Chapter 23

(I do not own Twilight. Please read and then review) I couldn't believe the sheer out of support I got. Thank you all so much. I literally got teary eyed at some of the messages and reviews. I truly hadn't a clue just how many of you really enjoyed the story. It warmed my heart completely thank you. I pray I do justice by each of you!

Edward's pinches the bridge of his nose. He's got his feet kicked up on the table. He finishes two cigarettes; dumping the ashes onto the floor. He ignores the ash tray the interviewer had set out for him. Edward looks out the window. A storm's rolling in and he closes his eyes for a moment. He seems to be breathing in the air.

"Reminds me of Forks…" He says with a slanted smile.

But the smile turns into a frown. His hands ball up into fists. Edward comes down bringing his elbows upon his knees. He runs his fingers through his hair as though a mad man. He lights yet, another cigarette. A perfect circle of smoke rises into the air. Edward clears his throat, but keeps his head down as he begins to speak…

"All these teams…" He shakes his head.

"I just passed by a vendor selling fucking Team Volturi shirts. If anyone truly had a clue; I see it everywhere I go. Team Edward, Team Jacob, I run with vampires, I run with wolves… I've grown tired of seeing this everywhere I go; the posters, the T-shirts, the collector's editions to all this nonsense.

Come Sunday morning I get up; the urge to visit Bella was strong. However, I also knew she and her father needed sometime. They'd been through a great ordeal and that was more of a family issue. Last thing either of them needed was some teenage vampire boyfriend hanging around. No, Charlie and Bella needed this time just for them. Thus, only further proved to me that my humanity wasn't completely shut off. The more time I spent with Bella the more human I felt. Something I craved.

It's funny how life is. You don't fully appreciate something until it's gone. Just like the phrase… Well it couldn't be truer. Whereas there are some that dream of never growing old; to me I thought it a curse. I'd look upon Bella sometimes and merely daydream. What would it be like? To grow old with her? To age to have a family of our own. What would it be like to live in peace? As a vampire there is no such word. For what little peace we do have; it only comes back tenfold it seems when shit hits the fan. Though, not all humans live in peace; such as Bella for instance. Even though, she had a roof over her head, a father that loved her, friends that cared about her. Darkness loved to dance with Bella Swan. It seemed to follow her everywhere she went. If only that were an exaggeration. Bella didn't go out her way seeking these things. No… these things went out their way seeking her. I'd just never truly realized how bad until one of her own family members came into play. So many times I wanted to kidnap Bella. Take her away from everything. To somehow magically give her the life she so deserved. I'd leave the coven in Jasper's hands. Pray that Charlie didn't go completely insane. Take Bella Swan somewhere far away where no danger or heartache could ever find her. To literally spoil the living hell out of her. To allow Bella to live a life where all she knew was love.

I enter the living room to see Alice in Emmett's lap, Bree in Jaspers. I gave Jasper an approving nod seeing as how Bree's mind was much calmer. Proving he was achieving his goal with her. I also realized something else. Now that Bree was all cleaned up and wasn't looking as though a demonic wild child; she was actually very pretty. In fact she and Jasper seemed to fit quite well together. She was shorter than he. She too had long beautiful hair much like Bella's. Bree Tanner fit right into our little coven. Like the missing piece. However, Alice's vision continued to toy with me. It still hadn't changed. This girl just kept dying and at the hands of the Volturi. Jasper kissed along her shoulders and ran a gentle hand along her. I damn near fainted as the girl actually smiled. Making her even more alluring than I ever realized. I could see what Jasper saw now. Granted, she was no Bella Swan. Then again no one would ever top her off. I looked to Alice then back to Bree enquiringly. I grinned in spite myself realizing we'd have a coven of brunette women as brides. All in which were very lovely. Who wouldn't take pride in that?

"How are you adapting?" I ask curiously looking upon Bree.

This girl was beyond frightful. She was even more frightened of me. It was all in her mind. She found me very intimidating.

"Answer him darlin'." Jasper practically purred in her ear.

I couldn't believe this was our feral one. You look upon Jasper at the moment. There was absolutely nothing feral in his body language or mind. This vampire was at peace. It felt so strange to me. I wasn't use to this with Jasper. His mind was usually all over the place. The two main things were always feeding and fucking… That was how Jasper's mind worked. Not at the moment. Jasper was in guard dog mode. All that flowed through his mind at the moment was the need to protect Bree. He was finally at peace in having found someone for himself. And yes Bree was now Jasper's bride. She had accepted him.

What played a factor in Jasper's decision? Why Bree? They were so much alike it was rather frightening. At least in history alone. Jasper sympathized with Bree the moment he found her. He sensed her emotions. There was a time Jasper was a ruthless murderer. He took life after life. Jasper's story wasn't for the faint of heart. His was darker than any of ours. I look to Emmett and Jasper in thought.

Now here I was a master without a bride. I leaned back in and lit a cigarette. All within time…

"I'm doing fine sir."

I nod and take a drag off my cigarette.

"Edward is fine." I hint.

She nods shyly. This girl it was going to take her sometime. Alice reached over and patted her hand with a smile. I noticed also that Bree was wearing one of Bella's shirts. Alice and Bella had put some of their clothes together in order for Bree to have something. I was beginning to see Alice was right. Bella was going to make one hell of a bride for a master. As the bride of a master you must be the strongest of all the women. That doesn't necessary mean by physical strength though that's a bonus. No emotionally speaking. As a master's bride you have more on your shoulders than the other brides. More is expected out of you. You're to lead an example for the rest of the coven. This was where Rosalie like that much of Carlisle didn't fit the bill. She spent more time in her room more than anything. She was more self-absorbed.

"Any issues?"

"No."

"So how do you feel about tomorrow?"

Fear… that was the first thing that popped into her mind. Her body became tense and her thirst sparked up somewhat. Jasper sensed it as well. He patted her leg and begins to influence her. I watched curiously as she closed her eyes and swallowed back. I looked to Jasper.

"Are you sure she's ready?"

He nods. Jasper had full confidence in his bride. However, his bride hadn't much confidence in herself. In fact visions came rushing in. Visions of all the lives she'd taken. The guilt came pouring through Bree. Dread flowed through her she didn't want to let Jasper down. Most of all she feared she'd cross me and I'd end her where she stood. I wasn't Carlisle though. Sure I'd take this master thing seriously, but to a point. You want your coven to fear you in some aspects yes. You need that. And I had that already each member feared the outcome of pissing me off. Yet at the same time I had their loyalty and their trust. Bree was going to take some more time. My main concern about being master was I wanted to also show RESPECT for each member. Something Carlisle lacked. He thought mostly of himself. Even at times when he'd do something selfless. He was more or less thinking about the benefits that would coincide with the act.

"So how'd the visit go?" Emmett questions.

I half laugh.

"Interesting to say the least."

Alice cuts me a worried look.

"How so?"

"Eh…" I grunt with a shrug.

I wasn't sure what to say. I felt if I spilt the beans. That somehow was disrespecting Bella. That was her private life. Though we were to be her family soon enough. I wasn't that much of a dick. That might not be something she wished to be shared. That was something that should come from her mouth not mine.

"That good huh."
I sigh in thought.
"Let's just say Bella's life is no cakewalk."

Jasper chuckles.

"Well hell I could have told you that."

I half grin and flip him off. I look to Bree once more.

"You're to listen to your lord. Whatever he tells you to do tomorrow. You had better do it. We will not have any incidents. I will not allow you or anyone else to jeopardize the life we have built here. Do we have an understanding?"

She nods all with the eyes of an owl. Ok I know Edward you're a fucking asshole. Yeah well someone has to be. Like I said I want to show respect, yet at the same time they need to know I mean business. In order to get respect I need respect. That and if you cross me in any way I will have no problem fucking you up until you get the point.

I come to a stand. I needed to feed. So I head into the woods and go for the first meal I can find. Things were about to get even more interesting than I ever imagined. Now Bella and I had made a deal. A deal in which I thought I'd been keeping. Especially, considering I mainly feed from Bella to begin with.

I'm not really thinking about the woman I've chosen to feed from. It's an entirely different experience to feed from Bella in comparison to some strange woman I've never met. To me Bella was far more beautiful than any woman I'd ever fed from. Currently speaking as I looked onto the woman that was in her early thirties. She was about average… She was blonde, petite, and even shorter than Bella.

The woman was on her own by a nearby pond reading a book.

"Hello…"
I'd startled her as she looks over from her book.

"Hello?"
"I apologize. I did not mean to cause you alarm."

She smiles.

"No not at all I just wasn't aware anyone else was around."

I nod.

"Could we perhaps go for a walk?"

I wanted to get this over with. So I'd already started with the compelling. She nods and puts her book down. I take her hand and lead her away from the area a bit. It's just precaution if someone came looking for her. I look her in the eyes.

"I'm going to feed from you now. Do not be afraid. No harm will come to you."

She nods. I plunge my fangs into her neck. Just as I'm draining the nectar from her neck I hear…

"Edward?"

I freeze realizing. That's right. Oh shit alarms are going off. Not that I fully felt I was doing something wrong. I mean I am a vampire after all. She knows this… No it was the fact that this would be the first time Bella actually witnessed me feeding. She's seen me take lives, but she's never seen me just feed in general.

I swallow back. I come to a stop and quickly look the woman in the eyes. I grimace realizing the woman's arms are around my neck. Another thing I haven't really paid attention to since I'd been with Bella. I gently bring down her arms. I take in a breath.

"Your body will heal itself. You may go back to reading your book now. You will remember nothing of this."

She nods and begins to walk away.

I'd swear when I finally faced Bella Swan. She was already in full on wife mode! She even had that hand on hip thing going. Now to a human it damn near looked as though I was making out with someone else.

"She was certainly pretty." She says in a scoffing matter.
I shrug, because to me she wasn't all that. That's why I fed from her. She was nowhere near the same league as Bella. Like I said this woman was average. Bella she's HOT. There's a huge difference in comparison. Nevertheless, Bella didn't seem to think so. Of course I say the wrong typical man thing to say even in a vampire situation.

"It's really not what you think Bella."

"Oh so I didn't just see you feeding from some pretty blonde; who had her hands all over you."

"Now come on now need to exaggerate the situation."

Holy freaking shit. The look she was giving me I thought I'd damn near piss myself. If Bella had been a vampire at this very moment; I'd no doubt she'd have taken my head! And I don't mean the one upstairs…

"Hmm, I'll be sure to remember that; when it comes time for me to feed one day!"

I do the wrong thing yet, again. I'm king of screw ups when it comes to this girl. I start laughing. Her jaw drops.

"You're laughing at me?!"

"Well come on Bella listen to yourself."

She growls out and flips me off. She starts to walk away. I shake my head on this; trying to keep from grinning. I was fucked and I knew it yet, I found the situation rather comical; even though it wasn't in the slightest bit. This is the woman I'm trying to win over. Yet, I was acting like a douchebag as Emmett would put it.

"You are such an ASS!" She shouts as she keeps walking.

Meanwhile, I'm staring at hers as I follow behind.

"I thought you didn't feed from pretty girls!"

"You'd be correct. There is only one pretty girl I feed from."

"You're such a liar!'

"Um no I'm not Bella. Now knock it off your acting silly."

When will I ever learn?! Yes, this girl makes me feel more human than ever. Sometimes, that wasn't such a good thing. It rather bled into my dark vampiric humor. What I deemed funny wasn't to Bella, naturally.

"WHAT?!"

She turns to face me.

"Oh my GOD! "

I rear back with raised brows.

"Huh?"

"Seriously, I mean we could have at least talked about this but, no! All that's coming out of that damn mouth of yours is jokes and laughter. You're not even regarding my feelings! Could you at least try to put yourself in my place? Or is that just too difficult for you?!"

"I could compel you to forget."

She starts laughing.

"Sure go right ahead take the pussy way out of this."

"It was a joke Bella I wouldn't do that."

"I'm beginning to wonder."

"So… you're not upset about seeing me feed for the first time? You're just upset that you thought the woman was pretty?"

"Why would I be upset about you feeding?" She says her body posture somehow different now.

"You're a vampire right?"

I nod and she shrugs.

"Then that doesn't make sense."

"I just figured that…"

Bella's the one that starts laughing this time. I take in a breath and take out a cigarette. This girl I swear… I light it up and pace the area a bit.

"Look Edward, it wasn't the feeding. I just didn't expect to go for a walk and find my vampire boyfriend feeding from some very hands on woman."
"They aren't aware of what they're doing Bella."
"Even so how would you feel Edward?"

I shrug and answer sincerely.

"I'd have ripped the bastard's hands off. Then I'd have drained him for every last drop he had left."
Bella I could tell was trying not to laugh.

"You're so deranged."

"Vampire sweetheart…"
"Even so…"

"And why are we lurking about the woods all alone?" I say villainous like.

I circle her like the prey she is.

"Edward I'm still mad at you."

"Sure you are. That's why you're smiling."

"I'm not smiling!" She says with epic failure.

She brings her hair immediately over her lips; trying to hide it.

"Is that so?"

She nods.

"Hmm."

I swiftly scoop her up and take off with her. I take her to the top of one of the highest trees.

"Edward!" She says and her hold on me gets tighter as she's looking down.

"Don't look down. Look up…"

Bella beams as she looks around.

"That's amazing."

Clouds were rolling in and from the distance we were at. It was like magic. You could still see the parts of blue in the sky, but also the mixture of different grays, white. As I continued to keep a firm hold on Bella she lifted her hand into the air. Drops of rain began to fall. I watched as it landed on the palm of her hand and ran down her arm. She looked to me with a genuine smile.

"Am I forgiven?" I whisper kissing along her neck.

She shrugs bringing her hand back down.

"I'll think about it."

She says and wraps her arms around my neck.

"Bella, when are you going to realize just how truly beautiful you are? You are what matters. You're all I want. I understand the jealousy. Trust me I get it. You've already seen that in me. I'm a very jealous vampire. What upsets me though… is how you see yourself. When does Bella Swan finally see what I see in her?"

She lowers her head a bit. I lift her chin back up.

"How are you and Charlie today?"

"We're good actually."

"Phil still in jail?"
She nods.

"My mother called, but I don't even know what to say to her. I mean honestly, what do I say?"

Bella sighs. The pain written all over her face.

"I don't want to think about it right now. In fact I don't want to think about anything."

I kiss her forehead in understanding. I didn't blame her. I didn't want to think on it either. I just wanted her to know that she could talk to me though.

"If you ever need to talk…" I hint.

"Just remember Bella you're not alone."

It starts to downpour and I leap back down. The both of us were now soaked. The lightening rolls across the sky. The earth beneath us shaking at the steady boom of the thunder. Bella's running her hand along my chest. She's giving me that look that instantly makes me want to rip her clothes off. She starts kissing me and pressing her body against mine.

Within seconds I have her on the ground. I'm stripping her down from any clothing she has on her body. I tear my way out of my shirt and she's fighting to undo my pants. Once I'm freed below I feel her stroking me. My eyes practically roll back in pleasure. I'd two things going through my mind. Ironically, at the moment I was the feral vampire. I gently bite down along her neck. Then place myself inside her. Her knees come up as she's spreading herself about. I go in even deeper. My nails literally dig into the sopping wet ground; her cries on spur me on more. Bella's teeth scrap my neck tauntingly as she kisses along it. Talk about driving me utterly infreakingsane! I became like a rock below as I continued to drive myself within her.

I roll over gripping her hips grinding her against me. One of the sexiest things ever is watching Bella ride me like there's tomorrow; while it's pouring down rain. Her breast lively with each thrust she gives me. I come to this sitting position as she continues to move about me. I'm kissing along her neck and sucking on her breast. Bella wraps herself around me and I feel it building. I grit my teeth and erupt like a damn volcano.

I kiss her lips again my fingers intertwining with her locks of hair. I kept having to remind myself she was human. I was easily ready to go again. I'd never argue against sex in the pouring rain. The both of us were covered in leaves, mud, and were drenched.

I chuckle as I look to see our clothes were embedded into the ground. They were caked with mud now. I grab our clothes and then Bella. I take off towards the cabin. I take extra precaution to make sure none of my coven mates were around.

We make it to the bathroom unseen. I promptly turn on the warm water. I take Bella's hand and we stand under the warm water. We watch as the dirt from our bodies washes down the drain. Bella giggles as she takes a leaf out of my hair. After we get good and cleaned up; I place our clothes into the washer. I have her wear one of my sweaters and pajama pants.

Emmett comes in as we're both sitting in the living room.

"Huh… I didn't realize we were having a slumber party."

"More like a shower…" Bella smarts to my surprise.

I grin on this as she lies back on the couch. Emmett looks to me shaking his head. Bella raises from the couch as Jasper and Bree enter the cabin. She smiles directly at Bree. I could tell she was pleased to see Bree was wearing one of her shirts.

"So you like the clothes."

"Yes thank you."

Bree really did appreciate them. That was something else I was picking up. Bree really liked Bella. But she kept her distance because, she also craved Bella. I felt bad for Bree honestly. In her head she thought she and Bella could be good friends. They seemed to have more in common she felt. Tomorrow would be interesting indeed. I just truly hoped Jasper knew what he was doing. If not I'd have to unleash a side of me I didn't wish to. I know I'm a temperamental vampire. That seems to be my downfall. Conversely, given the circumstances that might be what's needed; even though I felt bad for Bree's situation. She needed someone besides Jasper that could set her straight if needed.

I look to Bella in thought. She too… once she's turned. That meant her as well. By no means can we expose ourselves in any given situation. I couldn't be partial to any coven member even my own bride. Bella too would have to learn there are rules in which we're to follow. I had to be strict in this area. If not we'd all be FUCKED. I can't have that. I must take all precautions. Tomorrow, I'd be in full on master mode. I'd be watching Bree's every move. I'd be reading her mind at every given opportunity. All it takes is one. Just one time… Such as with James. That could have gone far worse than it had. Bella and the coven were about to see me in full on boss style tomorrow. Will we all survive it? Or will I run Bella off when she sees me at my worst?