Disclaimer: I do not own anything other than the plot and my ideas, none of this would be possible without Stephanie Anne Meyers, the owner of all things Twilight : )
So I realized I forgot to put a disclaimer in my other chapters, and I am really sorry about that. Here is the next chapter, and my gift to all of you, EPOV! : ) I hope you enjoy!
Chapter Four
Previously
"Hello?" Jakes sleepy voice sounded through the other line. I took a deep breath, I was about to endanger my best friend's life to save mine.
I stepped outside of my room and took a deep breath. This day had started off so normal and now I felt as if my existence has been thrown upside down. I started to head towards the chamber room to asses the damage that Dante had done by now and see how much time the beautiful girl in my room had to live.
"Edward!" I hear the sharp cry and turned, already expecting to see my sister Alice bounding towards me. I read her thoughts and braced myself for the onslaught I was about to receive.
'Oh Edward Cullen you are in trouble now!' I searched her mind when suddenly I saw a vision of myself sneaking the girl out of the confines of the castle, when suddenly the vision got blurry.
"Why did it stop, what happens next?" I asked her, I was extremely curious about this girl. Alice sighed, seeming frustrated.
"I can't see! I cant see anything past that, it all gets blurry or disappears completely! That and you are not helping with changing your plans every five seconds." Alice just glared at me and I was tempted to laugh at the sight of my small, but fierce 'sister.'
"What do you propose I do? It is not as if I run in to this situation often, why didn't you warn me?" I asked her, normally she would tell me when I would have difficult things to handle at least a day in advance.
I can't see! It is as if she has a block on me! I looked at Alice and raised my eyebrows. She sighed deciding to explain aloud. "I saw her being taken by Dante, but it happened almost a second before it actually happened. And at that point I did not think anything of it, except she is so young and you told me to tell you when Dante messed up." I didn't think it was serious until…
"Until what Alice?" She looked at me suddenly and as I read her thoughts I noticed she was reciting the Greek alphabet in her head and what all the letters meant. I growled and gave her a warning glance. She bit her lip and nodded her head and I suddenly wished I didn't let her show me her vision.
There was the girl I was trying to save, except she was different, completely different. If it were possible she was even more beautiful. We were standing in a meadow laughing together while I spun her around. In the vision I stopped spinning her and started kissing her ferociously and she threw her arms around my neck and I noticed my deceased mother's engagement ring on her finger, along with a wedding band. But the worst part about this whole thing was that the beautiful human who I was apparently destined to be together with, was no human in this vision. She was a vampire.
I haven't seen you ever look as happy as you do in that vision Edward, and she is so beautiful and looks so in love with you…
"No! Alice! I don't even know her name, and I will not curse her to this fate! I am trying to save her life, not damn her to a soulless existence!" I yelled at Alice, something I never do, and regretted it immediately. But she had to know I would never do that to someone unless they absolutely needed to be saved. Alice just always pushed me to try and find someone that I could spend my eternity with, but I never did.
"Why did you run to find me now though?" I asked her, curious as to why she ran to me right at this moment and not later, or sooner.
I saw you bite her. And suddenly I saw myself talking to her, and she suddenly hugged me and thanked me, and the beast inside me roared and bit her, draining her almost instantly.
"No." I shook my head fiercely. Alice looked up at me and smiled.
"The vision changed Edward," Alice said softly touching my shoulder. I stared at her and saw the image of her hugging me, except this time I hesitantly hugged her back.
I've never had a vision of Edward biting someone before. I snapped my neck to look at Alice and her eyes were full of curiosity. I figured now would be the best time to explain this to Alice.
"She is my singer Alice. I have never smelled blood as delectable as hers in my whole existence. When I first saw her I was barely able to control the urge to snap her neck and drain her on the spot." I was ashamed of my lack of self control. True I refrained from actually biting the human, but my thoughts were filled with bloodlust whenever I looked at her. I felt the impulse to run away.
I saw Alice's vision almost instantly. There was the girl, looking frightened as the council glared down upon her and I watched as they killed her almost instantly.
"Running is not an option right now Edward. You are the only one that can save her." Alice whispered and looked deep in to my eyes. I looked back and knew instantly that she was right, not from her visions, but also because I trusted Alice's judgment more so than anyone else's.
"We need to go speak to Jasper," I said and started walking at a fast human pace to Alice's and Jasper's shared chambers. I hope he is dressed… I glared at Alice. "You go in first then, I see enough in your mind, I don't need a live show." Alice giggled, having no shame, and skipped in to her large room.
Darn, he is dressed, it would have been funny to tease you Edward. I glared at Alice through the door and opened it. Jasper was sitting at his desk, mind buzzing with theories and strategies of past war generals.
"Jasper, I need your help," I spoke and Jasper immediately sent a calming feeling toward me without even pausing to think of anything other than war. Alice giggled and spun Jasper around in his chair so he was facing me and not his maps.
I was just getting to the most interesting part of the battle of, oh Edward looks upset. Another wave of calm fell over me and while I was thankful for it, I did not want to be completely numb to my feelings.
"Jasper, I need to save a human, she knows too much."
Did Demetri smell her? Ran through his head almost instantly.
"No…what do you think we should do?" I asked curious as to why Demetri would matter.
Jasper sighed. I swear, people should be sent to boot camp just to have their common sense increased. I glared at Jasper who smiled back at me. "If you don't like what you hear don't listen chap." I nodded my head and urged Jasper to continue.
"Just let her out of the castle," Jasper said and I just looked at him. Seriously? That was his big plan. Sure, just walk her right out of the castle, that will work, because no one will stop and wonder why I am walking a human around.
"She knows." One of the most important rules of our kind was that no humans could discover what we were. Regardless of whose fault it was, if a vampire revealed his identity to a human not only would the vampire be killed instantly, but the human, no matter how innocent would be killed as well. It was an unfair situation but it was necessary to enable our secrecy.
Come on, Edward, stop reading other people's thoughts and start using your own! "Regardless of whether they know she knows, or if she actually knows, Demetri has not gotten her scent, he is the best tracker here, you can let her escape and there would be no way of them tracking her down. They are unaware of her name at this point I assume, correct?"
I nodded my head thinking of how simple the plan really was. That was as long as I could keep the girl from contact from any one else, and keep her from revealing too much of her identity to me.
After we save her, she is going to be my best friend, I can already see it! I looked at Alice and rapidly shook my head.
"No Alice, if we save her we cant be any where around her. Demetri knows our scent, he would find her in an instant. We cant even discover her name, or where she is from, nothing, Aro will read us first and he will see every interaction we have had with her." I was almost sad whilst speaking. The fact that I would save the girl but never be able to see her again made me upset which was odd because I found the girl to be quite stubborn and annoying.
"But Edward- she is your destiny!" Alice sighed it out loud and jumped down from where she was perched on Jasper's desk. "You belong together!" You need someone Edward. It is about time. Carlisle and Esme are getting worried you will be alone forever.
"Thank you for that, but my happiness can take a backseat so long as we save this girl." And I fully meant what I said, she needed to be saved, and I would do everything in my power to achieve that goal.
Why is Edward so determined to save this random girl? Jasper's thought floored me for a second. Why was I so determined to save her? I know Alice said this girl was my destiny but I was hardly the type of guy to believe in all of that nonsense. I preferred logic above all else, so why was I risking my well being, as well as the well being of my family, for this random girl?
I shook my head and decided that it did not matter, after I saved her I had an eternity of time to figure out why I am so drawn to rescue her. "Alice, I need you to go back to my room and watch over the girl, make sure she is safe and does not try to run, that would only endanger her more. Jasper do you think…" I trailed off not wanting to voice out loud what I had been thinking. Jasper always fought the hardest to resist the temptation of human blood, and I knew that while her blood smelled sweetest to me, it would still smell better than normal to Jasper. Alice I knew could handle it, she was accustomed to humans from the hours upon hours she spent shopping and back when we used to go to school, before that horrible day that resulted us being trapped here.
"I will stay in your study next door and warn Alice if there is anyone coming who may be a threat." I nodded my head to Jasper, and was grateful he was not offended by my question.
That takes care of Alice and I but what about you Edward? Always the strategist I turned to Jasper. "I need to see how big of a mess Dante made. And I have to leave the council feeling as though I am not a factor in this process."
Jasper and Alice nodded and they made their way out of the room and down the twisting hallways to watch over the human I was so desperate to save. I made my way at a human pace toward the chamber where the council was busy discussing some clan of three or four vampires that have been risking our secrecy. As I got closer to the room I read the thoughts of the members to see if Dante had ran to them yet.
I think we should dispose of her immediately
Why waste such a scrumptious smelling snack
Why can't I have a go at her, if only for a second. Fucking Cullen, always ruining my fun, well now who is ruining whose fun?
I hope we get to rip her throat off and dismember he piece by piece. I grimaced as I listened to what was definitely Jane's thoughts.
"We should turn her." I stopped breathing, not that I needed to breath anyway, I was close enough that I could hear what the members were saying now. I sprinted to the room and opened the door.
Aro smiled at me and motioned me forward while all of the other council members stayed silent, except Jane who had something to say, of course.
"Saving a human again Edward? You are a disgrace." It was true that I watched over Dante and Julius from time to time, to make sure they did not slip up and 'prepare a meal wrong,' as Heidi once said. And that did mean that from time to time I saved some humans that did not fit our specifications. Normally Heidi was the one who gathered the majority of the meals, Dante and Julius were around to gather 'Dessert.' I, wanted to gag at how they so casually discussed killing innocents, but who was I to talk when all I could think about was drinking the blood of a young girl.
"Jane leave young Edward alone, he is only looking out for us. Now, what can I help you with Mr. Cullen?" Aro smiled and if you didn't know his true personality you could almost mistake him for being a kind person. Almost being the key word, I knew his true thoughts and his true character, he was not someone you wanted to upset.
"I am here to discuss the girl that Dante and Julius found." I spoke with authority considering most of the people in this room were under me in rank. I rarely attended meetings though, as I found them to be a waste of time, and that's with the never ending amount of time I possess.
Aro smiled but I read his thoughts, and they were anything but kind. She needs to be destroyed Edward, we can not risk having her reveal our identity. "She is a danger to us, Edward, dangers need to be eliminated."
I shook my head and looked at Aro desperately. "But Sir, she is just a young innocent girl! She may have traumatic memories from this and block it all out for all we know. I doubt she will go to the papers and tell anyone about us."
Aro looked at me curiously, and I tried not to read his thoughts. While Aro knew I could read his thoughts and answer him without him asking aloud he tended to get annoyed when I did that, so I instead patiently waited for him to address me.
"Where is young Alice, surely she has seen something on the matter, otherwise you would not be here protesting this?"
"She is watching over the girl Sir, to make sure no harm falls upon her, or that she does not try to escape before a verdict is reached." Aro nodded and gestured for me to give him my hand. I inwardly sighed, my mind distressing, he would see that we plan to have her escape! I was stupid to have discussed this with Jasper before I spoke to Aro! While I may have been a mess inside, outside I looked calm and composed.
Aro took my hand and I read his mind as he assessed my memories. He paused on Alice's vision of the girl and I in a meadow and he released my hand. "Curious, very curious." He sat there deep in thought for a moment. No one dared speak, even most thoughts were silent, awaiting the decision. I was thankful that Aro stopped when he did and did not discover the escape plan we made for the girl. If he had there would be horrible consequences, not just for me but for Jasper and Alice as well.
Aro looked up suddenly and smiled at me. "Well young Edward, it seems as though you have found your mate! Let it be known that the girl will not be used for a meal, or brutally killed!" My head was swimming with relief and I fought the urge to beam madly. Instantly the thoughts in the room turned to anger and outrage and there was a high level of disappointment.
"However," and if I had a heart it would have dropped to the ground after what Aro said next. "Edward, you must change the girl."
***
BPOV
"Jacob?" I asked quietly, suddenly very scared. I could hear rustling around as if Jacob was sitting up in bed.
"Bells, where are you? Did you forget your key? I will go unlock the door for you, I swear you can be so spacey sometimes." Jake chuckled and I wished that it would be that simple. I wished with all my might that this was a bad dream and I really did just get locked out of my hotel room, and Jacob was waking up right now to let me in.
"Jacob…" I said and I lost it. I started bawling hysterically. I had remained strong for as long as I could but now that I had my best friend on the phone with me I felt my whole world crashing down on me. How do I explain to him where I am? What could he possibly do to help me? Would I survive this?
"Bells! What is wrong? Don't worry about the key if you lost it, we will get you a new one!" He sounded frantic and I immediately felt bad, he still had no idea what was going on. And Jacob always got flustered when I got emotional, being a manly man he tended to have a difficult time with tears.
"I didn't loose my key Jake…" I was having such a difficult time trying to form a coherent sentence. I knew I had to hurry though and tell him what was going on because I had no idea when someone would be back to this room to do God only knows what to me.
"Bells, did someone hurt you…where are you!?" By this point I could tell he was completely freaked out, I heard him pacing and I could only imagine how worn down the carpet would be when I saw it…if I ever got to see it again. That thought brought more tears and I could hear Jacob tense.
"I swear to God I will kill who did this to you, just tell me where you are so I can help you!" I realized Jacob probably didn't realize how truthful his words were. He probably would kill as many vampires as he could, it was his nature.
"I don't know Jake…but they have me…" I heard Jacob take a deep breath.
"Bella, where are you, did someone…rape you?" he stopped breathing and I could tell how anxious his was.
"No! No, but Jake…I am so sorry…I did exactly what you told me not to! I walked around by myself, and then I went sightseeing and then I look and saw this alleyway with this weird quote and then this guy grabbed me and then I ran and I ran and then I fell, silly slipping Swan, and then I woke up in a weird room with these two guys and I got so scared but they said they weren't going to hurt me, and one of them tried, he wanted me…sexually, but then this man came and forced the other two to leave and said I was to young and that he was going to help me but one ran out saying that now I knew their secret and then he took me to this room and its really nice and he said he is going to help me he just needs to do something first and he left a while ago and I am scared and I realized my phone was on me so I called you I need your help, but that's not all…Jacob…" I stopped and took a huge breath realizing I had one of my famous rants and I could tell Jacob was trying to process what I said, as he was completely silent, and I decided it was now or never. "They are vampires."
If I ever doubted that Jacob Black could ever sound menacing, he completely wiped that doubt from my mind.
He started growling and I heard him fighting the urge to phase. For a few seconds, although it felt like an eternity, Jacob tried to calm down. Finally I heard him get silent.
"Bella, why would you walk alone when we are in VOLTURRA VAMPIRE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD!?" I winced but knew I deserved that. I could tell Jacob was angry but I knew he would focus on trying to help me first, he just needed to get that one jab out.
"I am sorry Jake, I just really need your help."
I heard Jacob slam the door closed and I winced at the amount of money in damages we would have to pay for that…if we survived that is. "I am on my way, whatever you do Bella, do not bait them, keep your hair pulled back in a bun, and try to see if you can cover up all of your skin with something, a blanket, towel, anything." I nodded my head and tightly wrapped my hair in a bun while I grabbed a velvet soft blanket off the sofa bed and put it around my body.
"Now, I am going to try and track you Bella, but with all the vampire stench it is going to be difficult. Do me a favor and try to keep your phone with you at all times. And if a bloodsucker gets close to you, yell my name, hopefully I will be close enough to hear you." I tried to process all Jake was telling me, it was hard because Jacob must have been running and he was generating a lot of wind on his end making the sound fuzzy.
"Should I just yell now?" I asked, hoping he could find me as soon as possible.
"No! No Bella, you don't know how many know about you, if that vampire is really trying to help you, though I doubt it, he might be keeping your presence a secret." I realized that made sense and I bit my lip as I thought of Jacob risking his life to save me.
"Jacob, be careful please!" I cried in to the phone and I heard Jacob chuckle.
"Bells, if anyone needs to be careful, it is you. I need to put the phone down so I can run and track you faster, stay safe, and Bells, don't trust ANYONE! No matter how nice they seem, they are vampires, they kill people to live, stay strong and suspicious to anyone." I immediately felt stupid for feeling like I could trust the gorgeous man, Jake was right, he just wanted my blood and was trying to lull me in to a false sense of security.
"Oh, and Bells, just remember…I love you," Jake said so passionately, it made my heart warm for a second.
"I love you too Jake," I said and I meant it. You didn't have to be romantic with someone to love them. I snapped my phone shut and placed it in my bra. I hoped that no one would think to look there.
I stared at the piano, wishing for once that I could play and not be so clumsy. If I wasn't clumsy maybe I could have gotten myself out of this mess somehow. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. Why did I always attract danger?
I didn't have much time to dwell because at that moment the door opened and I wrapped the blanket tighter around my body. "Who are you!?" I said to the little pixie looking girl who skipped happily in to my room.
She suddenly leaped on the bed and hugged me. "I am Alice, and you and I are going to be best friends." She smiled and that was when I realized maybe I was in an alternate reality, in a dream, and I really would wake up soon.
Alice put a pillow down and with no effort pushed me to lay down. "Hey!" I exclaimed, not comfortable with this vampire pushing me around.
She smiled at me kindly, "You may want to lay down." She spoke as if she knew what was going to happen and I raised me eyebrow, remembering what Jake said about not trusting people.
"And why is that?" I asked crossing my arms.
"Because in six seconds you are going to pass out from shock." she smiled and I suddenly felt incredibly dizzy and then everything went black.
**
EPOV
I felt as if each step that brought me closer to my room, took me further away from that happiness Alice had been trying so hard for me to achieve. It was pointless though, first being thrown in this dungeon, now knowing I have to end the life of an innocent girl who I as supposedly going to be with.
As I stood in front of my door I read the minds of Alice and Jasper and was shocked to see the image of the girl dead running through my mind. Without thinking I burst through my door, frightening even Alice.
What is his problem? Ran through Alice's mind and I whipped my head towards her. I was opening my mouth to yell at her for bestowing harm on to this innocent angel when I noticed another sound in the room.
Her heart…beating.
I cringed as I realized that not only was she alive but I would be the one who had to stop that beautiful sound from ever occurring again. Poor Edward, he looks horrible. What happened with the council?
I slowly looked up at Alice, and suddenly she gasped. NO! Ran through her mind as she saw an array of images of me taking the girls life. But wait, if you do this, then my vision will come true!
I paused for a moment contemplating what she said. Think about it Edward, you were both vampires, if you change her maybe you will finally be happy! I glared at Alice, not believing what she was thinking.
"I will not be so selfish as to take someone's soul from them on the slight chance that I may obtain happiness because of it. Absolutely not Alice! That girl is an innocent! That girl should be able to make her own choices! That girl does not deserve this! That girl-"
"Is awake and would prefer not to be referred to as 'that girl.'" My head whipped around and I saw her doe like eyes staring up at me. Even though they were pointed at me in a glare I still found them to be nothing but beautiful. I yearned for the opportunity to be able to read her thoughts, if only for a moment.
Alice smiled and went towards where the girl was lying. I watched as the girl looked at Alice with trepidation in her eyes and a sense of unease. "How are you feeling?" Alice asked in that excited voice she somehow always maintains.
I watched as the girl looked at me and then back to Alice. "I am in a room with two vampires, how do you think I am feeling?" I bit back a laugh as I watched the girl speak to Alice. I found it alarming that this young woman was able to fight, even verbally, while she was trapped, and well aware that she could be eaten at any moment.
"You should be feeling considerably well since we mean you no harm," Alice smiled at the girl and I found it amazing that she could stay optimistic and happy when talking to someone who so obviously did not enjoy her conversation.
"Right, and my name is-"
"Enough!" I yelled, desperately. Both Alice and the girl looked towards me with curious expressions on their faces. Unfortunately I was only able to read one of their minds, although it was not the one I would have preferred to hear.
She was going to make a sarcastic remark Edward, calm down, you are going to freak her out more so than she already is! I bit back my remark, knowing that if I started speaking then the girl would be even more suspicious.
"Forgive me, Miss, I do not want my sister to bother you, especially so soon after you feinted." She stared up at me suspiciousy and I wished that I could hold her in my arms and run away with her.
"Alice is your sister?" she asked incredulously and for a moment I wondered how she knew Alice's name, until Alice showed me what happened before I entered the room.
"Yes, is that hard to believe?" I did not know if I should be offended yet.
"Well, Alice has been nothing but nice since I met her, you on the other hand, have been glaring at me since the moment you first laid eyes on me." Her tone was a mixture between hurt and anger, and I wished for a moment that I could explain to her that it was not her, it was her blood. Although I had the feeling that if I did that it would send the girl running.
"That is only because Edward is serious all the time, he never relaxes or takes a break." Alice spoke for me and the girl nodded slightly.
"I can see that, he seems like the type to be business like, even romantically." Wait! What did she say? Does that mean she is thinking of me being romantic to her?
"Oh Edward doesn't date, I always tell him to, but he is always saying he is not going to waste his time!"
"Alice! Could you not speak about my personal life to people we don't know! And could you have the decency to not speak as if I am not in the same building as you!" Alice rolled her eyes and then turned back to the girl.
"See what I mean? He is always lecturing me on my manners." Now it was my turn to roll my eyes.
"I wouldn't have to lecture you if you used them correctly."
"I do use them correctly Edward, I just don't use my manners religiously like you do!"
"Just wait until I tell Carslisle and Esme about how atrociously you have been acting lately!"
"You wouldn't!"
"Okay I get it! You two are siblings, you didn't have to prove it to me, I believed you Alice." I looked up sheepishly and realized that Alice and I had been bickering like little children. I also noted that the girl told only Alice that she believed her, she did not tell me she believed me. I found myself hurt by that, but knew that she was in a difficult situation and to be offended by her not trusting me would be immature.
"Besides I am the one who seems to have forgotten my manners! Here you are trying to help me get out of here, and I haven't even introduced myself! My name is B-" I moved within a blink an eye and covered the girl's mouth with my hand. Instantly I felt an electrical shock and pulled away. The girl, B something, looked up at me in astonishment.
"Did you just spark me?" she shrieked. She looked at Alice accusingly. "I never knew Vampires could shock people, and here I was thinking their only talents were being ridiculously good looking and their strength and speed." Alice looked at me curiously before she turned back to the girl.
"We can't shock people. Some vampires have special powers, but I have never heard of someone shocking someone." Alice spoke and I nodded. I pondered what the shock was though, it was deffinetly not something that should be taken lightly. I looked at my hand and then noticed that her smell as on it. I instantly held my breath and gave Alice a pointed look.
Whats your problem?
"I have to check with Jasper and get control of somethings, I will be back as soon as I can." Oohhh, your hand? I have some strong soap in my bathroom you can use, should do the trick.
I nodded to Alice and then turned to the door. "For your safety and ours, come up with a fake name, do not under ANY circumstances give us any personal information that someone could use to track you down."
And then I left the room, stepped in the hallway and took a deep breath. I didn't realize until I was out of the room how strong and addictive her scent was. I had the urge to dive back in to the room but knew that it would only be dangerous and end badly.
Go wash up Edward! NOW! I quickly ran to the bathroom, already sensing that Alice must have seen me going back in the room and scaring or maybe even possibly killing the girl. I shook my head and sighed. For once I had no clue how I was getting out of this mess.
: ) I hope you liked it! If you have any questions, dont hesitate to ask, sorry this one is shorter than chapter three. I felt that I crammed way too much in chapter three and should stick to less info per chapter!
Annnnyway, if you could review that would make my day : )
Special thanks to the following people for reviewing:
Chalger, vampsrulewolvesdont, and siobhan
Feedback gives me motivation to continue to write my story, and it helps to know that people out there enjoy it : ) So review pleeeeease : ) Chapter Five should be out soon!