"I can't take this anymore, Bella." I said through clenched teeth, pacing around the room. "How could he do this? I mean, I knew he didn't really like me – but to you? To Renesmee?"
I glanced over at Bella. She hadn't moved from her spot by the door since Edward had left.
"He hates me," she finally said, her voice quiet. "And he's making me suffer for what I've done."
I crossed the room and placed a hand on Bella's shoulder. "Bella, we did nothing wrong. You can't control how you feel."
Bella turned her head to look at me. "He saved my life, Jacob. I'd be dead, buried in the ground if he hadn't turned me." She paused for a second before continuing. "I'm indebt to him because of it."
"No, Bella! You're not. You only think you are. I'm not sure if you know this, but after Renesmee was born, and you were dying, Edward asked my permission to change you. I always have though that was strange. I mean, why didn't he just do it and deal with the consequences later? What if your heart had stopped beating while he was asking me? You could've died, Bella." I wrapped my arms around her gently. "I wouldn't have done that. I would have forgotten about that damn treaty if it meant you might have died."
"Jake," she said softly into my ear.
"I'm always going to put you first, Bella."
I heard the sound of a creaking door, and jumped away from Bella, crouching down, getting ready to pounce. A vampire stepped into the doorway – Felix was his name, I thought.
"Can I help you, Felix?" Bella spoke with a very hostile tone to her voice.
"I brought a mattress for the mutt to sleep on."
"Whoa, back up. We're sleeping here?" I interjected. "For how long?"
Felix threw an old mattress into our room. It looked disgusting. "I'll leave that question for Edward to answer." He turned around to leave the room, but stopped momentarily. "And, Bella? Sorry about earlier."
Bella face remained carved out of stone, and she began to follow him out the door, but stopped dead in her tracks at the doorway. She backed up slowly, and Edward stepped in the room.
"Edward, what's going on?" Bella's voice shook slightly. "How long are we staying here?"
"Well, the dog is in here for life. As for you, Bella, the Volturi have given you a proposition."
"And that would be?"
"Join us."
"Edward, you know I'm never going to do that. What's my other option?"
He stared straight ahead towards the other side of the room, careful not to make eye contact with either of us. "You stay here and starve to death."
"Edward? Come on. What's happened to you?"
"You've made your choice, Bella. I've made mine." Edward spoke slowly, and his voice had an unusual cold tone to it. It almost sent shivers down my spine.
Bella took a step towards him, and extended her arm outwards, brushing her fingertips along his arm. I watched as Edward closed his eyes, and at that exact moment, I don't think I had ever seen him look so vulnerable. His eyes shot open then, and I realized he must have been reading my thoughts. Edward looked Bella straight in the face with his blood red eyes, but said nothing.
"Do you remember when I was human, you said to me that you would do whatever you could to make me happy?" Bella's voice was calm as she spoke. Edward nodded his head, and she continued. "Why can't you see that this," She gestured to me, "Jacob and I, this is what I need? This is what makes me happy."
Edward seemed to struggle to answer, opening his mouth several times only to close it without saying anything, but finally he managed to form a sentence. "I always thought you would choose me," he said quietly, almost as if it was to himself.
Bella didn't answer, and just stood there staring at Edward. He wasn't saying anything either. I watched them, both standing perfectly still, as if they were statues. It was like they were having a silent conversation through their eyes, although I couldn't tell what they were saying. Finally, Edward put me out of my misery.
"Jacob," he spoke slowly, not even bothering to look me in the eyes. His never left Bella's. "That is none of your concern."
"Yeah, well it's none of your concern for what's going on in my head. Stay out of it!" I snapped back, and turned my back to them.
I could hear them whispering quietly to each other while I looked out the small, dungeon-like window in our room. I laughed to myself; they both knew I could perfectly well hear them.
"Let's step outside the room for a second, Bella. I'd like to continue this conversation in private." Edward was making it extremely obvious that he didn't want me included in their conversation. I hit my breaking point.
I turned around, furious. "I said to stay out of my head, bloodsucker!"
Edward pushed Bella towards the now open door, but she didn't budge.
"Bella, get out of here. I don't want you to see this." Edward's voice was rather calm, although I could see a small fraction of fear in his eyes as he spoke.
"I'm not going anywhere, Edward. Wherever Jacob goes, I go. And wherever I go, he goes." She glared at him. "I won't leave Jacob."
I smirked when Edward's eyes met mine again. I knew my Bells would never leave me, just as I would never leave her.
"You're really testing my patience, mutt."
The rumbling in my chest started, and I felt my hands beginning to shake. I took a deep breath, not wanting to phase quite yet, but still I planted my feet. I was itching for a fight, and Edward knew it.
My vision of Edward was blocked when Bella stepped in between us.
"Why do you two always have to fight? Can't we just get along?"
I looked at Bella like she was crazy. "Bella. I'm a werewolf, he's a bloodsucker. We're meant to fight, hell, we're supposed to fight!"
Edward shook his head, and I noticed that for a rare instance, Edward and I agreed on something. "I have to agree with Jacob. It's in our nature to fight."
"Edward, get out of here." Bella's voice was stone cold.
He backed up slowly to the door. "What should I tell Aro?"
Bella leaned into Edward, putting her lips right beside his ear. "I'd rather be torn apart and burned in pieces."
I laughed. Coward.
Edward's eyes flicked over to mine, and within a split-second, he lunged himself towards me.
