Hello, dearies! So, here we go - the penultimate chapter!
Enjoy!
LookAliveSunshine03
WARNING: strong language
Chapter 25:
Gilded cage
Beth wondered where Hazel was, and whether her plane had spontaneously burst into flames. It would be cruel to Michael, of course, but it certainly made Beth feel better.
Sitting on the porch bench, she could taste the impending snow-storm on the breeze. The night's sky was streaked with purple clouds, hiding the stars from view.
Beth had left Esme's study over an hour ago. She's building me a fucking house. Beth's laugh escaped, loud into the stillness.
"What's so funny?" Alice closed the door behind her. She seemed cautious, like Beth was a newborn all over again.
"Come to give me another pep talk?" Beth was relieved to see she looked better, though still in need of a good rest.
"Not exactly." Sliding in next to Beth, Alice plucked her frayed sleeve in familiar bewilderment. "My suggestion of a make-over still stands."
Beth shook her off gently. "How can you act like everything is fine? You don't even want me here."
Alice sighed. "No, Beth. You misunderstand me, we...we can't risk the Denalis finding out about this, and the Volturi could contact you at any time –"
"I get it. You want nothing to do with them, and that means me."
"Get your head out of your ass, Beth." Lacing her fingers on top of her knee, Alice went on, "You belong with us, whatever happens."
Really? Is that consensual? Beth twisted her lip. "I just can't stay here," she said.
"You saw what Esme has planned, haven't you?"
Beth itched her nose. "Yeah. And that'll take, what? A couple of years to build?"
"Three, at best," Alice replied chirpily. "Esme's found the perfect place for it."
"And?"
"You're gonna love it."
She couldn't help it; Beth grinned. In the meantime, she would start looking for a place to rent, but couldn't she just enjoy this moment? "Will the Volturi be able to find it?"
"Unless you want to use your glamour all the time." Alice saw Beth shiver. "Are you coming inside? Oh, no. Forget I asked."
Beth spluttered. "Okay, uh -"
"Try and count to ten, Beth. I'm sure your sister didn't mean to keep secrets from you," Alice explained, slipping back the way she came.
Beth's stomach felt pinched with nerves."I guess that's what I'm going to find out."
Sated for now, Anna and Aro snuggled into each other. "You are becoming... quite the master at this," he chuckled.
Always looking for compliments. Anna kissed him, stroking his chest. "I have an excellent teacher."
The sound of doors opening and closing downstairs made them pause. Demetri. Aro caught a glimpse of Beth in his wife's thoughts, small and tired on the garden bench. The letter in Anna's dress pocket.
He laughed. "Oh! This is remarkable!"
"Hush, husband! He'll hear you." Anna put a hand over her husband mouth, giggling; he was all but squirming with pleasure. "Come, I need a bath. Won't you join me?"
Needless to say, the sound of Anna's phone ringing did not reach them. When his mobile buzzed on his table, Demetri was on his bed, calmly listening to music through large headphones.
The reception was terrible, like she was stuck in a wind tunnel. "Do you think she'll forgive you?"
"I didn't expect to hear from you so soon."
"Must be your lucky day." Hazel smiled. "More than I can say for our mutual friend."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Demetri swung his legs off the side of his bed, catching his headphones before they clattered to the floor.
"Beth? Oh, I crushed her spirit like a grape," Hazel pushed her mouth to the speaker. "Did you know the Cullen tribe knew about the contract, too?"
"You followed her." Demetri had sensed it on the drive home. His skin suddenly crawled, hot and cold all over while Hazel was enjoying herself immensely.
"A hundred years with no loop-holes; not even for the Queen's favourite pet." She gasped. "This won't complicate things between you, will it?"
"Why would it?" He swallowed the venom steadily pooling in his mouth.
"Keeping secrets is not a good foundation for a relationship!" Hazel crowed. "Now, I must go, cara mio. I have a flight to catch."
"Wait. Hazel -" But she had already hung up. He cursed her petty spite. No sooner had he thrown his phone down – it rang again. Demetri snatched it up, ready for whatever she threw at him.
"So," said a quiet voice, "when were you going to tell me I was still part of the Guard?"
Was she crying?
Demetri sank back down on the bed. "Beth, I am so sorry."
"Hazel just made everyone look like complete idiots. Especially me. So, um, what's your excuse?" The fact she was choking on her words made Demetri's heart flinch.
He ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't want to hurt –"
"Oh, please!" Her voice rose. "And I tried calling Anna just now. Quelle fucking surprise, she didn't pick up. She knows. She has to."
"I'm sure she didn't -"
"I. Had a right. To know."
"Perhaps," Demetri said quickly, "but would you have acted rationally? Why are you calling me now, if not to vent at me?"
All he could hear was a shaky breath. "Because...because it would have been better hearing it you. Not from her." Her voice broke and Demetri closed his eyes.
"Is that all? Don't stop now, Beth."
"Oh, that's right, silly little one, always so angry. Is there anyone I can trust?"
"You can trust us, Beth."
She barked her laugh. "Yeah, right. Goodbye, Demetri."
"No, Beth!" He was pacing now, gripping his phone in desperation. "Don't do this to your sister. She still loves you."
"She'll survive without me," Beth said, softly.
"No – Beth, you cannot turn your back on her!" Demetri almost shouted. "Please..."
"If you wanted me to stay," she said, "then you should have told me when you had the chance."
The urge to reach through the phone to her was like a grenade detonating in Demetri's chest. "Beth, I –"
A final click. She was gone.
"It would seem," Anna said. "That I have some explaining to do."
Demetri spun round. With her hair flowing wet down her dress, Anna looked young and ashamed of herself. "May I come in?"
Demetri bowed in compliance. "This is my fault, my Lady. It was...Hazel who told her."
"Oh..." Anna's fingers scrunched in her curls. "Oh, Lord, that is much worse. Perhaps it's no surprise she refused to answer when I called."
"Has she ever -?"
"No. No." Anna swallowed, fingering her wedding ring. "Our best intentions mean nothing now. Did she say where she was?"
"Beth is back with the Cullens, my Lady."
"So she is safe." Anna sighed. "And Hazel is -?"
"En route to England. Her brother is waiting for her in London," Demetri said, and Anna sagged with relief.
"Good." She brushed her damp hair off her shoulders. "You know her better than I, my friend. How likely is it Hazel will... strike again?"
Demetri couldn't answer, and Anna laughed humourlessly. "She travelled all the way to Forks to humiliate my sister. That tells me much. I fear even the Cullens won't be able to help Beth if the mood took her again."
"I daresay, my Lady, but I cannot watch Beth all the time." He scowled. "Even now, she is hidden from me."
"And I would not ask that of you, my friend," Anna said sighing. "Her message is clear; I say we respect her wishes, for now."
Demetri frowned. "For how long? I doubt she will contact us willingly, my Lady."
"Una gabbia dorata non alimenta l'uccello," Aro mused from the doorway. "She will come if you need her, my love." He nuzzled his wife's hair.
"Beth is no bird," Anna teased. Despite Aro's administrations, she looked at Demetri carefully. "It was her idea to bite you, wasn't it?"
Demetri touched the mark. "Yes, Lady Anna."
"Did you know she would?" Anna glanced between them, and Aro saw her hand brush her skirt pocket.
"No." He offered his Master his hand without another word.
"Dinner will be here soon," Anna said happily. She pecked Aro on the cheek and began pulling him out of the door. "Come..."
Demetri sighed while Aro just smiled. Even after death, Antoine's plans were still falling into place.
ITALIAN RANSLATION: "A gilded cage does not feed the bird