Ahh! It's finally done! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten you. I've had some serious writer's block on this story, so I've been working on this chapter for over a week, I just couldn't get anything down in type. I'll just let you read now. Enjoy!
Their frantic footsteps sounded from behind before Alice and Edward collapsed on either side of me, their eyes frozen in wide horror as they watched the last of the house burn to the ground, the still Volturi bodies inside. Edward was first to shake off his stupor, turning to me and ensnarling me in his arms, pulling me tight against his chest. His shoulders shook with silent sobs, out of grief or joy I couldn't tell.
"What were you thinking?" It came out as a shaky whisper. His grip around me tightened, but my eyes were still locked of the inferno before me. My head, with some difficulty, turned to Alice who was still looking at the fire. The flames were reflected in her golden eyes, giving her a sinister appearance, and her expression was void of all emotion.
She stood unsteadily, the first time in my existence, dead or alive; I had seen Alice do something with less than perfect grace. Without a word, she turned slowly back to the Cullen's house and began walking back at less than a human's pace. I turned to Edward when I felt him pull away from me and he wiped my cheeks. I hadn't known I was still crying.
He stood and pulled me up with him. I made the first step back, but he gripped my upper arm and flung me on his back, just like I was human. My arms instinctively wrapped around his neck and my eyes closed as I buried my head in his shoulder. From the time it took to arrive back home, I knew he was walking incredibly slow as well.
The Cullen's all sat anxiously around the living room, and their heads popped up like groundhogs when we walked through the door. Edward released me and placed me back on my feet before turning to Carlisle. His father looked to him in silent conversation and Edward responded with a shake of his head a few times before Carlisle's eyes widened before he posed his next mental question.
Despite not knowing what they were saying, Edward's final slow nod made me want to hide inside of myself. I could've opened my mind to their conversation at any time but I was too scared to know what they were thinking; what anyone was thinking. Carlisle's eyes widened further before turning to me, looking grave. I'm sure he had many questions, but I couldn't bear to look into their faces as I told them that I was a murderer.
Because of my aversion to blood, I never had one slip, one accident, one mistake. Even as a newborn with no one to teach me control, I never needed to be restrained from taking life. I knew that this was for my daughter's safety and for my own selfishness in not wanting to leave the Cullens, but the fact that I didn't know anything about the Volturi really terrified me.
Behind their hard shells and their business masks, after each day was done and there were no more vampires to handle, did they have loved ones waiting for them? The way they were spoken of beforehand made me think no, and the Cullens said many times that their family atmosphere was very strange in the vampire world. No matter what, I couldn't shake the idea that killing those Volturi guards may very well have been as bad as any human I might have killed in my early stages of vampirism.
I hadn't thought about my decision at all. Now that it was over, and I had acted too soon, I knew that those would not be the last of the Volturi I would see. I no longer had any options for the future. The Volturi would come, and not only would I, but Layla and the Cullens would suffer their wrath. I had forced the consequences of my actions on everyone.
Esme gave me a weak smile and patted the spot on the couch next to her, but I shook my head hastily. I couldn't answer their questions now; I couldn't even look at them knowing I had most likely brought about their demise. I reached for Edward's hand desperately, which he took though I didn't deserve it. I led him back to my room and slammed the door behind us, effectively waking my toddler.
"Hi mommy," Layla yawned, rubbing her eyes with her little fists. "Did you do your job?" She asked brightly. The innocence alone with which she asked the question, unknowing of what her mother had done was enough for me to lose my composure. I fell into Edward's chest and gripped both hands onto his shirt as sobs erupted from my throat.
He pulled me over to the bed and pulled me into his lap, rubbing my hair as I shoved my head deeper into his chest, unable to meet his eyes. As always, Layla didn't say a word, just crawled closer and placed a tiny, warm hand on my head. I felt my tears ooze onto Edward's shirt, most likely ruining it as I shook uncontrollably.
"They're going to come after her, and I don't know if I can do that again." My voice trembled and I could only hope that Edward understood what I was even trying to say. I tried again. "I can't let anyone touch Layla, but I don't know if I can stand living this night over. Please tell me how I can keep her safe." I felt the strands of fabric in Edward's shirt begin to snap under the ferocity of my grip.
He quieted me and continued to stroke my hair and face as he fell back against the mattress. Layla curled into a ball and bunched into Edward's side as he released me only to pull the comforters up around the three of us. I finally pulled my head away from him to gaze at his face. His golden orbs looked back to me with sympathy and love, without a hint of the disgust or hatred I feared.
"What happened Bella? I can't help you when I don't even know what's going on. Please, you know the family would do anything for you and Layla, just tell us what happened." He pleaded. I winced slightly, realizing that I had been stupid to have acted so strangely to everyone when they didn't even know anything that had taken place. For all they knew, Edward and Alice had just stopped me from sacrificing myself.
I didn't know if I could speak of the murder I had committed. Carlisle was supposedly friends with Aro; would he hate me if he knew I had killed him? Would he send me away? Not only would I have to deal with whatever the Volturi sent for me next, but I'd be alone in doing it while trying to protect and raise Layla.
I knew Jake would always welcome us no matter the situation. The boys would jump headfirst into any battle with vampires, but they were too eager, so rash to fight safely. Sure, they handled Laurent with no problem and less members than they had now, but that was a lone vampire, caught off guard, and with no powers. I didn't know much of Laurent, but I was sure he never had any of the fight training the Volturi had as well. I wouldn't risk them when they had no part in angering the Volturi in the beginning.
If Carlisle sent me away, for lack of better words, I was screwed. Utterly and completely screwed. Charlie had been too well known by the vampire community as it was, more than he should have ever been, and I couldn't bring him into unknown dangers again. He wasn't getting any younger either. I couldn't leave him with the burden of taking care of Layla while working on the force. Even with my easy to live with disposition, I remembered occasions feeling lonely in Charlie's house without him. I couldn't leave him to raise a child. As mature as she already was, she still had plenty of growing to do.
Renee would never turn down the opportunity to raise her only granddaughter considering she lost her daughter a little early, but what would Phil think. He was probably ready to have some kids of his own to raise, he wouldn't want to put family aside for someone else's. And Renee was far more observant than Charlie. She would ask me why I couldn't handle her myself. She'd want to know if I was in trouble, what would possibly make me willing to give up my precious daughter? I couldn't look her in the face and lie knowing it would most likely be the last time I would ever see her.
My eyes welled in tears of fear as I slowly looked to Edward and nodded reluctantly. If I was sent away, I was as good as dead, and I only hoped that everyone would see that and fight for Layla's sake at least. I stood and watched as Edward rose to meet me, Layla latched around his neck, officially done with feigning sleep for the night after being woken up so many times. I sat amongst the Cullens, who had to be tired of this same room and looked to Carlisle mournfully.
"I used Jane's power." I offered before anyone could say a word to start me. I didn't deserve their comfort now. "I didn't know what would happen, but I used as much of her power as I could. I thought that maybe since a vampire's body is already dead, and Jane's power affects the mind, maybe I could use enough of her power to make the mind think it was dead as well." I spoke with my eyes closed in a rush that would have any mythological creature needing to pay close attention to catch.
"They made a lot of noise at first, but they stopped." My head was gradually sinking into my shoulders. "I went into the house and they were all on the floor. They weren't moving and I panicked. I don't know if they were already dead or just in shock, but I lit the house on fire and it burned to the ground with them inside. I killed them all, I'm so sorry!" I was shouting by the end of my speech.
Not a word resounded through the room. My breathing was close to panting though unnecessary. Slow even for human standards, the lids of one eye parted and I looked up hesitantly to the family's reaction, as though it would be easier for them to kick me out if I experienced it through only one eye. Their eyes were wide and no one had taken a breath since I had started. I stood quickly and grabbed up Layla in my arms.
"I'm really sorry, though I know it doesn't mean much. Thank you for allowing Layla and I to stay with you as long as we have, and I won't bother you anymore." I spoke nervously, only making myself sound pathetic as more tears spilled onto my cheeks. I spun swiftly and made my way stiffly for the door before Emmett's voice called out over the silence.
"Come on Bella!" he cried out in exasperation before continuing, his voice saturated in mirth. "You couldn't share just one? I would've loved to be there, but no, you keep all the fun to yourself." My tears halted for a moment as I turned back to him slowly. The family looked up with smiles of reassurance. Edward stood and took Layla from my arms before giving me a wink and leading her back to the couch.
Carlisle watched Layla pull on Edward's hair with affection before speaking softly, his words nearly restarting my dead heart.
"I cannot condone violent behavior or arson Bella, but did you really think our family is the type to sit around while two of its members are taken away?" He looked up with a glorious smile. "I suppose we have some planning to do, hmmm?"
Sorry its so short guys, but I figured I had made you wait long enough, and you'd prefer a shorter chapter than wait for me to agonize over what else to write. It's a kind of filler chapter, since Bella's actions in the last chapter were a bit out of character and I had to show that she really isn't some remorseless killing machine. I also wanted to show that the Cullen's won't hold it against her. Poor Emmett is even jealous!
Please review, and sorry again for making you wait after the last chapter.