The grainy sand stuck to my toes and the air was crisp and cool. My gaze was focused on the beautiful being before me. Blonde curls danced around his unmistakable features. Blood dripped silently from this lips. I stepped forward, the embodiment of confidence, until our faces were only inches apart. I longed to close the gap between our lips, to taste him. I leaned forward, to kiss my rescuer, but he raised his hand as if to stop me. I obeyed. Then ever so gently, he stroked my cheek. I had expected to see hunger in his smoldering eyes, but instead was love. I could see into his soul, and I knew he wanted me as much as I wanted him. His hand lifted to glide his fingers through the waves of my hair. In a look as though he had made an important decision, he slightly grazed his blood stained lips against mine, sending shivers through my heart. I breathed in the delicious scent, but tasted something warm and coppery in my mouth. He pulled away to reveal a brilliant smile, showing most of his deathly teeth.
"Bella." his soft voice hummed.
"Bella? Bella, love, wake up! Oh god, Bella! Please…Bella." he was still smiling, his lips never parted to speak. It was not my angel's voice…it was someone else's.
He raised his hand in a gesture, as if beckoning me to stay or to leave.
"I want to stay with you." my voice sincere, my heart writhing for his touch. But the voice was calling to me…it was pulling me away.
"I love you." the angel spoke, eyes ablaze with passion.
"I love you too Lestat." I screamed, I was being torn from my love…to the voice.
"Bella?" the voice was loud and laced with pain. My eyes fluttered, then shot open.
I want to go back!
"Lestat! Lestat!" I squeaked frantically, searching for my lost love. The body holding me grew still…unnaturally still. The face staring down at me twisted in agony.
"Bella…" he whispered.
Why was this boy so familiar…he's beautiful…statuesque …his topaz eyes.
"Edward?" I breathed, relived I was free of the trance that imprisoned me.
"Oh god Bella. Are you okay? What did he do to you?" his features grim and remorseless.
I felt anger swell within me, "He didn't do anything to me!" he pulled back from our embrace.
"I'm….sorry. I just wanted to make sure you weren't hurt." he stated between clenched teeth.
"I'm fine. I promise." my voice cracking with fatigue, but reassuring all the while. I didn't know why I had been angry. He just wanted me safe… he would do anything for me. I love him so much.
He calmed, apparently trusting my reassurance. I pulled him closer, snuggling us on the couch. He abruptly sat up, almost knocking me over in the process.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, but you can't be comfortable, I'm afraid you will fall asleep."
I groaned.
"But I'm so tired!" I whimpered, rubbing sleep from my eyes.
"too bad." he said, harshly, but caring. "I'm not going to let you sleep. Whether you want to believe it or not, Lestat will take advantage of you or kill you the next time you decide to have a little slumber."
My brain was telling me that Edward was right. Lestat would kill me if he had the chance, all he wanted was my blood. But my heart convinced me differently, Lestat did love me, I could feel it.
If only there was a way to fall back asleep without Edward knowing.
I put the thought out of my head. There was no way I could deceive Edward like that, he meant too much to me.
Edward had began staring at me as I thought, no doubt trying to analyze my thoughts, unsuccessfully of coarse. He broke the silence first, heaving a sigh, and ruffling his bronze hair with his perfect fingers.
"Come on Bella, lets go downstairs…Esme will make you some coffee." his brows linked together in frustration, he helped me up off the couch offering his stone cold hand. I took it graciously, feeling the marble beneath my skin. Once I was up, I took one step towards Edward, looking into his liquid topaz eyes, and tripped on my own foot. I was nearly one inch from the ground before I felt Edwards iron clad grip across my stomach. He picked me up in his arms, momentary amusement altering his features. I felt the inevitable heat rush to my cheeks, and my heart begin to thud in my chest. I looked up into his eyes, and melted, all thoughts of Lestat utterly vanished. Warily, I reached up my hands to his face, gripping his cheeks in the warmth of my palms. He smiled, as he always did when he had no idea what I was doing. I spoke steadily, and truthfully, letting the words soak in,
"Edward, I promise I will not fall asleep again. I love you, with all of my heart. I know Lestat is using his powers against me, to try and make me love him. But I love you, I always will, no matter what happens." traitor tears welled up and spilled over the rims of my red puffy eyes. I quickly wiped them away, and replaced the hand back on Edward's cheek. As if sensing my frustration, he sat us back down on his comfy leather couch, and stroked my hair.
"Bella calm down," he said shakily, calming himself as well, " I'm not going to let anything happen to you, not as long as I'm alive." finishing with a triumphant grin.
I sensed his joke, no doubt a tactic to lift the sour mood, and took a deep breath, finally relaxing my heart into it's normal rhythm.
"I know." I sighed. "lets go get me some coffee." a famous crooked smile danced across his angel's face, as he swept me up in his arms once more.
"Hey, just because I'm tired, doesn't mean I can't walk!" I struggled to get out of his grip, although knowing it would be useless. I gave him a frown in desperation.
"I know…but your so cute when your angry. Your cheeks turn a delightful shade of pink." he grinned down at me in his arms.
In seconds we were at the bottom of the stairs, heading for the kitchen. I glanced into the living room, seeing the rest of the Cullen clan, and heard their hushed tones as we passed. As soon as Edward set me down at the kitchen table and turned to make the coffee, I was on my feet, striding towards the living room. I walked in, very much noticed, and the room grew silent. I looked in all their worry strewn faces, the faces of people who love me. Emmet spoke first, alleviating some tension in the room.
"hey kiddo! How're you feeling?" he crossed the room and gave me one of his giant bear hugs. I hugged him back, and answered, "I'm fine, really. A little tired though, I don't know how you guys never go to sleep!"
A few light chuckles lifted the atmosphere, and Alice replied, "You'll get used to it after a while!"
I had almost forgotten after all the confusion about Lestat, that Edward was going to change me in a matter of weeks.
"Come with me dear, I'll make you some coffee." Esme got up from her seat beside Carlisle, quickly pecking him on the cheek as she did.
"oh, no that's alright, Edward's already getting me some…" frustration wrinkled my nose as I asked, "what were you guys talking about before I came in?"
Carlisle nodded to Edward as he appeared beside me, handing me a steaming hot cup of coffee.
"We were discussing exactly what we are going to do about this…Lestat situation."
I sipped at the warm substance between my hands, liquid burning it's way down my throat.
The Greek statue beside me spoke, "well whatever we are going to do, we'd better do it fast…we can't keep Bella awake like this. She needs to rest."
I looked up into Edwards frustrated gaze, took his hand, and gave it a good squeeze.
Carlisle spoke again, "Esme, Emmet, Rosalie, and I will go looking for Lestat. Since he's using his powers on Bella, he should be close enough to track. Edward you, Jasper, and Alice stay with Bella. Don't let her out of your site, and whatever you do, do not let her fall asleep."
They got up to leave and a thought occurred, "wait! What if Lestat shows up here?"
Edward rolled his eyes, and looked at me once more, grasping my hand more firmly,
"Bella, don't worry….Jasper and I can handle him."
" I know you can Edward, I'm not worried about that…"
"then what are you fretting about love?"
"I….I don't know if I can handle myself…around him. I'm afraid I'll do something stupid.."
Pain swept Edward's features, reliving his pain as I cried out for Lestat.
"you won't get the chance," Alice broke in, "I'll make sure of it."
I gave her an earnest hug, and I nod towards Jasper, still sitting in the corner of the room.
"Alright then," Carlisle broke the moment, " here are two cell phones, one for Edward and Bella, one for Jasper and Alice." placing the small silver phone in my hands, his other hand on my shoulder.
"Take care Bella. Your going to have to fight your fatigue, do you understand?" I nodded, "do whatever you have to do to stay awake, until we get back."
And with a smile and nod, they were instantly gone.
I turned to Edward, no sitting down, rubbing his temples.
"I'm going upstairs to take a cold shower, it should help." I turned to go and heard Edward say,
"I'm coming with you!"
I looked over my shoulder and raised an eyebrow directly at him, a boyish grin spread his features.
He replied, " Not into the shower, of coarse."
Minutes after walking up the stairs, I was in the shower, chilling shards of water bouncing off of my skin.
Shivers took over me as I dunked my head underneath the faucet. I could almost imagine my lips turning blue in the freezing liquid. I gave out a small giggle. Little noises of Edward toying with my hair products in the sink reminded me that I was not alone. A memory of my Lestat flew across my mind, and I was almost convinced I saw him in the reflection of the microscopic mirror in the shower. I shrugged off the feeling of being watched, and giggled again when I realized Edward was still behind the thin fabric of the shower curtain.
"I'm ready to get out now!" I echoed.
"I'll turn around." I heard him respond in almost a sad sigh.
I was greeted by a pink fluffy towel and wrapped it quickly around my body. I heard our cell phone ring downstairs.
"aren't you going to get that?" I questioned.
"Alice or Jasper will answer it." he breathed.
The phone rang five more times before Edward finally gave up.
"Alright! Apparently I'm going to have to answer it….I'll be right back."
Once he was gone, I stepped into the light of the giant mirror before me. Skin glistening with cold water, and hair dripping, I reached to touch my flushed cheek. My eyes fell to still bruised print at my neck, and when they lifted, I saw Lestat behind me. He smiled politely, and reached his hand out to me. I didn't take it, fear gripping my insides. I had an overwhelming need to go outside and breathe fresh air into my lungs. Not thinking, I quietly stepped out the front door, feeling the hard ground beneath me, laced with snow.
And then I was running into the forest, to anywhere, somewhere….although it seemed my feet were guiding me to someone. Still in the pink bath towel, snow stung my legs as I ran faster, abruptly stopping on a frozen surface, surrounded my trees. I looked down at my feet, curiosity brimming at the edges of my mind, and saw swaying water beneath the surface. I was standing on a frozen lake. Fear grew inside me.
Why is it so quiet?
There were no birds chirping, no footsteps of a hunting fox, or hoots of an owl. It was completely silent, until an all too familiar voice reverberated off the trees.
"Hello. I'm afraid we haven't been properly introduced. My name is Lestat de Lioncourt." his voice hummed with a slight French accent. He was every bit as beautiful as I remembered. He reached out his hand in a shake. I took it, feeling the stone cold skin with mine.
"I'm Bella Swan." my voice reeked confidence.
"I know." his wide smile brought flips to my heart, blonde curls swirling about his face in the breeze.
My love…