All Things Twilight belong to the Awesomely Awesome Stephenie Meyer


Chapter 10 - The Ruse

"Alice?" I hissed her name as I once again snuck away from the large grouping. I was wandering around the forest outside the house, she'd asked me to meet her so we could talk away from prying ears.

"Bella?" Alice giggled, she was deeper in the forest, but I could hear her as clearly as I could hear the breeze pushing past me. I ran towards her voice, finding her quickly.

"This is so exciting," she sang pulling me into the shadow of a large cluster of trees. "I feel like we should be in some cheesy spy movie from the eighties."

"Alice," I laughed wrapping my arm around her shoulders. "There really is no need for all of this, we could have spoken out of ear shot in the house!"

"Where's the fun in that?"

I shook her gently with the arm that was still wrapped around her shoulders, and then I dropped my arm. It seemed neither of us were as worried about the situation anymore, it had become more of a game. A game of wits, and it seemed Alice and I had the upper hand. We'd managed to keep the discovery of my gift from coming up in the conversation before Tanya and Soren left, which meant that Tanya wouldn't know that I would be able to block the offensive when it came at us. Alice would see when it was coming, and she would know whether or not Soren agreed. This was something we were both unsure about, it was the reason we'd kept this to ourselves, if Soren disagreed to Tanya's wishes, the problem would never arise.

Yes, it was a game of wits, a strategic game that would finally show the Cullen's what Tanya was capable of. It was strange because I didn't hate Tanya for this, nor would I hold it against her. Edward was an amazing man, and I was sure that any unmated female would be blind not to notice him. I had just been lucky enough to have him notice me. I just hoped Tanya wouldn't lose her temper with us. There was a chance, albeit a small one, but a chance all the same, that she truly believed the Cullen's would be happy about Edward seemingly genuine change of heart.

I was becoming curious as to why she hadn't factored in Alice's gift, or how she thought our family would be accepting of the situation, did she honestly believe this would work and no one would notice?

"This isn't supposed to be fun, Alice."

"I know but I can't help enjoying myself, do you know how long it's been since I could keep secrets?"

"Fifty odd years?"

"Guess you do know." Alice laughed.

"I don't want to hurt anyone, Alice. I just want to protect my husband from this insanity."

"I know, and quite honestly, I'm shocked. I can't believe Tanya would do this, it's almost farcical the way it's turned out."

Farcical seemed like an apt description of todays events. If I hadn't have known better I would have thought it was a joke. More to the point, I couldn't believe Tanya would think she could get around this unnoticed. Did she have a plan Alice and I hadn't seen?

"Do you think we're overreacting?" I asked. "I mean, how can she think no one would notice?"

"I think that's the problem, she's not thinking. It seems to me like her jealousy has clouded her judgment, I don't believe she's gone through every aspect of this."

"But she hasn't attempted anything since that first time, why now?"

"Are you insane?" Alice laughed. "She tries every time we come here . . ." Alice's voice trailed off into nothing as she noticed my expression. "Oops."

"Alice, are you telling me that Tanya has never gotten over this thing she has for Edward?"

"He didn't tell you?"

"No, he didn't. He told me she expressed interest and he declined, he implied that it happened once."

Alice's silence told me all I needed to know, the sounds of the forest surrounding us thumped through my ears. Why hadn't he told me? Had I simply not listened? Had I assumed?

I spun around and headed back towards the house.

"Bella, where are you going?"

I ignored the question and marched on, my confusion and anger were driving me forwards, since I had met Soren my emotions had been spiraling slowly out of control. Paranoia and guilt were comfortable companions in my mind and my emotions were running ragged. I was beginning to feel like my happy little world had been turned upside down.

I heard Alice's footsteps behind me, but she stayed out of my line of sight. I thundered on, dull human memories ran through my mind again. Rosalie had been the one to mention it, I remembered that much, and I had outright asked Edward about it. What if I had been naive, I had let the conversation end at that, I never asked him whether or not she was still interested, I hadn't even asked him if she'd expressed interest since.

Crap, why did my emotions have to be so unstable, I didn't care if I was a new born. I needed to get a grip!

I stopped and looked at Alice who was trotting behind me wearily. "Alice, am I overreacting?"

"Well, I really don't know what he told you Bella, so I can't say for certain."

I sighed and looked at the house and back at Alice.

"I just want you to let me know when they've made the decision."

Alice nodded, "As soon as I see something, you'll know."

I nodded and continued back to the house. This time I tried thinking a little more clearly. If it came up again I would ask Edward, but with the the impending situation it would be a moot point. It would have to be one of those things I pushed to the back of my mind.

Walking calmed me down a little, it stopped the aggravation from getting to me, it also gave me a chance to run the conversation through my head over and over again looking for connotations that I had perhaps missed. A little interest, he'd certainly down-played the situation. Yet I couldn't hold it against him. He'd been through so much with me and Jacob, it also seemed as though Mike Newton had gotten to him on occasion. I was just overreacting, he wasn't interested so why should this bother me so much?

Perhaps it was their insistence at bringing me here, all the assurances that I was worrying about nothing. Maybe it was because Tanya was gorgeous, even among vampires. I didn't know for certain, but at least I didn't feel crazy anymore.

"Hey, Love. Where were you?" Edward embraced me as I entered the house. His touch wiped away the last of the anger and questions that had been brewing in my mind. I finally felt relaxed again. His golden eyes were full of concern as he read my expression. I knew I hadn't been quick enough. I couldn't out this on his shoulders yet, I had to wait for confirmation, I had to know that she would go through with it.

"What's the matter?" Edward looked over my shoulder and saw Alice following me in. I could tell he was trying to read her mind, his eyes narrowed slightly with confusion. I shrugged and kissed him lightly on the neck, wrapping my arms around his waist. His arms pulled me tighter to him. I could feel the tension in his muscles. I, however, felt better, being this close to him and inhaling his scent calmed my overactive mind. i just hoped he wouldn't be uupset that I'd kept this from him.

"What's Alice up to?" he whispered into my hair.

"Why do you think she's up to something?" my voice was muffled against his shirt.

"She's blocking me."

"It's not me." I laughed

"No, she's translating again, keeping her mind busy."

I turned my head on his chest and looked at Alice. I winked at her so she would know that whatever she was doing was working. She smiled and headed towards where Jasper was waiting for her with open arms.

The rest of the night was spent on the couches with Alice and Jasper. Jasper and I had become so much closer since my change, he had been disappointed at my lack of bloodlust in the beginning, nut now he was happy that he could spend more time with Alice, even if she was around me. He'd also been a good brother, answering any questions I had about my new life. The four of us spent a lot of time together, we enjoyed one another's company.

Nothing happened for hours, we just sat chatting about when we first met and how things had changed since then. We skipped over the black period, it became a habit now, we never spoke of that time, there was nothing to say, our lives had simply skipped a beat in those long months. The only good memory it brought back was my easy friendship with Jake. Easy at the time anyway.

Each of us fell silent as we lulled into our own memories, it was the closest to sleep I had gotten since I had been changed, it felt so comfortable and natural. Edward and I were laid side by side on a couch, his arm hung around my waist and his breath washed across my neck sending loose strands of my hair dancing across my neck. It was easy to be with one another like this, it's how we spent our time while in our meadow. The meadow was definitely somewhere I wanted to visit before we moved away from Forks. It was where our story began, it was where we declared our love for one another. More recently, it was where I had realized that I'd wanted to marry Edward.

On another couch, Alice was lying on Jasper's chest, Jasper's hand was tracing gentle patterns across Alice's back. Alice looked as though she'd achieved sleep, her dainty lids covered her bright eyes and her face was the epitome of relaxation. I understood their love for one another now, they were two halves of a whole, they were so attuned to one another they rarely found a need to speak. Jasper lived for Alice alone, she was the only thing he'd ever wanted since he'd met her, his entire world revolved around her. It reminded me a lot of the wolves imprinting, the way Jacob has described it was, gravity moves, and when I looked at Alice and Jasper it made perfect sense.

There was never silence, our hearing never allowed that, there were always background noises. Most of the noise came from the forest, it was teeming with wildlife. I listened as the gentle padding of hooves and the gentle thud of heartbeats gave away their location. They gave the house a wide berth because of us, our scent scared them, with good reason. I listened as the animals collectively wandered, the sound was hypnotic, easily lulling me into a false form of slumber.

"Bella!" Alice practically screeched my name. My eyes met hers and without even thinking about it I pushed the bubble around her, it was almost to easy now it moved to her with speed and accuracy, I felt her presence as soon as it wrapped around her mind. Alice, was finally seeing what we'd been waiting for. She needed the privacy only I could give her, so she could see it clearly. I sat up, keeping the bubble intact around her as she watched the decision's being made.

Edward was sat up behind me, I imagined it had been the same time as I had, I hadn't felt him move, but I knew Alice's call had alerted him. he placed a hand on my shoulder, I knew he was looking for answers. I turned to looked at him, but kept a mental image of the bubble surrounding Alice. It seemed to work. I could still feel her presence and the wide expanse of my mind as it formed around her mind.

Edward's eyes were full of concern and confusion and my breath hitched in my throat, I hated not telling him everything. Unfortunately, this was something I had to be sure of, and he had to be kept out of the loop until I knew what was coming at us and how to deal with it.

"Bella? What's going on?" His voice cut through me, my resolve weakened a little. I hated this deception.

"I'll explain everything later," I sighed. "I just want to make sure we're right."

Edward's eyes narrowed and then he nodded. His trust in me was more than I could ever ask for. I appreciated that he was willing to drop it until I needed to tell him, even as sure as I was about him understanding all if this, i couldn't let him throw accusations around without proof. Proof was where Alice's idea came into play, it was also something I was still unsure about. I kissed Edward's lips gently and stood up, heading towards Alice. Her eyes focused on me and she nodded, it had been as I'd feared, Tanya had asked and Soren had agreed.

"When?" I whispered.

Jasper sat up and looked between Alice and I, I knew he could feel our emotions, and I was sure that about now he was as curious as Edward was.

"When they get back."

"When?" I repeated.

"Thirty minutes at most."

I nodded and looked back at Edward, his eyes were flickering between Alice and I, he was trying to decipher our expressions, but it was pointless. I was shocked, and Alice was still in the bubble. the only thing I could feel was nausea, well as close as I could get to that, I didn't understand any of this. Why now, I understood that gifts like Soren's were more than likely few and far between, but still he was married, and happily married at that. Why would she want to take that away from him? Is wasn't as though Soren was going to be around forever. As soon as Edward had been given his free will, he would have, in my imagination at least, wanted to tear her head from her shoulders.

"Bella," Edward was up and heading towards me, I watched each of his muscles tense and relax as he moved, my mind was concentrating, but my eyes were on him. I was worrying him now. I was sure he still trusted my judgment, but he was worried. Alice and I had spoken without divulging one piece of critical information. All the boys knew, was something was coming and it would be here in less than thirty minutes.

"Edward, do you trust me?" I asked, my voice was barely above a whisper as the corners of my mind wrapped around the plan.

"Of course, unequivocally." his eyes were wide, my question had shocked him.

"I will explain, but I think it would be more . . ." what was the word he'd once used? "Prudent, if you let me show you."

Edward nodded at me, the shock was gone and it was replaced by his conviction in me. I knew I was taking a risk. I could easily block him from this so he would never know what was happening, but I needed him to understand why I was so suspicious of Tanya.

Alice watched me carefully. "Is it alright to move around?" she asked. I knew she was referring to the bubble that was surrounding her. I nodded, I had been mentally protecting her for the last ten minutes without much effort. I figured if I let my mind follow her presence I could continue to keep her surrounded. I would eventually have to test my limitations, but now was not the time.

Jasper's eyes darted between the two of us again, I had forgotten that we hadn't explained my gift to anyone. He was holding onto his emotions for now, like Edward, he knew something was coming, and not knowing what it was made him nervous, he didn't know whether to bunker down, run for the hills, or fight the good fight.

Alice stood up and paced the room, the look in her eyes told me her mind was working faster than I could ever keep up with. Jasper and Edward watched her as danced from left to right.

Her head popped up and she looked at me. "Ten minutes, they're moving quicker than I thought."

I took a deep breath and nodded, my eyes automatically searched for Edward to calm my now fraying nerves. Even with my ability to protect him, I was nervous, I didn't know how potent Soren's gift was, my mind protected me from him, but would it extend to protect others like it had done when Edward had tested it? I had seen his example with Kate and Rose, but I didn't even know how hard he'd been trying. I could feel my nerves bubbling inside me, they were running through my body, Clashing with the wave of calm Jasper was attempting to spread through me.

"Jasper, please stop that, you're breaking my concentration." Alice asked quietly.

Jasper looked at Alice, he was confused. "I wasn't directing that at you, Alice. I was directing it at Bella."

Alice and I exchanged glances. That was new. Somehow, being in the bubble exposed her to my experiences. We would address that later, it was just another limitation to test. For now we had to focus on what was coming.

"Five minutes."

Edward and Jasper now exchanged a glance. They weren't sure what was arriving in five minutes. I could see them considering their defensive stance. Alice shook her head at them.

"No need." she sighed.

The time was ticking away quickly, and I felt an overwhelming need to hold Edward as we counted down, something in the back of my mind made this feel like an apocalypse, I threw my arms around his neck with so much enthusiasm I almost knocked us both to the ground, I wished I could tell him, I wished I could protect him and act as though nothing had happened, but this was the only way to show him why I was so nervous, why I'd been acting so strange for the last couple of hours, why I distrusted Tanya.

Edward's hands crossed around my back and his hands cupped my neck gently. I looked into his anxious eyes, lost in the pooling of the gold.

"I love you, Edward." I whispered, leaning my forehead against his shoulder.

"Bella, you're scaring me, what's the matter? What's going on?"

"You're about to find out." Alice sighed, approaching me.

I kissed Edward's neck, I knew I was being silly, but I felt hopeless as I stepped back and waited.

Alice and I exchanged a look and she picked up my hand in support. Her tiny hand squeezed it gently and I knew we were out of time, and I was about to have a taste of life without Edward. I shuddered, biting back the threatening emotions.

"Now." she whispered, her eyes trained on Edward.

Alice and I stood in silence squeezing one another's hands, Jasper's eyes were watching us full of confusion and Edward look worried. I closed my eyes and pulled in a long unneeded breath as I waited for Soren to complete his end of the bargain with Tanya, and it occurred to me. Why would he agree? What was in this for him? He had known us all the same amount of time and there was no loyalties laid out yet, Why would he agree to hurt us like that?

"Why?" I said out loud, I caught the attention of the other three in the room.

Alice went to ask me what I was talking about but we both became distracted with the complete glazed look in Edward's eyes. I knew that the illusion had been set. Edward's expression changed drastically and my stomach lurched.

Jasper's eyes widened and he frowned at Edward. "What the hell?"

"What is it, Jazz?" Alice squeaked nodding at me. I released Alice from the confines of the bubble and relaxed as it gently formed around the shape of my mind again, hugging the shape as it relaxed. It was almost comforting to let it hug around me like this.

"Edward, is . . . Edward?" Jasper stuttered.

Edward looked around the small room, his eyes were on me, but the fire and passion that normally washed over him as he looked at me was no longer there. My chest cracked a little at the sight and my body rolled with a wave of nausea that would never show itself. The hollowness behind his eyes made my head spin, I felt cold for the first time since becoming immortal, tremors rolled through me violently. I hadn't been prepared for this, I hadn't expected that cold blank look, the hand that wasn't holding Alice's flew to my chest as grasped at the dead organ that hung uselessly behind the hard exterior.

"I'm sorry, Bella. I have to go." he whispered as he turned to leave the room. There was no emotion in his words, it didn't even sound like Edward to me, there was no warmth in his voice, no smile.

Jasper's eyes widened as he looked between Edward and I. Alice released my hand and made her way over to Jasper, Without her touch I felt even colder, I felt alone, abandoned. Even though it was a simply illusion, there was more truth to it than the lies he'd told me when he left after my eighteenth birthday, because even then, there was love behind his eyes, I just hadn't known to look for it. This slap in the face was a taste of life without Edward. It wasn't something I ever wanted to deal with again.

Alice rolled onto her toes as she reached Jasper, so her mouth was closer to his ear, I could hear a faint murmuring but her voice was so low I couldn't pick up the words. Jasper looked shocked as she unfolded our story to him, but I couldn't keep my eyes on him, Edward's reaction was more important.

"Has anyone seen Tanya?" he said, stepping farther away from me. His expressionless eyes searched my face for an answer.

I shook my head and tried to shake off the paroxysm that ate at the corners of me. I knew I needed the others to see this before I could bring him back, but the stabbing was making it excruciatingly difficult. This was harder than I'd ever anticipated, this was never part of the deal. Why did I feel so weak? Why did this feel so real? A sob shook my body as I fell to my knees, it was too much for me. I hadn't imagined how tormenting this would be. My breaths were locked in my chest as I fought to drag in some air. I was so distracted I couldn't even push the bubble out, and I was trying. Every inch of me tried to calm down my mind but I was beyond consolation.

My palms pressed against the ground but I felt nothing, the world felt like it had stopped spinning and all the memories of separation drowned me. This was so much worse than those long months apart, because I knew he loved me, I knew, conscious or not, that he had always wanted me and loved me more than I deserved.

This atrocity, though a simply deception, was so much worse. I could see the lack of emotion behind his eyes as he looked at me, I could feel the coldness emanating from him. I could feel the void that shrouded me. I had to try and concentrate so I could bring him back to me, so I could block this pain. That's exactly what this was, pain, it had passed experimentation now, I didn't want to feel this hole anymore.

Jasper and Alice were by my side as I hit the ground. Jasper was mumbling a stream of profanities under his breath, the words a constant stream. Alice comforted me with words.

"Bella, he loves YOU, this is all an illusion, you have to remember that and look at it objectively. I can't do this with you broken down this way. It will only make it worse for him when he's freed of this. You have to be strong, for Edward."

Alice was right, I knew this, but the pain continued to eat at the core of me. I tried to stand up, but my legs were too weak. Why did I feel as though my reason for being had disappeared. Was the bond between us so strong that it dictated how we lived?

Jasper cradled me in his arms and whisked me from the floor. He glared at Edward with such animosity that I felt immediately guilty.

Edward was watching the scene, confusion was the only expression he wore.

"Edward, I . . . you . . . bitch!" Jasper struggled to find the right sentiment, I knew he was avoiding leveling my emotions because he was so filled with anger he couldn't find the right emotion to ease me. I understood because I couldn't find any other emotion in myself, I felt like I was giving up.

"Jasper, remember it's not his fault. Just keep him here, I'll get Carlisle and the others."

"What the hell?" I recognized the voice but I couldn't look.

"Calm down, Emmett. Just sit down and we'll explain. Just don't let Edward leave. Rose, help Bella please."

I felt Rosalie's breath on my cheek as she helped Jasper set me on my feet. Her arm wrapped around me. She was holding me close to her and rocking me gently as we stood still. The action was so comforting, I tired to regain my breathing, I matched it with hers as we rocked together. I buried myself in her shoulder and tried to find my strength. Rosalie was one of the strongest people I knew, I tried to draw some of that strength from her.

"Jasper, what the hell is going on?" Rosalie hissed as she smoothed my hair against my head.

"Wait until Alice returns with Carlisle and Esme, she'll explain it all."

"Can you at least tell me why I am comforting Bella, while Edward stands on the other side of the room looking like the village idiot?"

"It's one in the same. Bella will be fine, she's suffering from shock at the moment." Jasper sighed as he patted my back in calming circles.

It didn't take long for Alice to return with Carlisle and Esme, but it felt like an eternity to me as I tried to find my calm center. I knew the moment that they entered the room because Esme gasped and had pulled me from Rosalie's comforting embrace in almost the same moment. Rosalie touched her hand to my cheek gently and smiled before stepping away to glare at Alice.

"What the hell is going on, Alice. Bella is practically inconsolable. I want answers!"

Carlisle headed towards Edward and pushed a claw onto his shoulder holding him in place, from where I was buried into Esme's shoulder I could see the decision forming in his mind. Carlisle's words, however, were for Alice.

"Alice, what's going on?"

"I saw Tanya ask our new friend, Soren, to do her a favor," Alice waited to see whether anyone would make the connection. Rosalie was the first to respond.

"No, Alice she wouldn't . . . Would she?"

"She has, Rose! Bella can stop this but we were afraid that no one would believe us. Bella has always been suspicious of Tanya, but I never had a reason to believe that she was capable of this, so I never looked for it. When Soren arrived and we discovered his little gift, I saw it as soon as Tanya made the decision to try."

"But, it can't be . . ." Carlisle gasped.

"Check for yourself, Carlisle. Bella isn't blocking Soren from Edward at the moment, talk to him." Alice sighed as she approached me and gave me a comforting smile. 'It'll be over soon, Bella."

"I can't believe it." sighed Esme into my hair.

I heard Carlisle approach Edward. Alice was blocking my line of vision now.

"Edward?"

"Yes, Carlisle?" Frustration was evident in his voice.

"Is it true? Are you in love with Tanya?"

"Why is that so hard for all of you to imagine?" Edward sighed in frustration.

"Because you love Bella, you jackass!" Rosalie spat.

"I . . . I . . . don't know what to tell you. I just realized that I can't live without her, that blond hair, the way it falls around her like a blanket of gold. I wish you would understand. Bella, I'm so very sorry, I never meant to hurt you."

"Okay, Bella." Carlisle sighed.

I chocked out a sob in relief as I concentrated on Edward. I pushed the bubble towards him. There was more resistance from it in my emotional state, but I tried to take comfort in the fact that he would be back to normal as soon as the bubble enclosed him. I took deep measured breaths as I pushed, it became more pliable the farther I pushed it.

"What did you mean by Bella blocking him?" asked Emmett, he'd been the only one to pick that up in the conversation.

"We found Bella's gift. Do you remember how she blocks Edward from her thoughts, and of course blocks others like him, that manipulate the mind?" Carlisle asked.

"Of course, but . . ." Rosalie started but Carlisle cut her off.

"She can extend it, she can protect any one of us from the same abilities. I know why you were so desperate to try now, Bella."

I smiled at him as the bubble settled into place around Edward. I sighed at the feeling of his presence. It had felt so cold without the warmth of his love. I watched as the situation dawned on him. His eyes were full of fury as he looked around the family.

I love you, Edward Cullen, was the only thought running through my mind now. I wanted him to look at me and I wanted to see the passion and the love behind his golden eyes. I wanted the warmth of his love to fill me again.

"I love you too, Bella." Edward's voice filled my soul with the warmth that had vacated me since our small experiment. I felt his arms envelope me as he pulled me from Esme's embrace. His hands moved around me like his fingers could never get enough. I knew, with the fire of his touch and the blanket of his love that I never wanted to go through that again.

"Neither do I, Love." Edward whispered, kissing my forehead.

The whole room stopped and looked at us, and although it took me a while to realize what had just happened, I finally got there. . .

Edward had heard my thoughts.


A/N: Dun Dun Dun . . . The plot thickens ;) . . . Like I said before I am writing a couple of chapters ahead so I can really edit them when the time comes, and I should probably warn you all, sometime in the future there is some Lemony goodness, I'm not telling you when. it'll ruin the surprise!!

Anywho, I know this is kind of a strange chapter, I just wanted to take this opportunity to think how Bella's life would be if Edward didn't love her -SHUDDERS- Let's just say it was difficult to write.

Thank you for the Alerts and Faves, and thank you so so much to the REVIEWERS . . . YOU GUYS ARE THE EPITOME OF THE WORD ROCK, SERIOUSLY!

-BIG HUGZ- L-