In this chapter we get to see some 'drama' start. YAY! All jokes aside, this is a turning point in the story. I hope you all like it. Normally, my beta doesn't like getting attention BUT I just finished her, Jessica314, story called Father-Carlisle finds himself face to face with a vampire he hasn't seen since 1663 (if you are true Twilight fans you'll know immediately who the vampire is). All I had to say was WOW, it's an amazing story and completely blew me away. It is only 2 chapters but the best 2 chapters I have ever read. (She's going to hate me after reading this) Seriously give it a shot, you won't be disappointed. We also have a new writer amongst us, Xbabygirlx1998, has started her first story, Life Unexpectedly changed, it is rated K+ so if that's your kind give it a go, it's a pretty good story. As always this chapter is dedicated to the most awesome people in the world- decadenseofmysoul, Moonlight howling, Vampirelady13, brebre99, MACMONKEY, Olivia, and Gemma L, thank you so much for reviewing. Oh and one more thing this story has hit 100 Followers…YAY!
-All characters and setting belong to Stephanie Meyer…I am only borrowing them-
Edward cleared his mind and prepared himself for what he was about to hear; he had a feeling this was going to be a limited gesture on Bella's part. He found himself having some difficulty pushing back his own excited thoughts, but before he could ask Bella for a few seconds, an image began to form. He found himself staring as a mass of greenery passed him by. At first he thought this was a memory of Bella running through the Rainforest but quickly realized that a vampire would have seen everything clearly and not as a blur. Finally, everything became still.
"Now remember Bella, Senna and Kachiri cannot know how fast we went, okay?" He recognized this as Zafrina's voice, and shortly after he recognized her face smiling down at him.
"Okay Ziweena" a young girl's voice spoke. Edward smiled as he noticed the lisp she talked with.
"It's Za-fri-na, not Ziweeina, little paisuan." Before he could see what happened next the image changed. This time he found himself watching as Senna drew on a large flat stone using her finger nail. He recognized the numbers and the division symbols.
"Come on Bella, you know this; five hundred divided by sixty is what," she asked. After a couple of seconds he heard
"Eight point three repeated, is this really necessary, Senna? Exactly when and where am I going to need to know this?", he recognized this voice as the young girls but without the lisp and slightly aged.
"Bella, you have to stop putting up a struggle every time we have lessons. Please just trust me when I say there will come a time," Senna replied as she used her hand to smooth over the rock's surface, erasing the division problem.
The image changed again but this time he found himself staring at Bella's preteen reflection looking back at him.
"This is amazing, I can't believe you managed to find a mirror, and a one this big. Where did it come from" Bella asked as Senna, Kachiri, and Zafrina all stepped behind her. It was Kachiri who answered.
"There was another ship wreck last week. Zafrina and I waited until the search party left and salvaged a few items left behind. Happy Birthday, little paisuan," Bella turned and hugged each of her sisters.
"I'm thirteen today, which means I am no longer little; today I am a woman." He could see Zafrina and Senna trying hard not to laugh.
"We have one more gift for you," Kachiri said as she handed Bella a small hand carved wooden box. Bella quickly opened it up and let out a loud gasp.
"It's beautiful," she said as she held up an old gold pocket watch.
"It was your father's," Senna said as she placed her hand on Bella's shoulder.
"Can you tell me what he looked like, just one more time?" Bella pleaded. Senna smiled and nodded.
"He was very handsome, even in death. He had beautiful brown eyes just like yours and silky brown hair with a matching mustache. We found this on him after we went back to bury the bodies. Would you like to visit their graves today?" Bella stuffed the pocket watch into a small satchel.
"Nah, not today, maybe tomorrow," she said as she looked down at her nails for a moment then turned back to admire the mirror. Edward couldn't understand how anyone, let alone a young girl, could be so blasé about her deceased parents, and by the look on the other three faces they were thinking the same thing.
So far Edward could tell that even as a human Bella was adventurous, stubborn, and didn't like to show emotions. The image changed but the scenery stayed the same. This time he found himself staring at a human version of Bella as she is now. His own thoughts on her beauty began to cloud the vision; no matter how hard he tried to push them aside they remained. He watched as Kachiri walked over and joined Bella as she was looking at herself in the mirror.
"I can't believe you are fifteen today. It seems like only yesterday you were a small child begging me to swing you through the vines. And now, well you can swing on them just as well as one of us." Bella let out a small giggle-the sound stirred strange feelings inside of Edward- and turned to face Kachiri.
"I have made my decision on when I want to be changed," Bella's remark shocked her sisters and before she could continue Zafrina and Senna came over to where Bella and Kachiri were.
"We told you it was not a decision you should take lightly. Once you are changed there is no going back," Zafrina told her.
"I have always known I wanted to be like you. The only question was when I wanted to become like you." Bella looked to her sisters. All three of them looked anxious as they awaited Bella's verdict. "I want to wait until my twenty-first birthday. I figured by then I will be a woman and fully matured," Bella said as she stared at her body's reflection in the mirror. Her sisters' reflections visibly relaxed. It was Kachiri was responded.
"I think that is a very mature and smart idea.' Bella's face lit up when Kachiri spoke the word mature.
"There's one more thing; I want all three of you to do it." Edward couldn't understand how anyone would want to become a vampire or how anyone could be that willing to make someone a vampire, but when he saw the love and adoration in Bella's sisters' smiles he realized it wasn't his place to judge.
Nothing could've prepared him for the image that replaced this one. He found himself high up staring out into the open Rainforest.
"If I can just get a little higher I know I'll see our hut. They are going to kill me when they find out I left and wondered off," Bella said to herself. Edward wanted to yell for her to get down and run, but before he could get the words out he heard a loud scream and watched as the scenery around him blurred by. Once everything stilled he found himself looking up into a set of dark and deadly gold eyes; there was only one thing with gold eyes as deadly as a vampire, and that was a jaguar. He could feel Bella's fear as she thought of this particular memory. The jaguar pounced with perfect precision and landed right on top of him; he was watching this happen through Bella's eyes so everything she saw he did. Her loud screams tore at his heart as he realized how useless he was to her in this moment. Everything started to fade to solid black.
Suddenly Bella's reflection was staring back at him once again. This time it was different; the once smiling brown eyed beauty was now a cold-stoned, red-eyed, angry vampire. He watched as Senna tried to approach Bella, but stopped when she was hissed at by her.
"Why didn't you let that thing kill me?" Bella screeched, "Look at me! I'm going to spend the rest of eternity in a child's body" He watched as she picked up a rock and shattered the glass. He could still see some of Bella's reflection through a couple of pieces still attached to the mirror's frame.
"Bella, please listen to us," he knew this voice as Senna's, "all three of us would rather be burned to ashes than lose you." Edward watched his view change from the broken mirror to Bella's three sisters standing next to an opening inside the hut.
"All I wanted was five more years," Bella cried as she dropped to her knees, "was that really too much to ask?" Zafrina walked over and sank to her knees in front of her.
"Asking anything of life is too much. The more we want something the less likely we are to receive it. If there is one thing that this life, and my human one, has taught me it's to never want for anything and be pleased with what I already have been given,' Zafrina explained in a calm voice.
Once again the image morphed into a new one. It was similar to the first one but this time Edward could see the trees, plants, and insects as he was running through the rainforest, watching through Bella's vampire eyes.
"Bella, slow down." Kachiri yelled from somewhere farther back.
"I can't, Zafrina needs us to hurry before night falls,' Bella answered as she slowed her pace but didn't stop. The forest kept flying by until everything stopped and Edward found himself staring at a pink flower with small purple tentacle-looking things surrounding a white center.
"Kachiri, I found the passion flower Zafrina needs for the ritual tonight!" Bella shouted as she gently picked it.
"I must be getting slow in my old age," Kachiri joked as she made it to where Bella was standing.
The image changed into a new one; this time everything looked to be tinted in darkness. It wasn't until Bella looked up to the sky that Edward realized it was night time. He couldn't believe how red the full moon looked while surrounded by millions of bright twinkling stars. He was able to make the connection between the ritual Zafrina told him about earlier and the one Bella mentioned in her previous thought.
"Now can you tell me what this ritual is about, Zafrina?" Bella asked as she looked to her sister covered in red paint.
"Yes, this is my tribe's form of a wedding. Once a man and a woman speak the sacred vows of unity and life together under the blood moon and shake the shell they are united for life and even after death,' Zafrina explained as she pulled a giant turtle shell out of a box. Edward smiled as he recognized the shell as the same one Zafrina had given him.
"So who is this happy couple?" Bella asked as she looked around.
"I am sad to say that this is only a mock unity ritual, and not a real one,' Zafrina answered as she drew a large symbol on the shell; the paint she used was the same she was covered in. Bella looked over to her other two sisters who were staring up at the sky.
"Then why do this at all?" Bella questioned as she walked over to Zafrina to examine the shell.
"When you find your true love I want you to know how to perform this ritual. It would mean a lot to me that you follow my tribe's tradition-"Bella's laughing cut Zafrina off.
"True love? Me, find MY true love. That's great,' Bella laughed out loud.
Suddenly all of Bella's thoughts stopped and Edward found himself staring at a blank wall once again. He realized that Bella must've thrown her shield back up. When he looked over to her she was no longer on the bed next to him but staring out the window.
"Bella, is everything okay?" He asked as he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her.
"The mock unity ritual, your gift, it doesn't make sense. How could they have known?" Bella questioned as she turned to face him. "Zafrina had your gift picked out long before we left the Rainforest. She's had that shell for over two hundred years, why give it away now? And why to you?" Edward quickly made the connection that Bella had.
"You don't think they knew about us somehow, do you?" he asked skeptically.
"I don't see how, but didn't she say she shipped it to Carlisle a couple of years ago?" Bella knew this was not something she wanted to add to the rest of today's stress but also knew it wasn't something she could leave be.
"We can ask Carlisle if he knows anything about it but I doubt he does," Edward explained, "he was told not to open it." He didn't like seeing his mate look so stressed and wanted to put her mind at ease, but didn't know how.
"You're right, I doubt he does. I'm sorry for stopping my thoughts like that. Is there anything particular you'd like to see?" Bella knew she would have to wait for her answers until she could speak with Zafrina.
"You don't have to show me anything just because you feel bad. I understand this all must be difficult for you-" Edward was interrupted by images of earlier today but through someone else's point of view. He quickly realized they were Bella's thoughts. He could smell his own scent and the tingly feeling it caused Bella to feel, and how it multiplied as she got closer to him. He got to see what she thought of him at first glance and even when he touched her for the first time. He tried hard not to laugh as he watched himself fly through the window. The best part was when he convinced her to touch his palms with her own. Her thoughts showed only love, hope, and acceptance. Everything became quiet as he found himself staring at Bella.
"I thought that would be a good apology," Bella said as she looked down at her shuffling feet. Edward pulled her chin up and forced her to look at him; he thought the way she bit her bottom lip was adorable.
"There was no need for an apology but if there was, then that is the best one I have ever received. Thank you, love." He finished by kissing her on the lips. Before the kiss could become too heated a knock on the door broke it up. Edward pressed his forehead to Bella's. "Sounds like we have visitors. Well more like you have visitors," Edward said.
"Come in," Bella called out to whoever was standing on the other side of her bedroom door. She watched as shy-looking Jasper an excited-looking Carlisle came in.
"We were hoping you had a few minutes to talk with us, Bella," Carlisle asked as he stood in the entrance with his hand still on the door knob. Bella looked to Edward with a questioning look.
"They've come to jump you, my love," he answered. After a few moments Bella broke out laughing as she remembered her confusion from earlier when he had first told her this. Carlisle and Jasper just looked at each other in confusion.
"You'll have to excuse me. When Edward told me this earlier I thought he meant you two wanted to physically jump me," Bella explained as she tried to calm herself. Jasper smirked while Carlisle chuckled.
"If you don't mind my son and I wanted to ask you about your shield-" Carlisle was interrupted by an overly excited Edward.
"Carlisle, it's amazing what she can do with it. I have never seen such an amazing talent, or one as developed as hers. It's truly-"
"Calm down Edward, that is why we are here. We wanted to ask if Bella minded telling and maybe showing us her amazing ability." Carlisle interrupted Edward as he turned to her. "If you would rather not it is perfectly fine."
"What would you like to know about it?" Bella asked as she motioned for Carlisle and Jasper to take their seats in the sitting area. She sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to her as she looked towards Edward. He walked over and set next to her and took her hand in his. Carlisle and Jasper were next to take their seat.
"How old were you when you noticed you had a shield?" Carlisle asked as he set down in one of the white chairs.
"I was about ten years old when I first noticed it," Bella answered but before she could elaborate Jasper cut in.
"It took you that long to notice it? Most of us notice shortly after our newborn stage is over." Bella was surprised by Jasper's remark.
"Zafrina told me that it was odd for a gift to be that strong in our human-"
"Wait, you were ten years old in human years when you noticed your ability?" Carlisle said, cutting Bella off. "That is remarkable." Jasper and Edward nodded in agreement.
"I use to have nightmares about being attacked by a jaguar so Zafrina would show me happy illusions to calm me. Shortly after my tenth birthday I realized I could not see her illusions if I fought against them; I could be quite stubborn when I was a child." Bella waited for the men's' shock to wear off and to ask the next question. She didn't have to wait long.
"Did it develop any further as you got older?" Jasper asked.
"Not that I was aware of. You must remember I never had a reason to protect myself from other vampire's gifts, only Zafrina's," Bella responded. "Of course my shield wasn't much help when I was attacked by that jaguar so I'd no it didn't develop any further."
"What about after your transformation?" Carlisle questioned as he leaned in closer as if he was going to miss some small detail.
"As soon as I woke from my transformation my shield made itself known. My sisters had gathered around as my heartbeat slowed. When I opened my eyes they had frightened me and before I knew it they were flying through the walls of our hut. I instantly knew I was the cause, and was soon able to gain some control over it. Though it took a few hours before they could approach me without my shield interfering." Bella explained as she looked down in shame. To this day she felt horrible for what she had done and how she had acted towards her loved ones. Edward started rubbing soothing circles on her lower back.
"I know what that feels like,' Jasper said as he laughed, 'your shield knocked me back a good thirty feet." Everyone started laughing and Bella's nerves began to calm as she replayed the memory in her mind.
"I'm sorry I did that to you, but if it makes you feel better you did get a good chomp in afterwards." Bella said as she rubbed her shoulder for show.
"I'm sorry as well. I was kind of glad Edward stopped me when he did; I don't even want to know what else you had in store for me." Jasper said as everyone's laughter died down. Carlisle was the first to sober up.
"What else can you do with your shield?" Carlisle asked Bella. She knew they would be here all night if this continued.
"It would be much easier if I just showed you." Before Bella could finish her sentence Jasper was on his feet.
"Well come on, I'm dying to see this." Jasper said he walked out the door. A few seconds later they heard him yell, "Hey Emmett, Bella is going to show us what she can do with her shield." Carlisle looked to Bella with an apologetic smile.
"Please, do not feel obligated to do this. Knowing Jasper and Emmett they are going to want to be lab rats for your shield display," he explained as he stood up. Bella stood up and pulled Edward towards the door. She was secretly excited to show off a little bit. Carlisle followed them as they ran down the stairs. He met Esme at the bottom and took her hand and walked out into the backyard. Emmett was off to the side doing some kind of Tibo punch and kick warm up and Jasper was on the opposite side stretching. Bella was standing in the middle waiting for her audience to gather.
"I'm so going first," Emmett announced to everybody, mainly Jasper. With a couple more punches and kicks Emmett walked over to Bella. "Okay what do you need me to do?" He asked excitedly. Before she could answer him Jasper had tackled him from the right side. The two began wrestling on the ground. Emmett had Jasper in a headlock but it was quickly broken when Jasper flipped, sending Emmett into a tree. The two vampires began to charge at each other but when they both went to pounce they found themselves stuck in midair. They tried moving but realized they were frozen in positions.
"That is one thing I am able to do with my shield," Bella announced, she then sent both men flying back in opposite directions with a flick of her wrist, "and that's another." When Jasper and Emmett emerged from the brush they looked to be in a state of shock.
"That will come in handy when I need to break them up next time." Esme said as she clapped for Bella. Carlisle could only nod in response to his mate. Edward ran over and hugged Bella.
"That was amazing, love," he said as he kissed her. In Bella's excited state she forgot about taking things slow and deepened the kiss.
"Hey, hey enough of that you two, not until the wedding." Bella turned to find Alice and Rosalie standing next to the back porch with shopping bags filling both their hands.
"Oh yes, not until the wedding." Everyone turned towards the feminine voice. Bella had not recognized the beautiful blonde vampire standing against the house with her arms and ankles crossed staring at Edward and Bella with a look of mock sincerity. Bella had to fight against her shield from harming the newcomer; it was like her subconscious was trying to warn and protect her and Edward from this woman. Edward's grip on Bella tightened which only added to Bella's already present suspicion. Carlisle was quick to greet the newcomer and break up the staring contest.
"Tanya, we weren't aware that you were coming for a visit. Did the others come with you?" He asked as he looked over her shoulder for the rest of her coven. She smirked at Edward one last time before walking towards Carlisle and Esme.
"It was only going to be me but I have a strong feeling Eleazar will be joining me shortly, especially after I tell him about your friend and her remarkable gift." Tanya said as she looked towards Bella with disgust. The others might not have noticed but Bella did, so she let out low growl. This caused everyone to look towards her.
"Oh my word Carlisle, are sure it is safe to have her in close proximity to your family?" Tanya asked as she made a big production of grabbing Esme's hand and pulling her away from Bella. Esme may be a kind and loving woman but she was still a woman and automatically picked up on Tanya's jealous behavior. When having a handsome mate who all women fawn over, you learn all about the nastiness that is jealousy.
"Tanya, this is Bella. She is Edward's mate and my newest daughter." No one missed how Esme annunciated the word mate. "She is also a part of our coven now. Isn't that right, Bella?" Esme finished as she smiled towards Bella; this was her way of letting Bella know not to let Tanya walk all over her.
"Yes, I'm Bella, Edward's mate, Esme and Carlisle's daughter, and the newest member of the Cullen family." Bella made sure she matched her words to Esme's, so that Tanya would know it was very much the truth. To add her own little bit of claim, Bella finished by kissing Edward's cheek.
"Carlisle, I must admit I am a little hurt that you did not let us know about the engagement. After all we've been your family for how long?" Tanya's question was laced with hurt and disappointment, but not enough to make it believable. By this point even Carlisle had noticed her strange behavior.
"Bella just arrived this afternoon," Carlsile paused and looked at his wrist watch, "she's been here exactly fourteen hours-"Carlisle was cut off by Tanya's overly obnoxious laughter.
"You mean to tell me she hasn't been here a whole day and already she's staked her claim on your family." Tanya paused to laugh some more, "and miraculously discovered Edward is her mate." She just kept laughing as if this was some funny joke that only she found humorous. "Come on Carlisle, even you and Esme didn't discover you were mates until months after you changed her." Esme was at her breaking point with Tanya.
"No Tanya," Esme's voice was eerily calm, "I knew before Carlisle changed me. I knew I was in love with him when I was only a sixteen year old girl. I may not have known he was my mate, but I knew I loved him beyond what was humanly possible. I understand that you do not understand what it's like to find your one true love, but if I were you I wouldn't be judging or questioning something I knew nothing about. So please leave Bella and Edward's relationship alone. Our family has already accepted her into our family and you of all people should know we do not turn our backs on family." Esme finished by giving Tanya a look that said 'I dare you to question me'. No one was prepared for Tanya's response.
"If your family loves her so much then why did I receive a phone call about helping one of them 'rid this family of that nasty jungle rat'?" Tanya was surprised by the Cullens' hisses and growls in reply of her statement. Edward was actually crouched but Bella's strong grip on his arm was keeping him from pouncing. To everyone's surprise Bella's own response was to laugh about it, which made Tanya furious.
"Jungle rat, now that is creative and not too far off the mark." Bella laughed, "Let's see the rata del bambú (bamboo rat) would be a more accurate term if you were to compare me to a rat. The rata del bambú's movements are completely silent, such as mine. It can disappear swiftly leaving no trace of its presence, much like I can. It's judged by its appearance and considered to lack intelligence, but in all honesty it is one of the smartest creatures on this planet, much like I am. So while you may think you're comparison is a jagged-edged insult, it's actually more of an incredibly high compliment, and I thank you for it." Bella finished with a bow to enraged Tanya. Edward wanted to clap for Bella's speech but her tight hold on him made it impossible. Tanya flipped her hair over her right shoulder as she began to yell, "You little, disgusting, dirty, bit-" She didn't get the chance to finish.
"Who called you?" Carlisle interrupted, though he already knew who called and why they did it, but he also knew it was before she and Bella had talked. Tanya acted as if she didn't hear Carlisle's question and continued to glare at Bella. As soon as Tanya saw Rosalie step forward she flipped her hair over her right shoulder.
"It was me." Rosalie admitted before she looked towards Bella, "Please forgive me, Bella. I called her before I got the chance to actually meet you and I was just so mad that you were here and-"
"Rosalie, stop," Bella interrupted, "I understand why you did it and even though it was to cause me harm, I respect that you put such effort into something you felt strongly towards."
"No, I didn't want to hurt you. I just wanted you gone, like to go back to your Rainforest," Rosalie's voice dropped before finishing, "where I thought you belonged. Esme and Carlisle both went to speak but Bella silenced them with a raised hand.
"I would rather you tear me apart and burn the pieces until there is nothing but ash, than making me leave. Living a life without Edward by my side would be no life at all; it would be the worse and most painful torture imaginable," Bella explained in a painful voice. The thought of being without Edward was enough to cause her heart to hurt. Rosalie remembered what the first two years of her vampire life was like without Emmett, and then tried to picture what it'd be like if she was forced to leave him. She felt a sharp pain in her heart and immediately realized what hell she would've caused Bella and Edward if her plan had worked.
"Bella, Edward, I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am for the pain I almost caused the both of you," Rosalie apologized then walked over and took Emmett's hand in her own. After imagining life without him she now felt the need to be right beside him. Bella nodded her head but Edward remained mad, but not at Rosalie; he was mad at Tanya, more like furious.
"Tanya, it seems your services are no longer required. You may take your leave now," Edward all but growled at her. He turned to Bella and whispered, "I need to be able to read her mind, love," into her ear. Bella didn't show any sign that she heard him but not even a second later Edward could hear Tanya's thoughts. Up until now Tanya had assumed her thoughts were safe, at least according to what Rosalie had explained to her earlier. She had told her how Edward could not hear the thoughts of the Amazons because of Bella's shield, so Tanya figured as long as Bella is shielding Edward he could not hear anyone's thoughts. Besides, if he had heard what she was thinking when she got here he would've attacked her. She didn't take into consideration that Bella could protect her mate physically while leaving his mental ability unguarded. Edward could tell by her smug look that she thought her mind was silent to him so he decided to play along.
"I would rather your departure not be on bad terms, but I don't know what your intentions are so I must ask you to leave." Edward was right as soon as he mentioned her intentions her thoughts ran wild.
My intentions are to get rid of that thing so we can be together. Mark my words lover boy, YOU. WILL. BE. MINE. Edward watched as Tanya strolled through a list of possible ways to get rid of Bella: telling her that if she loved him she'd leave so he could be with someone worthy of him, making Bella attack her and playing hurt so that the family would send Bella away, informing the Volturi-mainly Aro-of Bella's powerful gift. Edward lost control when he saw Tanya explaining to Aro all about Bella's gift, as well as Zafrina's.
"I will kill you." Edward hissed as he lunged at a very surprised Tanya. Carlisle and Bella managed to get a hold of him before he could reach her.
"Son, remember who she is; she is family-"
"Family doesn't go to the Volturi to get rid of someone's mate," Edward interrupted with a growl. He was fighting against his mate and father to get to the traitor only feet away.
"Carlisle, I assure you I have no desire to go to the Volturi. I don't know what he's talking about," Tanya defended as she gave Carlisle a look of pure innocence.
"Cut the crap, Tanya. I saw what your intentions were." Edward yelled. Tanya looked at him with pure hatred, but quickly reined it in. It wasn't quick enough because Esme, Carlisle, Bella, and Edward all witnessed it. Bella released her hold on Edward and watched as he got loose of Carlisle's but when he went to lunge for Tanya he hit an invisible wall. He clawed and hit at it but it never faulted.
"Edward, you are better than this," Bella soothingly whispered to him and she touched his shoulder. Her touch calmed him enough that he was able to restrain himself. Before anyone could speak they heard a loud bang. They all turned to see that it was caused by Tanya smacking into the invisible wall. She had tried to escape by running but didn't realize Bella had created a cage like shield around her.
"Will someone please explain what is going on?" Emmett asked as he and Rosalie walked towards where the others were standing. Alice and Jasper had rushed over when Edward first lunged for Tanya.
"I read her thoughts; she was listing ways to get Bella away from me. Most of them were juvenile but then she thought of going to the Volturi and informing Aro of a certain talented vampire." Tanya didn't try to defend herself this time. She just stood there glaring at Bella.
"Tanya, why would you do this to our family?" Esme asked sadly.
"Why, you want to know why? I have spent the last few decades trying to get Edward to notice me, but no, I was never good enough for Mr. Perfect. And now look what he's with." Tanya yelled. Edward wrapped his arms around Bella and kissed her temple.
"I pity you, Tanya," Bella started to explain. "If you love someone all you truly care about is that person's happiness. You are so blinded by your own wants that you aren't able to see what love really is." She finished.
"Well you know what-"
"NO!" Alice's scream cut Tanya off. "Why did you do that? You had this planned all along." Alice yelled at her.
"Alice, what are you talking about?" Jasper asked as her. He could feel her worry and anger as well as everyone else's.
"It's too late. She's already swimming there." Alice said as she looked toward the direction of the ocean.
"What's too late, and who is swimming?" Carlisle asked his daughter.
"Irina. She was watching the whole time, waiting for Tanya to flip her hair; it was the signal for her to start towards Volterra. Tanya was to meet her there and together they'd tell Aro about Bella's shield. They have been here for the last two hours watching from the trees. She saw what Bella could do with her shield and now she is on her way to show Aro," Alice explained. She then turned to Tanya, "But you hadn't planned on this," she said as she tapped her nail against the outside of Tanya's invisible cage.
"This is my entire fault," Bella sobbed as she looked up towards Edward's face. "If I hadn't been shielding your mind you could've heard them." She stepped away from him and covered her face as she continued to sob.
"I thought you were shielding everyone else from me," he asked as he moved Bella's hands away from her face.
"No, no, no, I thought it'd be easier to pull you under my shield rather than remove it completely. That way you didn't have anyone else's thoughts interrupting while I showed you my thoughts. I am so sorry," Bella explained as she kept trying to step away.
"Bella, look at me," he asked, but instead of answering she kept shaking her head. "Bella, Look. AT. Me. Now," he half yelled. She immediately stopped what she was doing and stared at him. She was shocked that he had raised his voice to her, but when she looked up all she found was his beautiful smile. "I'm sorry I spoke to you so harshly, but I needed you to look at me. I am not mad at you, nor do I blame you; no one here blames you, okay?" He kissed her forehead and then her left cheek and finally kissed her on the lips.
"What am I going to do?" Bella asked after the kiss had ended. She looked over to the rest of the family, hoping that one of them would have an answer. Carlisle walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"No Bella, it's not what you are going to do, but what we are going to do. You are part of this family now, and we protect our family," Carlisle explained. He was thrown off guard by Bella's sudden movements. Before he had time to react he found himself being hugged tightly by Bella. This was the same girl who only hours ago growled and hissed in warning when he got within three yards of her. He didn't waste any time in returning her hug.
"I need to get ahold of my sisters; they will help us." Bella whispered into Carlisle's chest. He released her from the hug but kept his hand on her upper arms.
"It looks like we are going on a family vacation," he said as he smiled at his newest daughter.
"Do you really think it's smart to go on vacation at a time like this?" Emmett asked. Rosalie just shook her head at her husband's stupidity. Jasper walked over to him and patted his shoulder.
"He means we are going to the Amazon Rainforest, you idiot," Jasper said as he rolled his eyes.
"You mean with anacondas and jaguars," Emmett paused and looked over to Bella. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking. I-"
"You can make it up to me by killing an anaconda. I think it's about time I get a new arm band," Bella replied with a smile. It was Alice's turn to roll her eyes; she still wasn't excited about Bella and her animal attire.
"There's just one problem," Esme said. "What are we going to do with her?" she asked as she tapped on Tanya's invisible prison.
As you can tell this story is about to get a lot more interesting: The Volturi are getting involved, the Cullens are going to the Amazon Rainforest (lots of humor), and more. I don't want to give it all away. I would love to hear/read your thoughts on this chapter or any other part of the story. I have posted a couple of pictures from this chapter on my facebook page (Casey-Pup) so if you'd like to take a look, please do. It's set up as public so no friend requests are needed (but highly appreciated). I do post tiny sneak-peeks of the next chapter as well as updates and pictures of items, places, things mentioned in the chapter.