It seemed everyone had dispersed so there was only Edward, Esme and I in the living room area. I smiled at Esme and looked over to Edward.
"We should probably go find Carlisle and see what he needs help with." I was still high on the adrenaline from the race outside. I didn't think when I reached out for his hand and started dragging him towards the back of the cabin. Electricity flowed where our palms touched. He surprisingly didn't snatch his hand away and allowed me to pull him to the library where Carlisle and Eleazer were. There were multiple open books and ancient looking parchments scattered about on a table. Carlisle seemed to be lost in one of the books when Edward released my hand and cleared his throat.
"Esme said you needed us?" His voice sounded a tenor lower than usual. I smiled inwardly. I might actually be growing on him.
Carlisles head snapped up from his book. "Ah yes! I have some questions for Bella actually. I am hoping to isolate some of what these texts say to help determine which of them is most accurate. They are going to be of a personal nature though so you are welcome to decline and we can find another way."
I froze. I wondered what kinds of questions Carlisle was going to have and if Edward was going to be sticking around to hear them. "No, I don't mind Carlisle. I'm okay to answer anything if it means we'll be closer to finally being rid of Danny."
"Great!" He closed the book with a snap and motioned for me to take a seat in one of the four armchairs in the room. Eleazer sat in a chair next to Carlisle, and Edward surprisingly sat in the one next to mine. "So, let's get right to it. Have you ever had sexual relations with Danny?" I sensed Edward stiffen in his chair.
I let out a small laugh. "You weren't kidding! To answer your question, yes. I've had sex with Danny on multiple occasions, and I also suspect he may have had sex with other girls while he was with me too." The fabric on the chair Edward was in made a tearing noise as his grip tightened on the arms. A growl building in his chest.
Carlisle fixed Edward with a pointed stare, most likely chastising him in his mind. Edward huffed and crossed his arms. His jaw tense like he was gritting his teeth.
"Moving on. How did you feel after having relations with him? Was there anything that might have left you feeling concerned?"
I took a moment to think about it. "Honestly, most of the time I felt fine. Danny would always fall into a deep sleep afterwards. Except for the last time. He-" My eyes slid over to Edward, thinking over how to word this without giving anything away. "It was almost like I was in a dream. Like I was dreaming about having sex with someone else, but I could feel every...sensation. Then, at the last second he changed back into himself and I remember becoming extremely tired. Last thing he did was bite into my leg before I lost consciousness." Carlisles eyebrows rose.
"So it has only happened one time where you felt like you were being drained of energy?" He questioned.
"Yes, only the last time before-well before I was changed." I swallowed thickly thinking about finding my mom soon after.
"When you say someone else. Do you mean to say it felt like you were having relations with a completely different person? A trick of the mind perhaps?" He was leaning forward, his eyes lighting up.
"Yes. I really thought it was someone else I was with, he changed his looks, even his voice." I cringed. "He said something about giving me the fantasy I wanted in order to get his own." I hope airing all of this out will give enough to figure out the right books. I felt embarrassment burning inside of me and peeked my eyes over at Edward. He was turned towards me.
"I'm curious." Edward started. "Who did he show himself as? Was it someone you knew, or a complete stranger?" I was gratetful again for the loss of my blush because it would have been a dead giveaway. Instead, I took a deep breath before responding.
"To answer your question. It was someone I knew of, and he had met as well. He did a really good job of emulating them." I closed my eyes hoping that was enough of an answer.
Don't Press. Don't press. Don't press.
I opened my eyes again and released the breath I didn't realize I was holding. Edwards eyes shone with humor and he nodded, seemingly satisfied with my answer. Carlisle popped up from his chair and reached for a couple of books and brought them over.
"You actually did describe a particular lineage of incubus that used hypnosis to subdue their victims and avoid detection. There are mentions of women having relations with their partners but it feeling slightly off. They would grow more and more fatigued over time with each visit, some would collapse and die. There is a diary entry here of a man talking about coming back from an expedition where they had found the husband of his cousin mauled by animals a week before. His cousin was surprised by this revelation because her husband had been visiting her at night telling her that they were camped nearby. The next day he found his cousin dead in her bed. Since this seems to be the type of incubus Danny is, that makes this so much easier. This other book I have here is full of the writings from a scientist who used to experiment on ways to kill this breed of incubus. It seems one had killed his wife and he hunted it down for revenge."
I gasped excitedly. "So he found a way to kill him?!"
Carlisle smiled widely at me. "Yes and no." He opened one of the books to a page with tons of barely legible notes haphazardly scribbled on it. Edward got up to come in for a closer look. I could feel a shiver working its way up my spine at his closeness. I tried to stealthily inhale his scent as it surrounded me. Amber, sandalwood, oud, and something else so uniquely him. Venom was pooling in my mouth.
Edward snapped his fingers at me. His face full of mirth.
"Did you hear any of that at all Bella?" I loved the way my name rolled off of his tongue.
"No, sorry. I got lost in thought." I grinned sheepishly.
Carlisle gave a good natured laugh. "I'll go over it again. The scientist came across ancient parchments with a ritual inscribed in latin. He was able to decipher enough to make the demon weak, but not how to kill him." I felt my heart sink. We were so close. "However, don't be dismayed yet. He copied down everything that was in the parchment. I happen to be able to read Latin. It was necessary for the conquests I had gone on in my youth. My father and I used to hunt vampires, witches, and demons. We were Anglicans. It's actually the reason leading to my being turned." My jaw dropped and I found myself speaking quickly.
"Holy shit Carlisle! How old are you?!" I exclaimed.
Edward chuckled and Eleazer burst out into deep rumbling laughs. Carlisles mouth fell open in surprise before he followed in the laughter.
" I was born in the 1640s. Time wasn't as well kept as it is now so I couldn't give an exact year. I was turned around 23 or so on a hunt with my father. We found a den of vampires and one managed to bite me. I was able to escape long enough to turn" His eyes shown with amusement. I was stunned into silence, making them laugh harder. Edward was leaning forward from laughing behind me and his arms were on each side of me on the chair. He ended up leaving them there, his chest pressing against my back. I let myself relax into him. I swore I felt him inhaling my scent. I didn't get a chance to analyze it too much since Carlisle stopped laughing to speak again. His eyes softening at the picture before him. I wondered what Edwards face looked like right now.
"Thank you for answering my questions Bella, it's helped narrow everything down a lot. All that is left now is to fully decipher the ritual. It will take a bit since my Latin is a little rusty, so you both can go relax and kill time. I will reach out to you whenever we are ready." He sent us off with a shooing motion and walked over to the table with a notepad and the book.
"I guess that's our cue to get out of his hair." Edward was the most complaisant I'd ever seen him. He hadn't moved from behind me so he was speaking into my ear. My breath hitched and I know he heard it too based on the low chuckle that followed.
"What would you like to do, Bella?" He asked, his voice husky. My panties were drenched now. There was no way he didn't detect my arousal. What a loaded question. This is not fair in the slightest. I decided to throw him off.
"I think I saw a checkers board in the living area." He blinked a few times.
"I'm sorry. Checkers? That's what you want to do?" He sounded flabbergasted. I guffawed at finally catching him off guard.
I turned towards him, looking up at him through my eyelashes. I dropped my voice to a more sultry tone. "Why Edward, what was it you had in mind?" He went completely still. His face giving away nothing. He shook his head as if to clear it.
"You know, fresh air sounds really good right now." His voice was low I almost didn't hear him. "Let's go for a run." Then in un-Edward like fashion. Tapped me on the shoulder. "Catch me if you can!" He jetted off out the door. I stood there stunned for a moment before taking off after him. I rushed outside and sniffed the air. His scent was easy for me to pick up on since I'd practically memorized it. I flew as fast as I could towards where his scent was most concentrated. I was flying across the snow dodging trees left and right. There was a break in the trees to a clearing where I knew he should be. This asshole!
He had dropped his jacket on the ground so I would follow the scent here. I could still taste him on the air. He has to be close. I need to get higher to see. I leapt onto a nearby tree and started climbing upwards quickly, bumping into Edward and knocking us both down to the ground. He landed on top of me hard. Ow. That shit hurt. He groaned as he lifted himself up with his arms at my shoulders. This left his face level with mine. He stopped moving to gaze at me, his eyes flicking between my lips and my eyes. I held my breath and stilled. I didn't want to startle him or misread his pause. He leaned forward a slight amount. His mouth opening and closing like he wanted to say something. Does he want to kiss me? I refused to make any moves. Remembering the sting of rejection from the last attempted kiss. I have to let him decide what he wants to do. I can't push him. No matter how much I want to.
"I-I have no experience in any of this." He pushed himself off of me and stood up. Offering me his hand. I tried not to let the disappointment show on my face. I took his hand and got up, dusting the snow off of me. I wanted to be mad. To rage at him for his mixed signals. Instead, I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.
"I've never...been with a woman. In any way. You're the first I've even had an interest in. This is all really new to me." His voice was quiet. I kept my face a neutral mask. I walked over to him and laid my hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, there's no pressure for anything Edward." I kept my tone soft. "I understand, and I hold no expectations for anything to happen. I am attracted to you, don't think I'm not. So I am open if you change your mind or get an urge. But you made a good point earlier. We don't really know each other." His reaction before made sense. I basically stole his first kiss. I felt so dirty. I have to stop letting my enhanced hormones overrule me. I have to be delicate with him.
He looked up and gave a small smile. "Thank you Bella."
"SO, tell me about yourself. I do want to get to know you." I grinned impishly.
"Well, I was born in 1901. I don't remember much about my human life other than wanting to join the service. It was the thing for all young boys of the time but life had other plans for me. When I was 17 I fell sick with the spanish influenza. That's where that memory came from that you viewed. It was when Carlisle made the decision to change me, he said my mother begged him to save me in a way only he knew how. I wonder if she suspected he was something other than human." I nodded at him to keep going. "When I was reborn as a vampire, it was disorienting having this gift. It took me a second to realize it was people's thoughts I was hearing and had to keep myself out of the habit of responding to thoughts instead of spoken words. Everyone's thoughts around me were all the same. Sex, love, money, fame. The family is really the only ones I can stand to be around and even then it gets exhausting. They have...untoward thoughts and memories and while I do my best to give them privacy...sometimes things slip through. You are the only one I have come across whose thoughts I can't hear. You're an enigma." He looks down and smiles. "It's ironic that you're my fated mate, and I can't read your mind."
I froze. "What does that mean? A fated mate?"
He was quiet for a beat. "There's not a lot known about the whys. Normally mating is designed for procreation but as you know we cannot have children. Regardless, every vampire seems to have a mate that they are destined for. Carlisle found Esme, Rosalie saved Emmett, even Alice had a vision of Jasper as soon as she was turned."
"Wait. So Alice has visions? Like a psychic?" I had a strong suspicion after her alluding to being able to 'see' things.
"Kind of. She is limited in how her gift works. She has to be familiar with you and she can only see things after a decision has been made. If its a choice made last second it slips by her. It's why she can only see some things and things are always subject to change just like decisions. It's fascinating to witness, she sees them come up like multiple threads each a different possibility. The more sure a future is the more in focus it is." He looked away guiltily. "She knew you were my mate once you decided to move here. She had a vision of it but I didn't believe her. I almost killed you the first time I was in your presence. I don't know if it is a sign of a mate or something else, but your blood as a human. It was the most tempting scent I had ever come across in my entire existence. I wanted to drain you dry and I hated you for it. Like you were a harbinger of punishment for the time I rebelled against Carlisle."
I cut him off. "You. Mr. straight edge. You rebelled against Carlisle?" I laughed. "How did you rebel?"
"It was during the time it was just Carlisle, Esme and I. I played judge, jury, and executioner. It was not too long after I had been changed. I had grown bored and having no mate to keep me preoccupied. I became restless. I would hunt humans. I could see into their minds, so I would find the ones commiting atrocious acts. I told myself I was saving people by doing so." His nose wrinkled in disgust. "I had no right. Life is so precious, it wasn't mine to take no matter my reasonings. I saw it for what it was after a while. It was just me justifying my craving for human blood. Feeding the soulless monster I am. I came back to Carlisle and begged him for forgiveness. He is a better man than I. He accepted me back with open arms, him and Esme. I certainly didn't deserve it and I figured you were my atonement. After so many years of resisting and staying on the diet, here you come, tempting in every way. So resilient, mouth-watering and beautiful. Fierce and protective. I see now how selfless you are in your actions" He stepped closer to me. "I shouldn't fight it, should I?"
I remained quiet. I wanted to give him time to process it and make his own decisions. I swallowed hard and closed my eyes, keeping my breathing even. He grabbed my chin and tilted it upwards towards him. I remained still. His lips pressed against mine softly. There was a rush in my body, electricity connecting us everywhere his skin was touching mine. There was nothing in my entire existence that felt more right in my bones than this moment. Even being with Danny was nothing compared to the gravity of this chaste kiss. I let him lead, guilt keeping me from overpowering him and taking him for all he had to give.
"That's how the first time should have felt. I am so sorry for running off the way I did Bella. I want to fight these developing feelings so much. I dont know if it's fear or inexperience that makes me feel this way. I've told myself I haven't been lonely this past century, but it was a lie. I desire your companionship." His eyes were blazing. "Would you allow me to court you?"
"I'd love nothing more." I responded breathless. He gave me another chaste kiss pulling me against him.
"Let's go play that chess." He quipped. We started heading back to the cabin.
...
AN: I thank everyone who is still here with me. I am sooooo sorry for taking so long to update. Honestly, I lost my connection with my story and the characters stopped speaking to me. The writers block had gotten so bad and I didn't want to just spit out just anything for y'all. I definitely made sure to get at least the kiss inbetween Edward and Bella! You guys earned it for your patience. They are definitely going to try to take it slow, remember Edward is new to all of this. But who knows what the near future holds for these two ;) all my love to my readers 3