"We're almost there." Victoria tried to smile at Edward beside her as she drove into the center of town. Neon red lights shadowed Edward's porcelain face and his eyes almost looked red as she caught his gaze. She liked the way it looked. Soon, she told herself…tonite.
But Edward's eyes did not return her happy grin. He wasn't angry at the moment, but she recognized the emotion in him…the sadness was so thick there was nothing else inside him. She wished just for one night he would laugh and play with her. James was so easy to be with. Edward was much more difficult.
She made herself forget about his little feelings and go back into teacher mode.
"Alright, so, the plan is – once we're inside, we go our separate ways." She began, "Pick someone out, ask her to dance, buy her a drink. Pretend to be happy. Later, when I have mine, I'll come find you. We'll offer to drive them home. Once we get to the woods, we'll have plenty of privacy."
"I told you, I don't hunt that way" Edward began to explain but Victoria blasted her radio all the way up, hurting Edward's ears. Victoria smiled at him and shouted over the music, "Sorry, I can't hear you."
Frowning, Edward clenched his jaw, staring straight ahead and tightening his fists in his lap as she parked behind a string of nightclubs.
I could be with Bella right now, snuggled up on the sofa reading a book, Edward thought as he stayed in his seat, watching Victoria get out of the car and slam the door behind her.
He would've stayed there all night if she didn't tear his car door open a second later, yanking him out by the chain around his neck she'd put there earlier. He winced, staring her down as she grabbed his hand, moving quickly towards one of the clubs, a horrendous line of humans waiting to get inside.
She passed all of them, dragging Edward behind her. He felt sick inside, the wind was blowing and human blood pumped all around him. Heartbeats, the scent of flesh and blood almost mocked him as his mouth fell open, his eyes vacant and hungry as she jogged on her spiked red heels to the doorman.
Without a word, she smiled at the man and grabbed his long black hair, bringing his lips down to hers as she devoured them hungrily. He returned her deep violent kiss with the same desire. Edward cringed, looking away, still attached to her hand as they made out.
"Go ahead in, sweetheart." The man stroked Victoria's hair, and as she walked to the door, she pulled Edward behind her. The doorman looked upon him with distaste, asking, "Who's this?"
Victoria smiled at Edward and cooed like a little girl, "This is my pretty new toy. Isn't it cute?"
Edward swallowed, not having the strength to do anything but glare back at him silently.
He never felt more like an object in his life. He had thought Victoria might have some good inside her after her little gift giving speech, but he was back to being her property again. He should've known it was all a lie.
"Adorable." The man said with a touch of venom in his voice, "Have fun."
Before he could say a word, Victoria whisked him inside into a sea of blackness and flashing colored lights, loud music and humans packed in like sardines, dancing and jumping all around him.
"Oh God." Edward heard himself mutter, the heat and smell of blood so intense he thought he might drink four people before his eyes even focused to the darkness.
"That's YOUR fault, waiting so long to feed, Edward." Victoria scolded him like a three year old child, "If you really can't wait, take some girl to the bathroom and do her there. Just make sure no one sees anything."
"Victoria, please, I have to get out of here!" Edward almost begged, feeling a young girl behind him, curling her tan arms around his neck from behind. His eyes clenched tight, his body shaking from the intense need. This was Victoria's plan all along, tossing him into this hot box of people, knowing he wouldn't be able to resist.
"Don't leave, Edward." Victoria warned, placing a soft kiss on his dark red lips, "I'll know about it."
"Victoria!" Edward grabbed her arm but she broke away, dancing off with a couple of muscle bound guys who instantly accepted her.
Edward turned to his right, his head dizzy, not even sure where the exit was. A woman's beautiful face was right below his suddenly, her hands grabbing his jacket as she smiled at him approvingly, putting her mouth right into the unbuttoned top of his shirt, licking…closing her lips over his cold marble flesh.
"Don't…" Edward breathed, afraid if he touched her, he would break her with the force he would bring in his state. But he didn't feel his legs moving himself away from her, his ragged breaths fell down over her face, attracting her in further with his intoxicating aroma. His hands moved slowly down her bare toned arms…she was completely under his spell now, yanking his shirt open, tearing it to keep kissing his skin.
Her heart was pounding so loud, she smelled like cinnamon, his legs were like cement. It was so dark here, no one would see him take her. His fist gently grabbed her curly black hair, bringing her throat towards his opening mouth.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, unsure if it was spoken to her, or himself, or Bella, or even Carlisle…regardless, he spoke the words, resigned to the fate that laid before him. He was about to kill again, this time, an innocent. She was smiling up at him, thinking he was attracted to her too, as if about to receive a kiss.
A strong hand attached itself onto Edward's back at the last moment, before his teeth made contact, the girl was feet away from him suddenly, in a daze, staring at him as he was being pulled away by something. Edward almost cried out as he was losing her, but then he was shoved into a little room and the door slammed behind him.
The men's room, Edward could see where he was now. A dim orange light showing the red floor and black stall doors before him.
"That was close." A man's voice scoffed behind him, "What were you DOING?"
Edward blinked, smelling no human blood nearby at the moment, turning.
"EMMETT!" Edward nearly screamed, throwing his arms around his huge skulking brother.
"Eddie Munster." Emmett smiled, patting Edward's back. It wasn't often Edward flung his arms around him, which only told Emmett just how miserable Edward probably was these last few weeks.
"Ow" Edward winced suddenly, from the impact of Emmett's hand on his back.
"What?" Emmett frowned, trying to read Edward's expression. It was pain – then quickly he tried to mask it with a smile.
"Nothing." Edward smiled more.
"You're a horrible liar, Edward." Emmett frowned, spinning Edward around, yanking off the leather jacket and lifting the t shirt up so he could see Edward's back. Healed slash marks covered his brother's flesh, making Emmett gasp out loud.
"Fucking bitch!" he growled as Edward frowned at his reflection in the mirror on the wall, turning to his brother and gently breaking free.
"Don't –" Edward let his true feelings show now, humiliation and shame, "She'll hear you."
"I don't give a fuck if she does or not, let her come in here, I'm ready right now!" Emmett dared, looking enraged, "Why would you let her do that to you?"
"She threatens Bella if I don't obey her, OKAY?" Edward hated sounding so slave-like. He FELT owned.
Emmett didn't answer, just stared at Edward with pity in his eyes.
"She whips me everyday I don't feed." Edward informed, staring down at the sink in front of him.
"I was just going to say" Emmett took Edward's chin, looking into his eyes to see their color, "You look sick, how long has it been since you fed?"
Looking up, Edward had to think about it, "Uh…I didn't feed for the week after I got the letter about the trial, and haven't fed at all since going with Victoria."
"Edward, that's like almost five weeks!!" he shouted, "Too long, man!"
"No shit, Emmett!" Edward hissed, suddenly furious, "I'm fucking starving – I almost killed that girl out there a second ago! Thank GOD you stopped me. I don't know how much longer I can hang on. And being in this place all night…I can't make it."
"Oh, wait." Emmett grabbed the backpack on his shoulder, unzipping it, "I brought this for you, in case."
He took out a white sports bottle, adding, "It's a mountain lion, your favorite, a pretty pissed off one, too. But it's cold."
Edward's black eyes held a spark of hope, biting off the lid, seeing the thick crimson inside.
"Oh GOD YES" he gulped it down instantly, moaning into the cup as some of it ran down the sides of his mouth. His throat swallowed each cold mouthful down hard. It disturbed Emmett to watch this, it was evident from watching Edward drink this ice cold shit that he truly was starving.
When he drank it all, he kept licking the inside of the cup, trying to get the very last drop as he groaned in disappointment. Finally, he took the cup from his mouth and looking at Emmett, asking, "Any more?"
"Edward, I'm not leaving you with her." Emmett stated, wishing he did have more for his brother, "Look what she's doing to you. You cursed at me! You NEVER curse ! I know that's the thirst talking."
Wiping his lips and the sides of his chin, he turned the water on in the sink, cleaning the blood off his hands.
"WAIT" Edward snapped out of his own troubles suddenly, looking at Emmett with a new frown, "What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be protecting BELLA! Don't you DARE tell me she's around here !"
"No, of course not !" Emmett defended himself, "What do you think I am?"
"Where is she?"
"At home, Alice and Esme are watching over her." Emmett informed, "I've been taking care of her just like you would. I even had to lock her in your room a few times."
"What ?!"
"Don't worry, she was fine." Emmett put a hand up, "She kept trying to escape, saying she was going to save you. Seriously, she is a full time job !"
"I know." Edward felt a small smile tug at the corner of his lips, "How is she ?"
"Oh great." Emmett scoffed, "She's trying to decide who to go to the prom with now, Newton or Jacob Black. What'd you think ?"
"Stop." Edward frowned more, twisting the knobs shut on the sink, a pained expression taking over his chiseled face now.
"Look, let's take a chance and just run for it." Emmett suggested, "Carlisle is in Italy trying to talk to Aro for you, but he's been gone for awhile and Alice can't see anything coming of it yet. Esme cries all the time, Bella is a psycho, Alice feels guilty, and so do Jasper and I, too ! And you are a total mess, too. I say we take our chances and make a break for it."
"NO" Edward turned to him, "Wait for Carlisle. He's still head of the family. I trust him."
"You can't wait anymore, man!" Emmett turned Edward's face to make himself look in the mirror again, "You are so weak now, you almost fed on a human! What are you gonna do ?"
"I don't know Emmett!" Edward growled, hating his own reflection, breaking away from it, "I'm just trying to get from one day to the next – I don't have a plan. Every bit of strength I had is gone…every time I try to stand up to her Bella is threatened. She knows my weakness and she wields it like a kid playing with a gun. She expects me to feed tonite and I don't think I have the will to resist it anymore !"
"Maybe you shouldn't." Emmett thought aloud, getting a glare from Edward.
"I mean" Emmett scratched his head, "I can see how hungry you are…maybe just one human would make you feel better."
"Just one human." Edward closed his eyes, clenching his fists, "No big deal, right ?"
"I didn't mean it to sound cold." Emmett sighed, "I just hate seeing you this hungry. Come hunting with me now. We can find you something."
"I can't leave here." Edward suddenly looked nervous, "She'll know. I can't risk it. She'll get Bella."
Suddenly, he darted to the mirror, checking the color of his eyes, muttering, "Good, still black."
"God, you look afraid of her." Emmett noticed aloud, squinting.
"I'm not afraid of her." Edward sounded insulted, "But I'll die before she gets her hands on Bella."
"What's this?" Emmett saw the lion claw around his neck and held it, studying it more closely.
"A collar." Edward frowned, tugging it out of Emmett's hand, "She tried calling it a gift but I know damn well what it really is."
"Just…tell me what I can do for you, Edward, and I'll do it." Emmett sounded so lost as he spoke, hating to see the once proud Edward reduced to this. If he was this beaten down a few weeks in, imagine if he did stay with her for twenty years. He would be changed.
"Don't tell Bella you saw me." Edward heard himself demand, "It's too much. Just…please take care of her. Make Alice take her shopping and…make her go outside and breathe the air…."
He trailed off, knowing Bella was suffering as greatly as he was. That was the most hateful part of this damn sentence. If Bella could forget all about him and have her memories of him erased, maybe Edward could bear this.
"Okay, Edward, I get it." Emmett put a hand on his brother's shoulder. He leaned down and picked up the leather jacket, carefully putting it back on Edward's arms and raising it up onto his shoulders, smoothing it a little.
With a small breath of laughter, Emmett looked at Edward's face in the mirror reflection, seeing the outfit Victoria had made him wear.
"I should tell her not to waste her time." Emmett said softly, smirking, "I've been trying to make you cool for 90 years and have gotten nowhere."
With a grin, Edward turned around and looked up to face his brother, muttering, "Jerk."
Emmett embraced his smaller brother again, this time more gently, watching out for his back. Edward returned the hug, smiling, saying, "You're my brother."
"Ditto." Emmett's voice almost broke, not one for this sappy emotional stuff, but Edward seemed so alone – more so than he ever was before Bella came into his life.
"You're not alone, Edward." Emmett wanted him to know, "We're all with you, everyday. Even if it doesn't seem like it."
Edward inhaled the scent of Emmett's shirt, finding Bella in it, a subtle little aroma. He nearly cried, breaking away suddenly and looking down at his boots, mumbling, "You should go."
"Are you sure ?"
Squinting in confusion, Edward found himself crabby again.
"No, don't go," he mocked, "Come home with Victoria and I and we can have bunk beds in the basement together, I'm sure she won't mind."
"Thirst again." Emmett smirked back down at his brother, "You'd better find something to eat soon or that attitude's gonna burst open on some poor person."
"I know." Edward's eyes looked sorry as he replied to Emmett.
"Be good. I'll come find you again in a few days." Emmett started to turn towards the bathroom door, about to leave.
"Wait." Edward grabbed the big arm, hating to see him leaving already, but then said, "Victoria's been thinking that she wants to start roaming all over the place with me, like she used to do with James. She rents this house we're in now, but she hates staying in one place for long. If we're not here, look for a clue – I'll leave you something to let you know where to find me."
"Okay, bro, don't worry." Emmett mussed Edward's hair, "I'll find you no matter where you go – plus there's Alice."
"Oh yea." Edward almost forgot.
"See you soon Ed." Emmett gave Edward's cheek a playful slap, forcing himself to go out the bathroom door.
See next chapter soon!
Love WinndSinger
PS What do you guys think Edward should do now ? He wants your advice, seeing as he's all alone in the men's room, afraid to go out into the club again.