A/N - Lots of speculation on who Mike was thinking of for bait...and it has to be an even split on who should kick his ass when it comes time LOL! Thanks for the wonderful feedback guys - lots coming up in the next few chaps!
Much love to changedbyEdward for her rockin' beta skills and for being such a great friend.
You all know it by now. I am just borrowing. Stephenie Meyer owns it all and by no means is there any copyright infringement intended!!
Chapter 25
(Edward's POV)
As much as I had hated leaving, I knew Carlisle had been right in sending me away.
A smile toyed at my lips as I recalled how feisty Bella could get whenever I tried to take the blame for something or overstepped with my protectiveness. She was so fragile. Or at least she had been. Now she was anything but…
Venom pooled at the back of my throat as I attempted to quell the lustful thoughts I had been fighting almost since the moment I had laid eyes on her, but even more so since her change.
Even though she had considered herself average at best, I had always found her beautiful, but now she was absolutely exquisite. I chuckled at the thought because it had been the way Alice had described her form the first time she had seen her as one of us. Never bet against Alice. Closing my eyes, I drank in the warmth as her soft voice spoke to me from a different time.
I lay back on the stone slab and allowed myself to drift back to happier days. I had bottled and corked these memories the day I left Bella, knowing that if I allowed myself to remember I would never have been able to stay away.
It didn't matter anymore. Even if Bella never forgave me, I would walk by her side in the shadows for all eternity.
A rustle from the bushes behind me brought me out of my reverie and I grinned at Emmett as he dropped onto the rock beside me. Grinning back, he punched me in the arm, and then stretched out, leaning back against his arms. Rainbows of color ricocheted off his face as the sun's rays poured down on us.
Once again, I turned back time. It's like diamonds. You're beautiful. Her voice was a gentle whisper against my skin, a faint melody haunting my memory.
A cuff to the back of my head brought me back to reality once again. "What was that for?"
"What was that for? Really, Ed – I fucking well feel like Jasper over here – the emotion coming off of you is too much!"
"I didn't ask you to come with me, Emmett."
"No, but ya might have curled up in a ball in the middle of the forest if I hadn't!" Emmett stared at me intently and then softened his tone. "Ed, bro, ya gotta relax. She loves you. You have to be an idiot not to see it. But she's hurt. You really hurt her when you left, plus everything with her dad's death. Cut her some slack!"
"I know."
"What? Don't tell me the mighty Edward is actually admitting that someone else might be right about something."
I rolled my eyes and shoved him hard, knowing I was only provoking the beast within. Fifteen minutes later, our clothes filthy and torn, we sat together on the rock laughing, unsure of who had actually won the brawl, but each of us claiming victory. It felt good to be amongst family again, even though everything was still pretty well a mess. I had missed Emmett's light heartedness and ability to laugh even when things were bleak.
When our laughter and insults had finally died down, I settled back against the rock, allowing the sun to soothe and warm me. Emmett was quiet for a bit and was doing his best to keep me out of his head, although I knew he was arguing with himself about how he should proceed.
"Em…just say what you want to say. Get it off your chest."
"It's nothing really. Just wondering what Victoria is trying to accomplish. It's weird, man…I mean I get what she was trying to do with Charlie, but what about those two girls and Newton?"
"I don't know, although I am thinking she is out to make Bella suffer in any way she can. I can't believe that Newton is a newborn, but Alice seems to be convinced. I keep thinking his body is going to turn up somewhere."
"She's not wrong very often, Ed." And she was right all along about Bella. I grimaced at his thought. "Sorry bro."
"No, you're right. Everything I have done where Bella is concerned was a mistake. But I can't change what's happened."
"No, but you can make it right now. You are going to have to be patient and it is gonna have to be on Baby Bell's terms, but you can fix this." The look on my face must have told him I needed more convincing. "Listen, we are gonna do a bit more hunting and then we are gonna head for home. I can't take your pansy-assed moods any longer. Once we get home, you two are gonna have to talk to each other and for fuck sake, Edward – don't just talk, but listen, too."
With that, Emmett was back on his feet. "C'mon…I thought I caught a whiff of a mountain lion when I was messin' with that last grizzly. I just might let ya have it, but you have to beat me to it, first!"
I watched my brother's lumbering frame head off for the forest, knowing that even with the head start, there was no way he would beat me. I stood and stretched, staring out over the landscape below – my whole mindset lighter than it had been. Emmett was right, Bella and I needed to talk and hopefully, even if we couldn't be together, we would be able to salvage a friendship out of the mess I had created. I laughed as I heard the low roar of a grizzly amongst the trees followed by a loud crash and took off after my brother, the lure of the mountain lion calling to me as I ran.
(Mike POV)
I sat far up in the tree, as close to the house as I dared and watched as she brushed her long dark hair. She seemed to be deep in thought and I could hear her humming to herself as she passed the brush through, stroke after stroke. Her scent floated from the window, faint by the time it got to me but I still caught the hint of cinnamon and honey.
Venom lightly pooled in my mouth, but I resisted, thankful that I had drunk more than my fill before venturing this close. We needed her and we needed her alive, at least until we put the plan in motion. Victoria had wanted to come with me, unsure of my ability to bring the girl in without sampling the merchandise. She had so little faith in me, but I was pleased she was unaware of how strong I really was or how much I could resist.
Victoria was exciting and she made time pass a little easier, but as far as I was concerned, she was a means to an end. Once we started this, there would be no going back and I would be that much closer to having my desires fulfilled. Bella. I thought that I had wanted her before, but since my immortal life had begun, she had become an obsession, her chocolate eyes and red lips an ever lingering presence in my mind. I had to watch myself around Victoria constantly, her hatred of Bella so strong that I couldn't even utter the name in her presence. Little did she know that the majority of the time that I was fucking her, Bella was who I was imagining in her place.
I chided myself for the harsh realization that Victoria meant nothing more to me than a passing fling. But there was no denying what was meant to be. I had lost my heart to Bella Swan the first day she stepped foot into Forks High and there was no letting go now. Only one thing stood in my way. Fucking Cullen. But he wasn't a worry to me anymore. I knew my strengths and I knew his weakness. Not to mention the 15 – 20 newborns backing me or the wrath of Victoria.
Movement in the bedroom brought me back to the task at hand as I watched her grab her knapsack and jean jacket. Morning sounds echoed through the trees as the family ate breakfast together and discussed their schedules for the day. Time passed quickly and I watched as each person took their leave, my conquest the last one out the door as she made her way down the lane to wait for the bus that would be by in a few minutes.
I dropped to the ground soundlessly and made my way through the trees, I needed to get close, but not too close. I glanced down at my ripped clothing, Victoria had taken great pleasure in helping with the ruse, and grabbed some dirt to rub against my face and hands.
I could see her. There was no sound of the bus yet so time was on my side.
"Help!! Someone, please help me!!" I slumped against the tree and waited, watching her as shock then recognition crossed her face. I moaned slightly and let my head fall back. "Help me, please."
"Mike!!! Oh my goodness, Mike is that you??" I heard the sweet innocent voice of Angela Weber as she dropped her knapsack to the ground and ran towards me, terrified yet thrilled to see me in one piece.
"Ang, is that you? Oh God, Ang, please can you help me?" I moaned again and attempted to stand, grimacing with pain, squinting my eyes closed.
"Mike, oh my God! We thought you were dead!" I felt her hands reach for me and I grabbed at her wrist, careful not to crush it. Her scent enveloped me and I fought for control, the pull of how delicious she would taste battling hard to take over the importance of using her as bait. Chocolate brown eyes flashed in my mind and I corralled the monster.
"Ang, I knew I could count on you," I smiled as I pulled her close, clamping my hand over her mouth. The look of fear for my condition quickly turned to fear for her own life as she stared into my face, her eyes registering the colour of my eyes as they stared down at her. I watched as her own eyes welled with tears under the glasses she wore and I shook my head at her lightly.
"No, Ang….none of that. I'm not gonna hurt you, but I need you to come with me." I tightened my grip on her a bit as she fought against me and she quieted immediately, already sensing that she stood no chance against my strength. "Now, do I need to do anything drastic or will you do as I say?" I watched as she fought through the emotions and gave me a slight nod. "I'm gonna trust you to behave yourself, Angela. Don't make me regret my decision."
With that, I swung her onto my back and she instinctually wrapped her arms around my neck as I held her legs to my sides. I took off through the trees, ignoring the tears that were now flowing freely down my back. It meant nothing to me. We may have been friends in a previous life, but she was now nothing more than a pawn. A pawn that I would have to protect until we could put our plan in motion. That being the case, I had asked Victoria to find a place for us to keep Angela, knowing that a human stood little chance of surviving at the warehouse, whether we forbade it or not.
I slowed my pace as we approached the rendezvous where Victoria was meeting us. The flow of tears had stopped and I felt Angela's warm breath against my neck. She had either fallen asleep, exhausted, or passed out from the trauma. I stopped and dropped her to the ground, turning to find her dark eyes, swollen from her tears, staring at me.
"What happened to you?" Her voice was soft, a gentle whisper. I thought about answering, but didn't get the chance, Victoria arriving at that moment. She stalked towards Angela and grabbed her by the hair, moving her head roughly to make sure there were no bite marks on either side of her neck. Satisfied, she let go, but added a little shove so that Angela's head snapped against the tree trunk.
Angela gasped and moaned at the action, but shut up quickly as I motioned for her to be quiet. The girl had always been smart and she seemed to realize that Victoria was not someone to mess with.
Victoria moved towards me, her eyes grazing over my body and I could smell her desire in the air. Reaching for me, she pulled me into a fiery kiss and then released me. Positioning herself behind me, she rested her chin on my shoulder and wrapped her arms around me from behind, her nails raking over my chest. "So," she purred, "I see you were successful in securing a snack for us."
Angela's eyes grew wide in terror and I felt Victoria shake with silent laughter against my back. Torment and terror were a game of pleasure to her and I knew that she would amuse herself to no end at Angela's expense before we were able to put things in motion.
I cocked my eyebrow at Angela, silently conveying a message for her to not try and escape, then pulled Victoria around to face me. Burying my face against her neck, I bit and got the reaction I wanted as she moaned against me. "Now Vic, don't be threatening our guest."
I pulled away and grabbed a fist of her hair in my hand. "Why don't you lead the way to where Angela will be staying? I don't know about you, but I can think of better ways to spend the day than hanging out with a happy meal." I pulled her to me and kissed her fiercely, my tongue forcing its way through her lips to join hers.
Victoria tilted her head back and laughed, a deep guttural laugh that I knew only too well and she pushed me away, taking off running into the forest. In a flash I had Angela on my back again and we raced off to follow. I could feel her heart beating against my back and I fought against the thirst, tightening my grip as I darted through the trees, the stream of scorching red hair my guide. I sensed Ang's terror, but felt no urge to console her – she was but a pawn in the game, nothing more. I wouldn't drink from her and I would be sure that she was kept alive, but not for her….only for Bella. Bella was all that mattered.
End of chapter - Ch 26 & 27 are already done and with my lovely beta. Reviews just might get them posted more quickly!!! :)
