28
I wasn't about to let this happen to me without putting up a fight. I backed up to a corner and reached out to take hold of the table lamp. Caius ignored my actions and continued to undress by kicking off his shoes and then removing his socks.
When his hands moved to his slacks I swung the lamp. He threw his arm out for protection and easily knocked it to the ground. I tried to run past him but he stuck out his foot and tripped me. I scurried to my knees and he pulled the rug I was on toward him. I flipped over and kicked with all my might. I made contact with his chest but not nearly as hard as I had meant to. His hand pulled into a fist and he punched me in the face.
Pain exploded in my head and my limbs became numb. He easily straddled me and began ripping off my clothing. I tried to turn and knock him off of me but he was too heavy. I screamed and squirmed until he punched me again and I was instantly unconscious.
I woke up and tried to open my eyes but only one would open. I turned my head so I could see from the one eye where I was. I could hear Caius whistling from the bathroom so I tried to move. My body felt like it was on fire and I looked down to see I was bleeding between my legs. I dragged myself to the bed and sat against it on the floor.
Caius came back into the room and didn't look my way. His hair was wet from an obvious shower. He simply unlocked the door and then left. I crawled over and slammed the door before sitting my body against it to keep him from coming back. I pulled my knees to my chest and then covered my mouth with my hand as I sobbed uncontrollably.
I didn't know how long I sat there but it grew dark outside before I found the courage to move. I placed a chair under the doorknob and went into the bathroom. I looked at myself in the mirror and had to steady myself by holding onto the sink. My face was so swollen I was unrecognizable. I got into the shower and stood there as I cried more tears. The longer I let the spray pound onto my back the angrier I became. This was going to be Jane's fate if I didn't manage to save her. Edward had to endure this humiliation without the luxury of being unconscious.
I finally managed to vow to be strong until I could get myself out of here. If Aro didn't return tonight I would approach one of the armed men and ask for help. Deep down I doubted they would go against any orders Caius gave them, but I would have to try.
I spent most of the night putting cold compresses on my swollen eye. When the sun began to rise I was so exhausted I actually fell asleep. The sound of a helicopter woke me up. I rushed to the window, hoping to see Aro, but I saw three men get out.
One was very haggard looking and I assumed it was his brother Marcus. The other two men looked healthy and just as brutal as Caius. They walked toward the house so I rushed to the door and opened it. I heard the men come inside so I made my way to the grand staircase and listened to their conversation with Caius.
"Any news?" someone asked.
"Aro will be home any moment," Caius replied. "James has some news. He's on his way."
I tiptoed back to my room as I thought about James. Surely he wouldn't give Aro proper information, or was he planning on stabbing me in the back the entire time? I stood looking out the window when a large black limo came through the gates. I ran back to the staircase and into view as Aro walked through the door.
He glanced up at me and then held open his arms for his family. They all hugged and welcomed each other. I made my way down a few steps and when the men were finished with their pleasantries I called out for Aro. He looked up at me again but said nothing.
I walked down more steps and yelled, "Look what your brother did to me."
Caius laughed but the other men remained quiet. Aro finally spoke and said in a gentle voice, "I'm busy looking for Jane. Please excuse us."
"Wait," I screamed. "I want to return to the school. I want a car to take me right now."
Aro's face changed to one of pure rage and he screamed in a hysterical voice, "You will return to your room and shut your mouth, understand?"
I realized I was a prisoner here. They were not going to let me go and nobody in the world would care what they did with me. Edward would continue to be banished to the island but at least Jane would be safe. I felt dejected and hopeless until the door opened and James walked in. He tried to ignore my condition and looked at Aro. "You said we would have total privacy."
"She's going to bed," Aro said, and dismissed me with a wave of his hand.
James finally looked right at me and gave me a disgusted glare. "No, make her wait in the garden. I know there are intercoms in this house."
When Aro turned to look at me I could tell James was adamant that I get out of the house. I began walking down the remainder of stairs so the men headed into the library and allowed me to let myself out. I walked to the garden and sat on a bench as I searched the grounds for any way to escape without being seen.
Suddenly, a loud explosion went off and bricks flew from the spot where the library was located. I automatically ran toward the house as smoke and fire billowed out. Men also came running from every direction just as the Italian woman ran from the back of the mansion. Her head was bleeding but she appeared to be okay.
Someone came up from behind me and placed a blanket around my shoulders. I spun around to see Alec. He led me back toward the garden and then stopped to hand me a key. "Go out the west gate, a car is waiting for you. Drive right to Florence and take a flight to New York, you know where to go from there." He placed an envelope in my hand and pushed me toward the west. I let the blanket drop and I ran as fast as my limited sight would allow me.
I drove the entire way looking in my rear view mirror for any sign someone was after me. I didn't look inside the envelope until I got to the airport. I went right to a restroom and into a stall before opening it. I found a lot of cash and a note from James.
"Bella,
You gave me the courage to do what I should have done years ago, make Aro pay for what he did to Gabriella. I thought I could protect Jane by being part of the organization, but I was wrong. Take care of my daughter, please! Someday tell her about her father and how he gave up his life for her. I know by taking out all the Volturi men it will leave the family in disarray. They will never be so strong again. The Cullens should be safe now.
Take Care,
James
I couldn't allow myself to think about it right now. I had to hold it together until I made it to Eleazar's place. I just hoped they hadn't left already to take Jane to the island. I purchased a ticket and had to keep explaining I had been in a car accident but I was fine. I eventually went to the gift shop and purchased a baseball cap to pull down over my swollen eye.
I made my way to Alaska twenty hours later. I took a boat taxi to the Denali's house and walked up to the door and rang the bell. Irina answered and actually pulled me into her arms as I entered the house. I removed my cap and she gasped at the sight of me. Eleazar came into the room and I finally broke down. I sobbed against his chest as he rocked me back and forth. "It's over," he kept repeating. But would it ever really be over?
When I gained control I asked about Jane. Eleazar informed me she was upstairs. I made my way to her slowly, not exactly sure what to say. She was sitting on the bed brushing her hair when I opened the door. I smiled and walked over to take over the job for her. I sat behind her and took a few swipes through her hair before saying, "I'm so proud of you."
She asked me in a soft voice, "Did daddy hurt you?"
"No, not Aro," I said honestly. "Caius."
She sat silently for a few seconds and then said, "Caius is a bad man, too."
I closed my eyes tightly and then winced from the pain. I decided to give her some good news and said, "They can never hurt you again."
"Are they dead?" she asked, knowing much too much about death for her young age.
"Yes," I replied in a whisper and went back to brushing her hair.
After a few minutes she turned to look at me. "Can I stay with you, Alicia?"
I smiled and nodded before saying, "My real name is Bella. I used the name Alicia to save you, but you can call me Bella now."
Her arms moved gently around my neck and she kissed my cheek. I choked on a sob and her arms tightened. We sat there holding onto each other as we each cried for what the Voltui's had done to us. I managed to take Aro's most prized possession, but he took something from me, too. He took my confidence in my ability to handle any situation on my own. I needed Edward now and I needed to be strong for Jane.
We slept tangled up together and arose the next morning to hear we would be leaving for the island. I assumed we would board another yacht but Eleazar drove to the airport. I looked at him in surprise. He smiled and said, "There is no need to keep the island hidden anymore. You can know where it is."
We all boarded a flight to Rio and when I went into the airplane lavatory I stared at my swollen, black face. I looked hideous but I didn't care. I just wanted to see Edward and hope he would be over the fact that I had left.
When we got to Rio we took a speed boat to the small island two hours away. I looked at Eleazar and said, "Are you kidding me. We are off the coast of Brazil?"
He chuckled and sounded the horn as we pulled into the lagoon closest to the beach group. I saw Carlisle and Esme running over to great us. Eleazar helped Jane out first and then Irina and then me. I kept my head down so I wouldn't alarm anyone and walked with Jane toward the airplane.
I could hear Eleazar talking to Carlisle and telling him an explosion killed all the remaining Voturi men. The father that Carlisle had put away would not have anyone to trust on the outside, rendering the family powerless. Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder and said, "You really did it, Bella."
I raised my head and Esme gasped. Carlisle's eyes grew large and he held my chin softly in the palm of his hand. "Do you want Ben to take a look at you?" he asked.
I shook my head and said, "I just want to see Edward."
