I made a mistake in my last update. I had Jessica dance with Edward, but I had killed her, so oops. I deleted that one, and replaced her with her Angela, but I didn't know Angela's last name. I do now. Thanks for reviews, even if I didn't reply. My email's not accepting fanfiction emails right now, but I read reviews anyway.
I don't own Twilight. And in saying that, sadly, I do not own Edward Cullen. It's vice versa. However, in my dreams, I so do. That Edward Cullen wants me. And Buffy The Vampire Slayer fans will find I may quote the first two seasons. I have to use some of the more appropriate lines. It's compulsive.
Chapter 13I stumbled as I almost skipped down the stairs. Carlisle instantly grabbed my arm, steadying me, and I flashed him a grateful smile. Edward claimed my waist as soon as we entered the room, glancing at me with anxious but still perfect eyes.
"Are you okay?" Edward asked. I nodded, looking at the wall as we all began to gather in the living room; I felt a hysteric urge to laugh at the title of the room. The only living thing in it was me. And a few plants Esme had placed around.
"I mean, I'm not running around, the wind in my hair, the Sound of Music fine, but I'm coping." I leaned into his shoulder, and he chuckled. Alice danced into the room, Jasper at her side.
"Is she okay?" She mouthed. I raised my eyebrows, crossing my arms over my chest. Alice met my stare relentlessly.
"Do you want me to answer that, or shall I just glare?" I asked, tilting my head. Alice shook her head, choosing to listen to Edward instead.
"Um, the hills are not alive." Edward murmured, obviously debating whether or not to say such a ridiculous reply.
"I'm sorry to hear that…I think." Alice shook her head again, almost exasperatedly, and we all looked up as Rosalie stormed in, followed by Emmett.
"Don't you have an elsewhere to be?" Rosalie snapped at me as she passed. Emmett shrugged apologetically, mouthing the words 'car', and 'trouble'.
"As you all know, we have a problem." Carlisle claimed our attention, his voice clear and precise. He was a born leader.
"It's not exactly low key. We have a certain human with no brain or common sense whatsoever to thank for that." Rosalie muttered. Even I heard it.
"Rosalie!" Esme's stern voice was dangerously close to a shout. Rosalie noticed this, and looked up, surprised.
"Why does everyone always shout my name? I'm not deaf. Anyway, if Edward can't hear her thoughts, maybe she has nothing to generate them. Ever considered that, Edward?" Rosalie asked snidely. I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"Rosalie." Carlisle warned. "Now, Jacob Black has been killed, and though we haven't directly violated the treaty, the Quileutes will not be happy an adolescent werewolf has been killed. And by one of us." Carlisle began, looking at his family, while Edward and I sat down on the couch.
"But surely they can't do anything. It was in Bella's defence, and the point of the treaty was always to protect the innocent." Alice spoke up, moving to sit beside me. I smiled at her half-heartedly, and shook my head.
"Billy's not going to classify me as an innocent anymore. Not after all his warnings. No, he's going to make a huge deal out of this. Crap!" I stood up quickly, shaking off Edward's arm, my eyes widening. "He's going to tell everyone you're vampires!"
"Oh great, the human's done it again." Rosalie stood up. "Do you just want to hurt our family? That's the impression I'm getting, anyway. I think you do."
"Sorry, that's incorrect. But you do get this lovely watch and a year's supply of turtle wax." I said wryly, before continuing, my voice sharper. "What I want is for you to leave me alone! Not this whole family. No, I love your family. I just don't like you."
"Not going to happen, little child. Not while you're around." Rosalie replied haughtily, her eyes narrowing and her lips pursing.
"You need a personality, stat." I narrowed my eyes, crossing my arms across my chest. She tossed her hair over her shoulder in a snobby manner.
"You're wasting my time, human." Rosalie sat down, pouting. I shook my head, my lips tight and my eyes blazing.
"Hey, I had other plans too, okay? Like actually focusing on the matter at hand. Because I care. Isn't that bizarre? Aren't you just going 'ooh'? A human cares? Wow, bet that's never happened to you before!" I sat down, trying not to feel the hot, stinging tears of anger gather in my eyes.
"Honesty. Nice touch." Emmett commented, and Jasper nudged him in the arm. I doubted Emmett felt it.
"Back off, Rose." Edward growled, putting a protective arm around my shoulders. "Just leave her be."
We heard a crash as a window splintered and broke. A brick tumbled through, with a note tied to it. Esme gasped, running over to the window she had designed. Almost calmly, Carlisle picked up the note, and wordlessly passed it around.
Remember your promise. Your word, cold ones. Death will come for you, a true death. It's the price you must pay for the slaughter of one of us.
I shivered. "You have to talk to them. I can probably get Billy to listen. He'll be angry, but he'll listen."
"Call him." Edward handed me his phone. I flipped it open, dialling Billy's number with a growing sense of dread.
"I knew you'd call." Billy answered, his voice rough. As though he'd been crying, or shouting very recently. I cleared my throat.
"Obviously not. It's me. Bella. And it's time for you to listen." I forced my tone to be strong, willing him to listen.
"My son is dead, Bella. Does that mean anything to you? Your precious boyfriend was his murderer. Nothing will change that." Billy spat. I winced.
"But Billy, if it hadn't happened that way, I'd be the one dead, and at this very moment, you'd be covering up rumours of a suspicious death." I said. "They're willing to speak to you. Will you listen?"
"I can't promise it'll be the only thing we do, but we will listen. They wont be in any danger from us until we've listened. After that…my promise dies. Like my son did." The phone went dead as Billy hung up.
"Emmett and Alice, you stay with Bella. The rest of you, come with me." Carlisle said. I turned to Edward, the anxiety apparent in my eyes.
"Be safe. I love you." I whispered, embracing him hard. Edward pressed his lips against mine, and his cool fingers drew a pattern on my cheekbone.
"I will. I love you too, no matter what happens." He was gone. I turned to Alice, sighing. She exchanged a glance with Emmett, and met my glare.
"Bella, we're going after them. There's no way I'm letting Rose go without me." Emmett spoke up, frowning. I nodded.
"Go. You too, Alice. You love them. I'm going to go home, and get some homework done. I'll be okay." I shouldn't have made another promise I couldn't keep.
"We'll run you home." Alice said. She opened her arms, stepping towards me. "May I?" I felt oddly nostalgic, and nodded.
She scooped me up, and began to run. Emmett followed, and I was home within minutes. I felt Alice let go of me, kissing my cheek, and step back. Emmett clasped my shoulder.
"Do I need to tell you to be careful?" He asked teasingly. I shook my head, and he pulled me into a rough embrace. A few moments later, they were gone.
I unlocked my door, sighing, and stepped inside. I shivered, rubbing my arms, and stumbled into the kitchen. Someone was waiting for me.
"Hello, Bella." She said. I swallowed, my eyes narrowing.
"Mom?" I felt a chill to the very core of my body as I looked at her. She had changed. Too much to be natural.
Her unusually pale skin shimmered in the light, her hair very black. It had grown longer since I had last seen her, reaching her shoulders. Every line on her face was gone, and her features more enhanced. And her eyes…
Her eyes were red.
"No, Mum, no." I breathed. I felt the fear freeze me, deep inside. My mother smiled, but somehow, it seemed all the more sinister.
"Fear…is like an elixir, my child. It is almost like blood." She inhaled deeply. "And your blood, my little Isabella, seems so particularly appealing."
"Renee…" A stranger stepped into the room, his eyes cold, glittering, red. "We must be gentle. She is, after all, your daughter."
"She's not my mother, anymore." I murmured, my eyes narrowed. I backed up against the wall, and he laughed.
"Come, come, my child. Don't you wish to be with your mother?" He asked, stepping towards me. "Are you afraid?"
"No." I said it too quickly, my voice shaking and sounding forced. I swallowed, trying to slow my heartbeat; it seemed to hasten it's steady beat. I knew they could hear it.
"You have a right to be, you know. Everything you dreaded was under your bed but told yourself couldn't be by the light of day. It's all real. But then again, you know this, don't you? Your sweetheart is the living dead. As is your mother." His hand touched my cheek. I shook my head, trembling violently.
"They come, Logan. I can sense it." My mother spoke, her voice just above a hushed whisper, her eyes cold. "We have only moments."
"We'll take her." He turned towards me, reaching for me. I shook my head, struggling, and pressed myself against the wall.
"No!" I shouted as he pulled me towards him, and could feel my skin bruise as he lifted me. "I wont let you do this! No! No!"
"You're strong." He commented. "I'm stronger." I tried to kick him as he lifted me over his shoulder. "And I can handle little girls as easy as I could break your arm right now."
"No!" I screamed. "Mom, don't let him! No!" I looked at her, and she shook her head, placing her finger on her lips.
"Hush little baby, don't say a word. Mother's going to give you a brand new world." Her singing voice was haunting, ghostly, and eerily soft. "Sleep, my child."
"No!" I screamed as loud as I could, but Logan started running. I couldn't overpower him. I was exactly that, a child. A child with a mother prepared to sell to the highest bidder.
Cliffhanger! Don't you love me? Hopefully, the next chapter will follow very shortly. Like, tomorrow. If I get my religion assignment done in time. And yes, I killed Renee. As I said to a reviewer, changing them is classified as killing. Meaning, killing major characters…that should feed your theories. Keep them coming. I don't think anyone anticipated that move.
Thanks to readers, reviewers, and fellow Twilight fans. Oh, and Edward Cullen lovers! You rock! I love you all (and Edward Cullen too, for that matter!).
So please review, if not for me, for Edward Cullen!
Just A Little Bit Dramatic