Chapter 4
I had to save Bella. I would protect her with my useless life.
Tentatively, I crushed my body against hers to shield her from the approaching guards.
It was too late to run now.
Though inevitable danger lurked all around her and I, I could not help but gape at her. Her radiant beauty stunned me. Tears brimmed in her eyes, as they streaked down her cheeks. Were they tears of fear, or were they happy tears? I did not know.
I continued to stare in astonishment, as I wrapped my arms around her waist. Her fingers strangled my forearms.
She stared back up at me as if I were the only glimpse of hope left in her life. Her breaths were choppy and I could hear her heart pounding like thunder in her chest.
There she was, right in front of me. For an entire agonizing day, I had thought that she was gone from me forever. I knew that I had crushed her heart and let her slip through my fingers, though I thought it would have been best for her not to get hurt anymore by my volatile life.
When I searched her eyes, so full of trust and adoration, I knew that there was still a spark of hope left. She was here to save me, and I would save her now. Though the Volturi may put an end to us both, we would die together, and I would hold her in my arms, until death did us part.
As I wrapped my arms around Bella's frail body and lead her out of the dreaded underground castle, I heaved a long sigh of relief.
The Volturi had allowed us to go free of our will. Under one condition: I must turn Bella Swan into a monster, one of us. It was so easy for the promise to escape my lips, though would I be able to endure putting her through such pain?
I dropped a kiss on the top of her head and squeezed her ever so lightly to me as we sauntered out into the night to retrieve Alice's getaway car. Of course she had plucked it off of the street without telling the owner. I could already read her carefree mind. I rolled my eyes and concentrated on guiding Bella towards the exit.
I contemplated scooping her up in my arms and letting her sleep. Her eyes were weary, and the way she easily stumbled on the cobblestone street curse myself for ever letting her go in the first place.
I would make it all up to her when she was more conscious.
Alice danced over to a sleek vehicle. She hit the unlock button, a gallant grin upon her angelic face. As if she were pleading innocent that she had just committed grand theft auto.
"Oh you know I will give it back, Edward, don't give me that look," she whispered to me, as I stared at her in contempt.
"What would I do without you?" I said back to her under my breath. I nodded stiffly at her, gesturing my chin down to the love of my life. Bella reacted by clutching onto my waist when I attempted to place her into the back seat.
She still did not want to let me go. She was deathly afraid, and probably traumatized by the near death sentence we had just experienced at the hands of the evil and decrepit vampires.
I tightened my grip around her and gently picked her up and carefully set her into the back seat.
Her wide brown eyes were so soaked with hope as she gawked up at me.
Feeling despair at the very beautiful sight of her, I smoothed the side of her porcelain face with my fingers in a reassuring motion. "I'm not going anywhere," I said in a hush voice and I flew to the other side of the vehicle and climbed in next to her.
I was amazed at how she clung onto me still. Just as she had done through our treacherous encounter with the Volturi. I stared at her, wanting so badly to touch my lips to hers but that would be crossing the line. I had already crossed that barrier by even so much as touching her. It would be criminal of me to even ask of her love again, though somewhere deep within me, I knew I would.
Alice, in the driver's seat, drove the vehicle at an insane speed that put even me to shame. She tilted her chin over her shoulder and gave a bright nod of her head. In a chirpy voice, she said to me,:
"Do not be ashamed Edward," she smirked and glanced at us in the rearview mirror, a glint in her eyes. "You will. I've already seen it."
I looked away and mumbled in a rapid hiss, "Mind your own business."
"Sure. Whatever," Alice said flippantly, gesturing her hand carelessly in the air as if flicking a fly out of her presence. "See if I ever save your life again. Fine fine fine." She sighed.
"Just let me get her to safety first," I explained to Alice, my tone not above a whisper. "She needs nourishment and sleep before she can register all of this cruelty she's been through. Then, and only then—I'll tell her."
