Falling for a Dark Soul Teaser

 It was getting harder to maintain my distance from Bella. She just felt so right in my arms. Despite the shit hand of cards she was dealt, she was positive and happy for her sister. She gave Katie every opportunity, navigating single parenthood with grace.

However, I saw the despair in her eyes. It was well-hidden with smiles, hard work and devotion to her family. I saw it. I hated it. I wanted to make it better.

This was why I was elbow-deep in her car’s front-end. I’d removed her dead battery and easily replaced it. I was also installing a gift. Her car was newer, but did not have some of the safety measures I thought she needed. I got her a remote start and a car alarm. Bella was inside, starting to make dinner for her and Katie.

“Do you want some coffee?” Bella asked, walking into the garage. “I made decaf. I don’t know about you, but if I drink regular coffee after three, I’m up all night.” She held two mugs, giving me an uncertain smile.

I stood up, wiping my hands on a rag that Bella had given me. “That’s great,” I answered, taking the proffered cup. “I’m almost done. Do you have your key?” I sipped the coffee, humming at the warmth. “This is good. Perfect for a cold day like today.”

“You’re not wearing your jacket,” Bella chided.

I held up my greasy, disgusting hands. “I didn’t want to get it dirty. I’ll have to scrub them raw to get all of this off.”

“I’m sorry. I could have …” she trailed off.

“Bella, I offered. It’s all good. Doing stuff like this reminds me of how far I’ve come,” I sighed. I closed the hood of the car, grinning at her crookedly. “Start her up. Let’s see if the car still works.”

Bella nodded, opening the driver’s side and started the engine. It turned over, just as I expected it to. “It’s all good. I’ll have to reprogram the radio stations, but other than that, it’s perfect.” She turned off the engine. Closing the door, she looked at me. “Are you certain I can’t pay you? I feel like I’m abusing our friendship.”

“The only payment I require is a sink, hot water and soap,” I laughed.

“I have that,” she giggled. “And a home-cooked meal. You cooked for me. Now, it’s my turn.”

“Excellent,” I grinned. “Now, before we go in, I have something for you. Consider it another gift …”

“Edward,” she chided.

“It’s for your safety, angel,” I argued, inwardly grimacing. I really needed to stop doing that. But, she was an angel. I’d love for her to be my angel. I handed her a key fob, careful that I wouldn’t cover her with the grease from my ministrations in her car. “Chicago has some pretty nasty winters. I installed a remote start along with a car alarm.” She gave me a hard look. “This button arms the car alarm. You press it again; it will disarm it. The blue button? You hold that down and the car will start. Try it, Bella.”

She armed the alarm and then pressed the remote start. The car turned over. A fraction of a smile ghosted over her face. “This is pretty cool,” she murmured.

“There’s also an app for your phone. I can sync it up for you,” I said.

She added the fob to her car key, but she looked at me. Pressing her finger into my chest, she grumbled, “This is too much. I am capable of taking care of myself. I will pay you for the remote start thing, Edward. Don’t think I can’t navigate a computer, bub.” Her eyes were flashing with defiance and her cheeks were pink. With a smirk, she stepped back. “I have some towels and soap in the half bathroom. It’s just off the kitchen. I will have a check for you, Edward.”

“Understood, angel,” I nodded. She whirled around, picking up her coffee mug and leaving the garage. Punctuating her exit, she armed the car alarm. I snorted, picking up my jacket and coffee mug. I turned off the light and closed the garage, following Bella into her home. She gestured to the bathroom. I ducked inside, closing the door. I scoured my hands. The grease came off easier than when I was in high school.

Your hands are also softer than when you were a teenaged hoodlum.

I finished in the bathroom, walking into the kitchen. Bella was sitting at the island, sipping her coffee. Next to her, she had her laptop out and a check sat innocently on my jacket. “You better deposit it, Edward. I know where you work,” she quipped.

“Okay, okay,” I said, taking the check and putting it into my wallet. “Smells good in here.”

“I’m making chili. Perfect for a cold day like today,” she answered.

Out of the Darkness Update

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on FicPad

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on Stars

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on AO3

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on FFn

Out of the Darkness Epilogue on Wattpad

EPOV

Thirty Years Later

“Race you back to the castle,” Bella giggled as she spread her wings, making her look so unbelievably beautiful.

“You never win, pretty Bella,” I teased. “I’m faster than you.” We were leaving from our monthly meeting with the arch angels. We’d occasionally race, but sometimes we’d find a cloud to christen. Suffice it to say, we were insatiable for each other, but we always made love and I showered her with my affection, as she did to me, too.

And making love on a cloud is … heavenly.

Yes, that was cheesy, but funny, right? Get it? GET IT? Anyhow, I’m losing focus. My mate, my wife is talking.

“We’ll see,” she snickered, spreading her wings wider and walking to the edge of the all-white, open-aired space. “Come on, baby! I want to beat you. Just one time. ONCE!”

“Oh, you’re on, Mrs. Cullen,” I laughed as I followed her. Her laughter filtered up to me as she was in a free fall from heaven. Her wings were tucked in and she rode the currents like a pro. I was on her heels when I felt something hold me back. “No fair, Isabella. Using your shield?”

“I said I want to win,” she snickered, shooting me a look and spreading her shield so I couldn’t even touch her. I growled, trying to go around it, but she kept spreading it with a mischievous chuckle.

“So, you resort to cheating?” I teased. Bella turned, abruptly stopping and hovered in front of me, using her wings gracefully. “Bella?”

“It’s not cheating,” she said, her hands on her hips, a twinkle in her eyes. “I’m using my resources.”

“Really?” I deadpanned. She winked and stuck out her tongue before using her shield to push me back as she dive bombed through the sky. I followed her, determined to at least catch up with her. We danced among the clouds like an angelic game of cat and mouse. However, as we got closer, I felt the call in my chest. Bella’s shield dropped and I knew she felt it, too. Our game came to an end and we made our way back to the castle. Landing softly in the courtyard, we saw Esme. She was wringing her hands, her face clearly distressed. “What is it?”

“It’s Colton,” she whispered.

“Is he going to be changed?” Bella asked.

“Sooner than we anticipated,” Esme replied. “Alice contacted me. She was working in Oklahoma, guiding her humans when she felt the impact. He was in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver hit his car and it’s a mess. From her garbled message, she said something about Colton being internally decapitated?”

“Oh, shit,” I hissed. “His transformation … it might not take. Those are serious injuries.”

Heaven

Colton Pearson, Alice's Mate and Jasper Reincarnated

Seth

Felicity, Emmett reincarnated and Seth's mate

Dr. Thomas Jameson, Carlisle reincarnated and Esme's mate

Out of the Darkness Teaser

Thirty Years Later

“Race you back to the castle,” Bella giggled as she spread her wings, making her look so unbelievably beautiful.

“You never win, pretty Bella,” I teased. “I’m faster than you.” We were leaving from our monthly meeting with the arch angels. We’d occasionally race, but sometimes we’d find a cloud to christen. Suffice it to say, we were insatiable for each other, but we always made love and I showered her with my affection, as she did to me, too.

And making love on a cloud is … heavenly.

Yes, that was cheesy, but funny, right? Get it? GET IT? Anyhow, I’m losing focus. My mate, my wife is talking.

“We’ll see,” she snickered, spreading her wings wider and walking to the edge of the all-white, open-aired space. “Come on, baby! I want to beat you. Just one time. ONCE!”

“Oh, you’re on, Mrs. Cullen,” I laughed as I followed her. Her laughter filtered up to me as she was in a free fall from heaven. Her wings were tucked in and she rode the currents like a pro. I was on her heels when I felt something hold me back. “No fair, Isabella. Using your shield?”

“I said I want to win,” she snickered, shooting me a look and spreading her shield so I couldn’t even touch her. I growled, trying to go around it, but she kept spreading it with a mischievous chuckle.

“So, you resort to cheating?” I teased. Bella turned, abruptly stopping and hovered in front of me, using her wings gracefully. “Bella?”

“It’s not cheating,” she said, her hands on her hips, a twinkle in her eyes. “I’m using my resources.”

“Really?” I deadpanned. She winked and stuck out her tongue before using her shield to push me back as she dive bombed through the sky. I followed her, determined to at least catch up with her. We danced among the clouds like an angelic game of cat and mouse. However, as we got closer, I felt the call in my chest. Bella’s shield dropped and I knew she felt it, too. Our game came to an end and we made our way back to the castle. Landing softly in the courtyard, we saw Esme. She was wringing her hands, her face clearly distressed. “What is it?”

“It’s Colton,” she whispered.

“Is he going to be changed?” Bella asked.

“Sooner than we anticipated,” Esme replied. “Alice contacted me. She was working in Oklahoma, guiding her humans when she felt the impact. He was in a terrible car accident. A drunk driver hit his car and it’s a mess. From her garbled message, she said something about Colton being internally decapitated?”

“Oh, shit,” I hissed. “His transformation … it might not take. Those are serious injuries.”

Out of the Darkness Update

OOTD Chapter 36 on FicPad

OOTD Chapter 36 on Stars

OOTD Chapter 36 on AO3

OOTD Chapter 36 on FFn

OOTD Chapter 36 on Wattpad

We’d been in Scotland for a month. Bella was taking to her new life as a Dominion Lordship with ease. Though, having me train along with her, made things much more comfortable for both of us. She was also healing, laughing and finally putting her human life, tragedies, fear and insecurities, behind her. Her final few paychecks from the school district were donated Child Protective Services, along with a hefty donation from one of my many off-shore accounts.

When we weren’t training and strengthening Bella’s angelic powers, mainly her shield, Bella and I were walking the grounds of the gorgeous castle that Esme had gifted to me, per Carlisle’s instructions from his letter. It was put under my name. I didn’t want to accept it because I’d already taken his Lordship position. It seemed wrong for me to take his castle. But, Esme was adamant. It would appear that there was going to be some restructuring of the legion. Since I was in training, I wasn’t privy to the information.

Not yet.

According to Esme, I’d be ready soon. Bella, however, was probably going to train under me for at least a year, honing her skills and growing as an angel, healing as a woman. Esme talked with her when they had their flying lessons. I could see my mate, my love, blossom under her love and finally find her strength.

Now, while we were enjoying our time in Scotland, I let Bella take control of our relationship. Yes, we were mates. No, we hadn’t formalized the bond as angels, but I was planning on doing that soon, using both angelic customs and human traditions. I was going to ask her to be my wife. I wanted to give her a ring and give her the human wedding she’d always dreamed of, with Charlie giving her away and seeing her in a white dress, walking down the aisle to me. I’d purchased a ring for her and was waiting for the perfect time to propose.

Alice and Esme didn’t understand why I wanted to do this, but living among humans for so long, I realized how big a deal having a wedding could be. Charlie backed me up. I remembered her dreams when she was human. Some were nightmarish memories from her childhood, but the few good dreams were of weddings. Specifically, our wedding. I wasn’t going to deny her, even if she was an angel and we were mated for life. I wanted to give her a wedding, a ring and a promise of forever.

Truly forever. Not a human forever, but angelic. All eternity.

Bella and Alice were in town, indulging in some much-needed shopping and girly pampering, while I was reading and relaxing with Felix. His head was on my lap while I gently scratched behind his ears. His tail thumped and I looked up. Esme came walking into the library, sitting down across from me. She scrubbed Felix’s belly. “Everything okay?” I asked, closing my book after marking my spot.

“Good,” she nodded. “I just spoke with Gabriel. He feels that you’re almost ready to take over. How do you feel?”

“I’m not as overwhelmed, but I’m anxious to propose to Bella. What if she says no?” I whispered.

“She won’t,” Esme snickered. “He thinks that once you’ve finalized your mating bond, you’ll be ready for your new position.”

“Position? I don’t understand. I thought I was a Dominion,” I said.

“You are, but since you’ve spent so much time on earth, you know so much more about human customs than most of us,” Esme said. “You are a Dominion Lordship, but you and Bella will be the liaisons to earth. Angels, like Alice and anyone else stationed down here, will come to you for guidance and training if they haven’t been down to the surface in a long time. This castle will be your home base.”

“This is the restructuring?” I asked.

“Yes. With Bella’s previous situation with Heidi, we need more angels down here and not watching from above, taking a more active role in guarding their humans. They need to be able to blend in with the population. Your job is to help them do that. You will be responsible for a part of the legion, but it will be those who are living on the planet,” Esme said. “We’re planning on having about two thousand angels down here, all over the world.”

“That’s a lot of angels,” I said, my eyes wide.

“Compared to the humans that need their guidance, it’s a pittance. If we need to add more, we will. That’s why Bella will help you. She’s closer to her human side than you are because she was just turned. Though your time down here during your exile has helped, inadvertently,” Esme replied, giving me a wry smile. “Both of you will need to report in once a month, but you will stay here in Scotland.” She crossed her legs daintily and looked at me intently. “What do you think?”

“I think that it’s a brilliant idea. Why wasn’t it proposed before?” I asked.

“Humanity, even without Lucifer’s influence, is at an all-time low. War is everywhere, hatred, greed … it needs to come to an end. We need to raise up everyone and show them that goodness is desired, not instant gratification, prejudice or hate,” Esme said. “We need a more powerful presence on the surface. That’s you. That’s Bella. It will be the two thousand angels that will be assigned here. We will make this place what it should be.” A sweet smile spread over her face as she clapped her hands. “Do you have it?”

Out of the Darkness Teaser

We’d been in Scotland for a month. Bella was taking to her new life as a Dominion Lordship with ease. Though, having me train along with her, made things much more comfortable for both of us. She was also healing, laughing and finally putting her human life, tragedies, fear and insecurities, behind her. Her final few paychecks from the school district were donated Child Protective Services, along with a hefty donation from one of my many off-shore accounts.

When we weren’t training and strengthening Bella’s angelic powers, mainly her shield, Bella and I were walking the grounds of the gorgeous castle that Esme had gifted to me, per Carlisle’s instructions from his letter. It was put under my name. I didn’t want to accept it because I’d already taken his Lordship position. It seemed wrong for me to take his castle. But, Esme was adamant. It would appear that there was going to be some restructuring of the legion. Since I was in training, I wasn’t privy to the information.

Not yet.

According to Esme, I’d be ready soon. Bella, however, was probably going to train under me for at least a year, honing her skills and growing as an angel, healing as a woman. Esme talked with her when they had their flying lessons. I could see my mate, my love, blossom under her love and finally find her strength.

Now, while we were enjoying our time in Scotland, I let Bella take control of our relationship. Yes, we were mates. No, we hadn’t formalized the bond as angels, but I was planning on doing that soon, using both angelic customs and human traditions. I was going to ask her to be my wife. I wanted to give her a ring and give her the human wedding she’d always dreamed of, with Charlie giving her away and seeing her in a white dress, walking down the aisle to me. I’d purchased a ring for her and was waiting for the perfect time to propose.

Alice and Esme didn’t understand why I wanted to do this, but living among humans for so long, I realized how big a deal having a wedding could be. Charlie backed me up. I remembered her dreams when she was human. Some were nightmarish memories from her childhood, but the few good dreams were of weddings. Specifically, our wedding. I wasn’t going to deny her, even if she was an angel and we were mated for life. I wanted to give her a wedding, a ring and a promise of forever.

Truly forever. Not a human forever, but angelic. All eternity.

Bella and Alice were in town, indulging in some much-needed shopping and girly pampering, while I was reading and relaxing with Felix. His head was on my lap while I gently scratched behind his ears. His tail thumped and I looked up. Esme came walking into the library, sitting down across from me. She scrubbed Felix’s belly. “Everything okay?” I asked, closing my book after marking my spot.

“Good,” she nodded. “I just spoke with Gabriel. He feels that you’re almost ready to take over. How do you feel?”

“I’m not as overwhelmed, but I’m anxious to propose to Bella. What if she says no?” I whispered.

“She won’t,” Esme snickered. “He thinks that once you’ve finalized your mating bond, you’ll be ready for your new position.”

“Position? I don’t understand. I thought I was a Dominion,” I said.

“You are, but since you’ve spent so much time on earth, you know so much more about human customs than most of us,” Esme said. “You are a Dominion Lordship, but you and Bella will be the liaisons to earth. Angels, like Alice and anyone else stationed down here, will come to you for guidance and training if they haven’t been down to the surface in a long time. This castle will be your home base.”

“This is the restructuring?” I asked.

“Yes. With Bella’s previous situation with Heidi, we need more angels down here and not watching from above, taking a more active role in guarding their humans. They need to be able to blend in with the population. Your job is to help them do that. You will be responsible for a part of the legion, but it will be those who are living on the planet,” Esme said. “We’re planning on having about two thousand angels down here, all over the world.”

“That’s a lot of angels,” I said, my eyes wide.

“Compared to the humans that need their guidance, it’s a pittance. If we need to add more, we will. That’s why Bella will help you. She’s closer to her human side than you are because she was just turned. Though your time down here during your exile has helped, inadvertently,” Esme replied, giving me a wry smile. “Both of you will need to report in once a month, but you will stay here in Scotland.” She crossed her legs daintily and looked at me intently. “What do you think?”

“I think that it’s a brilliant idea. Why wasn’t it proposed before?” I asked.

“Humanity, even without Lucifer’s influence, is at an all-time low. War is everywhere, hatred, greed … it needs to come to an end. We need to raise up everyone and show them that goodness is desired, not instant gratification, prejudice or hate,” Esme said. “We need a more powerful presence on the surface. That’s you. That’s Bella. It will be the two thousand angels that will be assigned here. We will make this place what it should be.” A sweet smile spread over her face as she clapped her hands. “Do you have it?”