Ch. 3: Talking with the Cullens
A/N: I don't own Twilight or the Characters…they are the property of Miss Stephanie Myers!
Edward POV
I couldn't believe she was saying that we weren't meant to be. Who put these thoughts in her head? They must pay! This is my girl we are talking about MINE! No one will take her from me EVER!
It was a slap in the face when she told me she wants me to leave and never return. She is just exhausted I will give her some time to rest and think straight right now. She will come back to her senses and come apologize tomorrow.
"Alice!" where is she. She can look for me and see when Bella will be here tomorrow.
"Edward I know what you are going to ask and Bella's future is blank. I don't think she is coming back she has chosen the wolves. I think this time you need to respect her wishes and go away for a while." She told me this while showing me the blackness she sees every time she looks for Bella, my Bella.
"No, she loves me I know she does. I will not leave her again! She will be mine! There is no way I will let the wolves have her!" I growled out. "Isabella Swan belongs to ME!"
Bella POV
Talking to Charlie was a lot smoother than I thought it would. He was pretty upset that I left the country without telling him first, but he was more relieved that I came home and am safe now. After a lecture about not making him worry so much and promising him that it would never happen again he let me go to bed.
Charlie is planning to go on a fishing trip in the morning with Billy and Harry now that Harry is finally out of the hospital. So that means I have the day free until it is time to go to Sam and Emily's house to talk to the pack.
I have a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about Eddie boy not listening to me and staying here to cause me trouble. So I think I should go and speak with him and his family in the morning. I have been thinking a lot about what happened before they left and I really need to discuss what I figured out with the family.
I woke up early around 8am and showered and dressed quickly before heading to the kitchen to eat. Sitting in the kitchen and eating is helping calm my nerves, I know this conversation could go very bad if I am not careful with how I say things. I think I am going to call Alice and arrange to talk to the family alone before I talk to Edward that way they understand what is happening.
"Alice can you get Edward out of the house for about an hour or two? Take him hunting or something. I want to talk to the family without him there for a few minutes to explain." I asked her as soon as she answered her cell phone and went away from Edward's mind reading capabilities.
"Sure sweetie, you know I love you like a sister right? Please don't forget that or the fact that the family does love you too." She replied a little less chipper than her usual self.
"I know that but I have to do what is best for me so please Alice." I was starting to feel my resolve weakening slightly. I needed to get this over with soon. "Alice I will decide to choose him momentarily when I am ready for him to come back so let him see that vision when you get it ok. But for you reference it is just a code to you I am not really going to choose him."
"Ok Bella. I will see you later then." She sounded sad as she hung up the phone to go get Edward out of the house.
It is time for me to face the family I once wanted to join more than anything. I only hoped they would accept my decision and help me if Eddie boy had the bad reaction I expected from him. When I pulled up to the house I saw that Emmett was waiting outside the door for me and he swept me up in a trademark Emmett bear hug as soon as I got out of my truck.
"Bella Bear I missed you so much!" Emmett boomed out while squishing me in his hug.
"Em…can't…breathe…human…fragile…let…me…go…" I said between attempts at breathing and he quickly released me with an apologetic look on his child-like face before following me into the living room.
The whole family minus Eddie and Alice was gathered on the couches apparently waiting for me to arrive. I took several deep breaths while looking at each family member in turn taking in their apprehensive expressions slightly confused.
"I was with Alice when you spoke to her earlier Isabella so I blocked my thoughts till she got Eddie out of the house then alerted the family." Jasper as usual picked up on my emotions and decided to explain.
"Oh, thank you Jasper. I truly appreciate it." I responded slowly as I continued to process each person's facial expressions before they changed. I was about to jump into telling them what happened when they left when Jasper spoke again.
"Isabella, I am so sorry for what happened at your birthday party. I would never intentionally hurt you and what happened is something I really need to talk to you privately about soon."
"Jasper, did Edward not tell you that I forgave you that very night I understand that things happen and I saw that your eyes were the last to darken in the room except for Carlisle. So you do not need to apologize to me for what happened. And after I say what I need to say to the family then you and I can talk ok. But first I need to talk to everyone here." I responded slightly shocked as Jasper nodded to show his understanding and patience.
"Ok I have a few things I want to say to everyone and I would appreciate if you would all let me say everything before responding please." I said carefully watching everyone's reactions.
"Of course dear please tell us," Esme the ever-kind mother that every kid dreams to have.
"Ok, Emmett you were the best big brother or so I thought till you left with everyone else and that really hurt me. I used to look forward to planning pranks with you and then you were gone just like everyone. Rosalie, I know you and I were not very close before but I still thought you had more decency than to just disappear and not say anything but I guess you were the one I most expected this from. Esme, Carlisle…" I had to pause to take a breath because their leaving had hurt me the most next to Alice and Edward.
"You were like the parents I had been missing all my life," I started slowly, "all my life I took care of Renee then when I moved to Forks I was mostly on my own with how much Charlie works and when he isn't at the station he is always fishing. Then I met Edward and in turn this family and finally I felt like I had parents. Then one little thing happens and you let Edward control you into leaving me here alone with a psycho vampire after me.
"Does anyone here except Jasper actually realize what happened? Edward set Jasper up so ya'll would leave and leave me alone unprotected no doubt with the hopes that Victoria would find me and kill me so he could be done with me." I paused for a short moment to regain my composure and take in the shock on everyone's faces slowly turning to anger. "The only part I don't understand is why he went to the Volturi which I will ask him later. So what I want to know from ya'll is how he got you to leave me here alone?"
We all sat quietly for a few moments as everyone processed what I had just said. Finally it was Rosalie who spoke first.
"Bella I want you to know that I really didn't ever have an aversion to you I just simply didn't know why you would willingly choose this life for something that resembles a man but doesn't have the decency to treat you as an equal. So I apologize for the way I have acted in the past to you. But this is beyond the evil I thought my brother to possess." She looked angry as she finished her spiel.
"Bella, we are all so very sorry but Edward can be very convincing and none of us thought him to be capable of such things otherwise we would never have left when he asked. But we all truly believed him when he said it was for you own good that we leave so you could have a normal life." Carlisle looked on a fine line between remorseful and angry. "He assured us that Victoria was of no threat to you. Has she been around?"
"Yes Carlisle, if it hadn't been for the wolves I wouldn't be having this conversation with you today. She even sent Laurant to speak to me, but that kind of back fired on her because he came and warned me she was after me before returning to Denali as his mate is Irina Denali." I told him carefully.
"Oh my dear I am so sorry. We never should have left you!" Esme looked as if she could cry she would be bawling her eyes out right now.
If looks were lethal then even someone like Victoria or Aro would keel over dead at the look Emmett had on his face. Oh speaking of Aro I should tell the family about that one.
"Oh another thing I should tell you is about what happened in Italy." I said successfully gaining the undivided attention of all the Cullens. "I had a private chat with Aro after him and Caius decided that I must become a vampire or die. He told me he would greatly appreciate me joining his guard and I told him that would never happen but that I realize the law is for the humans to not know of the existence of vampires and was able to work out a deal that protects the family from the wrath of the Volturi as well as me not having to be changed or killed. Aro doesn't deem me a threat to the vampire community even with my knowledge and would much rather that the possibility of my gifts being used against him be eliminated without violence. It would seem he cares more about appeasing Marcus than he does Caius.
"So it was decided that I would be allowed to live my life as a human and not speak of vampires to the other humans and if I was to ever decide I did want to be a vampire I would be required to join the guard." I finished my story and looked at the confused look on Carlisle's face before he spoke.
"You got a rational compromise from Aro Volturi?" he asked shocked.
"Yes, as I said he is trying harder to please Marcus than he is to please Caius." I repeated again.
"Wow, I have never heard the Volturi to offer second chances much less draft a compromise." Jasper said sounding stunned. "But I must say Isabella; I thought you wanted this life before?"
"I did when I thought Edward was my mate, but now I know he is not and the only way for me to find my true mate I must remain human. So yes for those that haven't caught on yet I am not planning to take Edward back. In fact I have asked him to leave and never come back here but I know how stubborn he is and I know he won't listen to me alone so I need yall's support and possibly protection when I tell him soon once I send Alice the code vision for him to return." I told them gaining confidence by the looks of love and support I was getting.
"Bella Bear he will have to go through me if he wants to harm a single hair on your head!" Emmett who had been quiet since I started was shaking with anger and remorse. "I am so sorry I listened to that prick. I can't believe he would lie to the family and do that but as you said it I thought back and I know what you say is the truth I only wish I would have noticed sooner."
He was shaking so bad by the time he finished it looked like he was a werewolf about to phase, that thought made me chuckle slightly earning me a confused glance from Jasper. That reminded me he wanted to speak to me.
"Jasper what was it you wanted to speak with me about? Carlisle may we speak in you study since it is sound proof?" I asked them both while glancing around at each of their faces.
"That won't be necessary Carlisle it doesn't need to be a private conversation since Isabella has already brought it up I would just like to add my observations from my gift to what she has said." Jasper spoke quickly while nodding to Esme to sit back down as she had gotten up presumably to go get the key to Carlisle's study.
"Isabella, you are correct that Eddie did provoke that incident on your birthday. I actually have very good control rivaled only by Carlisle's really. But Eddie sent me all his bloodlust along with the emotions that are attached to the thoughts of Rosalie, Alice, Esme, and Emmett and the memory he had of the thoughts of James. So yes you are correct in you assumptions I am just not sure why he did all of that." I could feel the truth in what he spoke and I just knew in my bones that it was true and I knew at that point that talking to him was going to be like talking to a brick wall.
"Ok everyone it is time for me to send for him to return here and get this handled. Please no matter what he asks of you don't leave me alone with him." I told them nervously as I quickly made the decision to choose him so Alice could get a vision of me since I had learned she only sees when I want her too now.
It was only a matter of a few moments before the door flew open and in ran Eddie boy. He stopped quickly confused at looks on everyone's faces as I felt a wave of calm flood over me courtesy of Jasper in an attempt to keep things from getting out of hand. I gave Jasper a slight nod and smile before turning to Edward.
"Edward we need to talk." I told him feeling a sudden burst of confidence and I resisted the urge to run and hug Jasper for it as I knew it was him. I could hear Eddie boy growling at him no doubt for thinking about me at all.
"What's wrong Love? We don't have to talk about it right now we have forever after all." He replied with his sickeningly sweet tone.
"No Edward that is where you are wrong and I believe I told you not to call me love anymore." I said loudly. "I am not your 'Love' anymore. You left me here alone with a psycho vampire after me after setting your brother up as a blame for an incident you manufactured in you fucked up mind. You have got to be the biggest ass hat I know for that."
My language was even surprising me, I hadn't realized I was that angry till I heard the small chuckles of Jasper, Rosalie, and Emmett coupled with the gasp of horror from Esme and the growl from Eddie boy.
"Edward I need you to listen and listen carefully. I am completely serious when I say that I want you out of my life forever. You tried to have you brother kill me without his knowledge and when that didn't work you left me for Victoria to kill. Thankfully I had a warning from Laurant and had the wolves to protect me." I purposefully ignored the growling coming from him and continued. "The conversation I had with Aro before we left Italy was me and him devising a compromise so that I don't actually have to be changed or killed now. So I am free to live the life I want; a life without interference from you. So when I leave here today Edward I don't want to see your face around anymore."
I turned to leave and everything began to happen so fast I barely realized anything happened at all until I turned back around. When I looked back again I saw Edward being held up to the wall by Emmett who had him held up by the throat and Jasper and Rosalie each had a hold of an arm ready to rip them off.
"Heed my warning to stay away from me Edward." I was suddenly so angry I felt like the anger was taking over me and I was shaking so bad I just had to get out of there before I did something stupid like trying to attack a pissed off vampire. So I turned and ran as fast as I could from the house miraculously not tripping all the way back to my truck. It took several deep breaths before I could calm down and focus enough to start my truck and drive away.
A/N: ok this won't be the last of Edward that is for sure…I have big plans for the next chapter when Bella goes to see the wolves again…so I am gonna leave this here…this chapter came out pretty long I think and hopefully this will become the avg length from here on out…please R&R and tell me what you think! Should be about a week till I get the next chapter out but good encouraging reviews might make me update quicker you never know