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This chapter was made possible by the lovely arisaswordheart for being my wonderful BETA. Remember to check out her stories when you have the time!
This was the most horrifying question I received;
Did Bella lose her virginity to Jacob?
No! She just spelt with him. Literally! They never had…you know. And don't get any ideas in this chapter either.

C H A P T E R T H R E E ; T H E L U S T E D

Of course Maria did not agree with my decision. She rarely did. Her philosophy to life was to make sure that I would live a happy one. That did not necessarily mean that she was required to understand mine, just that her servitude demanded her to follow it. So, I let her opinions be viewed. I listened to her rambling about young men's behaviour toward women and her lecture on my safety and also protection for my pride and dignity. She was a chatty and argumentative woman with a different attitude for everything. Every opinion, she had to share with everyone, and I felt indebted to listen. But this time, I wouldn't let her speak a single word. Even though her face soured and she was disgusted by the fact that she was carrying a vampire, she was forced to stay silent.

We tried pulling him by his hands, but that didn't work. He was much too heavy. His open cuts rubbing against the earth were not helpful either. We tried lifting his body onto our backs and carried him that way, but Maria complained about the coldness radiating off his skin and he complained about the heat scorching off hers. He insisted in walking which only lasted for exactly two seconds before collapsing like a drunk—again. Finally, Maid Maria suggested carrying him on a stick. I scowled but he acquiesced, so we did. Maid Maria tied his hands and legs strictly together and we carried him off, me in the lead and her supporting the back.

"Where are we doing, my dear?" Maria asked, struggling with the close proximity she was in with the vampire.

"Remember all the times I would mysteriously disappear and then return home unharmed?" I asked.

"Yes. You had me worried sick." She commented.

A let out a little giggle, then composed myself to continue.

"Today you will know where I go."

I could see her curiosity, though she tried not to show it. She was bound to terrorize me there the next time I went.

So we walked though the ferns and tip-toed across the village's tepee tents. All souls had gone to sleep, even the guard dogs had. The leftover shadow of fire smoke fluttered away like butterfly wings. From the reflection of their shadows, little moment was made. I covered Edward's body with my expensive coat, not wanting expose of his identity. Maria scowled again for wasting warmth to someone unworthy of it.

After walking past the campsite, I let out a sigh of relief to the miracle that we had made it unharmed though the judgmental eyes from the village site. We hiked so far that my feet begged for rest as Maria mouth begged for hers. I looked up ahead; there were only a few miles to proceed to. My willpower enforced that optimism to my feet and we carried on.

By the time we arrived, Maria was too tired to be pessimistic or sullen. Being a woman of old age, she was more relieved than any of us. She pleaded for water. I told her there was a little stream outside where she could access her necessity from.

I led our 'dead animal' onto my personal cave. There was nothing intricate about it, which made it perfect for me. I was uninterested with the heavy and classy embellishment of the royalties. I liked things simple and this was merely a cave I had found while lost in the village. It was small, secretive, idyllic and simple. And it was mine. I had found it. All by myself. I always had felt a great accomplishment and pride in that. Wildflowers ornamented this entrance and a rock lay by as a wind door. I had also discovered that many furry friends lived here too. Possums, squirrels and wild birds all liked to accommodate there in seasons of rain and it was considered very hospitable to them with food, as I would kindly give to them. There was also a little stream outside. Hearing the water playfully run through it was like music in therapy. The cave was tranquil. I also liked tranquil things.

While Maria was devouring water from outside, I took to time to untie our heavy load. When I removed my coat from his body, I suspected him to be asleep. His eyes were closed and he was serene. It startled me to a jump, to witness he was not.

Those coal black eyes were wide open and in agonizing pain.

I untied him with all the gentleness I could muster. Still, it was not enough. He winced and cringed from my touch. I examined his skin. It was severely burnt, scars ripped across his luscious skin, his breathing was much hitched, and his face was pale and his lips dry.

Instantly, I knew what he wanted.

Blood.

I flinched away at that thought, just as Maria came back hurrying in. Seeing the reaction of my epiphany, she grew defensive and accused the vampire. She lifted up her long khaki shirt and kicked him.

Edward hissed, and then spoke for the first time.

"It's burning."

"Be lucky, you mongrel, I'm freezing," spat Maria.

He groaned.

"The humidity of the cave is scorching his skin." I observed. "He needs to be washed too. Maria, gather some clean leaves. We'll use them to dress his wounds."

Maria just nodded and hurried outside.

I turned my head at to the vampire, "Can to walk to the steam? You can be washed there."

He didn't say everything, just stood up and stumbled to the stream. By the time he made it, he just allowed himself to collapse there, splashing water everywhere on my clothes.

"Take your tunic off," I ordered.

He just stared at me, both of us looking very vulnerable. I repeated my demand once again with an unhelpful blush and he complied.

His skin was glorious and iridescent. I swear it was glowing in the moonlight. I took an embarrassingly colossal effect to look away from his beauty. I took the hem of my skirt and ripped the ends. Using it as washing cloth I drenched it in the water then rubbed it on his chest. His chest was hard, like a full grown man's. It was smooth but not soft. He didn't say a word while I was cleaning him. It felt like he wasn't even breathing, but he was staring at me with an intimidating gaze. When I took a sneak peak to look at his eyes, I half expected his to flinch or shy away with my glance, but they were still hawking me. He looked slightly confused and deeply frustrated, but other than that all I saw was pain. I told him to turn over so I could wash his back and he also complied. I hovered above his body and cleansed his scar-covered back. There were scars upon scars. It hurt me to know what my people had done to him. It hurt me even more when I rubbed the cloth over it and he groaned in pain, like it was stinging. After I finished washing him, he immediately put his tunic back on.

We walked unsteadily back to the cave where I found Maria with leaves gathered in her pale hands. I asked her to place the pile on the floor and wait for me outside the cave. She sighed but otherwise complied. I dressed his wounds hastily and with an embarrassing blush as I was touching his marble skin. I gathered the reminding leaves to serve temporarily as his bed.

"This is your home for now, Edward," I told him.

He just nodded.

"I'll visit you soon to check your scars."

Another nod.

"If you need anything—just call me."

Again, just another nod.

I give up all hopes on starting a conversation and prepared myself to leave.

"Wait." his melodious voice said and I turned my head. He advanced toward towards me and gently placed my hand into his. The movement was so delicate than it felt like being carried by butterfly wings. He lifted it to his lips and kissed my palm with gratitude. He then placed it at his cheek and said, "Thank you," before instantly dropping it again and bidding me a solemn goodbye.

I visited Edward almost everyday after that. First though, I had to plead Maria to cover an alias for me. Then I would silently grab the herbal medicine from the Billy's medicine cupboard. I would then have to make sure was my neck was wrapped with a scarf—avoiding throat exposure. Then finally, I would hike to my cave in a rush, while trying tediously to avoid attention.

Edward was not the man that I originally credited him for. In fact, he was cold and distant. He touched me as least as possible and only allowed me to touch him for only what was necessary. He rarely spoke. Not once had he asked me what my name was. He said it was better that he didn't know. When I once had asked him where his family was, he just shook his head. His burns were completely healed now, like as if they were never there. I'd never seen him in the sun before. Possibly because of the fact that it burns him, I thought. His scars were closed now, but marks still remained visible. But the back of his body was a whole different matter. The werewolves had imprinted his back with a warning. It was rarely done because it was painful beyond belief, but I saw it. It was there. In the middle of his back was a symbol carved into his skin. It was a wolf eating the remains of a vampire.

I insisted for me to wash his back. The mark might be poisonous. At first he refused, however later the mark reactivated, constantly draining his energy at spontaneous times. So he relented, but with such resignation.

It was hard to concentrate on the work when he had his tunic off. It was impossible to cover my blush and he had mentioned it with a small smile too.

But later when my visits to him had become more of a social visit than medical, he had become more and more friendly and playful towards me. Many times, he teased me about my blush and laughed wholeheartedly at what a klutz I am. Other times when I wasn't looking he would splash water on me from the stream of the river. But I was happy. I was happy that he was happy. It was a strange how opposites attract. It was more bizarre that I could feel safe with a vampire, but this happiness had also brought insecurity and anxiety towards me. I was scared for when he might leave. Surely he could not stay here forever, and even if he would, Maria could not cover me forever. I felt horrible that she had to lie constantly for me now. And there was Jacob. He would go berserk if he found out what I'm doing. In fact, the whole tribe would. But whenever I saw Edward's genuine smile, I let all my problems slide away. Just for a while.

Once when we were playing in the steam, feeling joyous and young, he came closer to me than he had ever before. He held my face in his hands, eyes smoldering into mine and to my lips, he whispered, "I'm lonely."

I at first I thought he was preparing to leave me, so I shyly waddled a step away from him and bid him goodbye. He laughed at my reaction and it insulted me, but before I could put to air my complaints he enclosed his arms dangerously around my wet body and continued, "I'm not leaving, not yet. I'm just…out of order. I hate it when you leave. I have nothing to do, nothing matters and there is nothing to care for until you come back to me. I'm lonely when you're gone."

As much as his words had flattered me I had no idea what his point was. I asked what I could do to occupy him when I'm gone and he gave me one of his mischievous grins and asked me to surprise him.

I packed a bag of books in foreign languages in a tote bag that Jacob had woven for me for my birthday. I also stuffed a strange instrument Jacob had found when roaming outside of La Push, a little town called Forks, where it was said a family of aging vampires with prestigious talents lived. Edward might know whom it might belong to and what it was. I also picked a few freesias from the court garden today as Edward noted that it was his favourite, though he said it with a hint of hidden humor that caused me to be more addictively fascinated towards him. Before leaving to my cave, I dressed myself in blue and scarfed my head and neck with a silky veil as the night calmed the atmosphere cooler.

Ever since I've known Edward, I've realized I've become a good hiker. The long walks to and fro to the cave had made my legs stronger and better coordinated. It was not just my coordination that had improved. Many village people had noted that I've been brighter and happier. I smiled absentmindedly at the thought, secretly acknowledging the source of my contentment.

I was getting closer and closer to the caves when I heard an unexpected sound. I allowed it not to bother me. I was probably just a curious hungry animal. But as I walked carefully and listened intently, I realized the sound was following me. Thousands probabilities exploded into my head, none with a good outcome. Anybody could be following me. Worst case scenario, it could be Jacob. I whimpered at the thought and stilled my self from walking, but the sounded was still advancing. I daringly turned my head back to face my followers and made out three human figure silhouettes. The way they moved told me they were ill mannered men with poor grace. I was frozen stiff and I could make out their faces now. One was distinctly prominent with his red hair. They all looked smug. Before I knew it, they were running. No, they were stalking, stalking me. I wanted to scream but the fear was too strong and had disconnected my nervous system. One of the men launched himself towards me. I closed my eyes and braced myself.

But it didn't come, instead I heard a cracking sound then a deep growl of fury and last of all, a dreadful noise, a loud echoing scream. I didn't witness any of it, but it was just as painful to hear. I was scoped up into somebody arms before I could open my eyes. When I had, I had arrived that my cave, facing a very angry Edward.

"Who are you? Look at me when I am with you. My hands, when I am away from you, I tremble. I never tremble. It is what weaklings do. I feel warm. A vampire should not feel warm. I care. I actually felt sympathy for werewolves. I couldn't even kill them after the disgusting thoughts they had in mind of you. I am a warrior; my only satisfaction is to come home with blood in my hands. Now I can kill no one! All because of you!"

So it was Edward who had saved me.

"You are no longer a warrior, Edward. You are a lover." I heard myself saying. "You are in love with me—"

"I am not!" He denied it but I continued impulsively, "And I am in love with you." I could have physically slapped myself for being so blunt if that didn't make me more insane.

He paused, as is he was going back on his previous denial. There was a long silence afterward and I listened to the stream outside, his heavily breathing, the crickets singing and my heart crying with anticipation.

"Then what is my lover's name?" He finally asked for the first time.

"Isabella," I said with haste, "My name is Isabella Swan, Daughter of—"

"SWAN! You liar! You toyed with my feelings. Cruel woman! How can you say you love me when you are going to be wed to the next heir of the dogs!"

"I was betrothed! And now that I met you, I realize I don't love Jacob. I love you!" I had no idea how I came to love this man so deeply. His temper was appalling. His patience was thinner then silk. But those eyes, those beautiful eyes. His lips, so sweet as words would eloquently escaped from them, and his touch, I shivered in pleasure by his touch. His sophisticated mind could out-smart almost anybody and his gallantry brought the only approval by Maria.

"I have no intentions to become the third wheel." He announced.

"Have you no intentions of being loved?" I countered.

"If it is with you, then no. I rather live a lonely man…"

With those words I ran away from the dark cave before the tears could fall from my face. I ran without pausing and was ushered silently into my bedroom chamber. Mud painted my dress and tears marked evidence for my presence to the forest. I curled into a ball, covered with my blanket as if in a cocoon, and cried. Maybe it was a cocoon. I wished that when I would come out again, Edward would see me as beautiful. Not a Swan, not betrothed, not a person of La Push, the werewolf tribe. Just Human. Only human, like every one else in this world. Maid Maria insisted on knowing what the matter was, but I couldn't. My heart just couldn't tell. My brain insisted that I tell Billy that a wounded vampire man was resting in my cave. Then the werewolves would go and hunt for him. Then I would never have to see him again. I would never have to stare and be lost, hypnotized, in those dazzling golden eyes again. But I couldn't. Though I hated him by his words, his beauty was my adoration and my love was forever.

Aha! I finally finished this chapter. Now I felt euphorically satisfied. But I doubt you will be hearing from me in a while. I'll admit to you now that I'm a lazy pig! Haha
I know this was a suspenseful and confusing chapter. Please leave all questions after the next chapter. Many questions will be answered then. If I tell them to you now than would by like spoiling my own story.

The only question that I can answer is the one that my Beta had asked me; why can't the werewolves smell the scent of Edward?

Well, Bella and Edward seem to play in the stream often. So probably the smell would be washed again by the water and crap soup they had in those days. Maria would have to make sure that Bella was clean too. Even without the vampire smell. She is also a hygienic freak.

Now, I want to tell everybody that I have a livejournal. I think I'm obsessed with it. So, to all my readers who have also have livejournal. Please, Please leave me a message there! I would love to know and friend my readers!!! My username is tranquie, (nickname for tranquility) and it is a friend only journal. Comment and you will be added immediately! And tell me about yourself a little too. Can't wait to make more friends!!!