ForbiddenWords and I are so incredibly sorry for the late update. There has been so many things happening. I was in a car accident just a week ago and was in a coma for a while so now I'm trying to recover from that (I'm finally home, btw!). My grandfather also died just recently. ForbiddenWords had a surgery in which they injected dye into her veins and then she had a family reunion. So it's been a VERY hectic week. Again, sorry for the delay, we hope you enjoy the chapter anyway!

-Oriana

The ball business was frustrating Jacob. He had Leah, and she was helping a lot, taking a lot off of his shoulders. He laughed to himself, and she was just a dancer. She'd make a wonderful secretary... He laughed at his thoughts and looked at the paper of ticket sales.

It was nice of Edward to offer to perform his own written Opera to raise money, for free. Jacob read it, and he had liked it, a lot. It had to do with a couple of children who fell in love as children, only the boy was very shy, and he couldn't say anything to the girl. It had seemed like him and Bella, the girl's name was Abby, though, and the boy's name was Maclichi.

There was some sadness to the Opera – the boy never got the girl, she died of a disease he couldn't remember. It was a very well written Opera. He set a composer on it and everything, Edward was to be the star, he had fit the part so well, which made Jacob think that the story was about him in some aspect.

He still didn't like Edward, but he was being kind and trying to take care of his mistake, and Jacob now had Leah, so everything was fine. He hadn't told Leah his feelings for her, he had only known her for a short while, but it was still worth it, knowing her, working with her, even if he was paying her to help him out. She was good help, and he'd been thinking about asking her if she wanted to be his secretary. She'd contribute a lot of good ideas to his and Jasper's company. They were having a hard time trying to manage things because of the Opera house, and of course Jasper was always with Alice and never in the mood for talking about business, he walked with Alice at nights, and mornings, sometimes afternoons. He was always taking her shopping, not that he had to worry, he was good on money, our personal money was good, our business money was in danger.

Jacob sighed, and looked at the ticket sales again. Only 342 tickets were sold for 10 a piece, it was quite a dock, he used to sell one ticket for 20 at least. Not anymore. 10 pounds would just have to do, and if it didn't, he was screwed. Leah was good at fractioning down prices, and no matter what, she'd push him to do more, fix stuff up, make the seats better... Bella would help her sometimes too, his Bella.

But she wasn't his anymore.

She was Edward's.

"Hey, Jake, you wanted to talk to me?" Leah entered.

"Ah, yes, come in. "Jacob waved her in and smiled at her. Her white teeth were smiling too, her brown eyes showed no fear, only happiness to see Jacob.

"I've got to tell you something, and it's important." Jacob said, her face looked worried, and she didn't know what to think...

"What is it, Jake?" she paused, thinking of the rational explanation. "You're firing me?"

Jacob shook his head no, franticly. " I just wanted to tell you.." Jake stopped talking, trying to think of a more proper way of telling her this. This was big deal, and if he didn't say it right, it'd have no affect at all.

"What is it?" She pressed; he looked up and took her hand, caressing her soft skin.

"I am in love with you, Leah." He said smiling, Leah's face smiled at him, and her russet skin complimented his very well. He smiled back, did she accept it? He wondered, but there was only one way to tell.

"I am in love with you too, Jake." Leah said, smiling, Jacob smiled at her and his heart kept going a thousand miles per hour. He was in pure love. He loved Leah, with his life.

- - - - - -Alice and Jasper- - - - - - - -

"The ball is in three days, Jasper!" Alice said. She pushed Jasper into helping with the sets. He sighed in frustration, he was a fair musician. He was okay at painting, but he was not good at building. That is one thing he is not good at, and Alice was making him do it.

"Alice, darlin', I'm not good with my hands. Well..." he trailed off, raising an eyebrow at Alice. She giggled, and blushed. That kind of talk wasn't really appropriate, but Jasper never minded.

"I know what you mean, but everybody else was too busy. Please, Jasper, I'll get Edward to do it, if you like." Alice offered. Jasper didn't want to interrupt Edward, and Alice knew it.

"No, no don't bother him, Alice. Just let me rest a while." Jasper said. He sat down, and he wasn't wearing his regular tux, or anything really dressy. He was wearing black dress pants, but that was it, he was shirtless, which was why Alice stayed away.

"Come." Jasper beckoned. Alice walked over, and sat on his lap, like he wanted. He began to rub her shoulders, which was odd. Even her father never did that for her mother, her mother usually did that for her father.

"That feels nice." Alice said smiling. She let her muscles relax under Jasper's fingers, and he smiled to himself, he was glad he made her feel better.

"You need to relax, darlin'." Jasper observed, "you're running yourself ragged over this, just relax, everything will be fine. I promise you." Jasper said. He sighed and shrugged, "besides, I'm sure I could convince my friend Peter and his wife Charlotte to help us." Jasper said, shrugging a little, still rubbing her shoulders.

"Charlotte and Peter?" Alice inquired.

"Peter is an old buddy, actually, a Vampire." Jasper whispered in Alice's ear. Alice was shocked; she finally realized how he wasn't very surprised with the accusations of Edward being a Vampire, because he'd met Vampires.

"Oh, well, a few friendly ones, one would hope." Alice said, laughing to ease the new found tension she felt. Jasper kept rubbing her shoulders, trying to calm her. It worked, for the most part.

"Yes, they're friendly." Jasper said, he kissed her shoulder, and Alice blushed, her small frame turned around to finally look at Jasper. Her face met his nicely defined abs. Alice turned around and put her hands on her flushed face.

"Come, Alice, look." Jasper said, he turned her around, and her eyes looked at his bare chest again.

She blushed profusely.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't look..." Alice said, she felt like she was a school girl again, being scolded for doing wrong.

"Alice, this is yours, you're allowed to look at it." Jasper said. His eyes were gray and showed love, nothing but pure love.

"But... It's not polite..." Alice said looking down; her eyes didn't stray to his chest until he pulled her chin up to look at her.

"I'd look at you if you were shirtless, does that make me rude?" Jasper asked, his eyes were honest, and Alice looked like she was about to fall over. Her fiancé was shirtless, holding her to his body, asking her to stare at him.

He was completely toned. Such a nice body, broad shoulders, strong arms, defined pecks, and a wonderful set of abs. She was in heaven, and she didn't even know it.

"I love you, Jasper." Alice said kissing his cheek lightly, he smiled and kissed her little lips with his.

"I love you, Alice." He cooed. He smiled and pushed her off of him and began to get back to work as Alice watched him, loving him with each step he made.

--------------------- Bella and Edward ------------------------

"You already know the plot of this Opera, correct?" Edward began. It was a little late to ask this since they had been practicing for a few days now, but he thought that it was better to ask late than for her to be confused.

The stage was empty as he had requested, allowing Bella and him to practice in privacy. The close walls of Bella's room or even his home, her palace, in the catacombs seemed too small, as if the walls were closing in around him. The stage was the only space large enough to make him feel like he wasn't going to be choked to death by the encroaching walls.

Bella nodded in answer. "Yes, I know it."

"Then you can begin with the first act, just as we did yesterday and work our way through."

She stood on the stage while Edward sat in the chair, watching her. She held sheets of music in her hands – the very first piece in the Opera. He remembered when he had first taught her to read music. She knew a little, her father being a violinist, but she was a quick learner. Bella had always been especially bright and perceptive.

She had progressed so far since he had first began instructing her. Her voice was so much stronger now and had such range that it made his heart swell with pride. He had taught her these things. He had given her the instruction that led her to success. But as much as he had taught her, Bella was the owner of such a beautiful voice.

Bella began to sing and Edward was once again astounded by her gift of music. The song that flowed from her lips was pure and unfiltered.

And for the first time since he had met her, Edward felt as if Bella and he were alike – equals. They both had song bursting from them, the music running deep within their souls.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, he focused on her. "Go beyond your comfort zone, Bella," he said. "Get into your character. Understand Abby and channel that into your voice."

She nodded quickly and her brow wrinkled slightly as she concentrated. Bella didn't need much instruction at all. She was so talented she was already near perfection. He doubted there was anything she couldn't do.

Soon Edward stood up from his chair to play his part in the Opera.

And the tragic story of Abby and Maclichi unfolded. It was almost like Romeo and Juliet in that the two lovers could never be together. As a youth, Maclichi was two shy to declare his love for his childhood playmate; and as an adult, it was too late for Abby had fallen victim to a life-taking disease. On her death bed, she told Maclichi that she loved him and always had.

The hours passed as Bella and Edward practiced. The odd thing about this Opera was that there were nearly no other performers except for the two portraying Abby and Maclichi. Of course there were a few others such as the younger versions of Abby and Maclichi. It made it easier to practice that way without hordes of people mingling about on the stage.

As the night descended, the inhabitants of the Opera House began readying it for the night's performance. After only a few days practice, Bella, Edward, and the other performers were ready. The velvet covered chairs were brushed free of lint and the silver was freshly polished. Everything gleamed, including the chandelier inside the theater.

The first guests arrived and were seated accordingly. In the ad that promoted this Opera, it had said that anyone attending Abby and Maclichi could stay for the free ball that was scheduled immediately afterwards. This clever bit of advertising ensure that people would witness Edward's Opera and that they would stay for the ball. If this didn't bring up ticket sales, then Jacob didn't know what would.

Bella and Edward were backstage. This would be the first time that Edward had ever performed in an Opera. It would also be the first time that he would willingly allow the public to see him. Staring into the mirror before him, he saw his mask-covered face and his pale skin. He could only hope that the audience wouldn't react badly to his mask. In a spark of inspiration, he had discovered a way to explain his mask. Edward had re-wrote the Opera a little so that Maclichi suffered through a house fire in which his face was severely burned but nothing else. Hence the mask.

Maybe that would be enough.

"Nervous?" Bella asked softly, touching his arm.

He turned slowly to look at her, smiling. "It goes against everything I ever learned, allowing this many people to see me. It feels…unnerving. Suppose they hate my voice?"

"How could anyone hate your voice," she murmured rhetorically, sitting down softly in his lap. She hardly ever sat in his lap, but now it felt right, as if she was supposed to be here. She felt the iciness of his body through his clothing and a small shiver went down her spine. "You are the most talented individual I have ever seen, Edward. They would be idiots if they hated you."

"It wouldn't be the first time," he muttered darkly.

Cupping his face with her palms, she forced his face so that he had to look into her eyes. "I love you. Isn't that enough?"

He smiled softly and it warmed her heart. "Enough for forever."

Edward leaned forward and pressed his lips to her forehead softly, lingering. The hunger swelled inside him, the hunger for her blood. But it wasn't overpowering. He had learned to control the monster inside him. He knew that he would need to hunt after tonight. He had already put it off longer than he should.

The small orchestra before the stage began to play soft music as people were seated. The stage hands were finishing placing the props and scenery into place. The lights were positioned correctly and any last minute adjustments were made.

When the curtain was pulled, the audience could see for the first time who would be their main characters.

The Opera started with Abby – Bella – dying in her bed with Maclichi – Edward – sitting on the edge, watching his only love slip from his fingers. Then it flashbacked to when they were children and the real story began. The child actress playing Abby was exceptionally gifted vocally. She had a voice that was high and childlike, but still angelic. Edward seen the same spark of inspiration and love in her eyes that he had seen in Bella's. The audience sat enraptured of this new star. And the boy that portrayed Maclichi was also talented. Although he had the voice of a child not yet through puberty, he still managed to sound like a male.

Then it was time for Edward to truly begin his part. The audience already knew about the fire that Maclichi went through so his mask wouldn't be a major surprise. In fact, they seemed to enjoy it more. There was only one duet in the Opera and that was at the very end, just before Abby contracted the disease. Bella's pure soprano and his strong tenor voice rose and intertwined. Although they had practiced it before, this time it seemed different.

He turned to Bella as they sang, his face showing all the love that he felt for this woman. Their voices combined as only lovers could, making the crystals in the chandelier shine with approval and emotion.

That was the moment in which the audience truly fell in love with the characters. And later, when Abby lay dying in the bed, silent tears were shed at these two beautiful people that could never be together.

As the curtain fell for the last time, the audience stood and the applause was nearly deafening. Edward's Opera had been a success and nearly every woman in the audience was teary-eyed.

"You did wonderfully," Bella said softly, sitting up in the bed that was on stage. The wine-red curtain shielded them from the eyes of the well-dressed people on the other side. "I've never heard you sing that way before."

His hand caressed her face. "You were the one that truly stole their hearts, Bella." For a long moment, they simply stared into each others eyes.

"Bella, Edward," Rosalie hissed. "Don't forget that you still have to make an appearance at the ball. The stars of the Opera are expected to be there."

"Of course," Bella said quickly, standing up off the bed. She was dressed in a long nightgown. She ran off to get changed and Edward decided to simply wear what he already had on – a white shirt and brown trousers. He should have put a jacket on, as propriety demanded, but he ignored it. He had never adhered to the rules of society before, why start now?

Bella dressed in a dark blue frock with a sweetheart neckline. It wasn't as elaborate as some of the other women's but it would do. She pulled her hair up in a simple twist, not wanting to keep Edward waiting, and walked out her dressing room door.

"Don't you look handsome," she said appreciatively, smiling at him. "I do believe you have stolen poor Maclichi's clothing."

He smirked. "It wouldn't do for me to arrive at the ball with the mask on if I didn't have Maclichi's clothes too. My excuse is that I loved his character so much that I couldn't bear to part with the costume."

"Clever."

"Aren't I always?"

She giggled and looped her arm through his. Then they walked quickly to the ballroom to make their appearance.

~ForbiddenWords & Oriana~