*** Warning: sappy love scene—if you don't like "sappy" turn around now.
In the Grip of Twilight
By: Olivia Tannis Moore
***
Chapter Thirteen:
The Enchanted Meadow
It was just a little after nine 'clock when Edward announced to the Cullens that he was taking me home. I was disappointed since it was still early and I had two hours left. Elena seemed glad that I was leaving, however. While the Cullens said their goodnights—she piped in and said, "Godspeed." I think she was talking to Edward, though. I'm sure she wished he would hurry and return to her.
Edward lifted me onto back and we were off in that dizzying speed that defied gravity. As always, I closed my eyes and fought the motion sickness. And it seemed like in no time we were slowing.
"We're here," he whispered.
I opened my eyes expecting to see my house, but it was not to be. Instead, we were in the center of our meadow. My heart jumped inside my chest. The meadow was impressive during the day, but at night, with the moonlight casting its silvery light everywhere, it was enchanting.
At first, I was speechless. It was all I could do to breathe. With everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours, all I wanted was some alone time with Edward. And there was no better place to be alone with Edward than here. I leaned my head close to his ear, "I'm so glad you brought me here. I didn't want to go home."
"That makes two of us, then," he admitted. "I'm not exactly looking forward to going back home…"
I wondered if he was referring to Elena. I sighed inwardly. The thought of him having to evade her advances for the rest of the night would only make my night sleepless again. "Will you come up and stay with me tonight?" I asked impulsively as he set me on my feet.
He grinned and pulled me tightly to him. "Yeah, I'll be there." I could feel his breath stir my hair as his chin rested on the top of my head. And then he whispered, "I missed being there with you last night, watching you sleep…holding you."
"I-I didn't know if you were there or not. I woke up after a bad dream and I couldn't see you there…but that doesn't necessarily mean you weren't there." I was babbling and it frustrated me.
"I wasn't with you last night, Bella." He paused as if trying to find the right words to make me understand. "You must know by now that I love you to the ends of the earth, and when you ask me so passionately for something, well, I'll just about kill myself to give it to you…"
That was the magic that was Edward, his poetic words, the feelings they invoked…If I could throw myself down on his words and let them cover me, I would.
"But I didn't mean it. I never want us to end," I said, trying to hold back the tears.
"Shhh," he said, smoothing my eyelids with the faintest touch, "let me finish." He paused, again considering his words. "Remember when James bit you…and I had to pull you back from the edge?"
I nodded.
"My teeth were inside you…feeling your pulse, your life, your memories—it fluttered like butterfly wings against my tongue—that's the only way I know how to say it—and, oh God, Bella, I've never felt anything so beautiful."
I was stunned by his words; the waves of emotion that flowed over me…undoing me, so that I had to clutch his arms to keep from falling to the ground.
"And when you ask for immortality…you don't know what you're asking of me. You really don't. Because I don't think I could bear it. I would be surrounded by that…beauty, that overwhelming beauty, only to feel it die against my tongue…" He shuddered. "You ask for too much, Bella. Please don't ask me for that."
"I didn't know, Edward. You never told me that. I thought you were fighting the blood-lust."
"No," he said. "I just wanted to stay there, surrounded by you forever. Your life, your blood, if you only knew how exquisite… Your scent, as wonderful as it is, is just a tease to what beckons beneath the skin." He lifted my chin so he could look into my eyes. "Sometimes I torment myself and wonder if James felt the same thing when he bit you…if maybe he felt that essence and it was bigger than his own need. I wonder if maybe he stopped because he just couldn't rip the wings from the butterfly…"
My lip trembled as I pressed my mouth against his. And the electric current that sparked and intensified whenever we touched, was ours once more.
****
(This chapter was written, in its entirety, to Sixx A.M.'s song, "Life is Beautiful", whether on the ipod, or playing in my head. Thanks for reading. –OTM)