If You Only Knew- Chapter 10
A/N: Thanks for everyone's support! This chapter has taken me a while to update, and I apologize. Work is crazy. Hope you enjoy!
Previously:
"We were hoping that perhaps you'd give us some answers to our questions." Edward interrupted, not taking his eyes off the road, occasionally glancing back at me. I didn't respond until the car was parked in the Cullen's driveway.
"Alright." I sighed, defeated. Climbing out of the car, I headed across the lawn towards the front door, Ed and Jazz following. "When Carlisle returns, you'll have your answers."
I just hoped I wasn't making the biggest mistake of my life.
*** Chapter 10 ***
It was time.
I had to tell them everything and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer.
I was terrified.
In my mind, I knew that I knew too much about their world and my confession would no doubt sign my death warrant. As Cauis had described Bella in New Moon, I was a liability… and the Cullen's would have to make a choice.
Let me live (warranting their own problems with the Volturi), kill me (which I couldn't see any of them doing), or the only other option… change me. But if they changed me, the treaty would be off and I promised myself that I would not be the cause of the war that would ensue if that were to happen.
I was screwed.
I sighed as I heard the front door open and close, announcing Carlisle's return from work pulling my attention away from the forest as I gazed out the window overlooking the back yard. My arms crossed over my chest as I leant up against the glass trying to gather my jumbled thoughts. My throbbing head wasn't making it any easier.
I sensed someone behind me, yet refused to see who it was keeping my eyes locked on the swaying trees.
"Winter?" Jasper spoke cautiously. I turned my head slightly, acknowledging that I heard him, and he continued. "Carlisle's home. When you're ready, can you join us in the living room?"
"Thank you, Jasper." I nodded, and turned back to the forest as I heard his footsteps disappear. I waited a few more minutes until I knew I couldn't delay any further, and abandoned the forest for my pending fate. My footsteps echoed loudly as I made my way slowly through the kitchen, the anxiety I was feeling increased with every step. As I approached the threshold of the living room, all talking ceased, their eyes trained on me and I felt as if I were on trial for murder.
My hands were shaking by the time I crossed the room to the empty chair that I could only assume was meant for me and took a much needed deep breath to try and calm my nerves. The tension in the air was so thick it was stifling as they waited for me to start speaking.
"I promised I would give you answers…" I spoke hesitantly, avoiding all eye contact, " What do you want to know?"
Noise erupted all around me after those words left my mouth. Only one question seemed the most important to everyone.
"What do you know about us?"
I tackled it first.
"Alright. I'll explain." I paused, not knowing where to start. I avoided all eye contact as stared at the ground, nervous and hesitantly began my complicated theory. As soon as the noise ceased, I began.
"When I first arrived in your home, I knew I didn't belong here. How did I get here? I still have no idea. I'm not from here. I guess I'm from a different world…"
"So you're like an alien?" Emmett questioned, lightening the mood. Moving my eyes to his, I chuckled at the comment.
"Ha. Ha. Very funny, Emmett." I shot back sarcastically before turning serious. " No. Where I come from, your lives are all written in a series of books. I know what's going to happen because I've read what's going to happen."
"So that's how you know more than me." Alice spoke softly, her eyes fixed on the wooden floor, talking mostly to herself.
"What, Alice? Didn't see that one coming?" Edward joked, causing the room to erupt in laughter. I had to admit that it was funny for me too, and I smiled laughing quietly. All eyes turned back to me as Carlisle spoke. His arm was wrapped around Esme as they stood near the wall.
"What all is in these 'books'?" Carlisle questioned when the laughter died down.
"There's four books, all written from Bella's point of view."
"Me?" Bella spoke, her eyes wide. " How?"
"Well, mostly your view, Bella, but not always." I clarified. " Anyway, the first book is called Twilight. It explains how Bella moved to Forks, met Edward, and learned about Vampires." My voice hesitated as I said vampires, curious about how they would react.
"Vampires? Hm. Interesting…" Esme mused, mostly for my benefit, trying to keep up with the façade. I rolled my eyes at the comment, and continued.
"Anyway, it explains about a baseball game gone wrong and Bella flees to Phoenix where, James, lures her to a ballet studio."
"You got that right." Rosalie confirmed.
"So I'm right?" I questioned, gazing at the family in front of me.
"Yes." Edward confirmed, his gaze catching mine.
"In the books, James was a vampire, and bit Bella. However, Edward saved her and she recovered." I explained, leaving out a few details. "James bit you, didn't he?" I asked directed to Bella. She nodded. "I'm guessing Edward couldn't save you, huh?"
"No. I couldn't." He spoke his voice filled with a hint of what sounded like regret.
"That makes sense." I mused mostly to myself as I tried to understand. " James bit you, turning you into a vampire, and that's why the treaty is still intact. And since you're now a part of the family, New Moon never happened..." I explained outloud trying to piece together everything.
"Wait. You think I'm a vampire?" Bella questioned, keeping up with the façade. Everyone stopped, waiting for my answer.
"I know you are." I simply shrugged. "Contrary to what you might think, I'm not stupid."
"Are you scared of us, Winter?" Jasper questioned, his eyes trained on me. I took a deep breath, and locked eyes with him.
"I don't know, Jasper." I smirked, "You tell me."
I could hear snickering around the room, as I refused to look away. "No. You're not afraid of us." Jasper answered.
"I know the risks." I stated calmly, finally tearing my eyes from him. "And the amount of information that I know, isn't good for any of us. I know much more than I'm willing to admit."
"Do you know what's going to happen next?" Alice spoke, capturing my attention, returning to the matter at hand.
"I think I do, Alice. And it's not going to be pretty." I confessed. "James's mate, Victoria, is trying to kill me. She's the red head that tried to rip my head off a few weeks ago."
"So what's going to happen now?" Alice asked. She'd been silent for most of the conversation and that seemed to spike everyone's interests as all eyes rested on me once again.
"I believe that we're in the third book in the series. Eclipse. It lines up. The disappearances in Seattle, the killings, Victoria, Riley… I think Victoria is creating a newborn army and I know Jasper has experience with newborns."
"You knew?" Jasper gasped. "How?"
"I told you. I read it." I shot back. "Have you taught them how to fight?"
"No."
I was distracted as I watched Alice's face go blank.
"They're coming." She spoke.
"Who's coming?" Jasper asked turning to his wife. I didn't need to hear what she was saying to know what was happening.
The army was coming. And we were totally unprepared.
"She's right. It's an army, Jazz." Alice confirmed, coming out of the vision and turning to her husband, her eyes watery.
My first thought was the wolves. We couldn't beat them without the wolves.
"We need to talk to the wolves." I spoke calmly. "In the books, they help defeat the army."
"I'm not working with the dogs!" Rosalie hissed amongst all the noise that erupted at my statement.
"When are they coming, Alice?" Jasper pressed.
Alice and I spoke at the same time. "They'll be here in four days."
Four days.
That's all we had. Just four days to do everything. My mind was going into complete overdrive as I tried to comprehend what was going on and to figure out a plan. I buried my face in my hands, my fingers weaving through my hair.
'Think!' I told myself. 'What am I missing?'
I had this overwhelming feeling I was forgetting something major, but I couldn't figure out what it was. I relaxed and tried to think of everything that happened in the books and movies. Images flashed through my mind as I recalled event after event as I tuned out the chaos surrounding me. And suddenly it clicked.
One single image stood out in my mind of four strangers in the middle of the clearing where the battle had taken place. Their ruby eyes shone brightly as I imagined them scrutinizing the Cullen's after the battle, and realized that I had bigger problems to worry about once the newborns were disposed of.
However, there was still a small possibility that the Volturi would not come to visit the Cullen's, but that possibility was slim to none. They would follow the newborns right to us, and once they knew that I knew about their world… they would either kill me or change me.
Either way, I was going to die.
A/N: I had to end it here! I know… I'm evil. I'm surprised at the response to my story. It's incredible! Thanks to everyone! Please review. I'd really like to know what you like or don't like in this story. Thanks!