Disclaimer: Twilight and all things related are owned by S.M., plot and ideas are mine unless otherwise stated.
Recap:
"Dear brother, how is Carlisle doing?" Aro asked.
Without a pause he answered, "Carlisle is doing well, as well as his coven."
"Anything new?"
"There is a new girl in their midst," Marcus said cautiously.
"Human?" Aro inquired as his mind raced off to find grounds to punish the Cullens and acquire the mindreader and the seer.
"Yes."
"That dear brother is against our law," Aro grinned.
"She has not breathed a word of it to other humans. And I believe she will be turned very soon," Marcus shot back.
Aro's grin faltered. The only one that had come so close to killing him would be one of them? He struggled to find a different fault with them.
"Perhaps Jane and Demetri will stop by to send our greetings to welcome the girl to our world soon," Aro smiled and clapped his hands excitedly.
"Dinner's here," Caius announced as the group of tourists were escorted into the tower.
"Fabulous," Aro turned to the humans. "Welcome to Volterra."
Edward paced in Carlisle's office at the hospital at human speed as to not send his father's clerical work flying through the room. The news of the Volturi witches had deeply disturbed him. In his haste he borrowed Bella's car and drove straight to the hospital to confer with Carlisle. His father's usual youthful face seemed to have aged with the news.
"When were you planning on having the wedding son?" Carlisle asked when he finally looked up at Edward.
"Honestly I have no idea. Bella and I haven't discussed it yet. But it doesn't matter. Whether we plan it for today or in ten years, they will be there Carlisle," Edward said with agony tinting his voice.
They remained stoic for a few seconds before Carlisle whipped out his cell-phone. "Maybe I should call Aro..."
"And say what?" Edward snapped at his father, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
I was hoping that Aro finding out officially would alleviate some of the idea that we're harboring a human behind their back, Carlisle thought. Immediately Edward felt guilty for snapping at Carlisle when he felt the genuine emotion and careful consideration behind this idea. He gave a slight nod, and watched as Carlisle called Volterra.
-x-
"Why isn't he back yet?" Bella gazed intently at the door as Rosalie brushed her hair to calm her.
"He'll be here soon," Alice placed a plate of food in front of her. "Eat Bella."
Bella stared at the food and felt her appetite vanish. Who could eat when you find out that the governing body of the vampire world, with a biased opinion about your family, was going to show up at your wedding? That's like having the gestapo showing up at the wedding. To make matters worse, Marcus did mention that she tried to kill Aro in the past.
Would they kill them when their human friends left after the reception? Maybe she should go to Volterra and give herself up. No, she couldn't do that to Edward. Could she?
"Bella?" Jasper asked suspiciously. "What're you up to?"
She froze. It had slipped her mind that Jasper could read her emotions. Bella glanced at Alice, who avoided her eyes. She would have to speak to Alice alone later.
"Nothing," Bella buried her head on the sofa's arm as Rosalie ignored the exchanges and continued to brush her hair.
"Are you still going to go through with the wedding?" Rosalie asked gently and set the brush down.
"Of course," Bella sighed into the sofa as she thought about Edward.
"About the wedding," Esme began, "have you given it any consideration to have it, here?"
Bella sat up straight, her heart felt as though it would swell with love. "I would love to have our wedding here if that's okay," she responded shyly and was immediately wrapped in a gentle yet firm hug from Esme.
"Thank you," Esme whispered. "It means the world to me Bella."
"Having it in our home field will give us an advantage against-" Jasper began but was abruptly silenced by Alice.
The event taking place at the Cullen residence would be a strategic advantage should the Volturi start anything, but Bella could only think about how safe and happy she would feel in a place she could finally call home.
Now that the wedding officially had a location, Bella couldn't help but think of her recent dreams. Occasionally she would dream about spending time surrounded by white garlands and flowers. Although initially she thought it was just a normal fantasy about getting married to Edward, but the more she thought about it, it seemed like a distant memory. The details were too clear, and too familiar.
The time periods seemed to vary but the disheveled or sometimes tamed bronze hair was there. Maybe Edward was her soul mate? Did they get married in their past lives? Bella shook her head. It was she who seemed to transcend time, not Edward. Perhaps she just had an attraction to bronze haired Adonis-like men? No. What mattered now was what she and Edward would say at this upcoming nuptials.
"Alice?" Bella peered at the small pixie who was flipping through her ever-thickening notebook.
"White garlands it is," Alice winked before scribbling furiously into her notebook.
"So does this mean a date is set?" Rosalie asked worriedly, her perfect eyebrows furrowed as she thought.
"Not just yet, but I guess its inevitable that the Volturi will be here. Its inevitable," Alice huffed as she slammed the book closed.
Silence settled on them once more as they awaited Edward and Carlisle's return. Bella shifted once to look at the time but remained as immobile as the vampires, which attracted Jasper's attention. Had she stopped breathing altogether as well? Bella cleared her throat to deflect the small detail and began to fidget. After the minutes ticked by, it turned into real fidgeting as Edward still wasn't by her side. Maybe he got ambushed by the Volturi?
"Calm down Bella," Jasper remarked as his fingers blurred over his cellphone.
"What if-" Bella began to stand up to pace but Jasper flashed his phone's screen in her face.
I'm on my way -E.
A look of relief spread across everyone's face as she relaxed back into the sofa. The sound of a car had her dashing for the garage and in her excitement she collided straight into Edward's chest.
"Ow," she whined but she wrapped her arms around his torso.
"I missed you too, love," he answered with a smirk. "And I thought I moved fast."
"Shut up," she breathed in his scent and felt its calming effect on her.
Edward placed a gentle kiss at the crown of her head and slowly led her back to the living room where the others waited.
"So?" Emmett rubbed his hands over his thighs, a nervous habit from what Bella observed.
"Carlisle called Aro," Edward said calmly.
Bella froze in his embraced. Did Carlisle betray them? Why would he place his family in danger? Did Aro give him an offer he couldn't refuse? She felt her temperature rising with her growing agitation. The angrier she got, the more she felt her mind slipping away. When Bella realized what was happening, she tried to shout a warning to Edward and then she was gone.
-x-
"Edward," a faint yet urgent whisper escaped Bella's lips and Edward could feel his Bella's presence disappear in an instant.
In her place was the enigma that killed vampires.
Edward watch out! Emmett mentally shouted as Bella escaped Edward's embrace on her and swung around to face him.
"Bella?" Edward clamped his hands on her arms trying to keep her immobile, but he could feel her gaining resistance against him. He willed her to look into his eyes but there was no recognition in them.
Alice, Esme, and Rosalie appeared at his side, each grabbing one of Bella's limbs as she thrashed in between them.
Why did this happen?
What the hell just happened?
I swear Edward, I didn't see it coming! I'm sorry!
Oh my, what has Carlisle done?
The voices of his family helped bring him back to the situation at hand. Emmett had found a chair to sit her on and was in the process of tying her to it with a metal chain. Edward looked at his fiancée who seemed to be conflicted with herself.
He could see that his Bella was struggling to stay in the chair without putting up a fight, while her other personality was assessing every which way to escape.
Talk to her Edward. Calm her down. Make sure she knows she's in no danger, Alice encouraged as Jasper kept her behind him.
One link snapped against the pressure Bella was applying and Jasper automatically hissed and landed in a crouching position that didn't help the situation.
"Jazz! Calm down," Alice hissed at Jasper who left his crouch but still kept a protective stance.
Bella squeezed her eyes shut and seemed to will her body to lean against the chair. Edward cautiously walked towards the girl he loved with his entire being and subjected himself to whatever wrath she could deal. But instead, Bella kept her eyes tightly shut and breathed heavily.
"Bella, love. You aren't in danger. None of us are," he knelt down in front of her chair much to Jasper's mental protests.
"You're wrong. Carlisle betrayed us," Bella hissed and her body jerked forward before slamming back again. Edward watched helplessly as the two Bellas seemed to be at war with each other.
"Carlisle didn't betray us, love. He only did it to try to lessen the blow the Volturi would deal to us. To try to reason with Aro," Edward placed his hand on her leg in a comforting gesture.
"No," she shook her head then sat eerily still which worried him. He could hear her heart beating like a seasoned runner. It was slow and strong, but it felt off to him.
"No what?" Emmett asked.
"There is no reasoning with Aro," Bella replied but it sounded more like a confirmation to herself.
"Surely there is a way," Esme hoped for the best. Isn't there?
"There is no reasoning with Aro. He must be killed," Bella repeated. "And this time, I won't fail." Edward sat still as he watched the words leave Bella's mouth. He had no words or thoughts on the matter as Bella opened her eyes to stare straight at him, her eyes contorted in pain. "I won't fail you again."
A/N: Sorry about the huge delay and possibly the shortest chapter I've ever written. Honestly I wrote half of it (this meager presentation) and hit writer's block for the longest time. Then life happened (work, jet-setting around, and chasing my kitten around) and I sort of forgot about it for awhile. And since I love conflict and drama, I threw in this ending at the last second. Hopefully it'll inspire me to continue in a timely fashion, but no guarantees. Thank you to my two new readers who left me a review! Reviews are honestly the only thing that light a fire under my butt to continue writing since it lands straight into my email. So review away, even if its a smiley face.