Chapter 34: Be Strong
Josh had left early that night. He'd said he had a wolf pack meeting or something he had to go to. Esme was the only one who had noticed my absence. I walked casually back up stairs. I wandered passed all the rooms and up to the top floor where my room was. "My, your late home, what would your mother say?" I froze in the doorway to my room. I recognized the voice. "I don't think she knows," I whispered shutting the door quietly behind me. "Relax shortie I'm not going to hurt you" I flipped on the light. "What are you doing here?" I grumbled staring at the porcelain figure on my bed. Her blond hair was swept up into a high ponytail. "We were in the area and decided we'd pop by and give you a visit" she smiled.
I looked around the room; sure enough there he was standing in the corner. "I should have known you'd have company" I smirked. "Naturally" she smiled. Jane hopped off the bed and reached out for me. We embraced quickly then separated. It was only a year ago that we'd tried to kill each other but our relationship had some how turned into a friendship. Not a good one, but one I could live with and that had the potential to bloom if we'd give it a chance. Alec stepped forward to greet me as well.
"Have you seen the others or am I the only one who gets the surprise greeting?" I asked casually. "Actually we have a proposition for you" she smiled leading me back to the bed. Of course why did I ever for a second think they were here for a friendly chat? "Ok I'm listening" Jane smiled and propped her legs up on the bed. "It feels good to relax" she sighed. "Sit brother, it's really quite comfy" I waited patiently for her to get to the point. Alec slowly took a seat on the bed. "Aro would like to offer you a position as a guard" she cheered clapping her hands together happily. It seemed strange to see her this relaxed.
"I've already been offered this," I reminded her. Her excitement died down, "well we thought you may have reconsidered your options" Alec explained. "Aro wants' you to be one of his main guards like Jane and I." I shook my head at them."I stand by my original claims. I'm happy where I am, thank you for the offer" I got up off the bed. "Such a waste of a talent. You could do great things you know" Jane sighed jumping up off the bed. "Aro will be interested to know your chosen age has increased. It makes you look more mature" she smiled. "You could be our sister" she suggested, "no need for that fake one you conjure up" how did she know?
"Join us…life will be much more entertaining" Alec smirked offering me his hand. His eyes were so red. They scared me a little but yet I couldn't help but stare. Jane laughed, "The eyes are interesting aren't they" she chuckled. I blinked quickly. "Come with me" Alec, offered his hand still out reached. I shook my head "I can't, my life is here". Alec's hand dropped and disappointment filled his eyes. "We'll come back another time… maybe you'll get bored of this life" hope still filled Jane but she was back to her serious self that I was so used to.
"Till next time," she whispered embracing me quickly. "I have a feeling that won't be to long" I smirked remembering the battle that was to take place soon. "Maybe you could make yourself useful" I hinted. Jane smiled; she knew exactly what I was talking about. "Or we could just let the future take it's path" I shook my head, of course they'd take the easy way out. "Then no doubt I'll see you after the event takes place" I smiled, Alec chuckled slightly, "it's a date then" he leaned forward and gave me a small kiss on the cheek. "This has been fun, I look forward to our next meeting" I gave her a quick nod then watched as she jumped from the window. Alec gave a quick but elegant bow then followed her.
I ran to the window only just in time to see them disappear into the forest. I knew I wanted to stay with the Cullen's but something inside of me couldn't help but think of what it would be like to join them. They'd said I'd be one of the main guards like themselves. I walked over to the mirror and straightened my hair. For one I was bored and I was curious to see what I would look like as a voulturi. I grew my hair quickly then wound it into a bun. I brushed my fringe to the side and turned my eyes red.
A smile grew on my face as I watched the transformation. I slipped on a black slim fitted dress and a robe and looked back at the mirror. The funny thing was that I seemed to suit the evil side better. My mind clicked over the possibilities. "Stop!" I yelled suddenly taking it all off in a flash. I was back in what I'd been in a second ago. "This is not you. You are Melissa Cullen, you like it here remember" I beat myself up mentally then hit the roof when Alice burst through the door. "Shit!" I screamed automatically getting into a defensive stance. Alice just stood their shocked.
"Firstly…language! Secondly…stop yelling…thirdly…what the hell is wrong with you?" I dropped my defensive stance and took a deep breath. "I'm fine" I sighed breathing out. "You seem a little jumpy," she noted. Concern swept across her face. "Of course I'm jumpy you just burst into my room without any warning!" I exclaimed. "Yer well your little outburst earlier caused everyone to jump," she snapped. I flopped onto the ground and held my head. What was wrong with me? Why was I even considering their offer? Alice came and sat next to me. "Are you sure your alright?" she asked putting an arm around me. I nodded quickly then turned and faced her. "What would you do if I left?" I asked calmly.
Shock crossed her face. "Well I'd be sad, we all would why?" I smiled slightly "no reason, I guess I just needed reassuring" Alice gave me a quick hug. "I suppose you do feel a little neglected" she sighed. "When were not all trying to save Bella where trying to get the most time possible alone with our partners and I guess you don't really have anyone". I hadn't really been feeling neglected at all, it had kind of annoyed me that no one except Esme seemed to notice if I was around or not but other then that I was fine with it. "I'm fine Alice, I just don't want to be alone with my own thoughts right now" she looked at me curiously then decided not to ask.
"Do you want me to stay?" she asked picking me up off the ground. "No that's ok, you go back to jasper. It's not like you get much time with him when Edward is making you watch everyone" she smiled then gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. "Well at least come down stairs and talk to someone else then" she smiled pulling me to the door.
I wandered down stairs when I saw Esme getting ready to leave. "Can I come?" I asked running up to her side. Esme smiled as she got down my coat "I'm sure Edward won't object". I pulled on my coat then followed her out into the forest. It wasn't often that I got to do guard duty. Rosalie was over protective and said I was to young to keep going out to guard Edward's girlfriend. "If your mum asks you begged ok?" she laughed taking my hand.
We waited in the thin of the trees until we saw Edward turn up with Bella. Soon after a few of the dogs turned up. Esme and I parted taking different positions in the forest. "They don't send you out very often" a voice chuckled in my head. I turned around to smile at the wolf behind me. "Rosalie's a little protective" she was actually very protective. If she had things her way I wouldn't be out here ever. "So you can read minds, well them I'm Quill" I gave him a small wave, "I'm Lissa" I smiled. "So you're the little Cullen we hear so much about. Seriously between Josh and Jacob we have enough thoughts of girls to cover the whole pack" I bit my lip, that must be frustrating to have images of someone else relationship in your head. "Sorry" I muttered simply.
"You're not doing a very good look out job" a new voice came into my head. "Up here little vampire" I flickered my eyes up then back down in a split second. I only caught a glimpse of the red hair but that was enough to confirm who it was. "I'm going to search the forest" I smiled to Quill. He nodded once then continued looking at the house. "Are you leaving your post little one?" her voice was mocking me in my head. "Go away" I growled running further into the forest. "Don't be afraid little one, I won't hurt you…yet anyway" a shiver ran down my spine as I remembered the night in the ballet studio.
I stopped where I was. Everything was dark and we were far away from the others. "My how you've grown" she spoke out loud now. "What do you want" I hissed, "aren't you going to attack? End this madness once and for all?" she came up behind me. "Don't you want revenge for what I did to you?" her lips were almost touching my ear. "You got this far on your own. I'm all yours" she was mocking me. "Why are you here?" I asked, "I mean if you were here to get why didn't you take your chance while we were distracted?" She chuckled lightly then turned me to face her.
"I'm not stupid little one. I'm fully aware that Edward is in there with her. As soon as I even tried to get in he'd attack me and then the others would come and help. I'd never make it" her hand reached out for my cheek but I hit her away. "I'm curious you see as to what you are" I looked at her confused what did she mean? "Edwards a mind reader and your sister can tell the future but it would appear that you can grow? But not only that you can read minds and project your thoughts into others minds".
"I'm more powerful then you" I snapped stepping away from her. "Is that so?" she smiled coming up in my face again. "Whatever you're planning with those newborns we can handle it," she laughed in my face. "My child your body may have grown but your mind hasn't, your still a child inside" suddenly she grabbed my wrists. "You will not win, and I will kill Bella. That I will promise you. She will die, and anyone who gets in my way" I flinched at her words. "It's one against eight you can't win" I tried to break free of her grip but she held me to tightly. "Edward will pay," she growled shaking me slightly.
"Bella will live and you will die," I said bitterly. She seemed to think about this for a minute. She looked like she suddenly doubted her plans. "Who do you think they love more?" she paused, "you or her?" a smile grew on her lip as she started pulling me away. "Maybe I'll just take you…double the distractions," she laughed pulling me to her. My eyes widened in panic. This was defiantly not in the book! "Let me go!" I yelled shoving her away. I tried to run but she was faster. "Run little vampire, run," she teased grabbing my wrists from behind.
"I'm trying but you have my wrists" I grumbled pulling away from her. The urge to just disappear on her was so tempting but I didn't want her knowing what I could do. She was already a big enough threat as it is. "You struggle and you struggle but you won't win" she picked me up by the waist and carried me backward. Why did everything have to be so damn hard without my power. "You're making a big mistake," I said as I tried to get out of her grip. Not only was she faster but apparently she was stronger too. "Someone has to pay so it will be either Edward or Rosalie" oh my god she was going to kill me!