Three Nights Later, Part Two

[themidnightson]

Edward's rather obvious tonight. He didn't start that way.

This was more of a family favor that just....happened.




Kate's been gone about an hour now, but Edward is still at the piano.
The piece is pianissimo, at the deeper end of the scale, wandering slowly.

Comments

[themidnightson]

"I don't." He rubbed the space above the bridge of his nose with his first two fingers on his left hand. Think. Know where to begin. Know better than her. Have a reasonable guess.

[noteful]

"Okay," Meg says.

"Well, then, begin there, anyway," she says, practically.

He has to begin somewhere.

Spring works.

[themidnightson]

He stared at her over his hand.
Only to drop it to the table.
He paused, and as he did,





he slowly frowned at a thought.

[noteful]

Yes?

[themidnightson]

Edward look down at his hand on the table.



"It shouldn't even take a thought, Meg."
His eyes closed and he shook his head.
"I gave everything away. Everything."


Secrets. Lies. Promises. Ever memory.
To the worst person. Who would own it for eternity.

And he hesitated to hand it to a girl who'd never wavered.

[noteful]

"I'm sorry, Edward, but I don't . . . I don't quite understand."

Or, you know, possibly she doesn't remotely understand.

[themidnightson]

"There's a man." There's a trite snort here, with a half-roll of his eyes, that gives his interpretation of that last word. "Potentially the very worst of every single one of my kind, Meg."


He looked up. Maybe confession is a necessity that never made sense. Maybe he needed to say it to someone who wouldn't understand. Or maybe he almost wants her to hate him for the same reason Carlisle and every member of his family should.

Because he's endangered them all worse than ever.


"I gave him every single thought and memory of my life."

[noteful]

It takes a few seconds for her to put it together.

"Everything you remember?"

Other people's thoughts and memories, too.

Including hers.

"I . . . why?

"And how is that even possible?"

[themidnightson]

Why.



Why.



Why did he go to Volterra. To the Volturi.
What mercy could they grant that no other could.

Almost too quietly. "It's his...gift."
The closest to Edward's he's ever seen.
It's very literally helped make him crazy.

[noteful]

It's a little like trying to work a puzzle when you have only a vague notion of what the picture is and half the pieces are missing.

"He hears everything you ever thought?"

Dear God.

[themidnightson]

"Only when he touches you. But then, yes."

Edward nodded. "Everything."




Which in Edward's case was far more than one person's life.

[noteful]

Dear God.

"Who is he?"

[themidnightson]

"The head of what counts as our ruling body."

[noteful]

"The . . . Volturi?"

The ones who make the rules.

Closest thing they have to royalty, he said.

[themidnightson]

Edward nodded, "Yes."

[noteful]

"So, did you have a choice?"

[themidnightson]

"Yes." Beat. "And no, but yes."

[noteful]

"Um . . ."

She's trying, Edward, but she has no idea what to do with that answer.

. . . answers?

[themidnightson]

"I gave up my right to have that choice when I walked in, Meg."



He wouldn't have one there. But he could have chosen not to go.
Which is a lie, because he couldn't promise he wouldn't do it again.

[noteful]

"All right," she says slowly.

She thinks she can see that.

But you chose to walk in?

So why did you go?

[themidnightson]

I wanted to--




"I had been misinformed."

[noteful]

"About what?"

[themidnightson]

These words take effort.
More than her name.


"Isabella's death."




He'll never forget what happened.
Who he became. That nothing mattered.

[noteful]

Meg's eyes widen.

"Is she--?"

She can't be . . . he wouldn't be this . . . if she were . . . but . . . trails gone cold and it's all over and . . . has he said anything about Bella in the present?

[themidnightson]

"She's alive."

On the other side of the Door.
He's made it almost an hour and half now.

"She always was. But I didn't know then."

Alice's visions were subjective. And the boy.
And he hadn't needed a phone when he was going.
All he'd needed was for Rose and Jacob to confirm.