A Raven's Immortal Love

Italian Royalty

                    A yellow hard-top Porsche with darkly tinted windows flies down the streets of Italy, cutting lanes and weaving around other vehicles. Bella grips the dashboard as Alice narrowly misses a car. She looks through the side mirror catching a glimpse of Adel on a motorcycle behind them. "How much time do we have?" Bella asked.

                    "He's waiting till noon, when the sun's at its highest," Alice explained.

                    "I don't understand why he's doing this," Bella said.

                    "Similar to the reason you threw yourself off that cliff only difference is that it was your scent he was in love with," Alice said. Bella checks her watch seeing. It's almost noon. "There's Volterra," Alice said, then slammed her foot on the gas as Bella saw a medieval fortified village atop a distant hill. Minutes later, they enter Volterra, but the narrow, centuries-old streets are crowded with festival revelers who all wear red robes. They gaily head toward the town square carrying red pendants, balloons, and scarves. The Porsche and motorcycle weave through them, hurrying forward.

                    "Why are they all wearing red?" Bella asked.

                    "San Marcos Day festival. The perfect setting. Large crowds. The Volturi won't let him get far enough to reveal himself.... he's counting on that," Alice explained.

                    "We only have five minutes," Bella said worriedly. Alice and Adel screech to a halt at a roadblock. Italian police wave them back.

                    Bella jumped out of the car, "Alice!" she said, looking back at her friend.

                    "Bella, you're the only one he can't see coming. If Adel or I go, he'll read our thoughts. He'll think we're lying. He'll rush into it," Alice explained.

                    "Where do I go?" Bella asked.

                    "He'll be under the clock tower. Go!" Alice ordered. Bella takes off, running into the crowds of people. Seconds pass as Bella races down the cobble-stoned alleys, stumbling on the uneven stones. Festival revelers head in the same direction. She maneuvers around them. As Bella nears the square, the alleys become more populated. She pushes past people, and finally, she emerges into the Palazzo Dei Priori, filled with a sea of scarlet flags, dresses, hoods, and jackets. On the other side of the crowded square is the clock tower. Bella battles her way through the square; the crowd shoves back, shouting at her in Italian. Bella charges forward to find herself blocked by a fountain when suddenly the clock towers bell chimes. Bella jumps into the fountain and wades through the shallow water to the other side. She jumps out and barrels through the crowd. Finally, Bella sees Edward in the shadows, just inches from the sunlight. 

                    "Edward!" she yelled, but it was drowned out by the booming chime of the clock tower. She pushes toward him, fighting to reach him as he unbuttons his shirt, exposing his bare chest. Edward closes his eyes, welcoming death while then slowly taking a step into the sunlight. The rays hit his shoe, but before the sun could touch his skin, Bella slams into him. "No, Edward! Don't!" she pleaded. Edward's face instantly plunges into Bella's neck, "Heaven..," he whispered as he inhaled her scent. Edward was too distracted by the smell of his singer. He didn't notice Adel appear from behind them and yank them both into the building of the bell tower.