Yay! A long-ish one!
Dedication: DeanParker, and everyone else who reviewed, for restoring my faith in this story. Thank you!
Angelic—Devyne Betrayal.
Devyne walked very purposefully down the corridor that linked her chambers to the surveillance room. Destinee and Faite flanked her, both practically running to keep up. They argued loudly, ignoring the stares that they were receiving from the other Angels.
"You can't do this!" Faite almost yelled at her determined sister. "Are you insane?!"
Devyne shook her head, not allowing herself to think of the consequences. For there would be consequences…
"This is too important for that, now. I have no choice any more."
"Didn't you hear what Payn said? Were you not listening at all?" Faite grimaced at the mention of Payn's name—she had never really liked him. But for once, she knew that he was right. She, too, had heard the story of the Vampire who done the unforgiveable, and killed and Angel.
"Of course I was. But they're different, Faite… you know that. They're meant to be together. This has to work. And they need me. You don't know what's out there. What's waiting for them…"
Devyne reached the end of the corridor and punched in the access code for the Surveillance rooms. The door swung open, and Destinee and Faite followed her inside. Destinee spoke up then, for the first time.
"Vyne's right you know, Fai. They don't hunt humans, you know. They call themselves 'vegetarians'."
Faite looked as though she might argue, but her sister cut her off again, "I know what you're thinking, and I agree. But at the same time, I understand Vyne's motivation. She's right—these two are destined for each other. I would know."
Devyne was examining the screens once more, and almost laughed aloud when she saw Edward, trying to work out how best to approach Bella. Because he now realised that he was in love with her… Finally!
She made it easy for him, dropping her key. In a flash that would be too fast for human eyes to see, he was beside her. He took the key from the muddy, freezing water and held it out to her. She eyed him suspiciously.
"How do you do that?"
He smirked, "Do what?"
Dropping the key into her hand, the Vampire breathed in her scent, allowing the burn. Trying to get used to it, I supposed.
"Appear out of thin air."
"Bella, it's not my fault if you are exceptionally unobservant." He grinned as his voice wrapped around her name.
"Why the traffic jam last night?" She asked, "I thought you were supposed to be pretending I didn't exist, not irritating me to death."
Edward grinned. I knew the real reason behind it—he had wanted to see her reaction. "That was for Tyler's sake, not mine. I had to give him his chance."
"You—" Bella was furious. Devyne could not help but to laugh at her expression.
"And I'm not pretending you don't exist," Edward clarified. If only you knew how much danger you were in… It's for your safety. Because like it or no, Isabella Swan, I'm in love with you.
Destinee started jumping up and down, clapping her hands in delight as she heard the words. Faite rolled her eyes, but she was smiling all the same.
In fact, the three angels were so engrossed in the conversations playing out before them, that they did not hear the door open, despite their impeccable hearing.
They did, however, hear the voice that followed not long after.
"I was told you'd be here."
All three of the angels whirled around immediately, stiffening into natural defensive poses. But they straightened up, when they saw who their visitor was. Devyne grinned ecstatically, "Payn!"
Running forward, she threw herself into his arms, and he smiled reluctantly, wrapping her into an embrace.
"Hey, Vyne. Nice to see you, too."
Faite, the quickest thinker of the three, had already switched off the screen, and Destinee sighed in relief, exchanging a look with her sister. Thankfully, Payn was too distracted by the Angel in his arms to have noticed what they had been doing. He would not like the fact that they were still involved in this…
Letting go of the oldest sister, he nodded to the other two. They smiled briefly back in return, before hurrying past him and Devyne, and out of the door.
Devyne turned back to Payn, smiling happily, "It's so good to see you! I've missed you, you know…"
He smiled back gently, reaching up to brush her cheek with the back of his hand. "I missed you, too."
They stared at each other for several moments longer without speaking. They didn't need to, the silence was enough.
Eventually, Devyne broke it. "So why the random visit, anyway?"
Payn smiled, "Is there something wrong with me just wanting to see you? What were you doing, anyway?"
"Oh, er… Nothing." Devyne cursed internally. Why was she such a bad liar? Payn's eyebrows raised.
"You sure about that?"
Devyne just nodded, unable to speak, lest she give herself away.
"Alright," he sighed. "I trust you, I suppose."
The angel breathed a sigh of relief. If he found out, he'd be very, very angry…
"Vyne?" Payn looked troubled by something, torn with indecision. "D'you mind if I…" He trailed off. And then he tilted her chin up, and brought his lips to hers.
It was wonderful. That was all that Devyne could remember about it, afterwards. Throwing herself wholeheartedly into the kiss, she pulled him towards her. Her arms wrapped around his neck as his circled her waist. And then it was over.
Breathing hard, unnecessary breaths, Devyne took a step backwards… straight into the screen.
It lit up.
Bella and Edward, in the car park together. Taking a deep breath, the Vampire worked up his courage. "Will you go to Seattle with me?"
Payn's smile turned to an expression of disbelief, and then to anger.
Oh, crap…
I'm still very much open to ideas. Review, or PM me. Please?