AN:
Thanks for the positive responses I got for the first chapter. At first I thought it was stupid, but yet an interesting idea to develop.
I'm considering changing the ratings to M, because I intend on making it a bit hotter later on. I don't know yet, depends on you :)
Thanks for all your reviews! I love it when you guys review and tell me what you think about it. At least none of you thought the idea sucked!
Special thanks to
AnEverFixedMark, for reading this and my other fic – A Blind Love in A Minor and for the encouraging words.
ao88, also for reading this and my other fic and also for inspiring me to continue this fic :)
KairariaThermal, for loving it and me ;p
And a special apology for voodoogirl13 for being the reason for her lack of sleep last night :p Hope this chapter pleases you!
Again, please read and review :)
Chapter 2
Edward gazed intently at me, which made me want to bury myself in the ground. He looked like he was about to pounce me. I didn't like my current situation and what my situation in particular was, was still a conundrum to me. Something was off and I intended on figuring it out. I knew that Rosalie wasn't my biggest fan, but she had never attempted on attacking me before, and why wasn't Edward by my side, reassuring me that everything was okay?
Another thing that piqued my interest was their clothing. It seemed as if they were from another time, centuries ago. Suddenly I'd rather be in the Indian's company, than in the company of four ravenous vampires, who apparently had no idea of who I was. Rosalie still looked like she wanted to eat me, and Carlisle held a stoic expression in his face.
"You weren't supposed to know all this… You better follow him" he said and pointed to the clearing where the Indian had disappeared. I didn't dare turning my back to Rosalie, in case of another sudden attack. I moved slowly and my breathing was uneven and rigid. Carlisle seemed to notice my state of uneasiness.
"We won't hurt you" Carlisle said, and I stole a last glance at Edward, for now. His hard gaze hadn't changed at all, but it still held a hint of wonder. I had forgotten that he wasn't able to read my mind, so he was probably puzzled by the emptiness in my head. Between me and the Cullens, Edward was the one furthest away from me, and this distance tortured me immensely. I could do nothing about it.
"This doesn't have to end in a war" I whispered, perfectly aware that they were able to hear me, no matter how silent I was. Emmett quirked an eyebrow, smiling a taunting smile. Same arrogant Emmett, he looked like he was happy about the threat of a war between the werewolves and the vampires.
"Those dogs hold no challenge for us" Rosalie said, cockily. Carlisle raised his hand, motioning her to calm down and to be silent. All this time Edward had not moved at all, not even an inch. How could he be so indifferent, knowing that I could have been killed mere moments ago? I shivered; a breeze had found its way through the dark forest. Edward sniffed the air and held his hand up to cover his nose and mouth. Just like our first encounter in biology class. Should I feel relieved, knowing that something about me still drew him in? I didn't know, but it surely gave me hope. I turned to leave, yanking up in my blue dress, but I had forgotten all about my broken leg. I stumbled and closed my eyes, waiting for the impact with the ground. I fell hard and when I opened my eyes again, I found myself lying on the leaf-covered forest ground and the Cullens were gone.
I wanted to cry, Edward had not caught me as he usually would have done. I wanted to scream out in frustration. I lied on my side and hugged my knees to my chest. I took deep breaths, trying to hold on to my slowly slipping sanity. Edward had never abandoned me before, and the feeling was killing me inside. My heart pounded furiously, as if it wanted to escape the confinements of my chest.
I clutched my chest, trying to ease my breathing, but I was unable to do so. The leaves flew around me, dancing their own unique dance in the wind. Not long ago had I and Edward been dancing. I clutched the hem of the dress, my last proof that Alice had existed. But I shivered even more, I looked down and saw that parts of the dress had disappeared, left were my converses and tights. Soon the only things left covering my breasts were my bra. I gasped and covered my body with my arms.
Everything had turned so cold, I needed warmth. I needed Edward by my side, soon. I heard the sound of twigs and leaves breaking. Were they back to kill me? I shut my eyes closed tightly. I felt small droplets of tears forcing their way through my closed eyes. Everything had ceased to exist, the love, the bond that Edward and I shared. My connection to the Cullens, even Alice was gone. Suddenly the darkness felt so inviting, I welcomed it with open arms and with a sorrowful smile. The soothing depths of the darkness were so peaceful and oddly warm.
I opened my eyes and found myself lying in a tent made by skin, lazily sown together. A fury blanket was draped over me, covering my body and most of all keeping me warm. I sat up, I was the only one in the tent and I ran my hand through my hair. What a tangled mess it was. I sighed and lied down on the soft mattress of fur. My sudden depression had drained all drops of energy in my body. Yet, I was wondering where I was and how I got here. Wherever here was. I got up, slightly cringing from the pain, coming from my leg. Damn that James. I hoped somebody found Laurent and Victoria and imprisoned them.
I took the blanket and wrapped it around my lithe form, shielding me from the cold. I exited the tent and found a man, crouching before a large fire. He turned as I approached. He met me with a kind smile and patted the spot next to him, in front of the fire.
"You must be cold" he said as I sat down next to him. I nodded and smiled at him.
"I'm surprised they let you live" he said, honestly. Something about him was familiar too.
"I'm pretty much clueless right now… Could you please tell me… Who are you? I feel like I've seen you before" I asked, demanding and needing to escape this state of cluelessness.
"My name is Ephraim Black" he said in a deep voice and his gaze held such a wisdom that didn't fit his age. The look in his eyes revealed that he had seen too much so far in life. Wait, did he say Black? Like… Jacob Black.
I remember the day on the beach in La Push, where he told me about the tales and legends of his people. Ephraim was his grandfather, he told me. He was the one who formed the treaty with Carlisle, the treaty ensuring some kind of peace between the werewolves and the vampires and as a promise of preventing exposure of the Cullens' true identities and beings.
My face contorted into an expression of horror as realisation dawned upon me. The negotiations for the treaty had failed, and if such treaty didn't exist, the werewolves and vampires would be fighting a war for dominance of this territory. I was one hundred percent sure that I wasn't in the 21st century anymore. On account of their physical appearances and that I was sitting next to Jake's grandfather, I formed a theory in my head; I had travelled back in time. And now the existence of my future self was in danger and so was the future lives of the wolves and the vampires.
I shuddered as I felt a tingling sensation in my broken leg. I looked down and saw the cast slowly fading away; another proof of my life with Edward had disappeared and so was the crescent formed bite mark on my hand. This was too surreal and frighteningly true. Ephraim seemed to notice my discomfort and sent me a questioning look.
"Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, placing his hand on my forehead to check my temperature. If I told him that I was from the future, he would think that I was even crazier than first assumed. I needed to find the Cullens, but I had no idea of what to tell them. This situation sucked and demanded to be fixed before I would cease to exist. I nodded to answer his previous question.
"You don't look fine... I will have Clearwater fix a dose of healing herbs for you" he said kindly. I nodded my thanks and stared intensely into the fire, trying to figure something out before things would get worse and then escalate to the impending war.
"Maybe you should go back into the tent and get some rest. Mariah will check on you later and give you some of her clothes" he said and nodded towards the tent. The log I sat on earlier emitted a shriek when I shifted my weight. I got up on my feet and I was surprised by the lightness of my previously-broken leg. I was relieved that I was fully functional at walking again. I walked back to the tent and closed the small entrance behind me. The pile of fur blankets seemed so welcoming and so did sleep. I heard Ephraim leave the camp sight. It was amazing how much my life could change in a matter of seconds. I closed my eyes thinking of our prom and now it was just a memory of what might never happen.
"I love you, Edward" I whispered to myself in the dark.
I heard rustling of leaves outside my tent. My attention was drawn, Ephraim couldn't move this fast? My body was still covered by the fur. I opened the entrance again and peeked outside. I was met by a crouching Edward. The second I fully got out, he moved across the camp and climbed up in a tree. He was sitting on a branch, very similar to the time in the forest where I discovered his true identity. But this time he was covering his mouth and nose again. I felt repulsive and disgusting.
I walked over to the tree, looking up at him. He leaned towards me with a small hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"You are drawing me to you, human... What is this? How do you know my name?" he asked almost angrily, I flinched. I didn't know what to answer, because honestly I didn't know what this was. This surreal dream-like world, quasi-nightmare could perfectly have been a creation of my sick and twisted imagination.
"Who are you?" he asked, leaning closer so we were almost one meter apart.
"My name is Bella" I answered, half of me hoping for some sign of recognition from his side and the other half hoped that I didn't seem insane to him. He retreated and the distance between us grew furthermore.
"You are different" he stated, without waiting for my answer, he quickly jumped down from the tree and began circling me, our relationship had turned to one of a predator and its prey. I was the prey.
"There is something about you that intrigues me. Perhaps it is the fact that I can't read your mind, that you seem more... appealing and interesting to me" he said and ventured closer to me and touched me hair. He extended his hand further out and played with a strand of my hair. He pulled it to his nose and he smelled my hair. I knew that he had always liked my hair and apparently so did the pre-modern Edward. He closed his eyes, his senses temporarily giving up, he took another deep breath, even though he didn't need to. He sighed deeply and opened his eyes. They had gone from topaz to the deepest black, I had ever seen. My heart pounded so hard, it was almost unhealthy.
"I wonder if your blood tastes just as good as the Montepulciano wine" he mumbled, almost to himself. Edward had never talked like this; he had never been so... loose. This scared me to no end. His face neared my neck and his breath lapped in the nape of my neck. I closed my eyes, I felt so hot.
"No!" he screamed and pulled away quickly as the lightning. I fell onto my knees in shock and I took my time getting over the shock. He stood meters away, panting exhaustedly as if he had just completed a marathon. He pinched the bridge of his nose – he still had that habit today when he was stressed.
"I must not... give into temptation and kill you. I need to know more about you" he said, trying to compose himself. I looked down on the forest ground. The sun suddenly peeked out from the covers of the clouds. I looked up to see him sparkle. He sparkled so much that it was incomparable, much to the envy and dismay of a thousand diamonds. I looked down again, blinded by his overwhelming, breathtaking beauty. His shadow on the ground extended a hand, reaching for me, but he quickly retracted it back to himself.
"I have to go now, but we will definitely meet again, human" he said and left my sight.
"Your blood entices me" he whispered in my ears, causing shivers to run down my spine. When I turned, he was gone. Again.
I got down on all fours and broke down, crying my heart out. How much I longed for Edward and his gentle, loving touch.
AN:
Hope you liked it and please review. I love reviews and feedback!
If you're nice to me, I'll try to update before I leave for Germany and Italy!
Love you all!
