Slow Drowning - Edward Cullen - (10)Conviction

It was a white room. Totally and completely innocent, but the plain walls painted in the stark shade looked inconceivably eerie in the florescent light. It was too immaculate.

The door shut roughly behind them, leaving a thick silence in the empty space.

Between the still figures of Alice and Edward, she stood. "You shouldn't have come." Her voice came out in a low whisper, filled with guilt. Guinevere took a few steps away, walking through the sunlight that cast through a small rectangle window. For a small moment her cheek glistened like a cut diamond before it changed into a dull pale. She didn't seem to notice.

"Guinevere," rang Carlisle's voice. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "You saved my family."

Guinevere took an uneasy breath and frowned. "I'm glad I helped your family, but it doesn't erase what I've done in my past. My fate can not be changed. And now that you've stopped it for a while, you'll pay for it in vain."

Carlisle pressed his lips into a thin line, but didn't say anything. He, instead, let Edward interject. "Gwen," he breathed. His fingers trailed her jaw, his eyes wandering over her pained face. "Don't say that. It isn't your fault." He pressed his cheek against Guinevere's, causing her body to rack with a painful, tearless sob.

"But," Guinevere shook her head slowly, her forehead wrinkling in sorrow.

"None of it." Edward's fingertips drew along her waist and locked tightly, enveloping her as closely as he could. The tip of his nose ran across her forehead then, he rested the side of his face on her dark, silky hair. His eyelids fell as he breathed her in. He let his lungs fill with her sweet scent, casting away all other thoughts but of her.

Their bodies melted into one another's and they became one, the way they were meant to be. Whether it slowed or quickened, time didn't matter. What mattered was in that single moment they were finally together.

He didn't know how long he had, but Edward knew that it wouldn't be enough. He pressed his palm to the back of her neck and ran it down her jaw line, forcing her face to lift upward.

Guinevere willingly gazed into his eyes. Pressing her fingertips to his marble chest, her thoughts became hindered. "I wish..." Her voice trailed off into silence, but he could still hear her meaning.

Edward bent his head down to her, his face becoming just a few short inches away. He replied to her thoughts. "I do remember."

"What?" she asked breathlessly.

"Gwen," His velvet voice was no higher than a whisper. A smile twitched at the corners of his perfect mouth and he explained, "I remember everything."

The vampire stared at him. Her peculiar emerald orbs were wide with wonder and hesitancy. "I thought ..." She shook her head and squeezed her eyelids shut, trying to make some sense of the situation.

Edward ran his fingertips across her cheekbone and asked with concern, "Gwen?"

Her eyes flew open and she questioned slowly, "You remember everything?"

"Yes," he breathed. "You see, I was so sure of myself before. I was content and I figured myself full, like I already had everything I could ever possibly need. That was until you came back into my life." He quickly explained himself, for Guinevere had taken on some remorse. "Gwen, I couldn't have been more wrong. I wasn't full because something was missing. My heart."

Edward pulled the corner of his mouth into a lopsided grin. "I couldn't possibly give it to Bella when it wasn't mine to give. It's been yours since the moment we've met." He was about to say something more when he flashed his gaze to the locked door. "They're coming," he hissed.

There was no time to react when the guards came. Demetri opened the door, his olive skin looking chalky in the florescent light. "The leaders have made their decision. They wish to see all of you now."

"May I say something?"

Marcus's mouth twitched a little. "Of course."

Guinevere took a step forward, her magnificent face still and calm. "The Cullens," She looked to her sides where they were stood waiting for their own judgment. "have done nothing wrong and they should be let go immediately."

Aro's milky eyes gazed over the room then flashed to Caius. He nodded and waved his hand in a dismissive sort of way. "Carlisle, Alice, and Edward Cullen are free to leave. We have no quarrel with you."

Carlisle made a short nod, but didn't move an inch. His worries were elsewhere. "Thank you, Aro."

Caius, who sat on Aro's right, stood from his seat, a snarl on his face. "We do, however, with Guinevere Kent."

A low growl shook from Edward's chest and tensed considerably. His eyes flickered to Marcus, who moved gracefully toward Guinevere. Though his thoughts were entirely favorable, Edward couldn't help but to position himself closer, his body acting like a shield.

Marcus's maroon eyes didn't miss the reaction before he said, "Guinevere Kent. It has been a while since the last time I saw you." Alice tried to hide her glee as her mouth turned upward at the corners. Her ocher eyes flashed to Edward, who was listening to her optimistic thoughts.

"Yes," Guinevere replied. "It has been."

Marcus looked to her companions and explained, "We met in London around 1943." Then, he averted his gaze back to his old friend. "You seem different now. Not quite so hopeless." He rose an eyebrow and let his eyes fall over Edward's and Guinevere's intertwined fingers, a small smile falling over his white face.

Caius sighed with exasperation. His dark, silky voice came out in a shot, "This is not the time to catch up, Marcus. Guinevere Kent not only broke the agreement, but tried to attack Volturi guards."

"That's a lie!" Guinevere cried.

Marcus jabbed the childish vampire a black look before turning to his confidant. "This is a false accusation. You know this Aro."

Aro pursed his lips into a thin line, his skin wrinkling gently along his eyes as they narrowed. Then, his milky eyes watched Carlisle moved forward and speak. "My dear friends, we all know that Jane is lying." Aro started to object when Carlisle continued, "Please, Aro, don't let yourself be persuaded into deception. Guinevere has done nothing wrong and was, in fact, the one being attacked. If we had come only a little bit later, I suppose both her and my son would be dead."

Caius's dark eyes widened and he scrambled to say, "Even if what he says is true, she still broke our agreement, which results in penalty of death."

Guinevere's breath ceased and she moved her face to the side, her emerald eyes smoldering as they reached out to Edward. Becoming engrossed in the idea she would never feel his smooth skin again, her fingers gripped his.

"Now, now, let's not be hasty," Aro complained.

Edward, who had been growling maliciously at Caius's thoughts, turned to Guinevere at hers. He shook his head in denial when he caught her eye. "I promise," he whispered quietly in her ear as he squeezed her hand in comfort.

"If we do not punish her, Aro, then we will be seen as unjust and weak," Caius roared.

"What would be unjust is if we end Guinevere's life now!" Marcus replied in defense. His usual milky orbs were wild with fire and his expression magnificent in emotion. The room became deathly silent. No one had ever seen the leader so alive.

"She," Caius pointed at Guinevere with distaste, earning a hiss that escaped her full lips. "is indebted to us in return for the human girl. That was the bargain."

"And?" Marcus's voice came out sarcastic and annoyed.

"And," Caius snapped in reply. "Guinevere has done everything in her power to undermine us. She's gained morals on our account." He flashed her a dark, callous look. "Besides, she's too much of a liability for our world."

"How's that?" asked Carlisle, his beautiful face showing only a few signs of his outrage.

Caius snapped his attention to Carlisle and replied, "I've been told on good account," He gave a swift glance in Felix's direction. "that when she was a first born, she went on massive killing spree. Human authorities blamed it on the Spanish Influenza, but we should have known better. It was unforgivably ignored. Now is the time she paid for her crime."

Guinevere pointed deliberately to Felix. "He created me for entertainment." Her velvet voice was laced with an hysterical edge. She looked to Aro for understanding. "Watched me become a monster. Felix never had any intention of taking responsibility. It's his fault I killed so considerably, without any kind of cognizance of what I was doing."

"You know of this, Aro. You've seen it in Felix's thoughts," Edward said, his voice shockingly calm against Guinevere's. It matched his expression although his insides screamed.

Marcus looked appalled and lunged himself toward Felix. His face became just inches from his, when he said, "You should be the one put on trial now." Felix widened his maroon eyes with shock and cowered away from the leader.

Caius frowned and felt his leverage slip through his fingers. "But -"

Marcus whipped around and spat, "Stop making excuses."

Aro was silent for a moment, his gaze falling on Guinevere. He stared at her for a moment and nodded to himself, first making Edward troubled then slightly more at ease. He whispered in Guinevere's ear to share in his knowledge, "Everything will be alright."

Aro heard this and smiled despite himself and the situation he was pushed in. "You're right Carlisle. Guinevere is not the one at fault now, nor was she ever. An apology is in order." He stood to his feet and in a flash he was before Guinevere. Holding out his hand, he said with a bit of a laugh, "So sorry."

She nodded but did not touch him. "Just as well," he mused, folding his hands together. "As apart of my apology, I grant you freedom from your side of the trade." His milky eyes flashed to Caius with warning, but smiled cheerily nonetheless. "But I would be pleased if you stayed."

Guinevere shook her head with no apologetic look in sight. "No, thank you." She glanced at Edward. "I've had enough of Volterra."

"Fine, fine." Aro glanced at the Cullens, his eyebrows rose. "Anyone change their minds?"

"No, thank you," Alice replied simply.

Carlisle shook his head with a brief smile and Edward answered with a sharp, "No."

Aro made a nod and fell from their presents, taking his place in the throne before them. "The invitation is always open if you are to ever change your minds."

Followed by Felix, Caius stormed out of the room, his black robe flowing behind him in unnerving elegance. He cast a dark look in the Cullen's direction before he flashed out of the room.

There was a still silence and then everyone seemed to be moving at once. Most of the guards continued a bewildered conversation, their feet leading them out of the room. Jane, who had been silent the entire time, shot a glare at Guinevere. Her red eyes narrowed in concentration. She wanted revenge, but subsequently didn't get it.

Just before Jane was going to use her rare gift, her body was slammed against. She screeched in frustration like the child she was and glared at the intruder. Demetri stood before her, his dark eyes threatening. "Jane," he spat.

A shrill growl escaped her girlish, pale lips. She flew out of the room, accompanied by her other half, Alec. He locked his arm with hers, shooting Demetri a black look that screwed up his delicate features.

Demetri ignored this and turned to Marcus with a nod. The leader's face changed into a peculiar happy state as his maroon eyes danced over Guinevere and Edward. "I'm glad things worked out."

Guinevere ripped her eyes away from Edward, her expression grateful. "Yes. Thank you, Marcus. I'll make it up to you somehow."

Edward frowned. He didn't like the idea of her being indebted to him. When he was about to object, the Volturi said, "No, you won't." He grinned and took her hand that was free of Edward's, saying, "I like you, Guinevere. And it's nearly impossible for me to really be pleased with anyone."

Guinevere smiled. "I'm glad to be an exception."

Stars above were bright and shining like a beacon to the couple that were standing below, next to the calm, reflective water. The air was silent until a single voice interrupted it. "This is wrong."

"I don't care. I had to see you."

Gwen ripped her eyes away from the black water andlooked at him. What he was wearing wasn't important, it was Edward's face that would show her everything she ever needed to know. It was Edward's face that would be her comfort in the times ahead. Under his bronze hair that was in it's usual beautiful disarray, his emerald eyes were desperately vulnerable. "Why?"

"Because…" Edward took a step forward, his hands outstretched. "There's something I need to tell you."

Guinevere shook her head rapidly with denial. "Please don't."

His eyes widened in disbelief and he touched her face as it was turned away from him. "How do you know what I was going to say?" He tried to laugh a little, making light of the conversation, but instead it came out strained.

She looked into his eyes, but didn't answer. Edward took this moment and made it his. "Gwen, I realize that we're young and that you're going to marry John." His face screwed up in distaste and he continued. "But, I can't help the way I feel."

Her breath fell short and her heart began to pound erratically at a fast pace. "Edward?"

He watched her face and found something he had been looking for. His mouth turned up at a corner and he took her hands in his. "I love you."

Guinevere was quite for a moment, her eyes doubting. Edward saw this and tried to grasp her hands tighter as she pulled them away. He bent his head down to stare her straight in her weary orbs. "Don't you believe me?" When she still didn't speak, he put her face in his hands and asked, "How can you not when you look into my eyes?" He released her for a moment then, pressed her palm to his chest. "When you feel my heart beating?"

The heartbeat she felt beneath his sweater matched hers. It was steadying and strong. A gentle smile graced her lips, letting his orbs renew with hope, and her voice touched his ears. "You do love me, don't you?"

Edward smiled. "Yes."

Though her eyes still showed a weariness that did not fool him, she said with more truth than she ever thought possible, "And I love you."

Edward grinned, his handsome face illuminated in the pale moonlight, and took her in his arms. "Don't think about your troubles. Tonight, it's just you and I." Before she had any time to rebut, he brushed his lips against hers. She shivered from the cold February wind, giving reason for Edward hold her even tighter. He pressed his mouth against hers again to share in a kiss they had both been longing for.

Reluctantly, but with happy reason, Edward pulled away, his hands still locked around her waist. He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered in one breath, "I love you, I love you, I love you."

Guinevere laughed and let herself be picked up into his strong, careful arms. As he lifted her legs, he began to dance around in circles. While wooden boards of the pier were felt beneath his feet and the potential of any one person seeing them decreased, the night wore on.

Her brown orbs watched his joyful face for a moment, then she rested her head against his shoulder. "I think you've made me the happiest person in world."

Edward stopped his graceful steps and looked down at her. His warm breath tickled her neck as he replied, "On the contrary, love, you've made me the happiest person in the world."


Alice leaned back into her seat, a pleased expression resting over her stunning face. She ran a hand through her ebony hair for movements sake, and turned to Carlisle. "It couldn't have worked out better."