A/N - Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to review, etc. Your comments mean more than you know and I am responding....just not as quickly as I would like to!!
Thanks once again to LolaRose for PB'ing and changedbyEdward for being the wonderful beta and friend that she is!
Stephenie Meyer owns everything Twilight. Just borrowing!! :o)
Chapter 18
(Edward's POV)
I lay on the hotel room bed staring at the ceiling, waiting. For so long I had fought to stay away from her to keep her safe and now, when all I wanted to do was to run to her, I couldn't. Groaning in frustration, I leapt to my feet and resumed pacing the hotel room floor. That had been my holding pattern since Emmett had dropped me off, promising to call as soon as there was news.
I glanced at the clock for the millionth time, calculating immediately that it had been 38 hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds from then, and only 6 minutes since the last time I had done the calculation. I moved to the glass door and stared out at the Seattle skyline, silently begging the phone to ring.
Twelve glances at the clock and 73 minutes later, I got my wish. I flew to the phone and barked Emmett's name before the first ring, completely unhinged. "Emmett, tell me!"
"Ed, man. You've got to chill!" My brother's voice boomed through the receiver. "If ya don't calm down, I'm not telling you anything."
I growled into the phone and listened to dead silence on the other end. Fully aware that Emmett was more than willing to play this cat and mouse game with me for as long as it took, I forced myself to relax. After a few more moments of silence, I found my voice. "Alright Emmett, I'm calm. Now will you please tell me how she is?"
A deep chuckle echoed through the phone and I fought the urge to rush over to the house and feed the receiver to him personally. "Well how about you come and see for yourself?" His voice dropped to a whisper and I knew whatever he was about to say was completely his idea. "We're taking her hunting at the back of the property where I took you after your little outburst. Ed, I'm telling you this so you won't miss out on the fun of seeing her first hunt as a newborn, but don't you do anything to screw this up. Carlisle asked you to stay away and to give her time and he's right, but I figured you could at least watch her from a distance. Don't make me regret my decision, cuz you know I'll make you pay!"
"Thanks, Em. You'll never know I'm there."
"I gotta go. Rose is going to be here any minute and I don't want her to know I called."
The phone disconnected immediately and I hoped for his sake that Rose hadn't heard him talking to me. If I was going to make it before them, I was going to have to hurry. I ran for the door, grabbing my room key and shoving it into my pocket as I went. I moved through the crowded hotel at a snail's pace, not wanting to draw anyone's attention.
I made my way through the city streets, jogging at human speed when there were crowds and a bit faster when I had room to move. Soon enough I found myself at the dense tree line that snaked alongside the Washington highway and allowed my vampire speed to take over. In minutes I came to the vast meadow that Emmett had told me they would visit and I searched out a large cedar to perch in so that I would be out of their view.
I closed my eyes and inhaled, venom surging to my throat as I sensed a large herd of mule deer at the far end of the field. I fought back my thirst and settled in, knowing it would not be long until they found them as well. Emmett's thoughts came into range as they crossed the ravine, still miles from the meadow. "We're on our way, bro. Don't fuck this up!" His thoughts were loud and clear.
I listened to their laughter as they made their way through the bush, and then watched for them as their voices silenced, deadly hunters approaching their prey. I sat in awed silence as I realized that Bella and Rosalie were hunting together. Rosalie's thoughts were a flurry of activity as she whispered instructions to her unseen companion. I was unsure whether I was more frustrated or relieved that Bella's mind was still silent to me in death. As crazy as it had always driven me that I never knew what she was thinking, I also knew it had always been a comfort to her that she had retained a sense of privacy.
I continued to listen as the girls made their way towards the meadow, Emmett following closely behind. If it had been at all possible, his heart would have burst out of his chest, he was so proud of his wife for taking Bella under her wing. I smiled and knew I would have to thank them both for helping her when I could not.
I saw Rosalie exit the trees and rush towards the unknowing herd, expertly taking down a doe and once again I fought the venom that surged into my throat. My thirst would have to wait. And then, all thoughts vanished from my mind. My Bella. My beautiful Bella.
I watched in awe as she sped towards the herd, mimicking Rosalie's movements perfectly. Her beautiful mahogany tresses were pulled back into a simple ponytail, revealing her sparkling neck to me in its full glory. Emotions swelled in my chest as I watched my beloved drink from the neck of the deer she had taken down. She was quite simply... breathtaking.
I quickly thought back to the visions that Alice had pushed at me anytime she had tried to convince me that Bella would be mine for all eternity. Her visions had been a mere hint of the dark angel that now stood before me. She was exquisite.
She finished quickly and stood, holding the deer's body until Emmett came to her rescue, explaining how to hide the remains. I couldn't take my eyes off her porcelain skin that sparkled under the sunlight. Her slender figure had taken on a few more curves and she stood with a dancer's grace. I longed to reach out and wrap my arms around her. I needed to feel the touch of the wisps of her hair as they brushed against my cheek. I needed to breathe in her aroma of freesia and honey as I brushed my lips against her milk-white skin. But I could do none of these things. Not yet.
I leaned back against the trunk of the tree and studied her as she took another deer to the ground. She moved with such ease and grace. The deer never knew what happened as she drained its body of its essence as well. Carlisle and Esme came into view and I watched as they rushed towards me, planning to cut the herd off at the other end. In less than a heartbeat, Carlisle had the largest stag on the ground and I smiled as I watched Bella take in their quick movements. She had always wanted to watch us hunt, something I had told her could never happen, and I was sure she understood my reasoning now. How I longed to drop to the ground and ask her what she was thinking; what she was feeling.
I was so immersed with the vision of her; I was stunned back to reality as Carlisle spoke to me from his thoughts. I should have known he would sense my presence here. Although I hated the situation, I understood his reasoning and would not disappoint him any further by allowing Bella to see me. I knew he only had her best interests at heart so planned to do my best to abide by his wishes.
My spirits rose a bit more as Esme came into my view, hugging Bella to her side. I had missed my 'parents' and it pleased me to see how much Esme had already claimed Bella as one of her own. It wasn't surprising as I had seen this relationship happening before that fateful night when I forced everyone to agree to my wishes. Esme's heart had been broken that night because not only was she losing the daughter she had grown to love as one of her own, she knew she was also losing me.
I shook away the dark thoughts, allowing them to fall back beneath the cobwebs of my mind and listened as they discussed returning to the house to see if Alice and Jasper had arrived.
Bella seemed so happy, so content in her new life. It seemed impossible that her transformation could have gone so smoothly – she was simply exceptional in every way possible. Jealousy tugged at my brain as I watched Emmett tease her, pulling her beautiful hair and running with her. How I longed to reach out and do the same. I watched as the three of them ran off together towards the house.
I contemplated approaching my parents before they followed, but noticed them wrapped together in a tender moment so I purposely headed off in the other direction, avoiding their conversation. I had done so much to hurt them in the past few months, the least I could do was give them some privacy. Alone again, I headed deep in the forest, anxious to quench my thirst and immerse myself in the memory of seeing my true love again.
(Bella's POV)
The rush of the hunt had been exhilarating and I pushed myself to the limit, running and jumping with ease like I had never experienced before. I laughed as I ran, enjoying the rush of the air as I flew through the trees towards the house. I easily beat Emmett to the steps and sat to wait for them.
I had barely sat down before the French doors opened behind me and I found myself in a tight hug. I laughed and turned to face the pixie that held me in a stranglehold. "You're squishing me, Alice"
"And you, my dear sister, are hardly breakable!" Delight danced in Alice's eyes as she kissed my cheek. "Welcome to our world, Bella!!"
I smiled in response and then looked past her to see Jasper standing in the doorway, grinning at me tentatively. "Jasper." I moved towards him with open arms and squealed as he picked me up off the ground and hugged me tightly, spinning us once around the deck. Alice's face was lit up like a Christmas tree as he let me down from his embrace.
"Bella, darlin', it is so nice not to have to worry about biting you anymore," Jasper drawled as he moved to wrap Alice in a hug.
"It's nice not to have to worry about that either, Jasper." We moved into the house and chatted together as we waited for Carlisle and Esme to return.
It was amazing how much more I could see with my new vision. Every color seemed to take on a new life, various shades flowing into each other. I wandered around the room, half listening to the conversation as I took in the design of the different textures of wood, fabric and stone that graced the library we sat in.
I reached out to touch the wood of the bookshelves, running my finger against the grain of the wood, careful not to mark it with too heavy a touch. There was such a fine line between too little and too much and I realized that the life of a vampire meant walking that tightrope very carefully if you didn't want to be exposed.
I sighed and moved towards the couch, wanting to join in on the conversation that flowed so easily between my new brothers and sisters. They were so at ease with each other and the love they felt towards one another was a devotion I did not recall having in my previous existence. I knew my parents had loved me, but they had both been selfish in their own way as well.
I felt Carlisle's presence as soon as he entered the room and looked up to greet him with a smile. I felt connected to the whole family, but knew that my bond with Carlisle would be stronger since he had been the one to sire me. Esme followed him in and wandered over to sit beside me, her cool hand patting mine as she curled up into the pillows.
I glanced around the room, taking in the faces that now meant the world to me. Family. I felt as if my heart would burst with the feelings that sparked through my veins. Yet, there was a fear as well. A fear that part of me had been forever lost in my transition. There was an emptiness inside that I couldn't pinpoint. I only hoped that with time, I would be able to lay it to rest.
End of chapter - reviews might help Bella find what she is missing!!
