Chapter 13

Ambush

"I don't want to be a Vampire," Bella told Felix as they sat in his bedroom in front of a High Definition television. On his bed. "As soon as my parents are back in Jacksonville, I wanna go stay with them."

Bella already knew that she was in Washington. Felix explained to her how the Cullens and the wolves had trotted the earth high and low in search of her. It felt nice to know they cared. In the two months that Bella had lived with the Volturi, she had become rather close to them. They treated her like family. Bella of course knew that they wanted her to join them eventually, but she had other plans in mind. In particular, she grew close to Felix. The two of them spoke every day. They were best friends.

"How long 'til Charlie and Renee are done vacationing?" Felix asked.

"Just a couple more days," said Bella.

Felix turned away from her. "I'm really going to miss you."

"I'll miss you too,"

Felix scooted across the bed, closer to Bella. He took her hand in his. "Bella, if you don't mind," he paused and exhaled deeply. "I'd like to watch over you. Just in case. Of them."

"Oh," Bella looked down at Felix's hand holding hers.

"I just have to make sure you're okay. Please? Would that be alright with you?"

Bella nodded. Felix took her hand and kissed it. She smiled at him and gave him a hug.

"You never asked about how you got here." said Felix.

"I know," said Bella. "You gonna tell me?"

"Remember the trees, in the meadow? Someone was there?"

"It was you guys, right?"

"In particular, Maya."

"Oh, the girl who makes you see what she wants you to see?"

"Yeah."

"Wait-"

"Haha, no Bella. You and Edward together was real. She was just watching you on Aro's orders. And then he got Warren to use his power to bring you here."

"What's Warren's power?"

"He tracks the location of anything he wants and then brings it to him."

"So I wasn't physically taken?"

"No."

"So Maya heard me say that I still wanted to be human."

"Yes, but that's not the reason Aro wanted you."

"What was it then?"

Before Felix could answer they heard a commotion going on somewhere in the house. They left the room and went to see what was going on.

Bella and Felix ran to the foyer of the Volturi's home. When they got there, the sight was astounding to Bella. Edward, Alice, Carlisle, Esme, Emmett, Rosalie, Jasper, Seth, Sam, Quil, Embry, Paul, Jared, Leah, Collin and Brady. All of them were standing before her. But not Jacob. She of course was surrounded by Aro, Jane, Felix, Marcus, Caius, Demetri, Renata, Brennan, Chelsea, Afron, Maya, Heidi, Warren, Santiago, Sulpicia and Arhenodora and a few other members whom she hadn't met yet, including a new face, which was Thor, of course. Bella glared at Edward. He looked back, but he was smiling. Poor thing.

"What a surprise!" said Aro. "We weren't expecting guests. Carlisle! Long time, no see."

"Aro, we won't be here for long," said Carlisle. "We'll just negotiate and be on our way with Bella."

Aro looked at Carlisle for a few seconds and then proceeded to crack up into a roar of laughter. "Did you hear that?" He said turning to the people on his right. "Did you hear that?!" And then to the people on his left. "Negotiate and then leave. Ha! Bella isn't going anywhere with you. Isn't that right, Bella?" She didn't answer. She just ran into another room.

"I think that answers my question," said Aro.

"You've strengthened her bond towards you people." said Edward.

"No, no, actually. She has chosen to reside with us of her own will."

"Liar!" said Edward. He tried to run to Bella but Jane stopped him and inflicted him with pain with her power.

"Déjà vu," said Aro with a menacing grin on his face.

Amongst all this commotion, Bella ran to her bedroom. When she got there, Jacob was sitting on her bed.

"Jake?" She ran into his arms. "I missed you,"

"Me too," He held onto her tightly.

"Can't—breathe!"

Jacob looked into Bella's eyes and then held her close to him again.

"How did you know-"

"Bella, come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me. I'll get you out of here. We can go be together. Away from all of this. Away from them. Will you come with me?"

Bella looked at him. He put his hand on her cheek. So warm. How she missed that.

"Will you?" he asked again.

Bella pondered the question as she heard Edward's screams of excruciating pain coming from the foyer.