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I rolled my eyes as Alice, for the thirteenth time today, reminded me that she didn’t remember being human. I’d just told her that the one shoe she insisted on strapping to my good foot was pointless. “I’ll just fall and break my other foot you know.” I told her as she tied the blue ribbon around my ankle in record time, making a perfect bow.
“No you won’t Bella, just don’t decide to run a marathon or anything.” Rely on Alice to know the recent future, I thought at she helped me stand, using her shoulder for a support. “Would you like me to carry you to the stairs?” she asked, extending her pale arms toward me. I smiled meekly and nodded.
“Thanks for asking.” Effortlessly she picked me up and strolled to the bathroom door, down the hallway then toward the stairs, Rosalie followed.
“Turn around Edward and close your mind!” she shouted down toward the front door. “Ok,” Alice said to me. She gracefully walked down the stairs and set me at the bottom, then they both went to sit at the piano bench. Butterflies filled my stomach as I watch the back of his bronze haired head. Edward wore a dark tuxedo as he faced the door.
“Can I look yet?” he asked in that beautiful musical voice. Alice nodded and he quickly turned. I heard an intake of breath and realized it was mine own. He looked stunning, even more, if it was possible, than the last time I’d seen him. I tried to smile, unable to take my eyes away from his topaz ones.
“Alice, Rosalie, thank you.” he murmured, walking toward me and pressing his cheek to mine. “You smell…wonderful.” he complimented, breathing in. My heart raced, which I’m sure he could hear.
“Heh, thanks.” was all I could say, I felt like I could faint. He stepped back and showed me what he held. In his hand were several white flowers.
“Freesia,” he informed me and carefully put them into my hair. “Beautiful.”
“So are you.” I told him and stumbled forward to hold him in my arms. Naturally, he caught me and held me close, making my heart react again.
“We should get going.” He said, and took my hand, leading me toward the door.
“Wait! Pictures!” Esme declared, descending the stairs with a silver camera in her hands. Edward rolled his eyes and I attempted to muffle the groan making its way out of my chest, with no success. I immediately, out of habit, moved closer to Edward and he slid his arm around my waste, pulling me toward him. “Will you show up?” I asked him, looking into his eyes. They were lighter today, golden. He grinned and nodded, lightly kissing me on the lips. I’d finally been able to control my actions when he did this but hadn’t managed to control my heart as well. It hadn’t stopped thudding against my chest yet. Esme’s camera flashed and I laughed. We both turned toward her, smiling, and it flashed again, leaving white spots of blindness in my vision. After several more photos and smiles Edward finally protested jokingly.
“Bye everyone!” I called after them, still clueless as to where I was going.
“We‘ll see you there!” Alice called as Edward scooped me into his arms and carried me toward his Volvo. I waved to them and Edward chuckled darkly.
“Alice will be there?” I asked him.
“Yup, so will Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett.” I frowned, still trying to figure out this puzzle.
“What?” I looked at him curious as he put me into his car.
“You really have no idea where we’re going?” I considered this, and honestly, I really didn’t.
“Nope, no idea. Are you going to tell me now?” I asked eagerly. He shook his head, already in the drivers seat and driving down the path that led away from the Cullen’s mansion.
“You’ll know soon enough.” he assured, patting my knee. His hands were cold as usual, but the casual gesture sent my heart a-flutter. Suddenly his hand wasn’t on my knee anymore, it was at his ear.
“Charlie?” he said into the silver phone he held.
“Let me talk to him!” I grabbed for the phone and he caught my hand in his left one, holding it. I quickly looked out the windshield. The car hadn’t moved a centimeter from the middle of the road. How did he do that?
“Edward..” I groaned, trying my luck with my free hand. He switch the phone to his other ear, out of my reach.
“Oh really? Let me talk to him.” he waited a moment, grinning darkly. “Hello Tyler, this is Edward Cullen.” he greeted him cheerfully. I frowned, why was Tyler as my house?
“Holy crow..” I murmured, finally understanding what all this was about.
“I’m sorry if there’s been some kind of miscommunication, but Bella is unavailable tonight.” His voice was still friendly, but quickly changed to a more threatening tone. “To be perfectly honest, she’ll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. Sorry about your evening.” he closed the phone and turned to my horror filled expression, smirking.
“Your taking me to the prom?!” I almost shouted. It was so obvious now, I felt a blush rising in my cheeks and tears welling up in my eyes. I quickly wiped at them before they could flow over and ruin my mascara. “You really had no idea.” he mumbled, shaking his head and opening the car door. I watched as he shut it and then heard my own door open. I crossed my arms, firm on not moving. “Bella, please.” he attempted to reason with me, his voice velvety. I didn’t dare turn to look at him, sure that my anger would melt immediately if I did. I had to stay firm. “I promise, nothings going to harm you. I won’t let you go once, I promise.” He held his hand out for me to take. I looked at it, no, glared. “I don’t want to have to use force Bella, but if I have to…” his threat was lost as I took his hand and unsteadily got out of the car. I didn’t want him to use force, not in the parking lot. “There we are.” he said, taking my waste and leading me across toward the large building that served as the small town of Fork‘s high school gym.. This was going to be hell.
We entered the place and I groaned loudly. Balloon trellises towered above my peers in every corner and a snack table sat at the far end. Chairs were lined up on each side of the building, girls sitting with friends, chatting. Some looked like multicolored bouquets of flowers, though I knew I didn’t look any different, I chuckled anyways, despite my anger. I spotted Rosalie and Emmett on the dance floor, spinning circles. Rosalie looked beautiful, making me look like a messed up Christmas present. I looked around for Alice and Jasper, finding them lingering at the far end of the gym by the refreshments, though they would never eat anything. Alice looked around, immediately finding me and waving. I waved back. She wore a slinky, black number, the dress complimenting her small pixy-like figure. I sighed, why couldn’t I look like that.
“You don’t compare.” Edward whispered in my ear, following my gaze.
“Hey, I thought you couldn’t read my thoughts.”
“I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I’m not observant.” he answered. “Lets dance.” He led me to the center of the dance floor as another song started, it was slow.
“But I don’t know how to dance.” I stuttered, no use telling him about my luck with dance class.
“I know, but not to worry, its all in the leading.”
Edward placed both of my hands on his shoulders and his own snaked around my waste. I leaned against him and we swayed to the music. Despite how much we weren’t dancing, I felt as if it couldn’t go on long enough. And the dance didn’t. When we broke apart Edward had a glint in his eye.
“I want to show you something.”
I frowned, not another surprise. “And what might that be?”
“You’ll have to come with me and see.” he taunted, letting me lean on him as we crossed the dance floor and he led me out the back door of the gymnasium into a bright star-filled night sky.
“Ah, another day is gone..” I heard him mumble under his breath.
We turned toward the Volvo and my eyes widened. “But we just arrived.” I complained.
Edward stopped mid stride and turned to face me. “Oh, you want to go back there?” he jutted his thumb toward Prom.
Honestly, I didn’t. I shook my head and started toward the car again. “Won’t you at least tell me where your taking me?”
“Uh-uh..”
Edward started the ignition and drove quickly out of town and onto the highway. In several miles he turned onto a dark gravel road. We rode in silence. I had no idea of the thoughts in Edward’s mind, but in my own I was contemplating on weather this was a good idea or not. I trusted him, didn’t I? Didn’t I?
“Here.” he said and left the car to open my door. I glanced around, but all I could see by the light of the moon that filtered through the trees was an old-looking cabin-like house.
Out of habit I asked again, “Where are we?”
This time Edward replied with a useful answer. “This is the Morgan’s home, or at least, it was.”
I stumbled across the rocky earth and up a wooden porch. It looked like it couldn‘t support more than 50 pounds, let alone our weight combined. Edward turned the wooden front door’s handle and went first into the darkness.
“Edward?” I note of panic filled my voice as a sudden aloneness buried itself into my core. “Edward!” I half yelled, half whispered into the darkness. I imagined Laurent or Victoria jumping out of the darkness and revenging James by pouncing on me and then attacking Edward. Surely two on one wasn’t fair game. The thought terrified me and I stumbled forward, reaching out as more waves of panic trembled through me, my voice echoing my fear. “Edward don’t leave me…”
“Bella.” And there he was, tall and towering, his marble skin glowing in the moonlight that managed to pass through the front door. “Don’t be so dramatic. I didn’t leave you, I’m right here.” Edward pressed my head against his shoulder and kissed the top of my head.
And suddenly my panic was gone, I felt perfectly safe in his arms, secure in the knowledge that he wouldn’t leave me.
“This way Bella.” he took my hand, helping me forward.
And then he led me further into the Morgan’s house, down a dark hall and into an unlit room. Through a window on the far side of the small room, the full moon shown through, casting a blue glow on the sheeted  furniture that lined the walls. I tried my voice now, attempting to ask the reason of our intrusion into the forgotten house.
     It failed me.
Edward only grinned and walked across the room’s expanse, opening a door I hadn’t spotted before. I’d never been inside this place. The Morgan’s were a known family in Forks who’d lived only a few months in the house on the hill and then disappeared. I’d once asked Charlie about their absence, but he’d only muttered something about a sudden death and changed the subject. I’d decided not to press the matter any further, that my curiosity would have to wait, maybe forever, though it was nagging at me now. I made a note to ask Edward about it, hoping this was something he would talk of freely.
     Inside of the door was still yet, more darkness. Again grinning, my boyfriend motioned for me to come to him with a crook of his finger. I frowned, paying more attention now to the feeling that was pulling at my mind. More curiosity.
     “I’m not moving until you tell me what we’re doing in this poor family’s house.”  I assumed they were a poor family, both literally, because of the house and the furniture it contained, and emotionally, due to the fact that Charlie had mentioned a sudden death.
     He huffed and crossed his arms, leaning lightly against the door frame. “Bella, please.” he sighed in his most alluring voice.
     I turned away, already knowing what was coming next. That gorgeous face which contained those eyes that could out-flame a thousand suns, would fix on my own and melt my heart completely. I wouldn’t let it happen and continued to stare at the wood that made up the floor, which had begun to rot, as he strolled toward me. I already knew who would win this one, who would win every one for quite a long time, at least until I was one of them. On that subject, I was determined to make it happen, if only I could convince Edward to…
     “Bella darling, listen to me.” his voice interrupted my thoughts and a cool hand lifted my chin to face him. “Don’t you trust me?” he questioned as those topaz jewels burned at my heart. I nodded, already giving in, but knew what was coming, and waited impatiently. He smirked and kissed my lips. Sometimes I wondered at the extent of his power, weather he could indeed read my mind. The kiss was nothing like our last, but still stirred my heart into a frenzy.
     “Alright, I trust you.” I breathed.
His smile of success was priceless and Edward immediately took my waste, helping me slowly cross to the door.
     “It’s a surprise.” he murmured lightly in my ear, “but I’ll have to pick you up again, they’re some stairs.” I nodded and he swept me off my feet and into the darkness. As we descended, the air turned musty and damp, the tone in his quiet footsteps hinted at a cement floor.
     I kept my eyes open, waiting for them to adjust to the darkness, but they didn’t have the chance. Soon I spotted a faint light and could see that we were going down a winding right-handed stair. I soon found out that the glow of light was from a wood burning fire, and the smell reminded me of the time on the beach when we’d built bonfires and I’d attempted to allure Jacob for his stories of the creatures Edward was. The memory made me smile.
     Edward noticed.
     “What’s that for?” he asked, looking down at me curiously, though the faint bounce of his walk didn’t cease.
     “Just a memory.” I didn’t feel like discussing the matter again, it was too embarrassing. Before he could ask for any details I changed the subject. “So when will you be telling me where we’re going, and more importantly, why?” I guessed we were almost to the source of the light. The stones that lined the walls up ahead glowed orange, making the shadows dance.
     He sighed and his broad shoulders rose and fell. I thought I’d almost won, and that his next words would be the answers I was looking for.                          Instead he only said, “Almost there.”
It infuriated me and I flailed in this arms.
     “Edward Cullen! That’s unfair! You have to tell me where we’re going. The darkness is scaring me and I have no idea why there’s a stupid fire down here. If you don’t tell me this instant I’ll….I’ll…” I felt my brow furrow at the strain of trying to come up with a threat that could hurt this man that held me in an iron grasp. The effort was pointless. I knew there was nothing that could possibly hurt him, in my ability, that wouldn’t hurt me as well.
     “You’ll what, Bella? What will you do?” He’d read my mind again, and knew full well that there was nothing I could do to threaten him into telling me, or letting me go. Recently, life seemed terribly unfair.
I exhaled a large amount of air that made my head spin and crossed my arms in my lap. My unhappiness was obvious and I hoped he’d take notice.
     It worked.
     “Bella, please.”
There were those two words again, they’d become more common than house flies these days.
     “Just tell me. There’s no point in trying to hide anything. No point in getting me upset over this simple thing.”
His eyebrows almost met in the frown he made. What was his problem?
     “It’s….it’s not that simple, alright?”
We’d reached the end of the stairwell now and he came to a stop on the bottom step, carefully setting me down on my one good foot. I used his shoulder for balance as I examined the room. It held a worn wooden table and two chairs to match. A very large stone mantle surrounded the opening to the fire, where it burned strong in its place. Old black iron pots hung from wood rafters and manicotti pots lined the walls. From the looks of the place, I didn’t want to know what was in the pots, or how long they’d stood there. A small door stood in the far left corner, almost hidden. My curiosity sparked further.

Description
I rolled my eyes as Alice, for the thirteenth time today, reminded me that she didn’t remember being human. I’d just told her that the one shoe she insisted on strapping to my good foot was pointless. “I’ll just fall and break my other foot you know.” I told her as she tied the blue ribbon around my ankle in record time, making a perfect bow.
“No you won’t Bella, just don’t decide to run a marathon or anything.” Rely on Alice to know the recent future, I thought at she helped me stand, using her shoulder for a support. “Would you like me to carry you to the stairs?” she asked, extending her pale arms toward me. I smiled meekly and nodded.
“Thanks for asking.” Effortlessly she picked me up and strolled to the bathroom door, down the hallway then toward the stairs, Rosalie followed.
“Turn around Edward and close your mind!” she shouted down toward the front door. “Ok,” Alice said to me. She gracefully walked down the stairs and set me at the bottom, then they both went to sit at the piano bench. Butterflies filled my stomach as I watch the back of his bronze haired head. Edward wore a dark tuxedo as he faced the door.
“Can I look yet?” he asked in that beautiful musical voice. Alice nodded and he quickly turned. I heard an intake of breath and realized it was mine own. He looked stunning, even more, if it was possible, than the last time I’d seen him. I tried to smile, unable to take my eyes away from his topaz ones.
“Alice, Rosalie, thank you.” he murmured, walking toward me and pressing his cheek to mine. “You smell…wonderful.” he complimented, breathing in. My heart raced, which I’m sure he could hear.
“Heh, thanks.” was all I could say, I felt like I could faint. He stepped back and showed me what he held. In his hand were several white flowers.
“Freesia,” he informed me and carefully put them into my hair. “Beautiful.”
“So are you.” I told him and stumbled forward to hold him in my arms. Naturally, he caught me and held me close, making my heart react again.
“We should get going.” He said, and took my hand, leading me toward the door.
“Wait! Pictures!” Esme declared, descending the stairs with a silver camera in her hands. Edward rolled his eyes and I attempted to muffle the groan making its way out of my chest, with no success. I immediately, out of habit, moved closer to Edward and he slid his arm around my waste, pulling me toward him. “Will you show up?” I asked him, looking into his eyes. They were lighter today, golden. He grinned and nodded, lightly kissing me on the lips. I’d finally been able to control my actions when he did this but hadn’t managed to control my heart as well. It hadn’t stopped thudding against my chest yet. Esme’s camera flashed and I laughed. We both turned toward her, smiling, and it flashed again, leaving white spots of blindness in my vision. After several more photos and smiles Edward finally protested jokingly.
“Bye everyone!” I called after them, still clueless as to where I was going.
“We‘ll see you there!” Alice called as Edward scooped me into his arms and carried me toward his Volvo. I waved to them and Edward chuckled darkly.
“Alice will be there?” I asked him.
“Yup, so will Rosalie, Jasper, and Emmett.” I frowned, still trying to figure out this puzzle.
“What?” I looked at him curious as he put me into his car.
“You really have no idea where we’re going?” I considered this, and honestly, I really didn’t.
“Nope, no idea. Are you going to tell me now?” I asked eagerly. He shook his head, already in the drivers seat and driving down the path that led away from the Cullen’s mansion.
“You’ll know soon enough.” he assured, patting my knee. His hands were cold as usual, but the casual gesture sent my heart a-flutter. Suddenly his hand wasn’t on my knee anymore, it was at his ear.
“Charlie?” he said into the silver phone he held.
“Let me talk to him!” I grabbed for the phone and he caught my hand in his left one, holding it. I quickly looked out the windshield. The car hadn’t moved a centimeter from the middle of the road. How did he do that?
“Edward..” I groaned, trying my luck with my free hand. He switch the phone to his other ear, out of my reach.
“Oh really? Let me talk to him.” he waited a moment, grinning darkly. “Hello Tyler, this is Edward Cullen.” he greeted him cheerfully. I frowned, why was Tyler as my house?
“Holy crow..” I murmured, finally understanding what all this was about.
“I’m sorry if there’s been some kind of miscommunication, but Bella is unavailable tonight.” His voice was still friendly, but quickly changed to a more threatening tone. “To be perfectly honest, she’ll be unavailable every night, as far as anyone besides myself is concerned. No offense. Sorry about your evening.” he closed the phone and turned to my horror filled expression, smirking.
“Your taking me to the prom?!” I almost shouted. It was so obvious now, I felt a blush rising in my cheeks and tears welling up in my eyes. I quickly wiped at them before they could flow over and ruin my mascara. “You really had no idea.” he mumbled, shaking his head and opening the car door. I watched as he shut it and then heard my own door open. I crossed my arms, firm on not moving. “Bella, please.” he attempted to reason with me, his voice velvety. I didn’t dare turn to look at him, sure that my anger would melt immediately if I did. I had to stay firm. “I promise, nothings going to harm you. I won’t let you go once, I promise.” He held his hand out for me to take. I looked at it, no, glared. “I don’t want to have to use force Bella, but if I have to…” his threat was lost as I took his hand and unsteadily got out of the car. I didn’t want him to use force, not in the parking lot. “There we are.” he said, taking my waste and leading me across toward the large building that served as the small town of Fork‘s high school gym.. This was going to be hell.
We entered the place and I groaned loudly. Balloon trellises towered above my peers in every corner and a snack table sat at the far end. Chairs were lined up on each side of the building, girls sitting with friends, chatting. Some looked like multicolored bouquets of flowers, though I knew I didn’t look any different, I chuckled anyways, despite my anger. I spotted Rosalie and Emmett on the dance floor, spinning circles. Rosalie looked beautiful, making me look like a messed up Christmas present. I looked around for Alice and Jasper, finding them lingering at the far end of the gym by the refreshments, though they would never eat anything. Alice looked around, immediately finding me and waving. I waved back. She wore a slinky, black number, the dress complimenting her small pixy-like figure. I sighed, why couldn’t I look like that.
“You don’t compare.” Edward whispered in my ear, following my gaze.
“Hey, I thought you couldn’t read my thoughts.”
“I can’t, but that doesn’t mean I’m not observant.” he answered. “Lets dance.” He led me to the center of the dance floor as another song started, it was slow.
“But I don’t know how to dance.” I stuttered, no use telling him about my luck with dance class.
“I know, but not to worry, its all in the leading.”
Edward placed both of my hands on his shoulders and his own snaked around my waste. I leaned against him and we swayed to the music. Despite how much we weren’t dancing, I felt as if it couldn’t go on long enough. And the dance didn’t. When we broke apart Edward had a glint in his eye.
“I want to show you something.”
I frowned, not another surprise. “And what might that be?”
“You’ll have to come with me and see.” he taunted, letting me lean on him as we crossed the dance floor and he led me out the back door of the gymnasium into a bright star-filled night sky.
“Ah, another day is gone..” I heard him mumble under his breath.
We turned toward the Volvo and my eyes widened. “But we just arrived.” I complained.
Edward stopped mid stride and turned to face me. “Oh, you want to go back there?” he jutted his thumb toward Prom.
Honestly, I didn’t. I shook my head and started toward the car again. “Won’t you at least tell me where your taking me?”
“Uh-uh..”
Edward started the ignition and drove quickly out of town and onto the highway. In several miles he turned onto a dark gravel road. We rode in silence. I had no idea of the thoughts in Edward’s mind, but in my own I was contemplating on weather this was a good idea or not. I trusted him, didn’t I? Didn’t I?
“Here.” he said and left the car to open my door. I glanced around, but all I could see by the light of the moon that filtered through the trees was an old-looking cabin-like house.
Out of habit I asked again, “Where are we?”
This time Edward replied with a useful answer. “This is the Morgan’s home, or at least, it was.”
I stumbled across the rocky earth and up a wooden porch. It looked like it couldn‘t support more than 50 pounds, let alone our weight combined. Edward turned the wooden front door’s handle and went first into the darkness.
“Edward?” I note of panic filled my voice as a sudden aloneness buried itself into my core. “Edward!” I half yelled, half whispered into the darkness. I imagined Laurent or Victoria jumping out of the darkness and revenging James by pouncing on me and then attacking Edward. Surely two on one wasn’t fair game. The thought terrified me and I stumbled forward, reaching out as more waves of panic trembled through me, my voice echoing my fear. “Edward don’t leave me…”
“Bella.” And there he was, tall and towering, his marble skin glowing in the moonlight that managed to pass through the front door. “Don’t be so dramatic. I didn’t leave you, I’m right here.” Edward pressed my head against his shoulder and kissed the top of my head.
And suddenly my panic was gone, I felt perfectly safe in his arms, secure in the knowledge that he wouldn’t leave me.
“This way Bella.” he took my hand, helping me forward.
And then he led me further into the Morgan’s house, down a dark hall and into an unlit room. Through a window on the far side of the small room, the full moon shown through, casting a blue glow on the sheeted  furniture that lined the walls. I tried my voice now, attempting to ask the reason of our intrusion into the forgotten house.
     It failed me.
Edward only grinned and walked across the room’s expanse, opening a door I hadn’t spotted before. I’d never been inside this place. The Morgan’s were a known family in Forks who’d lived only a few months in the house on the hill and then disappeared. I’d once asked Charlie about their absence, but he’d only muttered something about a sudden death and changed the subject. I’d decided not to press the matter any further, that my curiosity would have to wait, maybe forever, though it was nagging at me now. I made a note to ask Edward about it, hoping this was something he would talk of freely.
     Inside of the door was still yet, more darkness. Again grinning, my boyfriend motioned for me to come to him with a crook of his finger. I frowned, paying more attention now to the feeling that was pulling at my mind. More curiosity.
     “I’m not moving until you tell me what we’re doing in this poor family’s house.”  I assumed they were a poor family, both literally, because of the house and the furniture it contained, and emotionally, due to the fact that Charlie had mentioned a sudden death.
     He huffed and crossed his arms, leaning lightly against the door frame. “Bella, please.” he sighed in his most alluring voice.
     I turned away, already knowing what was coming next. That gorgeous face which contained those eyes that could out-flame a thousand suns, would fix on my own and melt my heart completely. I wouldn’t let it happen and continued to stare at the wood that made up the floor, which had begun to rot, as he strolled toward me. I already knew who would win this one, who would win every one for quite a long time, at least until I was one of them. On that subject, I was determined to make it happen, if only I could convince Edward to…
     “Bella darling, listen to me.” his voice interrupted my thoughts and a cool hand lifted my chin to face him. “Don’t you trust me?” he questioned as those topaz jewels burned at my heart. I nodded, already giving in, but knew what was coming, and waited impatiently. He smirked and kissed my lips. Sometimes I wondered at the extent of his power, weather he could indeed read my mind. The kiss was nothing like our last, but still stirred my heart into a frenzy.
     “Alright, I trust you.” I breathed.
His smile of success was priceless and Edward immediately took my waste, helping me slowly cross to the door.
     “It’s a surprise.” he murmured lightly in my ear, “but I’ll have to pick you up again, they’re some stairs.” I nodded and he swept me off my feet and into the darkness. As we descended, the air turned musty and damp, the tone in his quiet footsteps hinted at a cement floor.
     I kept my eyes open, waiting for them to adjust to the darkness, but they didn’t have the chance. Soon I spotted a faint light and could see that we were going down a winding right-handed stair. I soon found out that the glow of light was from a wood burning fire, and the smell reminded me of the time on the beach when we’d built bonfires and I’d attempted to allure Jacob for his stories of the creatures Edward was. The memory made me smile.
     Edward noticed.
     “What’s that for?” he asked, looking down at me curiously, though the faint bounce of his walk didn’t cease.
     “Just a memory.” I didn’t feel like discussing the matter again, it was too embarrassing. Before he could ask for any details I changed the subject. “So when will you be telling me where we’re going, and more importantly, why?” I guessed we were almost to the source of the light. The stones that lined the walls up ahead glowed orange, making the shadows dance.
     He sighed and his broad shoulders rose and fell. I thought I’d almost won, and that his next words would be the answers I was looking for.                          Instead he only said, “Almost there.”
It infuriated me and I flailed in this arms.
     “Edward Cullen! That’s unfair! You have to tell me where we’re going. The darkness is scaring me and I have no idea why there’s a stupid fire down here. If you don’t tell me this instant I’ll….I’ll…” I felt my brow furrow at the strain of trying to come up with a threat that could hurt this man that held me in an iron grasp. The effort was pointless. I knew there was nothing that could possibly hurt him, in my ability, that wouldn’t hurt me as well.
     “You’ll what, Bella? What will you do?” He’d read my mind again, and knew full well that there was nothing I could do to threaten him into telling me, or letting me go. Recently, life seemed terribly unfair.
I exhaled a large amount of air that made my head spin and crossed my arms in my lap. My unhappiness was obvious and I hoped he’d take notice.
     It worked.
     “Bella, please.”
There were those two words again, they’d become more common than house flies these days.
     “Just tell me. There’s no point in trying to hide anything. No point in getting me upset over this simple thing.”
His eyebrows almost met in the frown he made. What was his problem?
     “It’s….it’s not that simple, alright?”
We’d reached the end of the stairwell now and he came to a stop on the bottom step, carefully setting me down on my one good foot. I used his shoulder for balance as I examined the room. It held a worn wooden table and two chairs to match. A very large stone mantle surrounded the opening to the fire, where it burned strong in its place. Old black iron pots hung from wood rafters and manicotti pots lined the walls. From the looks of the place, I didn’t want to know what was in the pots, or how long they’d stood there. A small door stood in the far left corner, almost hidden. My curiosity sparked further.