Something to Believe In
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or any of its characters.
Author's Note: Thank you everyone who's reviewed the past ten chapters. :D In this chapter, the games have finally come to an end… and now it's time to learn about who—or what—Melanie is. Will they, especially Seth, come to accept her? Or will they reject her completely? Read more to find out! I'd appreciate if you leave a review after you've read this chapter. Also, please take a moment to vote on my poll. Whoever gets 5 votes first, I will begin writing. School just started, so please excuse my delayed chapters. And so, the story continues…
—*—
Melanie's POV
I didn't know what to say or do. All eyes were on me, as if I forgot my lines from a script to some wicked play. Everyone seemed to be waiting for some sort of reaction, but I could not muster up anything. Thankfully, Renesmee changed the topic. "Melanie?" she said quietly. "I think it's time for you to confess."
`I sighed, hesitating to do so. Finally, I simply shook my head no. "Not yet," I said, trying to buy myself more time. "I need everyone to be here." And by everyone, I meant everyone. Renesmee exchanged nervous glances with Jacob, who grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. In truth, that did make me a little jealous.
Leah chuckled evilly and looked at her younger brother. "Just wait until we found out your girlfriend's cheating on you."
I wanted to punch her, but Jacob went to our defense. He said her name, glared at her, and she shut up completely. Amazing, I thought.
Renesmee just smiled and let go of Jacob's hand. She locked her arm with mines, and headed for the door. I gave her a puzzled look, and she explained through a thought that she sent into my mind. "We need to gather up the Cullens."
Just when Jacob started to say something, Seth stopped him. "I'll go with you." He said as he grabbed my hand, causing me to turn around and face him. Leah looked disgusted, probably from the thought of having me as a future sister-in-law. But I guess I didn't blame her.
Renesmee shrugged. "All right, let's go."
—*—
Alice's POV
Out of nowhere, it came. If anyone came up to me and asked, "Did you see that one vision yesterday?" The answer would be that I definitely saw it. The decision was made, and I couldn't change it. No, No, NOOOO! I wailed, only in my thoughts. "Ugh." I muttered, obviously stressed about the future's outcome. Jasper wrapped his hand around mine and sent a wave of comfort throughout my body. I closed my eyes and put my head on his shoulder, "This can't be happening." I whispered.
Jasper's POV
"Alice, what's going on?" I asked. Almost immediately, Edward and Bella came into our room. Bella had a worried look on her face and Edward was sending me waves of fear. I replaced their emotions with waves of peace which erased some of the tension in the room. I knew from the signals that the two were giving me; Edward had figured out and told Bella what had happened. Alice opened her eyes and sadness filled her golden-brown hues.
"They're coming." She told all of us.
"Who?" I asked. Almost immediately, I regretted asking her. I was scared myself, because whatever outcome it may be would be may change our lives.
And when I heard the answer, I corrected myself.
Our lives: Me, Alice, Edward, Emmett, Rosalie, Bella, Carlisle, Esme… and Melanie.
The Volturi were coming for a visit, and there seemed to be no way out of it. It was too late to run, and what excuses could we possibly use? Even Alice would not know whether or not we would come back alive. We all sat there in silence and I could tell we were all thinking about the same thing. And Edward didn't even need to read our minds to see that. But like the Volturi, there was nothing we could do to stop that.
It was at the wrong timing, when Rosalie came in to announce our visitors. "They're here, Alice. She's here. And she's ready to talk to all of us. Emmett's entertaining them for now, just to let you know." I looked straight at her and took a deep breath.
"In a minute, we've got things to discuss as well." I finally said.
—*—
Seth's POV
The three of us sat on the couch, Melanie was in the middle. I was ready to protect her in any way, if she needed me. Truthfully it stank, but I still managed to endure it. I wondered how Jacob endured it, but of course it wasn't surprising considering how strong he was. Especially how he left Sam and took his place as the true alpha—that was amazing. If he could be with Renesmee no matter what she was, then so do I. He was like a big brother to me, and I admired a lot about him.
All the vampires finally sat down with us in the living room. Oddly enough, Alice's eyes seemed blank. Bella and Edward seemed a bit uneasy and there was an uncomfortable sensation in the room. Instantly, however, all of that was replaced with a calm feeling lingering in the room. Renesmee nudged Melanie, waiting for her to begin. All eyes were on her, like she was the center of the stage. Camera… Lights… and action!
She took a deep breath and she began. "Alice, do you remember what your father worked as?" Eyes alternated from Melanie to Alice, who nodded her head.
"He was… a scientist." She answered.
"Right. So after you left, they spoiled Cynthia hoping she'd be with them forever. They locked her inside, like treasure within a chest kept for decades in the sand with no means of escape. She loved that feeling at first, but it only hurt her more than the day she saw your tombstone."
Alice's eyes widened. "Melanie saw it too, didn't she?"
She chuckled. "She didn't believe you were dead, neither did Cynthia, but she was forced to believe it."
"Forced?"
"Alice, your sister was tired of them. She had no choice to elope and leave them forever. But something happened. When Melanie was 15, the three of them got into a car crash."
"So what you're saying is… she died, which meant she had to give up her search?" Jasper asked.
She nodded. "Right."
"And she were dying, wasn't she?" Edward asked. "And then—"
"Edward, let her speak." Bella muttered, elbowing him.
"Alice and Cynthia's mother was a doctor at the hospital the three of them arrived in. She saw her, and recognized her right away. She saw Melanie and recognized her almost instantly. So overnight, she came into the hospital. She kidnapped Melanie, and brought her over to a strange place. Almost like a science lab, I suppose. Then they set her onto the table and said, 'Glad to have you back. I'm not losing you again.'" She said, as if she were narrating her very own childhood.
"Mad scientist?" Emmett asked, looking at Alice. She shrugged, and I could see a small smile tugging on the corners of Rosalie's mouth.
"And then they did some weird experiment on her, which would explain why I'm talking in first person."
"And that would be?" Bella asked.
"I'm not really Melanie; I'm just using her body." She finally said.
"What she's saying is, she's Melanie's clone." Edward translated for all of us.
I looked at her, and she mouthed I'm sorry but I shook my head. Everyone looked at Alice, waiting for her reaction. After all, Melanie was her niece. And I supposed how she responded would affect the Cullens in a way.
She bit her lip. "Is that true?" Melanie nodded.
Esme added, "But that doesn't change the fact that you're alive."
Melanie looked away. She seemed to be sad, as if she was hiding something else.
"No more secrets, Melanie." I finally said, pleading with her. "Please?"
"I don't know," she blinked, almost as if she were about to cry. "For how long I'm going to be able to use this body of hers."
Carlisle asked, "How old was she when she died?"
"Fifteen." She answered, No, I thought. And I've just found her. What am I going to do?
"Goodness, Seth!" Edward read my mind, I almost forgotten about that. "You imprinted on her, didn't you? Keep your thoughts to yourself."
"I try." I grinned.
"You knew about this?" Bella asked Alice, who closed her eyes and shrugged.
"Nothing I can do about." She replied.
"So what're you going to do about the Volturi?" Bella asked.
"What?!" Renesmee stood up first. "First me, and now her?"
Bella stood up and put her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Relax; they don't know she's here. They're only coming for a visit."
"How much time do we have left?" Carlisle asked, stressed about the situation himself. He's handled the Volturi three times and he looked like he had enough of it.
"We have until tomorrow." Edward answered, reading Alice's mind like a book. "So we can cover her scent until then."
Melanie stood up next, "Where am I going to go?" she frowned. "Why are you all protecting me? I don't get it."
Edward chuckled. "We don't hate you."
Alice got up and looked at her for a few seconds. She smiled sadly at her, and then pulled her into an embrace. "Silly. Whether or not you're just a clone, you're still Melanie. And I love you just the same."
"You told her?" Emmett asked looking at Renesmee, who nodded in return.
"It seemed fair." She said, smiling.
"Just turn me into a vampire why don't you?" Melanie asked, and I winced. I couldn't imagine that happening. No, never. Not again. "Or kill me now." She said quietly.
Alice shook her head and pulled apart from the hug. "No, it's not going to happen. I don't see that happening, ever. So don't even think about going anywhere."
"Where do you see me then?"
"Turn around."
I came face to face to the girl I loved the most. The girl I wanted to protect my whole life, and give her nothing but sincere love. I didn't want her to leave, and she was precious to me. In fact, the Volturi had to get through me first to get to her. And I couldn't promise that would be easy. I knew what Alice had done and she nodded approvingly. I wrapped my hand around hers, "You can be with me… if you want to that is, I'm not going to force you into—"
She interrupted with a kiss on my very lips. "I've decided, and I don't need Alice's visions to prove anything."
"Aw!" Bella and Renesmee said in unison. Edward and the others already left, excluding Jasper and Alice. Alice put her head on Jasper's shoulder and laughed quietly to herself.
"My little girl's growing up." She said.