Iridescence | Edward x OC

27

Concealment makes the soul a swamp. Confession is how you drain it.

                                                           - Charles M. Blow
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"What, you're madly in love with me and just can't hold it in anymore?" Edward teased, but quickly went serious upon not receiving a witty remark back from her.

"There's something that I've been keeping from you, for good reason, but I'm just sick of lying to you," Aris confessed, "it makes me feel guilty, dirty even, knowing your biggest secret, but not telling you mine."

Edward listened patiently, not having a single clue of what she could've been hiding from him.

"You've heard of the "legend" of iridescents, right?" She asked, causing him to nod, "well, it's not a legend."

Edward quickly put two and two together, not needing her to explain further.

"So you're-"

"Yes," she stated plainly, "and the reason I haven't told you, or any of your siblings, is because the risk is tremendous." She explained, causing Edward to look at her confused.

"Most people believe that the iridescent are a myth, or extinct, but the Volturi don't. Last I heard, they lynched and tortured a group of us that they found hiding out somewhere in Italy," her voice remained calm, while Edward was anything but that. He didn't understand how she could remain so content talking about this, while he was on the verge of a panic attack just at the mere thought of the Volturi coming after her, "the good news is, that was over a century ago, and I haven't heard of any other instances since then, so I doubt that they're out actively looking for us right now. Hell, I don't even know if there are any more out there besides me." She chuckled with no humor.

"But regardless, it just seemed like too great of a risk to tell you all, especially before I knew you well. If the Volturi somehow found out about me, they'd send trackers to come after me and either kill me, or try to get me to join them, and with you and I not having a great relationship in the first place, I didn't exactly trust that you wouldn't use this as leverage over me." She finished, sighing with relief now that she'd finally gotten all of this off of her chest. She watched Edward's hardened, yet neutral expression for any sign of... well, anything. It was impossible to read how he was feeling as he remained silent, hands gripping the wheel, and eyes focused on the road.

"Please say something." She begged quietly after a moment.

Edward took a deep breath, steadying himself and his tone before speaking.

"Aris, I don't think you understand," his voice was disturbingly monotone, yet firm, "I can't even think about someone hurting you. The mere thought of someone, especially a member of the Volturi, coming after you is enough to put me in physical agony." His voice cracked at the end as he chose his words carefully. He was shocked as he revealed this, this being the most he's ever spoken aloud about his feelings towards her. It shocked her equally as much, not having understood before truly the depth of his emotions towards her.

It was quiet for a bit, the both of them processing what he just said. Edward searched her face for any sign of disapproval or repulsiveness, but just found her mirroring an expression of his own as she looked straight ahead. Confusion, longing, and nervousness. Aris didn't know what to say, or if she should even say anything at all. How do you respond to that? Someone who was your enemy for the longest time, abruptly telling you that they're in physical pain from the thought of you being hurt? Not knowing what to say to that, she decided to take a different route, and pretend like that didn't happen.