Chapter 40: Chapter 40

*Third Person's Point Of View*

The next day, Nathan wakes Isabella very early with the excuse that they are going out on a date.

"What are those things in your hands, Nathan." Isabella asks, looking suspicious than ever as she points to the small basket Nathan is holding by his side as they walk.

"It's something that's going to be very useful." That's all he says.

"Don't tell me that you're going to kill me and hide my head in that basket."

"You have a very wild imagination, Isabella." He chuckles but she still married her eyes and when he sees this he sighs and answers.

"I'm not going to do anything rash. Why would you think that I will kill you. I find it hard to find out if it's a joke or not."

"You're just acting really weird." She tilts her head. "Did my family put you up to this."

"This is all me, Isabella. Just watch and see." With that he picks up the pace. "Now, walk faster so that we'll get there before the sun rises up."

With a frown, she rushes to his side and complains. "I still can't believe that you got me to come with you so early in the morning."

After a few minutes she notices that he direction they are following is taking them to somewhere familiar.

She gasps and stops on her feet. "Nathan is this-" she pauses. She actually don't know what to say. What is going on?

"You can't just stop walking like that." He sighs and walks back to grab her hand before he leads her through the woods again. "Don't be absent minded, there are still wild animals lurking around in these woods."

She finally comes back to her senses.

"Oh yeah, sorry."

He smirks at her flustered face. "So who is the one that is acting weird now. The great Isabella is feeling shy from being alone with me."

She glares at him. "That's not it and you know it. Don't making stupid assumptions and stop looking smug!"

"We're here." He releases her hand and places the basket on the ground before he spreads a mat that he takes from the basket on the floor and then, he reposition the basket to the mat while Isabella keeps staring around.

"And we are where exactly?" She asks. Why did he take her to somewhere that looks so familiar. Has she been here before.

"Seriously?" He looks up at her. "Don't you remember this place."

"It does look familiar but other than that, no." She answers, puzzled.

Nathan takes a hard stare at her. It's obvious something is wrong with her but he decides to say nothing that will worry her, instead he points to the waterfall.

"This is where we first met, Isabella. Don't you remember? You used to come here everytime to clear your head when things got messy back at the castle."

"And how do you know that exactly?" Isabella decides to play coy when she finally remembers. She can't believe that she forgot something so important.

"Didn't I tell you that I watched you for part of your life." He smirks. So she doesn't remember this too? He'll have to look into it later, but for now.

He pats the spot beside him. "Now come sit down. I can't have you standing too much on those pretty legs of yours, you'll break them."

Isabella scoffs and dips up her chin in false mockery. "My legs are way stronger than yours."

"Maybe you have forgotten my nature." Nathan chips in.

With a glare, Isabella flops down on the mat. "Fine, I take it back. Now tell me why we are here.

"Are you really okay. On a normal occasion you would be able to notice and figure out theses things but since yesterday you've been oblivious yet aware to everything around you." Nathan squints his eyes.

"Really? I-I didn't notice." She blinks and looks at her hands. Is something going on with her?

To clear her anxiety for a while, Nathan pulls out the snacks from the basket. "We are having a picnic right here and then we'll go for a bath in the waterfall."

"A feast and a bath? Is this the reason why you didn't let me take a shower before we left the room."

"Well, I didn't shower too so I'll be joining you in there." Nathan says carelessly, unaware of the way she flusters after his sentence.

"Are you sure it's okay to eat before we step into the waterfall?"

"I actually didn't think of that." A small blush appears on Nathan's face. "Sorry about that."

"I see." Isabella slowly stands to her feet. "In that case I have an idea, maybe a little exercise will help first."

"Huh? How will exercising help anything- ahh! Wait, don't drag me without warning."

Isabella smiles as she pulls him up with strength. "You're a god, remember. You'll be fine, you're tougher than me, right?"

"I don't know if that's mockery or a compliment." He sulks but always Isabella to pull him to the edge. When he notices this, he immediately realize what she wants to do but he doesn't react quickly and she throws him into the water.

When he resurfaces, he sees Isabella already in her undergarment and even pulling them off. He looks away immediately with a strange look on his face as he turns his back to her.

"What are you doing? It's not like you haven't seen me naked before." Isabella giggles.

He doesn't know why he is suddenly shy. One moment he was okay and the next he has a change of mood. It's tiring. Is it what it feels like to have a mate or it's something else entirely.

Lost in his own thoughts, he doesn't hear the rippling of water as Isabella steps into the water. He only realizes this when she hugs him from behind.

To say that he is surprised is an understatement. Honestly, he can feel her body on his very...

Ugh... He can feel her chest pressed on his back very vivid.

It's almost like he can feel the structure, every single detail. Is she trying to seduce him or drive him crazy.

He tilts his head a little to her direction. "Isabella, what are you-"

"Have a vampire ever fed from you, I mean Jasmine to be more precise." Her breath blows on his shoulder as she speaks but she doesn't stop there. She begin to trace his broad shoulders. Even though he is still in his clothes, his clothes are wet and he can feel her finger.

"What brought this random question."

"I just want to know." Isabella shrugs. "I suppose because I heard that when vampires feed on people, both the vampire and the person experience so much pleasure. I guess that I'll like to find out if it's true."

"I'm not sure. I've never had a vampire feed from me before." He answers.

"That actually makes me happy, because I want to be the one who does that to you first." She whispers as she presses her chest closer to his back and tighten her hold on him. "Is it possible for you to turn me into a vampire just for a moment."

"Yes." Nathan answers, breathless. "I can do that."

He places his hand on hers, to be more specific, the one that she is using to hold him close and slowly, the water around the spot begin to shine a light green before it disappears.

"It's done." He says and she smiles.

"Thank you." Slowly, she elong her fangs and bites into Nathan's shoulder.

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As Isabella and Nathan walk out of the woods with dried clothes on, they spot Andrew, Shelia, David and Todd waving goodbye to someone in the castle.

"Hey, where have you guys been?" Shelia asks when she notice them.

"More importantly, where are you guys heading to?" Isabella asks instead.

"We made the decision to leave after the ceremony but we got held up till today morning so here we are." Andrew chuckles.

"You're leaving but why? You can stay here for a while longer." Isabella tries to reason with them

"No, we've already overstayed and besides we have a new home now, one that is safe so we are moving there as quickly as we can. Don't worry, Nathan knows the place so you can come visit anytime soon." Andrew tells her.

"So you really are leaving and I can't stop you." She asks.

"It's not like you are staying here too, you're leaving tomorrow right?" Shelia frowns. "So there's no need to stay."

"Well, yeah. I suppose that you're right. I promise to visit whenever I have the chance."

"Of course, we'll be waiting." Todd giggles at me as they walk pass them.

"Thank you for everything!" Shelia waves before they are out of sight.

"Yes, a bunch of thanks." Andrew's voice fades into the background.

Dragging her eyes off them, Isabella follows Nathan into the castle. "You better take me to their house once we get back."

"Sure, anything for my lady but please, don't ever do what you did again. I really can't take that part of you very likely." Nathan whispers the last sentence.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, it was nothing." Nathan smiles forcefully.

"You should know that I used that on a lot of people in my days."

Nathan's yellow eyes turn darker. "And you will never do that again. Never!"

When she doesn't say anything in return, he sighs, turns to her and pats her head slowly.

Isabella doesn't know how to act with his sudden absurd behaviour so she swats his hand away and roll her eyes.

"So this is how god's stake their claim on something."