Chapter 3 – Research and Strategy
The magic and beauty of the previous night, of what Edward and I had shared wore off as we woke up to the crunch of gravel in the driveway. Looking at the clock on the wall I saw it was barely seven o'clock in the morning. The rest of the Cullens had arrived and it was time to talk of the coming days strategic plans. Edward pulled me into his arms under the sheets and looked into my eyes. He had worry and anxiety etched on his face, fear tainting his eyes like a cloudy disease. Burying his face in the crook of my neck he breathed in my scent and whispered "Everything will be all right, love."
He released me grudgingly and rose to dress himself. I arose from the bed and quickly washed myself, pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Simple and practical. It did not feel like the day after their wedding, and yet it did. We were not nestled comfortably in bed, acting like the newlyweds we were, yet this seemed almost…normal. The danger, faced head on as a family. It seemed befitting of us. Yet I vowed that we would have our true honeymoon after this struggle. Because we would survive. We had to.
We walked down the stairs, hand in hand, and saw the family assembled around the dinning room table. Carlisle saw us first, rising to pull up two chairs, and the others said brief hellos. The atmosphere in the room was subdued. I had a nagging feeling once again and I voiced the thought forming in my head before I could stop myself.
"Alice saw something again, didn't she?" I looked at Alice, a look of wonder and puzzlement constructing itself on her visage. "She's good, Carlisle. I'd swear she already had a gift," said Alice. I snorted and shook my head.
"No, Alice. I've just spent a lot of time around you and I know when something is going on. And, I take that as a yes. What did you see, exactly? I assume it offers certain…complications," I finished looking fiercely around the room, daring them to keep something from me. I refused to be left in dark, having my battles fought for me and playing the part of the precious porcelain doll.
Carlisle was the first to speak, hesitating at first but then speaking to me as if I was already a vampire, as if I was already a true member of the family. "Last night we did not spend our time idly. We talked strategies and planned throughout the night, halfway through which Alice had another vision. She saw the Volturi, specifically Jane, Felix, and Caius arrive at sundown in the clearing, naught but five hundred yards away from the Pavilion. This means they know where the wedding was to be held. Coincidence, that the Pavilion should be so close to our recurring location of conflict. They are intending for us to meet them there. They know the power of Alice's vision, and at that point and time in the vision, I believe they are only coming to see Bella."
"However, there comes the complication. As soon as Bella enters the clearing, Alice's vision disappears. Completely. No glimpses of anything. Now this could mean any number of things, but we cannot risk anything. We have to have different implementations of action ready for use. They must not all be discussed, because all are unlikely compared to the reason for which I suspect that Caius is coming. I suspect Caius is also here to attempt at eradication. He cannot stand the idea of a coven which is gaining on his own in size and power. In that case we must be ready to fight."
At this point I interjected quickly. I had an idea and, if as Carlisle said this could be the case, we would need help. "Could we ask for Sam's help?" It was an idea, but I slightly senses the answer would be no. It was.
"We cannot do this. Even if Sam would consent to involve himself and the pack in a fight which is not his own, the Volturi would show no mercy if werewolves are involved. Remember Bella, they do no honor treaties between our kind and Sam's."
"In any case we need to be ready to fight. But before I go on about the strategy we will implement if such be the case, I must first talk of two factors. If they are not here to fight, Bella must still be turned or at the point of turning. Which brings up point two and the research I have been conducting over these few weeks, and which I completed last night. As Caius plans to arrive tonight, we do not have much time to turn you, Bella, as it takes 3 days for the process to complete."
"But as I said, I did some research. Using the blood of patients at the hospital, I infused samples with our venom. I observed the structure of the blood and how fast it took to change the blood to its own matter. Last night I reached an epiphany. I placed a great deal of venom into the blood, the equivalent of thirteen bite marks, and the change was complete within two hours. I believe, Bella, that if Edward bites you thirteen times the change will occur before the sun is high in the sky. It would possibly be more painful, but it is not lethal and it will ensure that you will be turned by the time Caius arrives,"
As Carlisle finished telling us this piece of news, Edward went rigid in his chair and I blanched, my stomach falling into the depths. Pain. Amplified pain. The idea alone was excruciating. Edward compulsively pulled me close and he turned to Carlisle. He began to speak fiercely, almost shouting, and beating his right fist onto the table with each breath.
"We cannot do this. What if it goes wrong? What if the pain is too much? I can't do that to Bella. I will not do this! It's simply too uncertain, no one has ever been foolish enough to attempt such folly, and to subject Bella to the first attempt, even if it were to succeed is absolute –"
As he spoke I made one of the fastest decisions I had ever made. My uncharacteristic behavior streak continued with full force and I placed all my trust in Carlisle's opinion. Before anyone could stop Edward from his vehement protest, I placed a hand over his mouth and said,
"I'll do it. I trust Carlisle to make the judgment that I will survive, and to make it a fast ordeal is the key to resolving this situation."
As I finished, Edward moved as if to say something forceful to me or Carlisle, yet he changed his mind and simply rose from his seat and went into the kitchen, most likely to break something in exasperation at my behavior. Immediately, I rose as well to follow him. I could not simply sit there and while not wasting time was a prudent factor, as well as planning, I had to talk to Edward. It was simply too important, and I had to make him see that this was the best thing to do. I threw a quick, apologetic look at my family and said "We'll be right back." Carlisle nodded and Esme smiled encouragingly at me.
As I walked into the kitchen I saw Edward, his head in his hands. He spun on the spot as I moved closer and he simply stared at me. He began shaking his head fractionally, jerky movements full of pain. He began to whisper, his lips moving quickly, and I could not hear him. I moved closer and his whispered pleading reached my ears.
"Please don't do this, Bella. Please. Please, you can't…I can't loose you. What if it all goes wrong? I can't…I can barely cope with the idea of biting you in the first place, but to do it with the intention of making it faster…No, I can't do it."
I continued to move toward him, and as I closed the distance between us, Edward rushed forward and took me into his arms, gripping me tightly and continuing to whisper into my ear. I pulled my arms out of his grip and took his face in my hands. He has never reacted this strongly, so full of fear and anxiety. If he could, he would have been crying.
"Edward, you trust Carlisle, don't you?"
Edward gave a slight nod, his face still I my hands. He breathed unevenly, as if heaving sobs threatened to wreak his body. At that moment he looked truly like a scared seventeen year old boy, not a vampire, not a man. It shook my foundation to the core to see him so torn up about this. In a way it made no sense to me. I continued on, finding it difficult to keep myself from crying. But there still was only rationality, no panic.
"Carlisle knows what to do, how to do it, and there is no way this will go wrong. I trust Carlisle just as much as you know you trust him. I know it hurts you to think of it, but its for the best, and what's one dose of concentrated pain for an eternity with you? Besides that, it will resolve the situation because I will already be turned when they arrive."
Edward hesitated, his demeanor slowly returning to normal, yet one question lingered in his eyes. "What if…what if the blood lust is too much to take and I…and I hurt you? Thirteen bites is a lot more than three or four. I don't know if I could keep myself from –"
Again I cut him off, ending his guilty pondering and I looked him deep into his eyes, as I spoke. "Edward, you don't honestly believe that you could do that to me? With all the temptations, all the mishaps, even that first day in Biology. Not even last night," I said with a tender smile.
"Never once did you lose control, not even when you were already thirsty to begin with. I love you, and I know that you love me too much to even think of allowing yourself to lose control. I know you can do it, and the sooner we do the better. For all of us."
Edward looked at me, an undecipherable look on his face and then he kissed me as he had never before. So sweetly, so tenderly. He caressed my face, tracing every part of it with his cold fingers. There was fear and love in every movement, as if he was trying to show me how scared he was. Too soon it was over and the situation resumed its hold on us.
"You're right, Bella. It's foolish to doubt Carlisle, yet the thought of what I must do for all of us makes so afraid. I don't ever want to hurt you, yet it seems I have to," he sighed. I nodded as he spoke and he seemed to gain some composure as he said "Let's go back inside. Carlisle has a lot more to tell us before…before I must turn you. Time is prudent."
We walked back toward the dining table were the Cullens sat, just as I had left them. Carlisle was ready to continue and resumed his talking as soon as Edward and I took our seats as if nothing had occurred.
"In the extremely likely case that the lack of Alice's vision is due to a conflict, the following strategy must be implemented. We cannot risk Bella in battle as a newborn. She will have only brute force, and her chance of taking on any of our three guests, and winning, even if aided by Emmett or Jasper is too slim for us to risk. Therefore, at the slightest sign of conflict, Edward will take Bella to Seattle and board a direct flight to Italy. The tickets have already been purchased and -"
Edward began to interject at the idea of myself on a commercial airliner, as a newborn vampire writhing with blood lust, when Carlisle raised a calming hand and proceeded to speak in the same fashion as if he had not been interrupted.
"And I have made sure that the entire first class has been bought out in order to make restraining Bella easier, and to put it off as if she is suffering a non-contagious disease. This plan is incredibly necessary should a conflict arise! Bella cannot fight in a battle, but she can go to Volterra with Edward and speak to Aro to inform him that Caius has broken the rules.
"Aro will not stand for such insubordination, even from his own brother, and especially not if the conflict is unprovoked. Bella cannot travel to Volterra while still human so it is necessary to turn her, and she cannot stay here once she has been turned because even if kept out of battle, the danger would be great for her."
"Meanwhile, the rest of us can certainly fight them off. It will still be six against three. Do not worry, Bella. Felix and Jane are relatively young, and therefore potentially overconfident. It will work out."
"Such a double edged sword – Bella must be turned to ensure her safety either way, yet she must go toward the lesser danger. Ah, such a predicament only our dear Bella can arouse, no?" Carlisle chuckled warmly, a fatherly tone in his voice as he pondered the situation. The talk slowly turned to battle strategies which were of no concern to me and I began to think, Edward watching me.
It certainly made sense, and while the idea of enhanced pain and of raging blood thirst surrounded by humans made beads of sweat collect on the back of my neck. Edward still seemed uneasy about the plan, yet he did not argue and seemed willing enough to place his trust in his father. I just hoped they could truly hold their own. As no one raised concerns I assumed the best, yet it would not be unlike them to attempt to deceive me in order to keep me calm. I threw a suspicious, sideways glance at Jasper, to see if he was starring at me, yet he leaned forward to engage Carlisle in a discussion about blocks and kicks.
As the discussion began to wind down once again, Carlisle cleared his throat and turned tightly toward Edward and myself. "I believe it is time to turn you, Bella. It is nine o'clock and if we begin now you will be turned before noon and you will have time to hunt for the first time before they arrive. Preparation can be made while you become accustomed,"
I swallowed a knot in my throat and nodded, squeezing Edwards hand as I rose to walk after Carlisle toward a room with its door standing open to reveal soft white walls, a hospital bed, various equipment and industrial lighting crisscrossing on the ceiling, compensating for the lack of a window.
No one deemed it prudent to speak, and I preferred the silence, as Alice and Rosalie gave me a hug and Emmett thudded me encouragingly on the back. Jasper did not approach me yet I smiled thankfully at him as a wave of soothing calm ran down my spine and penetrated deep into my bones. Esme embraced me, kissing my cheeks and whispering softly "Bella, my love. You will be perfectly fine. We will all be fine. See you in a few hours."
She smiled as Edward and I stepped into the room and the door closed behind us, leaving only myself, my husband, and Carlisle in the fluorescent room.
Ponder the concept of the Pavilion being so close to the clearing, and the total blackout of Alice's vision. What does this imply?
Now, I have a question, and I require reviews to know the answer to this. I am pondering whether or not to write about the turning and Bella's first hunt, and if I do so, if I should devote and entire chapter to it, and how much detail I should place into it in general.
I truly mean it and I value your opinions – I know not everyone is fond of reading everyone's interpretation of the pain of the turn (more amplified through my method) and that some people really aren't down with those chapters containing the biting and the hunting in general, just like I'm not down with graphic and tasteless sex scenes. Let me know what you think, and depending on the general consensus in the next three days (two, maybe even one, if I get a lot of reviews right away, a lot meaning…five or more) I will start the next chapter. With Thanksgiving nearing an end, school will start up again, IB will continue trying to kick my ass, and I might only be able to write about twenty minutes a day (I have mock orals, projects, papers, EEs and homework to keep me nice and busy), so my updates may be further in-between each other.
And finally, thank you for reading my story, and thank you for reviewing. Happy belated Thanksgiving!