Once the initial shock of Bella and my appearance in the afternoon sun had worn off, Carlisle decided that he needed to do a thorough examination of both Bella and me. He was visibly relieved that we seemed to have only two physical anomalies that set us apart from other vampires. I wasn't sure what I would do if he had found other differences; our eye color and the fact that our skin did not reflect sunlight like a prism was enough to distress Carlisle to the point that his mental ramblings were giving me a headache.
As soon as I had this thought, his mental voice became silent as did Alice's. I very briefly felt a moment of panic well up in my chest as I contemplated the reasons behind it. Was I losing my gift? Was there some unseen force keeping me from hearing their minds?
Edward, can you hear me? I nodded once to let Bella know I heard her. Alright then, calm down. Maybe your mind just needed a break from the noise. Didn't Aro say that your gift would evolve once I was changed?
You're right, love. That has to be it. I just wish I could hear them again. And just like that, I could; both Carlisle and Alice's thoughts were present again.
I don't want to alarm you, but I have never heard of a vampire retaining their human eye color before, or a vampire's eyes reverting back to their human color. And I most assuredly have never heard of a vampire whose skin isn't reflective. This may be something we need to contact Aro about. Carlisle thought.
I can't see either one of you properly right now. Your futures only extend about two hours. Do you have any idea what's going on? Alice thought.
"I'm sure it has something to do with our dream. Edward's eyes were green there and his skin looked like it does now; once the silver glow was gone anyway." Bella responded to their thoughts off handedly.
"Bella? How did you know what I was thinking?" Carlisle asked curiously. Can she hear my thoughts?
"I can. I don't know how, I just know that I can hear everyone's thoughts and Edward can now hear mine. I never realized how loud thoughts can be," Bella covered her ears, trying in vain to close out the other's thoughts. I knew from experience that would do nothing to help her.
She was on the verge of panic as Carlisle's mind began to try to piece together a logical explanation to our situation, and Alice began scanning the future. I could feel it bubbling to the surface, and I had to try to help her reign her emotions in.
"Take a deep breath love. Focus only on my voice, spoken and mental." Let my voice calm you. Hear only my voice, love. Push their thoughts out; I will listen to them. You don't need to worry about hearing them right now.
She smiled as the voices began to fade until only my mental voice was echoed back to me through her mind.
"Better?"
"Much better, thank you Edward." she leaned her head against my shoulder, and I wrapped my arm around her waist as we sat on a comfortable bench along the port side of the deck.
"Alright, I've been patient enough, but someone needs to explain what's going on here. How can Bella hear our thoughts? Why does Edward look like a friggin' human? Why does Bella still look human for that matter? And more importantly, how the hell are you sitting here calmly when you should be so consumed with thirst that you'd attack the first scent that crossed your path?" Alice ranted as she paced back and forth in front of Bella and me.
"That last one is an interesting question. Love, do you feel thirsty?" She shook her head no and shrugged which caused Alice to huff incredulously.
"Do you really not feel thirsty Bella? At all? No burning sensation in the back of your throat or anything?" Carlisle's tone was thick with disbelief.
"No, my throat doesn't burn at all; maybe a slight tickle like I need a drink of water, but that's it." Bella's thoughts did nothing to contradict her verbal assessment. I noticed that talking about being thirsty was making Alice and Carlisle's thirst more prominent in their minds.
I was shocked and pleased to find that my thirst seemed to mirror Bella's in that I felt only a slight itch that was not even an echo of the thirst I once had. I wondered if this lack of thirst was part of the bond that we shared.
"Do you really think so? Dee didn't say this was part of it. Well, she didn't really explain anything, did she?" Bella frowned as her mind raced through her memories of the beginning moments of our shared dream.
"Who is Dee and what does she have to do with anything?" Alice demanded. The jealousy in her tone was unmistakable as she crossed her arms and glared at Bella.
"I don't think Dee was her name. She said she was known as Divinus Telum, but told us we could call her Dee. She was our guide though the first half of our shared dream. She led us to a place that she called the vinculum's sanctuary." I would have continued, but Carlisle's surprised gasp and blank mind made me pause to appraise his expression.
"Divinus Telum. Are you sure?" Carlisle's voice was a reverent whisper as he said the name. His mind was still unusually clouded.
"Do you know what that means? I know the words are Latin, but I haven't any idea what they mean." I hoped that my question would reengage his idle thoughts.
"It means 'sacred armament' or 'divine guard', depending on the person doing the translation; what exactly happened during this journey you were lead on?" Carlisle was perched on the edge of his seat now, listening with rapt attention as I replayed to him what Bella and I experienced during her transformation, leaving out only the events that transpired in Bella's bedroom.
When I had finished my explanation, Carlisle immediately suggested that we call Aro and consult with him. Evidently, he had stayed in Rio after he had observed Bella and me during her change. Carlisle said that Aro had shared nothing that he had seen with either him or Alice before he, left but I could see from his thoughts that Aro looked frustrated.
Aro enthusiastically agreed to come over to the island when Carlisle called him. He was more than willing to try to help us. Unfortunately, he couldn't leave Rio until sunset to avoid exposure, so it would be hours before he would arrive.
Alice suggested that I take Bella on a short hunting trip and show her the island. Bella agreed eagerly, not because she was thirsty, but because she wanted a moment alone with me to try to comprehend everything that had happened since we had awoken.
I watched fascinated as my Bella pushed her body harder in an effort to stay ahead of me as we ran through the dense forest on the island. The exhilaration was fantastic and I could feel the emotional high that Bella was feeling as she ran with me for the first time. The freedom and speed flowed through her and into me. I could feel her surprise as the muscles of her newly powerful legs pumped beneath her. My Bella loved to run just as I did.
Bella tried unsuccessfully to hide the fact that she was undressing and ravishing me in her mind. It seems she forgot I could see her mind. She laughed freely unabashed when she realized that I had caught her looking at me. Our electricity ran through us like a constant circuit as we ran hand in hand.
Thump-thump. Thump-thump. Thump-thump.
Bella paused when the sound of the heartbeat - of what smelled to be a herd of marsh deer - invade her senses. I knew the second their scent reached Bella's nose, for she recoiled slightly and stopped breathing.
"What is that smell? Please don't tell me that's the smell of dinner?" I chuckled at her reaction to the less than appetizing scent.
"Sadly, love, that is dinner. What you smell is a small herd of marsh deer. The whitetail deer back in Forks smell better, but only marginally. So you'll need to grin and bear it until you get used to it." I said apologetically.
"Do mountain lions and grizzlies smell any better?"
"Yes, carnivores smell much better than herbivores, but they also smell more human as well. Once you have enough control, we'll head over to the mainland and you can hunt some bigger game; maybe a predator or two." She nodded her understanding and took a deep breath to try to acclimate to the scent of our prey.
As we slowly approached the herd, Bella grew more and more excited. I could feel her enthusiasm as if it were my own. She wanted to take down the biggest buck in the herd. I watched as she focused in on the steady thumping of the artery in the animal's neck.
She crouched low and prepared to pounce yet she never released my hand. In her mind I could see that she was reacting this way due to her desire to be good at being a vampire, not bloodlust. She wanted to impress me.
I watched her for the briefest moment, noting how truly lovely she looked as she prepared to close in on her prey. As soon as the deer she was focused on was close enough, I released her hand.
"Go." I whispered at a level that my wife's prey couldn't hear. And that was it. Quicker than I thought possible, she darted from her low crouch and downed the large deer in one movement. It was the most erotic sight I had ever seen. I had heard in the minds of my siblings that watching one's spouse hunt was sensual, so I was prepared to feel some measure of arousal, but the sensation that pulsed through me was beyond desire. I felt raw, carnal even, as I watched my Bella drain the deer.
I could not remember moving, but suddenly I found myself hovering above Bella, as I pinned her to the ground. My lips eagerly pressed against hers, trying to get closer. The remaining deer began to scatter, but neither of us moved to give chase. The time for hunting had passed.
"You are exquisite, my love," I purred as I tasted the skin of her gorgeous neck. A low growl made its way from deep within her throat. She lifted her eyes to question why I had her pinned beneath me.
"There are no words for how stimulating it was to see you hunt, love." I explained breathlessly.
"Really?" she smirked sexily, leaving me no choice but to kiss her plump lips. This kiss wasn't like it had been before, when she was so dreadfully fragile. Now, I could kiss her with everything I had. I could show her my passion and longing without holding back. I kissed her with an unprecedented vigor.
There was no world outside of our heated embrace. No one and nothing mattered at all besides the two of us. Passion flooded the air as our tongues dance endlessly. Neither of us spoke aloud, choosing instead to communicate with our minds and bodies.
Our desperate kisses were fueled by some unknown animalistic instinct neither of us had any control over. All I knew was that Bella was mine and I was hers, and nothing would stop us from becoming one.
"I love you." she whispered, breaking the silence, but not the spell that we were under.
"As I love you, Isabella. I need you. Please, may I have you here, now?" I couldn't be bothered to care that my words came out as a strained plea. I needed her. She was my air, and I was suffocating without her.
"You never have to ask Edward. I'm yours. Take me." Her voice was low and seductive. With a low growl, I hurriedly rid both of us of our clothing, ripping them in my haste.
Then I claimed my wife for the first time as a vampire. I groaned as I pushed into her, stilling once I felt myself sink completely inside her body. Being inside my Bella was pure ecstasy.
A fire ignited low in my abdomen as I my hips met hers with a strength I could only have imagined when she was human. I snaked my arms behind her back and brought my hands over her shoulders from beneath her, holding our bodies flush to one another.
The sensations of being one took us higher and higher, our combined pleasure was building with each thrust of my hips. I pressed against her, leaving no space in between our intertwined bodies. She reacted by wrapping her legs around me and clutching at my shoulders and back, trying to bring us even closer.
I leaned my head down and peppered kisses along her neck and collarbone; she tasted like passion and longing and Bella, and I couldn't get enough.
"Edward… faster…" she breathed in my ear, and I complied, needing to give her everything that she desired. Her hips began to thrust up against mine. She arched her back and threw her head back into the grass moaning my name.
Pure unadulterated bliss rolled through both of us over and over until finally, together we reached the crescendo of our passion and wave after wave of pleasure crashed into us until I was sure we would both drown in absolute satisfaction.
I lay down on the lush undergrowth of the forest floor and pulled Bella to lie on my chest as we caught our unneeded breath simply reveling in the sheer joy and contentment that was flowing through us after our coupling.
Yoo-hoo, love birds. I left you both some clothes on the rock near the stream. Aro should be here in fifteen minutes. Hurry up and get dressed.
Sighing, I ran one hand through my hair and leapt to my feet, pulling Bella up with the other.
"Where are we going?" she asked, and her brow wrinkled in confusion at my hasty movements. "I don't want to go back to the boat already."
"Alice has left us some clothes, and Aro is on his way. We need to get back. Didn't you hear her thoughts?" I asked, she shook her head, but didn't seem bothered by the fact that she didn't hear Alice's mind.
"Should it bother me?" she was curious now.
"No, I think that your range just isn't as wide as mine. You should be able to hear everyone once we get close to the boat."
"Great, five vampires in my head instead of two," Now it was her turn to sigh as she sniffed the air and followed Alice's scent to the bag of clothes she had left us.
"You know, we really didn't talk about anything," she remarked as we made our way back to the boat.
"I know, and I'm sorry, but we'll have plenty of time to talk once we are alone. Besides, you have no idea what seeing you hunt did to me." I told her honestly.
"Um, well, I think I might seeing as how you just attacked me back there." she giggled and started running towards the yacht.
The moment the yacht came into view, Bella cringed as she was once again assaulted by the thoughts of Carlisle, Alice, and now Aro. We were close enough now that I could hear their spoken words as well as their thoughts. Aro was explaining that Demetri, who had accompanied him to Rio, had wanted to come with him to the island in order to make sure Aro was protected from Bella's possible newborn aggression, but Aro had insisted that he stay on the mainland as he felt that Bella was too kind as a human to be a vicious newborn. I understood Demetri's trepidation, but I was elated that Aro had such faith in my wife.
Bella's thoughts and body language showed her discomfort with the level of noise in her mind more with each step we took closer to the boat. I debated whether or not I wanted to take her back to the boat knowing that the longer she was exposed to the din of noise the more her head would hurt. I hated that she was in pain, but she quickly let me know that she wasn't going to miss this discussion.
My head will be fine Edward. If it gets to be too much, I will just focus on your voice again and tune them out. I need to hear what Aro has to say.
"My beautiful Bella, as stubborn as ever," I sighed resigned and followed her onto the upper deck of the yacht I had bought for her.
You bought me a yacht? I thought it was the family's boat. We'll talk about this later, Edward. She glared at me for a moment before turning to smile at our guests.
"Carlisle has already filled me in on your most unique situation. I am honored that you would allow me to be a part of it." Aro said, getting right to the heart of the matter, after all pleasantries and greetings had been exchanged. I was so worried when I last saw you. I've never encountered a mind I could not see let alone two.
"Could you explain that, please?" Bella demanded softly.
"Well, as Carlisle told you; never before has there been a vampire who retained their eye color…" Aro began.
"No, not that; what were you saying about not being able to see." Bella corrected.
"Ah, that. Well, during your transformation when you and your Edward were suspended in the dream state, I couldn't see anything from either of your minds. I have been eager to try again now that you are awake, but I wouldn't want to push." Hmm, I didn't say that I couldn't see; I thought it. Bella, are you sharing your mate's gift?
"She is, and I can see her mind now as well. And as Carlisle has told you, she seems to have little to no bloodlust, and that is something that I seemed to have gained from her." I informed him.
"No bloodlust, you say? Remarkable. Is that something I could possibly see?" And I'd like to see if I can witness your shared dream, if I may?
"Sure," Bella shrugged, and offered Aro her hand. I watched with him as he observed her memories. I could feel her discomfort as he witnessed our time in the meadow after Dee had told us that we passed her test. And suddenly Bella's mind went blank. Aro could see nothing; I could see nothing. She was just as silent as she had been as a human.
"What happened?" Edward can you hear still hear your Bella?
"No, I can't see anything from her," I answered him, and then turned my attention to my wife. Bella love, are you alright? I can't hear you.
"Yes, I'm fine. I can still hear everyone. Edward, what's going on?" Bella began to panic. Her unneeded breath came out in pants. Her trepidation filled me, and I immediately took her into my arms to try to calm her.
"I don't know, but we'll figure it out. We have two of the finest minds in the vampire world on our side." I promised her, looking to Aro and Carlisle who readily agreed to do whatever they could to help us.
"Edward, may I try something?" Aro was guarding his thoughts, but reached his hand out for me to take. I wasn't sure what he would see in my thoughts that would make sense of Bella's sudden mental silence, but I was willing to try anything.
He delved further into my mind then he did Bella's. He filtered through my memories until he came upon our wedding day. I watched all of the events of that day and the flight to Rio, but as soon as Bella and I boarded the boat, his mind went blank. I could feel him pushing at the boundaries of my thoughts, but he could see nothing of our first night together as husband and wife.
Finally, after almost a full five minutes of trying, he could see past our wedding night and into the dream that Bella shared with me. He was able to view our interaction with Dee, but as soon as he came upon the shift in the dream that left Bella and I standing in her bedroom, his mind once again registered nothing.
Interesting. Very interesting. "Bella, may I ask you a personal question?" Aro asked in a very gentle tone, but he took great care to block his thoughts from me.
"I guess," Bella responded with her face buried in my neck breathing in my scent to keep herself from panicking again.
"Would it embarrass you for me to see your more intimate moments with Edward?" I felt Bella nod against my neck.
Aro's laughter rang out and he clapped happily as if the affirmation of her embarrassment was the best news he had heard in a century.
"Isabella Cullen, you are one very gifted vampire!" He announced, and then smiled brightly at my wife.