Disclaimer: I'm not Stephenie. I don't own Twilight, or any of it's characters. I only own the small cameo characters that I will create from time to time.
New story! I feel weird writing about this, since it's obviously a big difference from the original Twilight plot, but I suppose I'll fall into it quickly. Please, let me know what you think! Reviews always give me more motivation to write more!
Edward.
I entered the room, feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and satisfied. Tonight, the rest of the guard would feed, and I liked to keep my distance from that. Sometimes, it was difficult to not enter the room and join the massacre of innocent human beings, but I kept my thoughts on my family. Alice, Esme, Carlisle .. if I had slipped from normal diet of animal blood, they'd all be disappointed.
Of course, joining the Volturi wasn't something they were exactly proud of either. But, they respected my wishes. After almost a hundred dreadful, miserable years of roaming this earth, I needed to find something thrilling. I needed to find what belonged to me. When I had come here, I had explained to Aro, Caius and Marcus that my sole purpose was to try it out. I didn't know if my happiness lay at the hands of the Volturi, and if it did, I would gladly join the guard. I've had plenty of time to come to terms with the fact that I was a monster. But, even with this eternal curse, I have also discovered that even monsters can be happy. I didn't always believe it, but living with my family, it was inevitable. I didn't have Jasper's power, but the love that radiated off of all of them was enough to drive me away. Of course, I didn't resent them for it. They were happy, and they should be. But I wanted my own happiness, and I knew it wasn't there.
I had been here for a year now, but my stay wouldn't prolong much further. I knew that what I was looking for, I wouldn't be finding here. The Volturi, though known as elegant, graceful and royal, were simply an act. They were cruel barbaric demons, who searched for any reason to kill that they could. They occasionally were helpful in situations; executing the careless who threatened our secret. But I have been here long enough to know that watching them feast off of innocent humans, and destroying careless vampires was not fulfilling my desire.
Finally caving in to your thirst, Cullen?
I didn't have to look up to know who the thoughts had belonged to. I snarled, and laughed bitterly. Felix smirked, and stepped out of the shadows. You and your disgusting diet. I don't know how you can stand it. I want to gag just smelling the blood on your breath. I snapped my eyes up toward him. Felix wasn't the only one who ridiculed my request to drink animal blood, I hear it from just about every member of the guard.
"Heidi will be returning shortly. If you're not here to eat, you might as well leave," Jane growled at me from beside Felix. I let a smile plaster across my face, and nodded my head.
"I was planning on it. Actually, I was hoping to speak to Aro before your meal. I think I may depart from Italy tonight, and return home to my family." At the sound of my leaving, Jane immediately brightened up. Finally. I've been waiting for you to split for a year now. You're not anything special to us. Instead of my usual snarl, I laughed. I couldn't agree more. I didn't carry their sick desire to murder as they did. If that's what you needed to become 'special' in their heads, then I would much rather stick to being worthless.
"Is that so, Edward?"
I spun around, and met Aro's surprised face. I silently nodded, and he smiled.
"I feared this day would come quickly. I can't say I'm not disappointed, but I must respect your wishes to leave," he said. I let my lips fold into a half smile, and nodded once more. Out of everyone, Aro was the only one I carried even an ounce of respect for.
"I've already packed my things. I'll be on the first plane to Washington within the next two hours," I explained, and he smiled wider.
"Having you has been a pleasure. Despite what you've been told, you really are helpful. Are you sure about this? You wouldn't like to stay?"
I quickly shook my head. I had absolutely no reason to stay. There was nothing, nobody here worth missing. I wouldn't think twice about anybody here once I was on the plane. The only people in my life that I needed weren't here, they were residing in the small, rainy town of Forks, Washington. That was my home, and that was where I needed to be.
"Take care then, Edward. I hope to see you in the future." He smiled, and I felt relieved that he hadn't held his hand out. He held the gift to read every thought you've ever had when in contact with that person. He knew I liked to keep my thoughts private, and naturally avoided the handshake with me. I returned his smile, and quickly rushed through the corridors to retrieve my bags. I entered my room, grabbed them, and rushed back down. The first thing I noticed was Heidi. She was dressed as she usually was; tight, short skirts, revealing blouses and heavy amounts of makeup. She was the "fisher" of the guard. She was responsible for gathering everyone's meals. A large group of people followed behind her. My head was hit with many thoughts all at once. They varied from this place is gorgeous to the only reason he wanted to come was because of this skank. I chuckled, and studied the people.
I have grown accustomed to the guilt. Death awaited them in the next room, and they were all completely oblivious. I watched as they all took further steps into the room. Felix, Jane, Aro and Heidi were grinning at them in welcome, but in their heads, they were claiming their prey. I sighed, and nodded my head to Aro, before stepping closer to them. That's when it hit me.
A scent. A scent so powerful it stood out from all the rest. It clouded my senses, and paralyzed me to the spot where I stood. I tensed, and turned on my heel to find the source. My eyes immediately landed on her. Her. I suddenly felt weak as I stared at her. The monster inside of me was tearing at my throat, begging for the taste of her delicious smelling blood. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. That was when I realized the second thing that made her stand out.
Her thoughts were silent. I couldn't hear a thing. I focused on her, but was blocked. I was frustrated and angry at this girl. This little girl. It was only dawning on me now that she couldn't be more than four years old. I breathed in her appearance. She was beautiful. Her skin was pale, and smooth as it lay unblemished upon her face. Her large, round eyes were the color of caramel, matching perfectly with her long, wavy mahogany locks. She stood, clutching her father's leg as her eyes roamed the room around here.
Why are you still here, Cullen?
I couldn't look at Jane to reply. Right now, my eyes belonged to the toddler that stood before me. Suddenly, as if realizing she was being stared at, she raised her curious eyes to look at me. It hit me like a ton of bricks. The monster inside of me was dissolving as I continued to watch her. There was something about her that I couldn't explain. Her eyelashes fluttered a few times, before she finally looked down, breaking our staring contest. A faint blush of red rose on her soft cheeks, and I backed away immediately. Her blood and beauty were both calling out to me. I didn't know what was happening.
She glanced at me one more time, before she was picked up into the arms of the man that she was clutching. I gulped as I watched him carry her into the room with the rest of them. She was going to be killed. I sighed, and shook my head free of all of the thoughts before I grabbed my bags again and took a few steps toward the exit. Her face was a permanent image in my head. The thought of one of those monsters spilling her blood made me growl loudly.
That's when the screaming began. I closed my eyes in a feeble attempt to escape the agonizing thoughts of the helpless humans in the room next to me. I knew better than to stick around this area during a feast. I took another step forward, fully prepared to walk out of this building and leave the Volturi forever, when I heard it. God, please save my daughter. Please save my baby girl. I gasped loudly, recognizing the thoughts of the little girl's mother immediately. I tried telling myself that she was just a human. She's just a little girl. She's not worth fighting for. But I couldn't convince myself enough.
The bags dropped from my hand, and I quickly entered the room, shedding light onto the dying humans. They groaned for help, thinking that I was coming to their rescue, but I was only searching for one figure. I found her in a corner. Her small body was balled up in horror in a desperate attempt to keep herself hidden. A few feet away from her, her father lay motionless and dead. The tears poured out of her eyes like raindrops, and my dead heart jolted to life for her. Ignoring the demands of Felix and Jane, I rushed forward, and took the sobbing girl into my arms. Her small fists pounded against my chest for a moment.
"Shh, you're okay. I won't hurt you. You're safe," I whispered into her ear. I felt her relax, and her small, warm hands wrapped around my neck. I held my breath, trying not to inhale her powerful scent. You cannot take her! She knows too much! I turned to Aro, and nodded.
"Her scent is overpowering to me. I plan to take her life," I lied quietly, so that she couldn't hear me. Aro grinned, and nodded. I knew that he also was repulsed by my choice of animal blood, so the news was refreshing to him. He let me leave, and I didn't waste any time in exiting the building, leaving my bags sitting by the door. Her head was nestled into the crook of my neck, her hot breath against the fabric of my t-shirt. I gripped her tighter as I walked quickly to where my taxi was parked. I climbed into the backseat, keeping her close to my body. The driver started to car, already knowing of my destination.
She suddenly raised her head, and her wet, teary eyes stared into mine. The breath was knocked out of me again.
"Mommy and Daddy are gone," she whispered in a fearful voice. I gulped, and nodded, never tearing my eyes away from hers for a second. The gesture seemed to stir up some more tears.
"It's okay. You're safe with me. I'm Edward. What's your name?" I whispered to her. She raised a small hand, and wiped away some of her tears. She sniffled, and opened her mouth. I gulped down the ache in my throat, and watched as she spoke.
"Isabella Marie Swan. But mommy and daddy call me Bella," she explained. Her voice was sweet, and my insides melted at the sound of it. I couldn't help but feel the irony in her name. Bella meant beautiful in Italian, and that was certainly what this little girl was. I smiled at her, and she stared at my face again before wrapping her arms around my neck once more. Her cheek pressed against my chest, and I breathed in once more.
It was wrong. I knew it was. But I couldn't help but feeling that the thrilling happiness that I had been searching so long for, was sitting in my lap right now.