Authors Note: Hi ya'll. Once again Twilight/HP not mine! Hope you enjoy! Read and review!
Blood Scent
It felt a little bit like I was burning from the inside out. It had started out slowly at first. The sensation took a while to become bothersome. I waited quietly in the hopes that it would soon cease. It was sunny today. I would not be able to go school not that I cared much. I opened the window but the breeze did nothing. It was the snake, it was doing something to me. The heat was becoming completely unbearable. I squirmed and unbuttoned my shirt. It made no difference to the heat but I felt less constricted.
I removed the whole thing and began to pace up and down. I paced often the sound of it wouldn't attract my family's attention. There had to be something I could do to stop this. I hadn't told anyone what Riddle had done to me. I didn't want to trouble them with it yet if I could solve it on my own then I would. This heat was going to drive me mad though. The curse had to be removed. I looked at the clock, shit, Bella would be here any moment. I put my shirt on and Alice opened the door as soon as I was fastening the last button. She quirked and eyebrow at me.
"Just changing my shirt Alice. Is Bella here?"
She nodded and turned around practically floating down the stairs. I had told my family that I wanted to move the wedding up. Alice was planning the wedding of course. I came down the stairs fighting the entire time not to start squirming about. Alice seized Bella and led her into the kitchen. Bella looked at me desperately and I smiled shrugging.
There was no stopping Alice she loved a party. If she was told the world was ending she would plan an end of the world party. She never missed and opportunity. Alice made Bella take a set and turned to look at me.
'I still see you leaving her at the altar Edward.'
I took a seat ignoring Alice's comment we had been over this and I wasn't leaving Bella. Alice pulled out different white fabrics for Bella to look at. She seemed a bit more enthused then I had expected. Charlie had been a lot more opposed then I had expected. Maybe it was just the basic rule between teens and parents. Charlie was against the marriage so now Bella was all for it. Alice made Bella stand up and began to hold up different fabrics to her face testing it against her skin
Something inside me lurched and I stood up. Bella and Alice stopped and turned to face me. I took a step forward and walked toward the front door.
"Edward where are you going?"
I turned around to face Bella quite against my will.
"I'm going for a walk. I need some air."
I wanted to scream; Alice please help me! I've been cursed, it's controlling me. Nothing happened I couldn't even widen my eyes. I opened the door and went outside. My body froze once I was outside and my eyes locked onto the sun, my body did not move until the sun went down. I went into the garage and took down my keys. Carlisle looked at me and I tried to jester to him that something was wrong. Nothing happened, I just got in the car and waved at Carlisle. I was locked somewhere in my own mind no longer at the controls of my own body. I drove to the school unable to stop.
I pulled the school door open and walked in. The door was unlocked which was strange. I headed to the girls bathroom. The lights were out but it did not matter. I entered the girls washroom and walked up to a mirror. I didn't look any different but I wasn't given much time to examine my reflection. I walked right into the mirror but instead of hitting something solid it felt like I was walking through dry water, if such a thing was even possible. On the other side of the mirror there were stone steps that seemed ancient.
They led downwards and against my will even though I was curious now my body walked forward. The walls were lined with iron brackets and torches, each time I passed one it would burst to life. I tried to judge the depth, but the stairs just kept going down until I wasn't sure how far under the school I was or if I was still even under the school.
When I reached the last step several larger torches ignited, popping and cracking and releasing smoke into the air, I emerged into a long hallway with stone floors. The hallway itself was long and narrow, I looked at the walls to see that tiny snakes were craved into the stone. The flickering light of the torches made it seem like they were alive. My body moved on not caring that I wanted to examine the walls further.
I walked quickly to the large archway at the end of the hall. I went through it and was blinded by a darkness so complete that it could be nothing by magic. I knew this particular part had been designed to frighten me. He wanted me to be shocked. I had no trouble figuring out who had made all this, but I could not figure out why, what did Riddle hope to gain? As I suspected the room suddenly filled with light, I could not determine the source of the light it could have been coming from anywhere.
In the centre of the room was something large and coiled. I stared at it recognizing it's scaly skin but not being able to come to the right conclusion. A snake could not be this large. It began to uncoil and I began to fight trying to get control of my body, I fought desperately to make myself take one step back.
The snake moved slowly unwinding its large black body inch by inch.
It's head became visible and it reared up and then slowly lowered it self so it's large yellow eyes were level with my face. It hissed a strangely long hiss for a snake. To my complete surprise I hissed back. The hissing went on for a few moments and then the snake moved back coiling tightly around it self once more. I left the same way I had come and once I was near my car my body collapsed under my control once more. I stood up quickly and realized that my entire body was shaking, the unbearable heat had disappeared. I raced back to my house and broke the door open in my haste to get inside.
"Carlisle!, Carlisle!"
Alice came to me at once with Bella behind her. Bella's eyes were red and swollen. I could tell she had been crying. Alice looked at me becoming alarmed. I was still shaking and I could feel that my face was locked in to place and that my eyes were wide and staring.
"Edward calm down what happened, where did you go? I couldn't see you at all."
Bella hiccoughed and I looked at her for a moment and then away. I needed to tell Alice that we need to leave Forks. Tom Riddle was going to have that snake eat the whole town!
"We need more baby's breath in the roses!"
Oh no! I tried again and something else entirely came out of my mouth. This could not be happening. I turned around and Alice stopped me placing herself in front of the door.
"You can't go to the Volturi Edward they'll question you about Bella?"
The Volturi? He had gotten to Alice to, he was controlling her visions. How was he doing all this? Alice moved and nodded looking pleased her vision had changed to me going to sit in the woods and think, she moved from the door heading over to Bella who had stopped crying. I left for the woods I knew the spot it was near a river. When I arrived he was already waiting there leaning casually against a tree. He smiled revealing his perfect teeth, I ran at him but he flicked his hand lazily and I was hoisted into the air.
"So nice of you to come so quickly Cullen. You make a nice slave."
I snarled and Riddle laughed cruelly it didn't last long. He released me and I crumpled to the floor. I got to my feet quickly and Riddle straightened up as well moving away from the tree. He circled me slowly and I didn't bother trying to attack him. He hissed softly and heat flooded through my body at once and then it receded again.
"We are going to play a little game Cullen. You and I are going to become the best of friends. I trust you realize that you cannot hope to beat me. You do realize that don't you?"
He came in front of me again and smiled coldly. He reached for my face and I jumped back. He laughed waving his left hand and holding me in place again.
"Don't you see it is no use to run Edward?"
He continued forward and reached out his hand towards my face once more, he paused with his hand an inch from my face. He cocked his head to the left regarding me with a steady gaze that was eerie.
"Fascinating. Knowledge is power and the weak would be wise to guard their secrets. Do you know who said that Cullen?"
He smiled and closed the distance caressing my face gently. He backed up leaving me where I was. He looked around taking one deep breath, he spread his arms wide and tilted his head back to the rain. He was alluring to look at. I could feel immense power coming from him and it was drawing me in. It was like he was a magnet it wasn't very powerful though and my contempt for him made it easier to control.
"I love nature Cullen, not many people know that. I like the rain to, so does Harry, if he feels like it he dances in the rain. He could dance for hours, he's beautiful. But you've noticed that already haven't you… Cullen"
I couldn't move but he nodded like I had said something and began to pace. He would pause now and then and then he would start to pace again.
"The quote Cullen. Do you know who said it?"
He turned to me sharply and suddenly and waved his hand releasing me. I fell again and quickly got to my feet.
"I don't know, did you say it?"
He threw his head back and laughed for a real long time. I waited silently and he stopped after a while.
"I could really like you Cullen, if the circumstances were a little different, alas we have met in unfortunate times. I did say it, you are very right. Knowledge is power Edward and I know everything… So! Where does that leave you?"
He stopped pacing again not seeming to care that was rain was soaking him through.
"I suppose that leaves me here in the rain, with a mad man."
He tilted his head back again and chuckled once more.
"Mad man? I'm not mad Edward, I am in love. Love is a strange emotion Edward you and I both know that well don't we? Love can cloud reason, it can make you insane, it can turn you into a mad man. But you must know Edward that I am not mad, mad men don't have plans. I have plans Edward grand ones. I can't tell you what it is, but the best part of it is that I have already done it once, and the last time around I didn't know half as much as I know now."
I nodded despite myself, he was pure evil, but he was compelling to me at the same time. Love was powerful and I sympathized with him a bit because love had driven him to such heights of madness. I understood how quickly you could lose to yourself to something so powerful. He pulled out a small silver dagger and brought it to his wrist, he slashed quickly. A very strong blood scent filled the air.
I took a few steps back and stopped looking at Riddle who smiled peacefully and slashed the wound deeper. The blood began to flow thickly and the scent in the air rose. It was ten's times worse then Bella's scent, ten times more potent and powerful.
"It's the magic in my blood. I don't even have to exert my will for this. You will do it yourself, you're losing control already. Come Cullen take my blood, I am giving it to you."
It was a trick but he was right. I could not resist it. I was walking forward unable to refuse what was being so freely given. Riddle wouldn't risk dying though. There was a plan behind this, he had told me as much. I leaned towards his wrist and the scent rose again striping away the last of my will. I leaned forward my entire world becoming that red substance. The blood was beyond all other blood. It tasted like magic and heat and life, it was thick and sweet. I moaned loudly and lost all sense and fed with abandon. Tom pulled away not seeming even a bit dizzy. I reeled the world span before my eyes. The blood was rushing through me with waves of exquisite heat.
"More…"
Tom laughed and healed the wound on his wrist. He had somehow extracted the venom somehow and had placed it a clear vile, the substance seemed to glitter. He looked at it for a moment and then he pocketed it.
"Oh no no no Cullen, no more blood for you. That was quite enough. You have a strong will Cullen, a very strong will, but not anymore. See you at school Cullen enjoy the rest of your weekend."
He turned around and walked casually through the woods humming a little tune under his breath. The heat came back tenfold and I fell on my back biting my lower lip hard to keep from screaming. It began to rain in earnest and I lay there drowning…this was not good. I stayed in the woods unable to move, unwilling to move. Unable to comprehend what was happening. The sun rose and the clouds blocked her out quickly. The sun sank and the moon replaced her. I could not move and I did not even try. I didn't move until Monday morning when the sun rose to be consumed by the clouds once more.
'Good morning Cullen, I would ask how your weekend was but I already know. Act normal or Bella will be the second to die.'
The second to die, who had died first? I was forced to stand and then left on my own. I took a moment and then ran home. I opened the door and was grabbed by Carlisle he seemed furious with me. He snarled and let me go with a rough shove. He went to stand beside Esme who looked very sad.
"I have loved you as my son Edward. When I turned you I prepared myself for confusion. I prepared myself for your anger and when you left and took human life, I prepared myself for that to. This thing though that you have done, I cannot forgive this Edward, I can not!"
It seemed that Carlisle could not finish. He looked to Esme who looked away from him. My siblings were there gathered around the room and they were all being careful not to think.
"What is it? What happened?"
There was a knock on the door and everyone in the room jumped. I turned around to face the door, Rosalie opened it stoned faced. She made a small sound of surprise and stepped back to let Riddle in. He smiled charmingly and then looked worried and nervous, he was a perfect actor.
"I'm sorry to have to meet you all under such bad terms. I'm Tom Riddle, um I'm a wizard and you probably already know Harry. I'm sorry to come here like this, err I found your house on the map…"
He looked down and rung his hands nervously, then he looked each one of my family members in the eye. He blushed and looked down taking one step back. I had to give the scoundrel credit his act was perfect.
"Sorry I think I've made a mistake, I'll just go sorry."
He nodded again, blushing worse than he turned around nearly bumping into Rosalie. He dropped something he was holding and part of it sank into the floor. He bent down and picked up what was left mumbling more apologies and then stepping through the door.
"Wait! What was it you were going to tell us Tom?"
Riddle turned around and smiled shyly at Carlisle. I was in disbelief, he was absolutely deadly, how could Harry stand being with a monster like him? Tom's eyes flicked over to mine for a second but he went back to looking at Carlisle just as fast becoming the nervous likeable teen again.
"Err, I thought you might want to know, I mean, um I'm not exactly sure what the people in this town know about you I was going to try and round you up. Err arrest you actually but I see that none of you have done it. It just seemed like it because I heard that police man say the body was drained of blood."
What body? Riddle looked down again seemingly nervous once more. I looked at Esme who melted and took a step away from Carlisle. I looked around the room at each member of my family. Each one looked to be in various states of stress and when my eyes searched for there's they would each look away. I looked at Carlisle finally and he met my eyes and became very stiff.
"What body Tom who was it what did that s…"
I wasn't able to finish the question. It cut off in my throat. Tom looked sad and a little bit thoughtful. He looked at Jasper for a moment and then back at me looking remorseful.
"I feel so bad Edward. When I heard that Jessica had died last night and then that her body had been drained of blood. Well I thought, I mean I remembered what you told me about Jasper and I just thought he may have slipped you know. Then the way you just ran off so fast this morning. I thought you heard something, you know with your gift…anyway I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions."
Tom's statement was met with silence. Carlisle took a step closer to Tom. He studied him carefully.
"Edward was with you all this time?"
Tom nodded blushing once more and running a hand through his hair. He shuffled his feet and looked up sheepishly at Carlisle.
"He was with Harry and me actually, we sort of kidnapped him. Harry is really interested in vampires. He was particularly interested in your family since you don't kill humans. We just wouldn't let him leave. When he ran out so quickly this morning Harry was almost insulted. Anyway once again I'm sorry for jumping to conclusions. Harry sent me over here to take you by force if I had to. He didn't want all of you to get in trouble. Our ministry is very aggressive to beings such as yourselves. If they found out that you were living like this and killing humans they would arrest you. I didn't want you to have to go through that, the ministry wouldn't normally be watching a muggle town like this one but since we've come here well they pay attention. If Jasper plead guilty then they may have let the rest of you go with trackers. Oh Merlin I'm rambling. Sorry I'm just nervous. Do you know who did it though; do you have any other friends that may have come to town?"
Fear, real fear was not something I had felt until now. We were all going to be killed. Tom Riddle was too perfect. He was too convincing a mind like his would have been dangerous even without magic. Carlisle stepped forward with his hand outstretched. Tom shook his hand without hesitation smiling widely, looking a bit excited.
"Sorry for our rude manners. My name is Carlisle and this is my wife Esme, although I'm sure Edward's told you all our names. I didn't know he was speaking to you though."
Yes! Work your way out of that Riddle! He could only go so far with this best friend lie. Tom looked serious he stood up straighter and most of his blush receded.
"Harry got here a little before me with our son. He saw you all and he told me he felt you were all hostile towards him. He doesn't deal very well with stress and he is very protective of our son, so he was rude…maybe a little more than rude, but he is fascinated by vampires and he was sorry we got off on the wrong foot. He wanted me to smooth things over and I ran into Edward in the woods. We started talking and then I dragged him home with me to see Harry."
"I'm rambling again sorry. What I meant to say was on behalf of Harry and myself I would like to offer our sincerest apologies. We only want to get along with you in peace. Also if you have any trouble with any of your other friends feel free to let us know. Wizards have ways to umm… well we have spells that may be useful if someone doesn't want to stay off your turf. Gosh I'm still going on will you listen to me. Anyway very sorry for the intrusion, Good-bye it was nice to meet you all. I guess I'll see at school Edward."
He ducked out walking down the drive to a black car. I spotted Harry in the passenger's seat, he waved and once Tom reached the car they drove away without looking back. Rosalie closed the door, not looking at me. Carlisle laid a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. Everyone began to shuffle away looking at the floor.
"Everyone stop moving."
Everyone stopped and looked at me and then quickly at the floor once more. No one was able to look up. I took a deep breath and looked at Carlisle who looked up at me the only one who seemed to be able to look me in the eye.
"All of you thought I killed that girl?"
Carlisle's eyes filled with pain and the steady rage that had been building inside me since Riddle mentioned Jessica's death drained away to be replaced with regret. I had broken away before, I had no right to be angry, the facts had added up, a girl was dead and I hadn't come home for close to two days. If Jasper had been missing and a girl had turned up dead the family would have organized a search. They had waited for me to come and explain myself even though the evidence had been so compelling.
"Never mind, I'm not angry let's just go to school."
Alice sighed with obvious relief and Esme gave me a fast hug and left the room. I went upstairs to change my clothes. I took out one of my journal's and attempted to write out what Riddle was doing but the book caught fire and turned to ash. I dropped the pen and stared at the pile of ash for an endless moment. I stood up and went to change my clothes. It seemed that Riddle had thought of every angle and was prepared to stop me at every turn.
I was worried, Jessica was dead and I knew that the snake had something to do with it. The snake had drained the body of blood. A snake was not supposed to eat that way I was sure Riddle had done something to the snake to make it feed in that way. I couldn't figure out his angle. Whatever Riddle was planning had to be something larger than me and my family. We were pawns in whatever game Riddle was playing. He was planning something on a grand scale he himself had said so and whatever it was the town of Forks had just become ground zero.
He had us all trapped neatly, he had Alice under his control, he had me, Carlisle was so easily fooled by kindness. Esme was to soft and sweet to really believe that anyone could be as evil as Riddle. Emmet could be easily controlled with petty tricks let alone magic and Rosalie was very taken with Harry. That left Jasper perhaps his gift would be a little too difficult to control. It was a slim chance that Tom hadn't gotten to him yet. If I could talk to Jasper get him to focus on my emotions maybe he would be able to tell that what I was saying and what I was feeling were not matching up.
I threw on a clean shirt leaving the dirty one on the floor. I went downstairs quickly and stopped Jasper in the garage. He paused he was about to get into the back of the car. He straightened up and looked me up and down. He was humming loudly masking his thoughts from me. His face looked a little strained and I beckoned him to come inside. He sighed and closed the car door and walked a little closer to me.
"Look Edward, I'm sorry we thought it was you. The evidence just looked so much like it was you. You've been acting strange lately, even around Bella and we, when you disappeared again we just thought that you had done it…"
I cut Jasper off and waved him inside. I didn't care about that. Jasper came into the house slowly, he looked back at the car more than once before closing the garage door and looking at me. I had to know if Riddle had gotten to Jasper to; it was our last hope against him.
"Jasper this going to sound strange but do you feel anything strange from…"
My voice died in my throat. Whatever control he had on me was preventing me from speaking freely. I thought of how to formulate my words and Jasper kept his face blank, but he was thinking a bit loudly that I had lost my mind. I supposed I had been acting odd since Harry's arrival in Forks, my family knew me best and I was near boring in my predictability.
My reactions seldom changed, I was stand offish, stubborn, cold, my reaction to Bella had shocked my family, my reaction to Bella shocked me. It still did, but even with Bella I was not so drastically changed. There were subtle differences, I did laugh with Bella, I talked more, but Harry's arrival seemed to rob me of most of my common sense. I had done stupid things without thinking.
I had risked things without thinking. I had killed a girl, regardless of whether or not she would have died anyway. I had been the one to kill her, I had been the one to taste that sweet blood, the one to swoon in the heat of it. I had not been acting like myself since Harry's arrival. I was not being honest with myself. I did not want to really examine all the underlying causes of my recent behavior. It was easier to blame then to examine my own thoughts and feelings.
"What do you think about Tom Riddle Jasper?"
He smiled and I waited on tether hooks for him respond. He looked away from me and took a moment to think about it. I listened carefully to his thoughts and noticed that they were not quite thoughts. I could hear the odd word but mostly it was static. My dead heart sank somewhere near the region of my feet. Riddle could have been controlling my ability to hear thoughts or he could be controlling Jasper's thoughts. From what I had seen though I didn't have much hope.
"He seems alright, why what do you think about him?"
The static went away and his thoughts became clear once more. His thoughts were varied and unimportant it was basically his internal to-do-list. I wanted to say that I thought he was a serial killer of some kind but the words changed once they reached my mouth.
"I think he's very interesting."
Jasper nodded and turned to leave. I reached out and grabbed his shoulder roughly. I was feeling so desperate that I wanted to scream but my body was not cooperating with me, I could feel that my face was set in a slight smile.
"What do you feel Jasper?"
I released his shoulder and he backed up giving me a slightly worried look. He looked at the door for a brief moment and I knew he wanted to go outside to Alice and avoid me for as long possible. He fidgeted about and then avoided looking at me all together and focused on something behind me.
"I feel the same thing I always feel Edward. I feel varied emotions. There is something strange though. I don't want to pry but your emotions have been very strange lately."
He looked at me again but did not focus on my eyes. Yes! Oh thank god! I tried to speak but my throat closed up so tightly that I could not draw breath. I had to think of a sentence that the curse would not block me from saying. I could not accuse Tom of anything.
"What…is it?"
Jasper looked me up and down and placed his hand on the door, he thought I was crazy. I didn't care someone had to figure out what was happening here. He looked me up and down becoming visibly uncomfortable. He didn't enjoy talking much and we got along well because of it, we spent most of our time together in silence.
"Well it's just been since this morning that you're emotions have become settled. They've been in chaos since you saw Harry, it was difficult to pick out just one. Now though you've settled and since this morning your emotions have been reading like you're in love with Tom Riddle."
He turned and left quickly. I stood frozen to the spot. In love with Tom Riddle? Someone honked the horn of the car and I jumped. Jasper was in the driver's seat. I got into the passenger's seat and looked blankly forward. He was a genius, I would give him that. He understood things about people that I just did not. When we got close to the school Jasper slammed on the breaks and brought his hands to either side of his head.
"I can't go in there, her parents are nearby it's too much."
He got out of the car and Alice followed. I slid into the driver's seat and drove the rest of the way to school. All the students were in the parking lot still even though it was only two minutes until the final bell. Some of them were crying, some were hugging, most of them just looked shocked. Bella came running over to me and I realized with a jolt that I had forgotten to pick her up. I had forgotten all about her. She hugged me tightly and then let go. She looked at my siblings.
"Where's Jasper?"
I looked at her smiling calmly and trying to let her know without words that Jasper had not done it. She didn't seem to understand. Riddle and Harry were walking over to us slowly. Harry looked a little pale and sick. I was sure he didn't know what Riddle was doing. Riddle was probably controlling him to. Harry was innocent, somehow he was being forced into this I was sure of it. Riddle smiled at me for a brief second not looking at all innocent and then he fixed his face so he looked saddened like everyone else.
"It wasn't Jasper Bella, the emotions were too much for him. Alice went with him he'll be fine."
Bella nodded and he eyes filled with tears. She hugged me and I held her close. Her scent did nothing to me it seemed to be gone all together, all of a sudden she smelt like any other human. She was crying and talking it was making it difficult to understand what she was saying. Riddle patted her on the shoulder and she pulled away from me and turned around to face Riddle who handed her a silk handkerchief. She blew her nose in it rather loudly.
"Thank you Tom. Harry are you ok you still look a little sick?"
Harry smiled a little bitterly at Bella and released Tom's hand.
"I feel better, I still can't figure out how Tom 'forgot' that I'm allergic to shellfish, or why he put them into eggs. He is determined to cook he won't accept that there is something he can't do."
Bella laughed softly but stopped quickly looking guilty. Tom smiled at me warmly and my face returned the gesture against my will. Bella looked pleased and began to walk towards the school, I followed behind slowly. The students were all called into the gym for an assembly. The mood was somber and many people were sniffling and crying heavily. The principle came on to the stage dressed in black and took a moment to look around at the students gathered.
"This morning our town received terrible news. Here in Forks and especially at Forks High we share a strong sense of family. Many of us in this room knew Jessica Stanley well. Many of you grew up with her. It is a tragic loss for us all. In the face of this loss we must come together as a town and support the Stanley's, part of that support will come through us and what we chose to listen to. There are some rumors going around about the way Jessica's body was found. I ask all of you to not listen to these stories."
"I ask each of you to remember Jessica for the bright and bubbly girl that she was. There will be consular's visiting the school over the next few weeks and I encourage all of you who need to speak with someone to make an appointment. In light of this tragedy classes for today have been cancelled. Funeral arrangements are being made and I will let you all know the details as soon as they become available."
The principles voice was shaky and she hid her face wiping at her tears. Everyone left the school slowly. Riddle and Harry lingered behind staying close to me and Bella. Harry looked a little better his color had come back. We walked back to our cars and I brought Bella home with the black car of Riddle's tailing right behind me.
"Edward can you come in, maybe stay with me for a while?"
I got out of the car and Bella took my hand once more. She led me inside and cried on my shoulder for longer than I thought was appropriate. It was a shocking death but I knew Bella hadn't liked Jessica that much. She settled down after a moment and got up stretching and walking around her room.
"You really hurt me Edward. The way you ran off this weekend. What was up with that? Harry saw me crying and came over to talk to me, he sent Tom to find you for me. I don't understand why you don't like them. There really nice."
What was that supposed to mean? I told Bella they were wizards and that they were dangerous what part of that did she not understand. Then I remembered that I hadn't given her all that much information. I had lied to her and now I couldn't tell her the truth. I couldn't write it down, I couldn't mime it if that was even possible. Bella looked like she was going to cry again because I was remaining silent.
"Bella I'm sorry. It wasn't you or the wedding…um."
Bella was starting to breathe heavily and I scrambled for something to say. I felt terrible I could not believe I had forgotten about Bella. I didn't know if it had been because of me or because of Riddle. Things were slipping away from me fast. It was awful that I couldn't blame them all on Riddle. Bella sniffed loudly and my attention snapped back to her.
"It was Alice actually, she kept taunting me and I left for a minute to clear my head. Then I ran into Riddle and he distracted me. You're right Bella they're not so bad, they're really nice actually and the things they can do with magic are amazing."
Maybe I could blame most of this on Riddle. Most of what had just come out of my mouth I hadn't intended to say. Bella seemed to brighten though and she came to sit beside me and clasped my hand. I stared at her hand thinking. Very slowly something was shifting inside me and I wasn't sure who to blame.
Ever since Harry arrived my mind had been forming this plan without my notice. I wasn't even sure it was really a plan as much as it was this other life, some other possibility that I had not considered before. Since Harry arrived it seemed my mind had become divided. I supposed it was not entirely normal. It seemed to be happening though and relatively quickly.
I hadn't taken my other thoughts seriously because they were so unrealistic. I pegged them as day dreams. It was there though in the back of my mind unfurling and becoming more solid. Each day it seemed more like a possibility than a fantasy even though there was nothing in reality to suggest this. In one part of my mind there was my future with Bella, it was all mapped out and definitely solid but in the other half of my mind was a future with Harry.
It wasn't mapped out it wasn't solid, it was clouded with uncertainty and full of gaping holes of missing information, it was not possible. The problem was the possible future with Harry, seemed to be draining away my certainty of a definite future with Bella. She had no blood scent anymore and suddenly she looked plain to me. Everything I had loved about her seemed to be gone with her scent. It was terrible but I was beginning to suspect that I didn't love her at all.
I could have, I could have loved her forever. I wanted to love her forever, but something inside me had broken at the sight of Harry. Whatever it was had broken loose and it was consuming me slowly and telling me with more desperation each day that I belonged to Harry and that Harry belonged to me. It made no difference though. I had put Bella in danger and I would keep her safe.
If I was not in love with her anymore then I could pretend to be well enough. The feelings I had for Bella had not simply just fallen away. I loved her to much for that to be possible, I couldn't just suddenly not love her but the intensity of it had suddenly died. I could pretend for now, I knew she would not notice the difference. I would keep her safe I had promised her after all. I squeezed her hand and she rested her head on my shoulder.
"I love you Bella."
She sighed and moved close falling asleep her hand slipped from mine and I let her sleep on. Sitting still and trying not to think much. It was difficult, having such an efficient mind didn't come in handy when you wanted to be distracted. I moved Bella carefully and put her into bed so she wouldn't freeze to death against my cold body. I brushed her hair back from her face and she hummed softly and rolled over. I felt very deeply for her still even it wasn't the never ending love I had imagined, it was still love.
It was probably for the best that she didn't seem quite so dazzling anymore and maybe that was what our relationship needed. Perhaps if one of us was not quite so enchanted with the other, than perhaps together we would have a better view of the world around us. The problem I was left with now was Tom Riddle. Whether or not I decided to have a future with Bella or uselessly chase Harry did not matter. None of it mattered because I could not figure out what Riddle was planning.
He could very well kill us all. He was in my head and he knew all of our gifts all of our weaknesses and strengths. He knew everything I knew and the only way to help myself would be to figure out what he didn't know. Which put me back in the same position, anything I didn't know I could only assume Riddle didn't know either. From what I knew of Riddle so far I was sure that whatever information he couldn't find in my mind he found somewhere else.
I had no options, I couldn't warn anyone, I knew I couldn't run. I could only hope that when Riddle was done he would leave. I wouldn't chase him, it would be no use. I understood now why the magicless vampires would not mix with the others. It was dangerous magic was too powerful a weapon. I would definitely not chase Riddle when he left, I would be happy enough to escape with my life.
There was a knock on the door. Charlie was at work and Bella was sleeping. I supposed I could answer the door. I had a fair idea who it was anyhow, since there were no thoughts. I opened the door with my face set in a scowl which quickly slipped away at the sight of Harry's bright smile. I blinked dazzled for a moment. I struggled to remember that Harry was no where near as innocent as he looked now.
He was dangerous to, even though he didn't seem to be anywhere near as sinister as his boyfriend. His small son was with him holding a basket covered with a checkered cloth. The basket looked too big for him. He held it stumbling backwards a bit. Harry smiled at his son and I took the basket so the small child wouldn't topple over. He stared at me with his large green eyes that were strangely clear and intelligent for a two year old. Harry ruffled the child's hair and he giggled moving so he could clutch onto Harry's leg.
"He insisted on carrying it over himself. I bake when I'm upset, seems to be a compulsion. There cookies Damien's favorite. I thought it might cheer Bella up she seems to be pretty down."
I nodded and Harry smiled bending down to pick Damien up, the small child seemed to be coming upset with being ignored. Harry kissed his cheek and he put his head on Harry's shoulder and blinked sleepily but then he focused on me once more.
"I'm really sorry about the stuff I did before. Tom said he talked to you. He didn't do anything harsh right? I mean Tom can get a little…well he had a temper."
He looked down with a slight blush coloring his cheeks. My eyes glued themselves to his lower lip, it was pink and full and he was currently chewing on half of it. I waited for Riddle's influence to kick in and stop me from telling Harry the truth but it never happened.
"He isn't too mean Harry, does he lose his temper? I mean with you does he lose his temper a lot?"
Edward you're losing it! Tell Harry the truth Riddle isn't stopping you. The voice was right but for some reason Harry's safety was the most pressing thing on my mind. I wanted to, no I had to know that he was safe, I had to know that he wouldn't be better off without me. That he was happy with Riddle that Riddle kept him safe and didn't hurt him. Harry blushed worse and looked up at me again with his eyes sparkling.
"You're really sweet Edward, but Tom's not like that he would never hurt me. He might hurt you though he gets jealous of my guy friends. Now that he knows you're straight though he doesn't care. Anyway tell Bella I hope she feels better. I feel so bad about Jessica she seemed nice."
I nodded wanting to blurt out the truth but Harry looked happy and his son was staring at me with his clear eyes seeming very alert. Tom was unstable maybe he would hurt Harry if I said something.
"Yes she was a sweet girl. It is very tragic for a young life to be taken like that. I'll give Bella the cookies, thanks for stopping by Harry take care."
Harry smiled shifting Damien in his arms and turning to leave. I watched him cross the street and didn't stop watching him until he closed the door. I couldn't figure out why he seemed so aggressive before. Maybe he had just been hostile because I was a vampire. He seemed much calmer since Tom arrived. Harry was safe with Riddle as long as Riddle was happy. Maybe Harry wasn't used to being on his own. He seemed happier now and a lot more like the boy I had seen in the news clippings, he was full of light.
I closed the door realizing I was still staring across the street even though Harry had gone inside long ago. I put the basket in the kitchen, taking a peek it was full of oversized cookies. I went back upstairs to check on Bella who was still sleeping. I sat on the bed and Bella moved closer to me, fighting all her human instinct to not move closer to something so cold.
I watched Bella sleep. How to reconcile what I had just done? I could have told Harry and taken my chances with his reaction, but I lied instead because of a brief inkling that he might not be safe if I did something like that. I had risked Bella I had risked my family, perhaps I had just damned the whole town and for what? A few half formed fantasies in the back of my mind? For the very slim possibility that I might one day hold Harry in my arms? Love is definitely blind, it blinds you or it dazzles you.
"Harry Potter…what are you doing to me…seriously?"
Next Chapter: Harry worries about Tom and Tom explains what he knows to Harry…plus Damien gets and endless supply of cookies!