~ Edward and Bella's Cabin, Alaska - July 9, 2005 ~
After a few of the longest moments of my existence, Bella's eyes slowly fluttered open. At first her gaze seemed unfocused before her crimson eyes settled on mine. I worked hard to pickup even the slightest whisper of her thoughts, but unfortunately Bella's mind was still closed to me.
Slowly, Bella raised her hand and caressed my cheek. "Edward," she purred in a manner that fused itself with my soul and lit me on fire. "You're so beautiful."
"Welcome back, Bella," I replied softly.
Before I could register what had happened, Bella had flipped us so she hovered overtop of me. She giggled in a bell-like tone at the speed she was able to move us both. After her mirth subsided, she kissed me deeply, nearly attacking my mouth with hers. As our tongues clashed, she reach up and threaded her fingers into my hair. Soon the kiss became more frantic and she tugged my hair to the point I felt pain.
"Unhhh! Bella, love," I groaned. "Ease up a bit. You are stronger than me right now."
Bella loosened her grip and giggled again. "Sorry! I don't want to break you, at least not yet." She said with a saucy wink, before kissing me again.
There were so many things I wanted to say or ask, but with a flick of her hand, my pants became shredded. I reciprocated by tearing her shirt.
Talking would obviously come later.
"You really have been holding back," Bella breathed against my bare chest.
"I guess I have been," I replied as I looked around at the destruction our love making had caused. "By the way, I should have said this before, but I love you."
Bella looked up at me and smiled. "I love you too. So much, Edward." She reached up and picked a feather from my hair, however with her new strength she pulverized it between her fingers. She shook her head before twirling her fingers in front of her face. The awe reflected in her eyes was obvious.
"I see and feel so much," she said absently. "When I opened my eyes and saw you, it was like I had never really seen you before. Plus, I thought that I known true love before, but now! It's like my previous feelings were like a grade-school crush. I feel so much for you now. I…well I just had to have you. I just had to show you what I was feeling."
"That is how I have felt since I picked you up at the Seattle airport. Our connection will only grow and get stronger." I said before kissing the top of her head. "I am sorry the change was so painful, but I am so very happy that you are now immortal."
Bella reached up a caressed by face and neck. I knew she needed the physical connection, because I needed it too.
"I am not going to lie, the change was terrible! I knew it was going to be, but nothing anyone could have said about it could do the pain any real justice. But I knew you were there holding me. Talking to me. Somehow I was able to focus on that. Focus on what we would have afterwards. Then at some point, it was like there was two of me. One that burned and one that listened to you, and all of the lovely things you told me. I can't say it was bearable, but I knew then I would survive it. Finally when the burning stopped, I opened my eyes and saw you. I would go through that change again a hundred times over to be with you Edward. Although I am really glad I don't have too!"
The sound of a flock of birds taking flight outside our cabin caused Bella to startle and jump from the bed. She hissed and snarled, while her head dart repeatedly between me and the window.
"It's ok, love." I said quietly, while I slowly got off the bed and approached her. I remembered this part of my first reborn moments, where any unexpected sensory input set me one edge. I knew for Bella, it would take a while to become accustomed to her heightened senses. Carefully I reached our and took hold of her hand. The moment our skin touched, Bella snapped her gaze down to our hands and sighed. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her forehead.
"It was just a flock of birds," I whispered.
"Really?" She answered while she nestled in closer to me. "I've been trying to not freak out over…well, everything." Bella paused for a moment and breathed in my scent. "The feel of sheets against my skin. The sound of the air moving. The dust motes floating by. Its…"
"Overwhelming," I answered. Bella looked up at me and nodded. "It will be, love. It will take you a while to get use to the world."
Bella frowned as her gaze followed some dust floating to the floor. "How long does this last?"
"For me, it was several months, but a lot of that was dealing with hearing the thoughts those around me. For Rose, her human personality would never allow others to see her as anything other than perfect. This carried over and she willed herself to shut out the distractions from almost her first moments as a vampire. Emmett and Esme were about the same. After a week they would stop reacting to every new or sudden sensory input."
"I want to try something," Bella said as she shrugged out of my embrace and stood by herself near the window. She took a couple of needless breaths and allowed herself to just feel everything around her. After a few minutes, she raised her hand for me to grasp, so I took her hand in mine. Bella remained still for another few minutes before she walked over to me and wrapped my arm around her.
"There is so much to take in," Bella whispered. "But when we touch, it's like I am able to quiet the world. And when you hold me, it's like heaven."
"How do you feel now," I said as I squeezed Bella closer to me, because I agreed that having her in my arms was heavenly.
Bella paused, scrunched her brow before rubbing her throat. "Now the only discomfort I feel is in my throat."
Given that we spent the better part of a day making love after she awoke, I am not surprised her thirst is now a pressing need.
"Come on," I told her. "Lets get dressed and go for your fist hunt."
Bella stood outside the cabin as still as a statue taking in the world around her. I thought it would be best for her to get use to the enhanced sounds and sights of nature before we just ran off into the forrest.
"I don't want to hurt anyone," Bella whispered. "I know you cannot guarantee that I won't, but…"
Since getting out of bed, Bella has started to understand her strength and the danger she poses to humans. The destruction of our bed was one piece of evidence. Another was that she immediately shredded her clothing just trying to get dressed. And then finally, was the cabin's front door, which she ripped from the structure trying to open it.
Except for Rose, everyone in my family has either purposely or accidentally killed a human to quench their thirst. Rose does have blood on her ledger, but her human fiancé and his cronies deserved their fates. Bella was right that we could not guarantee she would never slip, but at least for now I would do everything I could to keep her from having that regret on her conscience.
"Love, my family and I will do all that we can to keep that from happening." I reached out with my gift to see if any thoughts were able to be heard. All I got was silence. "Today, though, you will not need to worry about that. No one is around. I promise if I do pickup any human thoughts, we will head in the opposite direction."
Bella nodded.
"Ready?" I asked one final time. Bella nodded again. "Good, I think you are going to like what comes next. Follow me."
I darted off into the forrest. After a moment of hesitation, Bella ran after me in pursuit. Soon she is running next to me, giggling at the speed she is was able to achieve. She instinctively darted under branches and dodged obstructions, all while her head jerked in all directions taking in the new sights, sounds, and smells. As we reached a small ravine, I jumped across the expanse effortlessly. Bella did the same, without even noticing what she was doing, before landing next to me.
"Holy shit! That was fun! Let's do it again!" Bella squealed in delight, however before she could leap back over, he head turned quickly towards the smell of a creature we were downwind of. She lifted her head and inhaled deeply before dropping into a crotch and hissing.
I slowly knelt down behind Bella, careful to not startle her. "You smell that, love? That's going to be your first hunt right there." I inhaled deeply, allowing the sent to trigger my thirst as well. Bella was going to have a good first meal. "When I say, I want you run through those trees until you hear the animal's heartbeat. Believe me, you won't miss it. Then follow the sound. When you reach the animal, you will be much stronger than it. Bring it to the ground and drink from its neck."
Bella panted and snarled. She was fierce and sexy.
"Go!" I finally said. An instant later Bella and I were tearing though the Alaskan wilderness towards an unsuspecting bear. Soon she picked up the heartbeat, and raced towards it source.
Without any hesitation, Bella launch herself on to the animal, breaking several of its bones upon impact. The bear's strength was no match for Bella's. Instinctively, she bared her teeth and sunk them into the writhing creature. The smell of animal musk in the air was soon replaced with the tangy scent of the bear's blood. Bella savagely sucked upon the bear's flesh, until she calmed and started to savor her first meal. Soon the animal's heart slowed as she took long pulls of blood from the creature.
Watching my huntress unleash herself was the most erotic thing I had ever seen. After she had drained the creature, she dropped the carcass and looked back towards me. In a blur I was pushed straight through a tree. Her mouth was on mine before we hit the ground. The taste of the animal's blood in her kiss drove me nearly insane with lust. If this is how hunting with Bella would be, I was glad we would have an eternity to experience this carnal bliss…over and over again.
Bella's exploring hands easily shredded my clothes, and I could not have cared less. I was her willing victim as she took me hard and fast on the forrest floor.
Author's Note...
So there was our first glimpse at vampire Bella!
As some of you have already guessed, there will be no Renesme in this story. In truth, I always hated that portion of the canon story line...especially the whole Jacob angle (or would that be tri-angle). As if Jacob imprinting on an infant (which is wrong in so many ways) made nearly three novels of his emotional blackmail ok. Plus, and this may seem strange given it is a series of novels about vampires and werewolves, but the entire vampire-human breeding arc was the most unbelievable aspect of canon. I know a lot of you liked it...and I can respect that point of view...but as a person with a scientific background, to me it was ridiculous. To wrap up my tiny rant on this...lions and lambs cannot produce offsprings together!
Thank you for reading and reviewing! With Bella's change, we are in the final third of my original story, but there is still a lot more to come.
-Chris