My mind could not comprehend who I was looking at. Alice, my long lost best friend Alice. My voice spoke softly again. "Alice?" it was like a movie in slow motion. Behind Alice stood my family, well the people no the vampires who use to be my family all here including him, Ed -Edward. Even in my mind I had trouble comprehending his name. Edward - he hadn't changed. His golden eyes, bronzed hair, my hands involuntary moved towards him - seeking him out. His eyes shifted away from mine, and I forced my treacherous hands to stay by my side. My chest constricted and I begun to feel the hole in my chest rip open and for a moment I had to look down at my old red costume to make sure that I wasn't bleeding I swore I could see my heart - My world stood still. He's here - I'm looking into the eyes of the man I love - well loved. No, the Vampire I love. I think I have finally lost what is left of my mind - Jasper, Emmett, Esme and Carlisle are standing in front of me as well.
She bounced up to me. "Oh Bella!" she hugged me and whispered my name "We've come to help you"
I threw my arms around her. "Are - are you really here" The words were dry in my mouth. I simply couldn't believe it - I shouldn't believe it.
"Well, it's a beautiful family reunion we have going on here, but you will all follow me -" Caius stood not more than 3 meters from me. Three other large Vampires stood beside him. "We are going to cause a scene soon" I watched as he spun on his heel and as Esme, and Carlisle all begun to follow him. I leaned on Alice for a brief moment - then pulled myself away. I needed to be strong for myself. The last time I relied on my 'family' they ditched me at the airport.
Alice frowned. "I'm sorry Bella" her words reached my ears. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
Hurt, I don't think these Vampires knew the amount of hurt I had been through - and was still going through. Did they know about Victoria? Did they know that my parents were killed because of me? Did they know that I lived in constant fear? Or that I had no home, no friends, no money - nothing. Just me. The more I thought about it - the angrier I felt.
As we walked the short distance to the hotel I assumed where Volturi King was staying at - I looked at my reflection in one of the large windows we passed. I was surrounded by all these beautiful people, super models, their designer clothes, not a hair out of place, they were perfect in every way , I on the other hand look like a reject from a second hand store in my ill fitting, outdated deteriorated costume - again, the feelings of worthlessness washed over me and I felt the heel of my shoe catch the uneven pavement. Alice was right beside me and reached out to steady me before I would fall. I looked up to see where Edward was - and he didn't even turn around to see if I had fallen. I felt my fate being sealed with him at that moment. He truly didn't care anymore.
We arrived through a back door and other security guards ushered us all in. The Cullan family said nothing and Alice stood the closest to me. Large ominous wooden doors stood before us and were thrown open by the leading Vampires. I had lost visuals of the leader Caius- but I didn't care anymore- my lungs and heart were both screaming for a break. Apparently these vampires have forgotten that they have a simple mortal on their heel - inside the large room, the doors shut and the silence was deafening. For a brief second - locked in this room with several large unfamiliar vampires I suddenly feel safe - for the first time in the last two years I - feel - safe. Perhaps it's the Cullan's appearance, or perhaps the Volturie here to make their claim on me, or perhaps it's just due to the fact that I will no longer need to run from Victoria. She will have lost me - she's lost the game. A uncontrollable laugh escapes me and every vampire in the room stares at me. Take me to break the ice.
"Miss Swan - may I ask you what you find so amusing about this?" Caius's voice cut through the silence. Suddenly Caius is standing in front of me. His hand quickly grabs my neck and lifts me up off my feet so that I'm no longer touching the ground. "You stupid - stupid human girl why are you still here" releasing his hand he dropped me. I drop to the ground coughing and gasping I have forgotten how strong they can be, - Caius spun on his heel and stalked towards Edward, Alice quickly knelt down beside me and helped me to sit up.
"YOU - YOU were to change the girl - we do not give second chances and here I find this -" Caius's eyes look towards me. I can feel his look of disgust - I'm nothing but a walking blood bag for this man. The sooner he kills me the sooner I'm out of my misery. The sooner everyone in this room will get on with their lives.
I can't stand this anymore. With all the courage I can muster I stumble to a standing position. "Just kill me and get it over and done with. End my misery. Please…."
"Bella, please stop" the words from Alice, and Esme are almost spoken in unison.
"No," Caius walks towards me again. "Let the girl speak - I will make sure that your misery is ended soon enough."
I feel my legs growing weak, this king stands in front of me again - in his dark Armani suit his hair is pure white, his skin is almost the same colour and his eyes are bright red. He's recently feed - so perhaps he's not going to be the one to end me. I hope who ever it is will be quick and merciful - unlike what I would sure to have gotten from Victoria. "Why is their a small army of Vampires after you?" His words are harsh and demanding.
"I'm running from Victoria - um" I feel my throat tighten when I say her name.
"Why? Who is this Victoria?" Tilting his head slightly he sighed. "Hurry up I haven't got all day"
I snorted slightly someone who doesn't age, who will live forever and he's doesn't have all day.
"Amused are we?" he stepped into my space. At this time, I really didn't care and I stood bowing my head and whispered. "Ed-Edward killed her mate and - she said it was only fair that she killed me, a mate for a mate." Towards the end of the sentence I barely breathed the words.
"So she created an army to kill you? How have you avoided her? Why are you still alive? Why have you not been changed?" the words streamed out of his mouth. He stepped back and spun on his heel looking at the others. The Cullans' stood like statures.
Carlisle faintly spoke the words. "We left her- we allowed her to fend for herself. We had no idea that she had an army after her until we arrived in Las Vegas. It was only in the last few weeks that we found out about her parents, and that Victoria had this vendetta against her. " Carlisle looked at me his golden eyes and he tried to summon a smile. "We are sorry Bella, sorry for the lose of your parents, and well for everything."
"Silence!" Caius yelled, again his hand flew out like a shot and grabbed me by my throat - slowly I felt the anger serge threw his arms and slowly his fingers begun to squeeze around my throat constricting my airway. Dark spots begun to swim in front of my eyes. I didn't move, cry or kick. I would welcome this. Perhaps I could be the sacrificial lamb for this family - this beautiful family that was once mine.
Caius tilted his head slightly, "You are wanting this, aren't you?" He begun to squeeze tighter, my eyes locked with Edwards' my angel - he will watch me die How ironic, this is what he's been wanting all along, for me to live and lead a human life - well this is how a human can die…. At that very moment a cell phone rang. Saved by the bell. Caius quickly released me and again I fell to the floor, this time I lay in heap at the feet of this King. Air pulled deep into my lungs which now burned like they had been light on fire. I lay gasping and coughing - I could see my reflection in the shine of his shoes, . Italian was spoken, it's a very beautiful language one I really would have like to have learned. Oh, who am I kidding- tears filled my eyes.
"Romanians" He hissed into the phone. "Si, siano sulla nostra strada" (Yes, we are on our way) he quickly put his phone away. "You are all coming with me to Voltiuri where you will be all judged by my brothers', right now the Romania's have become involved in this - this girls life as well. His shoe came in contact with my shoulder and he rolled me onto my back. Kneeling down beside me, he pulled me up - it seems that you have some Romanian's have become very interested in you. "Ragazza (girl) you are beginning to irritate me"