Edward
From the moment Bella's hand grazed my face, I knew she would be a thorn in my side and a huge pain in my ass. I tried to be cruel to prevent the hold on me and my Beast that formed that day. The humans, of course, were captivated by her beauty, but she paled in comparison to Ara, who haunted my thoughts with her light that refused to fade, and the man I was before still pined for her. It wasn't Bella's looks that spared her that day, but the fire and tenderness that burned in her eyes. She possessed Ara's grace, yet carried an intensity that Ara lacked. My Beast sensed it the instant he touched her, and now, so did I.
As I replayed that moment in my mind, a dream plagued me unlike any before. It took me back to the day they chose Bella, and I watched as she welcomed the spell that bound her to me. It sparked a curiosity within me, a desire to claim her and intertwine our souls. But then, the dream shifted. Nights had always been restless for me, even before I became The Beast. Dreams were not mere fantasies, but rather fragments of a stolen past that I could never escape. Even the Darkness that consumed me and made me what I am now can't escape those shadows of goodbye.
My mind drifted elsewhere, dragged down by the echoes of a nightmare I had not revisited in years. The shadows of goodbye were haunting me again, but why? My eyes beheld a grand ballroom, pulsating with the enchanting symphony of music, the echoes of laughter, and the shimmering glow of chandeliers casting a magical spell from above. In that moment, I stood tall and proud, my hand delicately intertwined with hers as we gracefully waltzed across the polished marble floor. Ara, with her ethereal beauty, outshone all others in the room. Her laughter, a sweet melody that resonated in my soul, became a memory I would forever cherish. Her eyes, radiant and captivating, sparkled like the most precious gemstones as I twirled her around, her gown billowing like gentle waves on a serene lake. It was a scene of perfection, a moment frozen in time just as it was meant to be. This was the light in my memory. He had been silent so long that I forgot that my soul still housed him.
"Are you content, my beloved?" I inquired, my voice filled with warmth and tenderness. In that instant, I was a man transformed, brimming with optimism and consumed by a love more profound than life itself.
She always whispered with a smile so bright it could melt the iciest of hearts, her eyes gleaming like stars in the night sky. And then, I kissed her, a promise of forever on my lips. But alas, eternity turned out to be nothing but a fleeting mirage, and our dream quickly dissolved into darkness, as it always does.
My father's voice boomed like thunder. "Get off my throne, you disgrace!" He loomed over her, his eyes ablaze with a rage I could never comprehend. Ara tried to reason with him, but her words fell on deaf ears. His hands forcefully pulled her from the throne, his cruelty laid bare for all to see.
"Father, please!" I yelled, rushing forward, but the guards restrained me, their grip ironclad. I struggled, desperation coursing through me as he struck her, his blows merciless. Then he drew his magical dagger. The dagger that I now possess, the one that will obliterate a Fae's soul. "NO!" My scream tore through the dream, my voice hoarse and broken.
I watched as the blade fell, her final words piercing me deeper than any weapon ever could.
"I love you, Edward. I will never say goodbye."
The blood pooled around her as her lifeless body crumpled to the ground. Her emerald eyes, once so full of life, stared blankly back at me. I could not breathe. I could not move. The love of my life was stolen from me in a matter of seconds. Then I woke up.
I jolted upright, gasping for air as if I had just escaped drowning. The room was shrouded in darkness, my elongated shadow looming ominously in the dim light. For a fleeting moment, I felt a presence beside me, a ghostly echo of Ara's lifeless figure haunting my thoughts. I tried in vain to banish the haunting images from my mind, but they clung to me like a relentless shadow.
The memories of Ara's death, coupled with the overwhelming sense of loss, had driven me to embrace the Darkness, to let it consume me and grant me the power to control the Beast within. But in doing so, I had condemned myself to a life trapped in my dark Fae form, devoid of light and love. That is, until Bella entered my life.
With trembling hands, I pushed myself up from the bed, my movements stiff and mechanical. I made my way to the adjoining room, where Bella lay sleeping peacefully. The faint scent of her lingered in the air, a sweet and earthy fragrance that both grounded me and stirred unsettling emotions within me.
Bella had somehow managed to mend the broken pieces of my soul, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness that consumed me. Could she be the one to free me from this curse that bound me? The thought unsettled me to my core, for I feared the consequences of allowing myself to hope for redemption.
As I stood there, gazing down at Bella's sleeping form, I couldn't shake the feeling that her presence in my life was no mere coincidence. The idea that she had been drawn to me by forces beyond my control filled me with a sense of unease that I couldn't quite shake.
When Bella stumbled into the dining hall, her face was pale and her breath came in short, panicked gasps. I knew she had been running. She froze when she saw me, her wide eyes locked onto mine as though she expected me to lunge at her. "King Edward," she stammered, falling to her knees before me. "I am so sorry. I will not be late again. Please, spare me."
Her words pierced through me like a dagger, striking at the very core of my being. At that moment, she believed I was capable of ending her life. And perhaps, under different circumstances, I might have succumbed to that darkness within me. But fate had intertwined our destinies in a way that neither of us fully understood.
As I stood there, grappling with the weight of my actions, I realized that my harshness towards her was not born out of cruelty, but out of a misguided attempt to shield myself from the vulnerability of emotions. It was a defense mechanism that had now turned against me.
She was not just a pawn in a game, a means to an end. She was a complex being, with depths that I had yet to fully explore. And as I gently lifted her to her feet, I saw the fear in her eyes, the tremble in her hands. It was a stark reminder of the power I held over her, a power that I had wielded carelessly.
With a heavy sigh, I pushed aside my breakfast, knowing that this moment demanded my full attention. It was time to unravel the tangled web of emotions that bound us together, to confront the truth that lay hidden beneath the surface. And as I looked into her eyes, I knew that this was only the beginning of a journey that would test us both in ways we could never have imagined.
"Bella," I whispered, my voice heavy with a weariness I could not conceal. "Enough of this." With a swift motion, I pulled her onto my lap, paying no mind to her gasp of surprise. Brushing her hair aside, I allowed my instincts to guide me, my lips lightly grazing her neck before my teeth pierced her skin. Initially tense, she soon relaxed against me, succumbing to the euphoria of my bite. Her blood was warm and sweet, pulsing with a power that intrigued me.
As I fed, her memories flooded my mind - a mix of fear, confusion, and something more. Admiration? How could she possibly admire me? I, who had committed unspeakable acts in my quest for vengeance against Ara's death. I had surrendered my soul to The Darkness, transforming into The Beast - a creature bound to prey on humans, the very beings I once held in high regard as a light Fae. She couldn't possibly admire the monster who had claimed her as his own, using her to break the curse that plagued him. Yes, I had marked her as mine, but it should have no bearing on her. It was merely a declaration to others that she belonged to me.
I released her before I took too much, my lips brushing her neck as I whispered, "You are safe with me, Bella. For now." Drinking from her just now confirmed how much I need her. I have not needed anyone since Ara. Why Bella? She's human, yet she doesn't taste human. She doesn't taste like a Fae either, unlike the darkness I consumed from my father's black heart. Is she the light in my darkness? The curse will break, but what will happen is a mystery. Could only my light Fae remain? It is possible. Could all of us exist simultaneously? That, too, is a possibility. All I know is now that I have Bella, I won't ever let her go.
She barely heard me, her head lolling against my shoulder as she drifted into a dazed stupor. I cradled her there for a moment longer, my mind racing with questions I could not yet answer. Why had the curse chosen her? Why did her blood feel so different? The weight of Ara's memory lingered, but Bella's presence was beginning to eclipse it. That terrified me more than any dream ever could.