Disclaimer: Own Twilight I don't...
Bella POV
The ride to school seemed as slow as walking, definitely slower than my walk. The Volvo purred underneath the two of us. Edward sat at the wheel, not looking at the road. Instead his tawny eyes were focused intently on my down turned white face, my cherry lips turned down in a grimace.
"What's wrong, Bella," he murmured.
Leaning over, Edward cupped one hand around my freezing cheek and pulled my face up. I let him; his soft touch was as much a gentle caress as his velvet voice. He placed his lips into my wild mess of tangled curls for a moment before leaning back and looking at me, concerned. I fell into the depthless topaz jewels that people called his eyes, seeing the melted gold shimmering in streams through the crystalline abyss.
When he let go of my face I remained in the same position, unable to look away. Edward ran his long, pale fingers through my brown hair, being careful not to pull it. How I wished that he had the same feelings towards me as I did him. Either he didn't or he kept a tight lid on his emotions, because I felt nothing from him. Suddenly suspicious, I made up my mind to ask Edward something. Could I read his mind or did he have a natural shield towards me?
"Edward, may I please try and read your thoughts? It might hurt you though. I need... I want to see something." I trailed off, waiting for revulsion to cross his face and his hand to tug away from my hair. He pulled the car over, not once taking his eyes off me, nor removing his touch. If he wanted to throw me out of the car, I would willingly go.
"Of course, Bella." His answer shocked me, but his voice was sincere.
"Edward, you might get hurt. I...I don't want you to feel like you need to," I said, a begging note in my voice. If Edward just said no, I could put this crazy plan off.
Edward's liquid eyes burned me with their trustful expression. "I want you to."
I reached up my small arms and wound them around his neck, pressing my face into his chest. I whispered into his shirt, "Are you sure?"
He pulled my face up to meet his. He looked deep into my eyes, seemingly touched by the emotions swirling in them. Moving slowly, giving me a chance to resist, Edward leant his lips against my forehead.
"Wait, I want to take you somewhere first," Edward murmured against my skin.
The small contact sent a tingle of electricity through my body, running from my forehead to the tips of my toes. Edward spun the Volvo quickly and headed off again in the opposite direction. I went to pull away from him, but his arms became restrains that I had no intention of trying to break. I inhaled his scent, flooding my head with the sweetness of it. Edward rested his head on mine, mixing his bronze flames with my brown locks.
I wished that I had been good enough to deserve this earth-bound god; instead I had killed thousands, millions of our kind. Before I got the chance to explore this new line of thought, Edward pulled the Volvo up, got out and dashed around to open my door. I accepted his hand and slid out of the car, moving my hand away. But Edward refused to let go of me, swinging me up into his arms, bridal style.
Ignoring my half-hearted protests, Edward gave me a crooked grin and my slight resistance melted like the liquid fire in his eyes. He gracefully ran through the beautiful forest, but I was too entranced by his dazzling eyes to notice the scenery. The motion of his stride was smooth and hypnotising, but I when he stopped I was coherent enough to promise Edward one thing.
"I get to carry you back," I muttered, my voice low and weak. Any further comments were cut off by the sight of the place Edward had taken me. Edward's meadow was breathtaking. The grass rippled in lazy waves, the multicoloured flowers swaying in gentle shapes, heart-shaped petals sending a sweet fragrance over the entire place. It's air resonated with Edward's presence, Edward's being. He carried me to the middle of the perfectly circular meadow and set me down.
I ran around, laughing and taking in the utter perfection of this little haven. I rested on the ground, the heady smell of it overwhelming my sensitive nostrils. I rolled over onto my back and laughed at Edward angelic, amused face. I sat up and patted the ground next to me, wanting to share this wonder I felt with this wonder I wanted. And my wonder obliged with my wishes.
I sat in Edward's lap, his arms twining around my slender waist, lips against my neck. His delicate hands shifted to my waist, turning me around and placing me directly in front of him. His butterscotch eyes darkened slightly and his flawless brow furrowed.
"Bella, I need to say this before you find out by yourself by your abilities, but I don't know how to say this. When you first came here, I was angry. I thought you were changing what I thought about you, what I felt for you. But when we... you talked, and you were going away, I realised something." Edward's eyes searched mine earnestly, the molten in his eyes emitted from every pore in his body. "Bella, I can't live without you. I don't know if my feelings towards you are mutual, but I need to tell you. Bella I –"
I cut Edward off. "I love you."
Edward looked into my eyes, his eyes uncertain and apprehensive but passionate and determined.
"Yes, Isabella Marie Swan – Bella – I love you. I will always love you, even if you don't feel that way about me. The emotions that run through my veins, soaking into every cell, every little bit of me cry out this one fact: I will love you forever, every day of eternity. And I would spend all eternity with you if you allowed me," Edward vowed.
I shifted away slightly, letting my hair hide my face. I felt the same way about Edward. When it had originated, I didn't know, but I most definitely returned his feelings. I recalled the time we played on the piano, it seemed so long ago. I remembered Edward's life lullaby mixed with mine, remembered how they made a perfect harmony. If I wanted, that harmony could go on forever, not having to end on the sad, longing, wistful note that had hung so heavily on the air.
"You don't mind that I was there running with the dinosaurs?" I jested.
"Never."
"That we've only just met?"
"I've known you for all my life that I've lived."
"I want to spend eternity with you, Edward and I will if you let me. But honestly, I hope this isn't a proposal. Very romantic setting, but my clothes could do with a bit of a clean," I laughed. It was true, my clothes were muddy from the wet ground, the blue of my skirt was dyed brown and my white shirt was beyond repair.
Edward's eyes lit up in joy, he wrapped his arm around my waist again and, using my distraction and diminutive frame, slung me to the ground underneath him. I let out a mock gasp, pretending his somewhat larger body was crushing me. Even knowing that he wasn't putting his weight on me and that he couldn't possibly hurt me, Edward rolled over, holding me firmly to his chest.
"I'll get a ring on that little finger of yours one day, Bella. I can be quite persuasive. I guess this was worth a day of missed school," he whispered, joy radiating from his smouldering eyes. Then he became serious again. "You'd better do what you want to do with my mind, Bella. Before you decide you want to stay with me forever."
"It doesn't matter what you've done, I will always be with you. You still want me to do this, Edward? I'll try my best not to harm you, but I can't promise that you'll be okay," I asked, worried.
"Do it before you can talk yourself out of it. If you want to spent your existence with me, you'd better first decide whether I'm worthy of an angel."
"Angel,' I scoffed, but I rolled off Edward and sat up, putting my arms around my knees and looking at this seraphic miracle laying on one side before me.
"Just in case, Edward. I love you too, more than you could imagine."
With that, I closed my eyes and gave myself to the mind-world. Thoughts pulled at me from all over the world, people who I've met, saved, seen. But ignoring these, I floated my mind-self forward, toward where Edward should be. Abruptly I was thrown back into my body-self like a rag-doll, convulsing wildly. I had no control whatsoever over my body.
Edward was leaning over me in an instant, trying to hold down my thrashing arms and legs. My strength was too much, his attempts to retrain me useless. I couldn't control my body. This must be how that vampire I killed felt. But I don't think Edward would rip out my throat to help me, I thought. (A/N - refering to the vampire in chapter 2)
Edward shook his head frantically, mouthing words I couldn't hear. I wonder... Edward, can you hear my thoughts?
The answer this time was a nod and some more mouthed words. Edward, I can't hear you. If you want to know, I'm not in pain. A lie. I was in terrible pain, but when you're ancient you have great force of mind and greater ignorance of body.
Again delving into the mind-world, I saw my life-force stretch thin around me. Looking around, I saw a thin silver tendril running further out, throwing the golden light around like my skin did. It pulled me towards it, but I slowly tried to reel my mind-part in, knowing that if I was too slow, or if I yanked too hard and the sparkling string broke, I would die.
I carefully collected my thoughts (A/N - get it?) and floated to the surface of my mind, inhabiting my body again. I was aware that I had stopped shaking wildly. Opening my eyes, I looked up into Edward's tawny eyes, turned obsidian black like the moonless night sky above him.
"You almost gave me a heart attack, Bella," he chided, but the words had a desperately relieved undertone.
He cradled my limp and exhausted body in his tender arms. I felt completely worn out, no easy feat for me, but I guess convulsing all day can do that to you. Tracing the shadows under my eyes, no doubt as dark as his own, he smoothly flowed to his feet. The run back to the car was quick; Edward was pushing himself to go as fast as he could.
Placing me carefully in the passenger seat, Edward gave me a quick look before racing away back through the forest. I was too tired to panic. Why did I feel so weak? Ever since coming to the Cullens I had been falling apart. Luckily, there was someone who could put me back together - Edward.
Minutes later, Edward returned with a deer in his arms. I could get used to a steady diet of deer, but it didn't mean that variety was welcome. I would have to hunt down some bears or something soon. I slid lethargically out of the Volvo, stumbling over to Edward. He placed the still living deer on the ground.
"Feed," Edward told me.
"Do you want to share, Edward? You must be as tired as I am. In fact, you are going to have some. I won't unless you do," I commanded, barely stopping myself from leaping on the animal.
Edward helped me into the shelter of the trees, in case an unfortunate human drove here to rest for the night. Unlikely, but possible.
"Fine," Edward said. "Ladies before gentlemen."
"I'm too weak to be able to rip out the throat, Edward. You'll have to do it for me," I replied, tiredly smug, sure that I was telling the truth.
Edward shrugged and tore the doe's throat open, somehow restraining himself from feeding on the hot gushing blood. I let my hair swing to cover my face as I leaned over the wound and drank. The ends of my hair were drenched in the red liquid, but I was past caring.
The warmth spread to the tips of my finger, my strength returning slowly. I felt the doe die, felt the blood stop pumping. I frowned at Edward, who was watching me and not feeding like he was meant to.
I walked over to him and poked him in the chest. "I was meant to carry you back," I accused him. "And you were meant to feed as well. You promised."
He held me close, eyes burning into mine and laughed softly, 'I never promised, Bella. I'll feed later when you're safe. Everyone will be worried, I'd better get you home," he said.
I kissed him softly on the cheek, my lips rouged with blood. "You're in no state to drive, Edward. Let me, please." I snagged his keys and dashed into the car. Shaking his head, Edward grimaced but obliged my whim, sliding into the seat next to me.
"This is my car, Bella."
"Careful or I might just throw up blood all over your car, Edward." He groaned, but stopped when I gave him a meaningful look.
"Fine," he grumbled, slouching down and staring out his window.
I leant over to give Edward a kiss on the cheek as a consolatory prize, but as I did so he turned to look down at me, eyes sad.
My lips met his and a bolt of lightning jolted my system. It raced like the sweetest blood through me, firing up every cell in my wintry body. Instinctively Edward's lips moved against mine, and I wished the moment, the sensation could go on forever.
But the energy had been too much for my weary body. I collapsed, Edward catching me. Taking advantage of my powerless moment, I was slung into the backseat.
Edward transferred himself behind the wheel, starting the car up. He spun the car around and drove with one hand, the other clenched into a fist.
"Edward, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..." I trailed off.
A snarl burst from Edward's chest and the car stopped suddenly, protesting with a faint squeal. The loss of momentum threw me against the passenger seat, before I bounced off onto the floor. A pair of arms was thrown around me, pulling me out of the car.
I struggled, seeing the red embers glowing in the dark. But my drained body couldn't stop it from slowly drawing me out of the Volvo. My weakened pain-gift was partly deflected, not penetrating with the force necessary to kill my attacker.
I heard Edward moan and ignoring my situation I threw all my remaining power towards killing his opponent.
I heard a thud, but had no time to see the outcome, my assailant was grasping for my throat.
I dove into my mind-body, throwing up as many defences as I could. I reached out towards the vampires' awareness.
Touching a purely evil mind, I hissed in recognition.
"I know you...niece."
Niece meaning the fledgling of one of the other originals. It's nice to be back, guys! I've missed you heaps! I hope Sporklet hasn't been nasty. I'm tired. Anyway, R&R, gimme some ideas. I think maybe a fight to the death... Anyway, next chapter up soon. My computer is broken so I'm doing this on my mums. Therefore chapters might be a little slower, but still every one or two days hopefully!
Ninja Spork (is finally back)
