Author's Note: First, I want to say I am so sorry for taking this long to post anything. My life has been so hectic and I just want to do Edward justice, especially in the coming chapters. This is sort of like a teaser to Chapter 22. It is actually the first part of it, just so my fans know that I haven't given up and that I am still writing. Second, I wanted to thank my fans who have stuck it out with me through all the thick and thin and all the pain and turmoil. If it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't have gotten this far, so give yourself a nice pat on the back.
Now onto my peace-offering.
22. Reunion TEASER
"Edward," Bella choked. "You've got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!"
There were no shadows, not with the light I felt radiating out of me. Her soft skin against mine…the warmth of her touch. I was mystified. This whole time I thought we'd never be together again. Yet here she was. Everything was the same; her voice, her hair, her smell, her pounding pulse against my skin. Her breath was quick, and her chest was heaving gasping breaths. It was heaven. I was in heaven. How I achieved that, I'd never know.
It was so strange—I could still hear the clock descending to my fate. The echoing chime rang in my ears, but the sound had a different meaning this time. Heaven. Heaven. No matter the inflection, it spelled out the same thing: Bella. Was this some sort of reward for all of my suffering?
"I can't believe how quick it was. I didn't feel a thing—they're very good," I mused, still shocked at the celestial being in my arms. Though I could barely tear myself away from the angel, I closed my eyes just in case it was all an illusion. She was still there—her warmth seeping into my skin. I pressed my nose into her hair, reveling in the scent, my lips automatically kissing her hair. When I opened my eyes, the scene had not changed. This was not my imagination, after all.
This was real.
"Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty." The statement was more true for Bella than it would ever be for Juliet. In death, she was more divine and unearthly than ever before.
In the haze of everything, I felt buoyant, elated. The feelings were so foreign, and so wonderful. The final chime bellowed out of the clock before it became silent, the vibration still shuddering beneath my feet.
All thoughts were gone.
The crowed was gone.
The sun, the clock tower, all my problems—gone.
There was no more pain or fire or heartache. The one thing that wasn't gone was her. Was this the loop hole I was looking for? Death? Was this the answer?
Everything disappeared except us. Her scent, her most beautiful, delicious scent swirled through the windy air and spiraled down my windpipe. "You smell just exactly the same as always." I took in another breath. "So maybe this is hell. I don't care. I'll take it."
"I'm not dead. And neither are you! Please Edward, we have to move. They can't be far away!" She twitched in my arms.
Not dead….
My eyes shot down to her deep depths. Everything came crashing back to earth. Boom! The last seven months: the birthday party, the end, the ocean, Alaska, Aberdeen, Portland, the train, Vegas, New Mexico, the army coven, Texas, South America, Bella's death, Volterra…. Bam, Bam, Bam. One by one everything came hurtling back to reality. This wasn't heaven. This was living.
"What was that?" I asked her to repeat, though I heard the words with perfect clarity: They can't be far away.
A rush of thoughts bombarded my mind. The moment was over too fast, real life set in.
They're coming….
Once again--thank you all for your patience. I will try my best to get this chapter finished ASAP.
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Disclaimer:All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of Stephenie Meyer. Lolafalana is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of New Moon. No copyright infringement is intended.