! Important notice! This is the newly revised Chapter 28! I realised I've made a major mistake! Jasper created "Civil War Sushi", not "Word War Two Sushi"! I've messed up the wars he had been! Forgive me!
Ta-da! The Feast!
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT!
Chapter 28 – The Feast
BELLA's POV
Emmett straightened his tall chef hat, and smoothed his apron. The boys were all wearing smart white chef outfits. The dining room has been decorated with elegance, the table finally replaced by Emmett, where he spent an hour carving a new table for Esme, and succeeding very well, though it was too dramatic. The four legs were clawed gargoyles, and on the top was the picture of Heracles and his twelve labours. Esme received it graciously, but I am sure she will grew to love it after the initial shock.
The doorbell rang again, and Emmett opened the door.
"Welcome, wolves. We are very honoured to have you as our judge for the Feast," said Emmett formally, with a slight incline of the head.
The wolves – Sam, Jared, Paul, Seth, Leah, Embry, Quil and Jacob – walked in, so did Emily, Sam's fiancée. They were wearing their usual t-shirt and shorts and was taken aback, when the house was decorated like a 5-star restaurant.
Even the vampires were surprised that the wolves are not wearing anything slightly – decent. The two supernatural creatures stared at each other, and the tension in the air grew... before a fully-fledge fight could start I stepped between them, with one hand facing Emmett and the other Paul. Me, the fragile human, trying to stop inhumanly strong creatures from fighting. What a joke.
"Shall we, ah, move to the dining room?" I said lightly.
Carlisle walked forward. Always the man. "Of course, please, let us move to the dining room. Dinner will be served,"
The wolves looked at each other uncertainly. It seemed that they only realisle now it's a real deal, and not a campfire party. They haven't take it seriously when Emmett wrote the note for a six-course meal. I threw a look at Jacob, who looked as if someone had struck matches under his nose. He grimaced at me and said,
"I smell food. Let's go. Sam?"
Sam nodded, and said, "Okay,"
The vampires showed the wolves into the dining room. Edward and Jasper directed them to their seats and the wolves sat uncertainly as napkin was placed on their laps and the vampires asked them if they prefer champagne or orange juice. Sam sat at the head of table, with me on the other end. (Yes, I was included into the feast. They felt like it's a compensation of all the bad meals I received three months ago) Jacob sat on my right and Quil on my left.
Edward walked to the table and said graciously,
"Welcome, wolves and of course, Emily and Bella," I rolled my eyes. I was in the house for three days. "We welcome you to this feast as both judge and friend. As you know, we have been making an effort to be better in cooking, and therefore we are grateful that you have agreed to come,"
Edward sounded so sincere, I immediately believed him. But of course I always do. The wolves looked slightly gratified too, and they sat with more ease.
"Some weird vampires, huh?" Jacob whispered to me.
I smiled. Jacob hasn't known the extent of their weirdness.
"This will be a six-course meal, and every service will be given to make sure you have the most enjoyable experience. Now, the appetiser will be served. It is Mediterranean salad with champagne,"
The vampires girls came out with trays and served the food. I nearly laughed when Alice put a bowl in front of me dressed in black waitress suit. She rolled her eyes. The bowl was filled with salad so elegantly designed that I found it had to believe it was Edward who prepared this. The vampire girls had agreed to serve because they don't eat and the boys are busy in the kitchen.
"Please savour," said Edward, with a confident smile. We picked up the fork.
I took a bite of that salad, feeling afraid for a moment. Then I bite.
Fireworks. Music. Lights! Incredible taste filled my taste buds and I felt myself actually enjoying the salad. No - loving - the salad. The sourness opened my taste buds like flower, and the vegetables cool and fresh. It was altogether a perfect salad. Indescribably perfect.
The wolves was as much surprised as I am. Except for Leah, the wolves looked like their stomach has been conquered. That's what happened when you are men. Easily won over by good food. Emily was enjoying it immensely, and even Leah gave a grudging nod.
Edward's smile was victorious. Everyone finished their salad and the next course came. Carlisle stepped into the dining room and said,
"Now you will be served cream of mushroom soup and bread. It is the traditional English way of making the soup and the bread is freshly baked baguette. Please enjoy,"
I could see scepticism in the wolves. Cream of mushroom? That's too common. But when everyone took a sip we were won over too. The soup was so creamy it made me feel dreamy, so rich in texture and smooth in taste. And the bread – oh! The best bread there was ever made! Butterly, crunchy on the outside and warm in the inside.
Now everyone had visibly relaxed and was enjoying themselves. The third course was sushi, and Jasper introduced it.
"This is a selection of sushi created by me. There's salmon, cod, fish roe, prawns and crabs. Also, the highlight of this platter is that salted pork sushi which I named it 'The Civil War sushi'."
The wolves were thrown aback by the Civil War thing but ate with relish. It was fun to see how they are completely blown away by the food. Everyone was just concentrating on eating. We liked the wasabi especially - homemade ny our World War 2 major chef.
The fourth course was pizza. Yes, that's weird but Emmett's project was tomake the perfect pizza for the past three months. I was a little wary of what he might serve - you can never tell with Emmett. But it was pepperoni and cheese pizza. I was so taken aback at the normality of the pizza that I looked up at Emmett. He just smiled at me and raised a thumb-up. I took a bite, and understand why were the wolves - ahem – wolfing down all their pizza. Something special between the crust and the cheese was just yum!
The fifth course was Carlisle's special – black pudding.
Even the wolves were afraid to try it. They can probably smell it's blood, and thought it's a great joke. Paul was the one who took the initial move and took a tentative bite.
"Oh, man, this is heaven!" and wolfed down the rest of his black pudding.
I felt Carlisle was looking at me, and I smiled weakly. The fork hovered in the air for a long second before I mustered the courage to put it in my mouth and chew.
I sighed in pleasure and nodded to Carlisle, who's face lit up like Christmas light. I had a suspicion he was most worried about my reaction than any other. I finished my black pudding and enjoyed every moment of it, feeling a little embarrassed when Carlisle walked to my side and said,
"I'm glad you liked it. It's for you especially,"
Finally – the sixth and the last course – dessert. Edward prepared the desert, and it was something that roused laughter from me. Waffles and ice-cream.
Jacob stared strangely at me but I shook my head.
"The desert is waffles and ice-cream. The highlight is the ice-cream, which is traditional Italian ice-cream with blueberries. Please do enjoy,"
Nobody had any doubt that this will be delicious. Even though I felt so full I could burst, I was still surprised at the amazingness of the waffles. After I finished it, I felt sleepy as I sipped my juice. It was a wonderful meal.
Suddenly, someone clapped. I blinked and saw Sam had stood up and was clapping. Slowly, everyone stood up and clapped, too. Jacob wolf-whistled. Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper and Edward stood together, stunned. Esme, Alice and Rosalie joined in the clapping, too.
"It was the best meal I've ever had in my entire life!" said Jacob.
"I can eat here every day!" laughed Paul.
"You must tell me the recipes," said Emily to Edward. Edward looked really pleased.
Everyone pilled in their praises, and the chefs bowed in delight, and I am sure if they could cry, they would.
The dinner party ended in warmth, glow and good food. The vampires scored!
YAY! Happy ending... NOT! Relax, there'll be be approximately two more chapters before I officially wrapping the story up! I know - but this is getting longer than I've ever planned, and I'd like to stop at Chapter 30 - the perfect ending.
Review, please! THANKS!