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Alice POV
My eyes wandered over to Carlisle as he struggled with his response. When he finally composed himself, he had a polite smile on his face.
"Thank you Aro," he said, taking a step closer to him, "For this uh," his eyes flashed to Elizabeth and Kurt, "Eventful welcome," he made it sound like a question.
Aro's eyes too darted to the pair and back again, before letting out a laugh, "Oh don't worry about them Carlisle," he said, waving a careless hand, "Those two have been holding onto a grudge for too long," he added, "They should know better by now though, that's no way to treat our guests," he gazed at them sternly.
"My apologies, my Lord," Kurt bowed his head low, whereas Lizzie held Aro's gaze, and stayed silent.
The ruler just raised an eyebrow in response and chuckled lightly.
Carlisle and the rest of my family regarded this exchange with interest. We had never heard of anyone behaving that way towards one of the brothers, and I was sincerely surprised to see Bella standing up to him like that.
Where's my shy, clumsy sister? I found myself asking.
Gone.
"I believe introductions are in order," Aro's voice brought me back to reality. Only then did I notice several vampires had joined us in the dark alley. I felt Jasper's arms tighten around me.
"That's Demetri," he gestured towards the vampire who'd come to stand beside Bella and had a comforting hand on the small of her back.
I frowned, could he be the friend that helped her escape all those years ago?
"He's the only one here besides Elizabeth, whom you already know, that follows your peculiar diet my friend," Aro said, throwing Carlisle a small smirk, "Maybe you'd like to talk about your choice later on?" he added, raising his eyebrows in expectation.
"It would be my pleasure," said Carlisle, addressing Demetri, who just nodded politely.
"Good, good!" Aro exclaimed, "You already know the Connolly siblings, Kurt, Anna, " he said, and a few gasps escaped my family as he gestured to both vampires, before moving on to the next, positioned behind him.
"This is Felix," he said, "And these two over here are Jane and Alec," he pointed to the two child like vampires standing closest to us.
Suddenly the girl's eyes flew in my direction and Edward, who'd noticed this small movement, tensed and called out to me in a worried voice, "Alice!"
I became scared at his reaction, but Jane only frowned deeply, before turning to glare at Bella.
"Do I have something on my face Jane?" she asked calmly.
"You little–"
"Easy Jane," Aro interjected, "No harm will come to the Cullens while they're here," he said, never once taking his eyes off Bella's hard ones.
What did just happen?
I turned to look at Edward, willing him to answer a question he couldn't hear. I'd already figured Bella had a shield around my mind, since Edward hadn't tried to rip my head off my shoulders yet. I wondered if he'd try it once he learned the truth about Elizabeth. Because at least for now I was sure he didn't know anything.
I was about to call Edward's attention, but it was Aro who answered my question.
"Please excuse Jane, my friends," he started, "She has the power to make you think you are experiencing certain amount of…pain," he said, "It's not the real thing of course, just an illusion but still…" he trailed off. "Anyways, she gets a little carried away sometimes and likes to try it on someone different every once in a while," he said chuckling.
I stared at him, slightly openmouthed. How could he say those words in such a cheerful manner?
"But don't worry," he went on, "You were never in any sort of danger, Elizabeth here's protecting all of our minds from any kind of mental assault for now," he said walking to stand behind her, and putting both of his hands on her shoulders. Both Kurt and Demetri took a step back. "Enjoying the silence Edward?" he smiled.
"Yes," he answered stiffly, "Thank you, Aro,"
"Oh Edward I assure you this works both ways!" he exclaimed, leaving Bella's side to stop in front of him. Aro stretched out his hand, "It's a pleasure to finally meet you," he said as Edward shook it.
He then turned to Carlisle, "Now old friend, will you introduce me to the rest of your family?" he asked.
Carlisle nodded and motioned for Esme to come forwards, "This is my wife, Esme," he said wrapping an arm around her, and stepping aside to pin point the rest of us, "These two here are Emmett and Rosalie, and then there's Jasper and Alice," Aro shook all of our hands and then stopped when he came to Sabrina.
"And I think you already know Sabrina," Carlisle finished.
He nodded, but made no move to touch her.
Anna's voice filled my mind then.
"Aro doesn't touch Kurt," she replied curtly, "Or any member of his coven for that matter."
So she's with Kurt, but not with the Volturri, I thought.
"It's been a long time since I last saw you Sabrina," Aro said, "But I feel I must thank you dear, for if it wasn't for you, we would've never found Elizabeth again," he said, while shooting Bella a quick glance, "So thank you for giving Kurt the heads up, and returning not only our Elizabeth home but Anna as well, they had been sorely missed," he added.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Bella closing her eyes and clenching her fists, trying to level out her anger by taking deep breaths. I looked up to Jasper and saw him watching Elizabeth with a frown upon his face.
Before Sabrina could answer Aro, Edward spoke up.
"How come I never heard anything from you?" he demanded, stepping closer to Sabrina, "I admit I've avoided looking into everyone's thoughts ever since–" he stopped himself and swallowed, "A while ago," he said, "But I think I would've heard something about this, so how did you hide it from me?" he demanded again.
By now everyone, including Bella was staring intently at Sabrina, waiting for her answer.
She turned to him and grinned, "Years of practice Eddie," was her only reply, before bowing to Aro, and taking her place beside Kurt.
"Well!" Aro clapped his hands together, "Now that we all know each other, why don't we step inside the castle," he said, "I really hope you'll stay at least for a couple of days Carlisle, we have plenty of room for you and your family here and then maybe you can tell me how did you end up here in the first place," he said.
Stay? I thought.
I eyed Bella and she looked dismayed, but quickly recovered.
"Thank you my friend," Carlisle said, "Your offer's very kind of you,"
"Nonsense Carlisle!" Aro exclaimed giving him a friendly slap on the back and leading him away, the rest following, "I've missed talking with you, this is merely me being selfish," he said.
And judging by the dark shadow that crossed Bella's features, I had a strong feeling he was telling the truth.
We had reached the castle of the Volturri and still, all my efforts to approach Bella had been useless. Every time I tried to step closer to her, Demetri had barred my way, and I hadn't dared to call out her name and make it clear to everyone else I wanted to talk to her.
"Elizabeth dear," Aro called out, "Would you mind showing the Cullen children to their chambers while my brothers and I have nice chat with Carlisle and Esme, the East Wing?" he asked in a kind tone.
"Sure," she said, "Let's go," she motioned for us to follow her, Anna and Demetri, the rest of the Guard, including Sabrina, stayed behind.
"Oh and, Elizabeth?"
She stopped but didn't look back, "Yes?"
"Don't wander off too far from the castle will you?" he said, "It would be a shame to loose you again, especially when we just got you back, right?" he added, his face was kind, but his eyes and undertone held a silent threat that I was sure no one but her was supposed to understand.
"Of course Aro," she said in a soft voice despite the fact that her body had stiffened, "That would be awful indeed," she coincided before walking away.
The tension present in the air all the way up to the East Wing was so dense I was sure it could've been cut with a knife if we'd tried. No one had dared to say anything and Jasper kept throwing me confused looks because of my conflicting emotions. I was scared of what was to come, but I was also overjoyed and anxious beyond belief to get Bella on her own and finally talk to her.
Once we reached the end of a hallway with four doors, two on each side she turned to us.
"Here we are," she said in an emotionless voice, "If you need anything just call out for help, someone will be with you shortly,"
Just as she was about to leave Edward's hand shot forward and grasped her wrist.
"Don't touch me Edward," she said in a low voice.
"I'm not letting go until you answer my questions," he hissed.
Demetri growled in response and started forward, but was stopped by Lizzie's voice.
"Demetri, don't," she said, looking at him, "Just go, I'll talk with you later,"
"But–"
"Go, please," she said.
He let out a deep breath, nodded and left, but not before glaring furiously at Edward.
"What do you want Edward?" she said, her face betraying nothing.
"What were pictures of Isabella Swan doing among your belongings?" he asked, going straight to the point. I watched as her eyes grew wide before she could control her surprise. "Don't try to deny it, because we all saw them," he said in a deadly voice.
"Is this what this is all about?" she asked him, a look of disbelief written all over her face.
"What do you mean?" asked Edward through clenched teeth.
"You came all the way to Volterra, and risked all their lives," she said nodding at us, "For some pictures of your ex? My God you're pathetic!" she exclaimed.
Edward growled and was about to rebut but Rosalie beat him to the punch.
"We all agreed to come here," she said narrowing her eyes at Bella, "We all cared for that girl, you know it, and all we want to know, is if you knew her, and what was your relationship with her,"
She stayed silent and turned her gaze towards me. But I had to close my eyes; for it was the only thing I could do to stop myself from throwing my arms around her.
"Answer us!" Edward snarled, as he grew impatient, jerking Bella towards him. His face was inches away from hers now.
I had to stop this.
"Edward," I started.
"Stay out of if Alice," Bella said in a soft voice, never breaking eye contact with Edward.
"Elizabeth," Edward hissed, "We're waiting,"
"Let go of me," she said in a calm voice.
"No,"
"Let go of me," she repeated, marking each word.
"No," Edward said again, this time gripping her wrist with more force than necessary, "You're hiding something, and you're telling me what it is,"
"Let go," she said, more forcefully.
"You know something about Bella. I need to know what it is!" he exclaimed, jerking her once again.
"I said," Bella hissed, "Let go!" she raised her voice and her hand grew bright. Edward yelped in pain and immediately let go, as if he'd been burned.
We all took a step back while Anna put a hand on Bella's shoulder in an attempt to cool her down.
"Wha– what?" Edward stuttered.
"You want to know something about Bella Swan?" Bella snarled, "I'll tell you something about Bella Swan! She was a total wreck after you left her!" she growled with such venom, that Edward took a step back, suddenly frightened.
"You…you kne–"
"Yes!" she hissed narrowing her eyes at him, "I knew her, I knew her very well, Edward," she said, her fists trembling.
I grew more anxious than ever as my eyes darted from Elizabeth's shaking form to Edward's frozen one.
What are you doing Bella? I thought.
"You know what Eddie? I've been meaning to ask you," she started her voice curious but controlled, "Was it your real intention to completely and utterly destroy her? Because if it was I have to congratulate you, 'cause you certainly did!" she exclaimed, anger coating her last words.
"No," Edward shook his head, his expression torn. "No, no, no! I told you I left to protect her!" his voice was filled with anguish.
"I think we all know what good it did to her," she shot back.
"She was supposed to be happy, she was human, she was supposed to forget me," he said weakly, his eyes unfocused.
"How could she, Edward?" Bella asked, "After everything you told her in that forest?"
"How do you know about that?" he asked suddenly alert.
What is she talking about? I thought.
"I told you I knew her,"
"You know nothing," Edward said.
"Bella, we're leaving" Bella began.
Edward shook his head, "No,"
"Bella, I don't want you to come with me," she continued coldly.
"No, I–"
"You…don't…want me?" pain was evident in her voice.
Edward lifted his gaze and their eyes met briefly, "No," they both whispered.
What's going on?
"Edward," I started, but he just remained standing where he was, staring unseeingly at the ground, so I turned my eyes to Bella.
She was looking at Edward, her expression unreadable.
"Does it hurt Edward?" she asked, "To think about her face as you said those words?" she shook her head slowly, "You broke her beyond repair," she said, so quietly, I almost didn't hear her.
All of a sudden, everything clicked into place.
"You did what!" I exclaimed, staring at Edward in disbelief.
"I had to do it," he said brokenly, "It was the only way she'd move on,"
"So you lied to her?" I carried on, walking up to him, "You told me you had told her the truth! That we were leaving to protect her! That's the only reason I agreed with your stupid idea and left without saying goodbye!" Uncontrollable fury was swelling up my chest. "You made us leave for nothing!" I growled. "I told you she wouldn't be okay!"
I could barely refrain myself from lunging at him and giving him a piece of my mind. I knew he'd been hurting and I know he'd been broken too, but he had no right to do what he did.
"I had to do something Alice!" he fired back, standing straight, "I couldn't let her be torn apart by our world!" he hissed, his eyes full of unyielding pain.
"But she was," Bella said calmly, making me swallow the words that were about to leave my mouth, Jasper then took the chance to take me in his arms and away from Edward.
"What do you mean she was?" it was Emmett, his voice was so low, that I wouldn't have thought it was him if I hadn't been there. His features were tainted with a terrible sadness, and his eyes were burning with anger at Edward. He had come to love Bella too.
"It was vampire's who ended Bella Swan's life," she said in a detached voice.
"What?" gasped Rosalie.
"You told us there'd been no trace of vampires in that clearing!" Edward rounded on me.
"Now don't you dare make this about me! And no, I told you the rain had washed away any scent that could've been there," I argued back.
"Then what about the uprooted trees?" Edward continued, the words coming out fast.
I shrugged and Bella answered for me, "Werewolves," she said.
"Werewolves," Edward repeated.
"Yes," she swallowed hard, "The La Push werewolves came to save Bella, but they were too late," she said, "They killed the Frenchman and the redhead,"
"Laurent, Victoria," Jasper and Emmett respectively whispered.
"But not before they'd finished what you started Edward," her voice was hard and cold. "She was so scared, alone and afraid, an easy prey for vampires…so mouthwatering," she went on.
"Stop,"
"They broke her right knee first, and then Victoria threw her onto a tree, just like a rag doll,"
"Stop,"
I watched as Bella kept describing everything those two did to her, how they took blood from her, how they kicked punched and bit repeatedly injecting and sucking out the venom. And with every word that left her mouth I could feel my heart slowly breaking. I couldn't help it anymore and I took a step forward meaning to hug and comfort her.
But Anna shot me a warning look and I used all my strength to stay rooted to my place.
"How do you know all this?" Edward hissed at Bella.
"I was there,"
"Why didn't you do something then?" he demanded accusingly, "Why didn't you save her?"
Her eyes blurred for a second before she said, "I wasn't strong enough,"
Oh Bella…
"Victoria wanted her to suffer the way she had," she continued before Edward could say anything else, "And she knew you had left Edward, so she told her she'd change her, so she could go on for eternity without the one she loved,"
I could see Edward's eyes blazing with anger, self-loathing and sorrow, but I could also see a spark of hope.
I turned to Bella, was she really telling him the truth?
"She's alive?" Edward asked.
"The wolves came and stopped her before she could bite her again. By then it was already too late to save Bella Swan's life," she lifted her gaze to look at Edward straight in the eye, "She's dead Edward…you killed her," she finished, her expression unfathomable.
Edward growled furiously and lunged himself at Bella, only to be stopped by Jasper and Emmett.
Bella just stood there watching him, not saying a word. Then Anna whispered something to her ear and she excused herself.
"I'm sorry if I caused you some distress," she said, "But I must be going, I need some fresh air," she added, turning her back on us and going back the way we came, not even sparing me a glance. It was as though she couldn't…didn't want to look at me.
"Some distress? Some distress?" Rosalie hissed, "You had no right to open up those wounds like you did! You've only brought this family more suffering!"
Bella stopped and looked back, "You wanted answers, I gave them to you," she said, "If this is all you wanted, you might do well to leave Volterra while you still can," she said in a monotonous voice.
She turned her back on us again but this time however our eyes locked and I could see the storm raging inside of her, before she walked away.
I watched as my husband, Emmett and Rosalie dragged a snarling Edward into one of the rooms and made my decision. I would follow Bella and Anna, and finally get my answers.
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