* The timeline of this piece is Bella's last night as a human but it might also foreshadow major events in her future. *
Dream a Little Dream of Me
"Edward," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible in the darkness, her eyes closed. "Would you hum me a song as I fall asleep? I want your voice to be the last thing I hear on my final night of sleep." She nestled herself into the cozy warmth of the blankets that enveloped Edward's cool body. If Bella had her way, she would have pressed her head against his bare skin, relishing the intimate connection, but Edward felt it would be too cold for her and insisted on the blankets as a buffer.
"Of course, my love," Edward responded, his arms wrapping around Bella a little tighter as he began to hum a soft melody.
As Bella listened to the gentle hum emanating from Edward's lips, she couldn't quite place the tune. It seemed familiar, reminiscent of a song from maybe his human lifetime, perhaps one that had withstood the test of time. Regardless, its soothing quality calmed her racing thoughts. She allowed herself to relax, encouraging her mind to wander freely. Tonight marked the last time she would ever experience the blissful escape of sleep. A realization washed over her that sleep was one of the things she would miss most once she became a vampire.
Bella firmly believed that there wasn't much she would truly have to give up once she was changed, but sleep was indeed one thing that would end for her after this last night. When she was awake, there was always something or other to worry about, but when sleeping and in the realm of dreams, she often found that all her worries just melted away.
That's not to say that she didn't have nightmares. When Edward left her a year and a half ago, she experienced some of the most horrifying nightmares imaginable. They were unlike anything she had ever dreamt before. Thankfully, the nightmares ceased when Edward and the Cullens returned.
Bella had come to realize, over the years, that some of her most profound moments of self-reflection occurred after a good night's sleep. She could think of several occasions when, with the arrival of dawn's gentle light, she awoke to a newfound clarity or unwavering certainty about something that had troubled her before. These moments of profound insight remained a mysterious occurrence. When this occurred, upon waking, she would try to piece together how these insights came to her, yet the memory of her dreams would always slip away like grains of sand, fleeting and elusive. They always seemed just beyond her reach, forever evading her conscious mind. She had learned to accept this phenomenon, and even though she sometimes felt as if her dreams teased her with what she might be missing, she had made peace with it. In any case, after tonight, she would never have to ponder her dreams again.
She smiled, snuggling up closer against Edward's cool skin, finding comfort in their proximity. They were in her room at the Cullen mansion, where tomorrow she would begin a three-day period of lying in this very bed, undergoing the transformation. Though she kept it to herself, she looked forward to the pain. It wasn't that she was a masochist or anything of the sort. She simply knew what she desired, and the pain was the necessary path to attain it.
Her thoughts wandered to how different her life would have been if she had been changed at the age of seventeen, right after James had bitten her. For a long time, especially after Edward left, she had been consumed with unhappiness, believing she had missed her chance. Now that she knew her transformation was imminent, she was grateful for the extra two-plus years she had gained. She believed she had grown and matured significantly, particularly over this past year, and she viewed it as only a positive development. Though she didn't like to dwell on it, she had begun to realize that Edward had been changed too young. While he possessed adult qualities in almost all ways, there seemed to be something fundamental missing in his constitution. Bella hoped that once she became like Edward, she could help him in ways that the Cullens hadn't been able to.
Lost in her contemplations and the soothing hum of Edward's melodic voice, her mind gradually slowed, and her breathing grew steady and calm. With a sense of serenity washing over her, Bella fell asleep for the final time.
As Bella sank deeper into the realms of sleep, the fabric of reality unraveled, surrendering to the soothing embrace of tranquil darkness. Within this velvety cocoon, her consciousness drifted weightlessly, akin to a leaf dancing upon a gentle breeze. Time became elusive, its constraints dissolved, and with each passing moment, Bella's mind expanded, unfurling in ways that eluded her waking self. As her slumbering mind embraced the enigmatic tapestry of time and space, her subconscious endeavored to comprehend the vivid visions that danced before it. Gradually, a forest materialized, its essence woven into the fabric of her subconscious, welcoming her into the realm of her dream state.
Bella looked around, thinking she was in the forest in Forks. However, she noticed subtle differences in the types of foliage, and as her gaze wandered, she saw unfamiliar mountain ranges. As she took her first steps forward, a peculiar sensation hindered her movement. Her body felt heavy, as if burdened by an invisible weight, and the motion didn't feel natural. It dawned on her that this was a dream, a realization born from the familiarity of struggling to navigate in such dreams while consciously aware that she was asleep.
Soon, Bella reached a break in the trees, and her eyes fell upon a woman. The woman, facing away from Bella, sat serenely on a weathered rock. Clad in a white t-shirt and blue jeans cinched by a vibrant red belt, she exuded an aura of tranquility. Bella approached slowly, yet the act of movement remained challenging. Finally reaching the woman's front, she strained to recognize her, but a perplexing disconnect fogged her mind. Although she could see the woman's face, a crucial connection eluded her grasp. Suddenly, the woman opened her eyes and smiled, and as she did Bella felt something shift inside her.
Bella turned her gaze, and to her surprise, she found herself standing in a vast room. It was an incongruous sight within the forest, but in the realm of dreams, logic often defied convention. As she stood there, immobile, she suddenly found herself in front of an immense statue. It depicted a woman of breathtaking beauty, her form exposed in all its naked glory. Bella circled the statue, her eyes entranced by its allure. There was an enigmatic quality that resonated with her, yet she struggled to pinpoint its essence. She attempted to survey the rest of the room, but the simple act of turning her head proved challenging, as if the dream resisted her curiosity.
Bella closed her eyes, as she disliked the feeling of being unable to move. When she opened them, she found herself back in the forest, but its tranquility had vanished. It was now reminiscent of a war zone, although the details remained hazy. Suddenly, a loud crash reverberated through the air, as something collided with a nearby tree, causing it to topple. Swiftly rising to its feet, a figure stood up and regained its balance, and Bella recognized him as Jasper. She watched intently as he swiftly returned to the ongoing battle, and she pondered the identity of his formidable adversary. The intensity of the fight indicated that it must be someone truly terrible, as the pure brutality she was witnessing surpassed anything she had ever seen in the past between Jasper and Emmett. She fervently prayed for Jasper's victory, but he was forcefully thrown down again with such impact that it left a crater in the earth. The figure standing over him filled Bella with terror. She had anticipated a monstrous vampire, but instead, it was a woman whose lethal movements made her tremble at the thought of how she could overpower Jasper, the best fighter she had ever known. As Bella began to back away, the demon woman's eyes lifted and locked onto hers. A whirlwind of dizziness consumed Bella as she beheld those fierce golden eyes. Toppling backward, she closed her eyes, her fleeting final thoughts centered on her conviction that the woman's eyes would have been red.
She opened her eyes again and, thankfully, found herself no longer in the forest but in the sky. It felt as if she was effortlessly gliding through the air, propelled forward without any conscious effort. Bella had always loved dreams where she could fly, wishing they occurred more frequently. However, such dreams were rare, and when they did happen, she didn't truly fly but rather exerted great effort to push herself in different directions, causing her body to move. But now, she was soaring faster than ever before, relishing in the exhilaration. Something unusual caught her attention—she was ascending, rising higher into the vast expanse of space. Bella couldn't comprehend this newfound development. Soon, she found herself suspended, weightless, in the immense emptiness of space. As she turned around, the sight of the planet Earth in the distance left her with an indescribable sense of strangeness.
Bella started to fall towards the Earth, and in her panic, she closed her eyes. She opened them again and found herself in a graveyard. It was pouring rain, but somehow she was not getting wet. She realized there was a woman in front of her, kneeling in front of a grave. The woman looked so sad, yet she wasn't crying. For some reason, Bella did not want to go near her or see who was buried there. She wanted to escape from this place with all her might. She longed for a happier place and closed her eyes once again.
She opened her eyes once more and was relieved to find herself no longer in the graveyard with the grieving woman. Now, she found herself in a majestic auditorium, its vast seating capacity capable of accommodating hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Yet, the seats remained unoccupied, giving an eerie sense of emptiness. Bella's gaze shifted towards the stage, where a captivating woman stood adorned in a beautiful red dress, speaking to the empty auditorium. With a radiant smile on her face, the woman held a golden statue in her hands, emanating an air of grace. Bella felt a wave of tranquility wash over her in this serene setting. As she focused on the woman, she felt it was same presence she had encountered throughout her dream, but she struggled to perceive her clearly. It was as if her mind resisted or faltered whenever she attempted to unravel the woman's identity. Sensing fatigue creeping in, Bella closed her eyes, seeking relaxation. Even though she recognized this as a mere dream, an unusual weariness consumed her.
She opened her eyes and found she was now out in the open. It appeared to be a park. All of a sudden, something brushed against her leg, and she saw it was a little girl running to play. Bella smiled, looking at the child. While she had never felt the desire to have children of her own, it didn't diminish her fondness for them. The child gleefully rushed into the embrace of a woman, undoubtedly her mother, their tender connection palpable. Bella smiled, thinking of when her mom used to hold her like that when she was small. As the mother and daughter's gazes shifted toward Bella, a flicker of recognition briefly crossed her mind. In that fleeting instant, as they exchanged smiles, a sudden dizziness engulfed Bella, and she started to fall over, but she was moving in slow motion and she never made it to the ground.
She opened her eyes and was in awe of the breathtaking sight before her. She was floating high in the sky and in front of her she beheld the most astonishing city she had ever seen. Its extraordinary features left her bewildered, struggling to comprehend the spectacle unfolding before her eyes. As she focused on the intricate details of the towering metropolis with its vast skyscrapers, she noticed what could only be described as highways in the sky, where flying cars weaved through the air. Bella marveled at the uniqueness of this dream, doubting her own mind's ability to conjure such a sight.
Suddenly, a flash darted past her, causing Bella to instinctively turn around. What she saw next filled her with a mixture of fear and astonishment. Before her, about 20 feet away, was a woman floating in the air, her back facing Bella. On top of that, they were situated on the coastline, but most importantly looming ahead was an enormous tidal wave, hundreds of feet high, rapidly approaching the shore, ready to engulf the city behind her. It resembled an impenetrable wall of water, threatening to bring devastation within seconds.
In a mysterious turn of events, the woman in front of her raised her hands. Bella couldn't comprehend what was happening, but a few moments later, the wave crashed against an invisible barrier. To Bella's amazement, the water was halted, stretching for miles in both directions along the coastline. The wave relentlessly battered against the unseen force, and Bella found herself immensely grateful for the protection that somehow prevented the city from being obliterated. After a minute that felt like an eternity, the woman lowered her arms and turned around.
As Bella gazed at her, a sense of faintness washed over her, causing her to plummet towards the ground. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable hard landing.
She felt herself land on an object and slowly opened her eyes, finding herself seated on a magnificent chair in a brightly lit room. As she looked around, a sense of familiarity washed over her. It was the throne room in Volterra, a place she associated with terrible memories. Yet, strangely, it no longer held any fear for her. The room was filled with numerous people, their faces indistinct in her vision. She turned to her side and saw Marcus, one of the kings, seated as he smiled warmly at her. Then she shifted her gaze to the other side and saw Caius and Aro seated on their thrones, their smiles directed at her as well. It was an unusual experience, but she felt a profound sense of peace in their presence. With a smile on her face, she settled back into the chair, feeling completely at ease. And then, her eyes landed on him.
Bella couldn't quite grasp what was significant, but when her gaze locked onto the man standing before her, her mind became fixated on him. It was as if he possessed an irresistible magnetic pull, drawing her closer with an intense longing. In a blink, her surroundings shifted, and she found herself observing the man in various settings. Each flash transported her to a different time and place, yet the constant remained, the presence of that man. Bella reveled in this inexplicable connection, feeling a profound desire to intertwine their lives for eternity. The flashes intensified, blurring her surroundings into an indistinguishable whirlwind. Amidst the chaos, she clung to her focus on him, instinctively trusting that everything would be alright.
Bella started to feel disoriented and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she felt a shift within her and knew instinctively that she was no longer with the man. She yearned to go back, but she didn't know how. Opening her eyes, she found herself in her room at the Cullen house. Standing by her bed, she noticed a woman lying on it, a woman of such extraordinary beauty that Bella struggled to look upon her radiant appearance. The woman appeared to be in a deep slumber, perfectly still. Bella approached and stood over the sleeping woman, captivated by her presence. Hoping for her to awaken, Bella fixated on the woman, and eventually, her wish was granted. The woman opened her eyes, and in one fleeting moment, Bella stared into the woman's bright crimson eyes. It was in that instant that she realized she was staring into her own eyes. The shared moment of realization overwhelmed them both, and they let out blood-curdling screams. As their screams pierced the air, the world around them exploded in fire and mayhem.
Bella jolted upright in bed, unleashing a piercing scream that echoed through the room, leaving her breathless and trembling. She was consumed by an overwhelming sense of confusion and panic, as if trapped in the grips of a relentless anxiety attack. But then, she felt the reassuring touch of cold arms encircling her, and Edward's soothing voice filled the air. "Breathe, Bella. You're safe," he whispered, gently rubbing her back. "It was just a dream. Try to relax. Everything is going to be alright."
Though Bella's attempts to calm herself initially faltered, Edward's comforting presence persisted. His soothing words and unwavering support gradually began to take effect. Slowly but surely, her frantic breaths steadied, finding a rhythm that matched the ebb and flow of Edward's comforting whispers. As her breathing evened out, Bella leaned into Edward, seeking solace in his embrace, feeling the tension drain from her body, and finally finding respite from the turmoil she had awoken with.
"That must have been some dream, Bella," Edward finally said, concern evident in his voice. "I've never heard your heart beat so uncontrollably right before you woke up. What were you dreaming about?"
Bella began to respond, but as she did, the details of the dream eluded her grasp. It had been a lengthy and peculiar dream, yet as she strained to recall it, it slipped further away. There was an undeniable sense of significance to the dream, but what exactly was it? She tried to relax her mind, hoping the memories would resurface naturally, but they seemed to drift further beyond her reach. Frustrated, she admitted, "I can't seem to remember. It felt important, but now it's all hazy and distant. You know how weird dreams can get... Or maybe you don't. Do you even remember dreaming?" she inquired of Edward.
"Not really. It's been so long that I can't recall the sensation of sleeping or experiencing dreams directly," Edward replied. His voice carried a hint of nostalgia for a human experience he had long left behind. "But Bella, if your dream was about your fear of becoming a vampire, and if you feel the need to delay your change until you're truly ready, everyone will be understanding. You don't have to rush into it."
Bella's gaze hardened as she locked eyes with Edward. "No, Edward, my mind remains unchanged," she asserted. Glancing out the window, she noticed the first rays of dawn breaking over the horizon, signaling the arrival of a new day. "Today is the day," she affirmed, a hint of eagerness in her voice. "It seems that was my final night of sleep and my last dream. I wish I could remember it, as I have a feeling that it was significant in some way."
A sense of rightfulness filled her as she contemplated her approaching transformation. "I don't think I have an appetite right now for a final meal. I'll head to the bathroom for what I suppose will be my last time and take my final human shower," Bella explained, her words carrying a sense of anticipation and readiness. "Could you please inform Carlisle and the others that I'll be ready when I come out? I want to proceed with the change now and not have it hanging over me throughout the entire day."
"Okay, Bella, if you're absolutely sure," Edward said, rising slowly from the bed and making his way out of the room to inform the others.
Bella got out of bed and began to gather her clothes for the day, choosing something comfortable. While holding the garments she had selected for her transformation, a thought crossed her mind. She decided it would be a good idea to write a brief note to her future vampire self. Sitting down at her desk, she took out a notepad and a pen, ready to put her thoughts into words:
Dear Bella,
I realize that you are me and I'm writing to myself here, but in my mind, I always think of my vampire self as a different person. I know there is a chance you will forget certain things, so I just wanted to write and get some of my hopes out in case you don't remember any of this.
I want you to be the person I always wanted to be but couldn't. You have the ability to be anyone and do anything you want. Don't ever hold back what your heart wants to do. I have faith that you will accomplish great things that I could only ever dream of. I wish you, and I guess I wish myself, luck in this new life.
Sincerely,
Bella
P.S. Try not to go insane and drain the entire town :)
Satisfied with the letter, Bella opened the desk drawer and placed it inside. She was confident that her future self would eventually discover it. As she got up from her desk she glanced at her bed while turning towards the bathroom, an inexplicable connection to her dream briefly crossed her mind, causing her to pause. Perplexed by the sudden interruption of her thoughts, she shrugged it off and continued on her way to do her business. Bella remained puzzled by the perplexing notion that vampires had no need to pee. The concept seemed unfathomable to her logical mind, especially considering the Cullens' description of consuming multiple animals in a single feeding, amounting to what must be gallons of blood. It defied all conventional understanding and remained one of the enigmatic mysteries of the supernatural world, leaving Bella to draw the conclusion that some aspects simply transcended common sense.
After she was done, she got undressed and turned on the shower. As she was getting ready to step into the shower, she turned her head and looked at herself in the mirror. Seeing her nude form, she was happy that she was looking more like a woman now. The stick figure she had been had filled out in the past year, and she was glad. She could only hope that her transformation into a vampire might make her a little more attractive. But looks were not everything, and whatever changes came or didn't, she would be happy. While gazing at her nude reflection, a flicker of something sparked in her mind, though its origin eluded her. She smiled to herself and thought, "This will be one of the last times I ever see this body again." She gave a little wave to herself, as if saying goodbye, and giggled as she got into the shower.
Half an hour later, Bella emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed, and saw that all the Cullens had gathered to wish her luck. She returned their smiles with one of her own as she addressed everyone, "Okay, let's get this show on the road."
