A/N: Don't kill me. I cannot even begin to tell you everything that has been going on. Long story short, my 6 month old niece is still in the hospital needing more heart surgeries and that isn't even all of it. I have been writing to her instead of this but I made a promise that I intend on keeping! This might not be my best chapter but here it is:
EPOV
It might sound creepy, but it is always interesting watching Bella sleep. Well, maybe listening to her sleep would be more exact. For a long time I have known that Bella spoke in her sleep but Bella as a child did so much more. You know that phrase people use when they know something so well they can, "practically recite it in their sleep?" Well, Bella could literally recite fairy tales in her sleep. It was amazing. I was used to random phrases and words but this child sleeping in front of me was reciting almost word for word Grimm's Rumplestitskin, though not quite saying every word right. She would picture the story in her head but it wouldn't be how you would think a child would dream. In her head she saw the pages. The words didn't make sense and the pictures moved slightly but somehow, it all made sense.
I was mesmerized by this amazing girl when Esme poked her head in the room. "Edward," she spoke softly, "may I have a quick word with you?" I didn't want to leave Bella but I could tell that whatever Esme needed to talk about seemed important. I reluctantly left Bella's side and walked into the living room with Esme. I left the door cracked so I could still hear Bella talking. Esme sighed as we sat down. "Is she reciting fairy tales?"
" Yes, how did you know?" I asked, slightly stunned that Esme knew, though I shouldn't have been.
"Every night before bed, Bella's mother would read her a fairy tale. She started doing it when she first found out she was pregnant. Around this age," Esme nodded toward the door, "Bella's mom wasn't home to read her the stories and her father didn't believe in corrupting his daughter's mind with such nonsense," Esme explained. "Bella started trying to tell herself the stories from what she could remember and from the pictures in the books. She knows some stories better than others."
How is it that I knew nothing of this part of Bella's life? I was running through every conversation I ever had with Bella in my head when Esme got my attention again.
"Edward, I was speaking with Carlisle and he said that Bella should begin aging at a fairly fast pace and I think there are some things that you should know about so you can be prepared." How much more did I not know about her? "Let me start with something that very few know about myself; it is not entirely true that I do not have any powers.
"I do not have powers in a way that would be good in a quarrel or most emergency situations, perhaps the gifts I have are more of senses than powers. You see, I have two gifts, the first: I can tell when people are lying, even if it is one of those lies you tell to be nice, it was very helpful when raising Emmett. The second…" she paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "You know that time when a person like yourself gets your powers?" I nodded not really understanding where this was going. "Well, before you receive your powers, whether you realize it or not, you make a very significant decision. This decision determines whether you will be using your powers for good, to help people or if you are going to use them to hurt people and this decision, once made is nearly impossible to reverse. I have the ability to see which path someone has chosen."
The room was silent for a moment, "Why are you telling me this?" I asked with a strong feeling that I was about to be told that I was destined to hurt Bella because it is impossible that I could have changed.
Esme gave me a kind smile, "I can see you are worried, and I fear I have caused a misunderstanding. When I first met you throwing rocks at my niece's window I could tell that you were on a different path than Carlisle and the kids. But even then I could see a change coming, I could see the good coming out in you and the powerful feelings that you have for Bella made it possible for you to change. I am telling you this because of Bella.
"Bella never actually made that choice between good or bad. Her childhood was very difficult and confusing for her and somehow her powers came without her actually choosing a side." I was speechless. I couldn't picture Bella not being a hero, after all of the lectures she gave and how hurt she was when she found out I was Master Mind this did not make sense to me.
"Bella is the way she is because of how we raised her after her parents passed away. You can see hints of her darker side when she is angry, remember when she almost killed Jacob, and when she destroyed that town? I don't think she knows she is capable of turning but she is very susceptible to being steered in the wrong direction and we fear that once that happens, it may be irreversible.
"I am telling you this because, when Bella was a child, her actions were not very honorable. She was an angry child and her father, without realizing fully what he was doing, fueled this anger. I don't know how fast she will age, Carlisle thinks it should be fairly quick, but if she wakes up at an age where she still lived alone with her father…"
"Esme," I interrupted, "I am sorry, but I don't understand. Bella doesn't ever seem to have bad memories of her parents."
"Of course she doesn't. And I am afraid that is a bit harder to explain and unfortunately I cannot explain it to you. She knows her parents loved her, she knows that her parents were taken from her by James Marshall and that is all she really needs to remember."
"She mentioned something about her mom going out with someone else, or taking her somewhere. What-"
"I'm sorry Edward, I truly cannot share more than I have. Like I said, she had a hard childhood, most of which she does not dwell on, and might not…anyway, it is not something we should discuss dear.
"Esme, I don't…"
"I should go see what else Carlisle has found," She cautiously looked toward the bedroom then quickly rose to her feet, "please just be careful." And with that she left in a hurry leaving me with more questions than answers. Why couldn't she tell me about Bella's childhood? How could Bella not be on the 'good' path? Why would I have to be careful?
I was contemplating this as I walked back into the bedroom to see how Bella was doing. I slowly opened the door to find…an empty bed. My heart dropped for a moment, did he get her? Did she run away? Is she-
Before I could scan the room or even finish my thought I was thrown across the room into the wall, barely missing the book filled shelves. I composed myself enough to see a very angry little girl who couldn't be more than 9, with disheveled hair, holding her arm out, crushing me against this wall with an evil look in her eye.
"Bella," I choked out as she tightened the force around my neck.
"Isabella," she corrected, "Who are you? Where am I and how did I get here?" she growled.
"B-" her grip tightened more, and I was feeling light headed. She pulled me forward and slammed me back against the wall.
"You are going to pay for this, do you know who I am?" She asked as I struggled to breathe. A wicked smirk made it's way to her lips as she watched me struggle.
"Isabella Marie Swan," Carlisle's voice boomed throughout the room causing Bella's head to jerk in his direction, "put him down, now."
Bella's eyes narrowed at her uncle, "Well look who it is," she sneered, "who are you to tell me what to do? And how dare you call me that. You left Uncle Aro, you gave up your power and abandoned your family so mind your business." She turned her head back towards me and tightened her grasp more and I was sure my neck was going to snap. I knew I should blink, but I couldn't help but think that it would scare her and even with my life at stake I didn't want to risk hurting her.
"Isabella," Carlisle warned and my eyes shut as everything was becoming hazy. I heard a mocking chuckle followed by a crash and Bella screaming for them to let her go as I fell to the ground.
Carlisle came over to me and healed my neck and I looked up to see Esme, Emmett and Alice restraining Bella. I instinctively jumped up to help Bella but Carlisle held me back. Bella was screaming, cursing everyone but she wasn't making sense. She kept calling Carlisle, Aro and Esme, Sulpicia.
"Enough," Carlisle roared stopping Bella's rant, "Isabella your behavior is unacceptable. What would your mother say if-"
"My mother is a lying cheating whore," Bella spit. Carlisle's eyes were hard and he menacingly walked over to the restrained child.
"You are an insolent naive child. Do you know what your mother has done for you?"
"Didyme has done nothing for me. Do you know what my father will do to you when he discovers you have stolen me from the castle?"
Carlisle's thoughts changed. He was battling a decision, he locked eyes with Esme and with a reluctant approving nod his decision was made.
"Isabella," he started softly but stern, "there is something you should know, your-"
"Show her," Esme interrupted. Carlisle's confused eyes found her face. "It's not the best way but she won't believe you unless you show her." I could tell that Carlisle didn't like this idea, but in his head I could hear his thoughts, 'she's right, we had to show her then.' Before Carlisle could speak Esme spoke again, "Alice, I need you to take Isabella and I somewhere."
Alice looked very concerned about this, she looked at me. "She isn't going anywhere without me," I chimed in. I couldn't let her go alone. As much as she might not know or like me at the moment or age she is I cannot let her be hurt. I trusted that Carlisle would not do anything to traumatize her but I had a bad feeling about this.
"Fine," Esme accepted and held the squirming Bella tightly while reaching her hand out for Alice. I rushed over and helped restrain my wife as Emmett let go and we whirled out of the room.
When we stopped we were in a simple house, it was a wreck, everything was jostled up as if someone had picked up the house and shaken it. Bella broke away from our grasp and slowly examined the damage. Her breathing picked up then suddenly stopped as her eyes rested for a moment on something behind the couch. She sprinted over to the couch but Esme grabbed her before she could reach her desired location. "NO!" Bella screamed, "Daddy! Let me go!" she struggled. "Daddy please, no! I have to help him!" Tears were streaming down her face as Esme held her as tight as possible. Bella then fell to her knees and began to cry harder than I have ever seen.
I moved closer to the couch and glanced over it to see a man lying face down on the floor, eyes open, mouth open clearly lifeless. How could they do this to her? Why would you show her her father like this?
"Esme, why…" I started
"She had to see it," she regretfully said, her own tears forming in her eyes. "I am so sorry Bella," She whispered and held her niece close to her chest, consoling her through her tears.
"This is her fault," bella choked out. " This…is…"
"No sweetheart," Esme said, "I'll show you, Alice?"
Alice reached out for Esme then reached her free hand out to me. She seemed to know what the plan was, like this had happened before. What more could they possibly show her? I reached for her hand as I watched Bella burry her face in Esme's shoulder.
When we stopped spinning again we were in a dark damp place. It seemed more like a prison than a home. No place for a child. Bella's tearstained eyes examined her surroundings.
"Bella?" a small voice called from a shadow. "Isabella, what are you doing here?" Bella jumped to her feet and ran into the darkness. I heard more sobbing.
"Mommy, why? Why did you leave us?"
"Darling, I would never leave you if I could avoid it. You know I love you more than anything." The woman comforted her child. She sighed and continued, "Bella, I had to be as far away from you as possible to protect you. I couldn't let him know about you. But look," the woman took a paper from her pocket, "I keep you and your father close by at all times." Bella studied the paper then looked back at her mother and held her tightly.
There was a loud bang and Bella's mother looked worried, "you need to leave and promise me you will not come back here."
"But…"
"No buts. I need you to be safe, promise me." Bella nodded. The woman gave her one more tight squeeze and motioned for her to join Esme. And as quickly as we got there, we were gone.
Alice had whirled us back to our time, our house, where Carlisle was waiting for us.
Bella was no longer struggling but rather motionless except for her sobs. Her head was down, her eyes not meeting anyone's. She had the picture that her mother had shown her and that was the only thing she would look at. Esme backed away from Bella and motioned for Alice to do the same.
Carlisle cautiously approached the child and kneeled before her. "Bella?" she did not move, "I know you are hurting and it might have been cruel to show you those things but you have every right to know why you are here with us instead of home with your parents. Do you understand?" Bella nodded slightly, still not taking her eyes off the photograph.
"Aro?" she whispered.
"Carlisle," he corrected.
"Uncle Carlisle," she corrected, "is mommy's friend going to hurt her?"
"I am afraid he already has." He confirmed, "When Aunt Esme and her friend Alice took you to see your mom, they took you a little bit into the past. Your mom loves you very much, I think your dad forgot that and he didn't know that she left to help protect both of you."
"They are both…gone?" Bella choked out. I wanted nothing more than to grab her and protect her from the hurt they were allowing her to feel but I knew, or hoped, they knew what they were doing.
"I am afraid so kiddo. You are going to stay with Aunt Esme and me, would you like that?"
Bella seemed semi catatonic. She had stopped crying but would not look anywhere and wouldn't move except to barely nod her head.
"Let's get you back to bed so you can rest." Carlisle picked her up and placed her gently into the bed. She curled up on her side in the fetal position and held her picture close, squeezing her eyes closed.
I stood watching, feeling helpless. I looked at Carlisle and Esme and I had a million questions for them, I was angry at them, but I didn't want to leave Bella's side. They silently left the room as I stood and watched Bella console herself, afraid to go closer. I would demand answers to my questions, but not until my Bella stopped hurting.
A/N: feel free to tell me if it is terrible or if it doesn't make sense. I know it is confusing having Bella being little but it is all because of what the guy who is after her injected her with.
Please feel free to love on or hate on the chapter. I love reviews either way. Thank you so much for reading. You guys are amazing! And thank you for being patient with me!
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