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Chapter 15
Love Is in the Air
Edward
I was annoyed with my mother and wished she hadn't brought it up in Isabella's presence. She had certainly understood that it was about her and would ask.
"What kind of dress would you like?", I asked her.
"I have no idea. I've never owned a prom dress. I've never been to a ball!" she said.
"We'll find you a nice one," Mom said with a smile.
"It doesn't matter what you wear, you always look good," I sighed and Bella looked at me.
"You're crazy," she then said, shaking her head.
"Yes, after you," I whispered in her ear and she actually blushed, knowing my mother had heard.
But Mom remained ladylike silent.
Mom knew her way around Olympia and had us drive directly to a fashion designer. We got out and entered the store.
"Oh ... Mrs. Volturi," Mom was greeted, and the salesman nearly doubled over with politeness.
"My daughter-in-law and I need a prom dress," she said curtly, and I winced in shock.
But the Princess on my hand did not move and took it quite calmly.
"Mr. Volturi," the human said to me now, bowing to Isabella. "Madam," he said to her.
He had another salesman come to serve us now and he himself took care of my mom.
"Do you have any requests regarding the dress?" the gentleman asked my Princess kindly.
"No, not really. You can just show me something. I can only exclude colors, no brown, green, red or yellow," she said.
The human nodded and asked us to come along.
Suspiciously, he looked at James.
"This is this lady's bodyguard, Sir, and he's always around her," I explained.
"Of course, Sir," he said.
He asked us to take a seat on a sofa. James stood behind Bella. Then he brought us different clothes.
"I'm guessing size 8-10?" he asked.
"Sometimes more like 6-8," said the petite woman at my side.
Many dresses didn't appeal to her. I always asked what she disliked because it interested me.
"Too sexy - too wide skirt - too much synthetic - too much frippery on it ..."
I smirked.
After all, she pretty much knew what she liked.
"STOP," she said as he picked up a light blue dress and was about to put it away immediately. "I'll try this on," she said.
It was a dream in light blue fabric, with velvet at the bust, a layer of silk over the skirt and off the shoulder. Not too daring, but very beautiful. I also liked it immediately.
She got up to put it on in a dressing room.
"James," she then called, and he sprinted to her.
"Your Highness?" he asked.
"Could you close it in the back, please?" she asked.
"Of course," he said, closing the little hooks on her back.
She stepped out of the booth and came to me, turning once and looking at herself in the mirrors all around.
"You look wonderful!" I said, thinking: Wow ... She just had a classically beautiful posture and looked really elegant and regal. Incredibly dignified and also attracting.
"Thank you, I think so too. This is my dress. Sir, can you tighten it a little more here. It's slipping on me otherwise and I don't want to stand in the ballroom with bare breasts," she said.
The human blushed and James and I grinned.
He had a seamstress come and pin the dress at her hips a bit to make it a little tighter according to measurements.
"I still need shoes to go with it? Do I?" she then asked me.
"Of course," I nodded and the salesman immediately brought different models that matched in color.
She opted for light blue pumps.
"I would make her a scarf from the silk fabric, to put around her shoulders, gloves and a shirt for you from the same fabric, Your Highness," said James.
"A good idea," I said, and the seamstress was immediately busy taking measurements from me.
Mom came and said, "Oh Isabella, you have good taste. The dress is just adorable," and kissed her on the forehead.
She herself wore an old-pink colored dress with embroidery on the chest.
"That's beautiful, too, Esmé," Isabella said.
"But?" asked Mom skeptically.
"I think it's a little too wide in the front here. I would have a dart made at the breasts, that would also accentuate them more prettily," said my Princess.
Mom looked down at herself and squeezed the fabric under her breasts.
"You mean like this?" she asked.
Isabella nodded.
"A good idea, you're right," Mom said, and the seamstress had another task.
"Her neck is very bare, Edward," Mom said, looking at Isabella.
"I've noticed that too and we'll need something she can wear on her head for this ball," I said.
"We'll do that afterwards," Mom said.
I paid and then we went to eat first so Bella could get something in her stomach.
"Will the dresses be ready on time, then?" asked Isabella anxiously.
"Yes, they will be delivered. Don't worry, little one," Mom said.
After that we went to a jeweler and I bought her a necklace with a little harp on it and little diamonds on the harp to match the earrings and bracelet.
"We need another tiara for her head," I told the salesman and he nodded happily.
"What for?" asked Isabella in amazement.
"Because you are a Princess and you will stand out from the other guests," I said firmly.
"Mmm ..." she said hesitantly.
I pulled her into my arms.
"All the princesses with us have one. The others will also wear it that evening. And you can wear it very proudly, because you will be the most beautiful woman at the ball!", I said.
She laughed.
"Sure, I - did you ever look at Rosalie or Alice?" she asked.
"Yes, absolutely, but you are superior to them in everything," I said, and she laughed again.
But I was allowed to buy her one, a small one with diamonds and it really adorned her head beautifully.
On the ride back, she snuggled up to my shoulder and I put an arm around her.
She stroked my hand on my leg.
Mom smiled at me with satisfaction.
When we arrived in our chambers, Isabella disappeared first into the bathroom.
I briefly looked at her PC and started it once already.
I was about to go next door and put on something more comfortable as well when I heard her whispering in the bathroom.
"Thank heaven!" she said softly to herself.
She was rummaging around in cupboards and I heard water running. What did she mean by that?
I changed and went back to her PC, set up a mail program for her.
She came out of the bathroom and got different clothes, then disappeared back into it. After that she came to me. She wore knee-length tight pants and a longer blouse over them, which was seductively transparent.
"What are you doing?" she asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
"I'll set up a mail program for you so you can write mails. You still need an official name. Would you be okay with Volturi?", I asked cautiously.
"Okay," she said.
I was surprised.
"We're going to get you IDs on Isabella Marie Volturi, okay - and your email address will be Isabella at-sign Volturi dot us, okay?"
"Okay," she said, sitting down in her rocking chair.
James eyed her.
"Shall I bring you a hot water bottle and some tea?" he asked gently.
"Yes please," she breathed.
I pondered. Then enlightenment struck me like a bolt of lightning.
She had gotten her period and was happy not to be pregnant and now she had a stomach ache and didn't feel well. How might she have trembled in the last few days because of this? What all had I been doing to her? She didn't want a baby from me, that was clear. Or she did - but not in that way, it flashed through my mind. I was so unsure. Since she returned my feelings quite reservedly and didn't talk about hers, I didn't know at all how it was my turn.
James brought her the hot water bottle and she put it on her stomach. He put the tea next to it on a small table.
I searched for distance learning universities.
"Isabella, there is a prestigious university in New York that offers a correspondence course in literature and Spanish. Then you could go on to do both. Shall I have them send us the papers?"
"Oh, yes, please," she said.
I just did that and shut down the machine again. Then I knelt down at her feet.
"Is there anything I can do for you?", I asked.
She looked at me and stroked my hair.
"No," she said softly.
I leaned my head against her leg and let her cuddle me.
"Edward, how did you become a vampire?" she asked quietly after a while.
I had expected the question.
"I'll tell you my family's story in a minute, okay?", I said and stood up.
"With pleasure," she said.
"Dad and Aro are brothers. It was centuries ago when they lived in London with their parents. Their mother was an Italian Princess and their father was an English Prince. The family was attacked at Buckingham Palace. The assailants were vampires. The two young men survived because the palace guards intervened and there was not enough time to drink them dry. When the two understood what they were, they lived together as wanderers and explored the world. However, they eventually wanted to live civilized lives, so they took the castle of their mother, a Volturi, in Volterra and lived there. There they began to watch out for vampires who behaved conspicuously so as not to make our existence known. Over the years, the two were recognized as kings of the vampires, because they finally ensured order and system. While doing so, they studied and continued their education. Again and again, on and on. About two hundred and forty years ago, Dad met Mom. He fell in love with her and he simply took her - just like I took you."
I looked at her apologetically.
She said nothing, but eyed me seriously.
"She fell in love with him and they got married. Then they had me. My mother was not doing so well during the pregnancy. At that time, little was known about such mixed marriages, so she definitely didn't want another child after me. But so I wouldn't be so alone, they adopted Jasper and Emmett for me. So we grew up like brothers and feel like brothers. Mom loved everybody and so did Dad. They were great parents. We then had a vampire attack when I was the same age on the outside as I am now. I was a half-vampire - like Grace or Jane's daughters. I was seriously injured. My dad then decided to turn me and so I became a full vampire. Jasper and Emmett then decided they wanted to be turned too. Dad had turned Mom already. They had waited a few years until she was a good age match for him. So then he's turned my brothers too. Aro also had a wife, but she was killed in that vampire attack. He had two children with her, Jane and Alec, before this happened. Alec and Jane also had themselves turned for good when they were about twenty-four, so they wouldn't be so vulnerable. We had found that half-vampires who become real vampires are even stronger than normal vampires. Jane was already married to a vampire before this attack and had two half-vampire children with him. Her husband was a Volturi guardian who also died. The children are already grown up. Both girls. Does that answer your questions?"
"Almost. One get turned by a vampire bite if one don't get 'drunk dry'?" she asked.
"Yes, that's it. It takes about an hour for the vampire venom to spread through your blood and that completes the transformation. It's a little uncomfortable," I explained. "The thing that changes is your appearance. One become more beautiful. One become very strong and fast, all senses become heightened. One need blood, but no more sleep."
She was silent for a while.
"What did your mother mean in the car today? What should you ask me and did you think it was too soon?" she then asked.
Hit, sunk. So I already knew her well. But she was aiming in the wrong direction. She must have thought it was about the transformation.
"IT did not concern a possible transformation on your part," I said softly, stroking her hand.
"What then?" she asked.
"It doesn't matter, dear Isabella, just forget it," I tried my luck.
"You don't trust me?" she asked.
"It's not that. I just don't know my turn with you," I said softly.
She reflected.
"I think I know what you mean," she said, "You don't dare talk to me because you don't know how I'll react ... and what my answer will be?"
I nodded.
She was silent.
"Tell me what it's about and I'll think about it," she said.
"Isabella," I sighed, "I can't. I'm so glad you forgave me and you're going to stay here. I don't want to do anything wrong and lose you right away. Please don't push me. I love you and I'll get it settled somehow," I said.
"With Aro?" she asked.
"Yes."
She was silent for a while.
"I won't go away, I won't leave you and I want a relationship with you," she said suddenly. "Does that help you?" she then asked.
I quickly knelt down and looked at her.
"Thank you, that gives me great hope. I want you so much," I said and gently kissed her hands.
"Then please tell me, Edward. I will not leave you for any question in the world, nor will I despise you for it," she said.
I sighed and looked at her.
"But you're not ready, love," I whispered. "It's wrong."
"If you'd finally tell me, maybe I could decide for myself," she said stubbornly.
I took a deep breath.
"Aro ... he's an arrogant guy. He is jealous when we are doing well or happy. That's why he likes to try to put obstacles in our way. He will see in you a danger to the Volturi and also to the vampires of the world ... which he must now protect."
"But why am I a danger? Because I'm still human ... right?" she asked, bewildered.
"That, too. But you live with the Volturis. You are friends with one of the Volturi Princes, even with the heir to the throne, and you are not married to him. If you were married to me, you would have all the rights of a Volturi and also of an heir to the throne. He could not see you as a threat in any way, because as Mrs. Volturi you would be one of us. All of us here in the palace already see you as one of us, even though you have not yet married me - or will never marry me. But in Aro's eyes, you are nothing yet, because you are not yet a legitimate Volturi. So my mother had hoped that we could at least show an engagement, so that it would be clear that we were getting married soon. Then Aro would have no leverage. My parents are worried about you. They think Aro will be giving us a hard time because we don't have any wedding plans yet."
She looked at me seriously and remained silent.
I knew she was thinking.
"Isabella, how could I ask you to be my wife when you don't trust me, when we haven't had consensual sex yet, when I don't even know if you return my love?", I whispered. "Do you understand my problem now?"
She nodded. Then she pulled me to her and hugged me tightly.
"I'm so sorry," she said, and I gently stroked her back.
I did not understand what she was sorry for. That she didn't return my love? That I would get in trouble because of the situation? That she wasn't ready yet? I felt helpless.
"I have to think about," she said.
She rose and wandered up and down. Through my living room and her room, looking out the window, staring ahead.
This 'think about' lasted for several days.
I didn't know what to make of it and James was helpless as well. She hardly talked to us, wandered around and kept silent. At night I was allowed to hold her, but that was all. She didn't want to see anyone else or receive visitors.
How long would this go on?
"Have faith in her!" said Alice.
"She'll make up her mind," Rose said, "give her time!"
"The woman knows what she wants. She is the right one for you and she will decide right!" said mom.
"She loves you, Your Highness, I'm sure," James said.
The night before the ball I came home at 6:00 p.m. and she was waiting for me at the door.
"Would you like to come for a walk with me?" she asked with a smile.
"But of course," I nodded.
We went into the garden.
Grace ran across the meadow, saw Isabella, and rushed toward her.
"BELLA!" she shouted excitedly and ran to us.
Bella caught her and spun around in circles with her laughing.
"Well, my darling, it's already evening. Why are you still outside?" asked my Princess.
"I went to the waterfall with Daddy," the little girl said, greeting me as well.
Emmett came strolling leisurely behind.
"Ha ... so now I finally get to meet you too, Bella!" he exclaimed kindly, extending his hand to her.
"Hello, Emmett," my Bella said with a smile.
"It's nice to get to see you, too, for once. I hope you've settled in well?" he then asked politely.
"Yes, thank you. Where is Rose?" she asked.
"She has the hairdresser there to make sure she looks perfect tomorrow," he winked.
Bella laughed.
"She's so pretty. She looks great even without a hairdresser!"
"I'll tell her that. She loves compliments like that," he said with a grin. "Where are you going?" he then asked.
"Just walking around a bit," I replied.
"Well then, I'll see you at the ball tomorrow at the latest. Good night, you two!" he said and ran after his daughter, who was already climbing the steps to the palace.
Isabella took my hand and we continued walking.
"Do you have a specific goal?", I asked.
"Yes, the rose garden with the wooden swing," she said, "it's romantic."
I smiled.
When we got there, she sat down and pulled me to her.
"Kiss me, please, Edward," she whispered.
I did not let myself say that twice.
Gently I caressed her cheek and tenderly pressed my lips to hers. She returned the kiss, immediately opened her mouth and kissed me properly. Gently and tenderly. She tasted sweet and shivers of excitement ran through my body.
After a while I let go of her.
"I think I need to go back. I need a cold shower," I said quietly.
She smiled.
"No, you don't need those."
Then she handed me an envelope.
I looked at him.
"Please open it and read," my Princess said with a smile.
I pulled a pink writing paper out of the envelope and read:
Dear Edward!
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm not writing about the beauty of flowers,
not about magnolias, roses and their fragrance
which beguile our noses and senses.
No, I'm not doing that.
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm not writing about the forests, lakes and mountains,
not about creeks and rivers,
that awaken our desire for air and life.
No, I'm not doing that.
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm not writing about the rainbows,
not about the dragonflies and butterflies
that delight our eyes with their brilliance.
No, I'm not doing that.
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm not writing about the sun
warming our skin from the blue sky,
not about the moon and the stars
reflecting in the water at night.
No, I'm not doing that.
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm not writing about music,
not about the soft sounds and tones
that inspire my feelings.
No, I'm not doing that.
.
Today I'm writing a poem -
just for you.
I'm writing about you and me,
tell you about what I feel for you,
deep in my heart.
About how you touch me there,
caressing my soul with your smile.
Yes, that's what I do.
.
I love you.
Edward, I give you my YES for everything, here and now.
I am yours.
Connected to you in eternal love,
your Isabella
I lowered the paper and looked at her speechlessly.
She smiled tenderly and in her look there was love, understanding and also desire for me.
Gently I pulled her into my arms and kissed her again.
I couldn't believe it.
"You just made me the happiest man in the world!", I said.
"I know," she said cheerfully.
I pondered.
"Can you wait here. I have to get something quickly!", I said.
James coughed.
"Since I suspected what she was up to, I took precautions, my Prince."
Irritated, I looked at him.
From his right jacket pocket he pulled out the jewelry box with the engagement ring I had already bought for Isabella. From the other pocket he pulled out candles and a lighter. In his inside pocket he found a red rose.
He gave me everything and we had to laugh.
I lit the candles and placed them next to us on the table. Then I knelt in front of my Isabella, handed her the rose.
"Isabella, my Princess, I love you with all my heart. I can't exist a second more without you. I never want to be without you again. I promise to always respect and honor you, to care for you, to protect you, and to love you until the end of time. Please become my wife!"
I handed her the rose.
She smiled, took the flower, smelled it, and said, "Yes, because I love you too!"
I rose and kissed her. Then I opened the jewelry box and put the ring on her finger.
"Oh ..." she breathed.
It was a perfect fit.
She hugged me and kissed me. I lifted her up and spun her around in circles in my arms, laughing.
I would never have thought it possible that she would agree to this step so quickly and I was relieved that we wouldn't have any trouble with the visitors from Italy tomorrow. James laughed and rejoiced with us and I was grateful to him, as he had certainly contributed to Isabella's decision.
"Oh God, Isabella, if you only knew how I feel about you," I said.
She smiled.
"I think I know," she said, kissing me, squeezing me.
I let my face rest on her shoulder, smelled on her.
She scented so delicious and now she was finally mine!
"Edward," she whispered in my ear.
"Yes, my love, what?", I asked.
"I want to make love to you, now," she said.
And I ... I thought I had misheard.
"Do you really want me to?", I asked in amazement.
"Yes, for sure," she nodded.
"You don't have to be afraid. I won't do anything you don't want," I said.
"I know," she smiled.
"Then let's go back," I said.
She nodded.
We walked back to the palace in close embrace.
James had extinguished the candles and was coming after us.
We went to her room and she wanted to go to the bathroom first.
I turned on music. Me, the happiest man in the world!