Chapter two
"No!" Jacob growled. "What the hell are you thinking?"
I stub the ground with my foot and looked away before I squirmed from his ferocious gaze. I knew this was coming but I hadn't thought of how I would ward off his anger. Maybe this wasn't a good time to break the news.
"You could get killed!" He continued, running a hand through his hair roughly. "Jesus Nessie! What's Bella gonna say." He rubbed his forehead as if it ached. "Edward's gonna kill me," he muttered.
"Calm down Jay," I sighed, rolling my eyes. "It's none of their business anyway. It's my life I can do what I want with it."
"Didn't you hear me?" He shouted. "You. Could. Get. Killed."
"Could not will," I retorted with slight annoyance. "Anyway they need me."
"For what?!" He threw his arms. "They're the strongest vampire army in the world! They don't need you!"
It was true though. I wasn't sure why they needed me. So I couldn't really give him a response.
"You're going to get us both killed!" Jacob exclaims once again for the tenth time today.
I clench my fist, irritation surging in me. "I don't expect you to come!" I snap back. The words came out harsher than I had intended. I sighed and step towards him. I lightly place my hand on his arm and tell him through the touch that everything will be alright.
He pulled back suddenly. This sends a pang of hurt through me; it's the first time he's ever done this. I look up to meet his gaze. Those eyes that always looked at me warmly were full of rage and pain.
I didn't want things to end up like this.
"Everything will NOT be alright," he spat through gritted teeth. Then in a flash he's transformed into his wolf and has bounded away through the forest, leaving his tethered clothes behind.
"Jacob!" I cry out, starting to chase after him. My pace slows to a walk until I finally stop. He needs time to think, I decide. I retrace my step and collect the remains of his clothes; they're warm and smell of him. Fine maybe I shouldn't have yelled at him.
"Why did it have to turn out like this?" I mutter in the still forest air.
There is a sound of running water nearby, to my left, and so I move towards it. I really have nothing better to do until Jay gets back. In a matter of seconds, due to my unnatural speed, I enter the clearing. In front of me is a wide river, its water is sparkling from the small amount of sunlight that came through the canopy.
I lie down on the plush grass, using Jay's clothes as a rough pillow. I think over the argument. Okay. Maybe it hadn't been very wise to tell the news the way I told it. Maybe I should have brought it in a little bit more gently. After all the Volturi hasn't really had a good history with our family.
Why do they need me anyway?
The truth is I actually want to go to them. To be away from all this….
A sigh leaves my lips for what seems like the billionth time this week.
Don't all children leave home? This is my time. I'm the human equivalent of nineteen for goodness sake! More or less…okay a little less, but still.
Just because I want to join the Volturi doesn't mean it's the end of the world! That's not until 2012, as the say.
They have what I want anyway. A chance to improve my powers, both physically and mentally. Doesn't mean that I'll have to give up my vegetarian ways…although the taste of human blood really intrigues me. I mean I've never killed anyone in my entire life. And I don't intend to. But just because I can't have it, I want it. You know some people have brown hair and they want blonde hair and vice versa. This is just my way of dying my hair.
Oh I do hope Jacob doesn't go and blab. Mom would go crazy and then Dad would go crazy because I'm making Mom go crazy. I doubt he'd tell her though. She's too emotionally vulnerable after Charlie's death.
Hmm…to become a part of the Volturi….
Demetri. Felix. And the worst, Alex. When I saw them approaching me, my heart pounded hard almost ready to burst through my chest. I had tried to get away from them inconspicuously but to no avail. They now had me at a dead end of an alleyway somewhere in Seattle.
It was another cloudy day so they went unnoticed.
I'm ready to scream but I doubt anyone would come to save me. I'll just have to fight my way out. This just had to happen today, when I'm out on my own for once. Today of all days!
I stare at them, cold and hard, showing them more bravery than I felt. "What do you want?" I shout at them as I get into my hunter's crouch. My gaze moved from one vampire to the other.
A cruel grin spread across Demetri's smug face; his bony features making him look like a skull from a horror movie. "It is such a shame my dear one that we cannot play with you today," he spoke with such sweetness that made me almost sick. "We are only here to pass on a request."
I narrow my eyes warily at him. "Yeah and the queen of Egypt is my grandmother," I scoffed. "Why are you really here?"
I take a step back as they move closer to me. Pretty soon I'll have my back up against the cold wall with no where to hide.
"Oh Alec," Felix starts while rubbing his hands together, and licking his blood red lips, "could we just-"
"No!" Alec interrupted with a hand held up in a fluid movement. "We have our orders." I almost shrink inwards as those all-too-knowing eyes didn't leave me for a moment. Are they trying to get my guard down? With his cold, uninterested voice Alec continued, "This is an official request from the Volturi Miss Cullen. We want you to become one of us."
Unable to stop myself I give a short laugh at such an absurd request. "Ha! And like I said my grandmother's the queen of Egypt."
"This is no laughing matter," Alec replied in a monotone, his red eyes flash dangerously as if insulted. "We were told to do anything for you to accept our offer."
"And why do you think I would?" I ask blatantly. "You do know who I am? Who my family is?"
"We are very well aware of who you are Miss Cullen," Alec replied. "And what your family is."
Despite myself I can't help but add, "What's in it for me?"
Alec smiled pleasantly, almost innocently. How could someone so child-like be a cruel and sadistic vampire? The thought unnerved me. "Have you never wondered the infinite possibilities of your powers?" He walked forward as I bumped against the brick wall. "Have you ever questioned your way of life?" There was only a foot between us. "Have you never wondered what it would be like to taste fresh human blood?" He reached up and touched the point of my chin lightly, almost too gently.
I break my gaze and look away. "And what's in it for you?" I ask boldly although almost all of my strength fled the moment the little vampire touched me.
"Knowledge." Alec shrugged. "We only seek knowledge." A twisted smile formed on his emotionless face. "And my masters like to collect the rare things in life. And you my darling are a rare one, a jewel waiting to be cut and polished."
I laugh bitterly. "Cut and polished? To your satisfaction? I don't think so buddy." I cross my arms and look down at him. At times this I'm glad I'm not a short ass like Alice.
"Do not laugh at us," Demetri growls. In a flash he's beside Alec and so is Felix.
"You may be precious to our masters but to us you are nothing," Felix hissed.
"Or how about rotten cabbage?" I suggest while rolling my eyes.
Out of no where a hand flew out and was about to strike me. It would have struck me hard enough to have me seeing stars. But it was stoped by Alec's faster hand, only centimetres away from my face; so close that I could see the creases in Felix's hand.
"We were ordered not to harm her," Alec said, what would normally have sounded like a scold if it had been from anyone else.
Snap.
I swear that could only be one thing. A broken wrist.
Felix betrays no emotion of pain as he withdraws his hand. I feel like wincing for him.
"So you're serious about this?" I ask, breaking the awkward silence.
"Are we not always?" Demetri responds with an airy sigh.
My lips push against my cheek thoughtfully. "I'll consider it. Do you have a business card?" I added the last bit sarcastically.
Alec's hand goes into his coat pocket and brings out, drum roll please, that's right a business card!
All I can think about is not ROFL. I suppressed the laughter that turned into something that sounded like a cough.
Raised eyebrows all round.
I take the card and just like that they're gone. With a lasting echoing whisper of, "We'll see you soon."
From Ava and Max: We hope you liked this one! We were rolling on the floor laughing (ROFL) while making this chapter. If you did like it please review. If you didn't please review! We're waiting for some encouragement…negative or positive! Pleeeeeeeeease positive though! ;)