Chapter 11 – Torn
Tanya and Carmen had me sit in the kitchen, while they got everything ready. Irina took the bottle of blood we had and began to warm it up on stove and she got the bottles of vodka and gin. This was the Denali Sisters' blood-tini. They developed this recipe half a century ago. Esme, Alice and Rosalie came into the kitchen, shadowing Tanya. I was still completely speechless. "Bella, honey," Esme held my chin, but I didn't even blink. "I know what she needs," Irina took my face and put the glass to my lips, "Just drink." I gulped the contents of the glass and sighed. I made a gesture with my hand asking for another. Irina gave me another glass and I gulped it down. Carmen set a large pitcher on the table and everyone sat down. "Bella, are you all right?" I nodded to Alice, "Yea, it was just a complete shock seeing Felix." Carmen snorted, "Yea, you and Irina. She had to leave the house for a while before seeing Demetri." I saw Irina roll her eyes over her glass. "Well, we weren't expecting to see them, least of all here. And it's not like I could just 'be away,' because he would have tracked me down." I replenished Irina's, Esme's and my glasses. Rosalie put her glass down, "But why did you two act like that? Like you didn't want to see them?" Irina and I looked at each other, "We didn't."
"We thought we left them in Volterra. I know Irina was done with Demetri and I just wanted to get away from Felix. Irina had Demetri and Felix wanted more from me, but I didn't want to do that with him. So, for the most part, I teased him." Rosalie scoffed, "Well you see how well that worked." "Rose," Tanya and Esme scolded and I glared at her, "That's it. I need tequila and shot glasses." I got more blood and mixed it with the tequila. I threw the shot glasses over my shoulder. Sitting back down, Carmen was lining up the glasses. Alice looked at me and my sisters, "Do you do this often?" We looked at each other, "Not really. But when we do, Eleazar steers clear." Tanya and Rosalie took the first shots. Esme looked at me, "Dear, why don't you just tell Felix that you're not interested in him?" I groaned, "I've tried, but he won't take no for an answer." Alice nodded, "I've heard that. Like many men, he's hardheaded." "Thank you," I gushed, "Like most men, he thinks 'no' means 'yes' and 'get lost' means 'take me, I'm yours.' I really can't deal with this; least of all today." Kate filled my glass, "Look, they won't be here long. In a few days, our lives will go back to normal. Matter of fact, after they leave, we'll take a vacation." She giggled, "Now, I want to talk about the livid look on Edward's face when Felix kissed you."
I slammed my glass down, while everyone, but Esme and Tanya laughed. "Not funny," I spoke through my teeth. Alice giggled, "It kind of was funny. Edward was so mad." I pursed my lips, "Leave him alone." Rosalie smiled, "Well, this will be interesting. Edward's really never had competition before." I rolled my eyes and had a shot, "There is no competition." For the next few hours, this topic was discussed, among other things. We laughed we drank, until all of us were feeling better. Alice stared off, "The Guard are heading back." My eyes widened. "Relax Bella; I'm calling Carlisle to come back. They'll be here before the Guard." I sighed and gulped down my last glass. Irina and I prepared another pitcher, "We need to go hunt for more." Tanya looked up, "Already?" Irina smiled, "It was an emergency." Drinking the new pitcher, Carlisle and the others arrived. "I'm the best, no one can beat me," Emmett was boasting. Rosalie rolled her eyes and went to see him, "What did you win at this time?" "Rose, what are you drinking?" The others came into the kitchen. "You're still drinking," Eleazar asked.
I took up my glass, as Edward came in with Emmett and Rosalie. "Do you feel better?" I widened my eyes and finished my glass, "Now I do." Rosalie rolled her eyes, "Great, now she's an alcoholic." Edward and I glared at her. I put my hand on his chest and nodded my head. I threw my glass close so to Rosalie's head, that some of her hair flew up. She looked back at us. I looked back at her with an irritated look. She exhaled deeply, "Nice shot." My smile was smug, "What are you talking about; it missed." Edward took my hand, "Isabella,, clean that up." I looked back, "Alright, Tanya." I flashed around everyone, picked up the shards of glass, threw them away and walked out with Edward.
To my surprise, he was smiling as we reached the living room, "You still have a temper." I arched an eyebrow, "Yea and maybe it's gotten worse." I looked up at him, "I just don't like to be taunted, especially when I'm in a bad mood." He smiled a crooked smiled, "Yea and now, you have the ability to do something about it." I smiled as I went to stand by the mantle, "I really don't want to deal with this." Edward placed his hands on my shoulders, "Bella, please, it will be fine." I rolled my eyes and looked back up at him. He looked at me and smiled, "Now, how was your visit with your parents?" I smiled, as I went into my day. Alice came in, "Here they come." There was a knock on the front door and Alice went to answer, "Jane." I made a face, "Wonderful. Ms. Personality," I whispered. Edward looked at me, "Sorry," I mouthed. I felt Jane trying to attack me. I shook my head, "Alec, she's trying again." I looked back and Alec put a hand on his sister's shoulder, "Jane." Edward looked at them, his body suddenly stiffened. I looked over my other shoulder
Felix was looking at me and Edward on the couch, "Is something wrong, Felix?" He shook his head, "No." I smiled, "I was just telling Edward about my visit with my parents." Felix looked at me and Demetri looked back at me, "You found your parents?" I smiled, "Come to find out, I knew the Cullens when I was human." Felix and Demetri looked at Edward, "You did?" Edward's face was stone, "Yes we did, but we had to leave. We were living in one place for too long." I looked at Edward and he looked at me, "And, yes, Bella did know our secret." I closed my eyes, then looked at Felix and Demetri. Demetri was staring at Edward. "You exposed our secret to a human?" I glared at them, "It's moot now. I share the same secret." Demetri leaned forward, "But what if you exposed the secret after left?" "I doubt it. Alice was my best friend and I would not have betrayed her." It was better to not mention my relationship with Edward, at least not right now. Edward told them what they knew about me and I told them about my visits with my parents. I left out the part about the wolves. Felix, Demetri and Alec would have hunted them down, as a challenge. I owed the wolves that much.
I told them about my parents, my accident and the life I had. Carlisle and Esme told them some more information about my relationship with their family. Tanya offered rooms to the members. "I'll be right back," Edward told me as he went to his room. I sat in the living room, still trying to figure out this entire situation. "Isabella." "Yes, Felix?" He looked over his shoulder, then back at me. He sat down next to me, "I'm happy to hear that you found out who you were." I smiled, "Me too. Also, I found my information on the missing persons list online." He brushed back my hair and I stiffened slightly. "What's the matter?" I half-smiled, "Nothing." Felix put his hand on my waist and pulled me closer to him. "Felix," I looked up at him, "I need to…." He smiled, "Look, let's not worry about anything right now. I'm just glad to see you. Volterra has been so dreary without you." I choked out a laugh, "That place was dreary before I got there." He chuckled and leaned closer to me. Before he got closer, someone came into the living room. My head snapped around, "Edward! Carlisle!" I jumped up from the couch.
Felix stood up behind me, "Sorry." He took my hand, "I just wanted to be alone with Isabella for a while." My eyes widened. Carlisle saw my panicked expression, "Oh, um, I actually needed Bella's help." I looked back at Felix, "Could you give me an hour?" Felix smiled down at me and my cheek, "Of course." I turned back and Carlisle took my hand. When we were safely in the garage, I threw my hands around his neck, "Thank you so much." Edward was quiet when I looked at him. "Edward?" He looked at me and I bit my lip. "Son?" Carlisle tried to calm Edward. "I'm fine Carlisle." Edward leaned against my motorcycle. I sighed, "Carlisle, did you really need my help or was that a ruse?" Carlisle's eyes were fixed on Edward and Edward's eyes were fixed on me. "Actually," Edward spoke up, "Eleazar was having trouble with his bike earlier, but he had Rosalie look at it." I looked at him, "Blondie? Please…." I went over to my brother's bike and immediately saw what the problem was. "As long as you're all here, keep her out of my garage. I don't want her messing up any of these bikes." Carlisle chuckled, "She's actually quite good." I looked up, "Yea, on cars. Tanya told me, but anyone can do that. It takes someone of skill to maintain motorcycles."
Rosalie was in the garage as I completed my sentence, "Excuse me." I stepped around the bike, "I'm sure you heard me." Rosalie's eyes widened, "Ok, look little girl," Emmett put his arm around her, "Ok, that's enough!" Rosalie was beginning to snarl at me and I folded my arms. That got Edward to finally move, "Emmett's right. There's no need for you to act like this. I scoffed, "Look, its not my fault she never got over the fact that you weren't attracted to her." Carlisle, Edward and Emmett looked at me with complete disbelief on their faces. Rosalie's mouth was hanging open and her eyes were wide, "WHAT?!" I smiled a smug smile, "Honey, I've been in this family for months. I know all the secrets." Alice dashed into the garage, shadowed by Jasper and Kate. Emmett had his arms around Rosalie and Edward was standing in front of me. "Edward, I told you that you should have never brought this girl into the family. She was and is nothing but trouble." I laughed, "In other words…….." Kate's hand clamped down over my mouth, "That's enough, Is." I looked at her and nodded in defeat. "I still don't want her near my bikes." "FINE!" Rosalie whirled and stomped into the house. Emmett looked back at me, "I have never seen anyone get under her skin like that."
I smiled, "It's a gift." I went outside feeling much better. "Bella!" I stopped and Alice was in front of me, "Yes Alice?" "Why did you do that to her?" I sighed, "I had to transfer my negative energy to somebody. Right now, I feel great." Alice put her hands on her tiny hips, "Now, Emmett has to deal with her." I groaned, "There goes my good mood." I felt bad for inadvertently dragging Emmett into this. "Don't worry, Alice. I'll make it up to him." I would make it up to Emmett, but for Rosalie, she would be a problem.