Memoirs of Her Scent

by

Amaterasu Kinesi

(EDITED — Sept. 13, 2014)

Chapter One

First Sight

…

Reclining against the well-worn leather seat situated before my imperious mahogany desk, I find myself immersed in thought. Frowning, I pretend to stare out and straight ahead, just beyond the glass wall coated by cascading raindrops.

Each drop is like a visual representation of the despairing miasma of incongruent thoughts clouding my mind, which I find ever so indefinable. The dissonant connotation taunts my rational and wanders at the very edge of my frontal lobes.

Instead of seeing what's before me, I find myself preoccupied about what's to come. Not surprising, since strange occurrences have taken place within the Cullen household over the past few weeks. Particularly with the always estranged (by choice) member of our family.

The root of my current dilemma are these strange occurrences that, despite my reservations to continue doing otherwise, this very peculiar day has forced me to ponder upon. However, I have no choice in the matter and have grudgingly admitted that it is time to face the music.

After all, what other choice do I have? There's no escaping this anymore. Not when I am sitting here in my study, for the most part dressed to impress. Given the occasion, Alice has deemed it fit for me to be attired with semiformal clothing to match the event. Hence, I can no longer ignore the inevitable.

As a result, in an attempt to mentally prepare for the task ahead and the role I will inevitably have to play today, I continue to lose myself within my bedeviling thoughts. Meanwhile, outside the sky remains oblivious to my plight, the rain-clouds continue to drizzle down upon the glass wall undisturbed, and the raindrops methodically follow after each other, giving chase...

Regardless of what has been or of what's to come, the outcome remains the same. I still do not know what came over me. In actuality, I still don't know what came over the rest of us, for that matter.

Over and over again, I keep wondering, what was the deciding factor that made us bet against Alice? Of all vampires, how come I decided to bet against my mate, my sweet Alice? After all, Alice's insurmountable assurance wasn't unfounded.

Given her uncanny capability of seeing what's to come and voyaging ahead into the future, naturally, gave her an edge. Which, logically, gave way to her almost irrational confidence. In Alice's mind, her visions only had one possible outcome. And that would be, becoming reality (which, mind you, they would).

Therefore, who could blame Alice for being so overly confident in her visions?

Obviously, with my betting against a seer and said seer being my wife, it really shouldn't come as much of a surprise to anyone to learn that the odds were not in my favor. Except, well, it kind of was a surprise. To me, at least.

Sure, I love to bet. In fact, Emmett and I especially like to bet and challenge each other on a regular basis, just to prove whom the superior vampire is between the two of us. It's a game we've perfected. We continuously make the craziest bets and increase the stakes as high as only vampires with nothing to lose can, just to prove a point.

Silly really. But still, it is something that we all have fun with and enjoy doing together as a family.

But this time around, it was different. In many ways, it was different from any other bet that we have ever made and probably never will. Because this time, this time, I had to disagree with my lovely wife. What she'd been predicting just didn't make sense to me.

It just could not be true...

Edward the over-thinker could not be thinking of bending and breaking every rule imaginable to which we've been sticking to in order to coexist and not anger the vampire régime. No way could he be thinking of exposing all of us and talking more than his share, more than he is entitled to even, about our way of livelihood in order to get close to a measly human infant-girl.

Apart from Carlisle, Edward knows better than any of us the dangers his actions could inflict upon our precariously built 'human' lifestyle. Hence, impossible! And more importantly, the thought that Edward was planning to bring her here, into our home, our den, and introducing her to us as his most precious reason for existing simply was not possible either.

Nah… –Preposterous! I refuse to believe so. Edward, my brother, would not do that to us.

The likelihood of this preposterous possibility being remotely true was such a treacherous and positively unimaginable idea, that it was made almost laughable. Unacceptable. Really, I do not even know why I have been devoting so much of my time and thoughts into its likelihood, when it is, clearly, something that will not come to pass.

So, therefore, I cannot and will not agree with my precious Alice in regards to this matter. Simply, I refuse to.

Without a doubt, I love my wife. Notwithstanding, like any other couple, every so often Alice and I have things in which we clearly agree to disagree on. In fact, the understanding of our differentiating disagreements has strengthened us over the years...

God, how I love her.

Sometimes it feels like I cannot have or get enough of her! Alice inhabits me. Captivating from the silvery tone of her voice, to the way she always appears to dance and sway while she simply saunters her way across the room towards me. Somehow, always carrying her weight with such grace.

Not to mention her abiding optimism. And, yes, even her addiction, through the centuries, to the ever evolving fashions is something I find endearing... (Which does, on occasion, rub off on me as well. I will admit. But more of that later, there is a more pressing matter at hand that I must figure out.)

Perhaps, I can presume that Edward has a plan for his Bella. Simply, surely, he is luring this human girl into a false sense of security. Indubitably, she must mean and be nothing to him. Except prey.

But then again, logically, that would not precisely add up now, would it? I think dejectedly and shake my head. We are vegetarians, after all. I chuckle at our inner joke, vegetarians.

Sure, every once in a decade, one of us will slip up. The most likely candidate being me, sadly. But still, we do try hard not to disillusion Carlisle, our father figure, and keep our diet in check most of the time. Always straying away from likely temptations.

Far, far away, in my case.

So what is going on this time around with Edward? Not that Edward is the easiest person to read, but usually I'm the one who can get a clear read on him and still decipher what is going on in that self-derogatory head of Edward's by his feelings alone. And as of late, Edward's vacillating emotions have given me nothing short of metaphorical, emotional whiplash.

Within the last few weeks, Edward's feelings have been all over the place. Ranging from disturbed to irritated and then to amused, and back again with numerous interludes of great happiness and confusion in between. Basically, his emotions constantly assaulted my sanity in the most puzzling ways and I often found myself with no choice but to flee to some deserted place in an attempt to escape the overwhelming sensations emanating from him.

Inexplicably, those emotions of his seemed to intensify with each dawning day. Which, if I had really wanted to drive myself mad thinking about the issue and put some thought behind it, I would have concluded before today that this whole episode was an extreme rarity for Edward.

Since the man rarely, if ever, had so many varying emotions swirling within him at once. Much less within a day, so forget him carrying that internal turmoil out for a week. Nonetheless, nearly a week and a half later and Edward and his maddening fluctuating emotions were still driving me insane. Though they now mainly border on confusion and, of course, the ever-present curiosity.

(So, I suppose, I should be thankful that his emotions, intense as they were, are now only down to two. Sometimes, even I can be a glass half-full kind of guy.)

In fact, Edward almost, almost, seems to have regained some of his deteriorating humanity back. The very humanity he always claims to have lost in the ongoing war against his inner demon. Something I've deduced and been getting from Edward's constant swirl of emotions, according to him.

If you can't tell, I'll tell you now; Edward tends to incline towards the overly dramatic, that one does. Something one can only note and guess at, after spending some time getting to know Edward as I have, through his one-track mind and range of emotions.

What exactly is this so-called Bella Swan doing to our brother? I bitterly wonder for the hundredth time. (Sigh.) Truly, it seems impossible to decipher what is really going on in that head of his... Bella Swan has changed him so much and she has not even been a direct influence. Yet. Just thinking about it, I already dread the day… fast approaching.

In fact, just the other day, Edward had almost cut short our hunting trip, simply because he was worried about his little human experiment tripping! Seriously, I do not wish or want to think it… However, I am beginning to believe that my brother might be well on his way to becoming, or turning into, one of those mental case vampires that one happens upon every once in a while through the decades.

Now that's something I simply cannot accept!

I have tried telling myself that I'm being irrational and bordering on paranoid in my train of thinking, but the evidence is much too great to ignore. Particularly, when I have begun to notice things like Edward's deliberate absences, when he should be otherwise engaged with his signature brooding rituals.

Apparently, he's begun to stay away from the house for long periods of time, just to watch this human of his, Bella, sleep. I mean, come on, any way you put it, that is just plain boring, and weird. Actually, it's beyond weird. Bordering on creepy stalker, if I'm being honest.

But nonetheless, I try to keep my thoughts to myself and not think them too loudly around him, lest he decides to tune in. Something that would have proved to be more of a challenge had Edward been around the house to actually listen in on my errant thoughts.

At least, for longer than it takes him to get ready for school and the day ahead each morning. A task that never takes more than three minutes flat, at most, let me tell you.

…

"Jasper!" sings Alice. Swiftly, she cracks the door to my study open, only to find me seated at my desk and still pondering the afternoon away. Without hesitation, she sauntered into the room and I listen to the sound of her muted footfalls approach.

Plastering a welcoming smile across my lips as I file away my thoughts for later cataloging, I stand from the worn seat and receive my mate. Undoubtedly, Alice is a welcomed interruption. Turning just as swiftly as Alice had entered, I place a hand at her waist, inhale her in, and hold her close, for the next instant she's already in my arms.

Chuckling at the excitement that illuminates Alice's eyes, I gently press my lips to hers. Enjoying the feel of her lips against my own, I take a moment to deepen the kiss. Appreciating how she openly relents to my demands, willingly parting open her mouth, and molding her tongue with mine. This is my privilege, mine alone.

"Yes, Alice?" I whisper against her mouth. Savoring the taste of her name on my tongue, something I do each time I say her name. It always fascinates me, how I never tire of how right her name feels being uttered through the passage of my granite lips. Or better yet, how melodious my name sounds coming from hers. Just as right.

But best of all is the knowledge that Alice feels the same way. After all, she is the one that came looking for me, knowing that I had been about to go look for her. Even before I knew I would start searching for someone like Alice, or even began to realize that she would be the best thing to ever happen to me, and she became the only one I would need at my side; to have and to hold from this day forward… Alice had known to come find me.

"They're here!" she exclaims. Excitedly bouncing and dancing on the balls of her feet, she presses her lips to mine once again and threads her fingers through mine. Watching her, I chuckle inwardly. Can't help it.

And sure enough, I pay attention and listen; Edward and Bella have arrived. I could just hear and make out the quiet purr of Edward's Volvo ignition being extinguished and the crunching of the driveway gravel under its tires and weight.

(Sigh.) Yes, I lost the bet. Edward is, indeed, bringing his human, Bella, over and introducing her to his family—that is to say, us, the other lethal and potentially dangerous vampires.

Can you believe it? I know I still cannot believe it. Even though I'm undeniably right here, fully dressed for the occasion and awaiting their impending arrival, I'm still in a state of disbelief and utter denial. However, it seems that my shock and disbelief has been replaced by simple and unadulterated curiosity.

As it turns out, curiosity might be contagious, or I'm of that opinion at the moment. In other words, I'm secretly looking forward to meeting Edward's human—I mean, Bella.

What kind of human willingly walks into a houseful of vampires, honestly? I wonder. You see? This very question fuels my ever-growing curiosity about this human, despite my reservations, and propels me forward.

Just, don't tell Alice.

For as long as it lasts, I'll play along nicely. Of course, I'm not holding my breath. It won't be long before this Bella comes to her senses and goes off screaming into the night, running away from a den full of predatory vampires that can easily overpower her. Or realizes that she just about willingly committed suicide and has simply sealed her death certificate by simply agreeing to come here.

(Sounds to me like I just might enjoy undergoing through this torture, after all.)

"Are you ready?" I hear Edward ask her. He's nervous and fidgeting, I notice, surprised.

"No. But let's go," is Bella's equally nervous reply. A moment later I hear Edward chuckle, probably at her foolish bravery, as the willing prey and the besotted predator enter the vampires' den.

Curiosity increasing, I frown; Bella is nervous all right, just not the kind of nervous I would have expected from a–

"What are you thinking about?" Alice interrupts, sincerely curious, just like a kitten. I cannot help but chuckle. "What?" she asks sternly, eyes narrowing.

Slightly, I raise my eyebrows at her and issue a silent challenge, but let slip my comeback with a shake of my head. We do not need an argument to be issued at present time. I, too, am slightly nervous about this encounter. Empathic here, remember?

"Nothing," I sigh dramatically, knowing that it will annoy her. I never did say that I did not have time to spare for a tiny bit of revenge, now, did I?

"Jasper–" Alice begins, her eyes now narrowed into slits.

But she's interrupted by Edward's following words, "Where are Alice and Jasper?"

I tense, the moment has finally arrived. Might as well, I try to smile reassuringly down at Alice, but I suspect the gesture came out as more of a grimace.

"Come on," I urge, taking hold of her smaller hand in mine. "Edward's calling for us. Let's not be rude and meet his Bella."

Alice pouts, looking almost on the verge of arguing, but then remembers her previous excitement and follows my lead willingly. We exit my study hand in hand and head downstairs to follow through with the menial proceedings of good hosting manners.

Stealthily, we reached the foot of the stairs just as Bella stepped back from hugging Esme in greeting and started looking around the room in search of Alice and myself. When Bella's eyes met my mate's, Alice danced her way toward her.

"Bella!" Alice proceeded to greet in singsong, wrapping her arms around Bella in form of greeting. Bella, I could tell, was shocked by Alice's open display of affection, as was I, to be honest. But nonetheless happy and relieved.

She probably thinks that Alice's mannerism of greeting her is very much like a human's. Which admittedly, Bella is probably right in thinking so. While they embraced, I noticed that Bella's gaze lingered on mine, instantly captivating my undivided attention.

Feeling just slightly self-conscious, I found myself obligingly inclining my head in greeting, for some irrational reason, as Bella offered me a tentative smile in return.

Edward had already warned me and made it clear that he wanted me to stay well away from Bella. So at least, thankfully, I didn't have to exert myself and approach her in an effort to continue this charade of politeness.

Admittedly, at first, I did not understand his warning. Truth be told, I even felt slightly offended. True, I'm not as strong as he is at fighting my temptations and urges, much less at walking away from them. However, I also go to a school filled to the crevices with every kind of sweet and imaginable temptation, something that is practically a torture course for a reformed and struggling vampire like myself, and I still managed.

Therefore, even though I often resisted doing so, and succeeded for the most part, every once in a while, I would find myself envisioning different scenarios... and feeding my innate depravity. Some of which included, and were not limited to, me luring one of the unsuspecting humans somewhere inconspicuous. Once the human's exactly where I want it, I would, you know... reward myself by feasting on their exuberant elixir of life, the expected byproduct of my witty and alluring charm.

Of course, none of these rather gory and imaginative scenarios ever came into fruition. Since Edward was always there and ready to kick my chair under the table if necessary, just before my thoughts could get the best of me and I could start acting rather than simply planning on those varying and tempting scenarios.

As Bella blushed over something that Alice told her, something along the lines of, 'You do smell great, I never noticed before,' I understood Edward's reasoning and why his warning was necessary. Quivering and frigid with potential lack of control, I allow myself to take another measured and cautious sniff and–

Cue expletives, because Bella Swan smells so damned sweet—especially when she blushes, since the reaction only makes her scent even more maddeningly delicious and alluring, enticingly pronounced. In a word, sublime. Chiefly when I could easily see the luster of her lifeblood, accentuated invitingly over her rouging cheeks and conveying exceptional attention to her allure.

An appetizing sight, in and of itself, visible even to the human eye. The simple sight seems to purposely taunt me, and in turn, dare my demon to just reach out and—

Snap out of it! I told myself in admonishment. Before those rosy cheeks of Bella's could continue humming any more of their maddening and tempting allure of coercion, I blatantly unleash a calming wave of my power over her and soothe Bella's nervousness. Or more specifically her embarrassment, for my sake.

Besides, if I hadn't done that, the added visual of those stunning blood patches that bloomed in to sight over her cheeks so unexpectedly would have been my undoing. Not missing a thing, Edward took immediate notice of the subtle change and frowned at me. In response I simply shrugged and with slight surprise noticed that Bella was now looking at me with a look that could only be saying, 'Thank you, Jasper.'

Edward must have told her about me. I assume, rather smugly. Feeling quite pleased by the thought, I turn my attention back on the human (correction, Bella) and her dwindling blush. Instantly, I feel inexplicably chagrined and bereft by the absence of her blush…

Gazing at Bella, images of the numerous enticing and possible scenarios in which my demon and I could orchestrate a plan with which to lure the oblivious Bella away from the rest of the family begin to take form. Henceforth, I could easily steal her away from peering eyes or listening ears to some secluded and obscure place, away from Edward, where my demon and I could gorge and feast...

It would be so easy…I hear my demon whisper in my ear, encouraging. Can you taste her in the air, in our tongue?

However, Esme's next words save me from further fighting against my very nature: "Edward, why don't you play the piano for her?"

With great effort I come back to the now, and avoid glancing at Edward as I blink and stop breathing, desperately extricating my thoughts further away from the reach of the ones of my own demon. Once again in control, I notice with some amusement that Esme's tone carried a tenor of smugness as she spoke.

Latching on to that curios tidbit, I empty my mind of all other thoughts and observe how Esme's smugness seems to resurface and swell into pride each time Edward's hand searches for Bella's. Or when he simply held her close.

"I thought you said I shouldn't show off," Edward objects tauntingly, a smile dominating his features. However, I don't miss the subtle warning he sends my way with his emotions under the cover of that smile. With a taut nod I acknowledge the warning, and mentally promise him to keep my distance, which seemed to satisfy him.

Bella, it seems, wants nothing more than to listen to him play the piano. From what I can feel, Bella seems to think that Edward can do anything and everything, and perfectly at that. She already regards him with such high esteem, I cautiously note and the thought irks me. When Bella voices her thoughts and confirms my suspicions, I chuckle hollowly in comparison to the jovial laughter of others.

"There are exceptions to every rule." Esme assures him with a kind smile directed at the two of them, her smugness almost palpable to everyone around her. With that, Edward sighs with mock exasperation and offers his hand for Bella to take. With her dainty hand in his larger proffered palm, Edward takes Bella with him as we follow and leads her toward the room with his precious piano.

Once there, Edward sits and Bella follows to do the same, sitting next to him and looking content to remain at his side. Taking this opportunity as my cue for dismissal, I more than willingly, along with the others, give the besotted pair some privacy. Opting for heading back to my study with Alice following close behind.

In truth, I think I'm giving myself some much-needed privacy.

Unfortunately, I'm rapidly and uncomfortably becoming well aware of the taunting effect Bella's blood has over me. With exaggerated awe (if I may say so myself), I wonder how Edward can handle being around her and not give in to the temptation of allowing his demon dominion.

After all, if Edward is to be believed, Bella smells more appealing to him than she does to the rest of us—or to me, in particular. But I swear, I must be a very, very close second.

…

"They look so good together," Alice sighs happily, "it's like they were made for each other. Don't you think?"

"Sure enough," I agree, sitting down.

The moment I settle into the chair, a small crease forms and deepens on my crinkling forehead, which I instantly try to smooth out. Soon after I realize that I might be reading too much into this situation. Though Alice does not press for the answers behind my sudden somber mood, I know and can see that the she has not overlooked my frown with her all seeing eyes.

All seeing eyes, really? (Eye roll.) How lame can I get? Boy, am I losing it... slowly but steadily. I'm sure of it.

"Do you think Edward's told her all about us yet?" Alice asks.

"Like you don't know," I tease.

Though I don't believe I have a right to be at the moment, I'm suddenly overwhelmingly thankful for the reprieve Alice's question offers. Inwardly I sigh, thankful for the distraction. Also, I don't have any idea as to why I am feeling so thankful, or much less any inkling as to why I feel so very relieved as well, and that is something I find most unsettling.

Nonetheless, it seems like those are the two dominating emotions I am feeling at the moment. Glancing at Alice, I search her face, mouth, and eyes for answers to a question I have yet to voice. But speaking isn't necessary, she's already there with me and I do not have to search far or long to find a satisfactory explanation.

The simple solution is right there, in the reflection of the widows to her soul, and staring back at me from within the eyes of my beloved's, waiting for me to decipher its meaning. Alice is steadily meeting my gaze with understanding and smiling my favorite smile. The very smile that reaches her topaz eyes and lights them up from within, making her look breathtaking and irresistible to my eyes.

Taking Alice by the waist, I jerk her towards me and position her in between my parted thighs. Once I have her where I want her, I kiss Alice on the mouth and she responds, moving her lips softly against mine. Wanting to prolong this chaste kiss for as long as possible, I hold her close and we continue exchanging breaths with each brush of our lips.

Starting along the ticklish skin over Alice's ribs, my hands simultaneously traverse the expanse of her slim curves with familiarity and reverently appraise the slight cambers on either side of her resilient frame, from torso to waist. The moment my palms meet at the small of her back, my deft fingers linger on the silver of skin her blouse fails to cover from my touch and Alice shudders at the sensation.

Breaking our kiss, I take a moment to look into the eyes of my beloved and skimming my fingers along that proffered silver of skin, I silently ask her permission to take things further. Biting her bottom lip to stifle a moan, my beloved nods and I brazenly find my way beneath her shirt with my palms firmly pressed against the skin of her lower back.

Finally, skin to skin contact, and another shudder runs over Alice. Humming deep in my throat in appreciation, I close my eyes and take a moment to absorb the marvelous sensation of her skin against mine. Alice feels so warm beneath my touch that my hands start trembling with need and her sporadic shudders become a constant tremor of anticipation under my touch.

Continuing my gentle explorations upward and across Alice's narrow back, my hands follow the path along the knotted trajectory of her spine to the nape of her neck without straying and bunching up her blouse out of the way in the process. Cradling Alice's gauntly neck in my strong hands that only know how to be gentle when it comes to my mate, the ventured quest comes to a stop and I gaze down at my beloved, breathtaking with her small body now arched against mine.

For a fraction of an instant our eyes meet and Alice's hooded ones are half hidden beneath her fluttering eyelids, but the heat I find in them is unmistakable. Enchanted by the vision she represents, my eyes smile at her and I feel vulnerable in my exposure. Brazenly, Alice reciprocates my smile with one of her own and eagerly waits to see what my next move might be.

"Alice," I murmur her name before kissing her again and her eyes shut closed, enjoying the sound of my voice and my kiss. The sound is like a reverent praise against the treasure of Alice's parting lips. Meanwhile, I make sure that my mouth never abandons hers and muster all the love that I constantly feel for the woman in my arms, simply uttering her given name again. Comparable to a breathless caress, I ardently repeat, "Alice."

"I love you too," her tremulous reply reciprocates. My lips turn up into a smile and I open my mouth, granting my cold tongue passage to trace the tip along Alice's inviting, plump lower lip. Quivering with the same want and need that currently threatens to consume every inch of me, I more than willingly allow my desire tenure the moment I feel Alice shaking in my arms.

So long as I can be allowed to enjoy more of what Alice has to offer when we touch, I would willingly drown in this need alongside her. Other than Alice, there is no one on this earth that could possibly know the meaning behind the gentle stroke of my tongue better than her.

As if to attest this, she opens her mouth to grant my tongue entry and without hesitation I gratuitously take what she offers. My questing tongue reaches for a taste of her succulent ambrosia in silent response to her plea and I savor the memorable taste of Alice as our tongues meet. Withdrawing from the kiss, I opt for a taste of her skin on my tongue and with a small sound of protest, Alice obliges and arches her neck.

Smiling, I bow my neck and tenderly kiss her throat. The gesture earns me an appreciative little moan that borders on impatient and causes me to chuckle as Alice squirms against me. Deciding to give her some of what she wants, I start branding kisses against her skin. Starting from the hollow at the base of her throat and working my way up to the outer shell of her left ear.

"I know," I whisper in Alice's sensitized ear, where I have taken my time to trace a series of butterfly kisses, just as she lets out a whimper.

Between whispers of nothingness and butterfly kisses here and there, I marvel at the ease of us and how responsive Alice is. In turn, she drag something out of me with her responses and that which remains dormant most of the time awakens at her touch.

Amidst fumbling caresses and quakes that cannot be suppressed, Alice and I continued to acknowledge each other's presence through touch. In silence. Holding onto each other while suspended in time and needing nothing more than the other and these fleeting and innocent touches to convey our meaning while we strip off all pretenses.

Then, and only then, can we see each other for who we truly are. As we gaze and smile at one another, we know there's no point in hurrying through this moment and that this is only the beginning...

…

As stated above, this is how I first became aware of Isabella Swan. The first time I really saw her... my first sight of her. True, you would have thought that going to the same school as her every day (with some deliberate exceptions), I would have taken notice of Bella at some point and probably before now.

But it really didn't happen like that. At least, I had never seen her, not prior to today.

After all, I've always been a little too busy concentrating on not killing any unsuspecting or innocent civilians to give Bella Swan the time of day. Now that I have, however, I desperately wish I could go back to my earlier ignorance of her existence. Or somewhere where forgetting is allowed so that I can erase everything about Bella and her unmistakably delicious scent, which will forevermore remain engraved into my memory and my demon's otherwise.

…

But that should not matter to me now…

After tracing her hands up my stomach to my neck, Alice pulls me to her by the collar of my shirt with a playful tug and unmistakable laughter, and I do little to resist her. Instead, I blindly and willing follow through with her every desire. Even to the depths of damnation, if that is where she wants me to follow, I would follow her.

For her, and with her, I would do anything.

"I love you," we say together—in unison, forever bound to each other's spell. Or is it our damnation?