Chapter 8—Chocolate Works

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

Charles M. Schulz

Edward's POV

With the help of Ms. Cope's recipe box, I was able to make her hot cocoa with ease. I did change it up a little, adding a mixture of crushed peppermint and cinnamon to Bella's cup. I took a sip and there was a hint of flavor. My hope was that it would help Bella to sleep and heal as well as protect her and do whatever Malcolm felt the cocoa would do. I made three more, with cinnamon only, before making my way back.

Bella was sitting up in bed. She looked sickly and very pale, and she shivered even though the blanket was drawn up to her chin. It concerned me.

"Here, this should warm you." I offered her the mug I doctored as Esme took the tray from me.

"Thanks."

My eyes wandered around the room, noting the additions for the first time—the vase of colored stones sat next to the bed, and a vase of feverfew, white heather, and sprigs of juniper were on the table in the sitting area. The accents Esme added while we'd shopped should help to protect Bella. I didn't want any harm to come to her while we both slept.

When I turned, Bella was making a face, peering into the mug she held. I couldn't tell if she liked the cocoa or not.

"Don't you like it?" I asked.

"It has a familiar taste," she answered. "I'm trying to figure out what's making it so good. I taste cinnamon, but there's something else." She took another sip, letting the cocoa sit on her tongue a moment before swallowing. "I've got it!" She snapped her fingers. "Peppermint."

Her eyes were alight with—I couldn't really name what it was I saw. It was like the somberness that had been present since I met her vanished, being replaced with sunshine.

"My mom used to put candy canes in cocoa, saying, 'A little Christmas will warm the heart.' I usually fell asleep shortly after I finished the cocoa but woke feeling refreshed, as if whatever had been troubling me never happened."

I smiled.

Bella fell silent, staring at nothing but continuing to sip the chocolate drink.

Esme turned to me, wordlessly asking if I knew. I shook my head in reply; I'd been reluctant to ask Bella anything about her parents.

The buzzer sounded. "That should be your grandfather." I moved to the intercom to confirm. "I'll be right back."

Esme followed me. "If you didn't know, then why did you put peppermint in hers?"

"To help her sleep and heal. The fainting spells can't be healthy."

"No, they can't, but is it wise to use your magical powers to ensure she sleeps?"

"I'm not using magic. I'm using my knowledge of plants, herbs, and spices—nothing more."

"And the stones and flowers you had me put in the room?"

"Are nothing more than colorful stones and flowers—a decorative feature," I said with a wave of my hand.

"I hope you know what you are doing."

We stared at each other.

Did I know what I was doing?

Yes, I did.

There was no doubt in my mind that I had to protect Bella. I glanced at my watch; we had a minute or two more before Malcolm would be up the driveway. "How does Carlisle know Malcolm?"

"We've been friends with him for years. I think Charlie and Renee Swan introduced us."

Hmm, that was interesting. "It's hard to believe I never met Bella before now," I said, trying to bait Esme.

She didn't bite.

The lights of Malcolm's car coming to a stop outside had me moving to the front door. His face was unreadable as he got out and climbed the few front steps.

"How is Isabella?" Malcolm asked.

It was Esme that answered. "It's hard to tell. She's resting, and I wouldn't be surprised if she falls asleep soon."

Malcolm nodded. "I didn't want to say anything to Bella, when she was at the embassy, but she needs it." He wiped his hand down his face. "Any ideas on why she fainted?"

"None that makes sense," I answered. "She mentioned that it was like she was part of a kaleidoscope and that the temperature in the room went up."

A hmmm resounded from Malcolm. "I'm not sure what to make of that. It's a bit strange. I'd liked to speak with her alone, if she's awake."

I led him to Bella's room. He went in, and a few minutes later, Carlisle joined Esme and me in the kitchen with the tray and one empty mug.

Bella's POV

It was a struggle to keep my eyes open. The peppermint was slowly working its magic, and a loud yawn escaped me.

"You should get some sleep," Carlisle said in a low, almost hypnotic, voice.

I couldn't close my eyes or relax until the kaleidoscope of emotions settled. With Grandfather coming, I could speak freely with him about what overcame me and caused me to collapse. Fear kept me from telling Edward and his adoptive parents. I was afraid they would flee from me if they knew that I wasn't like them, that I had magical abilities.

Grandfather entered the bedroom, and after a brief word with Carlisle, sent him from the room.

"Isabella," he greeted.

"Grandfather." I yawned again.

His gaze drifted around the room. "It seems someone is trying to protect you."

"What do you mean?"

"The flowers," he said, motioning to the small sitting area inside a bay window.

I hadn't noticed them earlier. They were indeed for protection, but who would want to keep me safe?

Edward?

Ms. Cope?

"And the vase of stones," he added.

"I'm sure both are for decoration. But since you mention the vase, do you know what the red stones do?"

"Yes." His eyes landed on me, giving a caring but stern look. "Red provides protection from fears and anxieties."

"That's interesting. Three colors of protection in one vase—if they're meant to protect me and aren't just décor."

Grandfather shrugged and then gave me another stern look that made me squirm.

"You didn't tell me that you were suffering fainting spells earlier. Why?"

Shame washed over me, and I turned away from his gaze. "Would it have made a difference if I had?" I asked.

"Mayhap it would have. How long ago did they start?" he asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking hold of my left hand.

"Three weeks ago. They started the night I first went to Driftwood Bar," I admitted, still not looking at him.

His left hand came up caressing my cheek and making me look at him. It reminded me of when I went running to him as a child in tears. I hadn't wanted to move away from him and Grandmother. He had gathered me up in his lap and wiped away my tears, explaining that I had to go with my parents, but that I would get to visit and he and Grandmother would come see me. A sigh left me. I was so tired.

"Did you feel or sense anything?"

"Not until tonight."

"Describe what you were doing before you collapsed. Leave no detail out."

"Edward and I were putting away the clothes I'd bought. I was standing near the dresser, and he was hanging things in the closet. He was saying something about watching a movie when we finished, I heard him, but like we were in a tunnel—he was at one end and I the other. I grew very warm, and then everything around me blurred. When I told Carlisle, I compared the sensation to looking through a kaleidoscope."

"Hmmm. The first time you fainted, did you experience the same sensation?"

"Not exactly. I did get warm and blacked out the next moment, but no prism effect."

Grandfather took a deep breath and blew it out slowly. He only did that when something was troubling him.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Did you faint the night you met Edward?"

I gasped.

How could Grandfather deduce that from the little I told him?

"Yes. You don't think Edward was at the bar on the nights I fainted, do you?"

"What day was it when you first went to the bar?"

My eyes felt heavy with the need to sleep, and it took me, and it took me a few minutes to recall. "I think it was a Tuesday." I covered a yawn.

"You need your rest. And I have a question or two for Edward."

There was something that Grandfather was hiding from me. "What are you thinking?"

He shook his head. "I'd rather not speculate until I have further information." He stood and then bent over, kissing my cheek. "Get some sleep, lass. I'll stop by again tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully I'll know something more about what might be causing your fainting spells."

"You know," I said, settling further into the pillows and under the blanket, "it could just be my magic growing."

"It could be. Rest. I'll see you tomorrow."

Edward's POV

I paced the kitchen, pulling at my hair. My world had been turned upside down. Since Emmett's birthday, I'd been acting like a lovesick puppy, and I'd never acted that way. Emmett even had a theory—there was something seriously wrong with me that a woman couldn't turn my head for more than a few months. Well, my strong attraction toward Bella blew his theory out of the water. It had been two days, and I couldn't help but worry.

"What the hell is wrong with me?" I asked, turning to face my adoptive parents.

"You have strong feelings for her," Esme said with a smile.

I opened my mouth to deny it, as I had when Carlisle had said the same, but immediately closed it.

Could they both be right? Could Bella be whittling her way into my heart?

"For crying out loud, I just met her." I threw up my hands, and a moment later, I braced them on the counter to steady myself as realization dawned on me.

I was falling in love with Bella.

My gaze fell to the floor.

Malcolm's chuckle reached me before his words did. "Lad, you think that really matters in the grand scheme of things?"

My head snapped up, and Malcolm was standing on the other side of the counter between Carlisle and Esme.

"It should," I replied lamely.

"You know that Esme and I fell in love with each other in a short time," Carlisle said. "It's not impossible. You can't get caught up in what the world deems proper."

Carlisle had hit the heart of why I didn't want to admit aloud how I was starting to feel—society had its rules. "And her age?"

"Carlisle is ten years old than me," Esme reminded me.

I remained silent but not conceding.

It wasn't long before Malcolm spoke again. "I'm hoping, lad, you'll be able to answer a question for me."

"I'll try."

"How detailed was your schedule three weeks ago?"

My schedule? "Why?"

"I need to know where you were three weeks ago when my granddaughter first entered Driftwood."

I dragged my phone out of my pocket, pulling up my calendar. "Are you looking at a particular day?"

"Tuesday."

My eyes went wide. "I was at the bar from seven o'clock on," I said, remembering what Jasper had told me—she arrives before the rush and disappears into the crowd after two hours. The rush started at six.

How many times had we been at the bar at the same time before we actually met?

"Why do you want to know?" Esme asked.

"Just gathering information. I'm not sure if it's important or not."

Bella's fainting spells, Malcolm's voice said inside my head.

I shook my head, looking at Malcolm. Had he spoken the last part?

"Keep me informed on her health," Malcolm said. "I'll come by tomorrow afternoon."

Mom thanked Malcolm for coming over as she walked him to the entrance hall. I followed and bid him and my parents farewell.

I decided to check on Bella before turning in. She was sound asleep, snoring softly. I smiled and left the room, turning on the intercom; I did the same to the one in my room, connecting our rooms. When I finally settled into bed and drifted to sleep, my dreams where filled with the brown-eyed beauty in the next room.

A/N: Thanks to JCat and Jennej for editing this chapter. I don't know what I would do without them.