ALMOST 800 REVIEWS! Okay I know it's been like three days but please don't kill me. Since we made it a little over half way through this story already I decided to take a much needed break. Not to mention school has been insane and I needed just one night where I wasn't crazy stressed. Anyway things should calm down now seeing as winter break is soon approaching and their isn't much more they can make us do lol. Thanks to all of those who reviewed. I can't thank you guys enough really.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything but my characters
BPOV
All of us boarded the plane in silence. Carlisle had made arrangements for a private flight directly to Italy so we could be as distraught as we chose without making it known to the public. Carlisle and Esme joined us in attempt to persuade Aro to release Rosalie.
How could I allow this to happen, Edward thought. She's my sister and yet I turned her away when she needed me the most. What kind of brother am I?
"The best," I said answering his thoughts out loud. "Edward please do not place the blame on yourself. We will bring her home."
"Bella I," he hesitated. I brought his face to mine and placed my forehead against his. I placed my hand upon his face and rubbed his cheeks gently.
"I know my love," I whispered. "I know you must be terrified. I understand that you feel guilty for endangering her, but you must know that none of that blame is yours. You said it before, Rosalie made a decision. Perhaps it was once again the wrong choice but she did it out of love."
"I want to kill him Bella," Edward said suddenly becoming stiff. His eyes became black as night and his teeth clenched inside his mouth. He tightened his hand firmly with my own and continued to glare into space. "He did this to her….he did this to you. I should have killed him when the opportunity presented itself."
"Edward listen to me," I told him. "You did nothing wrong." He huffed once and turned away from me but I moved until I was practically sitting on his lap. I needed him to hear me and this seemed to be the only way. "Kyle is at fault, with that you are correct. He has done many terrible things but you must realize that none of that has to do with you."
"Nothing to do with me," he yelled. "Bella he went after you and yet I was able to do nothing! He endangered my family and yet again I was able to do nothing! Tell me what you would feel if it were you in this situation."
"I've been in this situation," I reminded him. "My best friend nearly lost her life because of him. Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie…you, he put you all in danger at my expense! He wanted nothing more than to hurt me and so technically this is my fault. Edward before you blame yourself blame me!"
"Bella," he contradicted.
"Edward," I said in the same tone. "Can you honestly disagree?" As he was about to answer Alice and Jasper entered our sector of the plane. "Any more news," I asked calmly.
"No," Alice said flatly. "I just wish I could see her. I wish I could see more than just a terrified look on her face and a smug look on his."
"I'm so sorry," I said suddenly feeling ashamed. "If I never would have come here then neither would he. I should have just given him what he wanted. Maybe he was right, I should have just surrendered. "I couldn't take the look of distress that seemed to hover over all of them. I stood up and walked past the entire family. I no longer felt as if I deserved to be there. I needed to think, to regroup.
After a few minutes I found myself locked in the bathroom willing myself to cry. I just wanted to feel again. I wanted the tears to brush against my skin and my head to throb with intense pain. I needed to feel my heart pulsate with my every gasp. I only wished that I could take back all that I had done. As I sat there alone remembering my past and all that had occurred my phone rang.
"Hello," I said trying not to sob.
"Bella," I heard Natalie's cheerful voice ring.
"Hey Nat," I
said with fake enthusiasm. "What's up?"
"I wanted to make
sure you got home okay," she said. She sounded so much better. I
felt so relieved that my destruction had not faltered her
permanently.
"Yeah," I said. "I had to leave right after I arrived though."
"Why what's up," she asked now concerned. "I know that tone, something is wrong. Is it Edward? Did he do something? So help me if he hurt you..."
"Edward did nothing," I said cutting her off. "It was me, it was all me." At this point I was hardly able to speak. Containing my emotions was becoming a major challenge. All I wanted to do was scream. I wanted to throw something. I wanted beat someone until they hurt as badly as me.
"What happened," she asked sympathetically.
"I screwed up Nat," I said. "I allowed Kyle to be more involved with my life than I ever should have. I thought when I left that I would be able to let him go for good."
"That's not your fault hon," she said to me. "God only knows why that boy does what he does. You never could have controlled his actions."
"Natalie how can you say that," I asked her. "Look what he did to you! That was because of me remember?"
"Enough," she yelled through the phone. If I still would have been human I knew that would have made me nearly deaf. "Enough with this self pity Isabella Marie Swan! Remember who you are. You are a strong independent woman who can take care of herself and all who she loves!"
"No," I corrected her. "I'm a stupid idiot who puts everyone she loves in danger! They wouldn't need protection if they didn't have me in their lives."
"Did I not just say enough with the self pity," she repeated. "Bell you can do this. Whatever is going on you can handle this. Look at all you've been through. There was a reason you had to live those experiences. They're what make you who you are today. Use your strength and fight with all you have. This is no time to go chicken on me okay."
"Your right," I agreed with her. After all what was the point of living if you don't learn from your mistakes. I would save Rosalie and I would leave Kyle to the Volturi.
"Of course I'm right," she laughed. "This is me talking."
"Thanks Nat," I said. "For all that you've done."
"Anytime Bells," she said. "I'm always here for you, you know that right?" I was about to answer when I heard Josh begin to yell in the background. "Natalie your solo's coming up! We need you."
"Sorry Bells," she said laughing. "The duties of a band geek are never ending."
"I guess not," I laughed with her. We said goodbye and I couldn't stop myself from thinking of the charmed life I used to lead before Kyle, before Edward. I was always an adult trapped in a teenager's body yet life seemed so much easier back when I was human. Though I always played the mother, even to Renée, I was a happy person.
As much as I deeply loved Edward I had to wonder what our story would have been like if we were both human at the same time. Would we still love each other this much? Would we love each other at all? As I continued to think I heard a knock come from the door.
"Bella," I heard his sweet voice murmur. "Will you open the door sweetheart?"
"Why do you need in here," I teased.
"No," he said with little humor. "But I do need you." I opened the door gently and there standing outside waiting for me was my own personal angel who looked to be in more pain than I had ever seen him before. I walked a few more steps until neither of us could stand the space between our bodies.
"I'm sorry," he whispered into my hair. "I shouldn't have closed myself off to you like that."
"Don't be sorry," I said grabbing him tighter. "None of us should be sorry. It's easier to place blame but we can't focus on that right now. We need to combined our strengths together not tear ourselves apart separately."
"How right you are my love," he said placing a kiss on the top of my head. "We will be arriving soon. We should discuss strategy with the others." We went to gather the rest of our family as we continued to hold each other in support. When we arrived at Alice and Jasper's part of the plane I could see the pain in her eyes.
"Ali," I said taking place beside her. I took her into my arms and she finally allowed her guard to be brought down.
"I can't do anything," she sobbed. "I'm useless! What good is this gift if I can't even save my sister?"
"Shh Alice," I soothed. "This will all be okay. You'll see."
"How Bella," she asked me. "How will this be okay?"
"Were going to do this together," I assured her. I smoothed her hair with my fingertips and gently rocked her back and forth. Jasper looked terrible. I could tell that Alice feeling this way was practically killing him. He grimaced as if he were enduring severe pain.
"Everything okay," Esme asked coming around the corner with Carlisle.
"We're landing in about fifteen minutes," Carlisle told all of us. "We should make it to the Voultera soon after midnight."
"Wait," Alice said suddenly. "I see…I see something!"
"What is it," Jasper asked taking his place on the other side of Alice. "What do you see?"
"Bella," she said turning her glance toward me. Edward and I both shocked at her words, looked into her mind. In her vision I was standing there in front of the Volturi with the rest of my family surrounding me, including Rosalie.
"She's okay," Alice said with an emotion that had seemed so nonexistent before, hope. "Oh and Carlisle were landing in two minutes."
"Why did your vision finally change," Esme asked clearly curious, as were we all.
"Bella," she said again. "I think it was Bella. You gave me the reassurance that we could all work together. Maybe that is why." We smiled at each other and both let out a sigh of relief.
"Good evening Cullen's," our pilot said. "We have arrived ahead of schedule. Welcome to the beautiful city of Italy." We all became frozen for a moment before finally moving forward. I prayed a silent prayer begging God that this would all be okay.
"Ready love," Edward asked me taking my hand once again.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I responded. Carlisle had also preordered three cars for each couple. Alice predicted that we would arrive at the Voultera at exactly midnight.
We were silent in the car as we raced to the entrance. When we pulled up the gate we were shocked to find Emmett standing there.
"Emmett," we all said in questioning tones. "How long have you been here," I asked.
"I just came to the end of the trail," he said starring in disbelief at the door. "Please tell me…Please tell me she isn't…"
"She's not Emmett," Alice reassured him. "She's okay…for now."
"I'm going to kill him," Emmett said repeating Edward's words from previously. "I am going to take him between my bare hands and tear apart his every limb."
"You have to stay Calm," Jasper said using his powers to relieve his brother of some of his hatred.
"Jasper is right," Carlisle said. "We have to be sensible. The Volturi will never listen if we look to be insane." We were just about to enter the building when a guard stepped in front of us.
"You," he said pointing to Carlisle. "Are you Carlisle Cullen?"
"Yes I am," Carlisle said stepping forward proudly. "I wish to see Aro. He seems have my daughter in his possession."
"You only," the guard specified. "They must wait until Aro gives them leave to enter. They may wait in the lobby.
"I want to see my wife," Emmett roared. "Let me see her or so help me…"
"Emmett," I said stepping beside him. I placed my hand around his wrist attempting to restrain him. "Remember what Carlisle said. Keep your cool. I'm sure we will be able to go in soon."
"Please enter," another person said. She was a woman. She also appeared to be a receptionist. I gathered from her thoughts that her name was Heidi. I also gathered from the burn in my throat that she was human.
"Are you okay," Edward asked gripping his arms around my waste.
"I'm fine," I said focusing my attention on saving Rosalie. If I killed the receptionist I'm sure that would not put me in good graces.
Edward, Bella we both heard Carlisle think before the guard came into the lobby and asked us to follow him. Keep calm. Just remember to keep calm. We heeded his warning as we continued to through the maze that finally led us to a bright red room. It appeared to be untouched yet somehow lived in.
"My young ones," I heard a man with jet black hair and alabaster skin say as he moved toward us. Edward moved me so that I was behind his back while the man continued to advance forward towards us.
Bella, I heard Rosalie's voice practically scream. Bella leave.
No Rosalie, I willed her to hear. She looked utterly shocked. Apparently she had not been informed of my extra abilities and seemed to be completely taken back. Its okay, I told her. You are going to be okay. I promise.
You have got to be kidding me, I heard him think. Bella is alive, I knew it! She's with him though. We'll just have to take care of that later won't we?
Shut the hell up you sick bastard, I said in my head while glaring at him. He looked shocked but still as egotistical as ever.
Bella if he goes near you, Edward thought becoming severely enraged. Its okay, I said in my mind him to hear. I'm right here, I'm still with you.
"Dear ones," the man I presumed to be Aro said now standing directly in front of Edward. "Welcome to the Voultera." He eyed me appreciatively as Edward began to growl. "Young Bella, may I say you look entrancing! Vampirism does indeed agree with you."
"I guess so," I said vaguely.
"Young Edward," Aro said throwing his arm around my love as if they were old friends. "I am honored to finally meet your acquaintance.
"I wish I could say the same Aro," Edward said sternly. "But under these circumstances you understand why I am not."
"Certainly," he agreed. "This is rather dreadful."
"Can we change
that," I found myself asking. "I do not believe Rosalie is the
one who has done wrong here."
"You would say that," Kyle
practically yelled towards me. "She hates me Aro of course
she would side with her sister!"
"Jane my love," Aro said starring at a woman slightly shorter than Alice. At first I thought her to be a boy. "Will you please?"
"Of course," she agreed smiling smugly. Before I knew what was happening Kyle yelled out in pure agony.
"I told you, you were not to speak," Aro yelled though he still kept the same sweet calm tone. "Give our Bella a chance to speak." He motioned over to me before speaking again. "Bella my child, please tell me how you know this."
"I know him," I said with a steady voice. "I have seen what he is capable of more than one time. Rosalie was trying her best but it is hard to fight when it is good versus evil."
"Rosalie meant to kill you thought dearest," Aro said matter of factly. How did he know that? My face must have given away my emotions because Aro answered my question."When Carlisle first arrived I was able to see what you have all endured recently."
"How," I asked without thought.
"I share your ability," he said to me. "Though I am only able to see a person's thoughts and past when I touch them. I know all there is to know Bella. I have seen what Rosalie has done and yet you still wish to save her?"
"Aro I know it may seem strange," I said honestly. "But you must understand, Rosalie is my family and I love her dearly just as if she were my sister."
"You do," Rosalie asked starring at me in shock.
"I do," I answered with just as much honesty. "No matter what has occurred I will always feel that."
"The crime she has committed is not to be taken lightly," a man by the name of Marcus said stepping forward. "She nearly allowed the secret of vampires to be known."
"How," I asked. "She told no one."
"That is correct," Aro said. "She told no one but when we came to see you in Forks we came across him instead. He murdered four teenagers in the middle of a public street!" I heard Kyle snicker and I found it hard to restrain myself from lunging at him. I hate you, I willed him to hear.
"The fault was not Rosalie's," Edward said. "she was not with Kyle during the attack!"
"Kyle has told us that he too blames Rosalie," Marcus said. "He said that she never told him of the Volturi or of the rules."
"He's lying," I found myself saying with clenched teeth.
"Prove it babe," Kyle sneered at me. This time I could no longer hold myself back I lunged at him. I tore off his arm with my teeth and continued to claw at him until I felt someone bring me back to place I had been standing at previously.
"Bella," Edward said shocked.
"I'm sorry," I lied.
"I have no proof," Aro said. "Bella if in some way you could provide proof that the fault is not Rosalie's then I will release her. Can you show me what you say is true?"
Can she? Hmm I don't know we'll just have to see. You know how we see? Review review review!
