- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previously- - - - - - - - - - - - - -


He grasped her hand and took her into the doorway of the two-way mirror. She smiled at him. She was thinking that she was dreaming, as Edward entered her mind. He smiled and laughed to himself, not audible to Bella's ears. He didn't want her to feel self conscious.

"Ready to see your palace, my sweet?" Edward asked.

Bella nodded.

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As Edward led her down the corridors, Bella's breath became labored. Edward wondered if she was scared, or nervous. He didn't want to have to look into her mind. However, she wasn't speaking, so perhaps he should ask, or read her mind.

"Bella, are you scared?" Edward asked tentatively. She shook her head. "Then speak, my beauty."

"I'm not scared, Angel."

"Please, Bella. Call me Edward," Edward requested. He was sure that hearing his name from her lips would be pure heaven. Especially to someone destined to go to Hell.

"Edward, I'm not scared," Bella clarified. He didn't believe her so he began to explain why he had asked.

"I wondered. You see, Bella, you're breath has become heavier, which is a sure sign of being frightened." Edward said, his gloved hand grasping hers firmly as he jumped over a large piece of empty floor - a trap for any unwelcome visitors. She gasped.

"I'm not frightened, I'm just..." Bella couldn't find the words, so Edward did something he did not want to do - listen to her mind.

'I'm not scared, I'm not frightened. I am overwhelmed. I feel the desire to hold him, I feel the desire to touch his smooth skin, his beautiful lips. And the desire to take off that damned mask!'

Edward smirked at her thoughts. He stopped abruptly and held her close to him. He placed a kiss on her cheek.

"You musn't think I'm strange, though I can read your mind. Trust me, my sweet, you do not wish to pull off this 'damned' mask." Edward said tapping the mask. It made a clink, as if it were made from ceramic.

Bella stood still in her own thoughts, thinking of silly, unimportant things such as: my dress is dragging; my make up is probably obscure. Oh, what do I care? ''Tis a dream so it's surely unimportant. All of this is a dream, even this beautiful man before my eyes. How could I dream up such a beautiful man, he's absolutely glorious! Now if he would just let me take off that stupid mask I'd be able to see his real face, and a wonderful face that must be. A grand face made from the hands of true angels.

Edward, she would remember that name, the name of a beautiful man. Emmett had a brother of the name of Edward; he had died when he was younger of the Influenza. She had saw that Mr Carlisle was very upset about his son's death, and so was his wife, Esme. They were kind people and spoke of their son so highly. But Bella never met him and he had died before Bella was even three. Alice met him once, and he was young, she said, very young. He was handsome. Even though he was her uncle, she had noticed that he was exceedingly handsome.

So of course Bella would remember the name Edward and remember the beauty behind the name. Not only did her dream have the name and the beauty, but so did her real life.

She became hyper aware of what was happening. She saw nothing but blackness now. Bella was in a black cave that was too dark for her to see anything. She smelt water, dampness, and a bit of mildew because of the water. Edward's hand was surprisingly tight on hers - though not so tight that it would break her arm - but tight enough to startle her back into reality.

"We'll be coming up on a boat soon, Bella. I know you cannot see, but stay close to me, I don't want you to fall into any holes. This is a very unstable place for somebody like you." Edward said. His voice was a wonderful melody; she was sure it was an angel's harp playing.

"Edward?" Bella murmured. She was unsure if he had heard it. But she didn't know that he had extraordinary hearing, how could she?

"Yes?"

"Where are we going again?" She had easily forgotten their destination. Her thoughts had taken her to another universe, a universe where she was in heaven. She hadn't minded following his every step, though it was unusual. Even if this were a dream, she should at least be a small bit wary.

"Your Palace, sweetheart," Edward informed her. Bella hadn't noticed, but he had been calling her pet names, just like the Angel did. She had to be sleeping; the Angel only came to her in her dreams. Except that one time on stage, yes. How was that possible? How could her Angel speak to her when she was on stage? Was she becoming insane? Was she to be put into a mental hospital? It was possible.

"Oh, all right." Bella's voice was becoming jubilant, as Alice's had before. Dear God, she thought, I'm going to wake up late, again! Dreaming, she thought. She was going to waste all the night on a dream and not get any real rest.

Surely enough - as Edward had assured - they came up on a boat, a lantern shining on an iron rail. Edward carried her over the large gap from the shore to the boat. He sat her down lightly, carefully.

"A moat?" Bella asked. He laughed. She made it sound like he lived in a castle. No, he thought sourly, just the underneath catacombs of the Opera House.

"Sort of," he said softly. He began to row slowly. He didn't want to go so fast that he give her whiplash, she wouldn't be used to his inhuman speed.

Within seconds they came up to a piece of sure, with beautiful lights coming from it, Edward got her off the boat, they were 10 feet away from the shore, but he jumped. Bella, utterly astonished shook it off, playing it as her drunken mind was playing tricks on her perception of distance.

"Welcome to your Palace, my love." Edward said setting her on the ground that had a beautiful Persian rug on it. Her feet barely touched the ground when she felt faint. She almost fell over, but she was once again in Edward's strong arms, He carried her to a large unnecessary bed the middle of the rather large room. The bed was new, he had gotten it to see if perhaps he could actually sleep. No such luck. So he told himself it was actually a gift for Bella. She smiled at him as he laid her down on the bed, her dress higher up on her thigh than needed. Edward quickly corrected her dress. He didn't want to be tempted.

"You're home is so beautiful." Bella said in a dreamy voice. Her eyes wandered everywhere, to the beautiful granite walls, the same as the Opera House. The wonderful Persian rugs he had on his floor, the wonderful designs that they had, so colorful, so shapeful. She saw a large black grand piano, beautiful. The finish on it was gleaming, as if it had just been polished. She looked at the desk that had a large chunk of blood red wax-unmelted- next to the melter. Her eyes cast upon the silver skull that was on the desk next to the blood-red wax. It was hallowed on the inside, it was in fact what the Phantom used for his letters.

She stopped looking at the desk, and more at his furnishings, he had a large mirror, it was covered up. The sides of the mirror were pure gold, the feet were made of gold too, white gold. The gold glittered in the lantern light, as if it were made of more than gold, another substance perhaps. there was a large black leather bag near the desk, it had looked like a medical bag. It was old, and tattered, warn, and used good. Was her Angel some sort of doctor?

"Thank you." Edward said, he looked where her eyes roamed, every single movement her eyes made, his did too. Her eyes then became trained on the piano again. He smiled, her eyes also got to the compositions on the piano.

"Amazing." Bella uttered, she got off of the bed and wobbled a little, but still continued her small strides forward. Her hands touched the piano briefly before Edward was beside her.

"Do you like it? I could play for you." Edward said smiling, Bella blushed, and smiled. She pondered for a moment, and then shook her head, yes.

"Of course."

"This one, you've inspired." Edward said, he pulled out a finished composition that had been put behind an unfinished one. It began lightly, the song filling Bella's ears, he had been humming along with his finger strides, hitting each note perfectly. He didn't mess up once while he took his eyes off of the keys to look at Bella intently.

"Do you like it?" Edward asked as he began playing loudly, it was still in a soft tone, just louder. The music was beginning to speed up.

"Its wonderful, you're quite the composer." Bella said, the only other composer she sat next to was her father, and Edward was just as good-if not better-as her father. The music always had a hold of Bella, it was always a part of her life. Her mother sang, and her father played the piano, and together they created a protégée. Or so her father called her.

The music slowed, and Bella realized Edward had gotten to the end of the composition, it was still playing lightly as he turned to her, his fingers leaving the keys lightly, the music still vibrating through the cords as his foot lightly placed on a pedal.

"That was lovely," Bella complimented. "Just like a piece of heaven, how could I have inspired such a wonderful piece?" Bella asked, Edward laughed at her, she was so modest, she wasn't aware of her beauty.

"You do not see yourself clearly Isabella." Edward scolded, Bella looked down, unsure of what to say. "You are the most beautiful creature I've ever seen. Your eyes, your hair, your voice, your.. Shape. You're absolutely stunning! You are beautiful you are purely a Goddess in a humans state of mind." Edward worshiped her with his words, flooding Bella with happiness.

"Thank you, Edward." Bella said, she leaned in and kissed his lips, very slowly. She was so afraid that her drunken self might slobber on his lips, so she pulled back immediately. He then began to follow through with her actions, he leaned in slowly and kissed her lips back, he however, kissed longer, wanting to feel her warmth on his lips, he smiled, it was wonderful. As wonderful-if not more-as he thought it would have been. He wanted more, he wanted so much more, but he felt Bella's body slump. She was tired.

"Bella, are you tired? Would you care to sleep?" Edward had asked, Bella giggled, she was clearly beginning to become delirious.

"I'm already sleeping." Bella clarified, it had answered Edward's question, she was very tired. He picked her up off of the piano bench and placed her underneath the covers of the bed, he watched the fires of the little furnace as they went up as he placed a block of wood in. He never had the heat on down here, not until Bella. he wanted to keep her warm, so he turned on the heat just for her. Just for tonight.

Bella's eyes began to droop, and she looked at him, she smiled, her smile becoming lazy. She beckoned him with her arm, stretching it forward as if to touch him, he smiled and walked over to her gracefully, he looked at her with wondering eyes.

"Yes?" He asked, Bella patted beside her on the large bed.

"Come sleep with me, please, I want you to be beside me." Bella pleaded her voice becoming very hard to hear. Edward thought for a second, and then decided to appease her by laying next to her body. Bella then fell asleep quietly, her hands found their way on Edward's chest, and her body snuggled up to his.

After many hours Edward looked at his grand father clock which he had taken long ago, it was almost 12 o'clock. He should have her back, it was nearly noon, and they would be looking for her. He didn't want to wake her, he held her in his arms, cradling her like a child. Bella's figure shook slightly with the change of temperature. Edward was quick about getting her to her room, he was there in a mater of minutes.

He set her down on her bed, placed a kiss on her forehead. He didn't want to leave her, he had spent so much time with her, he felt unable to leave her, unable to bring himself to the decision of leaving her, but then the door handle shook, he had left it locked last night. He quickly unlocked it and went to his place behind the mirrored door. Alice came into the room quickly.

"Bella!" She screamed, Bella quickly awoke, she looked around warily, she was very confused, her dream had felt so real.

"Where am I?" Bella asked, her confusion showing through, she was frightened more than anything, where was her Angel, she wanted her Angel. She wanted Edward.

"Where have you been?" Alice asked. "We've looked everywhere for you!"

Bella's forehead creased in confusion. So she hadn't been dreaming? It had been real? Her head was throbbing painfully from the effects of the wine she drank last night. "So you're saying that I wasn't here this morning?"

Alice's eyes widened. "You don't remember?! Did someone slip something into your drink?" Her voice became as hard and formidable as steel, her hands clenching into tight fists.

"No!" Bella answered quickly, then stopped. Well, not that she remembered anyway. But she doubted Jacob would go that far.

"So where were you?" Alice pressed.

"I was…" Bella's mind zipped through several possible answers but none of them sounded right. She had gone to the bathroom to bathe? That was possible but not likely. Sleepwalking? That was even worse! "I was…I couldn't sleep so I decided to walk a little. Only around the Opera House, of course." That was almost as crazy but, at the moment, it was the best she had.

Alice stared at her brunette friend in suspicion. She sighed deeply and began to rush around the room, trying to help Bella get ready. Bella dressed in a daze, still incredulous that her experience with her Angel, Edward the Phantom, had been real. Her skin remembered the feel of his gloved hand against it, soft and gentle, yet powerful. She remembered the way he walked, with all the grace of a hunting leopard.

Her mind was so full of him that she had trouble rehearsing. The next performance wasn't until tomorrow night since Victoria's untimely and mysterious death. Rumors were circling that the Phantom had struck again and that was why Victoria had been found bleeding and dead.

Yet Bella ignored them. Edward was the Phantom, and he was the kindest, gentlest man she knew. It wasn't possible that he had killed Victoria so brutally.

"Bella!" Rosalie snapped when Bella cracked on a high note. "Your mind is off somewhere else. Please try to pay attention."

Bella blushed and nodded, embarrassed by her obvious absent-mindedness. Focusing on the song she was rehearsing, she saw someone next to her, on her right.

James stood beside Bella, his heart empty. They'd had to pry him away from his Victoria. Seeing her being laid into that coffin had sealed him inside this aching void of misery. Lost in anguish too deep for tears, James had drifted through these few hours like a ghost. So full of pain, he was numb.

Thankfully dinner arrived and Bella went to go sit with Alice in the large dining hall.

"Perhaps you would like to…dine with me?" a familiar voice said as she walked with her tray. She turned to find Jacob Black's russet skin and white teeth. He grinned happily at her, all evidence of their argument yesterday erased. "I want to apologize for last night."

"It was my fault, really," Bella replied, shaking her head. I shouldn't get upset at him because he didn't remember who I was, Bella thought.

"So what do you say? Want to eat dinner with me?"

She sighed; why not? "Sure," she said, attempting to not look so grim. He smiled and took her arm in his, leading her out of the communal dining hall and into the more private and expensive rooms. Glancing back, Bella saw Alice watching her with a slight smile.

"I believe you won't need this," he said, taking her tray from her and setting it down on an empty table for the maids to clean up afterwards. "Our dinner will be much more delicious." She thought she caught his eyes lingering on the front of her dress, but he looked away quickly. They entered a medium sized room with a single table in the middle. Candles had been lit around it, casting a warm glow over the stark white tablecloth. The table had been set with beautiful, gold-rimmed glasses and plates. Jake held her chair out for her to sit. She grinned and sat down as he scooted her closer to the table.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"You're most certainly welcome. I took the liberty of ordering for you, hope you don't mind."

She raised an eyebrow. "That's a little presumptuous, don't you think?"

He smirked, unabashed. "Not at all. I thought you would like me to order for you; most women do."

"Most women?" Bella stared at Jake with righteous anger in her eyes. He was being too arrogant for her liking. "Care to explain that?"

This time he grimaced, muttering under his breath. The well-dressed waiter arrived with their food, glancing only briefly at the little brunette who was dressed worse than a kitchen maid. Jacob looked relieved at the intervention and tore into his food like a starving man.

Bella glanced down at her plate to find a spinach salad. "I can order for myself, thank you," she said quickly. "I have a mind of my own and I like to use it. Next time, I order my own dinner."

He looked up at her, then returned to his food. He huffed under his breath, too low for her to hear. She was being unnecessarily difficult. If she would just let him woo her, this would be a hell of a lot easier for the both of them. He had hoped that she would laugh at this jokes and smile prettily at him while she drank the wine once again – then he would have kissed those full lips and pulled her towards his bedroom. But she wasn't acting how he had imagined, there was no way that she'd kiss him now.

He watched her spear a leaf of spinach and put the fork in her mouth almost savagely. Yes, she was upset.

The dinner he had hoped would be romantic ended painfully slowly. The entire event had been mostly silent. He decided to try being understanding and apologetic. "I'm dreadfully sorry for my arrogance," he said when they stood to go. "I always seem to mess things up, don't I?"

Bella's anger had died down and now she smiled slightly, not answering. "Thank you for the dinner, Jacob. But I must be going. Alice will probably be looking for me."

"Of course. Goodbye."

"Bye."

She walked out as quickly as possible without hurting his feelings. What was wrong with her? Jake was her childhood sweetheart, the first man she'd ever loved. Surely that should count for something. But her thoughts kept going to Edward. She couldn't stop the memories of last night that leaked into her mind, one by one. Where Jake was grinning, cocky, and business-minded, Edward was kind, brooding, and musical.

Not bothering to go by her room, Bella decided to search for the place her Angel had taken her only a night before. Urged on by the memory of his beautiful face, half-hidden by that ivory mask, she slowly turned down a corridor that she'd never noticed before.

Steep steps descended down through a barely lit staircase. Curiosity fueled her on, accompanied with the hope of finding Edward's home. But instead of that wonderful sanctuary of song, she saw what looked like a cemetery. Rows of coffins lined the walls, each in their own kind of door-less cabinet. Thankfully she had thought to bring a torch from the outside hall for there was no light whatsoever here.

Her heart shivered with the thrill of adventure. This must be where they buried everyone that died while in the Opera House. This place didn't just look like a cemetery, it was one.

Out of nowhere, a gloved hand closed over Bella's wrist, ice cold. She screeched in fright and shock, whirling around to see her attacker. But when she turned and saw the face, the shadows dancing from the flickering flames of the torch, her heart nearly stopped. It was her Angel, Edward.

"You shouldn't be here," he said in a voice that was impossible to resist. It curled around her, caressing her skin and making a shiver run down her spine. Now, fully sober, she couldn't answer him. It was as if her throat had closed up and she was only able to ogle at this wonder before her. "Why were you foolish enough to come down into the Cemetery?"

"I was only curious," she said, finally finding her voice. That slight red tint in his eyes was beginning to fade, returning to their usual liquid honeyed color. He stared into her eyes so intently that it was impossible to look away. Only then did she realize that he was furious. "What's wrong with me being here?"

"It's a cemetery, Bella." He loosened his grip on her wrist, moving to hold her wrist more delicately. She is fragile, he thought to himself. So easily hurt. He breathed in deeply. "I shall take you back to your room." He started to pull her towards the dark staircase that led out of the Opera House Cemetery.

"But…but what if I want to…stay with you?" Her voice was small and barely audible. Of course, Edward heard it. She kept her face carefully avoided from his, afraid of what he would say.

His eyes softened and a wistful smile almost appeared on his lips. He had forgotten the last time he'd smiled. She was so afraid of being rejected by him, it was sort of endearing. Edward wondered what she would do if he wrapped his arms around her like he wanted to. Instead, he reached over and placed two fingers under his Bella's chin, pulling her sweet face up to look into his. Her wide chocolate eyes were watery and waiting.

"If you were to stay with me, I'm afraid Mr Black would miss you severely," he answered, his voice tinged with anger.

Edward had watched every move that Jacob had made that night at his dinner with Bella. He noticed how Black's eyes traced his Bella's form, drinking her in. There was a hunger in that man that infuriated Edward; it was a hunger that he'd seen often on the faces of men as they watched young women as if they were pieces of meat. Edward almost laughed internally at this last thought. And it was obvious that Black was after more than just a new operatic star – he was after Bella. Edward wouldn't do anything to stop him from trying to woo Bella, but if he went farther than that…

"Edward?"

Her soft voice brought him out of his inner struggle. He looked into her eyes that seemed suddenly magnetic. "Yes?"

"Can I stay with you? Please?"

~ForbiddenWords & Oriana~