Chapter 13: Lips are Sealed

Authors Note: Sorry everybody!!! Our family's laptop died and we had to get a new one! Then we had to wait even longer to get all of our programs running and have all of my documents from the old computer returned. Our family just got the computer back today so I am writing now. First of all, none of your guesses were correct. Think about the clues I gave you...masculine hands means man. I said he had black hair. The biggest clue I gave was one I said olive toned! Figure it out yet? Now that my babbling is done, on with the chapter!

Disclaimer: I own nothing remotely cool! :)

(E POV)

I sat in my room, waiting until it was a little later so I could enter Bella's room while she is sleeping. While I was thinking about Bella I noticed that everything was quiet...too quiet. I didn't hear Emmett's booming laughter or obnoxious thoughts. Now that I think about it, I haven't been hearing Alice's never-ending chatter or thoughts of clothes.

This was all becoming very strange. All of a sudden, I heard very quick footsteps rushing toward my door. They could only be one person, Alice. I opened the door to find my little sister was staring at me with fright evident in her eyes. All of her words were rushed out in nervousness.

Edward! I saw Bella and Victoria is in town! I growled at the thought of Victoria putting her hands on my Bella. Just as I was about to rush past Alice to find Victoria, Alice tackled me.

You can't leave. I already sent Emmett to find her. You can't try and get her. Victoria has already memorized your scent by heart, once she gets a whiff of you she will get Bella from her house and murder her in her sleep!

It was a good thing that Jasper wasn't near me because I was having emotions that I couldn't name going through me. The only ones I could name were anger, despair, rage, and sadness. There was only one thing I wanted to do besides rip Victoria limb by limb, and that was to hold my Bella safe in my arms. Why must fate always go against us? Things were finally turning out right!

Alice tried to assure me that if I didn't go anywhere near Bella's house that odds are she wouldn't kill Bella tonight. I was assured briefly, it did make sense. After all, Victoria would want some way to make Bella suffer. Then again, odds were never in Bella's favor...

Alice left to go on a hunting trip with Jasper, Carlisle was running a late shift at the hospital so Esme decided to join him, and Rosalie had gone shopping so I was left alone.

Suddenly, my computer made a bing noise. I went over to it and it said that Bella was requesting a video chat with me. I frowned, was she so nervous about today, or well yesterday, that she couldn't get any sleep? My outlook on this brightened though, this meant I would get to see Bella sooner, even though it was only on a screen. I

I clicked accept and waited for the computer to load. The face I saw next made me want to shout all the profanities, in every language I knew, at her right then and there. I hungered for her death now more than ever.

"Hi Edward" Victoria said in a voice that was meant to be attractive, even though it was anything but.

"What do you want Victoria?" I snarled. What I wouldn't give to know were she was right now.

"It's not what I want Edward, its what you want. Bella…" I gasped. She couldn't have, was she just trying to scare me? She would make sure I was there if Bella...died.

When she spoke again, she wasn't speaking to me. "Say hi to your mate." The screen blurred as she turned the web-cam around to Bella. I didn't pay attention to my shocked face at the screen because I was looking at her's.

She had a similar expression to mine. Her arms and legs were bound together in a fashion that looked anything but comfortable and there was blood trailing down from the corner of her full lip. There was also a rather large bump on the side of her head. The bruise was so purple I was sure that Bella must have been unconscious for quite a while. When Bella spoke, her words were rushed with fright, like she was afraid that Victoria would hit her if she didn't speak, which admittedly she would.

"Edward, who is this? What's going on?" How frightening this must be for her, Bella doesn't even know what she did wrong. Or rather, what I did wrong. Doesn't Bella deserve this simple kindness, to know what is going on around her?

All too soon, the computer screen blurred and I was once again face to face with Victoria.

"Yes, I heard about your mate's memory loss. It's too bad really, I would have loved for her to remember my name so she could cower in more fear knowing who I am before she dies."

I stared wide-eyed at the screen, she was serious! Victoria was too impatient to wait, Bella's death was coming now. I jumped up from my seat and was about to head towards the door until I saw Victoria wagging her finger at me.

"Ah, ah, ah Edward. One move away from the screen and I can promise you she is as good as dead." I immediately seated myself back down at those words. A ferocious growl came through my lips as I thought of her laying a hand on Bella's head.

Victoria's expression brightened as she exclaimed the very words that haunted me, that told me this all would come faster than I thought. "Now Edward, its time to watch the show!"

Once again the screen blurred towards Bella. My skin felt like it was getting colder when I saw Victoria slowly stalking toward Bella. Bella closed her eyes, not as in fright, but as in she had given up all hope, and wished that Victoria would give her mercy. It was heart wrenching to watch.

Victoria leaned over Bella and whispered in her ear loud enough for me to hear, "You know, I'm glad I get this opportunity. Your so mouthwatering." Bella's eyes immediately opened in shock, not knowing about vampires this must have sounded very disturbing. I braced myself for the misery that was going to over-take me when I saw Bella's death appear right before my eyes.

Victoria was about to sink her teeth into Bella's flesh when she was shoved away from Bella. I will have to thank him a thousand times, Emmett saved the day!

Immediately, I was relieved. Emmett could take care of her, he was by far strong enough.

My gaze flickered to Bella and saw that her eyes held nothing but utter fear in them. Now mine had to widen. She still knew nothing about our vampire world and she had scene that whole show, this was going to be a lot to explain. When I told her what we were, would she run away screaming, because she certainly had an excuse now. Before I could continue

my thoughts any further I saw a face that I never hoped to see again while Bella was human. Aro. (Now do you get my clues?)

Emmett couldn't stop him as he covered Bella's eyes and whisked her away for the second time tonight.

After Emmett had finished Victoria he ran to the web-cam and said "I'll wait for you here. I am in a cave that is approximately three miles south of Bella's house. Then we'll track down Aro and see what he wants."

I bobbed my head quickly. After shutting off the computer I ran faster than any vampire had ever run, to Emmett.

Once I got there I could smell nothing but the over powering scent of a burning Victoria. In any other situation, I would have loved to smell that, but this time it was blocking the smell I needed to here the most.

Emmett and I ran away for a little bit until we could pick up Aro's scent. When we found it we picked up running. We found him in the forest behind Bella's house. I stormed right up to Aro and asked "Where is Bella?"

"You will be happy to know that she is safe and sound in her room."

"Then why are you here?" Emmett gave me a warning glance. I knew I was being rude but I didn't care, they had to give us more time than this to change her. Aro raised an eyebrow but otherwise looked unbothered.

"Word travels around fast among the Volturi. I heard the intriguing news of your mate's memory loss and came over to see for myself. Once I got here I found that the female you worried about in you memories, Victoria, had taken Bella hostage. I didn't want Bella to die, she has so much potential, so I took her away to her room were she belonged. I also came here because I needed to have a word with you."

He paused, as if questioning if I could hold myself together. Aro took my silence as a yes and he continued.

"We both no that the reason Bella must be changed so immediately is because she knew too much. Now she knows nothing. Our only law is that the secret be kept safe. By a unanimous vote of the Volturi we have decided that you can not tell Isabella Marie Swan your secret. We have no reason to doubt that you wouldn't follow our orders, right Edward?" He had asked the last part in a questioning tone. I could only nod.

I had to follow the orders of the Volturi, I couldn't risk having Bella hurt yet again. As much as it pained me, maybe this meant that Bella and I were never meant to be. Maybe that is what fate has been trying to tell me all along.

Aro smiled, proud of himself, and left.

Once he was gone I broke down. Emmett knew this wasn't the time to make fun of me, so he just stayed there to comfort me. I smiled, if I was grateful for anything, it was to have a brother like him.

Emmett was sad too. He was going to tell everyone the dreadful news. "Let's go home." he said. Though that was the only place in the world I didn't want to be right now, I knew I had to go.

Now, my lips were permanently sealed from Bella.

I know this was a little sad but believe me, I still have an ending ready that I know everyone is going to love. :)