A few times Edward tried to open the men's room door and venture out into the blaringly loud dance party on the other side, but the scent of the blood was just too great; hundreds of different flavors mixing into one burning vapor in the air.
With his fingers clutching at his hair, he preferred to sit on the cool concrete floor near the sink pipes, letting his head tap gently on the porcelain as he tried to think of a way out. Blackmail…what dirt could he get on Victoria to make her let him go? Actually, she was covered with dirt, but nothing the Volturi could nail her for. Damn, he was too thirsty to even THINK straight anymore.
He read Victoria's mind again, checking that she wasn't coming for him. Still doing lines of cocaine with her mortal men friends, thoughts of Edward lost to her right now. Good.
Thoughts of humans he had killed decades ago were crystal clear in his vampire memory. They had been murderers, like himself, but that didn't kill the guilt of what he used to be. He had to admit, human blood would be heavenly now – if only it wouldn't mean that he failed and let down everyone important in his life.
The door burst open at this, and Edward jumped, slamming his marble head on the tile wall behind him, looking at the open doorway, the silhouette of a woman standing there alone.
"Is this the ladies' room?" a confused desperate sounding voice asked, almost pleaded.
"Men's room." Edward almost growled his response, knowing the open door meant the scent of blood was wafting back into this room. This had been his sanctuary and now it was going to be contaminated.
"Well, sorry." She frowned, slamming the door behind her as she came in, "I have been searching in vein all night for the damn ladies' room and frankly, I don't think they even have one. I'm using this one. Don't listen if you're squeamish."
She was very cute, Edward noticed from afar, not getting up from where he sat, she looked like a 30 year old Meg Ryan, wearing a little black dress, the long blonde curls bouncing as she walked to one of the stalls, closing and locking it behind her. And her attitude reminded him a little of Bella's – although he would never envision her going into a men's room and making such an announcement.
Closing his eyes tight, he rubbed his temples and held his breath as he trembled. Her scent was extremely nice – baby powder, cotton candy and cherries. He began to work some complex physics theories out in his head as he endured her presence, praying to God she'd hurry and get out fast.
She was talking to him from her stall but he didn't want to hear her, didn't even want to read her thoughts. He was drowning fast here and if she didn't get out in the next 30 seconds, he'd lose what little control he had.
"My friends talked me into coming here tonight but I am not the club type." She was saying, "I have two little babies at home, I should be with them, not here trying to find some new loser to hook up with."
"Please get out." Edward heard himself growl as his breath panted harder.
The stall door opened then, the sound of the toilet flushing, and she looked at the young kid on the floor closer now. He was so pale, shaking, eyes closed and rocking in almost a fetal position. Drugs?
"Are you okay ?" she tilted her head to the right, slipping her shoes off; the high heeled pumps killing her toes. It felt good for her to let her stocking feet press against the cold hard floor. For Edward, this only intensified her scent and his thirst.
"GOD" Edward bit down hard, forcing his teeth shut, praying she wouldn't come over and use the sink now, "PLEASE GO AWAY!"
"Are you sick ?" She was coming closer, not sure what she could do, but knowing she couldn't leave this cute kid here alone. What if he died or something? The guilt would never go away. Being a mother herself, she could not leave someone else's child alone like this.
The teenager's eyes opened, revealing two dark eyes, filled with fear as they saw how close she was.
"NO !" he screamed so loud it almost hurt her chest to hear it.
"GET OUT !" he screamed, "DON'T TOUCH ME !"
"Shhhh." She put her hands up, stopping herself from getting any closer, truly concerned about him, "I won't touch you, I promise. Calm down."
He could read her thoughts again, she wished she had a cell phone to call 911 or any kind of training for this sort of thing. All she had were maternal instincts and caring on her side. She hoped it would be enough to help this cute little boy.
Shutting her kind thoughts off, he clenched his eyes tight again, his fists buried in his stomach as he rocked back and forth, muttering some kind of math equations to himself.
"Hey, it's okay." Her voice floated around him like a soft blanket. She was sitting on the cold floor a few feet away, keeping the distance she promised him to. But she wasn't leaving, that much was clear. Edward kept seeing himself pouncing upon her, biting, drinking. Her little children would never see their Mommy again.
"GO AWAY !" Edward glared at her with full anger in his eyes, hoping to scare her out. He thought of calling her some horrible names but even now, he couldn't make himself do it. Always the gentleman, he heard Bella's voice teasing him.
"Please…" his voice whimpered now, almost begging her to leave, his eyes dropping their angry shield and turning to pure heartache.
"Shhhhh." She tried to soothe with the gentlest of voices, "Let me have someone come in here and help you, you look like you're hurting."
"NO !" he groaned out loud, "Leave me alone."
"Okay, forget that." She waved at the door, "Let me help. What hurts ?"
What DOESN'T hurt? Edward wanted to answer. But instead, he said nothing. She was inching closer and closer, thinking he didn't notice. His breaths were hard and raspy – she was being drawn in….she was going to die right here on the bathroom floor.
"Please go away" Edward whispered, his tortured eyes almost glowing with fear and pain, "I'm fine…really. I swear."
"I don't believe you." She kept her voice tender but knowing there was something deeply wrong.
"Don't be afraid." She held one hand up, rising up to a sink on the end, turning the faucet and wetting some paper towels, squeezing them a bit, then crawling slowly towards him.
"Relax." She soothed, "I won't hurt you. I promise."
I wish I could promise the same.
Making contact, she gently placed the wet paper towels against the left side of his face, her other hand touching the boy's forehead. She gasped, saying, "You are like ice. And you're white as a ghost."
That was it – she touched him, she was too close to him. He felt so sick inside and said in a low voice to her, "I am truly sorry, Meghan. I will make sure your children are taken good care of."
"What?" she was about to ask but she never got to say it.
He pounced on her instantly, grabbing her wrist into one hand, the other hand turned her around, her back resting on his chest as he held her chin, turning her face away as he crunched his hungry teeth into that wrist, hearing her scream as he swallowed mouthfuls of hot thick sweetness.
Her legs kicked out in protest but her body was going nowhere, the wet paper towels fell to the floor as she tried to struggle even now, staring at the discarded shoes nearby as he gulped her down, each swallow stealing more of her life away.
"no, please…" she mumbled weakly as her strength slipped away, "don't hurt…my babies…"
Edward wanted to sob out loud at the heart wrenching last words she'd spoken. But he was too weak, he couldn't stop now if he wanted to.
He snapped out of it – blinking as she wiped his face with the damp paper towels now.
"Were you drinking tonight ?" she asked gently, not judging him, only trying to find out what was wrong.
"I wish." He heard himself reply, smiling a bit at his private joke. NOT drinking was what was wrong with him.
The vision of him drinking her had scared him just enough to stay strong for another moment or two. She had to get out of here now.
"I'm fine now." Edward said flatly, taking the paper towels from her hand without touching it, "Thank you."
"Are you here with someone else?" she wasn't buying it, "You look very pale and you're ice cold. You should maybe go to the hospital and get checked out real quick."
He started shaking again. Her sweet concern was more potent than the smell of her blood, as strong as that was.
"Please…" he heard his voice and hated how weak it sounded, "You're so close…"
He didn't know if she'd take offense at this statement or not, but he saw that shouting GO AWAY wasn't working.
"Oh, sorry." She sat on the bathroom floor and moved a few inches away from him.
Great. That helps, thanks, a few inches between us will keep me from you.
"Just breathe." She soothed from her spot, staring into his eyes. He tried to look away, afraid she would see too much.
His breathing was too fast and hard, she noticed, something was happening again inside him.
"Do you need to throw up or something?" she guessed, prepared to get out of the way if he needed to run to the toilets behind her. Actually, this handsome kid throwing up on her would probably be the nicest thing that happened to her tonight, she chuckled to herself.
Edward's eyes sparked for a second. Good idea, get away from her. This was his chance to break out of his little corner she had him boxed into and put some more distance between them. Maybe she'd be so disgusted she'd leave this room then.
"Yes." Edward moaned, leaping up and making himself jog at human speed to the farthest stall on the right, slamming the door and locking it behind him.
He trembled harder, his hands pressed on both sides of the stall walls as he stared down at the toilet water below, waiting for her to go away and take her smelly blood with her. His throat was burning. The venom was pooling in his mouth at the back of his tongue.
He made noises, guttural savage sounds that did not sound like a human vomiting. The demon was waking up inside him, so thirsty that even Edward could hardly hold him back anymore.
"Poor thing." Her voice was outside the stall door, very close, "I remember the first time I drank like that. I never did it twice, I can tell you that much."
He closed his eyes, begging, almost in a whisper, "Why won't you leave ?"
It's like she WANTED him to drink her.
The men's room door opened suddenly and the voice of the blonde woman spoke to the new person coming in.
"This is the men's room." She informed, "But you're welcome to use this one if you want."
Edward's eyes widened as he heard Victoria's thoughts. It was her. NO !
He spun and whipped his stall door open, staring her down with a hard unyielding glare.
"Oh, how are you doing, honey?" the blonde spoke to Edward now, afraid to invade his space as she seemed to do earlier on the floor.
The blonde looked at Victoria in the doorway and explained, "He's not feeling very well."
"He drinks too much." Victoria raised a brow at Edward.
Nice work, Edward, I underestimated you. Victoria thought to him.
"I thought that was it, but he said no." the blonde shrugged, looking at Edward closer now.
"He's my little brother." Victoria informed the blonde, then said to Edward, "I think it's time we took you home to sleep it off, Edward."
"No !" Edward gritted through his teeth.
Don't even think about it, Victoria, we're leaving here – alone. I'm not feeding on her or anyone else for that matter. I'm going hunting right now and if I have to, I'll drink squirrels!
"Edward." The blonde was glad to know his name, it would help her ease his mind, "Your sister is right, you should get into your own bed and be comfortable."
"You don't understand…" Edward sighed, shooting Victoria another look as the blonde curled her hands around Edward's right leather arm, easing him out of the stall.
"Don't know how we're going to get home, though." Victoria frowned slightly, "We got a ride here and they left without us. I'd hate to walk him home like this, it'll take us forever."
"I can drive you home." The blonde offered right away, "I'll be glad to have an excuse to get out of here anyway."
"No, we have a car, don't listen to her." Edward breathed, her touch on his arm making him even weaker and his legs felt like jello as he tried to walk.
Victoria laughed, sounding surprised. "He always fantasizes he has this nice sports car when he's drunk. He's just got his license and doesn't even have a job yet. Kids…"
"Come on, Eddie.", Victoria grabbed his jacket and yanked him with her out of the men's room door, "Stop being so rude, this nice lady wants to help make you all better."
The music and noise from the humans in the club now made it impossible for the blonde woman to hear a thing Edward could say to stop this. And now the heated air filled with blood silenced him for good. He needed blood now. He thought he'd fall over soon if he didn't drink soon.
"Let me go tell my friends I'm leaving first." The blonde was about to move when Victoria shoved Edward down on his face suddenly.
"Oh my God, he's passing out." Victoria helped Edward up as the blonde helped, putting his right arm around her shoulders, propping him up and leading them to her car in the parking lot.
She forgot all about telling her friends anything when this boy needed her help so badly. Victoria smiled at Edward knowingly. This was falling right into place.
"It's okay, Edward." She opened her car door, moving the front seat forward to let the teenager lay down in the back seat.
"I'd better sit back here with him just in case." Victoria shoved him and sat directly behind the driver's seat.
"No Victoria…" he panted as the blonde closed the door and came around to get in the driver's seat, turning her key in the ignition.
"Please let me out." Edward tried to save the woman in spite of herself, adding, "I'm gonna be sick !"
She began to reach over to unlock the passenger side door and release the front seat blocking Edward in but Victoria stopped her.
"No he won't." she grabbed Edward's wrists, pushing him back into the seat, "He's fine, he just needs to get home."
"Okay," the blonde started driving fast, "Where do you live?"
"Please don't Victoria…please!" Edward's voice trembled, sounding afraid and pained.
"Shush Edward." Victoria tapped Edward's leather chest, "Turn right here onto the highway. Exit 12 is a few miles away, that's where we live."
"Okay." She peeked in the rear view mirror and saw Edward's eyes. They looked at Victoria with murderous rage. They looked a little alike, both having a reddish hair color and the pale skin. Red heads usually did have fair skin, she thought, but something felt weird. She never minded helping anyone but her gut was telling her something was wrong with these two.
"You alright Edward?" the blonde asked. It was almost like they were talking to each other silently with their eyes in the back seat.
"No." he sat up, "Megan, stop the car and get out---"
"Edward gets paranoid when he drinks." Victoria scowled at her younger brother, "Don't even listen to him, it's okay, keep going. We'll be home soon, Edward, don't worry."
"How did you know my name?" she asked, looking at Edward again in her mirror.
She is smart, she picked up my little clue. Edward almost grinned to himself.
"Alright, Edward, fine." Victoria frowned, slipping off her leather belt and looping it around Megan's neck with one vampire swift motion, making her scream as it squeezed tightly around her throat, the car still moving.
"NO VICTORIA!" Edward yelled from his seat.
"Turn off to the right down here – there's a dirt road." Victoria demanded her driver. Megan trembled and tried not to cry, turning slowly on the dark road she was instructed to follow.
"Please don't kill me, I have children…please?" she whispered, shaking all over, knowing what going down this dirt road meant.
"Victoria, please." Edward blinked, his body weakening even more, "Let's just choose someone else."
"SHUT UP BOTH OF YOU!" Victoria sneered, "Weak pathetic SHITS! Go all the way down this road until I tell you to stop."
Edward smelled Megan's tears, salty and fresh as they ran down both her cheeks. What was worse was her thoughts.
They are going to kill me, Oh God! I can't believe this, why me?! Who's going to raise Jenny and Alex now? I'm gonna miss their whole lives now because once again I fell for the beautiful face of a stranger. DAMN IT ! Why do I keep trusting fucking people when all they do is hurt and use me? I hate this god damned world! The only good thing in it are my kids and now I've lost them, too.
Finally, at the end of the dirt road was a giant boulder.
"STOP." Victoria hissed as Megan turned off the engine, leaving the headlights on.
"Come." Victoria pulled the belt backwards, making her stumble back into the seat behind, in the middle between herself and Edward.
Edward pushed the front seat up hard, about to grab the door handle to get out when Victoria growled low and dangerously to him.
"Don't you fucking dare leave this car." She ordered, her eyes burning into his as he turned to her, trying to defy her.
Megan was trying to struggle, reaching her hands to the leather belt around her neck but Victoria tightened it even more, making her victim choke for air, gasping hard.
"Come Edward." Victoria stared him down, "Kiss her and I'll let her breathe a little."
"Please don't do this Victoria." Edward shivered, watching Megan's body arch and buck as her lungs were denied air. One of her little hands grabbed at Edward's jacket, mindlessly grasping at anything.
"Stop fighting it and do what you need to do." Victoria made her voice calm, "Now."
Megan's face was almost blue when Edward gave in a bit and leaned in, kissing a gentle soft kiss onto Megan's tight clenched mouth. Victoria gave Megan a little air at this, as she promised. Panting hard, Megan's eyes were round with horror as she stared up at Edward, who was coming in for another kiss, touching her hair.
Closing his eyes, he made himself believe he was kissing Bella. It wasn't hard, Megan was soft and warm like her, the heart pounding away its quick rhythm as he placed small kiss after small kiss into her quivering mouth.
"Good boy, Edward." Victoria sounded like a pleased teacher.
"No, Edward.." Megan began to whimper for her life as Edward opened his mouth, touching her tongue softly with his icy one.
Victoria strangled the words from Megan as she tightened the belt a bit more, making the girl's face redden; the blood gathering there.
"Take your time, Edward." Victoria smiled, getting aroused from watching him this way, no longer fighting her, "It's been a long time since you've had this. Enjoy it."
"Touch her." Victoria held the belt with one hand and with the other, stroked over the black material that covered Megan's right breast, making her cry out in protest.
"It's okay, come on…" Victoria grabbed Edward's hand, placing it there, "There is nothing wrong with this…it's so natural. Sex and blood go hand in hand, Edward."
Megan started to cry at this and Edward yanked away suddenly, in a half second he was out of the car, darting up to a tree branch overhead.
Coming out of the car with Megan in tow, she flung the human body up on the hood of the car, flat on her back.
"Come here now Edward." Victoria called with a hard line to her voice, "I know you can't go too far away from this blood now that it's here. And don't make me use the Bella word again."
In a second, Edward landed like a cat on his feet beside Victoria, staring down at the writhing woman before him.
"Here." Victoria used her fingernail to make a small little cut near the jugular vein of Megan's neck, sitting her up under Edward's face, putting the slowly oozing blood drops right up to his lips.
"Drink, Edward." Victoria smoothed his hair, gently moving him towards it, "It's okay. She's yours."
His mind was numb, all he knew was how thirsty he was and that there was blood right there. Leaning in an inch more put the blood right on his lips, burning them with their heat as he tasted it, licking his mouth as Megan's voice cried softly and beautifully close by.
"That's it…" Victoria watched him closely, knowing he needed these hard lessons to free him of the guilt Carlisle had placed in him all those years. It was cruel, Victoria thought, making a vampire feel like a murderer just for feeding.
He was kissing Megan's neck, drinking the little drops of blood that cut would produce, but now it was time for him to bite in and get it all. Victoria knew that would take some doing on her part.
"Good isn't it?" Victoria purred, stroking Edward's hair affectionately, getting a silent nod from her student. He was even too weak to glare at her anymore and she was glad for that.
"Want more?" she offered, smiling as he kissed her cut deeper, not getting any more blood there.
"Bite in." she said softly, going easy with Edward now. It seemed to be working.
Hesitating, he gave a whimper and a groan, his hands firmly on Megan's hips.
"I can't do everything for you, now, Edward." Victoria soothed, "If you want more, you have to bite. Come on, feed yourself. It's alright."
Edward stared into Megan's crying, frightened eyes and tilted his head, as if admiring her, and let out a hard cold breath, opening his lips, coming back slowly to her jugular, resting his soft cool lips upon it and let his eyes close.
See next chapter soon!
WinndSinger
Sorry, I hate myself for doing that to you – but now I have to think what comes next! EVIL LAUGH !