Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight - I do own some simple chocolate chip cookies. Who knew simple could be so amazing?
chapter twenty two
"Royalty consists not in vain pomp, but in great virtues"
Agesilaus
Isabella
The weeks following were heavy with accusations, politics and a growing hunger.
Ares accused Hades and I of staging my kidnapping so that James would be somehow caught in the crossfire. His desperate-grief stricken theory fell flat when several Demi-Gods and Gods set complaints against James for being slanderous, malicious, sadistic in his Arena fights and photo-proof of his meetings with my dead sister.
Victoria hadn't shown any signs of bearing ill will towards me, according to her closest friends and Persephone - who was fairly close to Victoria, closer than I would ever be to my mother, at least. Victoria had acted wonderfully, fooling everyone she knew; which is why she also limited her contact with me, I suppose. Her real intentions would have revealed themselves had she been around me.
Edward confirmed that he saw Victoria at the Arena debacle - he hadn't thought anything of it because he couldn't place her face.
Victoria was very careful.
But she didn't account for a bond she didn't know about or Edward's complete devotion to me.
The night I killed Victoria and Ares was also the night that Esme and Alice - who had developed a healing ability through water - restored my bruised body to full health. When I saw the extent of my injuries in the mirror, I was surprised I summoned up the energy to protect myself at the very end - the bleeding inside my body should have knocked me unconscious along with the blows to my head.
When the rumors and wild accusations were cleared up, Zeus took over, initiating several Olympus politics.
It turns out that James had a younger brother, Riley, who was named Ares heir; Riley was very even-tempered, nearly docile in relation to James.
The next heir formally named was Edward. His ceremony was simple, his new gold and silver crown nestled in a safe somewhere in his apartment. Edward was Zeus' first heir in history.
My own ceremony was to be far more complicated than Riley and Edward's - mostly, though, because Alice wanted to plan mine to get an idea of how she wanted hers done and Alice was nothing if not a perfectionist. So far, I had only had a say in what dress I was supposed to wear.
I couldn't be too concerned with the coronation though.
My mind was occupied - and worried - about the growing hunger I had, the icy head searing far past my hands every other day or so. The curse that others thought of as a gift had never been so aggressive in it's appetite. Fighting against the hunger left me exhausted, in bed and sick to my stomach which made the gift hungrier which started the process all over again.
Edward had taken to staying with me, trying in vain to keep me hydrated and fed while I suffered through random bouts of fever, thick wool gloves reaching past my elbows firmly attached to my body.
I had been sustaining myself on plant-life and I hadn't ever though about what human life would do to me. The fullness I felt immediately after killing James and Victoria was nothing compared to the half-sated state I was used to existing in. It was so much better - addicting, even.
It was horrible.
I was beginning to feel pain radiating through my entire body and - upon feeling this through the bond - Edward barged through my room, throwing my blankets off of me and hovering over my shivering body.
"You're starving," he states coldly, concern leaking through his icy tone through the bond, love shining deep in his eyes.
Edward reaches for my right glove but I weakly snatch my hand away.
"I can help!"
"No," I say stubbornly, looking away from him, knowing I'm weaker when I see his perfect face. "You can't. And even if you could…I would kill you, Edward."
Lips press against my cheek near my ear. "That's just it. You can't kill me."
"What?"
Edward shifts to lay beside me, pushing my hair off my face. "Our gifts cancel out, remember?"
I did remember - but it was a fluke, a one time thing. "You're not a battery." I mutter.
"Damnit, Bella!"
I open my eyes, startled and confused as I didn't remember closing them. Edward is sitting up, breathing heavily and pulling at his hair, obviously have trouble controlling his emotions from his outburst.
"Let me just try," he begs, water building up in his eyes.
Stupidly, I hadn't realized how this would effect him - Edward could feel everything I could and added to that, he couldn't bear the thought of me not feeding my gift. In all actuality, it was much like holding my breath for a prolonged amount of time.
"I promise," he starts, leaning towards me as he can feel that he's finally convincing me. "I swear, I'll pull away if it gets to be too much."
Reluctantly, I allow him to shed my gloves and take my hands.
We both marvel at the soft silver light emanating from our joined hands - my gift feeding off the pure energy Edward produced with his. I feel my body warming, returning to a natural temperature while the ice in my hands fades until all I can feel are Edward's hands gripping my own.
"I love you," he says. I finally begin to realize how much.
Edward's energy keeps my gift sated for nearly a week; Edward's presence keeps me company as he is hesitant to leave me.
He is keeping a secret from me the day before my coronation - he seems fidgety and nervous though he's quick to assure me nothing is wrong.
While he is gone, Alice comes to my apartment carrying garment bags and a very large folder. Without a greeting to me she begins to take out various papers from her over-flowing folder, leaving me very confused by my kitchen entrance where I had been making a sandwich before she made herself at home.
"Hi, Alice." I say wryly, going back to finish preparing my food.
"No time for talking!" She calls back to me, pausing for a second before I hear a clatter and the pounding of determined feet on my hardwood coming towards me. "What are you doing? There's no time for eating!"
"So, I can't talk or eat?"
"Right!"
I wait for a beat, chewing on a bite of my sandwich. "You're talking…"
"I'm allowed to talk! Hurry up, we have things to go over."
I finish my food quickly, not wanting to upset a seriously deranged Alice. I knew she'd been obsessing over this entire ordeal for her own reasons so I hadn't expected her to be so intense about mine.
Alice wastes no time going over every detail that she has planned out before pushing all of the garment bags at me, insisting I try on my gown, shoes and ceremonial robe one last time before the big event.
The gown is beautiful, of course; ice-grey satin stitched with ivy details over the corset-like bodice, layers and layers of silk and satin in the same color making up the slightly flowing skirt which was cut in such a way that the back hem flared with a small train. A transparent lace overlay rested on the satin skirt, matching the elbow-length gloves made of the same lace pattern.
The ceremonial robe was black and silver, soft and light though it was large and fashioned like a overly-large cape. It had symbols representing Hades sewn across the back and complimented my gown perfectly, as I'm sure Alice had planned.
I place everything back in the garment bags and carefully hang them in my closet before returning to Alice, assisting her in packing up her tiny mountain of papers. As she leaves, she repeatedly reminds me of the time I need to be at Hades mansion - a large structure outside of the city and near the ancient entrance of the Underworld.
Edward arrives home around the same time Alice leaves and after a quick meal, we spend the remainder of our night kissing and talking.
Morning arrives slowly, the hours winding nerves up in my stomach as I pace around my room, meticulously setting out various beauty products that I had never felt the need to use. I shower, ensuring that every inch of my skin is hairless and soft, and quickly blow-dry my hair until it falls into it's short, natural straightness. A quick swipe of mascara, eye shadow and lip gloss and I am out the door with a handsomely dressed Edward at my side.
My nerves are crawling up my throat despite Edward's near constant stream of serenity through the bond.
We separate once at Hades home as I leave to get ready, barely taking in the elegant black and white flowers, twinkling lights and silver-foggy throne that looks to be around a size that would fit me perfectly.
Just before the ceremony begins, Hades comes to escort me down to his throne room, smiling softly at my extravagant gown and ceremonial robe.
A hush fills the large room as Hades walks me towards my throne, Persephone waiting beside the ornate chair holding a black velvet pillow with a delicate tiara resting in the center.
My ceremony is quiet and quick much like Edward's though much, much more planning had gone into mine. By the time Hades has bestowed me with an essence of his power and the platinum, opal and onyx tiara is placed on my head, I feel sure in my right to be heir. My nerves are completely erased as I feel a rush of power flow through me - not my gift power, but the power of the Underworld recognizing me as second in line, second in control.
The night goes by in a haze of well-wishing and secret, excited smiles from Alice and Edward.
Instead of returning to one of our city apartments, Edward takes me to his mother's safe house.
To say I was stunned at the seemingly thousand lit tea candles set around the bed room would be an understatement.
I turn easily to Edward, having left my ceremonial robe with Alice, and hold in the shocked gasp waiting to leave my throat.
With the single most tender expression I had ever seen on his face, Edward kneels before me with one hand outstretched, holding out a simple silver and white diamond ring nestled in a satin box.
"Marriage is a very human tradition," he begins, his voice wavering ever so slightly from the emotions that are clearly on his face, in his eyes. "But you have grown up in the human realm and I would love nothing more than to embrace you in this way, to complete the ways we have embraced each other already. Gods aren't supposed to believe in soul mates but I know - I knew from the second I saw you - that you are it for me. I love you, Bella. Will you-"
"Yes," I say immediately, not even letting him finish.
Elation squeals through the bond as the ring is placed on my finger.
It is as if our minds are connected as we begin to shed our clothes, Edward hovering over me on the large bed, both of us completely uncovered as we caress and kiss each other.
"It will hurt," Edward says, stroking my inner thighs and causing them to clench around his hips.
I nod, knowing this and encouraging him to move forward. "I've never wanted anything more in my entire life."
Slowly, Edward pushes in, pausing when he comes across resistance. Not wanting to prolong the inevitable, I thrust my hips up, taking him all the way in as pain sears through my center, my nails digging into his shoulders.
Still, being with him in this way, his bare chest rubbing against mine as he slowly maneuvers his hips in a hypnotic, soothing pattern, is like nothing I had ever experienced or expected. I feel whole, complete, like my soul is merging even more with his.
Eventually, the pain fades and pleasure unlike anything takes over my body, causing my hips to meet flush with his, our moans filling the heavy air around us.
Edward comes suddenly before I do but I can't find it in myself to be disappointed. It was perfect.
He is perfect.
"I love you," I murmur into his messy hair, from where my fingers had twisted into the thick locks.
"I love you."
A/N: so, this was the last official chapter of Gods. i won't bore you all with a long authors note as you have an epilogue to read!
shout out to the first review of the last chapter - BMSCullen, who totally predicted Bella's thirst. notable mentions to kiaras-magical-melody, who said "I'm also proud to say this chp was the first thing I read this year" (YAY, you made me smile) and the all-too-kind nicola gill who's review almost made me cry tears of joy!
as always, be brutally honest.
~cupcakeriot