Chapter 4: Changed
"Excuse me?" I asked, dumbfounded. Vampires weren't real. They can't be real....
"Please don't be afraid of me. I would never hurt you. I don't hurt people." He said, the truth burning in his eyes.
"How can you not hurt people? Don't vampires live off blood?" I asked, skeptical.
"They don't have to." A hint of a smile played on his lips.
"What?"
"I live off of animal blood, not human blood—that is the reason my eyes are gold, instead of red." He explained. I was still very confused.
"I'm confused. Explain more, please." I pleaded. He smiled and settled down into the pillows, pulling me with him.
"I don't know who created me, but I only remember that it was excruciatingly painful." He paused to let me ask any questions, but I couldn't seem to speak, but he saw one in my eyes.
"Us vampires are full of venom, and we create more vampires if we bite a human and let our venom spread throughout the victims body. The venom burns up all of your blood, and stops your heart—when I say 'burns', I mean that literally. The venom transforms you into a beautiful, cold creature that is meant to be attractive to their prey, therefore draining the pray of blood." He stopped, after he was done answering my question.
"Any comments or concerns?" He asked gently. I was still too stunned to speak, but I still loved him. I was not scared of him. I worked up my voice and answered.
"I'm not scared of you." I answered weakly. He bent down and kissed my forehead lightly and smiled.
"I'm very glad. I don't think I could live without you." He said. I looked up at him and marveled at his beauty. "Do you want to go up to the roof? There is a fantastic view of the city." He asked. I agreed, and he helped me up off the bed.
When I was securely on my feet, I gave him a tight hug, and he let go too soon. He ducked down and scooped me up in his arms, not at all bothered by my weight, and cradled me in his arms as he opened the door and walked down to the elevator and entered. He pressed the highest floor button, and we rode in silence. His skin was cold through his tuxedo, and smelled very good. The scent was not of any cologne. It was too perfect. The elevator dinged, and we stepped out into the warm night air.
There were benches scattered on the rooftop, and the brick wall that made up the ledge was covered in deep green vines. There were roses scattered in the vines. Red and white ones; my two favorite types of rose. But overall, it was beautiful. We strolled over to the ledge and Edward stood there, letting me look over the edge.
The dazzling lights of the city were brilliant colors of yellow and red. The buildings were large and demanding, and I could see The London Eye from here. The bright, flashing circle was huge and pretty, but it made me dizzy just looking at it. Edward set me on the ground and pulled me into his chest.
I studied his perfect face in the pale moonlight; trying to memorize it. With his cold, pale skin, perfect, angular features, long, muscular frame, and the tangle of bronze hair—I truly believed that he was an angel. I saved the eyes for last. They were a mesmerizing honey-ocher color, and they were smoldering with a burning intensity that my own chocolate colored ones could only dream of achieving. Even though the night was warm where we stood on the rooftop of the luxurious hotel, over looking the grand skyline of London, a chill ran through my body as Edward pulled me closer into his icy chest.
"Bella, I love you." He whispered those four words in my ear and I was stunned into silence. No one has ever said that they loved me before, besides my family.
"I love you too, Edward." And out of some crazy impulse, I reached up and my lips hungrily found his, and crushed themselves against them as if they had a mind of their own. He didn't object. I barely noticed when his lips left mine and pressed against my throat. I barely noticed when his teeth penetrated my skin until I was set on fire.