Citizen Erased -- Chapter Eight
Summary: Disoriented after her transformation into a vampire, Bella struggles with amnesia. As she learns to control her new powers and abilities, she must also come to terms with what she is ... and with the vampire she doesn’t remember marrying. Bella/Edward.
Previous Installments:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four & Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Author’s Notes: Long time, no see, eh? I’ve been working on an original novel, and it’s in pretty good shape for the time being. I need a break at any rate. I’ve missed writing fanfiction and interacting with you all, so here I am. Citizen Erased should be finished up in the next few chapters, and I hope to get them all out within the next week or so. I’ll finish The Small Print after that. I also have a new story I’ve been working on in my spare time. Sort of a rewrite of the ending of New Moon.
Citizen Erased has been nominated at The Twilight Awards for Best Alternative BD and Best Angst/Drama. Angsty, me? *blinks innocently*
This chapter is looooong. Almost double the length that I usually post. Penance for the hiatus, I suppose.
Rated: PG-13. It will turn NC-17 before the story ends, for those of you who have been wondering. I’ve said it before ... I’m not called Coquette for nothing, you know. *wink*
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Chapter Eight
Edward made me drink more blood than I particularly wanted to before we drove to the airport. It turned out to be a wise thing to do. The concentrated scent of humans at the airport was maddening and impossible to get away from. I was again thankful that my mental shield enabled me to keep my bloodlust in check. All the same, Edward kept a tight grip on my hand and eyed my face cautiously every few minutes, making sure that I was still in control of myself.
“This is a very foolish thing to do,” he told me as we maneuvered the terminals. “Just in case you were wondering. If it were anyone else but you...”
“I won’t eat anyone,” I promised. “Have a little faith.”
The kiss he planted on my forehead indicated that he was trying his best.
I leaned into him as he drew me close, delighted with our newfound intimacy, with the comfort and security his unconditional love provided. I wondered if we would have any privacy on the plane, and if so, if there would be a repeat performance of the time we had just spent together in our hotel room, locked in each other’s arms. I smiled at the prospect, eager to have him alone again.
I had no memory of airports or the plane rides I’d taken as a human, and as a result of that ignorance, I didn’t understand things that seemed obvious to everyone else. Like why I had to take off my shoes in one line, pull my laptop out of its bag, then promptly put everything back in place again. Someone waved a flat, plastic wand at me before letting me through the line. Humans were very strange.
“Is something wrong with my shoes?” I whispered to Edward when we were free of the line.
“They just want to make sure the flight is safe,” he replied. His voice was so quiet, I was certain that I was the only one that could hear him. “Little do they know that my carryon item is more dangerous than any shoe bomb.”
“Your carryon item?”
He smiled down at me fondly. “Just don’t snack on the pilot, all right? Or the passengers. I haven’t landed a plane in years, and I’m a little rusty.”
I expected our plane to be the size of the large jets we saw through the terminal windows and was surprised when we boarded a much smaller, sleeker craft. The lush cabin was dimly lit, easy on my sensitive eyes. The cushy, leather seats were paired in twos down the aisle, most of them empty. There were only a handful of other people on the plane with us, spread out sparsely amongst the seats. Most of them had the bored-but-entitled look of the wealthy.
“A semi-private jet is better than nothing,” said Edward as we took our seats. “Expensive, not to mention rather flamboyant, but we’ll be more comfortable this way. And you’ll be more likely to resist temptation. It’s a long flight.”
I sniffed, irritated. “You underestimate me.”
“It’s not that, Bella. You’ve proven that you can control yourself. I’m just trying to make it easier for you. And me. You forget that I’m a vampire, too.”
He was right, of course. The smell of half a dozen humans was much easier to bear than the hundreds that were in the terminals. Even Edward looked relieved to be free of the place. When I noticed the purple shadows under his eyes, I remembered that he hadn’t joined in hunting with his brothers and sisters back in Forks because he had stayed behind with me.
“You struggle with the bloodlust, too?” I asked, my voice soft.
Edward sighed as he reached across to pull down the window shade. “Every day.”
***
I read the journal for most of the flight, though the stewardess asked several times if I wanted to sleep. I politely refused the proffered pillow, though Edward accepted, mostly for show I imagined. He never fully closed his eyes but rather watched me through his thick eyelashes as I read. Every now and then, he would fiddle with a piece of my hair or trace the length of my collarbone with his fingers. It was unbelievably distracting, though not unwelcome in the least. Not only did I find pleasure in his small touches, but it was the only time the worry over the situation with Mikhail and the Volturi slipped from his face. In that respect, it was a welcome distraction for us both.
“You’re not a very good actor, you know,” I teased him. “Aren’t you supposed to be pretending to sleep?”
“I’m very good when I want to be,” he whispered back, and I shivered in pleasure when he pressed his lips to the bite scar on my neck. How I loved it when he kissed me there. “My mind is elsewhere at the moment, I’m afraid.”
He lifted his face to mine and caught me in a series of soft kisses. When he pulled back, I noticed his eyes were sparkling mischievously. “Tell me,” he began, fighting against a grin. “Have you read the bit in your journals about the plane ride we took to our honeymoon?”
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “I haven’t gotten to that yet.”
For some reason that made him chuckle. “Hmm. Perhaps you shouldn’t. I wouldn’t want you to get any ideas. At least not until we’re safely on land.” He laughed again, probably at my confused expression, but didn’t elaborate further. After another languid kiss that made my head spin, he let me get back to reading. It took a considerable amount of effort to concentrate, what with him holding my hand, tracing patterns into my palm with the tip of his finger. Somehow I managed.
Edward had told me earlier that my vampire eyes were able to read faster than any human eyes could, the same way we could speak and move faster. As a result, I was close to finishing the long journal as the plane drew nearer to our destination. I learned more of the Volturi and their laws, more about the Cullens and my other friends and family in Forks. I also learned more about my marriage to Edward, our honeymoon, and a great deal more than I expected to about our sex life after marriage.
I skipped those parts, embarrassed, particularly because Edward was sitting right next to me, still watching me with adoring eyes. I did, however, read about the plane ride we’d taken to Scotland, curious as to what he was referring to. Edward’s laughter rang out in the quiet cabin when he saw the panicked look on my face. I skipped ahead again, so mortified that I sank down in my seat and turned my face away from him. He murmured an apology in my ear, though his voice was still thick with amusement. He nuzzled me, tickling my ribs with his fingers until he had me laughing, too. It was a little funny.
Part of me wished that I could remember the honeymoon, to really know what it felt like to make love to Edward instead of just reading about it. But the intimate details of our honeymoon were something I wasn’t ready to deal with yet. Perhaps someday soon that would change.
I read the journal until I got to the part when Mikhail entered the picture, cornering Edward and Bella in a train in Paris. Five minutes later, I closed the laptop lid and pushed it aside until I could calm down. My hands were shaking, and I found myself angrier than I could ever remember being.
“What’s wrong?” asked Edward when he saw the change in my demeanor. “I didn’t upset you, did I?”
“No,” I said evenly. “I was reading about what happened in Paris. When Mikhail and his men took you away.”
A black look kindled in Edward’s eyes, and then he turned his gaze away from me for the first time since we had gotten on the airplane. “Oh.”
I couldn’t think of what to say. I wanted to cry and couldn’t manage it. I wanted to scream, to hit something, but that would hardly be wise while flying over the ocean. I would have to remain calm. There was, after all, a constructive way I could dispel my fury. Simply put, I was going to kill Mikhail the next time I laid eyes on him. I knew now that he had hurt Edward, and for that, Mikhail was going to die.
“What did he do to you?” I asked Edward after I found my voice. “When they took you away from Bella for that day? The journals say they hurt you physically somehow, but you never told Bella the specifics.”
“You mean, I never told you the specifics,” corrected Edward, still not looking at me. “I thought you were going to stop referring to yourself in the third person?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“Noticed that, did you? Sorry. I don’t want to talk about it. Perhaps after I’ve dismembered him.”
I let the issue drop for the time being because the subject was obviously an unwelcome one. What I didn’t say out loud was, Not before I dismember him first.
***
The plane landed in Florence, and we had to rent a car in order to drive south toward Volterra. I was anxious and more than a little restless after the long flight. Though I stared at the rough but beautiful terrain of the passing countryside, I barely saw it. Perhaps I would be able to enjoy it more after our meeting with the Volturi or after the threat of Mikhail was eliminated, preferably at my own hands.
When we reached the walled city, Edward secured us a nice hotel room, but we only stopped there long enough to put our bags in the room. Outside, the setting sun was safely enclosed behind approaching storm clouds, and Edward was just as eager as I was to get this over with. No need to put it off any longer. I accepted his hand, took a deep breath to fortify my courage, and we took to the narrow, winding streets on foot.
Volterra was lovely in twilight. Though I’d read about it in the journals, Bella’s mind had been preoccupied with finding Edward at the time. She hadn’t taken much time to observe anything except that which stood as an obstacle between her and her goal. I saw the Palazzo dei Priori, the clock tower that Bella had raced against, and the wide, square fountain that she had waded across in her desperation to get to Edward. It bothered me more than I let on that none of it held any familiarity for me.
Edward squeezed my hand, and I looked up into his face to read an expression there I was growing accustomed to seeing. He wanted to know what I was thinking about. I realized how frustrating it must be to know the thoughts of everyone he encountered with the singular exception of his wife.
“Just wondering where the entrance is,” I said, answering his silent question. It was a partial truth - good enough. “I didn’t read this part of the journal very carefully. I was a little anxious by that point. You know ... wanting to know how it all ended up.”
He smiled, but I could see the apprehension in his face though he was striving to mask it, probably for my benefit. “There’s more than one entrance. The tunnels are the closest. But you should know that they’re sending someone out to escort us. They were watching for our approach. I can hear their thoughts. It would comfort me if I could hear yours right now. Are you frightened?”
“No.”
“Liar,” he whispered as he slipped his arm around my waist. “We’re going to be fine. Take care now. They’re within earshot.”
Though the plaza was poorly lit in the failing light, we easily caught sight of two figures emerging from an alley. The wind shifted, stirring their capes, drawing their scent in our direction. They smelled distinctly of human blood, and their eyes glowed a brighter crimson than even my own. They had fed recently, I realized. I knew to expect that of the Volturi, but being directly confronted with it bothered me.
“Felix,” said Edward in greeting, nodding his head curtly. “Demetri.”
“Carlisle sent word to expect you,” said the bulkier one with the black hair. I remembered from the journals that he was Felix. Demetri merely stared at us, his body leaning back in the direction they’d come from, as if he was anxious to return.
They both turned and walked back toward the alley without another word. Apparently we were meant to follow, though their greeting hadn’t been particularly welcoming. I hesitated, and if it hadn’t been for Edward’s reassuring arm at my waist, I probably wouldn’t have followed.
The tunnels beneath the city were not as Bella described them, but I suppose that’s because she was a human at the time. I didn’t find them particularly cold, nor did the dampness or the uneven stones beneath my feet bother me. The arched walls were easy for me to see, even in the darkness. Still, I felt every bit as uncertain as she had when she had made this same journey, though I was much better prepared for this meeting than she had been, thanks to her account in her journal. She’d gone into this blind, poor girl.
Felix glanced back at us only once. “She’s quicker this time,” he noted, his tone mocking. “And quieter.”
When we emerged from the tunnels, we were ushered down a long hallway and into an elevator. I recognized my surroundings from the descriptions in the journals but the vague familiarity offered me no comfort. When we stepped from the elevator, I looked around the reception area expectantly for the human woman I’d read about, Gianna. I frowned and slowed my pace when I realized there was a young human male in a suit behind the desk where Gianna should have been. What had her fate been, I wondered? The human got to his feet and smiled nervously as we entered. Though I returned the gesture, Edward glared at him, reading who-knows-what in his thoughts. Felix and Demetri ignored him entirely.
We were ushered forward in silence until we reached a large round chamber made of ancient stone. There, the Volturi stood, waiting for us. I eyed them, feeling dread build in the pit of my stomach. Though I couldn’t remember ever laying eyes on any of them, I recognized a few of them well enough from Bella’s descriptions. Three of them stood apart from the others, turned toward each other as if we’d interrupted a conversation. Aro, Caius, and Marcus, from the look of it. I only had to study them for a moment before I decided who was who. Their bodyguards lingered close to them.
Aro’s milky eyes brightened when we entered the room, his onion skin crinkling in a spider-like smile. The sight of him simultaneously terrified and intrigued me.
“My young friends,” he said, crossing the room so smoothly, it was as if he was floating rather than walking. “How delighted I was when Carlisle sent word that you were to pay us a visit.”
Aro was the only one that stepped forward to greet us. Marcus was disinterested; Caius was a little too interested, though he remained silent. The others hovered in the background, not bothering to hide their curious and sometimes hostile stares. I distinguished Jane easily from the others and caught her glowering at me intently, her perfect lips puckered in an expression of frustration. Edward noticed and exhaled sharply in anger, fixing her with a hot glare. It took me a second to realize that she was trying to use her mental power of torture on me. My shield held and kept her out, thank goodness. I held her gaze until she looked away.
Oblivious to the exchange, or perhaps indifferent to it, Aro addressed me with absolute delight in his voice. “Lovely,” he breathed, eyeing me up and down appreciatively. “Just as I knew you would be. The change suits you, my dear.”
He reached to take my hand, and I offered it to him without thinking, forgetting for a moment that touch was Aro’s way of reading someone’s thoughts. Edward stiffened beside me but relaxed a fraction when Aro sighed in dissatisfaction.
“Still resistant to my powers, I see,” said Aro, loosening his hold on my hand. “How disappointing. I suppose you’re still unable to read her mind as well, Edward?”
“That’s correct,” Edward replied, his tone much less congenial than Aro’s. “And I suppose you know the reason we’re here?”
“Carlisle was brief but to the point,” said Aro. “I understand you’re having a bit of trouble with a certain tracker. The Großmeister.”
Edward nodded, his expression hard. “He claims he’s acting under your orders, that he was sent by you to ensure that Bella became a vampire. The ultimatum he presented was quite stringent. As you can see, Bella has undergone the transformation as you requested. Yet this Mikhail still pursues us. He seeks Bella out in particular. I want to know why we have to endure this continued intrusion into our lives. We have done everything you asked of us.”
Aro listened carefully, but rather than replying, he reached out his hand to Edward, beckoning him to take it. Edward eyed the outstretched hand with suspicion, obviously hesitant to open up his memories in that way.
“Your explanation is insufficient,” said Aro. “I need to fully understand what he’s done to you. I need to see it for myself.”
It was likely Aro just wanted to access to all of Edward’s thoughts, along with the thoughts of everyone else that Edward had ever heard mentally. Edward likely knew that just as well as I did but was left with little choice. He reached out, though his expression clearly told of his displeasure.
Aro accepted his hand with eagerness, and he let his transparent eyelids flutter closed as he concentrated on the flood of memories. The silent exchange took longer than I expected, and Aro took it in almost like an addict presented with his drug of choice.
When his eyes opened at last, he was frowning, and he looked at me in astonishment. “You’ve lost your memories.”
I nodded, uncomfortable under his filmy gaze.
“Most unusual,” he said, turning to face Edward. “And you think it’s likely a side effect of her powers, do you?”
“Mikhail proved that when he broke into our home and cornered her,” replied Edward, the anger in his voice pointed. It was evident who he blamed for the trouble we’d found ourselves in of late.
“I had no idea,” said Aro. “Truly. My mind is open to you, Edward. Read the truth for yourself. I’ve never met the Großmeister face to face. This Mikhail, as you call him. Caius was the one that commissioned his services. If you remember, Caius was particularly keen on Bella’s future as a vampire.”
Edward’s glare shifted toward Caius, his anger crackling in the room like electricity. “Strange. I remember him being more interested in her death.”
“Caius acted in the interest of us all,” interjected Aro, his voice ever pleasant. “The law did claim her. All the same, Edward, the Großmeister was only sent to you as a messenger. He was instructed not to harm you.”
“He was instructed not to kill us,” corrected Edward. “There’s a distinct difference.”
“Perhaps my original message was not conveyed the way I instructed.” Though the words were repentant, Aro’s voice had a patronizing edge to it.
“If that’s the case, then we ask merely that you intervene and set right this ... misunderstanding.” Edward said the word through clenched teeth.
“Perhaps you should not have killed Mikhail’s men,” Aro replied. “Have you considered the possibility that his actions are revenge for your hastiness?”
“They were going to force Bella,” Edward seethed. “And do who knows what else to my family. Did you really expect us not to protect ourselves?”
“Bella was never forced to become a vampire,” corrected Aro with a bright chuckle. “She could just as easily have chosen death. Let’s not overreact, hmm?”
I balked at the jolly statement. Edward’s mood shifted to a darker place than it had already been, but somehow, he remained calm. “Will you help us or not?” he asked, his voice suddenly quiet.
“What exactly am I supposed to do?” asked Aro, still smiling brightly.
“Call him off of our trail.” Edward looked at Caius again. “Or you. You’re the one that hired him.”
“His contract with us ended the moment he delivered our message,” said Caius in a bored tone. “Any further contact with you is most likely of a personal nature and not of our concern.”
“Not your concern?” echoed Edward in disbelief. “It’s your fault he caught her scent in the first place.”
Aro raised his hands to interrupt. “You know how fond I am of you, Edward. Perhaps you would consider a trade? His death for your companionship. After all, if you joined the Volturi and the Großmeister were to interfere with you again, well then it would absolutely concern us all. I’ll have him put to death immediately.”
Edward was shaking his head before Aro finished speaking. “You know I can’t do that. If you won’t aid us, I’ll have to find a way to kill him myself.”
Caius gave a quiet snort. “Not likely. Though it will be interesting to watch you try.”
“Do reconsider, Edward,” pressed Aro. “And you, Bella. The invitation to join us is always open to you as well.”
I scanned the other faces in the room, and it was evident that most of them did not share Aro’s enthusiasm over us joining their ranks. “No,” I replied politely, the way had Edward instructed me to. “Thank you.”
Aro looked crestfallen for a moment, but it was short-lived, as though he already knew the answer before we’d spoken it. “You know, there is a very simple solution to this problem. But of course, I’ve seen in your thoughts that you’re already aware of it, Edward. You were wise to bring Bella here if it’s a tracker you’re avoiding.”
I looked up at Edward expectantly for an explanation, but it was Aro that provided it to me.
“Hunting in our city is forbidden,” he told me in a sing-song voice, as if speaking to a child. “That’s something you should be keenly aware of, Bella, since this is your first visit to Volterra as a vampire. That includes hunting of any kind, my dear. Human prey or vampire. You see, when vampires engage in combat with one another, it’s rather ... disruptive. And since we like to remain in the shadows here, the law requires that we eliminate that which disturbs.”
“So if Mikhail attempts to fight with one of us while in Volterra...” said Edward.
I was starting to catch on. “Then the Volturi will stop him.”
Aro beamed at us both like a proud schoolmaster. “As the law requires. I hope you recognize that the Volturi are your friends, but I must also impress upon you that the same condition that binds the tracker binds the both of you as well. While you are in our city, I would suggest being mindful of your behavior. In other words, if this Mikhail fellow does confront you while in the city, it would be unwise to ... oh, how do you Americans phrase it? Throw the first punch?”
In the background, Caius rolled his eyes heavenward. Marcus’s gaze was fixed on the floor, and I wondered if he was even listening.
“We won’t forget,” promised Edward, putting a gentle hand on the back of my neck. “We should be going, then. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
Aro held up his hands in distress. “Come now, Edward. Must you go soon? We’ve barely begun our visit. Stay and feast with us. We can send Heidi outside the city walls to fetch ... something to celebrate with.” He laughed and clapped his bloodless hands, as if he’d told a good joke. “After all, I’ve seen in your thoughts that Bella has yet to taste of the glories of human lifeblood. She should experience it at least once and decide for herself if abstaining is truly worth it.”
Edward’s face was displeased, but he surprised me when he didn’t refuse Aro outright. Instead, he turned to me, indicating that it was my choice.
“Thank you for the offer,” I said, smiling at Aro even though I didn’t particularly want to. “But I already know it’s worth it.”
Aro was taken aback by this. “Truly remarkable, that gift of yours,” he mused. “I’ve never seen your equal, at least in terms of self-control.” He turned his eyes upon Edward, though still addressed me with his words. “Well, my dear, you certainly have found yourself in the right company. But I wonder if things would be different should you ever stray from it?”
***
It was raining by the time we reached the streets again - a light but steady downpour that turned the dust on the streets into a thin, red mud. Still dry beneath the building’s overhang, I stared up into the dark sky with wide eyes, amazed that not only could I see each individual rain drop falling from the heavens, but I could also see the drops beading together and forming in the clouds. I stood motionless, mesmerized at the sight, remembering myself only when Edward spoke.
“Let’s hail a taxi,” he said, eyeing the sky with far less wonder than I did. “I don’t care to walk in the rain all the way to the hotel.”
“We could always run,” I suggested. “We won’t get that wet if we’re quick. The rain is light enough.” The truth was that I didn’t want to be in a car, not when the night air was so refreshing, so different from the Volturi’s oppressive stone chamber. How glad I was to be free of the place.
Edward shook his head in reply. “Remember what Aro said. Under no circumstances should you exhibit your vampire strength or speed in this city. They’ll be watching us closely until we leave, so try to act as human as possible. Humans usually find other methods of transportation when walking isn’t practical.”
“Act human?” I echoed sullenly. I felt a bit childish but didn’t care. “That’s easy for you to say. I don’t remember being human.”
His expression softened, though his eyes were fierce as they took me in. “You’re doing just fine,” he said in a gentle voice, hugging me close.
I exhaled slowly as I leaned into him, comforted by his touch. His reassuring presence relaxed away a little of the tension brought about by the events of the last twenty-four hours, though not all of it.
I’m not certain why, but the humidity in the air made his scent stand out more to me. It embraced me just as surely as his arms did. I pressed my face into his shoulder and inhaled his scent deeply, delighted when he did the same to me.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Bella,” he whispered into my hair, probably sensing how fragile I felt at that moment. “Remember that Mikhail can’t do anything to harm us while we’re here, at least not out in the open.”
I heard something in his voice that made me suspicious, and when I pulled back to look into his face, I saw it in his eyes, too. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Edward’s answering smile was brittle. “I’m just thinking ahead, is all. Trackers are tricky, and Mikhail is definitely more intelligent than most. He’ll figure out something eventually. But staying here for the present will give me a little time to plan and figure out how to ferret him out of the shadows, hopefully into a trap of my own making.”
“You really think he’s going to follow us all the way to Italy?”
“I’m convinced of it,” Edward replied grimly. “But never mind that for now. We’ll worry about that when the time comes. And besides, I can’t think of anywhere else on the planet where we’d be safer. Let’s go back to the hotel and ... get comfortable.”
If I was capable of blushing, the look on his face definitely would have set my skin ablaze. I knew all too well that a simple yes from me would result in a night of love-making back at the hotel. Edward was convinced that I was his wife, his Bella. Why shouldn’t he make love to her? It was tempting, so very tempting, but could I really let myself go there? I knew that he wouldn’t push if I told him no, but I was having trouble remembering the reasons I had refused him in the first place.
“Shall we go, then?” he asked, lifting his eyebrows at me.
I nodded, trying to keep my breathing even the way a human would. It took quite a bit of concentration.
Edward lifted his hand to hail the rain-speckled taxi that was parked across the street, the engine idling, steam curling upward from the exhaust. The windshield wipers were off, and the dark windows were blurred in the rain. The driver flipped on the headlights, most likely indicating that had seen Edward hail him. The light bounced off of every raindrop between us and the taxi, creating twin halos of light around the vehicle. Every color of the rainbow reflected off of the raindrops.
Edward and I both squinted and turned our eyes away from the blinding light. Vampire eyes might see remarkably well in the darkness, but with that came a brief sensitivity when sudden, brilliant light was introduced. It was as if my pupils were fully dilated in order to see in the darkness, letting too much light into my eyes.
Arm in arm, we started for the taxi, but before we could cross the street, Edward suddenly stopped and spun around as if someone had called his name. I didn’t hear what caught his attention. He frowned deeply, and his arms fell away from me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to read his face.
It took him a moment to reply, as if he was listening to something that I wasn’t able to hear. Probably someone’s thoughts, I decided. “Go get in the taxi,” he said finally, his tone strange. “I’ll be right back. I want to check something.”
“Check what?” I called after him as he slipped away. “Edward?”
He didn’t stop to explain, but I could see from the set of his shoulders that whatever it was, it concerned him more than he wanted to let me know. The rain fell upon me, soaking my hair and clothes. I grit my teeth and turned toward the taxi, frustrated with Edward’s habit of keeping me in the dark. I would have to talk to him about that when we got to the hotel.
Still keeping my eyes averted from the headlights, I jogged toward the taxi with what I hoped was human speed. I slipped into the backseat breathlessly, shaking raindrops from my hair as I looked up to smile at the driver. “My husband will just be a--”
My words faltered, mid-sentence.
I smelled him before I saw him, but by then it was too late. The vehicle was already moving, accelerating into motion before I could even gasp.
“Really...” lamented Mikhail, turning around to face me from the driver’s seat. “Is he always that easy to distract? You two are making this far too easy for me. Hardly any sport in it at all.”
***
To be continued
A/N - If you have a moment, please let me know what you thought. I’m usually not this needy for encouragement, but I’m a little rusty, I’m afraid! Hope you enjoyed. The next part will be out soon.
By the way, if you’re confused about the plane ride I refer to at the beginning of this chapter - the one Edward and Bella took to their honeymoon - you can find the scene in the prequel Spiral Static. Chapter four, I think. Just a warning, though. It’s naughty.
Previous Installments:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four & Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Author’s Notes: Long time, no see, eh? I’ve been working on an original novel, and it’s in pretty good shape for the time being. I need a break at any rate. I’ve missed writing fanfiction and interacting with you all, so here I am. Citizen Erased should be finished up in the next few chapters, and I hope to get them all out within the next week or so. I’ll finish The Small Print after that. I also have a new story I’ve been working on in my spare time. Sort of a rewrite of the ending of New Moon.
Citizen Erased has been nominated at The Twilight Awards for Best Alternative BD and Best Angst/Drama. Angsty, me? *blinks innocently*
This chapter is looooong. Almost double the length that I usually post. Penance for the hiatus, I suppose.
Rated: PG-13. It will turn NC-17 before the story ends, for those of you who have been wondering. I’ve said it before ... I’m not called Coquette for nothing, you know. *wink*
***
Citizen Erased
Written by Coquette
Chapter Eight
Edward made me drink more blood than I particularly wanted to before we drove to the airport. It turned out to be a wise thing to do. The concentrated scent of humans at the airport was maddening and impossible to get away from. I was again thankful that my mental shield enabled me to keep my bloodlust in check. All the same, Edward kept a tight grip on my hand and eyed my face cautiously every few minutes, making sure that I was still in control of myself.
“This is a very foolish thing to do,” he told me as we maneuvered the terminals. “Just in case you were wondering. If it were anyone else but you...”
“I won’t eat anyone,” I promised. “Have a little faith.”
The kiss he planted on my forehead indicated that he was trying his best.
I leaned into him as he drew me close, delighted with our newfound intimacy, with the comfort and security his unconditional love provided. I wondered if we would have any privacy on the plane, and if so, if there would be a repeat performance of the time we had just spent together in our hotel room, locked in each other’s arms. I smiled at the prospect, eager to have him alone again.
I had no memory of airports or the plane rides I’d taken as a human, and as a result of that ignorance, I didn’t understand things that seemed obvious to everyone else. Like why I had to take off my shoes in one line, pull my laptop out of its bag, then promptly put everything back in place again. Someone waved a flat, plastic wand at me before letting me through the line. Humans were very strange.
“Is something wrong with my shoes?” I whispered to Edward when we were free of the line.
“They just want to make sure the flight is safe,” he replied. His voice was so quiet, I was certain that I was the only one that could hear him. “Little do they know that my carryon item is more dangerous than any shoe bomb.”
“Your carryon item?”
He smiled down at me fondly. “Just don’t snack on the pilot, all right? Or the passengers. I haven’t landed a plane in years, and I’m a little rusty.”
I expected our plane to be the size of the large jets we saw through the terminal windows and was surprised when we boarded a much smaller, sleeker craft. The lush cabin was dimly lit, easy on my sensitive eyes. The cushy, leather seats were paired in twos down the aisle, most of them empty. There were only a handful of other people on the plane with us, spread out sparsely amongst the seats. Most of them had the bored-but-entitled look of the wealthy.
“A semi-private jet is better than nothing,” said Edward as we took our seats. “Expensive, not to mention rather flamboyant, but we’ll be more comfortable this way. And you’ll be more likely to resist temptation. It’s a long flight.”
I sniffed, irritated. “You underestimate me.”
“It’s not that, Bella. You’ve proven that you can control yourself. I’m just trying to make it easier for you. And me. You forget that I’m a vampire, too.”
He was right, of course. The smell of half a dozen humans was much easier to bear than the hundreds that were in the terminals. Even Edward looked relieved to be free of the place. When I noticed the purple shadows under his eyes, I remembered that he hadn’t joined in hunting with his brothers and sisters back in Forks because he had stayed behind with me.
“You struggle with the bloodlust, too?” I asked, my voice soft.
Edward sighed as he reached across to pull down the window shade. “Every day.”
***
I read the journal for most of the flight, though the stewardess asked several times if I wanted to sleep. I politely refused the proffered pillow, though Edward accepted, mostly for show I imagined. He never fully closed his eyes but rather watched me through his thick eyelashes as I read. Every now and then, he would fiddle with a piece of my hair or trace the length of my collarbone with his fingers. It was unbelievably distracting, though not unwelcome in the least. Not only did I find pleasure in his small touches, but it was the only time the worry over the situation with Mikhail and the Volturi slipped from his face. In that respect, it was a welcome distraction for us both.
“You’re not a very good actor, you know,” I teased him. “Aren’t you supposed to be pretending to sleep?”
“I’m very good when I want to be,” he whispered back, and I shivered in pleasure when he pressed his lips to the bite scar on my neck. How I loved it when he kissed me there. “My mind is elsewhere at the moment, I’m afraid.”
He lifted his face to mine and caught me in a series of soft kisses. When he pulled back, I noticed his eyes were sparkling mischievously. “Tell me,” he began, fighting against a grin. “Have you read the bit in your journals about the plane ride we took to our honeymoon?”
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “I haven’t gotten to that yet.”
For some reason that made him chuckle. “Hmm. Perhaps you shouldn’t. I wouldn’t want you to get any ideas. At least not until we’re safely on land.” He laughed again, probably at my confused expression, but didn’t elaborate further. After another languid kiss that made my head spin, he let me get back to reading. It took a considerable amount of effort to concentrate, what with him holding my hand, tracing patterns into my palm with the tip of his finger. Somehow I managed.
Edward had told me earlier that my vampire eyes were able to read faster than any human eyes could, the same way we could speak and move faster. As a result, I was close to finishing the long journal as the plane drew nearer to our destination. I learned more of the Volturi and their laws, more about the Cullens and my other friends and family in Forks. I also learned more about my marriage to Edward, our honeymoon, and a great deal more than I expected to about our sex life after marriage.
I skipped those parts, embarrassed, particularly because Edward was sitting right next to me, still watching me with adoring eyes. I did, however, read about the plane ride we’d taken to Scotland, curious as to what he was referring to. Edward’s laughter rang out in the quiet cabin when he saw the panicked look on my face. I skipped ahead again, so mortified that I sank down in my seat and turned my face away from him. He murmured an apology in my ear, though his voice was still thick with amusement. He nuzzled me, tickling my ribs with his fingers until he had me laughing, too. It was a little funny.
Part of me wished that I could remember the honeymoon, to really know what it felt like to make love to Edward instead of just reading about it. But the intimate details of our honeymoon were something I wasn’t ready to deal with yet. Perhaps someday soon that would change.
I read the journal until I got to the part when Mikhail entered the picture, cornering Edward and Bella in a train in Paris. Five minutes later, I closed the laptop lid and pushed it aside until I could calm down. My hands were shaking, and I found myself angrier than I could ever remember being.
“What’s wrong?” asked Edward when he saw the change in my demeanor. “I didn’t upset you, did I?”
“No,” I said evenly. “I was reading about what happened in Paris. When Mikhail and his men took you away.”
A black look kindled in Edward’s eyes, and then he turned his gaze away from me for the first time since we had gotten on the airplane. “Oh.”
I couldn’t think of what to say. I wanted to cry and couldn’t manage it. I wanted to scream, to hit something, but that would hardly be wise while flying over the ocean. I would have to remain calm. There was, after all, a constructive way I could dispel my fury. Simply put, I was going to kill Mikhail the next time I laid eyes on him. I knew now that he had hurt Edward, and for that, Mikhail was going to die.
“What did he do to you?” I asked Edward after I found my voice. “When they took you away from Bella for that day? The journals say they hurt you physically somehow, but you never told Bella the specifics.”
“You mean, I never told you the specifics,” corrected Edward, still not looking at me. “I thought you were going to stop referring to yourself in the third person?”
“You’re avoiding the question.”
“Noticed that, did you? Sorry. I don’t want to talk about it. Perhaps after I’ve dismembered him.”
I let the issue drop for the time being because the subject was obviously an unwelcome one. What I didn’t say out loud was, Not before I dismember him first.
***
The plane landed in Florence, and we had to rent a car in order to drive south toward Volterra. I was anxious and more than a little restless after the long flight. Though I stared at the rough but beautiful terrain of the passing countryside, I barely saw it. Perhaps I would be able to enjoy it more after our meeting with the Volturi or after the threat of Mikhail was eliminated, preferably at my own hands.
When we reached the walled city, Edward secured us a nice hotel room, but we only stopped there long enough to put our bags in the room. Outside, the setting sun was safely enclosed behind approaching storm clouds, and Edward was just as eager as I was to get this over with. No need to put it off any longer. I accepted his hand, took a deep breath to fortify my courage, and we took to the narrow, winding streets on foot.
Volterra was lovely in twilight. Though I’d read about it in the journals, Bella’s mind had been preoccupied with finding Edward at the time. She hadn’t taken much time to observe anything except that which stood as an obstacle between her and her goal. I saw the Palazzo dei Priori, the clock tower that Bella had raced against, and the wide, square fountain that she had waded across in her desperation to get to Edward. It bothered me more than I let on that none of it held any familiarity for me.
Edward squeezed my hand, and I looked up into his face to read an expression there I was growing accustomed to seeing. He wanted to know what I was thinking about. I realized how frustrating it must be to know the thoughts of everyone he encountered with the singular exception of his wife.
“Just wondering where the entrance is,” I said, answering his silent question. It was a partial truth - good enough. “I didn’t read this part of the journal very carefully. I was a little anxious by that point. You know ... wanting to know how it all ended up.”
He smiled, but I could see the apprehension in his face though he was striving to mask it, probably for my benefit. “There’s more than one entrance. The tunnels are the closest. But you should know that they’re sending someone out to escort us. They were watching for our approach. I can hear their thoughts. It would comfort me if I could hear yours right now. Are you frightened?”
“No.”
“Liar,” he whispered as he slipped his arm around my waist. “We’re going to be fine. Take care now. They’re within earshot.”
Though the plaza was poorly lit in the failing light, we easily caught sight of two figures emerging from an alley. The wind shifted, stirring their capes, drawing their scent in our direction. They smelled distinctly of human blood, and their eyes glowed a brighter crimson than even my own. They had fed recently, I realized. I knew to expect that of the Volturi, but being directly confronted with it bothered me.
“Felix,” said Edward in greeting, nodding his head curtly. “Demetri.”
“Carlisle sent word to expect you,” said the bulkier one with the black hair. I remembered from the journals that he was Felix. Demetri merely stared at us, his body leaning back in the direction they’d come from, as if he was anxious to return.
They both turned and walked back toward the alley without another word. Apparently we were meant to follow, though their greeting hadn’t been particularly welcoming. I hesitated, and if it hadn’t been for Edward’s reassuring arm at my waist, I probably wouldn’t have followed.
The tunnels beneath the city were not as Bella described them, but I suppose that’s because she was a human at the time. I didn’t find them particularly cold, nor did the dampness or the uneven stones beneath my feet bother me. The arched walls were easy for me to see, even in the darkness. Still, I felt every bit as uncertain as she had when she had made this same journey, though I was much better prepared for this meeting than she had been, thanks to her account in her journal. She’d gone into this blind, poor girl.
Felix glanced back at us only once. “She’s quicker this time,” he noted, his tone mocking. “And quieter.”
When we emerged from the tunnels, we were ushered down a long hallway and into an elevator. I recognized my surroundings from the descriptions in the journals but the vague familiarity offered me no comfort. When we stepped from the elevator, I looked around the reception area expectantly for the human woman I’d read about, Gianna. I frowned and slowed my pace when I realized there was a young human male in a suit behind the desk where Gianna should have been. What had her fate been, I wondered? The human got to his feet and smiled nervously as we entered. Though I returned the gesture, Edward glared at him, reading who-knows-what in his thoughts. Felix and Demetri ignored him entirely.
We were ushered forward in silence until we reached a large round chamber made of ancient stone. There, the Volturi stood, waiting for us. I eyed them, feeling dread build in the pit of my stomach. Though I couldn’t remember ever laying eyes on any of them, I recognized a few of them well enough from Bella’s descriptions. Three of them stood apart from the others, turned toward each other as if we’d interrupted a conversation. Aro, Caius, and Marcus, from the look of it. I only had to study them for a moment before I decided who was who. Their bodyguards lingered close to them.
Aro’s milky eyes brightened when we entered the room, his onion skin crinkling in a spider-like smile. The sight of him simultaneously terrified and intrigued me.
“My young friends,” he said, crossing the room so smoothly, it was as if he was floating rather than walking. “How delighted I was when Carlisle sent word that you were to pay us a visit.”
Aro was the only one that stepped forward to greet us. Marcus was disinterested; Caius was a little too interested, though he remained silent. The others hovered in the background, not bothering to hide their curious and sometimes hostile stares. I distinguished Jane easily from the others and caught her glowering at me intently, her perfect lips puckered in an expression of frustration. Edward noticed and exhaled sharply in anger, fixing her with a hot glare. It took me a second to realize that she was trying to use her mental power of torture on me. My shield held and kept her out, thank goodness. I held her gaze until she looked away.
Oblivious to the exchange, or perhaps indifferent to it, Aro addressed me with absolute delight in his voice. “Lovely,” he breathed, eyeing me up and down appreciatively. “Just as I knew you would be. The change suits you, my dear.”
He reached to take my hand, and I offered it to him without thinking, forgetting for a moment that touch was Aro’s way of reading someone’s thoughts. Edward stiffened beside me but relaxed a fraction when Aro sighed in dissatisfaction.
“Still resistant to my powers, I see,” said Aro, loosening his hold on my hand. “How disappointing. I suppose you’re still unable to read her mind as well, Edward?”
“That’s correct,” Edward replied, his tone much less congenial than Aro’s. “And I suppose you know the reason we’re here?”
“Carlisle was brief but to the point,” said Aro. “I understand you’re having a bit of trouble with a certain tracker. The Großmeister.”
Edward nodded, his expression hard. “He claims he’s acting under your orders, that he was sent by you to ensure that Bella became a vampire. The ultimatum he presented was quite stringent. As you can see, Bella has undergone the transformation as you requested. Yet this Mikhail still pursues us. He seeks Bella out in particular. I want to know why we have to endure this continued intrusion into our lives. We have done everything you asked of us.”
Aro listened carefully, but rather than replying, he reached out his hand to Edward, beckoning him to take it. Edward eyed the outstretched hand with suspicion, obviously hesitant to open up his memories in that way.
“Your explanation is insufficient,” said Aro. “I need to fully understand what he’s done to you. I need to see it for myself.”
It was likely Aro just wanted to access to all of Edward’s thoughts, along with the thoughts of everyone else that Edward had ever heard mentally. Edward likely knew that just as well as I did but was left with little choice. He reached out, though his expression clearly told of his displeasure.
Aro accepted his hand with eagerness, and he let his transparent eyelids flutter closed as he concentrated on the flood of memories. The silent exchange took longer than I expected, and Aro took it in almost like an addict presented with his drug of choice.
When his eyes opened at last, he was frowning, and he looked at me in astonishment. “You’ve lost your memories.”
I nodded, uncomfortable under his filmy gaze.
“Most unusual,” he said, turning to face Edward. “And you think it’s likely a side effect of her powers, do you?”
“Mikhail proved that when he broke into our home and cornered her,” replied Edward, the anger in his voice pointed. It was evident who he blamed for the trouble we’d found ourselves in of late.
“I had no idea,” said Aro. “Truly. My mind is open to you, Edward. Read the truth for yourself. I’ve never met the Großmeister face to face. This Mikhail, as you call him. Caius was the one that commissioned his services. If you remember, Caius was particularly keen on Bella’s future as a vampire.”
Edward’s glare shifted toward Caius, his anger crackling in the room like electricity. “Strange. I remember him being more interested in her death.”
“Caius acted in the interest of us all,” interjected Aro, his voice ever pleasant. “The law did claim her. All the same, Edward, the Großmeister was only sent to you as a messenger. He was instructed not to harm you.”
“He was instructed not to kill us,” corrected Edward. “There’s a distinct difference.”
“Perhaps my original message was not conveyed the way I instructed.” Though the words were repentant, Aro’s voice had a patronizing edge to it.
“If that’s the case, then we ask merely that you intervene and set right this ... misunderstanding.” Edward said the word through clenched teeth.
“Perhaps you should not have killed Mikhail’s men,” Aro replied. “Have you considered the possibility that his actions are revenge for your hastiness?”
“They were going to force Bella,” Edward seethed. “And do who knows what else to my family. Did you really expect us not to protect ourselves?”
“Bella was never forced to become a vampire,” corrected Aro with a bright chuckle. “She could just as easily have chosen death. Let’s not overreact, hmm?”
I balked at the jolly statement. Edward’s mood shifted to a darker place than it had already been, but somehow, he remained calm. “Will you help us or not?” he asked, his voice suddenly quiet.
“What exactly am I supposed to do?” asked Aro, still smiling brightly.
“Call him off of our trail.” Edward looked at Caius again. “Or you. You’re the one that hired him.”
“His contract with us ended the moment he delivered our message,” said Caius in a bored tone. “Any further contact with you is most likely of a personal nature and not of our concern.”
“Not your concern?” echoed Edward in disbelief. “It’s your fault he caught her scent in the first place.”
Aro raised his hands to interrupt. “You know how fond I am of you, Edward. Perhaps you would consider a trade? His death for your companionship. After all, if you joined the Volturi and the Großmeister were to interfere with you again, well then it would absolutely concern us all. I’ll have him put to death immediately.”
Edward was shaking his head before Aro finished speaking. “You know I can’t do that. If you won’t aid us, I’ll have to find a way to kill him myself.”
Caius gave a quiet snort. “Not likely. Though it will be interesting to watch you try.”
“Do reconsider, Edward,” pressed Aro. “And you, Bella. The invitation to join us is always open to you as well.”
I scanned the other faces in the room, and it was evident that most of them did not share Aro’s enthusiasm over us joining their ranks. “No,” I replied politely, the way had Edward instructed me to. “Thank you.”
Aro looked crestfallen for a moment, but it was short-lived, as though he already knew the answer before we’d spoken it. “You know, there is a very simple solution to this problem. But of course, I’ve seen in your thoughts that you’re already aware of it, Edward. You were wise to bring Bella here if it’s a tracker you’re avoiding.”
I looked up at Edward expectantly for an explanation, but it was Aro that provided it to me.
“Hunting in our city is forbidden,” he told me in a sing-song voice, as if speaking to a child. “That’s something you should be keenly aware of, Bella, since this is your first visit to Volterra as a vampire. That includes hunting of any kind, my dear. Human prey or vampire. You see, when vampires engage in combat with one another, it’s rather ... disruptive. And since we like to remain in the shadows here, the law requires that we eliminate that which disturbs.”
“So if Mikhail attempts to fight with one of us while in Volterra...” said Edward.
I was starting to catch on. “Then the Volturi will stop him.”
Aro beamed at us both like a proud schoolmaster. “As the law requires. I hope you recognize that the Volturi are your friends, but I must also impress upon you that the same condition that binds the tracker binds the both of you as well. While you are in our city, I would suggest being mindful of your behavior. In other words, if this Mikhail fellow does confront you while in the city, it would be unwise to ... oh, how do you Americans phrase it? Throw the first punch?”
In the background, Caius rolled his eyes heavenward. Marcus’s gaze was fixed on the floor, and I wondered if he was even listening.
“We won’t forget,” promised Edward, putting a gentle hand on the back of my neck. “We should be going, then. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us.”
Aro held up his hands in distress. “Come now, Edward. Must you go soon? We’ve barely begun our visit. Stay and feast with us. We can send Heidi outside the city walls to fetch ... something to celebrate with.” He laughed and clapped his bloodless hands, as if he’d told a good joke. “After all, I’ve seen in your thoughts that Bella has yet to taste of the glories of human lifeblood. She should experience it at least once and decide for herself if abstaining is truly worth it.”
Edward’s face was displeased, but he surprised me when he didn’t refuse Aro outright. Instead, he turned to me, indicating that it was my choice.
“Thank you for the offer,” I said, smiling at Aro even though I didn’t particularly want to. “But I already know it’s worth it.”
Aro was taken aback by this. “Truly remarkable, that gift of yours,” he mused. “I’ve never seen your equal, at least in terms of self-control.” He turned his eyes upon Edward, though still addressed me with his words. “Well, my dear, you certainly have found yourself in the right company. But I wonder if things would be different should you ever stray from it?”
***
It was raining by the time we reached the streets again - a light but steady downpour that turned the dust on the streets into a thin, red mud. Still dry beneath the building’s overhang, I stared up into the dark sky with wide eyes, amazed that not only could I see each individual rain drop falling from the heavens, but I could also see the drops beading together and forming in the clouds. I stood motionless, mesmerized at the sight, remembering myself only when Edward spoke.
“Let’s hail a taxi,” he said, eyeing the sky with far less wonder than I did. “I don’t care to walk in the rain all the way to the hotel.”
“We could always run,” I suggested. “We won’t get that wet if we’re quick. The rain is light enough.” The truth was that I didn’t want to be in a car, not when the night air was so refreshing, so different from the Volturi’s oppressive stone chamber. How glad I was to be free of the place.
Edward shook his head in reply. “Remember what Aro said. Under no circumstances should you exhibit your vampire strength or speed in this city. They’ll be watching us closely until we leave, so try to act as human as possible. Humans usually find other methods of transportation when walking isn’t practical.”
“Act human?” I echoed sullenly. I felt a bit childish but didn’t care. “That’s easy for you to say. I don’t remember being human.”
His expression softened, though his eyes were fierce as they took me in. “You’re doing just fine,” he said in a gentle voice, hugging me close.
I exhaled slowly as I leaned into him, comforted by his touch. His reassuring presence relaxed away a little of the tension brought about by the events of the last twenty-four hours, though not all of it.
I’m not certain why, but the humidity in the air made his scent stand out more to me. It embraced me just as surely as his arms did. I pressed my face into his shoulder and inhaled his scent deeply, delighted when he did the same to me.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Bella,” he whispered into my hair, probably sensing how fragile I felt at that moment. “Remember that Mikhail can’t do anything to harm us while we’re here, at least not out in the open.”
I heard something in his voice that made me suspicious, and when I pulled back to look into his face, I saw it in his eyes, too. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Edward’s answering smile was brittle. “I’m just thinking ahead, is all. Trackers are tricky, and Mikhail is definitely more intelligent than most. He’ll figure out something eventually. But staying here for the present will give me a little time to plan and figure out how to ferret him out of the shadows, hopefully into a trap of my own making.”
“You really think he’s going to follow us all the way to Italy?”
“I’m convinced of it,” Edward replied grimly. “But never mind that for now. We’ll worry about that when the time comes. And besides, I can’t think of anywhere else on the planet where we’d be safer. Let’s go back to the hotel and ... get comfortable.”
If I was capable of blushing, the look on his face definitely would have set my skin ablaze. I knew all too well that a simple yes from me would result in a night of love-making back at the hotel. Edward was convinced that I was his wife, his Bella. Why shouldn’t he make love to her? It was tempting, so very tempting, but could I really let myself go there? I knew that he wouldn’t push if I told him no, but I was having trouble remembering the reasons I had refused him in the first place.
“Shall we go, then?” he asked, lifting his eyebrows at me.
I nodded, trying to keep my breathing even the way a human would. It took quite a bit of concentration.
Edward lifted his hand to hail the rain-speckled taxi that was parked across the street, the engine idling, steam curling upward from the exhaust. The windshield wipers were off, and the dark windows were blurred in the rain. The driver flipped on the headlights, most likely indicating that had seen Edward hail him. The light bounced off of every raindrop between us and the taxi, creating twin halos of light around the vehicle. Every color of the rainbow reflected off of the raindrops.
Edward and I both squinted and turned our eyes away from the blinding light. Vampire eyes might see remarkably well in the darkness, but with that came a brief sensitivity when sudden, brilliant light was introduced. It was as if my pupils were fully dilated in order to see in the darkness, letting too much light into my eyes.
Arm in arm, we started for the taxi, but before we could cross the street, Edward suddenly stopped and spun around as if someone had called his name. I didn’t hear what caught his attention. He frowned deeply, and his arms fell away from me.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, trying to read his face.
It took him a moment to reply, as if he was listening to something that I wasn’t able to hear. Probably someone’s thoughts, I decided. “Go get in the taxi,” he said finally, his tone strange. “I’ll be right back. I want to check something.”
“Check what?” I called after him as he slipped away. “Edward?”
He didn’t stop to explain, but I could see from the set of his shoulders that whatever it was, it concerned him more than he wanted to let me know. The rain fell upon me, soaking my hair and clothes. I grit my teeth and turned toward the taxi, frustrated with Edward’s habit of keeping me in the dark. I would have to talk to him about that when we got to the hotel.
Still keeping my eyes averted from the headlights, I jogged toward the taxi with what I hoped was human speed. I slipped into the backseat breathlessly, shaking raindrops from my hair as I looked up to smile at the driver. “My husband will just be a--”
My words faltered, mid-sentence.
I smelled him before I saw him, but by then it was too late. The vehicle was already moving, accelerating into motion before I could even gasp.
“Really...” lamented Mikhail, turning around to face me from the driver’s seat. “Is he always that easy to distract? You two are making this far too easy for me. Hardly any sport in it at all.”
***
To be continued
A/N - If you have a moment, please let me know what you thought. I’m usually not this needy for encouragement, but I’m a little rusty, I’m afraid! Hope you enjoyed. The next part will be out soon.
By the way, if you’re confused about the plane ride I refer to at the beginning of this chapter - the one Edward and Bella took to their honeymoon - you can find the scene in the prequel Spiral Static. Chapter four, I think. Just a warning, though. It’s naughty.