Recap: An elderly woman walked briskly into the room to wash her hands.
No thought was even required; I pounced viciously…
Chapter 6: The Third Task
Bella POV:
I awoke screaming to the foggy morning light, trembling. When I was able to calm myself down enough to move, I peered out the window; the overcastting clouds did not look lasting. It was going to be a sunny day.
I groaned, realizing that Edward wouldn't be in school, and slugged unwillingly towards my closet.
My mind whirred at the dream last night; the word Edward had used bounced around my brain: Monster.
Would I really be like that if I became a vampire?
No. Edward wouldn't let me be feared by everyone; he would never allow me to hurt that poor old woman. But still…
I had not expected Edward's car to be in the driveway when I walked out into the chilly morning light. As a matter of fact, I had barely even noticed it, what with the mess of thoughts going through my head. I had walked straight passed him and began unlocking my truck when I heard the voice that forced me to break my train of thought and turn around:
"I take all the trouble of coming to get you and you don't even acknowledge me?"
I did my best to smile at his fake appall and went over to where he leaned against his ever-shiny Volvo.
"Good morning," I said. He obviously noticed my distraction, for he looked at me with the same frustrated and exasperated expression that I knew all too well.
"I was just thinking about the last thing you have to do today," I clarified, answering his unspoken question.
"Ah," he said, "the changing."
I nodded, deciding not tell him about the dream; I knew if he found out that I had even the slightest fear of being changed, the whole thing would be called off.
He eyed me peculiarly, clearly unconvinced that that was all that was on my mind. He sighed and opened my door for me.
"Do you mind if we skip school today?" he asked. I looked up at the sky; the sun had begun to poke through the thinning clouds.
"Sure," I replied, fastening my seatbelt as he climbed swiftly into the driver's side.
"Good, because there are some things we need to discuss."
And with that, he put the car in Drive and sped off (always too fast) down the winding road.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
He shrugged, and for once kept his eyes on the road.
"You'll see," he answered simply, pulling into the parking lot of an unfamiliar building. It was not very tall, but quite wide, and painted vivid colors that gave it a very childlike appearance. The sign in front said "Forks Pre-school."
I cocked my eyebrow as I followed Edward out of the car and over to the fence, where, on the other side, a dozen or so small children played on a jungle gym. I admired their carefree laughter.
Edward did not say anything; he just stared off into the distance, and smiled kindly when one of the children would meet his gaze.
I racked my brain for reasons why Edward would want to bring me here, to a Pre-School, but I came up unsurprisingly blank.
"What are we doing here?" I finally asked.
"Sometimes I like to come here and watch the children play," he answered without looking at me, "and marvel at their never-ceasing curiosity…and know that I'll never have my own…" his sentence trailed at the end.
He finally looked over at me; a deep, ancient sorrow flooding his eyes, which led me to believe that he had been troubled by this for a great many years.
"Don't you see, Bella? Don't you see all the opportunities you're missing by becoming like me? I can't have children. None of us can. How I wish I could have a child that would call me Father, someone I could bring up and call my own. Don't you want that?"
I shook my head. "Not without you." I answered simply, trying to lighten the mood and remove some of the distress that appeared to haunt him so.
"But I want you to be happy," he persisted, turning his golden eyes back to the children running around.
I took his hand and gently pushed his face to look at me with my fingers.
"Edward, all of this –family, life, humanity— it all means nothing to me without you. I don't know how to make you understand that I cannot possibly raise a child pleasurably if you weren't the father. I'd take you over humanity any day."
He did not seem totally convinced.
"Hey," I said, looking at him straight in the eyes, trying my hardest to dazzle him as he did me countless times a day. Clearly, it did not have the same effect. "I love you, do you understand that?"
He smiled. "Yes, I do understand that."
"Then you have to realize that there isn't anything in this world –even children— that I want more than you."
And without a backward glace at the colorful jungle gym, I led him back to the car and got in.
"Can I ask you something?" Edward asked as he sped once more across the highway. The sun poked once-more through the clouds, sending sparks of glitter dancing across his face.
"Of course,"
"You know I love you, right?"
"Yes," I answered, waiting for him to continue.
"And I know you love me, right?"
"Edward, what are you getting at?" How I hated it when he spoke in cryptic little phrases that he knew I couldn't follow.
"Well, I was just wondering why I am going to all the trouble of proving myself to you when you already know that I love you?"
Edward evidently hadn't changed in the last six months; his annoying tendency to over-analyze every situation still stood strong. I struggled for an answer.
"Because," I finally said, proud of the clever retort that my mind had somehow managed to formulate while under the influence of his stare, "Three days ago, you promised me that you would go through all of the tasks. If you back out now, it will show me that you are not a man of your word, and are untrustworthy, and cannot keep a promise."
I figured that was a reasonable answer. He fought back a chuckle and turned his eyes back to the road.
Upon looking at the road myself, I noticed the familiar route and smiled.
"Are we going to the meadow?" I asked, suspicious.
He grinned. "Indeed," he answered simply, arriving at the edge of the shady woods and gliding the Volvo smoothly across the rough ground, coming to a stop.
I jumped eagerly onto his back and, probably noticing my keenness, he promptly started to run.
The exhilarating feeling that I missed so much washed through me as the damp wind ripped through my hair and light streaked passed my eyes like flashes of lightning.
All too soon, our meadow came into view and Edward slowed to a human walking pace. I sighed.
We sat in the warm green grass; and the bright sunshine played off Edward's diamond skin, enough to make me go completely brain-dead.
The radiating beauty he emanated reminded me of my dream, and I sighed heavily.
He gave me a quizzical look.
"What?" I said, wondering if he saw through me.
"Something's on your mind," he said, dazzling me with his confused eyes.
Yup, he saw.
"Well…I…" I stuttered, losing my train of thought as the overwhelming exquisiteness of his features caught my attention.
"Well?" he urged, sliding closer until our faces were just inches apart. His glorious scent made it even harder to think.
Edward waited patiently for me to put my mind back together, all the while taking my fragile hands in his and marveling at the warmth. I knew he wouldn't rest until I told him.
"I had a dream last night," I started to confess, his head jerking up; there was a compelling curiosity in his eyes that I could not ignore.
"It was very scary…" I said slowly, trying to recall the details as he played unconsciously with my fingers, but never taking face away from mine. "You changed me into a vampire, but everyone was afraid of me – my mother, Charlie – everyone."
He nodded and listened intently as I continued.
"Then you were there, and you said I was a monster…and there was this elderly woman…" I started to cry at the memory of the sweet, innocent old woman in my dream, unknowing and vulnerable. Edward wrapped his arms around me in an attempt to consol me.
"It was just a dream, Bella." He whispered gently. "I would never let you hurt anyone if I changed you, whether it be a helpless citizen, or even Mike Newton."
He smiled crookedly and wiped away the last of my tears with his icy fingertips.
"You never have to be afraid of anything as long as I'm around," he murmured, leaning in to kiss me. my heart thudded unevenly as he began to close the little distance between us.
Uh oh. Should I let him kiss me before he finishes his task?
I made an effort to back away, but his sweet breath and liquid topaz eyes settled themselves into my brain once more, and I could do nothing but succumb and enjoy the perfect angel who was mine and mine only.
Any worries or fears I may have had before were all washed away instantly as his kiss took effect. I hadn't felt this light and airy in what seemed like years.
He pulled away and smiled; the very sight nearly caused me to pass out. I had to remind myself to breathe, and it came out in a sharp gasp.
He laughed and pulled me into a hug, kissing my hair.
"I think it's safe to say I'm forgiven." He chuckled, releasing me from his grasp.
"Mostly," I replied slyly, "but don't think this absolves you of your final duty." I reprimanded sternly.
He sighed, and the sound was tired and exasperated.
"If you still wish to join me in the land of the eternally damned, then your wish is my command."
I scowled at his words.
Shall we set a date then?" he asked, making my eyes brighten automatically.
"Yes!"
"Alright, but I'll only change you under one condition?"
I groaned and rolled me eyes. "What?"
"If you marry me first." His eyes twinkled mischievously, making his already-sparkling visage overflow with beauty.
A/N: I wanted to have the same impasse as Stephenie Meyer would've wanted. Not to say that Bella won't heartily accept her love's proposal, but… well, you'll have to wait and see!
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