Something Better Than Forever
by Skydancinghobbit
Chapter 20: The
Nature Of A Beast
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I felt a surge of pity, and relief. Pity because, as beautiful as they were, they were outsiders, clearly not accepted. Relief that I wasn’t the only newcomer here and certainly not the most interesting by any standard.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 1, p.22
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Since the moment the aircraft wheels had struck earth Bella had never been alone. In sleep Aro had carried her from the plane uttering a soft snarl of warning to any other Volturi that offered assistance. When at last she awoke it was his arm that held her, cool fingers ghosting over her skin every now as if to reassure himself she was not simply a phantom created by his frenzied mind in those first few moments of her capture. Now the first fright of her adventure had fled allowing her at last to settle, spoon fed a light chicken broth with a delicate spoon that came from the orient from Aro's own hand. He seemed to take great delight in coaxing her to eat, leaning her head gently back on his shoulder as if he too drew comfort from this simple action. Eyes closed Bella felt the pure luxury of the moment. Never since she had been about three with her first winter cold had anyone cared for her in this fashion. Glad her stomach had ceased protesting Bella was finally able to finish the serving, modest though it was. When finished let out a contented sigh.
“Are you Well Cara Mia? You’re very quiet”
They both lay comfortably curled together on the plush suede couch, a pleasant coffee color that Bella approved of. He in a black silk shirt and black pants. She in a comfortable soft pair of jeans and her favorite black sweater. She tried to put the events of the last few risings out of her mind. Though his nose had wrinkled briefly when she first appeared from behind the changing curtain, Aro was well bred enough not to comment on her choice of attire, seeming to understand that there were times where clothing, like some foods, just made a person feel safe and comfortable. The soft classical music only adding to the home like mood and Bella welcomed it gladly.
“I'm simply glad to be home. Romania while possessing many good qualities will not be getting my vote for vacation spot of the year”
His rich laughter was reward enough for the quip as he indulged her in a brief shoulder massage. Happy it seemed to lavish his attention and love on the women he loved. She happily agreed to it as the tension slowly evaporated again from her person. A whisper of scent caught her nose and she perked up from the delightful post massage stupor she was enjoying.
“Oh Aro! Those are apple wood logs!”
She had told no one of this secret longing. Having burned candles of the same scent since she was a child. A fireplace was a beautiful but completely unneeded luxury in Phoenix so she had shelved the desire for those years basking in the sun. Now in the cooler evenings of Italy her interest in the scent of true apple wood logs had surfaced again and she was elated he had catered to her so utterly.
“Indeed they are, you didn't think I would notice your preference for the scent when every shampoo in your bathroom all bare pictures of the same fruit on the label?”
Amusement ran thick in his tone as he regarded her. Ever since she had witnessed the feeding habits of the shadowlands he seemed wary of another breakdown and so was, for all intents and purposes, handling her with kid gloves until he was sure she was stable once again. She appreciated his sensitivity to her emotions. She was after all only human. Seeing her so cheerful seemed to soothe his fears allowing him to go so far as to tease her gently. She merely threw a pillow at him in response sitting up to stretch.
“Well done Sherlock, full marks for observation. But shall we test your skills oh great sleuth of the vampire world?”
“If you insist Mia Cara”
Bella was eyeing him with interest musing on what questions she would test him with. Forgetting once again he was a mind reader. Yet it was worth the slight sting to his pride to see her flush with pride when he incorrectly answered her questions now and again. Moving on from her favorite book and color she had tackled things like her favorite food or musical with something close to relish. Winding down, a more serious light entered her eyes as she spoke the play note ending for the remainder of the evening.
“Hmm.... Okay last question for the evening. What am I afraid of?”
>>>>>>>>>
Aro's POV
>>>>>
It was a loaded question. He wisely took a moment to consider his answer before speaking.
“In your childhood you feared fish, after falling off a dock when three years of age. At 15 you feared thunderstorms after riding through quite a remarkable lightning storm one summer. Now...”
He paused reaching out to run his finger over her shoulder gently once more before continuing on. Had he still been human; Bella envisioned he would be shifting in discomfort and drawing a long breath, as men are noted to do when confronted with a thorny problem he has no choice but to tackle.
“Now have witnessed such a horror as you have, I would have expected you to awaken with screams and clawing terror. You have come face to face with the darkest part of my world and yet still you remain when any other reasonable creature would have fled into the hills as if from a very real nightmare. “
Eying her with something close to sadness in his crimson eyes he pressed on his tone dropping in pitch like a man led to the gallows and awaiting the sound of the floor dropping out from under his feet.
“In answer to your question I answer thus, you now fear nothing when you should fear everything, about me, the people I lead, and the very world around you populated as it is with the dark creatures of the night that in all truth crave the very essence of your kind. It is the nature of the beast we all carry with us, the dark creature that crouches in our very nature”
<<
Bella's POV
>>>
What had begun in jest and play had ended with confronting the white elephant in the room right in the trunk as the saying went. She bit her lip curling gently into herself as his words came to a close. Bringing in the images of that horror in the grand hallway of Castle Wolf. Swallowing she fought for utterance yet found she had none. Once, twice she attempted in vain until her struggle ended with a single finger pressing against her lips.
“A few days from now your winter break begins, at the airport is one first class ticket to the dreary small town of Forks. You have three weeks of freedom. The Cullen's have already issued an invitation. The choice to return is entirely your own. You offered your love freely and accepted my own yet I shall not force your hand. Take this opportunity to think, Cara. ”
Then his finger lifted away and he withdrew. Gone in a blur of movement and dark hair. Checking the window Bella shivered. Though waning the moon was still full and she knew all too well now what he was up to. Though even listening carefully she heard no screams or terror or the sound of running feet. Confused she frowned. Alice had been hiding ever since the kidnapping incident she had learned, a wise decision overall Bella considered. How she had escaped back to Forks was a mystery. Yet as Bella sat curled in the recently vacated couch she picked up her cellphone and before she realised what she'd done the familiar warmth of Carlisle's voice flooded her left ear.
“Cullen residence”
Letting out a breath she closed her eyes. Emotions tumbling over each other like puppies let out of a play yard at meal time and it took her a full minute to find her tongue.
“Carlisle. It’s Bella”
Her voice sounded odd to her own ears. Strained and lacking in the warmth that it normally carried. He always an astute medical man picked up on it immediately.
“Ah Bella the family was so glad to know of your safe return., hang on a moment Jasper is here waving in a fashion that either means, the british are coming up the driveway in mass carrying torches or he really wishes to speak to you”
A short murmured conversation followed as the phone was passed off and at once the rich southern drawl sounded in her ears.
“Darlin, sorry to cut it but I had to tell you, its okay! Your emotions are all over the bloody place at the moment and the minute you get home I'm fixing to give you the biggest hug ever and just let you cry....never you mind about whatever shirt I happen to be wearing.I know what you found in those dark hills and little darlin you need some Cullen style TLC!.”
Relief washed over her as a lone tear fell to the carpet. There truly was no one like her favorite vampire cowboy. She didn't need his gift at the moment to know she was an emotional trainwreck. A few weeks of Cullen time sounded wonderful. Esme would stuff her full of home cooking. Emmett would play PS3 with her and tease her about her horrid driving and Carlilse would be glad to answer some of the question that now clamored into her brain. Best of all Jasper would just allow her to be human with no stings or expectations and that was exactly what she needed. Sniffling a little like a toddler she spoke smiling through her tears.
“I look forward to it. Italy is wonderful but”
“It’s not home Darlin, and at times, ya need the family to get you back to solid ground...then you can move forward, so get your backside on the blasted plane and get yourself back here!”
Bella laughed at the good natured ribbing, ignoring the rebukes that flowed from behind him, picturing the entire rest of the coven jumping on him for speaking to her so sternly. Bidding them adieu she fell into a deep sleep dreaming of the days to come.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I felt a surge of pity, and relief. Pity because, as beautiful as they were, they were outsiders, clearly not accepted. Relief that I wasn’t the only newcomer here and certainly not the most interesting by any standard.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 1, p.22
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Since the moment the aircraft wheels had struck earth Bella had never been alone. In sleep Aro had carried her from the plane uttering a soft snarl of warning to any other Volturi that offered assistance. When at last she awoke it was his arm that held her, cool fingers ghosting over her skin every now as if to reassure himself she was not simply a phantom created by his frenzied mind in those first few moments of her capture. Now the first fright of her adventure had fled allowing her at last to settle, spoon fed a light chicken broth with a delicate spoon that came from the orient from Aro's own hand. He seemed to take great delight in coaxing her to eat, leaning her head gently back on his shoulder as if he too drew comfort from this simple action. Eyes closed Bella felt the pure luxury of the moment. Never since she had been about three with her first winter cold had anyone cared for her in this fashion. Glad her stomach had ceased protesting Bella was finally able to finish the serving, modest though it was. When finished let out a contented sigh.
“Are you Well Cara Mia? You’re very quiet”
They both lay comfortably curled together on the plush suede couch, a pleasant coffee color that Bella approved of. He in a black silk shirt and black pants. She in a comfortable soft pair of jeans and her favorite black sweater. She tried to put the events of the last few risings out of her mind. Though his nose had wrinkled briefly when she first appeared from behind the changing curtain, Aro was well bred enough not to comment on her choice of attire, seeming to understand that there were times where clothing, like some foods, just made a person feel safe and comfortable. The soft classical music only adding to the home like mood and Bella welcomed it gladly.
“I'm simply glad to be home. Romania while possessing many good qualities will not be getting my vote for vacation spot of the year”
His rich laughter was reward enough for the quip as he indulged her in a brief shoulder massage. Happy it seemed to lavish his attention and love on the women he loved. She happily agreed to it as the tension slowly evaporated again from her person. A whisper of scent caught her nose and she perked up from the delightful post massage stupor she was enjoying.
“Oh Aro! Those are apple wood logs!”
She had told no one of this secret longing. Having burned candles of the same scent since she was a child. A fireplace was a beautiful but completely unneeded luxury in Phoenix so she had shelved the desire for those years basking in the sun. Now in the cooler evenings of Italy her interest in the scent of true apple wood logs had surfaced again and she was elated he had catered to her so utterly.
“Indeed they are, you didn't think I would notice your preference for the scent when every shampoo in your bathroom all bare pictures of the same fruit on the label?”
Amusement ran thick in his tone as he regarded her. Ever since she had witnessed the feeding habits of the shadowlands he seemed wary of another breakdown and so was, for all intents and purposes, handling her with kid gloves until he was sure she was stable once again. She appreciated his sensitivity to her emotions. She was after all only human. Seeing her so cheerful seemed to soothe his fears allowing him to go so far as to tease her gently. She merely threw a pillow at him in response sitting up to stretch.
“Well done Sherlock, full marks for observation. But shall we test your skills oh great sleuth of the vampire world?”
“If you insist Mia Cara”
Bella was eyeing him with interest musing on what questions she would test him with. Forgetting once again he was a mind reader. Yet it was worth the slight sting to his pride to see her flush with pride when he incorrectly answered her questions now and again. Moving on from her favorite book and color she had tackled things like her favorite food or musical with something close to relish. Winding down, a more serious light entered her eyes as she spoke the play note ending for the remainder of the evening.
“Hmm.... Okay last question for the evening. What am I afraid of?”
>>>>>>>>>
Aro's POV
>>>>>
It was a loaded question. He wisely took a moment to consider his answer before speaking.
“In your childhood you feared fish, after falling off a dock when three years of age. At 15 you feared thunderstorms after riding through quite a remarkable lightning storm one summer. Now...”
He paused reaching out to run his finger over her shoulder gently once more before continuing on. Had he still been human; Bella envisioned he would be shifting in discomfort and drawing a long breath, as men are noted to do when confronted with a thorny problem he has no choice but to tackle.
“Now have witnessed such a horror as you have, I would have expected you to awaken with screams and clawing terror. You have come face to face with the darkest part of my world and yet still you remain when any other reasonable creature would have fled into the hills as if from a very real nightmare. “
Eying her with something close to sadness in his crimson eyes he pressed on his tone dropping in pitch like a man led to the gallows and awaiting the sound of the floor dropping out from under his feet.
“In answer to your question I answer thus, you now fear nothing when you should fear everything, about me, the people I lead, and the very world around you populated as it is with the dark creatures of the night that in all truth crave the very essence of your kind. It is the nature of the beast we all carry with us, the dark creature that crouches in our very nature”
<<
Bella's POV
>>>
What had begun in jest and play had ended with confronting the white elephant in the room right in the trunk as the saying went. She bit her lip curling gently into herself as his words came to a close. Bringing in the images of that horror in the grand hallway of Castle Wolf. Swallowing she fought for utterance yet found she had none. Once, twice she attempted in vain until her struggle ended with a single finger pressing against her lips.
“A few days from now your winter break begins, at the airport is one first class ticket to the dreary small town of Forks. You have three weeks of freedom. The Cullen's have already issued an invitation. The choice to return is entirely your own. You offered your love freely and accepted my own yet I shall not force your hand. Take this opportunity to think, Cara. ”
Then his finger lifted away and he withdrew. Gone in a blur of movement and dark hair. Checking the window Bella shivered. Though waning the moon was still full and she knew all too well now what he was up to. Though even listening carefully she heard no screams or terror or the sound of running feet. Confused she frowned. Alice had been hiding ever since the kidnapping incident she had learned, a wise decision overall Bella considered. How she had escaped back to Forks was a mystery. Yet as Bella sat curled in the recently vacated couch she picked up her cellphone and before she realised what she'd done the familiar warmth of Carlisle's voice flooded her left ear.
“Cullen residence”
Letting out a breath she closed her eyes. Emotions tumbling over each other like puppies let out of a play yard at meal time and it took her a full minute to find her tongue.
“Carlisle. It’s Bella”
Her voice sounded odd to her own ears. Strained and lacking in the warmth that it normally carried. He always an astute medical man picked up on it immediately.
“Ah Bella the family was so glad to know of your safe return., hang on a moment Jasper is here waving in a fashion that either means, the british are coming up the driveway in mass carrying torches or he really wishes to speak to you”
A short murmured conversation followed as the phone was passed off and at once the rich southern drawl sounded in her ears.
“Darlin, sorry to cut it but I had to tell you, its okay! Your emotions are all over the bloody place at the moment and the minute you get home I'm fixing to give you the biggest hug ever and just let you cry....never you mind about whatever shirt I happen to be wearing.I know what you found in those dark hills and little darlin you need some Cullen style TLC!.”
Relief washed over her as a lone tear fell to the carpet. There truly was no one like her favorite vampire cowboy. She didn't need his gift at the moment to know she was an emotional trainwreck. A few weeks of Cullen time sounded wonderful. Esme would stuff her full of home cooking. Emmett would play PS3 with her and tease her about her horrid driving and Carlilse would be glad to answer some of the question that now clamored into her brain. Best of all Jasper would just allow her to be human with no stings or expectations and that was exactly what she needed. Sniffling a little like a toddler she spoke smiling through her tears.
“I look forward to it. Italy is wonderful but”
“It’s not home Darlin, and at times, ya need the family to get you back to solid ground...then you can move forward, so get your backside on the blasted plane and get yourself back here!”
Bella laughed at the good natured ribbing, ignoring the rebukes that flowed from behind him, picturing the entire rest of the coven jumping on him for speaking to her so sternly. Bidding them adieu she fell into a deep sleep dreaming of the days to come.