Is the inventory complete?
I nodded sheepishly. The pillows all appear to have survived.
Unfortunately, I cant say the same for your, er, nightgown. He nodded toward the foot of the bed, where several scraps of black lace were strewn across the silk sheets.
Thats too bad, I said. I liked that one.
I did, too.
Were there any other casualties? I asked timidly.
Ill have to buy Esme a new bed frame, he confessed, glancing over his shoulder. I followed his gaze and was shocked to see that large chunks of wood had apparently been gouged from the left side of the headboard.
Hmm. I frowned. Youd think I would have heard that.
You seem to be extraordinarily unobservant when your attention is otherwise involved.
I was a bit absorbed, I admitted, blushing a deep red.
He touched my burning cheek and sighed. Im really going to miss that.
I stared at his face, searching for any signs of the anger or remorse I feared. He gazed back at me evenly, his expression calm but otherwise unreadable.
How are you feeling?
He laughed.
What? I demanded.
You look so guiltylike youve committed a crime.
I feel guilty, I muttered.
So you seduced your all-too-willing husband. Thats not a capital offense.
He seemed to be teasing.
My cheeks got hotter. The word seduced implies a certain amount of premeditation.
Maybe that was the wrong word, he allowed.
Youre not angry?
He smiled ruefully. Im not angry.
Why not?
Well . . . He paused. I didnt hurt you, for one thing. It was easier this time, to control myself, to channel the excesses. His eyes flickered to the damaged frame again. Maybe because I had a better idea of what to expect.
A hopeful smile started to spread across my face. I told you that it was all about practice.
He rolled his eyes.
My stomach growled, and he laughed. Breakfast time for the human? he asked.
Please, I said, hopping out of bed. I moved too quickly, though, and had to stagger drunkenly to regain my balance. He caught me before I could stumble into the dresser.
Are you all right?
If I dont have a better sense of equilibrium in my next life, Im demanding a refund.
I cooked this morning, frying up some eggstoo hungry to do anything more elaborate. Impatient, I flipped them onto a plate after just a few minutes.
Since when do you eat eggs sunny-side up? he asked.
Since now.
Do you know how many eggs youve gone through in the last week? He pulled the trash bin out from under the sinkit was full of empty blue cartons.
Weird, I said after swallowing a scorching bite. This place is messing with my appetite. And my dreams, and my already dubious balance. But I like it here. Well probably have to leave soon, though, wont we, to make it to Dartmouth in time? Wow, I guess we need to find a place to live and stuff, too.
He sat down next to me. You can give up the college pretense nowyouve gotten what you wanted. And we didnt agree to a deal, so there are no strings attached.
I snorted. It wasnt a pretense, Edward. I dont spend my free time plotting like some people do. What can we do to wear Bella out today? I said in a poor impression of his voice. He laughed, unashamed. I really do want a little more time being human. I leaned over to run my hand across his bare chest. I have not had enough.
He gave me a dubious look. For this? he asked, catching my hand as it moved down his stomach. Sex was the key all along? He rolled his eyes. Why didnt I think of that? he muttered sarcastically. I could have saved myself a lot of arguments.
I laughed. Yeah, probably.
You are so human, he said again.
I know.
A hint of a smile pulled at his lips. Were going to Dartmouth? Really?
Ill probably fail out in one semester.
Ill tutor you. The smile was wide now. Youre going to love college.
Do you think we can find an apartment this late?
He grimaced, looking guilty. Well, we sort of already have a house there. You know, just in case.
You bought a house?
Real estate is a good investment.
I raised one eyebrow and then let it go. So were ready, then.
Ill have to see if we can keep your before car for a little longer. . . .
Yes, heaven forbid I not be protected from tanks.
He grinned.
How much longer can we stay? I asked.
Were fine on time. A few more weeks, if you want. And then we can visit Charlie before we go to New Hampshire. We could spend Christmas with Rene. . . .
His words painted a very happy immediate future, one free of pain for everyone involved. The Jacob-drawer, all but forgotten, rattled, and I amended the thoughtfor almost everyone.
This wasnt getting any easier. Now that Id discovered exactly how good being human could be, it was tempting to let my plans drift. Eighteen or nineteen, nineteen or twenty Did it really matter? I wouldnt change so much in a year. And being human with Edward The choice got trickier every day.
A few weeks, I agreed. And then, because there never seemed to be enough time, I added, So I was thinkingyou know what I was saying about practice before?
He laughed. Can you hold on to that thought? I hear a boat. The cleaning crew must be here.
He wanted me to hold on to that thought. So did that mean he was not going to give me any more trouble about practicing? I smiled.
Let me explain the mess in the white room to Gustavo, and then we can go out. Theres a place in the jungle on the south
I dont want to go out. I am not hiking all over the island today. I want to stay here and watch a movie.
He pursed his lips, trying not to laugh at my disgruntled tone. All right, whatever youd like. Why dont you pick one out while I get the door?
I didnt hear a knock.
He cocked his head to the side, listening. A half second later, a faint, timid rap on the door sounded. He grinned and turned for the hallway.
I wandered over to the shelves under the big TV and started scanning through the titles. It was hard to decide where to begin. They had more DVDs than a rental store.
I could hear Edwards low, velvet voice as he came back down the hall, conversing fluidly in what I assumed was perfect Portuguese. Another, harsher, human voice answered in the same tongue.
Edward led them into the room, pointing toward the kitchen on his way. The two Brazilians looked incredibly short and dark next to him. One was a round man, the other a slight female, both their faces creased with lines. Edward gestured to me with a proud smile, and I heard my name mixed in with a flurry of unfamiliar words. I flushed a little as I thought of the downy mess in the white room, which they would soon encounter. The little man smiled at me politely.
But the tiny coffee-skinned woman didnt smile. She stared at me with a mixture of shock, worry, and most of all, wide-eyed fear. Before I could react, Edward motioned for them to follow him toward the chicken coop, and they were gone.
When he reappeared, he was alone. He walked swiftly to my side and wrapped his arms around me.
Whats with her? I whispered urgently, remembering her panicked expression.
He shrugged, unperturbed. Kaures part Ticuna Indian. She was raised to be more superstitiousor you could call it more awarethan those who live in the modern world. She suspects what I am, or close enough. He still didnt sound worried. They have their own legends here. The Libishomena blood-drinking demon who preys exclusively on beautiful women. He leered at me.
Beautiful women only? Well, that was kind of flattering.
She looked terrified, I said.
She isbut mostly shes worried about you.
Me?
Shes afraid of why I have you here, all alone. He chuckled darkly and then looked toward the wall of movies. Oh well,
why dont you choose something for us to watch? Thats an acceptably human thing to do.
Yes, Im sure a movie will convince her that youre human. I laughed and clasped my arms securely around his neck, stretching up on my tiptoes. He leaned down so that I could kiss him, and then his arms tightened around me, lifting me off the floor so he didnt have to bend.
Movie, schmovie, I muttered as his lips moved down my throat, twisting my fingers in his bronze hair.
Then I heard a gasp, and he put me down abruptly. Kaure stood frozen in the hallway, feathers in her black hair, a large sack of more feathers in her arms, an expression of horror on her face. She stared at me, her eyes bugging out, as I blushed and looked down. Then she recovered herself and murmured something that, even in an unfamiliar language, was clearly an apology. Edward smiled and answered in a friendly tone. She turned her dark eyes away and continued down the hall.
She was thinking what I think she was thinking, wasnt she? I muttered.
He laughed at my convoluted sentence. Yes.
Here, I said, reaching out at random and grabbing a movie. Put this on and we can pretend to watch it.
It was an old musical with smiling faces and fluffy dresses on the front.
Very honeymoonish, Edward approved.
While actors on the screen danced their way through a perky introduction song, I lolled on the sofa, snuggled into Edwards arms.
Will we move back into the white room now? I wondered idly.
I dont know. Ive already mangled the headboard in the other room beyond repairmaybe if we limit the destruction to one area of the house, Esme might invite us back someday.
I smiled widely. So there will be more destruction?
He laughed at my expression. I think it might be safer if its premeditated, rather than if I wait for you to assault me again.
It would only be a matter of time, I agreed casually, but my pulse was racing in my veins.
Is there something the matter with your heart?
Nope. Healthy as a horse. I paused. Did you want to go survey the demolition zone now?
Maybe it would be more polite to wait until were alone. You may not notice me tearing the furniture apart, but it would probably scare them.
In truth, Id already forgotten the people in the other room. Right. Drat.
Gustavo and Kaure moved quietly through the house while I waited impatiently for them to finish and tried to pay attention to the happily-ever-after on the screen. I was starting to get sleepythough, according to Edward, Id slept half the daywhen a rough voice startled me. Edward sat up, keeping me cradled against him, and answered Gustavo in flowing Portuguese. Gustavo nodded and walked quietly toward the front door.
Theyre finished, Edward told me.
So that would mean that were alone now?
How about lunch first? he suggested.
I bit my lip, torn by the dilemma. I was pretty hungry.
With a smile, he took my hand and led me to the kitchen. He knew my face so well, it didnt matter that he couldnt read my mind.
This is getting out of hand, I complained when I finally felt full.
Do you want to swim with the dolphins this afternoonburn off the calories? he asked.
Maybe later. I had another idea for burning calories.
And what was that?
Well, theres an awful lot of headboard left
But I didnt finish. Hed already swept me up into his arms, and his lips silenced mine as he carried me with inhuman speed to the blue room.
7. UNEXPECTED
The line of black advanced on me through the shroud-like mist. I could see their dark ruby eyes glinting with desire, lusting for the kill. Their lips pulled back over their sharp, wet teethsome to snarl, some to smile.
I heard the child behind me whimper, but I couldnt turn to look at him. Though I was desperate to be sure that he was safe, I could not afford any lapse in focus now.
They ghosted closer, their black robes billowing slightly with the movement. I saw their hands curl into bone-colored claws. They started to drift apart, angling to come at us from all sides. We were surrounded. We were going to die.
And then, like a burst of light from a flash, the whole scene was different. Yet nothing changedthe Volturi still stalked toward us, poised to kill. All that really changed was how the picture looked to me. Suddenly, I was hungry for it. I wanted them to charge. The panic changed to bloodlust as I crouched forward, a smile on my face, and a growl ripped through my bared teeth.
I jolted upright, shocked out of the dream.
The room was black. It was also steamy hot. Sweat matted my hair at the temples and rolled down my throat.
I groped the warm sheets and found them empty.
Edward?
Just then, my fingers encountered something smooth and flat and stiff. One sheet of paper, folded in half. I took the note with me and felt my way across the room to the light switch.
The outside of the note was addressed to Mrs. Cullen.
Im hoping you wont wake and notice my absence, but, if you should, Ill be back very soon. Ive just gone to the mainland to hunt. Go back to sleep and Ill be here when you wake again. I love you.
I sighed. Wed been here about two weeks now, so I should have been expecting that he would have to leave, but I hadnt been thinking about time. We seemed to exist outside of time here, just drifting along in a perfect state.
I wiped the sweat off my forehead. I felt absolutely wide awake, though the clock on the dresser said it was after one. I knew I would never be able to sleep as hot and sticky as I felt. Not to mention the fact that if I shut off the light and closed my eyes, I was sure to see those prowling black figures in my head.
I got up and wandered aimlessly through the dark house, flipping on lights. It felt so big and empty without Edward there. Different.
I ended up in the kitchen and decided that maybe comfort food was what I needed.
I poked around in the fridge until I found all the ingredients for fried chicken. The popping and sizzling of the chicken in the pan was a nice, homey sound; I felt less nervous while it filled the silence.
It smelled so good that I started eating it right out of the pan, burning my tongue in the process. By the fifth or sixth bite, though, it had cooled enough for me to taste it. My chewing slowed. Was there something off about the flavor? I checked the meat, and it was white all the way through, but I wondered if it was completely done. I took another experimental bite; I chewed twice. Ughdefinitely bad. I jumped up to spit it into the sink. Suddenly, the chicken-and-oil smell was revolting. I took the whole plate and shook it into the garbage, then opened the windows to chase away the scent. A coolish breeze had picked up outside. It felt good on my skin.
I was abruptly exhausted, but I didnt want to go back to the hot room. So I opened more windows in the TV room and lay on the couch right beneath them. I turned on the same movie wed watched the other day and quickly fell asleep to the bright opening song.
When I opened my eyes again, the sun was halfway up the sky, but it was not the light that woke me. Cool arms were around me, pulling me against him. At the same time, a sudden pain twisted in my stomach, almost like the aftershock of catching a punch in the gut.
Im sorry, Edward was murmuring as he wiped a wintry hand across my clammy forehead. So much for thoroughness. I didnt think about how hot you would be with me gone. Ill have an air conditioner installed before I leave again.
I couldnt concentrate on what he was saying. Excuse me! I gasped, struggling to get free of his arms.
He dropped his hold automatically. Bella?
I streaked for the bathroom with my hand clamped over my mouth. I felt so horrible that I didnt even careat firstthat he was with me while I crouched over the toilet and was violently sick.
Bella? Whats wrong?
I couldnt answer yet. He held me anxiously, keeping my hair out of my face, waiting till I could breathe again.
Damn rancid chicken, I moaned.
&n
bsp; Are you all right? His voice was strained.
Fine, I panted. Its just food poisoning. You dont need to see this. Go away.
Not likely, Bella.
Go away, I moaned again, struggling to get up so I could rinse my mouth out. He helped me gently, ignoring the weak shoves I aimed at him.
After my mouth was clean, he carried me to the bed and sat me down carefully, supporting me with his arms.
Food poisoning?
Yeah, I croaked. I made some chicken last night. It tasted off, so I threw it out. But I ate a few bites first.
He put a cold hand on my forehead. It felt nice. How do you feel now?
I thought about that for a moment. The nausea had passed as suddenly as it had come, and I felt like I did any other morning. Pretty normal. A little hungry, actually.