la belle dame sans merci | carlisle cullen

71

Minerva didn't swallow her anger well on the best of days. This evening, with her stomach filled to the brim with rum and gin, swallowing her anger felt a lot like downing a match. Shit, did it ever ignite? It was a wonder no one could see smoke pouring out of her ears and trickling from the corners of her mouth.

Carlisle didn't protest to being dragged along, his frigid hand clasped tight in hers. It wasn't like there was any real risk of being separated but it made getting through the crowd easier. He could hear him saying 'sorry' and 'excuse me' to every person she barrelled past without regard.

When they came out the other side of the crowd, she didn't let go. She wasn't sure why, really. Holding Carlisle's hand felt a bit like clutching a cross, it was the only thing standing between Gus and a spontaneous lung collapse. So she held tight, so did he.

When she finally stopped, a little abruptly, she felt him lean down to her ear. "Do you want to say goodbye to Bella?"

Minerva huffed an overwhelmed breath, "Better."
It was his turn now, leading her along to where Bella had relocated. Her grip remained tight on his hand, her eyes trained on the colourful lights reflecting on his face. No murderous desire, not tonight, not right now. Just Carlisle. Nothing else. Nothing else.

It was an odd feeling, that scathing, burning, desperate desire to end a life. Sure, Minerva treated manslaughter like an Olympic sport; However, in her old age, she felt more like a kid whose parent was living vicariously through them, screaming from the sidelines to sink the fucking ball. It had been a very long time since Minerva really distinctly looked at someone and thought i want you specifically dead.

The minute Gus' hand had clasped around her arm, her imagination whirred to life. You make a horrible way to die, Minerva was thinking about making it happen then and there. Worse still, she wasn't thinking about making it quick.

Then there was Carlisle. At her side, on her side, deescalating but standing his ground. Ironic to be tethered to your sense of humanity by someone so unhuman. He turned a thousand-volt death sentence to a static shock with nothing more than a hand on her back.

"There she is." She heard Carlisle mumble, leading them toward the disgruntled teenager who perked up at the sight of the pair making their way toward her, looking quite smug at the sight of their interlocked hands. Minerva might have been a little embarassed if she wasn't just trying to cling to her better judgement. "Bella, I believe we're headed out."

The girl nodded, looking past the vampire to the witch, "Are you okay?" Of course, she saw that. What else was there to do when you're forced to be sober at a wedding? You make your amusement watching the drunk and disorderlys.

"Jolly as can be." Minerva replied shortly, "I hate drunk people." Two sets of eyebrows flew up at her. She could imagine the old tale about the pot and kettle flying through their minds. "Other drunk people." She crossed her arms, "This is why I drink alone."

Carlisle squeezed her hand, "We're headed out, before this one ends up in a real brawl."

As Bella said her farewell, Minerva happened to glance over her shoulder. Her eyes stalled on the eyes she felt boring into her. It wasn't Gus, nor was it the rumour mill stirring over Carlisle's hand in hers. It was Harry Clearwater. His face was mostly unreadable, save for a faint layer of concern.

It wasn't long ago at all that Harry was trying to put out the fire from her last altercation with Gus. Except here she was, in a similar but far worse situation with the village idiot with the very person Harry had warned her against. He'd said they were good people, just not the sort he'd go mixing with, that there was always something lurking. While she would have greatly appreciated that tip before she found out the Cullen's secret the hard way, she wasn't sure it would have made a difference. After all, with all the rumours surrounding the Cullens, she probably would have chalked it up to the cult leader allegations and nothing more.