And here's the chapter you've all been eagerly awaiting-or at least, I hope you have! I would actually like to apologize for the length beforehand. I was surprised at how much I had written for this chapter but I still hope that you enjoy it as well as the previous chapters. I would also like to mention that this lengthy chapter is dedicated to:Taylortasteyy for her unfortunately good guessing skills and to Abbiexcx1996x for her wonderful support in everything I upload. Thanks to everyone and to these two individuals. Now go ahead and read! :P
Recap:
Tanya's words immediately began to repeat themselves with a deafening sense of finality; 'If there was a way to get you out of the picture...'
"Hello, Bella."
It had taken me long enough-longer than it should have- to realize that Tanya still hadn't shown me the truth. I knew that something would've happened, had I of stayed. But I still couldn't figure out what that would have been or the end result of it.
It wasn't that I hadn't been expecting to see him here; because, in a way, I had. It was more that, I had hoped that he wouldn't turn up. People were beginning to stare at my stalk-still form; including the man who had provided me with a ticket. I prayed that he wouldn't walk over here-he'd be in more danger than I would.
"Demetri," I breathed. Wasn't my shield still up? Didn't that mean that he was still unable to find me? How had he known where I would be?
Confusion was clearly etched onto my face as he watched me. Seeming to realize that I had nothing more to say he cleared his burly throat.
"Once you had left us, Bella, Aro was absolutely certain you would return to the place that you left. But that is not how I knew you'd be here. I knew because you had once let your shield down and that was all the time I needed."
I wished that my shield could have been of more use. I would never escape Demetri if it had ever come down to that.
"You see, Cauis and the rest of the Volturi-minus three," I knew who those three would be and I wondered how severally punished they had been for their devotion.
I imagined Felix's physically powerful body being held back by the vigor of numerous vampires from the guard.
I imagined vampires surrounding both Alec and Jane together while they both used their abilities to hold them off. No one could catch the twins; not even me with my own abilities. Together they were more than dominant.
And…neither would allow anything to happen to Felix either. That entirely ruled out my mental picture of him being held back.
"We have all agreed that you would be dethroned-so to speak. We cannot have a traitor as a part of our family and most certainly not at the head. We are bringing you back for your punishment. You, perhaps, should start begging for leniency now."
I didn't know what I looked like. I could only feel panic, resentment, and the need to defend myself. Whatever my facial expression appeared to be-was strong enough to send the man from the counter running towards me.
"Isabella, is everything alright?" I liked how he used my first name. I couldn't begin to think of them when I was sure to die now.
"Ugh, yes; I'm fine, thank-you. We…we were just leaving." I knew to a human my pauses had been unnoticeable but Demetri certainly picked up on it as he chuckled beside me.
"Perchance you would like to walk her to her car; I believe there is someone trying to harm her. I have to wait here to secure the perimeter. She will not be going to Italy today-there is too much danger for her there." This was all a part of Demetri's game.
I growled below the range that humans could hear in. I was appalled for I knew we were still going to Italy; the only exception was that I wouldn't be alone in my apprehension any longer.
"Sure, I would. Ms. Cullen, would you like to direct me to your car?" No! I wanted to scream. Run while you can, you moron! Why aren't you scared of me?! Even with all this buzzing inside of me I managed a small murmur to hide my distress.
"Yes." I began walking away from him refusing to slow as he caught up to me.
"Ms, you're going to have to slow down if I'm going to look after you." Look after me? Did he not sense the jeopardy he had just placed himself in?
"Look after me? There is nothing to protect. I am trying to protect you and you're making this unattainable! I am going to Italy; the only difference is that you will be coming with!" I could see that he was startled by my shrill outburst but I needed him to comprehend the danger even if I couldn't tell him directly.
We were in the parking lot now and I was appreciative that clouds still sheathed the sky and provided a break from the callous sun.
I could see what would've happened otherwise. To Cauis, I would've exposed what we were and that would only add to my difficulty. That was what Demetri was planning-nothing more, nothing less. And I would do whatever I could to prevent myself from giving him what he wanted.
"Thank-you, for coming with her; it's rather unfortunate that you'll be leaving us soon." Demetri reappeared at my side, diligently wrapping an arm around my waist. It wasn't a gesture of affection but that of restraint. He was holding me back from attacking him as I surely would've tried.
"Wha-what d-do you mean?" He stuttered. It didn't take long for me to notice the name tag that his blue shirt boar. It claimed that his name was Trevor.
"We're taking you with us. We can't leave any witnesses and therefore; you don't have a choice in the matter."
Witnesses; spectators for what? I caught up to what he was saying in a matter of seconds. We weren't going to take a plane. We were going to run to Italy. Why, I couldn't fathom; all I knew was that we were.
"Demetri, just how do you plan on getting him across the water to Italy? That's beyond your reach!" As he glared at me, I noticed the ruby thickly interlaced into his irises. He wasn't planning on allowing him across the water; he was bringing Trevor along for a 'snack'.
He nodded as I came to my conclusion. "Now, let us hurry. Being late would not please the Volturi."
Trevor glanced at me nervously as Demetri lifted him over his shoulder. I remembered my first time moving at a vampire velocity while I was still a human.
"Trevor, close your eyes and don't open them until I tell you to." I whispered to him as I readied myself to keep pace with a tracker.
"Now, now, Bella; He's going to die anyway. It doesn't matter what the man sees." …If only he understood why I had told Trevor to do as I instructed. I didn't care if Demetri were caught; I only didn't want to frighten the man any further. I knew I wasn't going to let him die. We were both returning to Forks.
Then a thought occurred to me. Alice hadn't seen my decision but if they chose to follow my scent they would cause more harm than good. I had to do something to stop them from following. I had to try. But…Demetri would know the second I let it down. What excuse could possibly make doing so, allowable?
Of course, Demetri would enjoy a fight against the Cullen's. The only exception would be that we were solely outnumbered and he didn't like an unfair challenge. He would only expect me to join my family rather than help him if a fight were to transpire.
"Demetri, they're going to follow us. Perhaps, I could lead them somewhere else. Or…make them believe I am joining the Volturi again; Just, for now-anyway. If they caught up with us…we would be outnumbered."
"And, just how do you suppose you're going to do that?"
"I'm going to let my shield down. Just go along with whatever I say…and they should keep away from us." He wasn't sure of what I was saying. I knew he expected me to deceive him and though I wanted to; I knew I couldn't do that.
I moaned as my shield snapped back like elastic and he grinned wickedly once he could fully sense me again.
"Demetri, I can't wait to return home. I've missed Jane and everyone else. It's only timely that Cauis has been killed. I can finally take his place." My words were awfully chosen and characteristically, appallingly unbelievable. Edward would have to see through them.
"Yes, well…I'm sure Marcus will be unhappy, but I know the rest would only welcome you to the top-so to speak. Now let's go before this human scares himself to death and his blood becomes tainted. You know the real fun is in their struggles."
My shield was back in place before I could decide on anything else. I was scared for Trevor but there had to be a way to get him out. I could only hope that Alice believed in her vision; believed that I would leave them again.
"You believe they will stop following us, then?" I couldn't say anything further as I noticed that Trevor had passed out from fear; I nodded as an alternative.
We were running again, running and passing the trees at a speed that should not be permissible. In a normal world such unforeseen tendencies would never have occurred. In a normal world, vampires wouldn't exist…In a normal world…Edward wouldn't subsist.
No…if Edward weren't in my world than I didn't want it to be normal. I had to have him in my life or living became insufferable. If only I had married him already; maybe then he would finally be sure of my love for him.
I could only expect him to believe my lie just as I had intended. But how could he believe that? He was smart…but if he were able to so easily doubt my love for him…maybe he would give up on me again.
I hated Tanya more than I had ever hated another vampire in my whole existence. Cauis had been bad, but underneath it all…I could always sense a more compassionate person. The only disparity was that Cauis never showed it. Tanya didn't have to worry about hiding it since empathy didn't subsist in her diminutive range of emotions.
Demetri came to a halt and placed Trevor on the ground with an echoing thud. This was it; this was the end for my human protector. This couldn't happen!
I could plainly hear the slice of Demetri's sharp teeth breaking skin. I could smell blood streaming through the air and calling for me to pounce on it. No; I wouldn't do that. I owed Trevor something whether it was life or the ability to become one of us.
In 3/8ths of a second I had already made my decision-invisible to my family-and sprang towards where Trevor lay on the ground with Demetri towering over him-the human's wrist in between his slicing teeth.
Soaring through the air-no matter the short distance between us-the smell of blood became that much more potent. When I was close enough I realized with a sudden jerk that this was my singer. How had I missed that before?
Did my years as a vegetarian mean nothing now that new blood was forced upon me? I didn't think it mattered anymore-if I was dying anyway-and I was suddenly ravenous. The desire for something more than the blood of animals scratched at my throat as I took that last step that separated me from where both men were positioned on the ground.
Would I be able to control myself any longer? Could I act as Edward had? It didn't seem that it was possible. I needed this human. I needed the taste of his blood to sooth the ache in my throat.
Demetri continued in biting into the man's cool flesh. Could I do this?
I've noticed that much of my writing in the past has had several spelling and/or wording flaws. If you happened to have come across something that I have missed in my editing, then I would like to apologize. I am constantly trying to upload as quickly as I can for lack of time and therefor don't spend as much time as I should editing what I have written.
Please, please, please, review and I will get the next chapter out even sooner; which should be tomorrow-provided I get reviews. Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read; all 7,231 of you!