Edward looked up at the small brown man behind the counter, his accent thick and rich. “Yes, I need a ticket to Florence, Italy.”
If the little man thought it was strange an obviously American boy was traveling from Brazil to Italy, he didn’t show it. His fingers tapped out the request and his eyes skimmed the old computer screen. Edward waited patiently, tuning out the constant babble of voices in his head. “There’s a flight today but it leaves in about 10 minutes and the only seats available are in first class. The next one is a week from Tuesday.”
Edward dropped his passport and a credit card on the desk, clear with gold lines, flashing the man a dazzling smile. “I’ll take the one for today, if you don’t mind. Are there any layovers?”
The man picked up the items, not even blinking at the obvious prestige of such a card. “Yes, in Paris. But it will be very quick. You will have to run to your next flight.”
Edward smiled again. “Lovely. Thank you for your help.”
The man passed the paperwork and ticket back to Edward and gave him a kind smile. “Your flight is in gate 23B. They have already started boarding, so you might want to hurry.” Edward thanked the man, but as he turned to go, the man added, “And good luck to you. I hope you catch whoever you’re chasing.”
Edward shot a surprised glance over at the man and concentrated on his thoughts through the murmurs of all of the people around them. Poor boy, it must be true love to run to another country after her. I do hope he wins her back. Everyone deserves true love. Edward nodded his thanks and turned quickly away, before the kind man could see the bitterness in his eyes.
If only you knew what I was chasing, Edward thought bitterly, breaking into an easy jog to get to the gate that would take him to his end.
Thousands of miles away, another vampire froze while listening to a pair of hushed voices from the kitchen. Her eyes grew wide and unfocused, seeing something no one else could see. She began to shake uncontrollably, unable to call for help. Finally, the vision passed, but she still remained frozen, her cold heart breaking in her chest, wishing for the first time in a long while that she could cry.
Softly, Alice whispered, “Oh, Edward, no…”
***
The little screen showed the plane was in the middle of the Atlantic, and Edward sighed, leaning back into the cushions. First class is definitely worth it when it came to these longer flights. He was still a little uncomfortable because he wasn’t breathing, but he was thirsty and it was easier than smelling all of the easy prey around him.
Not that it mattered anymore, anyways. Nothing really mattered anymore.
Edward listened to all of the thoughts around him, trying to distract himself from thinking about why he was going to Italy. A college age girl behind the curtain separating the classes was practicing her French and was in desperate need of some tutoring. The businessman across the aisle had tossed back three whiskies and was now dreaming about becoming the CEO of his company. A young couple three rows forward were cuddled up together in the cushiony seats, thoughts of love and their upcoming honeymoon swirling together.
Edward turned his face away from the happy couple, grimacing in pain. He briefly wondered if they knew how lucky they were to be able to hold each other like that without having to worry about crushing one another. They reminded him of all of the things he could never have, all of the things lost to him now. He closed his eyes, hoping to block out all of the voices around him and to allow his mind to drift into nothingness, but thoughts of his Bella invaded, demanding attention.
It hurt too much to think of her. To think of how her face lit up whenever he came into her bedroom. Of how her eyes would always soften when she whispered she loved him. To think of the way he could see her heart shattering in those expressive eyes of hers when he pushed her away for her own good. Jumped off a cl –
No. Edward shoved the memories out of his mind, refusing to remember, refusing to think of it. Instead he turned his mind to how he was going to approach the Volturi with his request. A wry smile touched his lips. Yes, how do you approach the oldest and most powerful vampires on earth with such a request as his?
“Hello, it’s a pleasure and an honor to meet you. What’s my business? Oh, well, I was hoping you would kill me. You see, I fell in love with a mortal woman whom I had to leave for her own good, and she went and killed herself. The pain is too much to live with, so I was hoping you could take care of that for me.”
He couldn’t stop the small bitter laugh that escaped his lips. Oh yes, that would work. They would think he was mad. Which, once he thought about it, he probably was. A suicidal vampire. He was probably the first to approach them with such a request.
Maybe he should be more forceful, giving them an ultimatum. “Kill me or I’ll reveal myself to the people of your city.” With any luck they would take care of him right then and there in defense of their secret. They were well known for their fierce protection of the city and would do anything to hide their secret from the people.
How would they do it? Would they make it painful or quick? Edward felt nothing about the prospect that they could take their time with him, drawing out the pain before death. Nothing could be worse than what he felt now that Bella was gone. Anything was worth the bliss that would come after it was done.
He wondered what it would be like, when he was dead. Carlisle had always spoken of Heaven, even for those damned like them. Carlisle just couldn’t believe a merciful God would send them to hell when they did the best they could with the hand they were dealt. Edward had never really believed him, how could God forgive creatures like them?, but what if there is a Heaven waiting for him at the end of this journey? Bella would be in Heaven, hopefully waiting for him. They could finally be together in the way they both wanted so much. Not as predator and prey, not as vampire and human, but as a man and a woman in love. Forever.
But of course, even if there is nothing after this hellish existence, nothing but darkness and emptiness, anything would be better than trying to live another day without his Bella. He would rather go to the depths of hell itself than to live another day without his love.
Soon, my sweet Bella, his mind whispered, the pain kissing him with the knowledge he would never be able to speak to her again, whether we are reunited in heaven, or if I’m damned to the fires of hell, or if there is nothing after this life, soon, this will all be over.
Just know I have always loved you.
***
Edward stepped off the plane, blinking in the artificial light. He let out the breath he had been holding the past seven hours and breathed in the fresher but still stale smell of the Italian airport.
There was a crowd waiting at the terminal, the excited and happy thoughts of the people practically screaming in his ear. Unconsciously, Edward turned solid black eyes on the crowd, throwing them a glare that made one young woman tremble in fear. The thirst was clawing at him unmercifully, and even though he felt no urge to hunt, the dryness in his throat was making him irritable.
He quickly made his way out of the airport and looked around. Thankfully it was night, so he had no problem running to the parking lots and looking at the selection of cars around him. It seemed for once, Edward thought bitterly, fate and luck was on his side. A black Bugatti EB Veyron, the fastest car produced in the world, sat quietly in the most expensive parking lot, it’s windows tinted to black. He grinned wickedly. Perfect.
It took only five minutes to break into the car and have it hotwired, and soon Edward was barreling down the streets of Florence, the beautiful architecture racing by in a swirl of colors.
A pale figure cloaked in gray watched the equally pale man drive wildly away, his glittering red eyes hiding beneath the cloak. A small smile touched his lips as he flipped open a small cell phone and dialed a number by heart.
A lightly accented voice spoke softly, “Gianna, this is Alec. Tell the Elders our latest guest has arrived.” He clicked the phone close and silently made his way back to his own car, smiling dangerously, the tips of his fangs catching the artificial light of the streetlamps.
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