Something Better Than Forever
by Skydancinghobbit
Chapter 6- Edward's Accusation
I peeked up at him one more time, and regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. As I flinched away from him, shrinking against my chair, the phrase if looks could kill suddenly ran through my mind.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 1, p.24
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sleep was impossible, even the ever present tapping of the raindrops on the roof, couldn't send her back into her dreams. She'd counted the ceiling tiles, memorized the next day’s schedule, and sat for an hour with her fingers tracing patterns over the jewel around her neck. Finally giving up she strode to the window curling up on the window seat. With her face pressed against the cool glass she nearly jumped out of her skin when a small pebble struck the other side. As she gathered her wits together and threw open the window a blur brushed by her.
Alice stood in the middle of her carpet all but vibrating the raindrops striking her carpet with the force. Taking no notice of the dampness she ran to Bella and lifted her from the floor dancing about the room on joyful but silent feet before declaring in a whisper.
"Bella, I’ve found it!"
Struck dumb by the sheer lunacy of the moment Bella could only stare at her in befuddlement. What on earth was going on? First her erotic dream with a vampire who had walked the earth since before the time of Christ and now this modern contemporary was cavorting around her room like it was the first day of spring.
"Alice what are you talking about?"
At once Bella was placed gently on her feet and an expression of chagrin crossed the perfect features of her best friend.
"Oh Bella I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"
"No, I took a nap when I got home and had the strangest dream, I'll tell you the details if you promise not to laugh or breathe a word of it to anyone!"
Closing the window she and Bella were soon curled up on the bed, Alice somehow having procured a mug of hot tea from somewhere as a silent apology for interrupting her night. Sipping it happily Bella relished the warmth as it slid down her throat. The sensation was not unlike that of her dream, she realized the same feeling of security now flooded her as she set the cup on the side table and began her tale. Alice listened with rapt attention her eyes widening as her friend spared no detail or feeling in the recounting of her dream.
"This song, could you play it again?"
"Yes. Not now though because Charlie is a light sleeper"
Frowning in annoyance Alice considered the problem of the sleeping parent and suddenly her expression lightened.
"It’s only 11pm now, if you come with me I promise to have you back before Charlie goes off to work"
"Go? Where Alice, it’s the middle of the night, besides I don't think the others would relish seeing me"
An ivory hand brushed her head fondly as Alice smiled at her.
"Emmett is not the only Cullen with their own safe house you know"
Pleased with the idea Bella changed quickly into something more suitable, jeans and a jacket of the same fabric, with a nice top underneath while Alice gathered up the instrument and waited patiently on the window seat a rather bemused expression on her face. When question she merely responded cryptically.
"If Edward ever catches wind of this he very well might blow a blood vessel"
"Can't he read your mind?"
"Nope. I've been reciting the Harry Potter series in French from beginning of book one since this afternoon; I just got to my favorite part. Where Snape intimidates the students in his class for the first time"
Laughing outright and smothering it hastily with her left hand Bella quickly scrambled onto Alice's back, an odd sense of deja vu coming over her. After she was settled they were gone in a blur streaking through the quiet streets of forks until they reached a small elegant little apartment on the crest of a hill but tucked away from the view of prying eyes.
"Wow Alice, this is lovely"
Beaming with pride she quickly went inside pulling a fresh change of clothes from a bag hastily packed. Taking them gratefully she vanished into the bathroom to change. Alice picking up the damp jacket from the tile floor with great interest as she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply a smirk crossing the angelic features as she hung it on a coat rack hastily as Bella emerged.
"That’s better now, my guitar please"
They went into the living room, Bella settling onto the couch with a deep sigh, its heavenly fabric one not yet discovered by modern man, a mix of leather and suede that had her in the correct frame of mind in a moment as the drum of the rain kept quiet time as her fingers began to trace the familiar cords from the ballad of earlier. Watching Alice she was amazed as the women began swaying in time with the sultry tones her eyes gaining a feral gleam as the short piece came to a close.
"That was amazing Bella but you having no idea what that melody is do you?"
"No just something that popped into my head why?"
Rising from the couch Alice returned with a book so old it could have rested in the library of Alexander the great without question, since she was dealing with immortals the idea wasn't completely out of the question; Bella considered rather bemusedly placing her guitar aside as she made room for her friend who spread the folio between them. It was written in a language Bella couldn't identify. Alice smiled taking pity on her and began reading.
"Rooted in Lore for centuries beyond count the Heart Stones is among the immortals greatest treasure passed from one generation to the next. Each Coven had their own held by the eldest members. Presented only to the coven leaders eternal love it is the embodiment of his love and life-force, when one Life mate is in danger the stone can...”
"Wait back up! In fact rewind and come to a complete stop"
Bella sat with her mouth hanging open staring into empty space grappling with the mountain of information that had just landed in her lap. Absentmindedly she felt her fingers close around the pendant, its warmth bringing a sense of sudden peace to her as she gasped softly coming back to the moment.
"You’re telling me, this necklace is Aro Volturi’s life stone?"
"Heart stone and yes I think it is"
A million questions all tumbled into her head at once, why? Being the one that struck her most forcefully. Why would a vampire of such power and refinement give such a necklace to her? Unless...
"Can you read the last part again Alice?"
Her voice was weak and for a moment Bella felt she might actually faint as she suddenly remembered that breathing was an important bodily function suddenly very glad she was sitting down she exhaled deeply as weariness at last began to creep in and her eyes suddenly slid close tumbling her into the embrace of dreams.
"Sure Bella um let me find it first....history of the stone, value of the stone....purpose of the...ah here we go Presented only to the coven leaders eternal love, it is the embodiment of his love and life-force"
"Bella?"
&&
Bella awoke with a jerk, morning sunlight was pouring in through her window and Charlie had just popped his head in to greet her. Clean shaven, breakfasted and looking ready to tackle the few law breakers of the town of forks with a vengeance he smiled down at her.
"Still recovering from the sleepover Bells?"
"You have no idea"
The mumbled response went unheard by Charlie who was wise enough not to push many questions on a newly awoken teenager, instead he set a steaming cup of coffee on the bedside table and a take-out bag with a familiar golden arch symbol.
"Gotta go to the station, be sure to get to school on time, love ya Bells"
Waving mutely in his general direction Bella lay in a heap, right school….thank god for something normal! She was almost looking forward to it suddenly, normal school with normal students with normal problems where the largest thing going on was who was dating whom. Yet she still longed for more, there was something in her now that could never be perfectly happy with a role outside the supernatural. Being a normal ignorant human just didn’t seem to fit her anymore. That however would have to wait; now she had to get through the rite of passage called high school.
Smiling gently she rose showered and wolfed down the calories with relish, Charlie might not embrace cooking or any other form of worded affection but he still knew how to speak to her when something was wrong, the take-out food cool as it was spoke volumes of the fact despite his gruff manner her father loved her very much. Happy in this knowledge Bella got ready for school picking up her book and checking over her homework, noticing the slight curve in her signature.
“Rosalie. God bless you”
If this was how the blond planned on begging forgiveness Bella could live with it. Glancing over the work with a smile, there were a few wrong, but it made her grades look authentic and so as long as she passed with good marks Charlie would never know, at least just this once she would accept the help having forgotten simple things like homework when she had been in Italy, heck to be honest she had trouble just breathing when a certain dark haired immortal was around. Shaking her head she grabbed her keys from the ring and went downstairs stopping cold as she pulled the front door closed behind her.
A silver Volvo was parked outside.
Almost automatically she approached, Edward was staring straight ahead over the dashboard his golden eyes icy even from a distance. He opened the passenger door for her clear on his intent of driving her to school for the sake of normality and the opinions of the neighbors then and desire to be in close contact with her again. The engine was started and the silence was heavy as the miles from the Swan home to their school was covered when they parked and she unfastened her seat belt flinging it aside as if it were a poisonous snake as she stepped out without a word. As the door closed she heard his icy whisper in her ear as she tucked her keys into her bag.
“What has he done to you Bella?”
The words were laced with barely concealed Ire as she turned to face him with an expression shifting from surprise to annoyance as she met his golden eyes, once so alluring and a source of captivation now only struck her as cold and feral, like those of a bird of prey looking on a mouse. Inhaling deeply a growl ripping from his lips that made a chill run down her spine.
“I don’t know what you mean Edward but if you might not have noticed, I have a class to get to”
“Your Scent has changed”
His tone was angry and it was probably only with the years of self control he possessed that his expression shifted as the others arrived in the red coverable that had all the boys drooling with envy. Each Cullen sporting a different expression. Alice looked worried, Emmett like he wished to do someone great harm, and Rosalie merely nodded in her direction as she passed without turning her head to greet them. She was no one’s lap dog not anymore. Arriving early she hummed a quiet melody while she organized her papers. Alice took her place in the chair next to her the contacts shading her eyes to a Grey shade. Even so they couldn't hide the concern that plagued them. Bella merely rolled her eyes as if to say “Boys!”
This seemed to pacify her for the moment and the class settled down to learning figures and other wonders of algebra class. Happily the class had not gone beyond the reach of Bella's class in Phoenix so her mind was allowed to drift. As she jolted down equations and times tables for a word problem she pondered what the two chess players were doing at that moment, it being not even 9 yet she pictured them at home eating a hearty breakfast and attending to personal chores before going off to their daily battle. Then almost without her approval her mind turned to another man of interest in her life.
What was Aro doing? Was he happy and well fed? Was everything peaceful or was there some matter he needed to advise on?
This was a more thorny problem, it was with great difficulty she tore her mind from this personal musing as the bell rang. Signaling the end of one class and the short time between the next. Gathering her books and materials Bella inhaled sharply; Biology. The class she dreaded most mainly due to her lab partner, she knew their conversation, if you could call it even that had not been finished and she hesitated a moment outside the door. Then she came to her senses, for too long had she lived in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing to him. Edward did not own her and she had no reason to start fearing his reactions. Being bound by the rules of his secret there was little he could do other then yell. Feeling a good deal braver she pushed open the door and marched to her seat with her head held high.
Only to find it empty, Edward had vanished
I peeked up at him one more time, and regretted it. He was glaring down at me again, his black eyes full of revulsion. As I flinched away from him, shrinking against my chair, the phrase if looks could kill suddenly ran through my mind.
Bella Swan, Twilight, Chapter 1, p.24
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Sleep was impossible, even the ever present tapping of the raindrops on the roof, couldn't send her back into her dreams. She'd counted the ceiling tiles, memorized the next day’s schedule, and sat for an hour with her fingers tracing patterns over the jewel around her neck. Finally giving up she strode to the window curling up on the window seat. With her face pressed against the cool glass she nearly jumped out of her skin when a small pebble struck the other side. As she gathered her wits together and threw open the window a blur brushed by her.
Alice stood in the middle of her carpet all but vibrating the raindrops striking her carpet with the force. Taking no notice of the dampness she ran to Bella and lifted her from the floor dancing about the room on joyful but silent feet before declaring in a whisper.
"Bella, I’ve found it!"
Struck dumb by the sheer lunacy of the moment Bella could only stare at her in befuddlement. What on earth was going on? First her erotic dream with a vampire who had walked the earth since before the time of Christ and now this modern contemporary was cavorting around her room like it was the first day of spring.
"Alice what are you talking about?"
At once Bella was placed gently on her feet and an expression of chagrin crossed the perfect features of her best friend.
"Oh Bella I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"
"No, I took a nap when I got home and had the strangest dream, I'll tell you the details if you promise not to laugh or breathe a word of it to anyone!"
Closing the window she and Bella were soon curled up on the bed, Alice somehow having procured a mug of hot tea from somewhere as a silent apology for interrupting her night. Sipping it happily Bella relished the warmth as it slid down her throat. The sensation was not unlike that of her dream, she realized the same feeling of security now flooded her as she set the cup on the side table and began her tale. Alice listened with rapt attention her eyes widening as her friend spared no detail or feeling in the recounting of her dream.
"This song, could you play it again?"
"Yes. Not now though because Charlie is a light sleeper"
Frowning in annoyance Alice considered the problem of the sleeping parent and suddenly her expression lightened.
"It’s only 11pm now, if you come with me I promise to have you back before Charlie goes off to work"
"Go? Where Alice, it’s the middle of the night, besides I don't think the others would relish seeing me"
An ivory hand brushed her head fondly as Alice smiled at her.
"Emmett is not the only Cullen with their own safe house you know"
Pleased with the idea Bella changed quickly into something more suitable, jeans and a jacket of the same fabric, with a nice top underneath while Alice gathered up the instrument and waited patiently on the window seat a rather bemused expression on her face. When question she merely responded cryptically.
"If Edward ever catches wind of this he very well might blow a blood vessel"
"Can't he read your mind?"
"Nope. I've been reciting the Harry Potter series in French from beginning of book one since this afternoon; I just got to my favorite part. Where Snape intimidates the students in his class for the first time"
Laughing outright and smothering it hastily with her left hand Bella quickly scrambled onto Alice's back, an odd sense of deja vu coming over her. After she was settled they were gone in a blur streaking through the quiet streets of forks until they reached a small elegant little apartment on the crest of a hill but tucked away from the view of prying eyes.
"Wow Alice, this is lovely"
Beaming with pride she quickly went inside pulling a fresh change of clothes from a bag hastily packed. Taking them gratefully she vanished into the bathroom to change. Alice picking up the damp jacket from the tile floor with great interest as she brought it to her nose and inhaled deeply a smirk crossing the angelic features as she hung it on a coat rack hastily as Bella emerged.
"That’s better now, my guitar please"
They went into the living room, Bella settling onto the couch with a deep sigh, its heavenly fabric one not yet discovered by modern man, a mix of leather and suede that had her in the correct frame of mind in a moment as the drum of the rain kept quiet time as her fingers began to trace the familiar cords from the ballad of earlier. Watching Alice she was amazed as the women began swaying in time with the sultry tones her eyes gaining a feral gleam as the short piece came to a close.
"That was amazing Bella but you having no idea what that melody is do you?"
"No just something that popped into my head why?"
Rising from the couch Alice returned with a book so old it could have rested in the library of Alexander the great without question, since she was dealing with immortals the idea wasn't completely out of the question; Bella considered rather bemusedly placing her guitar aside as she made room for her friend who spread the folio between them. It was written in a language Bella couldn't identify. Alice smiled taking pity on her and began reading.
"Rooted in Lore for centuries beyond count the Heart Stones is among the immortals greatest treasure passed from one generation to the next. Each Coven had their own held by the eldest members. Presented only to the coven leaders eternal love it is the embodiment of his love and life-force, when one Life mate is in danger the stone can...”
"Wait back up! In fact rewind and come to a complete stop"
Bella sat with her mouth hanging open staring into empty space grappling with the mountain of information that had just landed in her lap. Absentmindedly she felt her fingers close around the pendant, its warmth bringing a sense of sudden peace to her as she gasped softly coming back to the moment.
"You’re telling me, this necklace is Aro Volturi’s life stone?"
"Heart stone and yes I think it is"
A million questions all tumbled into her head at once, why? Being the one that struck her most forcefully. Why would a vampire of such power and refinement give such a necklace to her? Unless...
"Can you read the last part again Alice?"
Her voice was weak and for a moment Bella felt she might actually faint as she suddenly remembered that breathing was an important bodily function suddenly very glad she was sitting down she exhaled deeply as weariness at last began to creep in and her eyes suddenly slid close tumbling her into the embrace of dreams.
"Sure Bella um let me find it first....history of the stone, value of the stone....purpose of the...ah here we go Presented only to the coven leaders eternal love, it is the embodiment of his love and life-force"
"Bella?"
&&
Bella awoke with a jerk, morning sunlight was pouring in through her window and Charlie had just popped his head in to greet her. Clean shaven, breakfasted and looking ready to tackle the few law breakers of the town of forks with a vengeance he smiled down at her.
"Still recovering from the sleepover Bells?"
"You have no idea"
The mumbled response went unheard by Charlie who was wise enough not to push many questions on a newly awoken teenager, instead he set a steaming cup of coffee on the bedside table and a take-out bag with a familiar golden arch symbol.
"Gotta go to the station, be sure to get to school on time, love ya Bells"
Waving mutely in his general direction Bella lay in a heap, right school….thank god for something normal! She was almost looking forward to it suddenly, normal school with normal students with normal problems where the largest thing going on was who was dating whom. Yet she still longed for more, there was something in her now that could never be perfectly happy with a role outside the supernatural. Being a normal ignorant human just didn’t seem to fit her anymore. That however would have to wait; now she had to get through the rite of passage called high school.
Smiling gently she rose showered and wolfed down the calories with relish, Charlie might not embrace cooking or any other form of worded affection but he still knew how to speak to her when something was wrong, the take-out food cool as it was spoke volumes of the fact despite his gruff manner her father loved her very much. Happy in this knowledge Bella got ready for school picking up her book and checking over her homework, noticing the slight curve in her signature.
“Rosalie. God bless you”
If this was how the blond planned on begging forgiveness Bella could live with it. Glancing over the work with a smile, there were a few wrong, but it made her grades look authentic and so as long as she passed with good marks Charlie would never know, at least just this once she would accept the help having forgotten simple things like homework when she had been in Italy, heck to be honest she had trouble just breathing when a certain dark haired immortal was around. Shaking her head she grabbed her keys from the ring and went downstairs stopping cold as she pulled the front door closed behind her.
A silver Volvo was parked outside.
Almost automatically she approached, Edward was staring straight ahead over the dashboard his golden eyes icy even from a distance. He opened the passenger door for her clear on his intent of driving her to school for the sake of normality and the opinions of the neighbors then and desire to be in close contact with her again. The engine was started and the silence was heavy as the miles from the Swan home to their school was covered when they parked and she unfastened her seat belt flinging it aside as if it were a poisonous snake as she stepped out without a word. As the door closed she heard his icy whisper in her ear as she tucked her keys into her bag.
“What has he done to you Bella?”
The words were laced with barely concealed Ire as she turned to face him with an expression shifting from surprise to annoyance as she met his golden eyes, once so alluring and a source of captivation now only struck her as cold and feral, like those of a bird of prey looking on a mouse. Inhaling deeply a growl ripping from his lips that made a chill run down her spine.
“I don’t know what you mean Edward but if you might not have noticed, I have a class to get to”
“Your Scent has changed”
His tone was angry and it was probably only with the years of self control he possessed that his expression shifted as the others arrived in the red coverable that had all the boys drooling with envy. Each Cullen sporting a different expression. Alice looked worried, Emmett like he wished to do someone great harm, and Rosalie merely nodded in her direction as she passed without turning her head to greet them. She was no one’s lap dog not anymore. Arriving early she hummed a quiet melody while she organized her papers. Alice took her place in the chair next to her the contacts shading her eyes to a Grey shade. Even so they couldn't hide the concern that plagued them. Bella merely rolled her eyes as if to say “Boys!”
This seemed to pacify her for the moment and the class settled down to learning figures and other wonders of algebra class. Happily the class had not gone beyond the reach of Bella's class in Phoenix so her mind was allowed to drift. As she jolted down equations and times tables for a word problem she pondered what the two chess players were doing at that moment, it being not even 9 yet she pictured them at home eating a hearty breakfast and attending to personal chores before going off to their daily battle. Then almost without her approval her mind turned to another man of interest in her life.
What was Aro doing? Was he happy and well fed? Was everything peaceful or was there some matter he needed to advise on?
This was a more thorny problem, it was with great difficulty she tore her mind from this personal musing as the bell rang. Signaling the end of one class and the short time between the next. Gathering her books and materials Bella inhaled sharply; Biology. The class she dreaded most mainly due to her lab partner, she knew their conversation, if you could call it even that had not been finished and she hesitated a moment outside the door. Then she came to her senses, for too long had she lived in fear of saying or doing the wrong thing to him. Edward did not own her and she had no reason to start fearing his reactions. Being bound by the rules of his secret there was little he could do other then yell. Feeling a good deal braver she pushed open the door and marched to her seat with her head held high.
Only to find it empty, Edward had vanished