Now, this one is a definite spoiler for Midnight Sun-- a scene that is not included in Twilight, because... well, basically because Bella wasn't there. This is my twist on it. Don't say I didn't warn you... Oh, and this one is longer, as requested. :)
Angelic—Devyne tasks.
She sighed as she changed her shape once more, trying to make it perfect. Human eyes were easy to fool; Vampires were not. She studied her reflection critically in the mirror. Long, loose strawberry-blond hair, falling to her waist. Beautiful, golden eyes. Deathly white skin.
She grinned as she thought about quite how fitting that was.
With one last sigh, she turned away from the looking glass, snapping her fingers. It was too late to make any more adjustments; now was the perfect time to take her place in Denali once more.
It was lucky the cold did not bother her in this form—the snow was coming down violently by now. She spied the vampire far below, half-buried in the snow, and sent out a thought to him, while reading his own mind. Though she was hindered in many ways by this form, the ability to read minds and send out her own thoughts to those who she chose to hear them stayed the same.
She projected her thoughts now, assuming those of the vampire woman. Edward? Edward, are you here?
She knew he was.
After a split-second of apparent deliberation, she smiled, sending out another thought, in a feeble attempt to make him laugh. Cannonball.
She jumped, resisting the urge to change her form and fly like a bird, landing gracefully instead, beside him.
"Edward?"
It felt slightly odd to be speaking aloud.
"I'm sorry. It was meant to be a joke."
"I know. It was funny." How do I tell her?
She frowned at that, searching his mind further, to try and read into what he meant. Ah, perfect.
They conversed further—an act, on her part. Luckily, Tanya was still at their house. Devyne would tamper with her memory later.
You're going home, aren't you?
Sorry, Tanya. "I haven't…entirely…decided that yet."
But you're not staying here. She tried to inject the right amount of sadness into the projected thought, wondering if she had it right.
I don't want to hurt her. Or lead her on. "No. It doesn't seem to be…helping"
Devyne attempted a grimace, and, seeing her face in his thoughts, knew that it had passed. Perhaps these vampires were not so observant as they claimed. "That's my fault, isn't it?"
Lie. Lie. "Of course not."
She had to stifle a laugh at that. Don't be a gentleman.
He smiled.
I make you uncomfortable. That was the angel's aim, of course—to make him uncomfortable enough to return to Bella.
"No." It's a good job she can't read my thoughts…
She raised a perfect eyebrow, and he chuckled quietly.
"All right… a little bit," he admitted reluctantly.
Devyne projected chagrined thoughts at him, keeping her own impatient ones hidden. She even thought about Tanya's many conquests, something that the vampire woman thought about often.
"Succubus."
Oh, you have no idea. She grinned, "The original." She continued, "When you showed up here I thought that…"
I know what she thought. She hoped that I'd changed my mind. He voiced this aloud.
"Yes." She scowled.
He apologised profusely, in his thoughts and his words. He really was sincere. A good man.
But he didn't want to talk about Bella. Devyne bit back a scowl of frustration. This was difficult.
"Woman troubles?"
His thoughts were amused, though his laugh was hard and bleak. "Not the way you mean it."
She tried a few scenarios, running through them in her mind—deliberately staying away from the truth, of course.
"You're not even close." In his mind's eye, he pictured the source of all the trouble—Bella. Her beautiful face, astonishing scent. There was an undertone of unmistakeable desire behind the thoughts, though that might have been purely for her blood. It was difficult to tell.
"One hint?"
"Please, let it go, Tanya."
I sent him another thought. Where will you go, Edward, if you leave? Back to Carlisle?
If only…
"I don't think so."
He thought of himself as a coward, and she stiffened, draping an arm lightly across his cold shoulders.
"I think that you will go back." In fact, I know you will. "No matter what it is… or who it is… that is haunting you. You'll face it head-on. You're the type."
He kissed her cheek swiftly, grimacing as the angel in disguise brought her lips around hopefully, another gesture reminiscent of the woman she was impersonating.
"Thank you, Tanya. I needed to hear that."
"You're welcome, I guess. I wish you would be more reasonable about things Edward."
"I'm sorry, Tanya. You know you're too good for me. I just… haven't found what I'm looking for yet." The face flashed through his thoughts again, Bella's face, and I struggled to keep my face from grinning in victory.
"Well… if you leave before I see you again… goodbye, Edward."
"Goodbye, Tanya."
Devyne watched him leave from a distance, high up in the sky, in her natural form. Wings extended from her back, and she allowed herself an exultant smile. Her plan was back on track…