Mermaid Syndrome V2

Part 2

The week had passed rather slowly, though it was a good week. There had been nothing interesting that happened, but Hermione was having a hard time getting Edward out of her head. Bella had been reaching out trying to be friends, Hermione had been weary but when Bella introduced herself and asked if she was busy Saturday, "I can introduce you to some of the teens from the reservation." Bella said with a smile.

"That would be lovely," Luna said kindly, as they accepted the invitation to go to the beach.

After school, Hermione and Bella went to the forks diner for dinner and to talk. They were slowly being introduced to everyone in town. Several questions were asked, the most common being, "why are you here in forks." To keep the conversation short, they replied that they were part of a foreign exchange program and Forks Washington was the most exotic place offered. This caused several people to laugh.

The next day, Hermione and Luna made their way to the beach, they were surprised to find a group of people milling around, two were building a bon fire, some were setting up a volleyball net. "There are quite a few people here Hermione," Luna said worriedly, "I do not see Bella or any of her friends."

"I am sure they will be along shortly," Hermione said in the affirmative.

To waste some time while they waited and started to take a walk down along the shoreline. It really was a beautiful sight. They walked about a half mile before turning around and heading back to where they had been waiting. As Hermione looked up, she saw Bella walking towards her with the largest male she had ever seen walking next to her.

"Hermione," Bella said in a friendly voice, "Luna, I would like you to meet my friend Jacob, Jacob, meet Hermione and Luna, they are from England."

"Hello, Jacob," Hermione and Luna said at the same time.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long," Jacob said nervously, "Bella had to wait for me to finish my errands before I could come to the beach."

"We haven't been waiting long at all," Luna said with a smile, "we decided to take a walk along the beach. It really is quite lovely."

"I agree," Jacob said in agreement catching Hermione's eyes. They both smiled before they started moving to a spot to settle. As it turns out where they had been waiting is where they were going to be sitting. Hermione and Luna were introduced to several boys from the reservation all were quite large in body. There was one girl they were introduced to who seemed a bit reluctant to talk to them. She seemed to be a lone wolf of the pack as it were.

The day was fun, the girls teamed up against the boys in a game of volleyball, Hermione played before, but Luna had not. She found the game absurd but enjoyed it anyway, it allowed her to forget Hermione's problems and her own.

Later that evening, Hermione and Luna went over the Cullen's for dinner, the conversation was lively, and although Hermione and Luna knew they were vampires she wasn't so sure they knew that she and Hermione were witches. They agreed that they should have a meeting to talk to Carlisle and Esme about it before telling Alice and the others. Edward and Bella didn't join them as Bella had already planned something for them to do.

As time passed, Hermione, Luna, Rosalie, Alice, and Bella were spending a lot of time together outside of school. Then things started to change, and Bella was starting to question why Hermione and Luna were hanging around so much. It wasn't just that they were hanging around with her future family, hemione had seemed to take an interest in Edward.

Bella decided that she was going to go to the Cullen's so she could get some answers. When she arrived, she heard the most beautiful sound coming from the music room. To her surprise it was Hermione playing and singing. Edward was leaning on the piano just watching her play. Bella watched as he moved around the piano before taking the empty seat on the bench next to Hermione. Bella watched as he did something surprising, he joined her in the playing and even sang with her.

Bella swallowed thickly; he was singing with her. Bella had never heard him sing before and she was surprised at how ethereal he sounded. Bella hadn't minded that they were playing and singing together; but clearly there was something going on between them. The way that Edward was looking at Hermione, and the way that Hermione was trying not to blush as he watched her. Bella knew that she had to make her presence known.

Stepping further into the room, she announced her presence by saying a quick, "Hello," before coming towards the piano and placing a kiss on Edwards cheek. He froze at the contact. How long had she been there? He wondered. Breaking from his stupor he greeted his girlfriend.

"Hello, Bella," Hermione said seconding Edwards greeting as she stood up to go to the bookcase to grab different sheet music.

"Hello Hermione," Bella said trying to keep her voice calm, "I see that you have made yourself at home here, in the presence of my boyfriend and his family."

"Yes," Hermione said in the affirmative, "I find I quite like it here."

"I'm sure you do," Bella said her voice was becoming less happy as the moments passed.

"Thank you for playing with me Edward," Hermione said looking at her watch, "I need to go."

"You think you can just come and go as you please?" Bella asked suddenly, "I know what you are all about."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Hermione said her lips pursed together. I guess we will do this now, Hermione thought.

"You want him for yourself," Bella moves her body into Hermione's space "You don't want to be friends, you just want to take what's mine. I don't know what your goal is, but Edward is mine. No matter what you think you know, the truth is that we are mates."

Hermione not willing to tell a lie she tells Bella the real reason, "You are not Edwards mate, you are his singer, that is the only reason he's kept you around Bella. He's convinced himself the feelings he holds for you are love; instead of a trap to lure you in. I'…"

Bella rushes Hermione when Hermione moves, and Bella hits the wall. She bounces off her hand holding her head. When she turns around there is a table between her and Hermione.

"I'm his mate Bella," Hermione finished, "if he stays with you, he will kill you."

"That's not true," Bella yelled angrily, he hands gripping the back of the chair.

"Think about it Bella," Hermione said calmly.

"But he has to turn me," Bella cried angrily, "Edward, tell her you love me, and how you promised you'd never leave me. Tell her!"

In the end he didn't speak, he couldn't voice it out loud to her, because he wasn't even sure where to begin. He was he supposed to tell his love that he isn't sure that he can be with her anymore. Now was not the time with Hermione here.

Edward turned to look at Hermione sharply. As she noted the look, she took her leave of the Cullen house.

After Hermione left, Edward to turned to Bella and said, "we have to talk." However, before he could open his mouth to continue, Bella was gone, leaving Edward all alone with the piano.

Damn, he thought before plopping down into a chair. He leaned down and let his hands cover his face.

What did we just get ourselves into?, he thought as Alice's same thought popped into his head., and "I haven't the foggiest clue as to what just happened." Edward said so Alice could hear him. after which he heard laughing. He stood up and fled the house before any of his family could take him to task about it.

...

"Don't worry Hermione," Alice said to Hermione she called later that evening to see how she was doing, "someone had to tell her, I'm not sure that Edward was going to be man enough to do it."

"What is going to happen now," Hermione asked leaning her head against the door way of her kitchen as she talked on the phone with Alice.

"Well," Alice started to say, "I don't know really. The vision is still the same, I haven't had anything new. But don't worry, everything will work out how it is meant too, just wait and see."

"that's all I can do really," Hermione said, "how is Bella doing?"

"She is quite angry right now," Alice said, "but in the long run when it's all over, she'll thank you."

"I wouldn't be happy with me if I told me the man, I thought was my mate wasn't and that it's just a trap," Hermione said tiredly. "I was making headway as well; now I have to start from page one again."

"don't worry," Alice said trying to cheer Hermione up, "I've seen no changes, and this hardship will pass. It's can't rain forever."

"I don't know," Hermione said with amusement in her voice, "I think that with living here, it might just rain forever."

Alice chuckled and told her that it wasn't raining now, so that must mean that even in dreary forks it doesn't rain forever.

Carlisle was sitting in his office when the phone rang. Picking it up he was surprised to find a familiar voice on the other end. "Hello old friend," the voice said, "we have much to discuss."

"Indeed Kingsley, we do have much to talk about," Carlisle said with a small smile. "Are you calling about Luna and Hermione?"

"How did you know?" Kingsley asked confusion prevalent in his voice.

"I knew who she was the moment she stepped foot through the door," Carlisle said amused, "My daughter Alice has visions and has seen both girls as they truly are. Their secret is safe with us."

"I am glad to hear it," Kingsley said, "now what news do you have about …"

They talked for several more hours about many things one of them being the placement of the world cup.

As the days pass, Hermione keeps her distance from Bella at school, she can't help her proximity to Edward, he sits next to her in every class they share. She tries very hard not to look at him or talk to him unless he talks to her first. After two- or three-days Hermione decides that she can no longer ignore his presence and talks to him first.

"Hi Edward," she said as she sat down next to him. this got a large smile from him. it was also the beginning of a continuing development.

"I am glad that you are no longer ignoring me," he said bumping his shoulder into hers.

"Well, it's hard to ignore you," she said bumping his shoulder with hers.

As the days pass, Edward knows that he would soon have to confront Bella and tell her the truth. Ever since he and Bella had returned from Italy, it seems as though everything they did in the past, was pushing them deeper into a preset role. Edward wants to get married, but Bella doesn't. Edward wants marriage and a mate for life. Bella just wants to be turned; she isn't ready for marriage. Bella and Edward were both ready for the next step, only his next step was marriage; and her next step was more intimate relations related.

The thought back on the conversation from just before Hermione arrived:

"Bella, we have to talk," Edward said unhappily, "I do not think that we will work."

"You are my life Edward," she said teary eyed when he tried to suggest otherwise.

"Then why don't you want to get married," he asked kindly but intently. "It is my dream to marry you Bella, I want you to change as well, but what I want more than anything is for you to be happy. I just want to do right by you."

"I won't be good at marriage," she said and shrugged her shoulders, "we can be together and not be married, can't we?"

"I'm not sure that I can be happy with that, Bella." Edward said sadly, "I love you, But I can't be with you intimately as you are now. I'm afraid I'll kill you."

"You won't kill me," she said nonchalantly "I won't break I'm not a china doll."

"I won't be with you intimately unless you marry me and only once," he said in a statement meant to brook no argument, "I won't risk hurting you just to know what it feels like."

"Okay," she said with a smile.

Edward sighed; he wasn't sure that he was happy with the agreement that he just made.

Edward broke himself from his thoughts with a sigh, he had to end things with Bella. Bella wasn't his mate, it she was, he wouldn't have to bribe her to marry him.

...

As the days passed, Hermione began to hope that everything would begin to work out. Edward was actively seeking her out with his eyes whenever he was entering a classroom. He would enter his steps firm but slow, as if he was doing it for effect.

Luna was vigilantly watching the two of them do their dance, she couldn't believe that she was getting to witness this miracle. Hermione and Edward seemed to be in the flirting part of the courtship. Shy glances and smiles as the two saw each other. Edwards deliberate entrance into the room. Hermione's cheeks redden and her nostril's flair as she sees him enter the room slow in his steps as if performing just for her.

It had been two weeks since the argument between Bella and Hermione at the Cullen's. Since then Edward had gone and talked to Carlisle several times. Carlisle explained some of his actions since Hermione's arrival, "I broke silence with the Volturi," Edward made a face, which Carlisle silenced by raising his hand to stop, "I must contact the ministry of magic on Hermione's behalf." Edward made to interrupt and object, what did the Volturi have to say about this matter. It was free will, Edward raged internally, on the outside he was quiet and respectful, "This will protect Hermione, Edward," Carlisle said to his attitude and to remind him that he was hurting someone unnecessarily, "If you do not decide to claim your true mate, then she can be claimed my any vampire or other magical creature seeking a mate."

Edward balked at the choice before him, "hypothetically if I didn't pick Bella what would happen with the Volturi, I'm supposed to turn Bella it was already decided," Edward said awkwardly, "well we haven't gotten that far, she just wants to be changed, the Volturi will see that she is, as I know they are curious about her abilities. But once she is out of your thrall and need to be near you, she will probably go back to normal," Carlisle explained.

"What will happen to Hermione if I choose Bella?" Carlisle further explained about what choices lay before Hermione was claimed but she refused both options.

"Before you go trying to make a decision without totally making up your mind, someone will get hurt if you don't make the right decision," Carlisle said cautiously,

"How do I know she's, my mate?" Edward asked seriously confused than ever.

"How do you feel when you are with her?" Carlisle asked taking out a pen and notepad.

Edward talked about how he felt when he was with her, she was so much fun to be with. They had debates, she didn't try to tell him he wasn't a monster. She was passionate when she was angry.

"I see," Carlisle said his face neutral, "how do you feel when you are away from her?"

Edward had to stop and think for a moment. He didn't miss her exactly; it was more like a longing to see her that he felt. He longed to see what she was doing. What did she look like when she sat down to read a book? What did she look like when she slept? Then his thought turned to what she looked like under the light of the moon. As Edward when to say what he just realized, Carlisle cut him off.

"I don't need you to tell me," Carlisle said holding his hand up, "however I do have to warn you on what else could happen should you not claim Hermione. By now you have heard about Alice's visions on what will happen if you stay with Bella. however, what you don't know is what will happen to Hermione if you don't choose her. Carlisle explained what was called mermaid syndrome. Carlisle was surprised to hear from Kingsley the reason Hermione had come looking for Edward. Though he had heard it from Alice, he was surprised to have it confirmed.

...

Hermione put all her effort into schoolwork and shopping with Rosalie. Alice was doing research with Luna in Carlisle's study. And Luna was running around with Emmet trying to get him to play mortal combat. Luna was getting pretty good at the game, and she really enjoyed all the Cullen's company. Luna had changed a lot since school, but she still had an airy breath about her that made her seem ethereal. Rosalie asked her several times how she keeps such an air about her.

Alice really liked Luna because she understood her. She too had visions, and it was Luna who sent Hermione here. She had seen it as Alice had, if Edward chooses to marry Bella, nothing good will come of it.

Hermione lay near death along the shoreline, smooth pebbles lined the bank, her skin blue, and her eyes lifeless. She had mermaid syndrome.

As the days passed, Edward decided that it was time to tell Bella the truth. It was time for him to end it.

Bella was happy to see him when she opened the door. He reached to give him a hug and he returned it reluctantly. They then sat down on the couch, and they started talking. She was talking about the weather and wanting to go to the beach when he snapped.

"Bella, I think we should end things," he said when she stopped to take a breath.

"Edward, you can't be serious," Bella cried angrily as she stood up from where she was sitting, "you promised to never leave me." Who was she kidding she knew this was coming? He had been slowly pulling away from her. Hermione really was perfect for him, made for him really. She couldn't compete with that so she would just have to take what she wanted. Devil take her, but he would be hers. She walked towards him and wrapped her arms around him her anger leaving her.

"I'm sorry but I want to be with Hermione," he said putting his hands on her shoulders and gently pushing her away, and holding her at arm's length, "I know I promised that I would never leave you, but I must break it. I can't pass up my mate Bella."

Bella had heard him wrong surely, she blanched and turned pale, she had to change his mind, so she tried to kiss him. He held her firmly at a distance, "hear me out Bella," Edward said calmly, "I know that you say you love me, yet you don't want to get married, you just want to be turned."

She protested what he was saying, and then she stopped struggling and backed away before plopping down onto the couch.

"What happens if a vampire doesn't claim his mate?" Bella asked quietly.

"They die,"

"And the vampire, what happens to them?"

"They go insane and kill everyone in their path until someone stops them or there is no one left to kill."

Edward left Bella to her thoughts, and he left to go hunting. Then he would think of the best way to find and tell Hermione.

It hadn't been but a few hours since Edward had seen Hermione, and he wondered what she was doing. The sun was starting to go down, and the sky was surprisingly clear. He had just finished hunting when he decided to go home and change before going on a walk through the woods.

On his walk, he purposefully walked in the direction of Hermione's house which was only a couple of miles away.

When he arrived at the border of her property, he walked in the shadows to see if he could catch a glimpse of her. He stood and watched as she took her robe off and lay it over the chair. Her sheer garment left nothing to the imagination. The light from the moon illuminated her skin.

He could no longer stand to merely watch her, he made a noise and announced himself before stepping out the woods speeding to her side. They stood chest to chest, arms at their sides. Her arms started to lift up and around his neck and his reached around her waist pulling her tightly to him.

"I broke it off with Bella." he said abruptly causing her to take in a breath. "You have?" she asked him, her breath heavy.

"yes," he said his voice was clear, crisp.

She didn't speak, she just got on her tippy toes and kissed him on the lips. He returned her kiss quickly, his arms tightening around her. she clung to his neck as they confessed their feelings for each other.

"I am going to claim you now," he said in a whisper only she could hear, "and I'm going to do it right here, under the moon so I can worship your skin in the moonlight."

"Have you been watching me?" she asked curiously.

"I stumbled upon you once before, and I found myself memorized. I vowed that if I happened upon you out here again that I would make you mine. And so you are, and here I am."

Hermione laughed as she hugged him tighter, wrapping her legs around his waist, "then I suppose you better get busy."

Edward wasted no time, he backed her up so she stumbled back into the chair Hermione set up for herself. It really was a pretty chair, and very large.

His hands ghosted over her body, her garment the only barrier between her breasts. She moaned and sighed at his touch. He knew what he needed to do to complete the bond. they made love several times that night until the early hours of the morning.