A/N: Hey guys! Welcome! Another Chapter *Cue thunderous applause*. As always thanks for reading! Enjoy!
He wouldn't ever understand. He thought he was the devil. And if I was being honest , he was probably as close as anyone would ever get to Satan on Earth. But I didn't care. He was different with me. He loved, and was loved. He felt and I felt. He was vulnerable and I was strong. In those moments we traded roles. We were who we couldn't be to everyone else. In those moments he was all that mattered. In those moments I was his salvation. In those moments, I was his Hallelujah.
Chapter 5 (BPOV)
I still don't understand why I clung to him the way I did. My only explanation is that, in my most terrifying moment, he made me feel safe. One look into those beautiful green eyes, and I had a reason to live through whatever humiliation I would endure in the following days. His touch gave me strength. Didn't he understand that? Didn't he realize he was an angel? I had to make him understand! Was he disgusted by me? My heart would break if he was.
As I molded myself to the hard planes of his back, I could feel his body shaking with sobs. He wasn't disgusted by me. That was a relief. He turned around then. He had tears in his eyes as he spun and took my still naked body in his arms. "Please Angel, don't cry. I'm so so sorry.". I was weeping openly now, my heart full of confused emotions. "I'll never touch you again, I'm so sorry Isabella." he said, his voice full of emotion. I noticed the way he said my name then. Almost reverently. Like he was saying a prayer. I sighed. "What if I never want you to let go?" I questioned him looking up into his emerald eyes. He leaned down to kiss my forehead and I faintly heard him get a wiff of my hair. "How about clean clothes and a bath?" he said taking in my naked form. "Then we'll talk.". I nodded in agreement. Maybe the warm water would help with the torrent of emotions I was feeling.
He smiled his dazzling smile at me as he crossed the room and snagged a plush black robe off the back of the bedroom door. He seemed surprised that I wasn't covering my nude body from his eyes. I shrugged internally, it was just a body. He'd already seen every inch of Bella Swanson anyhow.
"I'll start the water for you."and with that, he disappeared behind the door, which I assume, led to an en suite bathroom. As I sat myself down on the bed, I took time to take in my surroundings. The room was pretty bare. There was a bureau with an attached mirror. Two bedside tables, and a large four poster bed. In the corner there was a small round table, which held a few books and a plush chair that I recognized from Mr. Culleniza's office. But it was the painting above the bed that held my attention. It depicted a woman. Probably in her late twenties, with sharp green eyes, full lips, and caramel colored hair. She was painted in almost an angelic, and sensual way, with her hair unbound and swirling around her,and her dress slipping off her shoulder on one side. I snorted, how appropriate for Carlisle Culleniza's budior of torture.
Edward came back into the room then. He told me that my bath was ready and took my hand to lead me to the bathroom. It was fairly minimal too. But did have a large tub, which to my delight was filled with steaming water and a heap of bubbles. He turned around to exit but I held his hand. "Please stay, I don't wish to be alone." I breathed. Edward's jaw visibly tightened but his voice was calm when he spoke. "Very well. If that is what you wish, I shall stay and keep you company as you wash.". I smiled at him, shed my robe, and entered the tub, while Edward perched himself on the bathroom counter.
I sighed as I entered the steaming bath, it felt heavenly on my sore muscles. I could feel Edward's eyes on me as I washed with the washcloth he thoughtfully left draped over the side of the tub. He knew he was caught when I met his eyes. His boldness surprised me, he didn't look away. "Didn't your betters ever tell you that it is impolite to stare?" I said cheekily, throwing him a grin. His answering smile dazzeled me once again. "My apologies, it's difficult to refrain from such behavior when you are in the presence of a true beauty.". I blushed and looked away. He gave a short, barking laugh "It is no wonder that my father wishes to wed you.". I frowned then. "Yes, your father's attempts to court me have been quite...brutal.". I said. He sighed and got a wistful, far away look in his eyes. "We haven't always been this way you know.". He said sadly. Suddenly I was very confused. Wasn't the Culleniza kind of evil the kind that was born, not created? "What do you mean?" I asked, "Do you mean to say that your father wasn't always an evil bastard?". He smiled his wistful smile again. "Did you see that portrait above the bed?". I nodded. "That was my mother, Esme Culleniza." he said. I pondered that, now that he mentioned it, this Esme in the portrait did have Edward's green eyes. "Before my mothers death, my father was not so..." "Sadistic.", I finished for him. "Yes, I suppose that is a good description. My father used to be a very different man. So did I.". I don't know if it was my true morbid curiosity about his lineage or my longing to hear his smooth voice that made me ask my next question, "What happened to her?". He sighed a long sigh before he spoke "He killed her." he said matter of factly. I gulped.
He looked at me for a long time before he spoke again. "But it didn't happen the way your thinking.". " Then explain." I said, suddenly unsure if I really wanted to know. He jumped down from the counter and strode over to sit on the edge of the tub. The air seemed to shimmer between us as he moved to stroke my cheek with the back of his hand. I found myself unintentionally leaning my face into his touch, reveling in the feel of his skin against mine. "My father loved my mother more than anything." he spoke softly. "She was his whole world. As I am sure you know, my father is a very powerful man. With that power, he created a lot of enemies. In the days leading up to my mothers death there were many attacks on our associated businesses and homes. Needless to say, it rattled my fathers nerves. So, he started sleeping with a loaded gun under his pillow.". I cringed, weaponry made me uncomfortable. "On the night of her death, there was a break in here." he continued. "An intruder came in and held both my parents at gunpoint while my brothers and I were sleeping on the third floor. As my father tried to defend himself the gun misfired and the stray bullet struck my mother in the chest. After that, my father killed the intruder and yelled for my brothers and I. I was the only one who answered his call. I was there for my mothers last moments, before god took her. We held her in our arms as she wiped away our tears. It was was something I will never forget.".
My eyes filled with tears. My poor, lost Edward. I reached my wet hand from the tub to cup his face, and he turned his head to kiss my palm. "After the funeral, my father sunk into a depression, I think we all did. And when he emerged from it, he was cruel and ruthless. I think we all changed.". My tears were overflowing now, and Edwards face twisted into one of anger. "I don't want your sympathy Isabella." he spat at me with sudden rage. "No tears for me. No tears for the murder! None for your rapist! I don't want them!". He rose to his full height then, his jaw tight and his green eyes full of anger. "But Edward I liked -". I spoke but he cut me of with a wave of his hand. "Enough of this." he said suddenly looking more composed. He pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time. "I must be going." he said, "I shall have someone bring you up something to eat.". Before I could speak, he turned his back to me and strode from the room stopping before he exited. "And for your own sake", he said "Don't try to leave these rooms.". I watched as his strong body disappeared from my view and finished my bath more confused than ever.