Shadowed Fortune
Chapter 1: New arrival
Bella's POV
It had been 2 months since Edward had left, two months since I was left in the forest my heart broken and with no sense of direction. Two months since I last felt alive or had something worth living for.
Ever since Sam brought me home I was nothing but a shell sitting in front of my open window, watching as people walked by and the weeks passed. I knew Charlie was frightened by my new hollowed self, I could see it in his eyes when he left food I barely ate. Food meant little to me anymore and my appetite was gone. What little I ate tasted like dirt in my mouth, like my sorrow had taken all the flavour of life away and left nothing but a bitter taste.
I saw Charlie's sleep deprived eyes every time he woke me up from the nightmares that haunted my mind. The nightmares of Victoria finally finishing me off and my family, or the ones where James wasn't really dead. But the worst of them were the ones of Edward leaving me all alone, the ones where I grew old and frail and he stayed the same young beautiful self. Though most of the times when I allowed myself to feel I would feel the guilt of worrying Charlie and keeping him up at night trying to save what was left of my poisonous mind. It was a daunting task for a person who knew so little of what had actually occurred.
I knew Charlie was becoming desperate, he had mentioned of me moving back with Renee in Jacksonville but I kept persisting 'Forks is my home dad, I can't leave it' I kept saying to him every time he kept trying to persuade me to move in with Renee. Instead Charlie was now calling up one of my oldest friends from Phoenix Seras Pavrelle. But she wasn't just my friend but also my cousin, Charlie's sister's daughter to be précised. I hadn't seen nor talked to her since moving to Forks. Both of our schedules had been so busy and with the Cullen drama I never had any spare time to myself.
But I knew if Seras came here she would be in the same amount of danger that Charlie was unaware of. I knew from Charlie's expression that he had convinced his sister to let Seras stay until she graduated, that was the deal of her coming was also to finish her education. With Seras coming I could not let myself continue to be this fragile, broken girl if my family was in danger of Victoria.
I had to keep them safe and with my last breath I will.
Seras POV
It had been a full year since I had seen Bella, I knew from Uncle Charlie's description Bella was in desperate need of help. Hearing what the Cullen's did made me contempt with rage for them, for what they had done to my cousin. I knew Bella wasn't the type to be thought of as something you could fix up. Implying you could fix her was one of the biggest insults you could ever say to her. Bella was always a quiet girl that kept to herself often and only ever opened up if there was a big deal of trust within the relationship she had with others. I felt privileged to be one of those people who truly knew her without her protective mask on.
Getting off the plane I saw Uncle Charlie's grey and thinning face from the lack of sleep he had endured. He gave me a small smile before taking my luggage and placing it in the car before we were both in and driving to my new home of Forks. Forks was a miserable town, you could tell by the lack of population and sunny weather. The town was under a constant ray of clouds and the days were so cold, fashionable clothing wasn't an option anymore. Not that I was really a materialistic type of girl, but it was just better having a wider range of options to choose from.
"Now Seras, Bella's been through a lot so don't act surprise if she isn't her usual down to earth self" Charlie said in a low voice as we pulled into the house as rain poured down on the car. Raising my jacket I opened the door fast before running to the opened door and out of the rain. Bella stood in the middle of the hallway. Her hair was limb and lifeless, her face was paler then usual and looked to be getting a grey tinge to it and her eyes showed little life within them. All in all Bella looked terrible, and I was here to change that.
"Oh honey" I whispered before walking and putting my arms around her frail thin frame, I was afraid if I held her any tighter she would crack and break within my hands. I felt her head land softly on my shoulder before sobs wrecked through her body, you could almost hear the rattling of her bones from the pressure. "That's it Bella, let it all out" I said rubbing my hands up and down her back in comfort. I could almost feel ever bone in her body she was that thin. After a while her tears subsided until there was nothing but little hick ups that vibrated from her chest.
"I'm glade your hear Seras, no one here understands me like you do" she whispered through pale lips while taking a step back and whipping her eyes. "Why don't you help me get my things up stairs and then we will talk about everything" I said while grabbing my large suitcase that Uncle Charlie had left besides me during our emotional reunion. Bella nodded her head before lifting one of the other smaller suitcases before moving it into the spare bedroom Uncle Charlie had put together at such short notice. After dumping the cases on the floor Bella and I both sat on either sides of the bed.
Taking a deep breath I turned to Bella, staring deeply into her emotionless eyes "So what happened to leave you in such a state" She looked guarded, her face hardening up for a moment before opening her mouth. "He left me and that's about it" she whispered without care or effort, as I sat there giving her a look "Why did he leave" "He didn't want me anymore" I sat there looking at her with calculating eyes, I knew she was keeping something from me, like seriously what family just gets up and leaves without reason. Something had to have happened and Bella was reluctant to tell me.
"Bella, cut the crap and tell me what happened, every little detail no matter how minuscule it is" she looked shocked and a little taken back by my forcefulness. But this was my cousin, of course I was going to be forceful if it meant that I was going to get her back to her life then so be it. It took her a moment as if she was debating with herself to tell me or not before a look of determination entered her eyes.
Bella's POV
When Seras turned forceful and demanded about what happened with the Cullen's I froze. How do you tell your cousin that all the fairy tales and horror stories weren't just stories but also your own life. I was debating on the safety of telling Seras, I knew from Edward that the Volturi were against humans knowing about their existence but I also knew that with Seras not knowing she could fall prey to Victoria, if and when she decided to take her revenge for her fallen mate James. It had been so long since I had seen Seras, her long and thick black hair almost covering her wide doe emerald eyes that held sharp intellect and determination along with her ivory skin. The last thing I wanted to see on her face was the horror of my life and the horrors that made up that story. But Seras was a strong woman who lived by the code of loyalty and with that I had made my decision.
Turning to her I opened my mouth and told her everything. Everything from the Cullen's in school, to finding out Edwards secrete and the baseball game. To James hunting me down for a for his own sick game and using a recording of my mother's voice to get me away from the Cullen's and finally ending with my birthday party and Edward leaving me in the forest. When I finished I thought there would be disbelief or shock but I was surprised to see nothing but rage on my cousin's face and it scared me.
"Seras, are you alright" I asked in a soft voice that reminded me of a scared child hoping not to aggravate her even more. I could see her taking deep breaths to calm herself down but I didn't seem to be working.
"That Little Prick! If and When I see Edward Cullen's again I will rip his dick off and leave him as the dickless wanker he is" Seras ranted about, her face flushed in rage and her hands were gripped so tightly her knuckles were turning white.
"You believe the whole story, vampires and all" I question unable to keep the surprise out of my voice. Seras rant stopped before looking at me like I was the biggest idiot ever "Of course I believe you, no offence Bella but you're not really the creative type and I highly doubt you would be this depressed on a made up story" she said with a small smile.
I gave her a smile in return, the first one I had given anyone in the last two months. Turning my head I saw the digital alarm clock flash 8:37pm and immediately got up to cook dinner with Seras following me. We all had dinner at the small table in the kitchen, little conversation was said but I could see Charlie's relief of having me eat again before we all bid each other goodnight and feel asleep in our beds. Awaiting to see what tomorrow would bring for me and my cousin.