Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the characters.
Chapter 8
BPOV
Alec had immediately phoned the airport when we got in the Escalade, and now we were comfortably seated in first class again and on our way back to Volterra. I sat between the two of them, like before, only now with a picture in my hands. My eyes were glued to Edward's face. Alec's voice broke the silence.
"Isabella?" He said, tentatively. "Did you know any other vampires in Forks?"
"No. The only others left after the Cullens killed James. Long story. Why do you ask?"
"Isabella." It was Demetri who spoke this time. "Didn't you realize that the people who pulled into the Cullens' drive were vampires? They chased us back to the Escalade. That's why you had the second premonition and we had to leave. They almost caught up to us."
Wait. What? "No. No, I don't know who it could have been," I said, voice trembling. I was physically shaking. Alec looped his arm through mine and took my hand, putting his other hand over mine in a soothing gesture. "How do you know?"
"Didn't you hear them chase us to the vehicle on foot? No one but vampires could have been that fast." Alec spoke softly, as if he was being very careful with me. It had the right effect; I was staying calm.
"I didn't notice anyone running after us."
"Your newborn senses are running wild. It's so much new sensory information that you aren't used to that you miss some things. You'll be able to take everything in, in time." Demetri said, matter-of-factly.
So, the Cullens had rented their house out to other vampires? That seemed totally out of character. Maybe it was the Denalis? I calmed down. It would make sense; after all, they were vegetarians, too. It would make sense that they would chase us after we'd been in the house. "It could have been another coven the Cullens were friends with. I've heard Carlisle and the others speak of them some." The guys nodded; it seemed to make sense to them, too.
I settled back in my seat for the rest of the plane ride. Alec still had my hand. I didn't know how I felt about that. It felt good to have someone comfort me, regardless of how it was done, so I let it go. It was still painful to look at him, beautiful reminder that he was. Edward had always been a brooding vampire; it looked like I was about to take his title. I had had eight human months to cry; I resolved then to harbor my misery more quietly and less obviously in this life. Apparently, when we got back to Volterra, Aro had big plans for me, and I needed to resign myself to living this new life and be satisfied with the memories I had of the former one. I would busy myself with training, forging new friendships, and hopefully, schooling. I desperately needed to contribute to the funds that I had already begun spending.
When we landed a few hours later, I found myself mentally exhausted. My brain had been running nonstop since I found the pictures and the CD. Demetri had said his goodbyes and taken his own bag from Justin when we arrived back on the Volturi grounds, but Alec was still at my side as we reached my floor. "Alec, I think I'm going to go to my room and just try to calm my brain for a little while. Thanks for going with me." Looking at his beautiful face was too much right now; I needed to be alone with my music and my pictures. Alec nodded, a look of concern on his face, and sent Justin on his way with my bag.
"If you need anything, my bedroom is right above yours. I'll be in there for a bit." Taking his bag, he ascended the flight of stairs and was out of sight. I sighed, touched at his kindness to me, and turned to my own bedroom.
I couldn't sleep, it was true, but the huge bed looked wonderful right now. I walked to the music player and popped in the disc, putting the lullaby on repeat, and walked back to the bed. I found myself wishing that someone had put some new logs in my fireplace, when I noticed the little knob to the side—it was gas logs. Wonderful. I turned the fireplace on and jumped in the big bed with my pictures, pulling the covers down and cozying up underneath them. I listened to that song play over and over, while I stared at his face. Why did he leave them for me? Was it because he didn't want any reminder of me? He could have just thrown them away, if that was the case. It didn't make any sense.
I found myself lying there missing not only him, but the rest of his family, so much that the hole in my chest throbbed. I pulled the covers over my head, amazed that I could still see the pictures in the dark. I ran over each of their faces in my mind, and when I got to Emmett, I found myself so grateful for Felix that I could have gone and hugged the big vampire right then. His personality was so like Emmett's. I couldn't decide if Jane was more like Rosalie, or Alice. Bitchy as she was, I resolved right then to love her. As if on cue, I heard an exasperated sigh.
"You've been laying in here for three hours, and that damned song has played a total of three hundred and ninety-seven times." Jane's voice was thoroughly annoyed.
"It's not played three hundred ninety-seven times," I mumbled, grumpily.
"Close enough. Are you going to mope around for eternity or are you going to get up and get started?" I heard her as she walked over to the music player. She stopped the song and immediately turned to the bed and ripped the covers off my head. "You look like hell."
"Thanks, Jane." Sarcasm. "What am I supposed to get started at?"
"Well, for one thing, it's morning, it's rainy, and you and I are going shopping to fill out the rest of your wardrobe. Then, you're coming back and working with Felix on combat skills, and we'll go from there. What kind of Beethoven bullshit did you have playing, anyway?"
Little Jane cursed worse than any sailor I'd ever heard of, to look so tiny and princess-like. It was actually kind of amusing. "Edward wrote that for me." It was all I needed to say. I was sure the whole house full of vampires knew the significance of the Cullens to me, and her look confirmed it.
"I'm guessing you picked it up on your trip?" Her voice was a little softer now, a little less aggravated. "Look, Isabella." She sat down beside me, and smoothed the mess of hair on my head. "I've never been through the hurt that you have. There's nothing I can say to make it better, and I can't even understand it. I'm not the most compassionate person in the world, so let me just say it like this: You are going to have to get up and get on with your life here. I know it can't be easy for you, but Alec, Felix, Demitri and I will be here to give you a swift kick in the rear when you need it. Like now." She pulled me up. "Now, go change out of that outfit you've been wearing for like, two days, God help you, and we're going." Crap, it was Alice all over again.
I did look like hell. My hair was limp and frizzed, and my two day clothes were rumpled. I took them off and threw them in the hamper. "Do those humans do laundry?" I asked.
"Who else?" I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. "I've got your clothes ready."
I could see this was probably going to be the norm, so I went ahead and walked out to the bedroom in my pink and black underwear. As I suspected, she had a new set laid out for me; it was lavender lace hipster panties and a push-up bra. Without a thought of modesty, I took one set off and put the other on.
"Well, you got over that stupidity pretty quickly."
"I didn't think you were going to give me much choice." I pulled on the dark jeans and brown cashmere shirt lying on the bed; she handed me a cream crushed velvet blazer with a brown skinny belt and a pair of tortoise-shell sunglasses. I stepped into the brown leather flats at my feet. "I'm guessing we don't take the glasses off?"
"Well, they're a lot less trouble than contacts. I hate the things. Plus, people think you're important when you don't ever take the glasses off." She grinned. "They tend to get out of your way quicker. Not that we'll have a problem getting people out of our way; they tend to sense that they shouldn't be around us." Yeah, don't remind me. I was always the dummy that flocked to vampires. "There's your jewelry." She pointed to my nightstand. As I was putting on the silver pearl drop earrings and Cartier watch, Jane pulled my hair back into a quick wrapped ponytail and spun me around and swept my bangs to the side. "Let's go."
We walked down the stairs and to the massive garage, weaving through the various vehicles to Jane's car. When we got there, even I, who could care less about cars, had to be impressed. Jane noticed my interest, and patted the white hood proudly. "It's a Bentley. Just got it last week. This baby'll fly." I rolled my eyes. Vampires and their need for speed. She spoke again. "We'll stop by the dealership and pick up one for you on the way home. Unless you'd rather have an Audi, or maybe a Volvo—"
"No! No Volvos!" I said it a bit too forcefully, and she looked at me like I was a crazy person. "One of these is fine," I said, opening the passenger door and stepping inside. "But I'd rather have red." I grinned at her, hoping to move past my outburst. I didn't really want to spend any money for myself on a car, but I knew better already than to argue with little Jane.
My interest in the car seemed to appease her. "Red," she said, smiling at the thought, then hit the gas, and the sleek little car shot backward and out of the garage like a bolt of lightening. "Red it will be, then. Let's go do some retail therapy!"
It was early evening when we got back, and if I could have been physically exhausted, I would have been. Jane was a retail Nazi. She moved me in and out of stores like a herder; we must have gone to more than a hundred. My little black credit card had been put through the ringer today. I had enough bags of new clothes, shoes, and jewelry to keep Justin busy making trips to my bedroom for a while.
I had driven myself back to the estate in my new red Bentley, with lovely black leather seats. I could not believe I was excited about a car. I also now understood the obsession with speed: pushing the accelerator to the floor and whooshing past everything was invigorating. Watching Jane at the dealership had been fun. We'd driven around the lot until I spotted the car. We'd gotten out, and immediately a well dressed salesman had approached us.
"Hello, there, ladies," he'd said, smiling and extending his hand to Jane, who was closest. She had simply stared at him, unsmiling. He pulled his hand back and ran it nervously through his thick hair. "What are we looking for today?"
"My friend wants this car." She patted the hood impatiently.
"Well, now, let's go look at the books and see what kind of deal we can do. It just came in yesterday, and there aren't rebates on this model, but I can throw in an awesome packa—"
"I couldn't give a damnabout the price," Jane hissed, enunciating the curse. The salesman's eyes rounded, and Jane leaned around him, recognizing someone. "Russell."
"Miss Carrington, I'm so sorry I didn't notice you drive up. How can I help you today?" Russell sent the other bewildered man on his way. "The red one?"
"Yes, Russell, my friend Isabella will take this one. Will you draw up the papers as usual, and put the expense on the Volturi account?" She was efficient, and Russell seemed to be used to dealing with her. He hadn't attempted to shake her hand or wheel and deal her, like the other unfortunate man.
"That won't be a problem, Miss Carrington." He pulled a pen from his inside pocket and began scribbling on a small notepad. "What is the name on the paperwork?"
"Isabella Sw—" Jane started, and I interrupted her.
"Isabella Masen," I corrected, and I saw Jane raise her eyebrow at me.
"Alright, Miss Masen. I'll be right back with your keys and title." Russell disappeared, and I shook my head at Jane's questioning look.
"Carrington really is my true surname," she grouched.
"I'll explain later."
I was pulled back to the present when Jane reminded me of that promise. "So, what's with the new last name, Miss Masen?"
I paused for a half second to think it over. I had decided to use the name not long after I stopped burning. I didn't want to go into the fact that Masen was Edward's true surname. I didn't want to tell her that it helped me to feel like he wasn't lost to me forever to take his name. So, I settled for telling her only part of the truth. "I'm a completely new person, or being, or whatever. Bella Swan doesn't exist anymore, in a sense. Isabella Masen is starting her life now." Jane seemed satisfied with that. "I'm going to my room. I need to put away all this stuff you thought I need." As I raced up the stairs, I heard her mutter, "You do need it."
I walked into my room and strolled right past all the bags Justin had placed neatly in the floor. For the second time that day, I crawled into my bed and pulled the covers over my head and closed my eyes. I hoped desperately that Felix wouldn't come looking for me for a while. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts of Edward for a few minutes. Now I was beautiful and strong. When would I see him again? I imagined the impression I would make and what I would say to him in that moment, and pictured the surprise on his angel face. In my mind's eye, I allowed my gaze to move from his face to his muscled chest, and then to roam over the rest of him. God knew what I would have done to him if given half a chance. I smiled at the thought, allowing my imagination to pursue the fantasy, but my enjoyment was short lived. I heard a click as my door opened and shut. I ripped the covers off my head. "Jane, can I just have a little while without-Oh!" I gasped, because the person who had entered my room was most certainly not Jane.
It was Edward Cullen.
