Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or New Moon. The magnificent Stephenie Meyer does.
AN: So, so, so sorry I haven't updated in…a while. Well, longer than usual. It's because I got extremely angry at fanfiction because my alerts wouldn't send to my e-mail so I've missed like all 57 of my stories alerts for the past few weeks & I feel so lost without being able to just clickitty-click click & read. Now I'd have to skim to see which chapters I've read to and blah. So I was like, well if fanfiction is being a bum then so will I. So I stopped writing my story. Also, everytime I tried to get on for three days, Fan fiction was too busy to let me log in! I was also really busy because I went to Toronto for a huge shopping thing. But then I was like, oh shit, but my wonderful reviewers, I cannot let them down. Soo, I is back, because of the reviews of all you pretty people x3. Keep on reviewing! It really brightens my day :D. Now I have to get back into my mojo. –Cracks fingers- Let the story commence!
Chapter 9 – Protect My Vampires
We were both frozen in fear; my mind racing over the terrifying possibilities.
What could Aro possibly be doing in the future that would involve the Cullens that he didn't want Alice to see? He didn't seem like the violent type, he was polite when he spoke with us, so calm, even after I rejected his offer. Then again, big powers like him usually are diplomatic like that; masked to hide their true nature.
What if he really was a total savage and was going to take my rejection out on the Cullens as payback. He must have many guards if thousands applied each year. What if they were sent to destroy or torture the Cullens? If thousands tried and he only accepted the best, they would technically be the most powerful of all vampires. Like a super-force.
A warm hand on my shoulder broke me out of my horrific thoughts. I realized that both I and Alice were slumped against a bench, a few people watching our odd behavior. A few had true worried faces but others just wanted something to pass around as gossip; the two girls who almost fainted at the mall. Gossipers always wanted more drama to talk about or make their lives more interesting. If only they knew the true drama of my life, maybe then they'd shut up.
"Are you alright?" asked the owner of the hand on my shoulder. His blood was tempting me but it snapped me out of my daze and I stood up in a flash. The man fell back, startled at my quick movement, but I paid no heed to him or the other surprised on-lookers. Right now I needed to get to the Cullens. I already had wasted significant time in my daze; I had to make up for that. Stupid, stupid me.
I picked up Alice, ignoring gasps at my strength. I quickly walked to the nearest restroom and when I was away form prying eyes I ran at top speed towards the parking lot.
There was no door to the outside like I thought there would have been and in my frenzy… I made my own.
I crashed through the wall, sending concrete and brick flying every which way. Alice was still over my shoulder, and the shopping bags left behind and forgotten. They were unimportant, just like the rest of the world at the moment. The humans would have a hard time explaining the wall. I would have laughed had I not been in the insanely worried state I was in now.
Alice snapped out of it after her backside made contact with the wall and got out of my hold to join me in the race for my car after we were outside.
We shot into it like bullets, glass shattering as I slammed my door with too much force. I ignored that and jammed the key in the ignition. I turned it and floored the gas as soon as it purred to life. The car jerked as it accelerated much too suddenly.
I zoomed off at a 180º turn as I raced back to Forks. I whizzed past all the cars, skimming each as I swerved to get around each in my hurry. My hair was whipping around my face violently from the open, shattered window but I didn't care. Soon we were on the highway, but not soon enough. I had to get there quicker and I knew only one faster way.
I slammed on the brakes, jerking us both forward, but we used our legs to create a lever and keep us in the seat instead of flying through the windshield; we hadn't bothered to put our seatbelts on.
"Drive the car home. I'm flying," I exclaimed. She nodded and I wrenched open the door. The memory of the feeling of danger in the Cullens driveway was replaying in my mind. I bolted for the trees on the side of the road, not caring if any human drivers saw, I don't even think they could; I was going at an invisibly fast speed.
Once in the cover of the trees I broke out my wings and darted in the direction of the Cullens. I was breaking my own speed record. At points I thought my hair would rip out had it not been enhanced to be so strong. My wings smacked into a couple trees which were easily pulverized by them. They weren't that close together so only a few took the blow. My mind was focused only on going faster so I hardly noticed.
Within a minute I arrived at the Cullens. I couldn't sense anyone and that filled me body with incomprehensible fear. I retracted my wings and slammed into the front entrance, busting the door off its hinges.
None of my senses, hearing, smell or sight gave me the reassurance of the Cullens presence that I desperately needed.
There was no one.
I pathetically hoped this was some sick joke, maybe my senses were failing, or maybe they'd gone out. Gone out? Where in hell would they go out to? I thought. They would have told us if they went hunting, called Alice's cellphone.
Then I heard a car coming, it was going so fast that it almost smashed into the wall infront of the driveway before it skidded to a stop. Alice leaped out and stood outside the car door, looking at me through the rectangle of open space, where the door had once been, to me kneeling on the floor.
I wanted to crawl in a hole and die. I failed them. I couldn't get here in time. Now the most powerful vampire in the world has them and it's my fault.
All my fault.
I put my head in my hands and started to dry sob. What could Aro be doing with them? Wrong question. I started to cry harder, thinking that if he touched them I would destroy him. Make it slow and painful. Make him suffer.
Alice slowly came in from the driveway and helped me stand up. "Come on Bella. We have to find them. There's no sign of a fight, maybe they went peacefully and are alright."
I looked around; she was right. The room looked the same as usual; its calm essence seemed so out of place at the moment and did nothing to calm me out of my frantic state. But just maybe, maybe they were alright, maybe they were waiting for us to rescue them.
My desperation turned into determination. Determination to save my family from the fate I had placed before them.
I was the vampire protector and by God I was going to protect my vampires.
I turned to Alice who had the same determination riding over her features. It worried me. I was not going to let her go into what I was trying to bring the rest of them out of. "No, Alice. I'm going alone." I stated.
"No. I'm going with you." She said, even more firmly than I had.
"I cannot let you…" I started but was cut off.
"Isabella Marie Cullen, you are taking me with you. I deserve a chance to save my family…" She was going to continue on a big speech so I cut her off like she had me.
"Alice, this is my fault and I should be the one to put it right. I'm not putting you in danger as well as them. It's bad enough that their in this situation because of me. I can't… I can't take the guilt if anything…" I couldn't continue, saying it only made it seem more a possibility. I looked up at Alice, she was livid.
"This is not your fault!" She roared and I flinched back form the volume, disbelieving that such a force could come from her small body. She continued, in a softer tone, but still firm, "I am coming with you. We do this together; as a family. Capich?"
I was afraid for her but knew she wouldn't accept no for an answer and we had no time to argue. I nodded reluctantly and started for the door. It would be difficult to watch her and save the Cullens but I could do it.
"Bella! We need passports to go on a plane!"
I smiled wryly at her. "Oh, we won't be taking a plane," I said cryptically.
Her mouth formed an "O" as she realized what I meant. I burst out my wings once more and motioned for my back. She hesitated a split second but then moved towards my back. She jumped up slightly and wound her arms around my neck and legs around my waist. It reminded me of Edward and how not only how he'd done the same but how it was reversed when I was human.
Things have changed. I'm not human anymore' I climbed up a couple hundred notches on the foodchain.
When she was securely fastened around my body I started off running then did three sequenced leaps before I thrust out my wings to take off. Soon we were speeding through the forest but I couldn't get top speed with having to dodge trees. I broke through the layer of green tree tops and saw more civilization ahead. I cursed loudly. How are we supposed to travel when there's no coverage? Where is there coverage all the time? Looked up…clouds…yes! Cloud coverage.
"Alice, hold on!" I said as I veered up, stilling flapping furiously but never growing tired, well, physically. I kept climbing, and Alice was surprisingly quiet… until finally we reached the clouds.
I broke through the fluffy condensed moisture and head her gasp. My own mouth opened slightly in shock as well.
The pure white wisps below us were magnificent up close; the natural pale sky blue looked absolutely breathtakingly lovely with the white. The sun was starting to set, creating a vibrant pink and orange that mixed with the darkening blue sky and white clouds brilliantly.
I vowed I would show Edward this once the Cullens were all safe. I wanted to share it with him.
Something hit me then. "Alice?"
"Yeah?" She responded, seeming distant as she relaxed against my back.
"Which way is Italy?"
She froze and went rigid. I did not take that as a good sign, but she soon relaxed a bit and I followed suit. "Well, we went east so were on the Atlantic. Were going in the right direction, just you will need to listen for thoughts to direct exactly to Italy. I could point it out on a map but… to actually do it while over an ocean is impossible."
I looked down and saw through the thin clouds the blue. Ocean blue, almost as extravagant as the sky which was now a deepening blue. I thought about what she said. How was I supposed to listen to all those thoughts? And so far away. It sounded impossible, but then again, so does me being…this.
I tried to listen. All I heard was Alice's thoughts.
How can she possibly blame herself? Anyway, we'd all gladly give our lives to protect her. But I can't wait until Jasper is holding me again, and I know he is safe. Jasper. Oh Jasper.
I stopped, her thoughts getting too intimate. I tried to open my mind more but nothing besides Alice came in. I was devastated. How was I going to tell Alice? But then I heard them.
-Ooo. I can't wait! Volterra is going to be great.
-I hope she likes Volterra more than she did Paris. I'm out of ideas.
-This is going to be some trip.
-I'm glad she convinced me to come now.
A ray of hope shone. It was a plane full of passengers, but more importantly, a pilot who knew the way to Volterra.
I listened to his thoughts to find the way, being careful that they didn't get too close as to see us. I got the general directions of where to go and squealed in delight at my stroke of luck. Alice looked at me, surprised and curios.
"I know the way." I said happily. I felt her smile into my back and I pumped my wings faster, as new confidence going through me.
Soon night has engulfed us and I relied on my mind to guide us from what I'd gathered from the pilot. Going at the intense speeds that we were, within 30 minutes time I could sense land. It smelled different from the breezy ocean, and with my super-eyes I could see it faintly in the dim light.
I was never so happy for darkness as it hid us from human eyes. I felt like I was behind a tinted window; I could see them but they couldn't see us.
Volterra wasn't too far away now and I couldn't hold back my anticipation to see the Cullens safe. It was almost overwhelming the guilt that was boiling inside. If only I had said yes, but then I'd be torn away from hem all, but surely I wasn't worth their lives. Maybe if I had left, kept it a secret. No, I have to stop beating my self up. But if only-No!
I saw the airport now, from the image in the pilots mind. Volterra was a couple of miles from the airport and I could see the giant empty open square from here with my enhanced eyesight.
I soared towards the square with an even stronger burst of anticipation. When I was above it, I thrust my wings forward as a break and let myself fall to the ground. I landed lithely on my feet and noticed that it was brighter out. The moon had risen now, and I retracted my wings so I wasn't seen. It didn't matter to me now, but I think running would be easier now.
Alice disentangled her limbs from my body and hopped off frantically. She spun around a few times as if to see where to go. It was then that I noticed I had no clue how to get inside. My breathing became heavy as I panicked. I did not come this far to give up!
I my huge breaths, a scent hit my nose and I stilled, knowing that we weren't alone. Alice was still looking around so I grabbed her arm forcefully to make her stop. She stilled as I had done and looked questioningly at me. I pointed to my nose and then she seemed to smell it too because her eyes narrowed.
I let go of her arm and looked around for the owner of the scent. It was definitely not human because I could smell a strong, concentrated aroma of honey. It was distinctly venom, though there was human blood in there too. A human drinker, I thought, probably one of the Volturi guards.
I spun around slowly, my eyes surveying every nook and cranny of the slightly lit darkness. Just when I thought that the creature was nowhere that I could see, I saw a silhouette walking our of an alleyway and going to the side.
I reach out my mind to find out why they were out here at night.
I can't wait until I bring her back to Aro. He will be so pleased with me and I will be his favorite. She's not here yet and I'm growing impatient. He said for sure she would be here. I want to strike her down and watch her writhe in agony, just like all the others.
I pulled out of her mind and knew I was right. Aro's bodyguard and she was looking for me. Though she had no idea that I was already here.
I grabbed Alice's hand, who had also spotted our little friend. I put my finger to my lips to tell her to be quiet and started to slink up behind our clueless spy.
As we got closer I saw how little she was, almost a child. It was disturbing that something that looks so innocent could have had such cruel thoughts. I stopped our stalking and told Alice to stay put. If we got any closer, she'd notice us.
When I was sure Alice was going to stay, I sped off as fast as I could. The girl spun around, finally noticing my approach, but it was too late, I was going too fast for her to react further. I leapt at her and saw fear in her eyes. For a split second I saw innocence in her wide eyes.
I pinned her down so she couldn't escape. The hunted becomes the hunter. I thought to her.
She struggled under my grip but couldn't budge me. I fought to keep my anger and shock from tonight within myself so I didn't kill her right then with fire or electricity. Suddenly she tensed, almost as if in concentration.
Why isn't she in pain yet! I'm trying as hard as I can! No! I cannot fail Aro!
For a brief moment I wondered what her power was to put me in such pain that she was thinking, but after realizing that it wasn't going to happen, I decided I didn't care. I moved on to the more urgent matter. "Take me to the Cullens or suffer my wrath." I threatened in the fiercest tone I could manage.
AN: There you go. More to come soon. I'll try to get the next one out soon to make up for this slow update. What's going to happen? Will Bella succeed in rescuing the Cullens? Or will they all perish? Le gasp. Please review. I have it planed out already but I'd love suggestions! x3
