy Mark assured me that Charlie was being detained separately from the other offenders and that he was comfortable and doing well. In fact, many on the force had already made it a point to check on his wellbeing. It was comforting to know that the people my dad had supported throughout his career were now there for him.
I scribbled a note, saying how much I loved him and that I would see him soon. Deputy Mark assured me he would deliver it personally.
I still couldn't believe Charlie had murdered someone to save me, especially knowing it was someone he considered a friend. Jake's words replayed in my head:
Those aren't the humans we want in this world.
Edward waited in his car for me outside of the station. He smiled when he saw me and jumped out to open the passenger door.
"How did it go?" he asked.
"Fine," I said. "There's not much I could tell them, so hopefully I won't have to come in again. I'm sorry you had to out yourself."
"It doesn't matter. People had their suspicions, and they needed to know."
I nodded and got in the car. We drove back to the house in silence. There were two suitcases in the backseat. While the police had been questioning me, Edward returned to his house one last time to retrieve any items he'd need in the short term. Carlisle and Rosalie would take the rest of his belongings to Alaska.
"Are you going to miss your family?" I asked.
Edward shrugged. "It will be strange without them, but it's a much welcome change."
"What if we're here for a while? Like a year? Or more? I don't know how long the trial will take. Will that be okay?"
"You have to understand time isn't the same for us." Edward reached over and took my hand. "Don't worry about Charlie. He'll be okay."
"But he hasn't lived as long as you. Time is probably still a normal concept for him."
"Bella." Edward brought my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. "One day this will be but a blip in the radar for us all. I understand you're worried about him, but Charlie has never struck me as someone who didn't know what he was doing. He is resilient, if not a little stubborn. You know, you really take after him," he added with a smirk.
I hoped Edward was right. I didn't want to think of my dad sitting in jail, regretting his decisions. Although I couldn't imagine the mess we'd be in now had he not claimed responsibility for all three murders. If I were him, I'd have done the same.
When we arrived at the house, Edward was out of the car and at my door before I even unbuckled my seatbelt. I laughed under my breath and shook my head as I fumbled with the latch. He opened the door and stood to the side.
"Die vampire scum!" someone shouted from the street. I paused, one leg out of the car, and looked to my right. Mike Newton stood at the end of the driveway, aiming a gun at us.
The deafening shot reverberated off the trees. Instinctively, my hands flew up to cover my ears. I looked at Edward, whose eyes were wide with shock. I followed his gaze down to the hole torn in his shirt, directly over his chest.
I froze, waiting for him to clutch his chest and collapse. My life once again flashed before my eyes, but this time it was the life I had planned for myself, the one with Edward. It took me a moment to realize I was the one screaming.
Edward stood, unmoving. He stared at his chest, eyes still wide, jaw slack. Then his head snapped up. He bared his teeth, his face filled with murderous rage. He strode in determination toward Mike Newton.
Mike, who'd been wearing a smug smile, took two steps back. His face blanched as Edward barreled toward him. He turned to run, tripping over his own feet and landing facedown on the pavement. The gun skidded across the road.
By now a car had stopped. Two neighbors stood on their front porches, one holding a cell phone to her ear.
"Edward!" I yelled, partially in relief, partially in disbelief that he was still on two feet, but also a plea. I didn't want him taken away from me too.
Edward towered over Mike, who scrambled to get away. He bent down and in one swift movement flipped Mike onto his back. I watched in horror as Edward dug his fingers into his own chest and extracted a shiny silver bullet. Mike whimpered as Edward lifted him off the ground by his shirt collar and stuck the bullet in his face.
"Guess you can remove this one from your slaying kits, huh?" he seethed. The tone of his voice was so cold, so menacing, it sent a shiver down my spine. It was a side of Edward I hadn't seen before.
Edward released Mike, who crumbled into a pile on the pavement, still whimpering. Edward flung the bullet at him and then turned to me. I was still staring at Mike, too shocked to move. Edward turned me around and pushed me toward the door. "Inside," he muttered under his breath.
Before I stepped in the house, I glimpsed a brown wolf slinking into the trees.
"Are you sure you're okay?" I asked Edward for the billionth time.
He sat on the couch, shirtless, rubbing the hole in his chest that was slowly mending itself from the inside out. The TV played quietly in the background, but neither of us were paying it any attention.
"I'm fine," he assured me.
I paced around the house, checking all the windows for any sign of danger. Mike had left, and none of his cronies had come to avenge him. Yet. I half expected the police to show up and take Edward away, but they never did.
I paused by the window that overlooked the backyard.
"Jake's out there," I said, recalling seeing him as we rushed into the house.
"He is," Edward agreed.
"Why?" I asked.
"I imagine he's monitoring the situation. What happens in our world affects them too."
"So you knew about them all along?"
"I did," he answered solemnly. "I told you, there are all sorts of monsters running around out there."
"And Charlie?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"They weren't my secrets to tell. You, of all people, should understand."
I stopped pacing and joined Edward on the couch. I reached out and lightly caressed his chest with my fingertips, careful to steer clear of the hole that he'd made worse by digging out the bullet. It was weird, watching his body heal. It reminded me of a time-lapse video. Even stranger was the lack of blood.
"If the sun was out…" I hesitated, unsure how to phrase my question, and not wanting to know the answer. "Would you have died?"
Edward pressed my hand against his chest, directly over where his heart had once beaten. "Most likely not," he said.
"But you told me the sun breaks down your body, and it would be as easy as killing a human."
"I said almost. Besides, being in the sun for a few minutes wouldn't be enough. It would have to be much longer. Hours. Maybe days." He shrugged. "It's not something you need to worry about."
"I think it is something I need to worry about," I argued. "It concerns me—or at least it will. No more keeping things from me, or giving me half truths!"
"I'm sorry. I'm not used to being open with anyone. And I admit to having a flare for the dramatic. Forgive me?" Edward took my hand and brought it to his face. He inhaled deeply as he skimmed his nose along my wrist.
"Will you miss my blood?" I asked. It had been on my mind all day. If I didn't smell good to him, if I didn't have the rarest blood type, would he want me as badly?
Edward cracked a smile. "Very much so."
"And you're okay with that? You'll still feel the same about me, even when I don't smell like…" I waived my free hand between us, searching for the right descriptive. "Your favorite blood?"
"I have a theory about that," Edward said. "Do you believe in soul mates?"
Of course I did. We were here together now. I nodded.
"I think the reason you have AB negative blood is so that when you came along, I'd pay attention."
Frowning, I said, "I don't understand."
"I've watched both Carlisle and Rosalie suffer for years after losing their mates. They were lonely. I was lonely too, but I wasn't looking for anyone. Quite the opposite, actually. I didn't want to get close to someone only to lose them. So I kept to myself. And then you came along. Your scent captivated me, and then one day you were at my house despite having suspicions about what I was. So I let you in. I didn't want to get attached. I didn't think I was until I thought you were going to die. Then I realized it was too late for me. You were the one. Like I said, you don't know how long I've waited for you."
"It seems unfair, that you had to wait over one hundred years, and I only had to wait eighteen."
"I'd wait another hundred if I had to."
"Well, I'm glad I didn't have to wait that long." I scooted closer and snuggled into his side. I liked his theory about soul mates. It was the only thing that could explain the pull I felt toward him.
Later that evening, Edward helped me pack. After the incident with Mike, we decided it was better to go somewhere else and lie low for a while. Though I'd only lived in Forks for three short months, packing up my life again so soon felt daunting.
"Are you bringing this?" Edward asked as he held up the green dress I wore to homecoming.
"No way. That's not an event I care to remember."
"I like it," he said. "You looked so good wearing it on my bed while I drank your blood. I fantasized about taking it off."
His words caused me to blush. At the time, those thoughts hadn't crossed my mind. I was too nervous about the pain to think of anything else. But I knew the next time he fed from me would be different, more intimate. My cheeks flamed even hotter. I turned away from him so he wouldn't see and continued folding clothes.
Edward sighed and dropped the dress onto the donation pile.
"I'm glad I never got around to buying winter clothes. It would be even more to pack. Although I suppose if we're going to Alaska I'll need something warmer."
I jumped when I felt his hands on my hips. I turned to face him, and he slipped his arms around my waist.
"Well, that depends." He left the thought unfinished, but I knew what he meant. Once he turned me, I wouldn't need warm clothes.
Edward leaned down and kissed my lips. It was soft at first, but quickly became frenzied and needy. He walked me backward until the backs of my legs hit the bed, then he nudged me onto it.
His hands moved all over my body. I shuddered when his cool fingers slipped beneath my shirt. He pulled it over my head, then leaned down to kiss my exposed skin. His lips moved lower, until they reached the top of my jeans, then he slowly peeled them down my legs.
Edward covered my body with his. His voice was rough as he spoke.
"There's something I want to try."
I pulled him closer and kissed him, silently giving him permission. The weight of his body pressed me into the bed, and I felt him hard between my legs.
"Don't move," he said.
I sighed as Edward pushed away from me. He went to his suitcase and retrieved a familiar leather case. He zipped it open and, after a moment of deliberation, selected something from inside, hiding it in his hand as he returned to the bed. I took a calming breath. Edward slipped off his clothes and climbed on top of me.
"I'll be gentle," he promised.
Edward kissed me. My mouth, my neck, my chest. Everywhere. He trembled when I reached between us and touched him. His moan encouraged me. I enjoyed knowing the effect I had on him. My apprehension slowly faded away. Excitement bubbled as I anticipated the moment he would cut my skin.
He positioned himself between my legs and thrust inside of me. It felt good. So much better than the first time. It didn't take long for me to reach the edge. All I could focus on was how good he felt.
So gently, he trailed his lips along my neck. The sharp sting that followed his kisses took me by surprise. I gasped as his mouth covered the cut he'd made. He wrapped one arm around my shoulders and held me against him.
Just as before, the burn intensified with each mouthful of blood he drank, but this time was different. Edward moved on top of me, moaning as his rhythm faltered. The pain I'd been so worried about only intensified the pleasure. I let go, allowing euphoric waves to rock my body. Edward squeezed me tighter, forcing the air from my lungs. The fingers of his free hand dug into my hip. I gasped in pleasure and pain. As his thrusts quickened, he sucked long and hard against my skin. Then he collapsed on top of me.
We lay there, panting. Warmth trickled down my neck. Edward cursed under his breath. He reached up and pressed his fingers over the cut.
"I hurt you again," he said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be so rough with you. Are you okay? Don't lie to spare my feelings."
Oh, no. We were going down this road again.
Other than the discomfort from the feeding—which I'd expected—nothing about being with him was painful. I wanted to do it again.
"Edward, I enjoyed it." I felt my face heat as the blood slowly returned to my body. "All of it."
Edward sighed as he kissed my lips. "If I have an opportunity to experience that again, I'll try not to get carried away."
"You liked it?" I asked. The answer seemed obvious, but I still wanted to hear him say it.
"It was pure ecstasy, unlike anything I could have imagined."
"And you're still okay with losing that?"
"As mind blowing as it was to have your blood and your body at the same time, it pales compared to the thought of completely losing control with you."
A shiver ran through my body. Edward kissed me again, and then he showed me just how gentle he could be.
