A Raven's Immortal Love

The Meadow

                    A young lady walks through the forest. She has unique chocolate brown eyes, a heart-shaped face, and a broad forehead. Her eyes are large and widely spaced. Her nose is thin, and her cheekbones are prominent. Her lips are a bit too full for her slim jawline, and her eyebrows are darker than her hair and are straighter than they are arched. When she sees a clearing ahead, she hurries toward it. Once she steps into the clearing, with hope in her eyes, her face suddenly falls. In contrast to the warmth of the meadow in her memory, this meadow is cold and barren of life. She sinks to her knees in devastation as tears fill her eyes. But then she hears a Rustling noise. She turns toward it and peers into the woods. Another rustling noise comes from another part of the woods. She spins toward it, but nothing is there. Then she turns again and jumps when she finds a man with dark skin and dreadlocks that ran down to his shoulders and also a mustache. He stood just ten yards away, showing a muscular torso through his open jacket, and wore no shoes. "Laurent?" she called out in disbelief.

                    "Bella? I must admit, I didn't expect to find you here," Laurent said in surprise.

                    "I live here. But you....I thought you were in Alaska with Carlisle's friend," Bella said.

                    "I was. It was kind of the Cullen's to arrange, given my association with James and Victoria," Laurent said as he began to stroll in a slow arc around her, his eyes assessing her. "I went to visit the Cullens, but their house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of a pet of theirs?" he asked.

                    Fear began to fill Bella, "Um.... something like that," she said.

                    "Do the Cullens visit often?" Laurent asked. Suddenly Bella sees Edward's apparition appear between them. Edward stands at six foot two and has a thin but muscular body. He has an angelic beauty with perfect and angular—high cheekbones, a strong jawline, perfect eyebrows, a straight nose, and full lips. His untidy hair retains an unusual bronze shade that makes his liquid gold eyes stick out.

                    "Lie," his voice whispered in her mind.

                    "Absolutely. All the time," Bella lied.

                    "Lie better!" Edward demanded in her head.

                    "I'll tell them you stopped by. Will they be able to reach you in Alaska?" Bella asked, trying to look relaxed.

                    "I don't think so. Tanya's 'vegetarian' family was pleasant enough. But the dietary restrictions were difficult," Laurent admitted. Instantly, he's standing inches from her. She now sees his dark blood-red eyes. "But that's not why I left. I came back here as a favor to Victoria," he explained.

                    ".... You're still friends?" Bella asked in surprise.

                    "More or less. She asked me to get the lay of the land with the Cullens. Because, well... I'm afraid Victoria is quite put out with you," Laurent explained.

                    "That's... too bad," Bella said.

                    "Yes. She feels it's only fair to kill Edward's mate, given he killed hers. Eye for an eye, mate for a mate," he said.

                    Terror overwhelms Bella, "Threaten him," Edward orders in her mind.

                  "Edward will know who did it. He'll come after both of you," Bella threatened.