Chapter 1: Bella's POV
I shoved the mind-boggling thoughts and these heterogeneous memories of Edward and I separated to the back of my mind. I could already feel the tears start to brim in my eyes. The memory was too painful, and now that I was in his arms again, the pain seemed to ebb away from me.
"Bella? Are you okay?" Edward asked me. His voice was full of worried affection toward my plain face. I looked up at him, shifting in his arms a little bit.
"I'm fine…now. I missed you so much, Edward," I said trying not to show too much of my saddened discontent.
"I know. It will never happen again," he said with distinct pain in his voice. "Would you like to go to my house for a while?" his pain wasn't so clearly visible now, his tone struggling to match the lightness as the sky.
"I wonder what Emmett's doing," I said. Charlie was with some of his police friends and I had the house to myself. But I didn't want to be stuck there. Hey—today was Saturday, I wanted to do something of my own pleasure.
Edward released me from his cold grasp making me shiver a little because of the immediate temperature change. He grabbed my hand tightly and we walked at the edge of the forest with goofy smiles playing at our faces.
It had only been a couple of days since he had proposed to me. I said, 'yes' of course, positive with his convincing beauty. I still wasn't over the fact that he was so godlike and I was so…normal.
We reached the house and he opened the door for me as I stepped in. I had come here a lot more often then I had intended up until now. Charlie was getting used to the fact, that this was my sanctuary.
"Bella! We found out just yesterday! You're engaged! Just like Jasper and me!" Alice said in front of my face. I grimaced at the word engaged feeling self-guilty for the truth that my parents still didn't know.
"And unlike you and Jasper, I hope we don't have our honeymoons over and over again," Edward muttered under his breath. I caught a few words, enough for me to catch the hint he still had doubts over his promise. But he did promise. That was good enough for me.
I shot him a glance as I found the others gathered around at the family dining table. This was an unusual picture. They never sat here, except for times of urgent emergencies.
"Hello everyone," I said with a broad smile making them all turn around toward me breaking themselves from their trance. Edward was stiffened beside me and I was almost afraid to look up to his face.
"Hey Bella," Jasper said with no sign of actual greeting.
"Hi Bella!" Emmett said with little less enthusiasm than what he usually said it with, but still a lot better than Jasper's. Rosalie merely nodded while Esme and Carlisle smiled at me whole-heartedly.
"Is something wrong?" I asked cringing at the thought of a bad hindrance occurring just because of me. Edward had let go of my hand now and he directed me to a chair beside me.
"Bella—we have to tell you something," Carlisle started taking the action of a leader. I stared unintentionally deeply into his eyes, not being able to help the sudden worry in them too. Nobody spoke for a whole minute.
"Well, spill the beans," I said with half-hearted wanting.
"The Volturi has found their way to you—somehow, I don't know how. I have been thinking about it for sometime though. And—almost all of them are here," Carlisle broke off breaking my gaze to him, and stared down at the table. I thought of what Edward had said to me, about being positive that they couldn't find me. My mouth opened a fraction of an inch, but I tried hard to hide the surprise. It didn't work well.
"I know Bella. We were sure they couldn't find you, we've tried our best, but they are very eager to get to you. They have been planning their next move," Esme chimed in after seeing the irredeemable expression in her husband's face. I contained the urge to yell, and calmly contorted my face into what I thought was a calm expression.
"Is everybody going to be safe? My parents, your family, and me? Do you possibly know their next move?" The questions just spilled out of me, unable to control the sudden urge to ask the world why it was so cruel.
Edward and I were on our happiest moment, but fate had to ruin it all and crush with us with bulldozers. Or worse. Nobody spoke and the silence was too silent. Just yesterday, Alice, Rosalie, and Esme were planning out my wedding, thinking of the dresses, presents, guests, and the location and everything. And now, a whole new matter barged into our lives, and I was at the center.
"What do I have to do? Someone, please, answer me!" I was almost shouting at the end. But with their acute hearing, it was practically yelling. All faces were looking at me now.
"Bella. No one is safe right now. We have to take immediate action, and you know that we are doing everything in our power. We're first going to make sure the bride," Esme cracked a second lasting smile at this word. "which is you, is safe. We'll also make sure Charlie and Renee is safe. Don't worry about us. I am sure they are wanting you to join them. For now, you just have to stick with one of us at all times. Don't go anywhere by yourself. We're thinking of something," I processed this all through my human brain and thought of something.
"The 'something' that you're thinking about— are you saying I have to move from here?" I concluded, the best I could come up with.
"It's all for your safety, Bella. Remember, we still have Victoria on our tails here at Forks. Maybe somewhere entirely different…" Carlisle trailed off knowing that I knew. Half way around the world was probably his idea.
"Edward will be coming with me, of course," I stated with uncertainty distinguished in my voice.
"Bella, honey, I'm sorry. But you know how they want Edward too— and the last thing we need is for them to find their prizes in packages," Esme said with a very apologetic expression. I was shaking my head slowly. Edward's hand was slightly touching me, making me shake my head more vigorously.
"No…No. We've already…been…separated." I wanted to finish my thought, but there was no room to think anymore. I stood up from my chair. Edward was surprised too. I was guessing he wasn't in on the plan. I pushed the chair back and ran out of the room. No one dared to stop me. It was a good thing. I went outside facing the thick trees in front of me, feeling up to the point to blame the beautiful nature.