Merry Christmas everyone!
I'm sorry this new chapter took so long, but I'm traveling for the holidays and basically have no time to update. Plus I'm working on my master's thesis, so time is very limited.
I loved writing this chapter, I think it is my favorite so far. I hope you enjoy it as well.
There won't be a new chapter before the new year as my brother is coming to visit and I haven't seen him in three years since we both left Venezuela to look for a better future.
Thank you for your love, and support.
I have a new idea for a new fic set in Twilight during and after the Ballet Studio scene. Jame's poison begins the change in Bella, and Edward and the Cullen's are one minute late to save Bella unable to stop the transformation. Unfortunately, this violent way of "dying" took a toll on Bella's mind as it protected itself causing amnesia. It's a bit Hurt/comfort at the beginning, but Bella and Edward will definitely fall in love all over again. I'm still working on it. I don't plan on publishing it until I finish this story. As I told you, time is limited.
Enjoy! :)
The Butterfly Effect.
Chapter 13: Determination.
Usually when Felix was off in some mission for the Vulturi Bella found interesting ways to entertain herself. Normally, she would walk around the castle. She had discovered that the stone structure was not the only thing worthy of her time. Beyond sight, an immense extension of green dominated the view. She had forgotten to ask Felix what was it. She has always been a curious soul. So she wandered into the green unknown excited to discover new facets of her new home. As she had thought many times, Carlisle was the only one who ever thought of the Vulturi with fondness. Edward's nearly suicidal mission had tainted her own judgment. Back in those days, fear of what they represented permeated her mind and her dreams, giving her a lot of worries and some very vivid nightmares. Nightmares that had completely disappeared once she admitted her feelings for Felix. It was as if her subconscious knew that she was where she was meant to be. Protected.
She kept walking happily, albeit a little bit cold. With the summer coming to an end, the warm days were turning into slightly colder afternoons. She wrapped herself into her sweater and continue her exploration. She turned a few times to adjust her inner compass, making sure she was still walking in a straight line, and that the castle was directly behind her. She walked for an unknown amount of time, getting deeper into the woods…woods that soon, she realized, weren't woods at all, but wine yards. They were so tall. She was ignorant in anything alcohol-related, so she wasn't sure how tall they were supposed to be. But she observed them with awe, careful not to give in her desires to grab one of the tasty-looking grapes. She wondered who owned this wine yards and who ran them. She never pictured the Vulturi as patrons of the wine.
Bella smacked herself mentally. Most of the vampires in the castle, at least the ones closest to her, were at least one century old. Wine was a very common drink back in the days, and it was basically drank like water. Maybe this was an expression of longing for a lost home, a simpler time. She felt like an intruder as if the beautiful extension around her was a secret, very personal space and she was violating it. She decided to leave and wander anywhere else.
…
…
Bella had found Alec playing with a deck of cards in a table (that hadn't been there before) in the back yard. She approached him happily. She hadn't seen him since his sister had tried to fry her again. She wasn't angry or resentful towards him. She could understand his reluctance to engage in any confrontation with either of them. And Bella would never put him in the position to choose between her and his sister. A part of her suspected strongly, that blood would always win. And she never wanted to be against her best friend.
"Hi!" she greeted taking a seat in front of him.
He looked at her and smiled. A small smile. A smile she had never seen in him. He was a quiet person with an easy personality. He wasn't loud like Emmett was, but rather quiet, observant, much like Jasper.
"What happened?" She questioned worriedly.
"I tried to talk to Bree." He began. Bella nodded. She remembered his prank prior to her confrontation with Jane. " She's still very nervous. I tried to approach her where she's staying, near the queen's wing. But she saw me, and she basically ran away. I tried to follow her, but she started behaving erratically. That's when I realized, she was running away from me. She's scared of me." He was so incredibly sad, that Bella's heart ached for him.
She had the theory that something in Alec recognized something in Bree. Much like something in her recognized something in Felix. She was never a strong believer in fate or magic. Not even after she learned about vampires and werewolves, but she was starting to think she was blind.
"I don't know much about newborns. I just know what the Cullens told me when I asked to be changed before the fight with the newborns. They told me their thoughts are all around the place. They're still adjusting and basically running out of instinct and not logic. Maybe, Bree is like that. Maybe she thinks you're a threat. In her instinctual, non-logical mind. She's scared. Not necessarily of you." She shrugged. She wasn't sure if that was helpful at all. But she spoke what was in her mind.
Alec gave her a soft smile. "You're right. She's still a newborn. I'm expecting her to behave as the rest of us do."
"There you go then. Just be patient. I don't know how newborns behave, besides what I've told you. But if it was the first time, she saw you since the fight, it is logical that she associates you with fear. You did appear out of nowhere and were all kinds of intimidating." She teased. Alec laughed.
"So… Do you think I can try a subtler approach? Maybe I can make myself visible around where she is, but without trying to talk to her? Maybe that will give her time to adjust herself to my presence without fearing me. I can be friendly." Bella smiled happily at the plans her friend was making. He was a soldier, much like most of the vampires here. Most of them loved to strategize. Alec loved strategy, and contrary to popular belief, he made love, not war. Bella suspected that's why his gift was the numbing sort.
"You look like a man with a plan" Alec laughed again.
"Thank you."
"I didn't do anything. You planned everything." Bella said, blushing lightly. She wasn't used to giving love advice. She had been used to be in the receiving end of unrequested love. It was a refreshing change. Alec didn't say anything. He had admonished her enough about dismissing herself like that.
They played a few different card games and teased each other. They didn't talk about what had happened with Jane. It wasn't necessary. Their friendship could stand jealous crazy sisters.
…
…
The week passed by quickly. The information Felix and Demetri had gathered had been more than they had expected. They believed there was nothing to worry about in regards to the troubles that their Irish associate had conveyed, but they both agreed that it was smart to keep an eye on the situation, just in case. One could never be too cautious.
At Demetri's request and penchant for buying silly souvenirs, they were at a local store that sold all kinds of traditional Irish things. From wood hangings to shopping bags with Irish sayings, to jewelry. Felix had never been too big on silly mementos like these. Honestly, he disliked them. But Demetri was like a child in a toy store. So he patiently roamed around the store, not really paying attention to anything. Suddenly he stopped at the jewelry section. They had very nice jewelry. He scanned them attentively, looking for something that screamed Bella's name. He stopped dead when he reached the rings. They were nothing fancy, nor did they hint engagement or compromise. But an idea formed in his head. And he liked it with each second that passed.
He stood next to Demetri in one of the aisles "I need to find a jewelry shop."
His friend didn't pay much attention to him. Silently comparing two bookmarks and trying to decide which one he should get for his wife and which one for Bella. Nonetheless, he answered, "What for?"
"I need to find an engagement ring" He declared.
Demetri dropped everything he was holding and turned around. His brother had never looked more determined before. "You're serious." Felix nodded. Demetri smiled and palmed his shoulder.
"I'll pay for this and we leave." Demetri paid quickly and asked for directions to the closest jewelry shop.
…
The shop was expensive and fancy. But it had an antique vibe. Bella would have loved the decorations, Felix thought. He felt nervous despite his determination. Two months, they had been together for two months. They had one month left to her transformation. They still knew very little about the other. But with the eternity ahead, time didn't matter. He was sure she was the one. He had had casual relationships over the years and countless hook-ups. But he had never felt that attraction towards anybody before he set eyes on her that dreadful day when she rescued Edward.
He quickly found what he was looking for. It was a gold band, slim, with a small diamond on top. It was elegant, yet simple and it screamed Bella's name. At least, that's what Demetri said.
"If you're going to propose, you should ask her closest relative's permission." Demetri pointed out half-serious, half-joking. He knew the traditions were different in the twenty-first century, but some of his old values were still rooted in that nineteenth-century society.
Felix snorted. "I'm not asking you for her hand, asshole" he replied, not even bothering to look at Demetri.
The guy that had taken care of their order smiled amusedly at their antics. He had seen many guys shopping for rings, he had seen many fights (mock-fights), pale-looking grooms-to be. This was another day at the job. He would make a different kind of fortune if he ever decided to sell a book compounding all the things he had heard in his years owning the shop.
Demetri smacked him in the back of the head. Soft enough as to not catch attention from the vendor in a different way of how they were supposed to get it. "I don't like your tone, you asshole. And I didn't mean me. I meant her dad." Felix nodded. He described himself as a patient man. But having the ring in the box, resting in his pocket made him feel like he was galaxies away from Bella and not kilometers easily covered by plane.
"Suddenly you buy a ring and you're all impatient." Demetri teased.
"Do I have to remind you of that time in Venice when I went with you to buy Heidi's ring?" He threatened in the same tone. He didn't care for his brother's teasing. He had a plan.
"Asshole." Demetri repeated walking ahead of Felix and out of the store.
…
…
…
When Felix and Demetri got back the day after Felix got the ring. The boys went directly to Aro to convey their findings. They spent an hour writing everything down and when they finished, they went to shower change and enjoy the few days off they had. That was the normal tonic. After long trips like these, they got a few days off. They didn't get physically tired, but it was nice.
After his shower, Felix walked quickly towards Bella's room and didn't bother with the door. He found her sitting in the middle of the bed with a book on her hands. She looked up and jumped into his waiting arms. It was a more exuberant welcome than she normally gave him. He didn't complain. He held her tight to him, breathing in her scent. When she released him, he took advantage of the closeness and kissed her hard. It was getting harder to just kiss her and end things there. She had told him she hadn't had sex before and was a little nervous about it. He respected her nervousness, secretly rejoicing in the fact that Cullen had so conservative beliefs. That had made him feel weird. He had never cared whether the girl he was with was a virgin or not. He usually took what they offered. But Bella, as he had been discovering, made him rethink everything.
"Can we go somewhere quiet and talk?" Bella asked when they broke the kiss. Felix was taken by surprise by her question but nodded.
They left the castle and started walking in an unknown direction to Bella. But Felix new there was a small pond hidden from the view, far enough that no one would listen to them.
Felix started to panic. She was serious. Her eyes looked concerned. And she had dark circles under and around her eyes, signaling her lack of proper sleep. He grabbed her hand, but she seemed distracted, drawn. His panic spiraled up.
When they sat Bella unconsciously avoided eye contact. She was nervous. She didn't know how to ask her pressing question and how to word her doubts.
"Are you breaking up with me?" He blurted out, not filtering his thoughts. Suddenly, the ring felt like a dead weight. If she broke up with him, he would be totally devasted.
Bella's eyes opened widely and this time it was her turn to panic.
"Do you want to break up?" She wasn't sure how she would cope if he broke up with her. He was her everything. And even though she was very close with a few others, it wasn't the same. She knew, in her frail human mind that there would be no one else besides Felix. If she lost him, a part of herself would be lost forever too.
"Of course not! I love you doesn't even measure up how I feel for you." He gently took her in his arms and hugged her as tightly as her human frame could support.
She sighed relieved and kissed his neck, making him growl. She had discovered a few days before his trip that Felix, the formidable and high-ranked vampire had a very, very sensible spot in his neck. And she loved it. He had such effects on her. He affected her so deeply in so many different ways that it was great to have a way she could affect him physically with a simple gesture.
"If you're not breaking up with me. What has you so concerned; you haven't slept properly?" He asked, gently stroking the purple marks underneath her eyes.
"Before the newborn fight, I asked Edward to change me. That way, he wouldn't have to be worried about my humanity and we could be equals. I could help in the fight and get rid of the threat that Victoria posed. He refused, of course. He told me how newborns still run on their human blood, basically making them unpredictable and totally dependent on instinct and not logic." Felix frowned at that. That was an accurate description. But every newborn was different. " Then I spoke to Alec. He had some trouble with Bree. And it made me wonder…worry, more like it… that I would be like that. I don't want to be a crazy newborn afraid of her own shadow." Her eyes welled with tears. Felix laughed softly. Her concerns sometimes were absolutely unexpected.
"Love. Every human reacts in different ways to different stimuli. That goes through with the person with the change. You won't be a different person, just because you'll be a newborn. You might get scared sometimes. But not necessarily because newborns run on instincts only. Your senses, feelings, emotions, thoughts, are heightened. You will feel everything more intensely than you do now. And your brain will try to cope with that at the same time. It's disconcerting because your mind is adjusting to the change. Both inner and outer change. It's not just your brain catching up with that. It's also your brain catching up with everything you can register. You'll sight will also be heightened. That's the most distracting feature." He paused, giving her time to process.
"But how do I not go crazy with all that new information?" she whispered.
"Most newborns are created out of spite, out of vengeance, in war, etc. It is uncommon to find newly converted vampires in clans. Either settler like the Cullens or nomadic. You'll have plenty of help here. And your mind works in mysterious ways. Maybe it will react differently to the transformation." He theorized.
Bella pondered her boyfriend's words. They made sense. Her worries weren't completely erased, but at least they were eased. She couldn't do anything about that until the moment in which was a newborn. So, worrying over something she had no control over was silly. She leaned against Felix's side and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I missed you" She whispered.
"I'll change you." He said at the same time.
Bella sat straighter immediately surprised at his declaration. "What?"
"I talked it over with Aro, and he allowed me to be the one to change you." Bella looked at him surprised. She had thought about her change and disliked the idea of Aro getting too close to her to bite her. It made her physically uncomfortable. Now, the prospect of Felix biting her…that was another thing entirely. He had said he had a surprise for her after he returned from his trip, and Bella didn't know it then, but two days after a plan formed in her head and Heidi helped her and guided her and was there for her through the embarrassment and excitement. He would be in for a great surprise. She kissed him deeply, straddling him on the grass. She was ready to have intimate relations with him. She was still nervous, but lately, every time he touched her and kissed her, a fire ignited inside of her that deliciously consumed her. But the timing was never right. And now it wasn't either as Felix broke the heated kiss but kept his hands on her ass.
"I have a question to ask you." He said ready to jump. There was no going back.
Bella nodded. "Ask away."
Felix retrieved his hands off her ass and drew the box from his jacket. He placed in front of Bella who gasped and covered her mouth with her hands. She scanned Felix's face for any trace of a joke, but she found nervousness, commitment, and determination.
"I know two months seems nothing and we still have a lot to learn about the other. But we have literally the eternity to do it. I know I won't love anyone as I do you. You make me crazy. I want to choke you sometimes." Bella laughed. She did make him crazy a lot. "But you also love me like I never thought possible. You listen and you make me incredibly happy. Would you marry me?"
Bella nodded enthusiastically without hesitation. Felix smiled brightly and opened the box, getting the ring out and sliding it on the corresponding finger. Bella gasped at how beautiful it was. Bella pressed her lips against her fiancé's lips and laughed when he grabbed her ass again.
"I love you" he mumbled against her lips.
"I love you too." She mumbled back.
She was getting married. For real this time. No pacts, no conditions, no threats over her head. No hesitation on her side, no embarrassment or worries over what others would say. She was getting married!
Felix's surprise is yet to come. The proposal was not the surprise. Nor was it the confession of him being the one to change her.
Stay tuned to find out what is the surprise.
