Took a little bit longer than usual but hopefully well worth it!
Kayley sat on the couch beside me, trying to help as I recovered from my panic attack.
Which had occurred on the way out by seeing a Volturi guard named "Heidi" lead a group of human tourists into the room we just exited and then the screaming started.
"Bella?"… "Bella? Listen to me…"said my witch friend.
"- All those people" I gasped, she rubbed my back.
"I know…"
"-How can you stand it?...they were innocent."
"Bella," Kayley tilted my face up to look at her in the eyes. "Those people that Heidi just brought down to the Feeding Chamber were prisoners"
"Yes!
They tricked and captured them right off the street!"
"No Bella," the witch shook her head,
"You don't get it… that group, all of them were highly registered criminals on death row from prisons all around the world. The Volturi paid a substantial amount and assured that they would indeed pay their debt to society…and they just did."
I sat up and blinked, taking in what I just heard. "So… they were going to die anyway?"
"-By either the Volturi or the Human laws of their country, yes. Wearing their civilian clothes kept them from attracting too much attention."
I didn't quite know what to think about that,
Lately it seemed everything that I'd been told about the Vampire government didn't add up.
Kayley was right when she said that I should decide for myself.
Speaking of "Witch" I asked
"How did you get involved in this mess?"
Kayley sighed, "That is a long story, but to summarize:
I spent most of my childhood growing up with my sister in my grandmother's care on a private Island empowered with supernatural abilities. It was so secluded in fact that it took something similar to a portkey from Harry Potter to get on and off. Witches were the minority compared to the true Werewolf packs that reigned supreme. A few times a year my kind was assigned to retrieve certain objects from the mainland. Not that long ago it was my turn for a mission. I ended up in Volterra as one of the "lunch" crowd. I had barely completed my assignment in time before going home. But I ended up with a stowaway "Alec Volturi." That was the last portal off the Island until next year. So during that time I cast a spell which kept him hidden in plain sight from the wolves. Though our personalities clashed from time to time. We fell in love and were separated that following spring in London. Since then we are constantly running into each other, right and left-"
"-And if you keep running my little "Cinder-witch" I am tempted to put lead in your shoes. So you can't get away from me"
Alec appeared out of nowhere sneaking a hand around her waist.
She smirked, turning her head into his neck. "Come on, I know you enjoy the chase. It keeps you young"
"-Love, I'm a 2,000 year old eternal youth. That's about as young as you can get."
Alec didn't stay too long, before being called back to his duties. As he left, he winked at Kayley and said "Don't go away."
Six hours later, according to the clock.
Alec returned, this time escorting a very shaken and stiff "Alice Cullen" over to us.
"Behave yourself," he warned her before extending his arm out to Kayley in a welcomingly fashion.
The witch looked at me "I guess this is "Goodbye" Bella and "Good Luck."
"Bye," I answered as she left with him.
I looked anywhere and everywhere that wasn't in the direction of the female vampire who forced me here.
"Bella?"
If her next words were "Look at me,"
Like she had in the courtroom, she was going to be vastly disappointed. "Bella,- I'm so… so sorry"
Which piped my curiosity, I stared at her
"What are you apologizing for?- That, the selfish scheme you concocted did not go the way you planned? Or, that you actually are sorry for destroying two families and the future they could have had together, if you'd have just listened?"
Alice raised an eyebrow, "Were you going to marry Jacob?"
"-I don't know, I might have. If he and I could've both gotten the help we needed to solve our individual problems and come together as a team for the sake of our child? But that was supposedly my choice,"
I said pointing to myself. "That is now taken away…"
The pixie buried her face in her hands and broke down into tearless sobbing. "This is all my fault!"
"Both yours and Edward's- But the question is: What are you going to do now? – Pretend this didn't happen and go back to being the manipulative physic scheming Bitch?"
Alice gazed up from her hands to stare at me.
"-I can't forget this! Or even "Pretend!" she spat the word out disgustingly. "There are huge ghastly oozing wounds all over my back that hurt like hell."
"-I thought vampires don't bleed?"
"Caius made a whip that can actually tare through a vampire's hardened skin causing my bodily venom to seep out."
"They'll heal?"
She nodded, "But the scars will be permanent, just like the mem- memory of what I lived through-"
"Welcome to my world" I told her without pity.
If that wasn't a verbal slap in the face, followed by a hard dose of realization.
"-What you just described right there is exactly how I've been feeling for the last 6 months, along with that of a heartless hole in my chest which has yet to heal if ever"
Cullen wordlessly sat down next to me but thankfully kept her distance.
Ten minutes later, which is a really long time for a vampire, she spoke: "My brother's an idiotic moron."
"-Finally, something we can agree on"
"Bella?...Bella, I know you don't believe me. But I am sorry, for everything. Tell me what I can do, to make the situation better?"
I shook my head, but a thought came in. Taking a chance, I said "Try telling the truth,
-About the "deal" Edward was supposed to make with me?
-How did he find out about my "suicide"?
-And why in God's name did you honestly think you could pull a fast one over the Volturi by getting Edward and I together?"
Alice sighed,
"I'm not proud of anything anymore, in fact I am quite ashamed. But you're right, you deserve to know so…
The night after your birthday, Edward came home in a huff and ordered us to start packing. Naturally Carlisle told everyone to halt and his eldest creation to explain himself.
My brother went on in a ramble of how we had to leave because it wasn't safe for you to be around our kind. The incident with Jasper's lust for blood proved that.
Both Esme and Carlisle tried to calm him down, saying he was overreacting that what happened was an accident because Jaz hadn't fed beforehand. Then he switched tactics, saying you deserved better and began listing all the things you could not do if you stayed a part of our world. Then to everyone else's surprise Rosalie joined in agreeing with Edward. Which is a rarity in its self. Their voices matching others complaints. Finally Carlisle couldn't take it anymore and asked for silence.
( Having listened to your words when he fixed you up and had taken into consideration what Edward wished for you as well)
Carlisle came up with a fair deal which Edward was supposed to purpose that day after school:
- He wanted to give you the opportunity to really THINK about what YOU WANTED out of life. WITHOUT our influence making up your mind FOR you. So..
We would all pack up and leave with no contact or anything until Graduation. On that day, we were going to return for your answer. During that time apart, if you discover that you actually wanted something else? We would respect that and go on. But if your mind hadn't changed and you still wanted to be a Vampire?
Carlisle would make it happen. (Much to Edward's dismay)
By staging an accident with your truck. Then we wouldn't come back to Forks until we knew that everyone who had known you was long dead and buried. My brother hastily agreed to the plan, suggesting we depart that night and promised to give you our letters of "Goodbye" after you understood that the arrangement wasn't forever and we WOULD be back… The Bastard!"
I sat there stunned, in my mind's eye I watched the scene in the woods play out if Edward had gone down that route.
Yes, it would have been painful to be away from him and my family, unbearable at times. But there would've also been a glimmer of hope. Lighting my way and giving me strength. Offering this choice would have also shown me that I had value…
Instead Ed- HE had his own plan: Complete with crushing and throwing me away like yesterday's Barbie.
"-Thank you for telling me that," I breathed to Alice, trying to wipe the leaking tears with my arm.
"Here," she said offering her coat sleeve.
I don't know if we'll ever get back to the sisterhood we had but for now it's a good start to if not friendship… at least tolerance.
The pixie went on to explain that Rosalie must've overheard her last phone call with Jasper as she came down from Alaska and she was the one who told Edward about my "blacking out". I realized it was because Jake was with me and Alice for whatever reason couldn't see him. So she drew her own conclusion based on what happen last time there was danger with me in Port Angeles.
Double CHECK the facts people!
"And the last one," I prompted. Alice had seemed to stare off into space but she obliged lowering her sight to the designer rug at our feet .
" -This is going to sound like a lame excuse but it's the truth…
When we were back in Forks and you told me about what had really happened between you and my brother…I heard what you said but my mind didn't quite register just how much damage had been done.
I knew you were hurt but I honestly thought that deep down you still loved him.
You just had to see him again, which would rekindle those feelings. Then the Volturi would've been so moved by your strange yet fantastical love. That they'd let us go with a warning to turn you before their next visit…
That's what I was hoping for anyway, I had bet on it.
The whole time you were dragging your feet here I thought you were nervous. I never thought that there was an actual Life and Death REASON. Just goes to show how much I know" she spat disgustedly.
"I mean clearly you're not in love Edward. You only saved his sorry ass to pacify me from interfering anymore in your life.
Which to be honest is more gracious then I deserve after what I almost did to you and your baby!"
I shrugged my shoulders,
"-Despite what you may think: I don't HATE you and I DON'T want you to hate yourself. I hope, you can move on from this and do better in the future. Because Alice, if there's anything I've had to learn in six months is that "Life is NO fairytale." No matter how much you wish it was…"
I had just barely finished speaking when a pair of huge doors clanged open and Felix appeared with Edward's body gunny sacked over his shoulder which he abruptly dumped in the chair closest to us.
"-Try not to be the jerk you were inside Ed. Cause if I have to come back out here…"
The big guy couldn't even finish as he shuddered. "We'll BE watching you"
After the peanut gallery left Edward tried to get up but thought better of it when he was met with immense pain coming from his groin area.
"Damn Bella,"
Alice and I shared identical expressions of shock. The all high and mighty Edward Cullen just swore!
" I knew that I hurt you but I thought vengeance was beneath you. You should have let them kill me Bella"
I raised an eyebrow as I stood and crossed my arms.
" It wasn't about Revenge, there had to be justice for your crimes and as for your last comment- You mean, Let you off easy? -No! Did you give me that choice in those woods behind my house that day?- No! It would have been better than the STATE you LEFT me in! Did you even consider offering that deal Carlisle purposed? -No!"
"Alice!" he hissed his sister's name in annoyance, glaring at her.
She scowled right back at him,
"-DON'T you dare blame me for this! I did what you should have done. Instead you crushed this girl! And had the BALLS to parade around an act of misery in the house and lie to our faces! What did you do with our farewell letters? Crumple them up and burn 'em!"
"Alice," he begged, "It was for her own good, besides she wouldn't have let me go otherwise."
"How can you be SO sure?!" I shouted unable to keep my voice down after that blasphemous comment.
"I could see it in your eyes Bella" was HIS lame excuse.
"I guess you don't know everything about me, do you BOY?" Edward winced at the sound of Aro's name for him rolling off my tongue.
"-All you had to say was: "Bella I know things won't be easy during this time apart from each other. But could you PLEASE do this one thing for me? So I know for certain that you've made your decision."
It was THAT simple and I would have agreed."
Cullen buried his face in his hands sobbing, "I'm such an idiot" He murmured trying to pull a sympathy act like he always did but I wasn't fooled.
"-If you looking for someone to blame? I'd suggest gazing in the mirror. It was your lies, your deceit and free will that lead you down this path. Funny isn't it the way life turns out…
You sentenced me to a Fate worse than Death, and I'm trying to rise above it. Now the same happens to you, and you want to crawl in a hole and die.
Who's the weaker species again?
Or maybe you're just mad that while you thought you were the alpha male of the Cullen Family. You tried to strut your stuff here and was put into your place by your superiors?"
I guess I must've touched a nerve for his next words were. "I didn't let you go Bella so you'd become the whore of a werewolf- "(SMACK)!
Did Alice JUST Bitch-Slap Edward?!
"-You DID release her Edward from your relationship, therefore you have No say about her or what she does with her own life. This trip and what went on here today taught me that more than anything."
With the stroke of Midnight Alec reappeared by himself. As I silently looked for Kayley, the Vampire teen locked eyes with me and said,
"She's sleeping, Cullens and Isabella. You are free to go… Remember your promises"
The pixie nudged her brother to get up but he wouldn't budge.
"EDWARD CULLEN!" she scolded, "It has been a long day and we have gone above and beyond to return you to Carlisle and Esme, alive! Now you can either come along willingly or?"
"You will what?" he smirked.
"-OR I will ask Alec if he wouldn't mind waking up Kayley to do a body bind spell so you'd still have your own mind but your body would be OURS to command for a change?" I finished.
Edward bolted out of the chair, a little scared "You're lying?!"
I raised an arched eyebrow to Alec, "Am I?"
The boy shook his head amusingly at the scene.
"-She would, She would! Come on Alice, let's go!" said Edward already halfway out the exit.
His sister just smiled at me and said "Thank you,"
A short time later Alice was driving the yellow Porsche out of the city and to the airport in Rome. Edward was in the backseat,
The pixie had childproof locked the doors while I sat in the front passenger seat.
Reaching into the glove compartment where Alice hid her cell. I took it out and dialed the number I'd been wanting to call for 2 days:
*Ring*
"-Hello?"
"- Jacob?"
"-BELLA?! Oh my god! Where are you?!"
With tears running down my cheeks I responded "-I'm coming home…"
Hello my wonderful Readers! Since we're already 2/3rds of the way through our story. I have two endings in mind: One that involves Edward, and another with Rosalie. Please vote for the 1 you like best in your reviews. The winner will be posted in the next chapter- Thank you for your time...