A/N: This chapter is for my 500th reviewer Len Stormcrow for making my 500 review dream possible!
Thank you for all the love and support!
As always, my beta is awesome!
Edward's here to say his part.
I own these delicious chips. Nomnomnomnom
XX: Stench
Isabella Swan has intrigued me from the moment I stared into her big, beautiful hazel eyes.
Her silent mind is the source of both my frustration and awe, for no one has ever been immune to my power.
Emmett finds my ordeal quite amusing and takes advantage of every opportunity to tease me.
"Bro, she could be picturing you naked and you wouldn't even know!" The oaf laughs in my face as I watch Bella speak with Angela across the parking lot.
Angela's usually quiet and kind thoughts are filled with amusement as she watches Bella's obvious attempt to evade the coming conversation about our discussion.
While I fully trust Bella to keep the central theme of our conversation to herself, I still don't let them out of my sight until Bella's grotesque truck drives away and disappears from my view.
Nonetheless, the curiosity exploding within me feels like someone tossed a lit cigarette into a dynamite factory and is making it impossible for me to concentrate on anything else.
To add fuel to the flame, Emmett's remark only incites and arouses me further. Does she think of me in a sexual manner? Has she fantasized about me fulfilling her every whim and desire, as I have done continuously since kissing her?
Has she even thought of the kiss we shared when she's awake? Does she still think it resembles the taste of BBQ sauce, whatever that implies? This not knowing is pure torture. Since last Friday, I can't think of Bella for even a nanosecond without reliving that glorious kiss.
"Tone down the lovin' there, Edward." Jasper teases.
Thanks so much for that, Jasper.
As if Emmett requires more ammunition to mock my lack of sex life. Already I can see his eyes are alight in mischief. "Are you sure you're up for the task, bro?"
"Oh yeah, he's up for it, alright. He's up for it all. the. time," Jasper makes sure to inform Emmett.
"At least I have the biggest dick here and you know it." I smirk.
"No you don't, but are the biggest dick here." Emmett guffaws.
"Don't forget, Emmett. I know. I've heard Rose's thoughts, and while it gets the job done, it's still a couple of inches short of a happy meal."
My smirk morphs into a full blown smile as his thoughts turn to a giant cartoon exclamation point in his head, while I get into my car and turn on the ignition.
Jasper snickers as he slides into the backseat, whereas Emmett freezes in place, his eyes wide with horror as he begins to question Rosalie's satisfaction during their thousands of sexcapades throughout their years together.
When my sisters arrive, Emmett is still rooted to his spot. Alice's expression is set into a poker face, but the laughter I hear ringing through her mind belies that.
Rosalie, as always, scolds Emmett for, well, being Emmett.
I can't fathom how she is able to always spew such disrespectful remarks to and about her mate. Her mind shows she feels no remorse for her actions, even when she's aware they are hurtful to Emmett.
My brother can be an idiot at times, however that doesn't warrant such spiteful behavior from his mate. I truly respect and commend him for withstanding her vitriol.
The car ride is filled with silence as all of us contemplate the best course of action now with our recent discovery that the treaty has been violated.
Emmett, as usual, is eager for a fight. Jasper, on the other hand, is planning an offensive strategy to eliminate all possible threats to ensure the existence of vampires isn't revealed, lest the wrath of the Volturi destroys us all.
Alice is searching the future for the best possible path to take, since each of our decisions prompts a new course.
Rosalie, not surprisingly, is annoyed that this breach could cause her inconvenience.
This tense environment has left the family alert and wary since yesterday's confrontation with the nomads. No one is allowed to hunt alone or venture far away from home due to the looming threat of James' retaliation.
Alice can't keep track of him because he repeatedly changes his mind. However, there is one constant image amidst the swirling future possibilities she sees; a dark cave.
We have been attempting to deduct its meaning but to no avail and it has been causing Alice much frustration. Jasper's attempts to calm her down have been futile and have left him irritated and on edge most of the time.
Not only does Jasper have to bear his mate's emotions, but the family's as well. I've never envied his power, but at this point, I couldn't envy him less.
When we arrive at our house we disperse to indulge in our own activities. All of us, with the exception of Emmett, attempting to get our minds off of the situation with the wolf and the nomad.
Our normally peaceful retreat from humanity, our one safe place, our home has been tension-filled ever since discovering the scents of those nomads.
Due to yesterday's incident and the additional discovery that the wolf gene has been activated in at least one member of the tribe, Carlisle set up an emergency meeting with the Quileute elders tonight at midnight.
Emmett, whose mind is churning with thoughts of doubt and inadequacy, drags Rosalie to the garage to ask her if what I said to him was true. As for me, I immediately seek out my piano to distract myself from the worrying thoughts in my mind.
The melody inspired by Bella fills the room with delicate notes that convey her personality; mischievous and sweet, with a slight undercurrent of sadness running through it. The notes whirl around the room and flit past me almost like a caress, before disappearing into the ether.
As I play, I feel more and more peaceful, until I find myself in an almost transcendental state. The melody sinks deep into my bones, filling the minute corners and crevices that even the marrow within them cannot fill.
Since the song is incomplete, when it reaches the point at which I could logically end it, I concentrate on finding the perfect concluding notes.
Try as I might, nothing comes to me, so it's with bitter disappointment that I stop playing before it's finished.
"It's okay, dear. It will come to you with time." Esme's calm voice reassures me.
I didn't hear her approaching, either through her steps or mind, due to the distraction of my composition.
I scowl at the keys as if they are hiding the ending from me.
I hear her light steps approach then she sits down next to me.
"Bella's melody is beautiful. I can't wait to meet the girl who has placed that light in your eyes. When will you bring her over?"
If vampires could blush, my face would've looked like a baboon's posterior. Esme has this uncanny ability to bring out the shy little boy in me and it's unnerving.
"It's… complicated. We're taking things at her pace. After what happened with James, I don't think she's ready to be surrounded by that many vampires, yet," I explain, hoping that her fears of me being a vampire don't resurface.
"It's only complicated if you treat it that way. I'm sure she has strong feelings for you if Friday's event was any indication," she reasons in her thoughts.
I am 116 years old, and have had many sexual encounters in my lifetime. I have also had many discussions with Carlisle about sex and sexuality. But no matter what age I am, how many women I have bedded, or how frequently I've spoken about sex with Carlisle, I will always be embarrassed whenever Esme and I discuss even an innocent subject like a kiss.
She senses my discomfort and places her hand on my shoulder in a motherly gesture.
"Don't be embarrassed, dear, I've seen more than my share of all things sexual with Emmett and Rosalie around. Heaven knows those two have supplied me with enough disturbing imagery to last me for eternity. I'm trying to put things in perspective for you. I think it's understandable that she's not ready to come to a house full of vampires, but what else is there that you think is complicating the situation?"
I sigh. "I think she needs time to adjust to the fact that I'm a vampire. We touched upon some points today and I discovered that Ephraim Black's heir, Jacob, divulged our secret."
Esme gasps at the new information but doesn't interrupt me.
"Last night she was running away from Forks, from me. I know this because there was a duffel bag under the passenger seat of 'Bob'. I don't think that's coincidental. I believe that she was escaping because she was told that we are vampires. Today she seemed to be more accepting of that fact, even though, initially, she was terrified of me. Only when I addressed her concerns about our diet did she calm down exponentially and wasn't terrified any longer. Despite being what I am, I can still see in Bella's eyes that she has strong feelings for me, but she's holding back for some reason. I don't know whether it's because she's wary about being among vampires or something else entirely."
After I pour out all my thoughts, I feel much better; lighter than I have for days.
Esme stands up and gestures with her head to invite me to step outside.
When we're at a significant distance away from home, I feel more relaxed. Esme sits down alongside the Calawah riverbank and pats the space next to her.
She turns around and says. "Start from the beginning, dear. Tell me every interaction you've had with her after that dreadful introduction." She gives me a stern look that only mothers are capable of executing.
I grimace. Esme hasn't forgiven me for my rude behavior that day. I sit down next to her and relay every interaction we've had since my deplorable action toward Bella that day, not omitting a single detail.
After I'm done, Esme looks into my eyes and with a knowing smile says. "She's afraid, dear."
I frown. How can she know?
As if reading my thoughts, she explains. "I know because everything you've said confirms that she's confused about her feelings toward you and the thought that she might be in love with you terrifies her. You being a vampire is only a tiny fraction of the reason she's holding back or else she wouldn't have wanted to talk with you today."
"I thought I was the mind reader here." I smirk, then continue on a more serious note. "I'm not completely oblivious to her feelings for me, but in love with me? I doubt that to be true."
I know she likes me, perhaps even has a crush on me. I'd never guess that she might be in love with me, though.
"Why do you think that?" she asks with a frown.
Throughout my existence, I have noticed that human emotions are fickle and change over time. Although rare occurrences of true love do happen, they're incapable of loving as deeply as two mated vampires do.
"I don't think humans are capable of loving as deeply as mated vampires because not only are human emotions fickle, vampirism intensifies our emotions as well as our senses. That's why I presume they can't feel as deeply as we do."
Esme shakes her head at me. "Dear, if you want to win her over, my advice would be not to underestimate her feelings for you. And watch out for Jacob Black, he sounds dangerous."
"EDWARD! YOU LYING SON OF A BITCH!"
At the sound of Emmett's scream, Esme and I jump in our seats.
"Okay, thanks, Mom, got to go. Bye!" I quickly kiss her on the cheek and run into the forest with Emmett's loud footsteps trailing behind.
~E&I~
I'm driving like a maniac to Forks' lone grocery store after I received a distressing call from Alice informing me that Bella's future disappeared.
I was in the forest wrestling with Emmett when I received the call. Thankfully, the fight had just begun when the call came.
I promised Emmett a rematch and he only accepted it upon my promise to 'kick the ass' of the wolf that was a threat to Bella.
The Quileutes rarely, if ever, venture to Forks. This sudden appearance in town fills me with trepidation. Why is a wolf near my mate?
Damn them all to hell! We should have gotten rid of the wolves when we had the opportunity.
If he even breathes on her… I shake my head to get rid of the murderous rage and possessiveness coursing through me.
Forks is neutral territory, therefore I can't prevent the wolves from being present there.
Yesterday, the disturbing incident with Sam and James showed us that the wolf has the uncanny ability to block Alice's power when Emmett and Jasper's future disappeared from her visions. The moment we made it home, she jumped into Jasper's arms and held on, sobbing furiously. When he managed to calm her down she told us the exact moment my brothers' futures disappeared. Upon that discovery, Carlisle urged us to remain calm and stay clear of the wolf.
Jasper and I argued with Carlisle that we should be vigilant on the border and attempt to know whether other members are on the verge of shifting.
Last night showed how volatile a newly phased 'pup' can be, similar to a newborn vampire. According to Jasper, he and Emmett had barely been able to subdue the confused and terrified wolf. He was unstable on his paws and had run away with difficulty. Had we not interfered, we would've never known that the wolf gene has been activated.
Being blind has left us vulnerable and at a disadvantage. We must take all necessary precautions to maintain the upper hand. We also can't rely on my gift because it's limited by the distance it covers.
Carlisle's pacifism is too idealistic and he's inherently aware of it, regardless of his attempts to conceal those suspicions from me. We can't trust these pups to uphold the treaty when they can't keep their snouts shut. If Black told Bella, what's to stop him from telling the local residents? Carlisle knows that the Quileute elders want us gone and have always been reluctant to concede to the terms of the treaty. They regard the treaty as Ephraim's failure and the waste of an opportunity to rid the area of the Cold Ones. Even now, when we returned to Forks, the three Council Elders: Quil Ateara, Billy Black and Harry Clearwater, perceive it as concession of land and power. They do not care about maintaining peace, only pride, which has been wounded by our numerical advantage and prowess over the tribe.
We have been, and always will remain, the mortal enemy of their kind. Just as they are our enemy, it's only a matter of time before the razor's edge our fragile peace is balanced on tips dangerously over.
As I reach the parking lot of the store, I scan the area for the wolf's thoughts when I hear my fiery angel's voice. "What's up?"
It seems the wolf hasn't arrived yet, though the fact that he's blocked Alice's vision tells me that he is on his way .
Standing next to her is a nervous Eric Yorkie and upon seeing my car, his flight instinct activates.
"Damn it! What's Cullen doing here? Of all the times he could pick to be here, he drives in now? He's so intimidating and weird. How can Bella stand being close to him? I hope him kissing her hasn't ruined my chances to ask her out to prom. Man, she's so pretty and I bet she'd be even prettier with her hair straightened out."
I hiss at his thoughts in both jealousy and anger. She's mine!
And how dare he assume that having curly hair makes her any less beautiful than she already is?
My hands twitch with an aching desire to strangle that scrawny neck of his.
Though, I wish her hair wasn't hidden by that large hoodie she's wearing. The gentle sway of her tresses usually waft her scent in the air.
"C'mon, Eric, think of something!"
"Um, I was grocery shopping," he stammers. I snort, way to be obvious.
"Duh, stupid!" "I-I mean I came here to do some grocery shopping fo-for mom." I roll my eyes.
Eric's eyes quickly shift to my car as he glances inconspicuously over to where I'm parking my Volvo.
"This dude gives me the creeps. Just spill and get the hell out of here."
"I actually wanted to ask you if you wanted to go to prom with me," he says in a rush.
Cold dread seizes my heart in a vise and I find myself anxious to hear Bella's response.
She doesn't immediately deny him, which makes me furious with jealousy at him.
I turn off the car and step out to put an end to this. I can't risk losing her.
I walk briskly toward my feisty Bee, noticing her checking me out.
I suddenly feel self-conscious. Does she approve of what she sees? Is my style of dress to her liking?
"I'll talk to you later, Bella. Um, bye!" Eric immediately squeaks and walks away quickly with Bella staring after him in confusion.
As I approach her, the breeze carries her lovely, sweet scent towards me. I discreetly inhale and urge my painful erection to subside.
"Hello, Bella." I greet when she turns to face me and I hear her heart fluttering.
Can Esme be correct in her assumption?
I see anger and dejection in her hazel eyes, which she immediately tries to mask with a small, fake smile.
What, or rather who, is responsible for the feelings reflected in her beautiful eyes?
"Hey, Edward, shopping for spices to 'liven up' your meals?" she smirks. I'm well-versed by now at her attempts to hide her pain.
I'm desperate to find the source of her pain and annihilate it.
Those eyes of hers relay that something disturbing took place. I notice her fidget and crack her knuckles; a sign of nervousness.
I have never seen Bella nervous around me. Something terrible must have happened to make her tense.
"What!?" she snaps at me. I resist the urge to smile at her and pin her to her monstrous truck as I kiss her silly. She provokes the beast in me when she's fiery.
However, I sense she is troubled by whatever has happened and I have to ensure how she is.
"Are you well, Bella?" I ask.
"I'm fine." A typical response by women when they're usually not.
I listen to the thoughts around me, hoping the answer might lie there.
Swimming through one thought after another, I search for a thought of Bella in a sea of images and whispering minds.
In less than a second, I locate two thoughts that drift to Bella.
"Can't believe Chief Swan's daughter is as innocent as she pretends to be. That girl is trouble for our town. Causing a ruckus by playing pranks on that handsome, respectable Cullen boy. I'm not surprised she's violent, probably learned it from her flighty mother. Those black people are always violent. I bet she's the one who's been stealing from the store. It wouldn't surprise me, especially growing up with a mother like that, who probably wouldn't control her daughter because she was was too busy jumping from one man to the next. I feel sorry for the Chief, he sure is unlucky, ending up with a daughter and an ex-wife like that."
Burning white hot anger straightens my spine as I hear those rude, presumptuous and racist thoughts from Mrs. Mallory. I see the bitchy, bigoted apple doesn't fall far from the even bitchier, and more bigoted tree.
I don't find out exactly what happened between Mrs. Mallory and Bella, because her mind becomes occupied with thoughts of buying lingerie to sleep with Mr. Stanley. I want to shake my head at her cheating, disgusting mind.
Another thought comes from the female cashier, though her thoughts are foreign to me. She must not be a local, because my gift is attuned to most of the minds of the residents of Forks.
She's still harping about how Bella put her in her place. Her mind shows that she thought Bella had stolen the credit card to pay for her groceries because she thinks that a black person is more likely to steal.
I'm disgusted and furious with her cavalier, racist mindset. Perhaps if she were smarter, she would know that there's a stronger correlation between crime and poverty than there is between crime and race. The uniting factor for all crimes in all societies across the globe is economic class and that is due to poor education and staggering unemployment rates in impoverished communities.
Bella's voice cuts through my rage and relaxes me instantly. "Are you, okay? You looked like you were ready to cap a fucker just then."
My lips twitch as I refrain from smiling. Bella sure has a way with words.
"I was anxious and worried a few moments ago." I admit.
"Why?" she frowns, creating a v between her shapely eyebrows. The sudden desire to smooth it forces me to approach her. The heat of her skin feels heavenly and I'm very tempted to reach out and wrap my arms around her. We almost held each others hand earlier when our conversation outside the cafeteria ended, but regardless of the progress we make, there's always an air of nervousness around Bella when we interact.
Even so, I want to tell her how deeply I love her and fall more in love with her every day. And that every time she's away it terrifies me that someone or something will hurt her, or worse.
If I want to make any progress with Bella, I have to be honest about my feelings towards her.
"Because I feel very protective of you," I quietly confess.
"I'm not in danger, though," she reasons.
Oh, Bella, if you only knew. "You are, very much so."
"How am I in danger?" she tilts her head, looking quite adorable when she does.
I explain my concern. "The mere fact that you're human in a world full of violence and vile, predatory people is dangerous. Fortunately for you, I will be around to protect you." I grin, teasing her with a wink to lighten the mood with playful banter.
Worry briefly flickers in her eyes but is gone just as rapidly. Is she worried that I might somehow know what transpired earlier because of my 'vile people' comment? Does she not want me to know what transpired? I wish she felt comfortable enough to open up to me.
But then my Bella teases back. "Why don't you go ahead and appoint yourself my keeper while you're at it. And what makes you think I want to keep you around?"
"Don't you?" I smirk. I hope you do.
"Don't you want me to want to keep you around?" The smart vixen counters.
I survey the area when a foreign male voice suddenly enters my mind-reading range.
"What's that fucking bloodsucker doing here, and why is he so close to my Bells?"
I catch his scent in the air as well, and detect the revolting, wet dog stench, underneath his abnormally odiferous human stench.
His wolf scent is not as potent as it should be, probably due to the gene being activated fairly recently. It looks as if he will phase very soon.
His thoughts turn spiteful as he sees Bella standing next to me. He's angry that Bella hasn't run away from me even after he divulged the secret.
Well, well. Jacob Black, I presume. I will teach that delusional mongrel who Bella fucking belongs to.
I look back at my love and nervously exhale before I lean forward to inhale that sweet scent of gardenia, lavender and a hint of coconut that is swirling around me as I whisper in her ear. "I would love to keep you by my side forever."
I hear her sigh and feel the ripples of her shudder vibrating the air around me. How I would love to make Bella sigh my name in pleasure as I kiss every single inch of her.
Patience is key with her. This small, yet significant reaction is all the reassurance I need.
I lean back and think of all the ways I'm going to woo her, just to elicit more of the same reaction. As if she knows what I'm thinking, she shakes her head at me while a bright grin adorns her face, accentuating those adorable dimples, that appear rarely, on each cheek.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Edward," she says, and turns around to open the truck's door when I quickly reach out and open it for her. My human parents ingrained gentlemanly behaviour in me from an early age.
"Thank you," she says sweetly and, seemingly out of nowhere, lays a warm kiss on my cheek.
The warmth of her kiss spreads over the side of my face. If it weren't for the fact that she can see me through her rearview mirror, I would've covered my cheek with my hand to keep the feeling of her kiss on my skin for as long as possible.
My joy, however, disappears in an instant when a Volkswagen rabbit, bearing the not-so-subtle stench of wolf, turns into the parking lot.
I growl as his thoughts turn to following Bella instead of going into the store. He's so focused on Bella and how much he wants her that he momentarily forgets that I'm there. Killing him after the leaving shoppers drive away would be so easy. No one would know it was me and it's also within my right to do so since he violated the treaty.
The mutt steps out of his car when he sees me leaning against my car looking straight at him.
He's not older than 16, with the long, dark hair that is worn by most of the men in his tribe. His body is gangly but it will fill up when he phases.
"That's right, bloodsucker, just keep looking like the cocky fucker you are. Because once I phase, I'm going to kill you." I hear in his mind.
I hope he tries so that when I kill him, I'll be rid of him once and for all. He's been a menace from the moment he opened his mouth.
He tries to display an arrogant front but I can smell the fear on him. The closer he gets to me the more his heart beat increases.
I smirk at him and watch his steps falter when he sees it.
He stops a few feet away from me, not daring to come any closer. I take the opportunity to immediately let him know how little I think of him.
"Shouldn't you be cowering somewhere on the reservation? Licking your balls and telling yourself what a mighty wolf you're going to be, someday?"
I hear his heartbeat stutter, and his face pales, slightly. He takes a deep breath and snarls, "What's it to you, leech?"
"Well, since someone told Bella the secret about my family, I would think that the person who told her should be worried about any repercussions that would be coming his way."
Jacob looks at me like I'm a moron, then says, "It's only right that I tell my future wife about you leeches, in order to protect her."
I don't know whether to smash his puny head or laugh in his face. My possessive side can't help taunting him, so I settle for taking a step toward him and saying in mock sympathy, "Jacob, what color is the sky in your world? Because if you really think that Bella is going to be your wife, you are living in a true fantasy world. I really hate to break this to you… no, I really don't… your 'future wife' and I have been getting to know each other better. A lot better. Her kisses are like fire that burns my soul and melts my heart."
Jacob starts shaking and looks like he is going to be sick to his stomach. I really hope he doesn't puke in front of me. The stench would be horrendous.
"Bella's mine, mutt. The sooner you get that through your thick head the better off you and your tribe will be."
"What do you mean by that, you dead freak?" is the best response that Jacob can come up with.
"What I mean, Black, is if you keep your filthy paws off of Bella, I'd reconsider demanding your death for breaking the treaty when we meet with the elders about that very fact."
Now Jacob's trembling is starting to increase, and his normally tan complexion looks almost as pale as mine. He's not angry, he's terrified for his life and confused as to why Bella would betray him. I almost feel sorry for him, however, I just can't and won't make myself go that far.
I take a couple of steps and stand right up in his face. "Where Bella is concerned, I will stop at nothing to protect her," I hiss.
Jacob straightens himself up to his full height, which is a few inches less than mine, and says, "Oh, she'll be my wife, and there's nothing you can do to stop it from happening, bloodsucker. She'll see that you're just this cold, dead, thing. And that I'm warm, and alive, and the better man, all the way around."
I can't help laughing. I really can't help it. Now he just looks confused, and I'm trying to keep myself upright and get my laughter under control. "Man? You call yourself a man? Don't you descend from a long line of 'men' who stench-splode into giant puppies?"
Now I'm deadly serious, "I see no man before me. I see only a child whose father has been filling his head with delusions and stupidity. Be careful, or that stupidity could lead to your premature death."
He visibly flinches at my warning and steps back taking his putrid stench that has seeped into my clothes with him. I will have to burn them later. There's no getting that stench out of them through conventional human laundering methods.
My cellphone instantly vibrates once in my jeans pocket.
I ignore it as I stare at him in disgust. Unlike Jacob, Ephraim was a courageous and honorable man but his great-grandson can't even compete for Bella's affection without resorting to lying.
He hastily steps back from me and goes to his car, his parting thoughts cursing me out and revealing his plans to stalk Bella when I'm not around.
Don't hold your breath, mongrel.
Do you think Jake was justified to lie and scare Bella? After all, they say all is fair in love and war. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.