So I think I'm just going to stop telling everyone what my plans are as far as the updates, because obviously i lied. I was able to get another chapter in, and it didn't even turn out to be what I originally planned. I would say next chapter, but can't be sure because I might end up lying again...where's Alice when you need her. I hope you guys enjoy the latest. And don't forget to review when you're done!!
Jshai!
Since my day was spoiled with vampires and werewolves, I decided it was time for me to finish the work that I missed while I was in Italy. I didn't miss anything major, I already handed in some of the papers that were due and I've also was allowed to do make-up tests after school on Thursday and Friday. It was just going to be an evening of the small assignments, which was fine by me.
I went to go change my shirt into my long police academy t-shirt that Charlie got me from the station, but I couldn't find it. I looked underneath my bed, but nothing was there except a few shoes. I decided to change into my sweats since the shirt was probably in the wash. But that didn't make sense cause I just pulled it out of the dryer a few days ago.
I stuffed my ear buds in and turned my iPod to Demetri's favorite band, Paper Tongues, and started my homework. I was well into my studies when I noticed movement by the window.
"Has anyone ever told you that that is kind of creepy?" I said under my breath. I was a bit startled but I didn't want to admit it.
Edward perched in the rocking chair and stared at me, a slight smile was plastered on his perfect face. "Actually, you're the only one that I've done this to. Would you like me to leave?"
"No. You can stay. I want you to." For about two minutes, we just kind of stared at each other. With neither one of us speaking, or even moving for that matter, the atmosphere was pleasant and calming.
"So I was accepted into some colleges today. Charlie wants me to consider staying in the states for college." I casually mentioned to Edward who looked like he was pondering the idea himself.
"But you're not sure?" His words were hesitant. He knew of my plans prior to coming to Forks involved going to University in Italy, but he had no idea that I was to be made a vampire. Aro's new deal was pretty much putting university on hold for at least a year. I was hoping though, that I'd be able to adopt the Cullen diet, and after a year I'd visit Charlie one last time and then either go to school or continue my work in the guard.
"I have responsibilities in Italy. In Volterra. They cannot be ignored."
"Then what's the point of taking it slow, if you're going to leave me?" Edward's brow was pinching.
But before I could answer, Edward was sitting on the edge of my bed, cradling me in his arms. "Bella, I can't waste my time, if it's going to be limited with you."
"Well isn't that what you wanted before? I told you we could have forever but you were adamant that I remain human. My time was limited then."
"But on that timescale, I may have had fifty sixty years with you. Now it's only a matter of months." Edward was really upset, and it hurt me to see the pain in his eyes. I reached my hand to his face to comfort him.
"Edward, don't you see, everyday brought me closer to death. Withstanding James, or my uncle, there are always human ways to die. I could be in a car accident tomorrow. Or clumsy me fall into a well and crack my head. No one would know, not even Alice. Once my time was up, it would be up, as long as I remained human."
"Then I'll take the chance away from you. I'll change you, tonight if I have to. I can't ever lose you again." He kissed my forehead and let his lips keep contact with me. I felt a tear roll down my cheeks because I knew what needed to happen, and it needed to be done soon. But the thought of doing it tonight was eating me up inside.
His phone choose that exact moment to ring.
"It's Alice." I nodded for him to take it, and untangled myself from him. "Alice, what's going on?"
Edward listened for a moment and then hung up the phone. Whatever Alice told him, didn't please him at all. Edward listened to the room, or perhaps outside my hearing range.
"Charlie is snoring downstairs. Are you up to coming with me? Or would you rather stay here?" I looked at the clock and saw that it was later than what I assumed it was, but I quickly gave Edward my answer.
"I'm going with you." The two of us, rather Edward ran while he carried me in his arms, to the manor I presumed.
When we arrived the grand house was well lit, and I could tell some type of activity was taking place.
"Bella! Welcome back, I just wish it was under better circumstances. I fear you're going to dread coming to this house soon." Esme greeted me. It was hard reassuring her that I'd never get tired of coming to her home when I had no idea what was going on at that exact moment.
"Alice, what is the problem?" Edward brushed past his mother and headed straight for his favorite sister.
"Well for the benefit of Bella, stop poking through my head!" There was a momentary stare-down between the two siblings. Emmett scooped me up in his arms and gave me a bear hug.
"Hey shortie, don't forget, me and Rose don't know either."
"Okay fine, for Bella, Rose, and Em, I'll speak out loud." Edward backed off and away from Alice a few steps, and Alice took center stage in the living room.
"Okay, Bella, please tell me you've heard about all of the strange disappearances in Seattle? I don't want to waste time to catch you up, if you haven't." I nodded yes. Recently there have been some disappearances and a rash of murders in Seattle. The police were considering a serial killer.
"Well, we've been speculating that it was a newborn vampire loose in Seattle." Jasper interrupted Alice, who didn't seem to mind.
"A newborn? But wouldn't his or hers creator have mentioned the Volturi and the rules?" I asked.
"That's what we figured. But then more and more disappearances started occurring. And more and more of it was a reminder of something from Jasper's past." Alice explained.
I looked at the vampire with the frosted blonde hair who had returned to looking like stone. I had never had much of a relationship with Jasper. Not because I didn't want to, but more because he seemed afraid to be anywhere near me after the one incident in the parking lot.
Jasper rolled up his sleeve and I immediately saw something peculiar about him. While the skin of every vampire I've ever known was exceptionally smooth, Jasper's arm was covered in crescent scars, similar to the one I had from my bite.
"Jasper, what happened to you?" I whispered.
"Unlike my brothers and sister, Esme or even my wife, I did not have such a romanticized or easy transition to this life." Rose hardened at his words and I remembered the story that she and Edward had shared with me over the past summer. Alice on the other hand didn't remember her transformation, or even her human life. She just woke up one day as a vampire.
"The coven that made me become this, was a coven that was bent on power. But not the power that your Aro craves. More of a territorial power. You see I was a in the Civil War, a young, arrogant officer who rose through the ranks fairly fast and easy.
One night, I was accosted by three beautiful vampires who were determined to win what we now call the Newborn War."
"Hey wait, I know that story. It was part of my vampire history courses at the castle." All of the vampires in the room stopped to gawk at me. "Aro thought it was important for me to learn human and vampire history. Caius was an excellent teacher in vampire history. I know all about the newborn wars, the children of the moon, and of the forbidden vampire babies. There are even a few stories of other different trials that the Volturi have administered. Most of those stories are locked in a vault."
"You mean there are firsthand accounts of some of these trials as you call them?" Carlisle asked, and I nodded my head.
"Well since you're up to speed on that, I've been thinking that what's been going on in Seattle may just be another turf war. That is until Alice had a vision." Jasper looked back to his wife worriedly. But at the same time there was a twinkle in his eye, like he was excited.
"In my vision I saw--," Alice started, but she didn't need to finish.
"It's James. James is leading this army isn't he?" Alice cast her eyes down, confirming that James hadn't given up on me.
"Alice, how many of them are there?" Edward asked.
"The numbers are dwindling. Right now the army is roughly around thirty."
"How come you didn't see this before?" Edward screamed at Alice. It was sight I never thought I'd see: Alice cowering away from her brother.
"I don't know it's like there are holes in my head, like he figured out how to get around my visions. On top of that, any decisions he made regarding Bella would have been clouded because of those dumb wolves." Alice looked at me briefly before apologizing. "Opps, sorry Bella." I waved her off because I could understand her frustration.
"How would James be able to manage that?" Edward continued yelling at Alice.
"Edward, shut up. It's not her fault." I screamed and stepped in front of Alice. "It's Laurent's."
"Laurent? What does he have to do with any of this?" Edward asked, stunned.
"A couple months ago, the wolves told me that they had tracked a vampire back over the Canadian border who was dangerously close to Forks, actually he was near the manor when they caught his scent. At first I thought it was James, but the description that Jacob gave me fit Laurent."
"Okay, interesting theory but if it is Laurent, how would he know about Alice's visions? She didn't really use them that day, well at least around the drifters." Emmett offered.
"No, but he did go up to Alaska. I'm sure at some point he mentioned a curiosity to your friends up there and they gave him everything that he wanted to know. At some point James got to him, and he's back with James."
Carlisle walked over to the phone and began dialing some numbers. Of everyone in the room, I was the only one that couldn't hear the conversation. I couldn't even hear Carlisle's end because he was speaking so low. But whatever was being said, wasn't good. The remaining vampires were scowling into his back.
"Well, your theory is correct, Bella. Laurent left the Denali's about eight months ago. They suspected that he was cheating." Edward explained to me before Carlisle returned to the living room.
"Are they going to help us?" Despite the circumstances, I was eager to meet Eleazar and find out what gifts I would possess as a vampire.
"No. Apparently, Laurent partnered up with Irina, one of the sisters. The Denali's refuse to enter into a fight where Irina could wind up hurt if something happened to Laurent."
"Did you explain that I was involved? Eleazar knows how important I am to Aro." I hated the words leaving my mouth.
"Can you blame them? If the roles were reversed, I could never fight on a side that was against Jasper." Alice claimed. I nodded, knowing she was right.
"Can we take them?" Jasper and Emmett asked at the same time.
"We'll be severely outmatched. The numbers are depleting, but I can't see at what rate they'll be here when they arrive." Alice answered them while still in a daze from her vision.
"When will they arrive?" Edward didn't hesitate.
"The day after graduation, sometime at night. Oh, the party is still on, at least that's good news." Alice exclaimed.
"What party?"
"Oh we'll talk about that later Bella, there are other things that are more important." Alice reminded me and I couldn't help but groan. Who could think of partying when something this major was about to go down.
"Can we expect help from the wolves?" Carlisle asked.
"It's an idea. Of course I'll be completely blind if we decide to include them."
"No. The wolves won't be apart of this!" I said.
"We may not have a choice Bella. No matter what, we'll still be outmatched. The wolves will help out tremendously." Alice informed me.
"No you don't understand Alice. Eric and Garick are only protecting me because the rest of their family are being held captive by Aro. If Aro finds out about Jacob and the pack, shifters that can phase at will without needing the moon, he'll do the same thing to them." I was beginning to panic.
"Well, we'll just make sure he doesn't find out." Edward began rubbing my back to soothe me, but they weren't connecting the dots.
"Ughh, listen. Aro wants James to be in the coven. He's been having Demetri watch for his moves. The minute they realize that James is on his way here, he'll send someone to collect him. And on top of that, Felix is already here. And it's been hell keeping him from Jacob. As it is the wolves have made contact with Eric and Garick, so they can never go back to Italy. Do you follow where I'm going with this?" I was yelling really loudly and hadn't noticed until realized that I was standing on my toes trying to convey my point.
"Oh dear, honey we can't let that happen." Esme said in shock as if she knew the pack personally. She was such a mother it was adorable.
"Okay well graduation is a little over three weeks away, we'll have time to plan. Bella would Felix, Eric and Garick fight, for you?" Carlisle asked to diffuse the tension in the room.
"Yeah. As long as the army and James arrive at night, and there is some type of moon Eric and Garick will be in play. If it's a new moon, they won't be of any use, but their full strength is when there is a full moon.
"So it'll be us seven plus three more. Alice, can you see if the Volturi will get here in time to intervene?"
"I can't be completely sure since we've just added the two wolves, but it'll be close. I think they'll get here just after the fight. I can't be sure since they haven't made a decision yet." Alice sounded so defeated that her visions were failing her.
"I guess, I'll let Felix and Eric know when I get home." I whispered.
The weight of all of the information that was just given to me was starting to overload my brain, and I was too tired to stand anymore.
"I gotta get you home." Edward scooped me up in a fluid motion so fast I didn't even know I wasn't on my feet anymore.
"Well my angelic tyrant has spoken. Goodnight everyone." I said as my eyes started to droop closed. I faintly heard Emmett laughing at my nickname for Edward. Esme, Alice, and Rose simply beamed seeing me in Edward's arms again.
I let my eyes stay closed when I felt Edward running back to my house. The entire way, and I'm not sure for how long afterwards, I heard the lullaby that Edward had composed for me so long ago. Drifting off to sleep was heavenly in his arms.
"Welcome back to the land of the living." Edward's voice was soft when I fluttered awake.
"Hi. Is Charlie here?"
"No he left early. He had his fishing gear so he'll be gone for a while. Are you going to speak to Felix today?"
"Yeah. But later. Can we just hang out at your house today though, at least just for the morning?" Edward nodded his head, and I excused myself for a human moment.
"Bella! I didn't think I'd see you so soon. I mean I had hoped, but I wasn't sure if, you know." I smiled at Esme.
"I didn't want to be stuck in the house." I answered but seeing how she sort of cringed at my words, I grasped how she might have taken my meaning.
"Bella, I'm afraid I'll need to hunt. So you'll be here with Emmett, Rose and Carlisle." Edward whispered in my ear. "Esme and Alice will be joining me, as will Jasper."
"Okay." I simply said as I walked further into the house. I grabbed a seat on the couch and saw Alice's sketch pad on the coffee table. There were beautiful sketches of dresses that Alice was probably have designed at some point. I continued flipping the pages until I came to a blank sheet of paper.
"Oh darling, I didn't know you draw." Esme wondered.
"Not really. I just wanted to get a head-start on an art project. Kind of flesh out what I want to do."
Edward and his hunting party left the house soon after that, of course Alice flitted over to me and hugged me tightly. She was probably more excited than any of them that I chose to be there. I didn't see any sign of Emmett or Rose, but I made my way over to Carlisle's office on the second level.
Edward had brought me on a tour of the house once, and I was glad I remembered which door it was.
"Come in Bella." Stupid vampire hearing.
"Hi Carlisle. How are you?" I asked when I opened the door. Carlisle was sitting behind his desk, looking up from a pile of papers. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."
"Nonsense! Bella, you will forever be a daughter to me, I will always make time for you." Carlisle pointed out and I smiled at his sentiment.
"Well there is something I'd like to discuss, about James and his army. Since we're shorthanded, what if I became a vampire? I could help out with the fighting." My humanity wasn't something I wanted to give up just yet, especially since I was forcing myself not to fall in love again.
"That I believe will be counter-productive. You'll be a newborn, with the cravings of a newborn. We'd have to watch and control you." Carlisle reasoned.
"I actually figured you would say that." I took out the sheet of paper that I had scribbled on and handed it to him.
Carlisle took two seconds to look it over before looking at me with revulsion.
"Bella do you know what this is?" He was understandably concerned, he had every right to be. I wouldn't even try to deny him that.
"Yes, Carlisle. It's a grocery list, and I need you procure the items on that list. And this must remain between the two of us. Edward could never know, at least not until the right moment."
"What is it for? Am I allowed to know that?"
I had to take a few moments to breathe because the words were going to be hard to spit out as it were.
"You'll need to give them to Eric and Garick on the night of the fight, afterwards."
We went over my ideas for the night, and we solidified the plans that I could live with for that night. Finally, after and hour of agreeing, and Carlisle preparing to think of other things when around Edward, Carlisle asked me, "What about Alice?"
"What about her? This is concerning the wolves, she won't see anything. And if she should happen to see it, she'll know that this is necessary. For everyone." I said. I recognized that I sounded cold and detached, but I fully believed that Carlisle understood what mindset I was going to be in to pull this off.
"This will hurt her too. And I can't even begin to think how Edward will be." Carlisle spoke low enough for me to hear, but only barely. "But I understand that it'll need to be done."
I smiled appreciatively at the vampire I would have loved to call my father, and fought back the tears. I had three weeks to set everything in motion.
"Edward will be back in a few minutes. I hear them running to the house. What will you do next?" He asked, but I was already pulling my phone out.
"I'm calling Eric. He and his brother will come here." I made my call and Eric said they would be there shortly.
Carlisle nodded and we walked downstairs together. "Rose, Emmett, living room." Carlisle spoke softly as if they were right in front of him. I saw them enter the house from the garage area, Rosalie's overalls were covered in grease. It looked like she was out there working on a car—or two. Except there were a few greasy handprints that Rose couldn't possibly have made herself. I blushed thinking about what they were doing out in the garage. And apparently Emmett was thinking about it too.
"Damn you Emmett!" Edward yelled. Esme smacked him on the arm.
"Edward, language." But Edward continued as if he didn't feel a thing.
"On the hood of the Aston Martin! I will kill you." I felt bad for Emmett and Rose because the look that Edward threw at them was killer in and of itself.
"Hey man, sorry. If you want, I'll buy you a new one. Or Rose can just bang the dents out. No worries." Emmett shrugged but the grin on his face was evident. He enjoyed whatever happened to Edward's favorite car.
"Aggh! Who invited the wolves?" Alice groaned.
I looked at her sheepishly but she didn't seem to notice.
Edward let them in, and the two guys looked on as if they had walked into a trap.
"Eric, Garick, I called you here because there's been a development." I started out. I explained everything to them, at least the parts that Carlisle agreed that everyone should know. Once I was done, Eric and Garick seemed to understand everything.
"Once question, why isn't Felix here? He should be in on this. Correct?" Garick finally asked once I stopped speaking.
"I want to limit the Volturi's role as much as possible. It would be safe for everyone involved."