Title: La Tua Cantante
Rating: M due to strong sexual content
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters. Stephenie Meyers does.
Summary: First night in the new house followed by a surprising twist.
It hardly even seemed like a half of an hour after hunting that I saw "The City of Denali Welcomes You" painted proudly on a road sign. Moments later we were winding through a small suburb with identical houses everywhere. I raised my eyebrows. "This doesn't really seem like Esme's style." I commented.
Alice's chuckled in response. "No, Its not." Just as she spoke, the car gracefully lurched to the right as we detoured onto a long winding driveway.
"Esme much prefers a fixer-upper." Edward supplied as we rounded a smooth corner and came into view of a large Victorian mansion.
"This doesn't exactly look like a fixer-upper." I gasped.
"It was when she bought it." Alice chimed.
I stared wide eyed at the breathtaking view before me. Chalky white, three stories high, the majestic mansion towered gracefully among the plethora of convenient trees. There were balconies jutting out everywhere and the wraparound porch was beautiful.
Edward unnecessarily helped me out of the car as he smiled - "Well, Mrs. Cullen, shall we venture up to our honeymoon suite?"
Alice laughed. "Not above my room I hope, I don't want to be hearing-"
Edward cut her off with a playful shove.
Esme and Carlisle met us at the door.
"Welcome home." Esme beamed.
"How was hunting?" Carlisle pressed before I had the chance to compliment Esme on her choice of house.
"Fine." I muttered. "But don't worry, I'm still as weird as I was when I was human. I can't seem to get rid of my freakish quality."
Carlisle's forehead wrinkled in confusion but Edward interrupted before he could speak.
"We'll talk about it later Carlisle."
"Alright." Carlisle accepted. "Tonight then, after you've settled in."
With the matter of my freakishness set to be dealt with later, Edward pulled me eagerly into the house. I smiled as I realized that he was making no secret of his haste to get to the bedroom.
The vast amount of work that Esme had put into this house was astonishing. The renovations were obvious, seeing as the inside of the main level of this house looked very similar to the house in Forks. It was cleared of any walls that were not vital to its sturdiness and painted white with flowers in vases and candles everywhere. Along the east and west walls were pressed two curving staircases carved from the most flawless marble I had ever seen, - aside from Edwards skin, of course. He pulled me towards the eastern staircase and began touring me through the new home. He had seen the layout of the house in Esme's mind long ago, when she bought it, so he was perfectly capable of providing a well educated tour.
The second floor was painted in soft earth tones with many plants and paintings lining the hall. On this floor, Edward pointed out a bathroom, Emmett and Rosalie's room, Alice and Jasper's room, and a large closet before setting me in front of a door eagerly.
"This room was Alice's touch." He informed me.
I opened the door slowly to reveal a large room lined with couches. When I turned on the light, the illumination revealed a large movie screen covering one full wall of the room.
"A movie theatre in the house?" I laughed.
"You know how much Alice likes movies." He reminded me. "She wants to have a movie night tonight, by the way."
We continued our tour by going up another flight of stairs to the third story. This floor was painted in light purples and blues and I knew this must be the floor where Esme's room was. Sure enough, Edward identified the first door on the right to be Esme and Carlisle's suite, followed by another bathroom (which I found to be highly unnecessary seeing as every bedroom had its own bathroom.) and then Carlisle's office. Next he opened the last door on the right to display their large collection of books inhabiting their own room as a library before spinning me to face the final door on our tour.
"And now, my love, welcome home." He kissed my neck as he reached around me to swing the door open. The room in front of me was a brilliant shade of white. A circular cushion was found embedded into the middle of the floor. He explained that all of their beds were like this and the reason would become apparent to me in time. My eyes flew rapidly around the room, touching on every aspect as quickly as possible, trying desperately to soak it all in. Our room was equipped with a walk in closet, which already contained our clothes, and a over sized bathroom with a luxurious Jacuzzi tub. All of those unnecessary splendors were pushed from my mind instantly as soon as I saw the large, white, grand piano against the west wall. I gasped in awe as I walked towards it, almost as if pulled by some invisible force. Edward followed me.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it." I whispered.
"Good." He smiled.
I stared at him admiringly as he swept me onto the bench seat beside him. His eyes never broke our gaze as his fingers traveled effortlessly over the ivory keys. My lullaby fused with other soft melodies and hung in the air like stars.
Long after the song was finished the music still played on in my head.
"I'll teach you how to play, if you want." He promised. "We have forever, now."
"I would really like that." I agreed.
He wrapped his arms firmly around me and weaved his fingers through mine. A short time later he spoke again.
"You have blood on your sleeve."
"Oh," I blinked, "I guess I do."
I rose from the piano bench and crossed the room to the closet. I stripped the shirt off as I went and discarded it mindlessly in the clothes hamper than had been already set outside of the closet.
I began to reach for a new shirt, but my efforts came to a welcomed halt as Edward appeared behind me and linked his hands securely around my waist, pulling me into him. I leaned my neck to the side as he began leaving a trail of gentle kisses down my jaw and to my collarbone.
"Bella," He breathed my name onto my neck.
"mmmmmm" I responded as I twisted in his arms to face him.
"Are you happy?" He whispered between kisses.
"More than you know."
He lifted one hand from my lower back and used it to securely fasten his mouth to my own. He lifted me with his other arm and cradled me against him as he walked over to the large cushion-bed in the middle of our room. Breaking the kiss for only one second, he lay me on the bed with a very humane gentility. Immediately, he leaned over me and resumed kissing me as my steady hands slid beneath his shirt and up his abdomen. I paused my hands briefly on his chest before removing my lips from his for just enough time to slip the fabric over his head and toss it aside. When the kiss resumed, however, there was an added hunger and desire that sent chills through me. He let his hands slide from my shoulders down to my waist as he managed to unbutton my jeans in one swift movement, I ground my hips against his as I struggled to wiggle out of them. Once my jeans were safely out of the equation, I tested my own talent on the button on his jeans. It resigned its duty without resistance beneath my fingers. Edward impatiently removed them in less than a second.
His lips were eagerly exploring my body and kissing every uncovered inch of it while I mindlessly played with his silk-like hair. Time flew by. We spent so much time worshiping each other and detaching from the world in our passionate kisses, that hours had passed before we removed any more clothing. If we had been capable of sweating, we would have been drenched. We rolled over every square-foot of the cushion, completely oblivious to anything outside of our own passion for one another. It was hard to believe that just days ago, the fragile state of my body would have never been able to handle this intensity.
"I want you." He whispered as he traced my collarbone with his lips.
"I'm yours." I breathed back.
It was all the permission he needed. We had been pacing ourselves, building up to this all evening. It only took him a second to position his hips properly between mine. I gasped as he slid easily into me. All of the pressure and concern that had been present the first time had vanished entirely.
With no reason at all for him to exercise caution, our passion doubled. I vaguely remember Edward groaning something about "No more training wheels" at some point. It was a perfect metaphor, really. Before, we were both inexperienced and overcautious. Now, however, we were unafraid and entirely willing to surrender our bodies to every impulse and every urge they entertained.
Sleeping was not a possibility and more, but I didn't feel at all deprived. Our naked bodies were wrapped loosely in a sheet as we lay in silence, not touching, not blinking, just staring into each others eyes. It felt like such an intimate moment, even with the lack of direct contact. We stayed like that until sun began its ritualistic fight with the rain clouds.
In the silence, I reflected on the reason why the cushion was necessary. Any activities like that on a real bed would have surely crumbled it to the ground.
"Carlisle is still waiting to talk to us." He reminded me.
"Oh, yeah. We should probably go do that." I sighed.
He held out his hand as I tried to sit up. "No, let me."
He flew around the room in a visual blur and collected my clothing. Slowly, he untangled me from the sheets and caressed every inch of my body before allowing the fabric to cover me.
When he was done, I sat up with the intention of returning the favor to find him already clothed.
Next time, I promised myself. Next time.
Edward grabbed my hand firmly in his and I followed him to Carlisle's office. He hesitated before the door momentarily before Edward announced that Carlisle was busy at the moment.
"I really think we should go in." My voice came from somewhere that I had no control over.
The new smell rolling from that closed door in savory waves was painfully appetizing. Before I understood what was happening, Edward had me pinned down to the floor with an unexpected strength and I was angry with him. I was fighting violently to get him off of me. I wanted what was in that room. Seconds later, Alice appeared out of nowhere and began assisting Edward. They held me down and exchanged concerns that were inaudible to me over my screams of fury.
"Bella!" Alice yelled. "Edward, what's wrong with her!?"
The commotion had brought Carlisle out of his office. The open door sent me into an even wilder fit of rage. I wanted something from that room. Blood, that was it. I wanted the blood that I smelled in that room, why wouldn't they let me have it?!
"Get her downstairs!" Carlisle ordered. I was furious. I wanted what was in that room. I wanted it with a desire that was not my own. Carlisle grabbed my legs and helped Alice and Edward drag me down the two flights of stairs. With the increasing distance between me and the scent it became easier for them to control me. They set me on the couch and Alice and Edward took a position on either side of me to hold me down. I was instantly disgusted with myself and I felt thoroughly ashamed.
"Carlisle?" Edward asked.
"Yes?"
"Do you have a human in your office?"
"No."
"I didn't think so, I would have been able to smell a human."
"Bella," Carlisle turned his attention back to me. "What did you smell?"
"I smelled blood." I didn't like where this was going. Was I hallucinating the smell of blood now? No one else could seem to smell it.
"Bella, there was no-"
"Wait!" Carlisle cut him off. "Of course!" Realization dawned over his face.
"Edward, Alice, hold her down. I'll send Emmett to help you."
"What!?"
"Wait!"
"No!"
Alice, Edward and I all shouted together.
"Just do it." He ordered
"Send Jasper." Alice advised
"No, Emmett is stronger and Jaspers power is no good when it comes to the scent of blood, remember?"
"Oh yeah." Alice seemed to suddenly recall a previous memory.
"I'm so sorry, Bella." Edward whispered in my ear.
"Why on earth would there be any fresh blood in Carlisle's office?" Alice wondered aloud.
"No." I corrected her. "It wasn't fresh blood, it was very old. There was actually a lot of different old blood, but only one of them smelled good."
Edward and Alice exchanged frightened glances at my words.
"What's going on?" Emmett appeared at the foot of the stairs. His question went unanswered though, it was cut off by a loud scream coming from me. Carlisle appeared right behind him holding a open test tube of blood and a blood stained rag. I strained towards him and Alice and Edward struggled against my force. I stood a small chance of escaping them until Emmett joined the restraint party.
"Her eyes are black." He commented.
"This is why." Carlisle gestured to the bottle and rag he held. "Bella, I need you to try to focus."
I struggled against the three pairs of hands violently, feeling the anger bubbling up within me. Why wouldn't they just let me have that rag. Its not like it was an actual human.
"Bella, which of these do you want?" Carlisle asked gently.
"The rag. Give me the rag!" I pleaded desperately.
"I thought so." He stated smoothly. With that, he turned on his heel and departed up the stairs. I cried out in anguish as he denied me the appealing scent that was torturing me. A few moments later he returned empty handed followed by Jasper, Esme, and Rosalie.
"Relax, Bella. I took care of it." He assured me.
Alice and Emmett released me, but Edward would not let go. His arms circled around me and cradled me to his chest. His eyes were panic stricken and full of sympathy as he stared at me in concern.
I was appalled with myself. How could I have behaved like that. I am a monster, I though to myself.
Rosalie didn't stay long. She stood in the stairs for just enough time to survey the situation, and then she was gone.
"Carlisle wha-"
"La Tua Cantante." Carlisle cut Edwards question short.
We all looked at him blankly.
"Well, I suppose I will have to explain to you why you have blood in my office first, don't I?"
Everyone nodded in unison.
As the story composed itself in Carlisle's mind, Edward relaxed. I decided that Edward's mind reading was similar to reading the last chapter of a book first. I patiently waited for Carlisle to verbalize the story that Edward had already comprehended.
"When each of you were changed, I took a sample of all of your blood." Carlisle began "Since there are no secrets in this house," He shot a glance at Edward, "I'll elaborate further on the reason for these blood samples.
"Its not an easy life for us preying on animals and avoiding humans. Human blood is what makes us the strongest, more specifically our own human blood. Knowing that, what I have been trying to design is a way to generate more of our blood, or allow it to reproduce itself, rather. That way, hunting would be unnecessary and our lives would be much easier."
Everyone nodded in understanding.
"What does this have to do with Bella?" Alice urged.
"Well," Carlisle continued. "As I was unpacking the box of blood, the cork somehow worked itself out of Edwards bottle and some blood spilled on the floor. I cleaned it up and threw the rag in the garbage, not giving it a second thought. The blood was 100 years old, I didn't expect it to hold any appeal for anyone. As it turns out though, blood must hold an attraction regardless of age if it is the blood of your singer."
"La Tua Cantante." I breathed.
"Yes, Bella, it appears that Edward's blood holds for you the same intense appeal that yours held for him. "
Esme and Alice gasped.
"Is this….a surprise?" I asked.
"Yes, Bella," Edward finally spoke. "It has never been heard of for two people to be each others singers. Though this may be for many reasons , it is new knowledge to us."
"Oh."
"So what does that mean?" Alice piped up.
"Well, we can all have our theories, but with the knowledge being so fresh, there is really no way to know for sure." Carlisle responded. "But don't worry, Bella. I disposed of the rag, so you should be fine now."
"Wait!" I remembered, "Why did I want the rag, but not the open tube?"
"The tube had Alice's blood in it. The rag was just Edward's."
"Oh." I bit my lip.
We all sat in silence for another moment before everyone but Edward and I one-by-one filing out of the room and returning to their previous engagements. Edward remained silent and just stroked my hair absently.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, ashamed.
"No, Bella, no." He squeezed me to his chest. "Its not your fault. There's nothing you could have done."
"Is that how hard it was for you?" I asked.
"What do you mean?"
"When you first met me, is that how hard it was for you to resist my blood?"
"I can imagine that seeing as you are a newborn and your first introduction to human blood, ever, was the blood that would appeal the most, it was probably a bit harder for you." He rubbed comforting circles in the back of my hand with his thumb while he spoke.
"Regular blood wont be that hard to resist then?"
"Not by any standard." He assured me.
"Good. That was scary."
"I know." He kissed my forehead. "Are you okay?"
"I'll always be okay as long as I'm with you." I whispered.
"Good," He smiled. "I guess I'll just have to stick around then."