Volturi's Precious Guard
Volturi's Precious Guard
Hey everyone, my profile is being a little wonkee. I try to put pictures in, it doesn't work. I try to put in a link, my pro won't save. Anyone know how to put the actual picture in your pro? Not just the link?
I'm bouncing up and down right now! I always had a general idea of what would happen in this story, but I never had an ending, and wasn't really happy with the general lead up to the ending. But I was watching Underworld (best movie ever!) and that gave me an idea for a character. So I wrote one short scene with him in it, and then another, and then he became a major character, and that gave me a brilliant ending! So I really like this story now, which means I'll work harder on it! Anyway, here the next chapter.
Bella's new look is in my pro.
Chapter Four: The Other Man
B POV
After pacing my room within Volterra for hours, I finally decided a walk would be better use of my time. The sun, shining down with all it gay cheerfulness, prevented me from leaving the confines of my home, and more preciously, Aro, who I was avoiding. It was much too draining to use my power to stop humans from seeing my skin sparkle. Also there was always the chance of an unusually observant human who could see through the thin veil I placed on their minds. So instead, I was thankful Volterra was so big, allowing me to walk for hours with my thoughts without meeting a single vampire.
I couldn't help but think. Years of mental discipline and preparation, shattered. Every thought I had was consumed by the Cullen's. I had thought that saying goodbye would help me survive another thousand years, but it just made me want to see them again. I wouldn't allow myself to. It was easier, not being around them. I refused to live a lie, and they don't want Bella back in there lives.
It was settled, then. In the morning, I would leave and start a new life. My name would be Kitsin Lovette, from London. A model, who lost her parents in tragic car accident. Long, blonde, wavy hair, a little blonder then Rose, with a similar face. Thinner nose, fuller, less perfect mouth. Tall, tan skin. I turned my unappealing gray-black Doors t-shirt into a fluffy, pink V-neck sweater that hung off my narrow shoulders. Absently, I rubbed the bit mark on my collar bone from my change, which I could not hide. Kit would be a well-known model, but not famous. In her early twenty's, working mostly for Victoria's Secret.
So absorbed in my thoughts, I never noticed Aro start to walk beside me. I knew he must have sought me out, for I purposely avoided places he would be. I reprimand myself for forgetting to keep my shield up twice.
"Yes, Aro?" I asked impatiently. He walked beside me, looking straight in front of himself. I was struck by how serious he was. Rarely, he acted his age, but, once in a while, he would stop playing his games, and actually act concerned for me. I respected him at times like this, where he was almost a father figure. None the less, it was a father I didn't want. I should be nicer, but most of the time I hated him so much, I couldn't stop myself from being cruel when he was pleasant.
"How long do you believe you can get up this charade, young Isabella?" He asked. "I know from personal experience, when you play games such as these, eventually, you get caught, hurt." I snorted, knowing very well the majority of the time, Aro was the one catching me. Hurting me. A young vampire rushed past us, bumping a statue in his haste. It was comical that he was so afraid of me.
"I plan to play no game. I will not see them again, and, unless someone interferes-" I gave him a pointed look, "they will never be the wiser."
"I will not tell them." He concluded after a moment. "However, they will be spending a great deal of time in Volterra." I stopped next to the picture of King Henry the Fifth, forcing him to look at me, daring him to forbid me to leave.
"It won't be a problem. I plan on leaving in the morning." He smirked, and I could tell he was starting to play his games again.
"Lucian will be coming back from the south tonight." He baited me. I narrowed my eyes at him. Lucian, the prince of the Volturi. Practically my betrothed. Oh, how I hated that man. He was perhaps the sixth oldest vampire in existence. It was a well known fact that if anything should ever happen to Marcus, Aro, or Caius, he would take their place. I couldn't understand, at first, why Aro would allow anyone so much motivation to kill him, until I discovered Lucian was Aro's mate, Sulpicia's, human-life son. While he was out on his mission to keep Southern vampires in-line, it was easy to sneak away. He would leave me alone, for about three years, until Aro had enough with whatever alias I was using. Then he would take joy in bringing me back to Volterra. But if I was here when he came back, he wouldn't want me to leave. And whatever Lucian wants, Lucian gets. Great. Just what I needed, Lucian back.
"I suppose I will have to leave sooner then planned." Was my only response.
"I'm afraid my son requested that you stay here, until he gets back. He was unhappy that be couldn't bring you home from your stint as Miss DeGhent. He misses you." Aro taunted me with a false apologetic tone. This was his way of punishing me for every time I mocked him. 'Request' was the blackest blasphemy. It was no request. I would not be leaving in the near future.
"I see." I began to walk again, ignoring Aro's glowing disposition and snide smile. I felt that I had not seen the end of Aro's games for the day. Something told be that he had one last jab up his sleeve. As we turned down the hallway toward the west wing, I stopped dead in my tracks. The entire Cullen family was gathered at the end of the hall. Aro's smirk grew tenfold.
"Kit!" Edward recognized me instantly, though I had nothing in common with the appearance I held yesterday. Once again, Edward sensed me without any physical detail giving me away.
"Kit?" Aro mouthed, looking back at me. "Is that what you're calling yourself these days?" I began to walk toward him and the Cullen's, afraid at how far he'd push his promise of not interfering. "I don't ever recall you using that name before. There was Angela, Gracie, Miranda, Jackie, B-" I tripped and stomped on his foot, hard. He squeaked out 'Ella' as I fell. Two strong, pale hands caught me before I could touch the floor. I did not need to look up to guess the owner. Edward smiled down at me, and lifted me to my feet.
"Of course he finds the only clumsy vampire." Emmett scoffed. Instantly, I blushed. I truly was a clumsy vampire, even when I wasn't fake tripping.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Aro smirked, amused by my act. 'Fine' I muttered. "Let continue to the common room, shall we?"
The Cullen's nodded and continued with Aro, as I hung back, hoping to slip away unnoticed. My hopes were squashed when Edward hung back with me.
"Are you alright?" He asked as we slowly made our way to the common room. "You left rather abruptly last night." I tried to remain detached, cold, and lifeless. Staring straight ahead and speaking with a monotone. Answering with single syllable answers. "Fine." It lasted about, oh, two seconds, before he stepped in front of me, blocking my path and forcing me to look at him.
"You're upset at me." He said, concerned. He was pouting. I couldn't help but smile up at him. His face broke into that easy, crooked smile I loved. Reflecting on our relationship was something I tried very hard not to do. Nevertheless, things slipped through, such how easy his smile had been in the beginning, and how, slowly after James attacked, he smiled less and less. By the end, he was so tense all the time, I rarely saw him as carefree as he was now.
"Don't tell anyone," I fake whispered, fully aware that everyone in the castle could hear me. I was eager to get Aro back for ruining my fun last night and his jabs this morning "Aro is kind of a party crasher." His laugh was music to my ears. As we continued into the common room, he bent his head to my ear. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." His lips tickled my ear.
I giggled.
I think everyone in the common room openly stared at us at that moment. Me, who was so cold, emotionless, and the regular downer, giggling like a schoolgirl. Faces, including Aro and the Cullen's, ranged from shocked, stunned, surprised, relieved, amused, glad, and hostile. I expected Rosalie to be hostile, so I was shocked when she beamed at me and Alice, my dear, sweet, best friend, Alice look posed to kill. I had brushed off the look she had given my last night as frustration stemming from her inability to see my future, but now, I was sure she hated me.
I could care less at the moment. All that mattered was that Edward was beaming brighter then even Rosalie, delighted with the response he had gotten from me. I breathed a sigh of relief. He liked me.
No. He likes Kit. I was beginning to hate Kit. I hated myself even more for making her up. I had promised myself I wouldn't live a lie, but here I was.
We sat in circled, lush leather chairs near the vast bay window, chatting politely, sharing information, concerns, and theories. The common room was crowded, as a result of the sun and clear sky. Often, on days such as these vampires would gather in the common room to entertain themselves, either with polite conversation, or juvenile games. On the far side of the room, half the guard was wrestling in friendly matches. Jane sat with her brother, chatting and watching a movie on the wide screen TV. By the other wide screen, Demetri and Felix played some nameless car racing video game. As the hours past, people would move about, change activities. Only we stayed the same, plenty to catch up on. Jasper, Aro, and Carlisle spent three hours alone discussing the effect of the American Civil War on the world. Twice, I tried to duck away. Both times Aro stopped me, politely inquiring about some bit of knowledge. I gave up after the third time, as his questions became more threatening. 'Dear, what was the name of that little town you are so fond of? The one where it always rains?' 'Tacoma, in America, Aro." His warning was clear, stop trying to leave. If I tried again, the questions would become more pointed. Gradually, I was pulled into the conversation, putting in my two cent here and there. Mostly, I stole glances at Edward under lowered lashes. I couldn't stop the feeling evoked in me the first time I caught him doing the same. As soon as our eyes locked, I blushed and looked away, only to glance back a moment later. He smirked triumphantly, unashamed.
The hours past so quickly in Edward's presence, I would have never noticed the evening pass into late night if I hadn't caught the glimpse of Lucian at the front gates. I knew the first thing he would do was personally inform Aro of his arrival. I stood, and Edward stood with me automatically. Carlisle, Aro, and the men stood as well, as all gentlemen do.
"Excuse me, someone has just arrived that I feel I should greet." Or run away from. Aro raised two delicate eyebrows at me in amused curiosity. It did not escape him that I was headed the wrong direction.
"Dear, I'm sure our guest will come directly to find me." He replied.
"No, no, I'm sure I can find a short cut this way. I'd like to see him first." I walked hastily. Damn Aro for making the rooms so big. I was half across the room when Lucian's dark, cinnamon aroma hit me.
"My dear!" His lush voice called. Everyone knew who he was calling to, even without the use of names. I turned, placing a smile on my face. The nicer I was, the soon he would let me get away. As hastily as I had tried to exit the room, he walked to me. When he reached me, he pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. I stiffened immediately, knowing it was all I could do until he chose to release me. It would be worse if I fought. He'd do it more often if I fought. "I have missed you." He whispered in my ear, before turning to greet the guest. As soon as his back was turned, I wiped my forehead and pretended to vomit. I knew I had been caught when Lucian's had wrapped around my waist, pulling me to him. Aro was finishing up introductions.
"How nice to meet the coven whose lifestyles have affected my dear's life so." His voice was a sweet as honey, like always, but I knew that it was the greatest of insults. No one hated my lifestyle choice more than Lucian. Carlisle nodded politely, while Edward's already gloomy eyes narrowed. I had always wondered if Lucian's thoughts were as sugar coated as his words. I guess not. I concentrated on blocking any of his thoughts that revolved around Bella.
"Ahem." Lucian was looking at me expectantly. It took me a moment to realize what he wanted.
"Oh, right!" I said, clumsily. The reason the Volturi kept me around. It was easier for them to go about their business when the sun didn't make their skin sparkle and rash newborns didn't try to kill their princes. Typically, they used me for this purpose, but I was not stupid enough to forget that my real value lay in my ability to block powers. Closing my eyes, I gently peeled away the layers of my power I had placed on Lucian, removing his blonde hair and blue eyes.
Lucian was a handsome man, taller then Edward, shorter then Jasper, but leaner then them both. Charcoal black hair was pulled into a pony tail at the base of his neck. He had a dark, brooding face, with a prominent nose and heavy eyebrows. His skin was so olive under a pale parlor it could almost pass for tan. He had been changed in his mid-twenties. His personality was well enough, if not too pushy. I probably would have like him as a friend, if he didn't continuously lust after me. Possibly, if Edward had never existed, I could have like him as more then a friend.
"Thank you." Was his simple reply.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to hunt." I told them, hoping to escape easily. I was surprised when Lucian responded, instead of Aro.
"You just hunted yesterday." He said gruffly, tightening his arm around my waist. Someone had been keeping taps on me.
"I was interrupted." I said, smiling at Edward. He smiled back for a moment, though it was clear his focus was on the man holding me to his side forcefully.
"Fine." Lucian replied, distain woven though his words, "Hurry back. I want to have a talk with you about this whole Rodmilla DeGhent business." Translation: Don't go running off. I learned years ago it was pointless to run from them. He released me without anymore displays of affection, for which I was grateful. I said my goodbyes, and left. Relieved I'd gotten out and gotten the chance to hunt.
I hunted quickly, less concerned with the choice of my prey, mainly concentrating on getting as much of my strength back as possible. I killed many animals that night, more then I should have, and had to take extra precaution in disposing of the remains. When I was done, I mediated. It was easier to think clearly after satisfying the burning in my throat. Slowly, I release the block I had put on Alice, without undoing any others. It was harder to unblock just one person, rather then a whole group, such as fortune tellers. Once I was sure it was secure, I decided to wait at the Cullen's home for them.
E POV
An hour after Alice saw Kit waiting for us at our house, Aro finally excused himself and his vile son. Carlisle slowly made his way through Volterra, greeting old friends along the way. Alice constantly reminded me not to speak to him until it was safe. Out of the whole family, Alice was the only one who did not seem pleased with my newfound happiness. Though she hid her thoughts well, it did not take a genius to presumption she felt I was betraying Bella. I could not blame her. I badgered myself over and over. I should not like this girl, but every time I was around her, I could not help myself. I still love Bella, with all my heart, but I was attracted to Kit. The way she talked, the way she acted, the way her hair fell around her face. Everything about her was perfect in my eyes, no matter how I wished I could ignore it.
Finally, we were outside, miles from the vampires' precise hearing. Before I could speak, Alice cut me off.
"Carlisle, Kit is waiting at the manor for us." She spoke indifferently. Carlisle nodded, asking if she knew why. To this, neither Alice nor I had an answer. We made our way more swiftly after that, but I still had the urge to leave my family and run to the house.
When we finally arrived, Kit was seated in the dim living room, on my piano, playing a broken Chopin. Her originally pink sweater was covered in dirt. Her skintight jeans had a similar appearance, ripped at the knees. Her hair, which had fallen in perfect waves this evening, now was pulled back into a low ponytail at the base of her neck. Still perfect, even with short bangs falling out and small twigs tangled in the lengthy locks. She greeted us with a radiant smile, looking directly at me.
"Carlisle, Esme." She said, sweetly, her way of greeting the entire family. "I hope you don't mind. You offered me an open invitation." As she spoke she watched her fingers, choppy and uneven.
"Not at all, dear. Come, let's get you cleaned up." Esme's thoughts were full of concern, picking up on Kit's distress which I could not sense. "Carlisle, why don't you take the boys out to hunt? Alice, Rose, would you help me?" She was already guiding Kit from the bench up the stairs, before I could protest. Rose followed, dragging Alice along. I stared after them for a long time, trying to think of some excuse to stay.
"Come on, lover boy," Emmett laughed, as he dragged me from the house. Carlisle and Jasper were talking quietly a few feet ahead of us.
"Well, I liked her." Emmett announce when we were far enough away from the house.
"She does seem like a very sweet girl." Carlisle agreed. "However, I think all of us, especially the men, need to be cautious around her. I sense problems between her and Lucian. I do not want to get involved in that mess, if it can be avoided."
I spoke up, remembering the knowledge I had gained from Lucian. "Lucian has been her keeper for three centuries, since she was born. He's the only one who has power to control her." I mentally compared the way Kit acted around Aro and the way she acted around Lucian in his memories. She didn't dare defy him.
"Generally, she's disgusted by him, but I sensed underlying fear." Jasper added. I nodded, having drawn similar conclusions.
"Sometimes Lucian's mind would go unexpectedly blank, mid thought. I believe she was instructed to block certain things Lucian might think." I informed them.
Carlisle was shocked and troubled by those facts. If Aro wanted something in Lucian's thoughts kept secret, it was something that he specifically didn't want us to know.
"That is a point of concern. She is more powerful then we thought." He admitted, though he was reluctant to think Aro meant us ill will.
"I'm also worried about what I sensed when I first met her." Jasper admitted. "She was excited to meet us, overjoyed, in fact. It wasn't until she looked at me that she became frustrated, nervous, and scared."
"Understandable," I tried to defend her. I could believe Aro was plotting, but Kit was innocent. I knew it in the very depths of my soul. "Considering only your power works on her."
"Exactly." Though he did not smile, his eyes gleamed like a cat that had caught a mouse. "Edward, we never told her what my power was."
This realization dazed even me into silence. She could not have known what Jasper's power was, since not even Aro had known at the time. Unless someone had been watching us, keeping tabs.
"I think we should make this a short hunting trip." Carlisle concluded, his thought spinning Emse's, Rose's, and Alice's safety.
--
B POV
Esme rushed me upstairs and ordered me into the guest bathroom to shower. I pulled of my ripped and tatter Doors T-shirt and jeans, sad to see my most comfortable clothes ruined. I showered quickly, afraid if I took to long, they would not be there when I came out. I was drying off when Alice knocked on the door.
"Come in." I said, rapping the towel around myself.
"Here," Alice grumbled, throwing a pile of clothes at me. I was stunned by her harsh attitude.
"Where's Esme and Rosalie?" I asked, bewildered. She practically sneered at me.
"Carlisle needed to talk to them, so I'm babysitting you." She huffed.
"Ok, Ok," I said, raising my hands in surrender. "I get it, you hate me. You can stop being so obvious." Her features softened slightly, and she sighed, sitting on the toilet.
"I haven't been fair to you." She whispered, half apologetic. "I've resented you because my brother has shown interest in you."
"Why would you hate me for that?" I asked, though I already had an idea. She sighed again, eyes filling with emotion.
"A really long time ago, we were settled in a small town. Edward found a singer, but he didn't kill her." She said, looking downing into her folded hands. "He fell in love with her. Her name was Bella, and she was my best friend. Edward thought it would be best if we left, so she wouldn't be in danger." She was looking past me now, at the wall, reliving some distant vision. "It was raining. Her brakes were out. I just saw the car go over the side a cliff, into the rapids." I grimaced. After cutting the brake line and putting a brick on the petal, I hadn't stuck around to see the ruins of my precious truck in the white water. Jake had been with me, which I realized years later had save me from Alice. Jake believed that I was running away to get a fresh start. I knew he wouldn't help me if I told him the truth. He would be disappointed in me. Alice looked me in the eyes, fully honest. "I guess I'm happy that Edward's not catatonic anymore. But I resented you, because I felt like Edward was betraying her. I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at Edward."
"I don't want to cause you any trouble." I said to her. "Please don't let me get in between you and your brother."
Alice blinked, eyes glistening. "That's exactly what Bella would say. You're so much like her." You have no idea. I thought to myself. I felt sick at the fact that I was betraying my best friend.
"Can I ask you something?" She whispered.
"Anything." I said, feeling the need to repent. I needed to give her anything and everything to wash away my sins.
"I didn't understand for the longest time." She began, frustrated. "Not until Aro explained about your- your shape shifting power. I kept having these visions. They started May 9, 2006. It was raining outside and dark, and on a cushy bed, a red-headed newborn was screaming at Lucian. I was stunned by her arrogance, her blatant death wish. Through out the years, I have had hundreds of these strange visions. Something connected them all, though they were of different vampires. Linked by some unseen presence, not a physical trait. And sometimes I got the strangest feeling of being blocked." She had begun to look past me again, remembering many months she sent plague by these dreams. However, when she spoke of being blocked, she looked pointedly at me, telling me she understood now. "I thought, perhaps," She continued, "Who ever was causing them could block me, and the only thing I was allowed to see, was the vampires his decisions affected. But that's not what it was, was it?" She asked. I stared straight back into her eyes. She already knew the answer. "No. I didn't think so. All those visions, all those blocking feelings, the confusion and frustration were because of you, weren't they? Which leaves the question, why? Why is my mind so fixated on you?" She asked, pleading for me to give her the answer she desired.
"I'm no fortune teller." Was my only reply. "I don't know what effect my life will have on yours." I was stone walling her, and she knew it. I thought she was going to snap and attack me, she was so angry. Who was I to deny her her peace of mind? Her eyes asked me. I was no one. I had no right, yet still, I choose not to tell her the truth.
She stomped out of the room, aggregated, muttering about the Volturi's stupid, precious guard. I didn't need to be a mind read to guess she would have attacked me it I wasn't so close to the Volturi.
Speaking of mind readers, my favorite one stood in the door way of the guest bedroom, watching Alice leave. He looked at me, his eye scanning from the top of my wet, straggly hair to my bare toes on the cold tile, and then quickly away. I blushed, realizing I was standing in only a towel. I quickly shut the door. I changed into my old clothes, wanting to keep nothing that would remind me of the Cullen's. I could practically feel my cheeks' burning, though I knew, in reality, no blood was rising to them. Hiding the clothes Alice had given me, I changed my ripped jeans and shirt to resemble hers.
Slowly, even for a human, I opened the door. He stood next to the bed, looking mildly uncomfortable. My mind reeled back to all the times I had walked into my room every night after my human minute to see him lying on the bed so violently, that it caused me to stumble back. Of course, he caught me, which only sent me into another shocked moment of dejavou.
"Are you alright?" he asked, concerned, as he set me back on my feet. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"I'm fine." I started to say, only to be cut off by someone downstairs. "What?!" they hissed, a half huffed whisper-scream. I couldn't make out any of the other conversation, it was going on so quietly.
"Maybe we should go for a walk." Edward suggested. My heart would have skipped a beat, if I wasn't so concerned about what was going on downstairs.
"Edward." Carlisle's fatherly warning rung out. Edward looked toward the door as if he was trying to listen better.
"Oh, hush." Alice hissed. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to be surprised at her tone, though Edward didn't show any. "He'll be fine. We have bigger problems to worry about."
Carlisle must have been undecided because Edward remained still, looking hopefully toward the hallway. Eventually, Carlisle's agreed. The next thing I knew, Edward was pulling me by the hand toward the window, muttering, 'faster this way.' I didn't realize until he was pulling the drapes back what he was talking about.
"Edward," I chided. "Edward, I don't think this is such a brilliant idea." As stupid as it sounds, I am a vampire and I am afraid of heights. Even though I knew I couldn't get hurt, the idea of falling head over heels never sat well with me, not even with Jacob when he tried to take me cliff diving.
"Nonsense." Was all Edward said before jumping from the fourth story window, pulling me along.
"Edward!" I screamed, tripping on the sill. It didn't hurt when my shins hit the wood, cracking it, but it did cause me to fall head first toward the ground. My stomach dropped. Subconsciously, I felt two strong hands manipulate be through the air, righting me. All I was consciously thinking about was the soil that was quickly approaching.
With a small 'uff', we hit the ground. I still held my eyes squinted shut. My stomach was doing flips. Edward chuckled, the vibrations ringing through my body.
"Kit," He said still chuckling. One of his hands cupped my cheek. "Kit, open you're eyes." I shook my head vigorously. He seemed to find that extraordinarily funny. His body trembled with laughter, shifting me ever so slightly. This thumb traced soothing circles on my cheek. I realized at that point exactly how my body was positioned next to his.
Opening my eyes, I stared straight down into his beautiful, loving, amber ones. My body was lying completely prone on top of his. I could feel every inch of his skin and clothes. The only part of me that was touching the ground was my tips of knees, parted so that his legs could lie between them. My hands were pulled tight to my chest, resting on his. One of his hands rested on my face, while the other lay low on my back. Our faces were inches apart.
His hand slowed in its motions. We were so close. All I wanted to do was lean forward and let our lips connect again. From the look in his eyes, he wouldn't object…
His hands moved to my waist in a millisecond, pushing me up and away. His face looked away. He rolled me over to the side, stood, and helped me up, still chuckling.
"A vampire scared of heights," he shook his head.
"Only because I'm so clumsy. Do you know how annoying a broken neck is?" I asked, wiping off my jeans, slightly put off.
He laughed harder at me, muttering about vampires who are clumsy, as we walked towards the woods. A cold breeze ruffed my shirt, warm and tickling against my colder skin. I looked down, frowning. My tattered shirt was now completely ripped beyond repair. I huffed, fingering the new rip.
"This was my most comfortable shirt." I muttered. Edward raised an eyebrow at me.
"It looks fine." He said.
"To your eyes." I said under my breath. We had reached the little deer trail near the house. The trees pushed close to the trail, forcing Edward and I to walk shoulder to shoulder. Every time I stepped wrong, our bare arms would meet, sending jolts of electricity through my body.
"That's right. I can't see what you really look like." He looked down at me, raising a hand to touch the ends of my blonde hair. "I wonder," he said, barely more then a whisper. "Am I really touching your hair?"
I stared into his eyes. He wasn't really looking at me, while he played with my hair. He was looking at it as if he was asking if it was real, if I was real. I longed to stretch out a hand and touch him, as he had touched me only moments before by the window. To play with his hair. To kiss his lips.
"Do you were this disguise often?" He asked. I shook my head, pulling the strand lightly from his fingers. Instantly, I missed his touch.
"I never wear the same disguise twice." I informed him. I tripped over a root, his hand grabbed my hip, righted me, and was gone faster then a fleeting ghost.
"Do you ever not were one?" He asked, as I blushed. I usually wasn't this clumsy. It was easier as a vampire, to keep half my mind paying attention to being graceful. Although, when ever I was with Edward, I seemed to have trouble on concentrating on anything but him.
"No." I answered his question quickly, unwilling to stay on this topic long.
"Will you ever show me what you really look like?" He asked, like a little kid asking his brother to let in on a secret. I wanted to, that moment, really wanted to say yes. Hell, I wanted to show him that second.
"Maybe someday," I lied easily. One good thing about the change, lying came easily to me now. He reached for my hair again, smiling like an innocent child. I couldn't help but smile back.
"Please," he whispered. He was so close to me. Slowly, he leaned into me until he nose rested above my head. I knew he wouldn't smell freesia, no matter how hard he tried.
"Mmmm. Strawberries."
Damn. I needed to work on that. His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me even closer. Shocked, I gasped, tripping over my feet and pulling him down with me.
A rock crumbled into dust under the force as my back hit the ground. Edward placed to hands on either side on my head to prevent his body from hitting mine. Some how, his legs had spread mine apart, so his could rest in between them. Automatically, my knees rose so that my feet sat firmly on the ground. The whole act pushed my hips closer to his.
"We can't keep meeting like this." he whispered in my ear. His lips brushed against the sensitive skin there. His breath still managed fanned out over my face.
"We don't. Last time I was on top." I smirked boldly. I could feel his lips spread into a smile against my skin. Hesitantly, his lips moved down my jaw and kissed my cheek. I turned my head centimeters so that my lips replaced my cheek, all the while staring him straight in the eye. He knew exactly what he was doing when he leaned in. I closed my eyes as he kissed me gently. Without the need for air, I couldn't be sure how long we kissed, softly, never asking for more, but when he pulled away he hissed.
"Damn." He whispered angrily. I must have looked hurt when he looked into my eyes, because he leaned down so our lips touched briefly once more. He pulled away, letting out a low grumble from deep in his chest.
"It's not you. My family is coming. They need to talk to us." He stood faster then I could register, smirking down at me when I wobbly pushed off from the dirty ground. I was surprised once again when his arm snaked around my waist, pulling me to his side, as his family appeared from the trees. Even though I was used to welcoming the sight of them now, it did not escape me that they were in an attack formation. Fanning out in a V, Carlisle in front, Jasper and Emmett to either of his sides, Esme, Rosalie, and Alice behind them.
Edward frowned and stepped partly in front of me.
"Edward, it's time to come home." Carlisle's said. "We're leaving."