Chap. 23

Belongs to SM but plot is mine. Be happy! I updated!

Chapter Twenty-three

Bella's POV

Edward held me against his naked chest and we just laid there, content to do nothing.

We had no responsibilities. It was perfect. My purr engine started up and Edward moved me to my back so he could put his head on my chest. I purred louder and my hands ran through his hair.

"I love you." He murmured.

My actions stilled and then I flipped him over so I could straddled him. "Really?" I asked with a smirk.

His smile was full of lust and a playfulness I rarely saw. My long hair created a curtain around us as I gently kissed him. Suddenly we switched places with him hovering over me.

The kiss became deeper as our hands explored each other. By now my animalistic instincts were coming out and I knew my eyes were goldish color. Edward paused as he looked down into my eyes. He cupped my face and smiled.

My eyes closed briefly and when they opened they were chocolate brown again.

"Sorry." I whispered.

"I love every part of you." He replied. "I was confused and didn't know why you didn't tell me when we first met but now I understand. You were scared I would hurt you and your family. Of course I would never do that." Edward explained. "I'm so sorry."

"I understand and I'm sorry, too. I love you." I arched my back to pull him deeper into me and smiled in triumph as he moaned my name.

"You'll be the death of me." He growled between clenched teeth. And then he proceeded in showing me that I was his.

My nails left scratches in his back but he didn't seem to mind.

***

A silly smile wouldn't leave my face as I came in through my window. Everything was on replay and I felt a blush rise on my cheeks.

He was mine.

I never thought this could be true! A movement on my bed caused me to snap out of it and snarl. Nile lay there with one arm behind his head and his other resting across his stomach.

His gray jacket tossed off to his side as if he had been laying there for a while.

"I smell vampire on you." Niles voice was emotionless.

My chin jerked up in defiance. "So what of it?" I challenged.

He shrugged. "Don't get hurt." Was all he said and then he took up his jacket and walked out my door.

Would he tell Charlie? I shook my head and realized I didn't care who found out.

I love Edward Cullen.

***

"Bella, you need to wake up." My mothers voice was just a whisper in my ear.

"Wake up sweetheart." Phil joined in.

I frowned in the darkness.

"Where are you?!" I cried out sharply, a feeling of dread making my heart race.

"I'll always be with you honey but you have to wake up. Wake up Bella! Wake up!" She screamed.

I woke with a heart stopping sob. Renee wasn't here. Phil wasn't here. Maybe it was a guilt trip dream because I had been promising myself to call.

A glance at the clock told me I still had time. Picking up the cordless beside my bed I tapped in the numbers and listened to the distant ringing.

No one picked up. Voice mail picked up and told me to leave a message so I did and then put the phone down next to me.

Renee usually always picked up when I called. She must have been really put out. An unsettled feeling crept up my back, making my hair along my arms stand on end.

Something was wrong. Very wrong.

I redialed. Then again. And again. No one answered.

I sat there and rethought my vivid dream. I grew up with the Quiliets who told their legends and prophesies to the children around camp fires, so I knew this dream must have meant something.

The feeling of dread wouldn't go away.

Flying downstairs I found Charlie in the living room watching the news while sipping something. His head lifted when I came in.

"I thought you would be sleeping in." He commented.

"Dad? Have you heard anything from Renee since I moved up here?" The words left my lips before I thought about it.

His brows drew together. "No. I thought you were talking to her." He shifted unconsciously. "You know we don't really talk. Just send the annual Christmas card."

Why did I even ask?

"Why?" Charlie asked, his attention already going back to the T.V.

"Just wondering." An idea suddenly came to me. "I'll be at a friends house for a few hours, don't wait up!" I called down to Charlie as I made my way up the stairs.

I quickly showered, threw on some clothes, grabbed my purse, keys, and was out the door in under ten minutes. A new record!

I slid into my purple car, which I had been dissing since I bought it, and turned the key. It roared to life and I peeled out of the driveway.

***

The Cullen's mile long driveway twisted and turned and in my aggravated state I wanted to stop and run the rest of the way. Instead I took a deep breath and stilled my thoughts.

The massive Cullen house came into view and I stopped the car in front. I was out of the door the same time Edward and Alice appeared on the steps.

"What's wrong?" Edward asked when he saw the look on my face. I didn't answer as I looked pleadingly at Alice. She raised an eyebrow, not knowing what was going on. Something that must have shocked her but we both knew it was because she couldn't see me.

If I wasn't human or vampire then she had no idea. I was a blocker that I hadn't thought about when the idea came to me. If she couldn't see me then she wouldn't be able to see my mother.

But she would be able to see the very human Phil.

Quickly I went searching for my wallet and found the family picture I took a few months before I left Arizona. You could see the tension plainly between mother and daughter in the picture. I shook off the guilt and handed it to Alice.

"Can you search for him?" I asked her quietly, my voice suddenly lost.

Alice held the delicate picture in her small hands and looked at Phil for a long time. Edwards hand slid into mine and strength flowed between us. My shoulders relaxed.

"What is his name?"

"Phil Anderson. He married my mother. I know you wouldn't be able to see her but you might see him. I need to know if he is okay." I took a breath. "If he is okay then Renee is too."

Alice went still and a far away look came to her golden eyes.

A minute passed.

Then two.

Three.

Her gaze suddenly snapped to mine. "I don't see him. Anywhere. But this woman," She pointed at Renee. "I've seen her in a vision before. I looked again but didn't see either of them. The one time I did she was wearing a gray jacket and was surrounded by forest. THIS forest."

If Renee was here then why didn't she tell me? And why didn't she pick up her phone when I called? This was beginnings I grate on my nerves.

Something was going on and I was determined to figure it out.

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Yours S.A.