Chapter Seven

Edward

I felt utterly alone for the first time in my life. Before this I had always had my mother's love and support, and after her death? Well, Carlisle had stepped up and taken her place. He had been like a father to me.

Life had been good once I came to terms with being a vampire and the constant thirst. It had been great, just the two of us. And then he had fallen for Esme and added her to our family. It had taken me some time to come to terms with her presence. I felt she was a threat to the relationship Carlisle and I had forged but she made him so happy that I couldn't stay angry with either of them. She would never be a mother to me. I had one and had lost her. But she did eventually become less of an irritation.

I think Carlisle saved Rosalie because of my hostility. He thought if he could provide me with a mate I wouldn't feel so negatively about his own. Of course it didn't turn out the way he had hoped. There was no spark between Rose and myself. I didn't really like her very much. She was just another distraction for Carlisle and I soon discovered that she wasn't fond of me either.

Only when Rose brought home a dying human that she had discovered in the woods and wanted Carlisle to save did things change. She fell in love with Emmett and things ease once more.

Now however, I found I was jealous. Not of any one of them but of the fact that they had found happiness, soul mates, while I was still alone. The odd one out.

Even Alice's arrival hadn't helped when I discovered that she had a companion, Jasper Whitlock. Why was it that women found such men attractive? He wasn't well educated or sophisticated. He was a poor country boy who just happened to be good at slaughter. Hardly a recommendation for any woman. Why was I still alone when someone like him could find love? It was ridiculous.

No. What was ridiculous was my recent actions. I had finally gotten everything I could ever have wanted. For a short while I had been deliriously happy. I had a girlfriend who had agreed to marry me and become a vampire so we could be together for eternity. I'd had a wife who adored me and what had I done? I had thrown it all away. Why?

Even now I couldn't explain my actions rationally. My selfish narrow-minded attitude had shone through once more. I was terrified of the thought of losing Bella and even more afraid of the creature we had accidentally created. I blamed myself for that, for losing control. I couldn't have stopped myself from taking her if my life had depended on it. Those beautiful eyes, that wonderful soft warm skin and the trust she had shown me. Now it all felt so sordid and that was my fault.

Why hadn't I stopped? Why hadn't I listened to Carlisle? Why had I pushed her into such drastic action? The fact that my whole family had helped her to run away hurt too. They had seen what I missed. That Bella wanted this child because it was created by our love for each other. A love I had destroyed with a few careless words and hurtful actions.

I had come here when I found no help anywhere else. I don't even know what I had expected in Volterra, help I suppose. Not for them to trap her here and study her. I wanted their help in tracking her down so I could talk some sense into her if there was still time. I guess I thought perhaps they could persuade her to forget her crazy scheme of keeping the baby growing within her. In the end I had said as much, but as Aro had pointed out, it was Bella's decision and hers alone.

Aro's voice broke the silence.

"Edward, why exactly are you here? I'm not sure I understand what you are asking of us."

"I need you to find Bella and help her. Make her see sense."

Marcus had coughed, his eyebrow arched questioningly, "By help do you mean that you want us to force your wife to destroy the life that is growing within her?"

"Not force, no. Just explain the truth to her. That she can't carry this...This creature, That it will kill her."

"I'm not sure we can do that, Edward. After all, Bella is still human and not subject to our laws. Why would she listen to us when she refuses to listen to you? Or Carlisle? What do you think brothers?"

When I saw Caius shrug disinterestedly I knew I would get no help here. I also knew that by appealing to the Volturi for help I had probably burnt my bridges with Bella. She was sure to find out eventually, I was sure Carlisle was in touch with her wherever she was, and she would probably never forgive me.

Aro spoke again and broke my chain of thought.

"We will of course be looking to speak to Bella once we know the situation and you will have a chance to talk to her then. Maybe we can help the two of you in the future."

It was a straw thrown to a drowning man but I grasped it desperately. If anyone could find my wife it was Demetri and despite Marcus' words I thought that perhaps the Volturi could make her see sense or even save her life. She had been terrified of them when they last met and would no doubt feel intimidated even now.

"If the infant survives it will be most interesting."

I glared at Marcus, "If it survives? They never survive. I'll be lucky if Bella survives."

"So you believe. I, on the other hand, choose to believe that there is a chance. Would it not be better to hold onto that possibility, Edward?"

I shook my head, "I don't believe in dragons or unicorns either."

He ignored my sarcasm and smiled, "That's a pity. Everyone should believe in something fantastic. Well, we will see."

I felt a little better on hearing these words.

"So you will hunt her down?"

Aro shook his head, "She is not a wild animal or a criminal, Edward. We can extend our hand of friendship to her. For now, I think she has enough on her mind without worrying about us. We must act with circumspection. Patience, Edward."

So, the Volturi would find her, but probably not in time to save her life whatever that fool Marcus believed. Would they lead me to her graveside to say my goodbyes?

No, Marcus believed Bella could just possibly do this but even if she did? What then? The baby was mine after all. Surely I should have a say in its upbringing? I shook my head, idiocy was obviously contagious. There was no possibility. I had lost everything, I just had to be patient and wait for it to be confirmed. I would never forgive Carlisle for this betrayal, or the others. They had snatched away my chance at happiness and I would remember that.

Aro

Once Edward had left I turned to my brothers gesturing for Renata to step away. I didn't like the thought of Edward reading my thoughts so had made sure she was at my shoulder during the interview with him.

"Well, brothers. This is most intriguing. What do you think?"

Caius sighed heavily, "Edward Cullen is a spoiled brat and Marcus is a soft hearted idiot. We all know how such pregnancies end. I don't mind Marcus building up Edwards hopes just to dash them but I don't see what its got to do with us. Carlisle wouldn't have sent her away putting his own family in danger if he thought her predicament would be discovered by the humans. It's obvious he's sent her away to die as he was unable to change her mind. We should have killed her when we first met the girl. I still don't know why we didn't, and please Marcus, don't tell me its because she and Edward were mates. It's glaringly obvious that it is not the case."

Marcus ignored Caius jibe and turned to me. "I think Carlisle helped Bella because he couldn't bear to see her pressured into destroying the baby against her will. Knowing him as we do I also suspect that he thinks she stands a chance. We know hybrids have survived in the past."

"Never mother and infant, brother." snapped Caius.

"Then perhaps we are overdue for a miracle, Caius. I think we should leave her alone and see what happens. Give the girl a chance."

I nodded slowly, "I agree, Marcus. We have been handed an opportunity and should not waste it. Bella will be left alone. However, I think it would be wise to talk to Carlisle. I'm interested in how he has managed to hide her from us."

"But Carlisle isn't returning your calls, Aro," Marcus was quick to point out.

"True, brother. That is why I am sending Demetri out to find the rest of the Cullen family and speak to them. Carlisle would never leave them unprotected if he suspected that they were in danger and he cannot know what we have been told or have decided so he's sure to contact us."

I smiled in genuine pleasure, "Our old friend never fails to surprise me."

"Demetri was still here half an hour ago. I saw him talking with Heidi."

I smiled, "Yes, Caius I don't want them found too quickly. Where's the fun in that? Let's keep Edward sweating for a while, shall we?"

Caius grunted, "More of your games, Aro? I admit Edward is an idiot but Carlisle should have contacted us as soon as he discovered that the girl was pregnant."

"Yes, he should have. I'll be sure to point that out to him but I hardly think it's a hanging offence. Think, brother, he could have handed us a very rare privilege."

"A hybrid corpse! Hardly a privilege."

I sighed, "Such pessimism. I hope you are wrong, brother. It would be amazing to meet a hybrid child. Think of what we could learn from such a creature."

Marcus leaned forward looking concerned, "I hope you don't mean to take the child from its mother and treat it like a scientific oddity, Aro."

"Of course not. If both mother and infant survive then we must find a way to work with Bella."

"And if not?"

I shrugged, "Would you prefer I hand it over to its biological father?"

"God, no!"

I smiled, "Good. Besides, I fear we may be running before we can walk. There is no child as yet. The next few weeks or months may prove to be very interesting. I'm sure my wife will be thrilled to hear this news."

Caius groaned, "Do we have to tell them? Athena will talk of nothing else once she learns of it. What is it with women and babies?"

Marcus glared at him, "You really are a Philistine, Caius."

Caius scowled and stood abruptly then stalked out of the room mumbling to himself.

Marcus shook his head watching Caius departure then turned to me, "Do you believe that the girl can actually do it, Aro?"

"I believe that Carlisle thinks so. He would never have let her go and hidden her if he thought it was impossible."

"Yes. How did he do that? I didn't think it was possible to hide a human from us. Doesn't that worry you?"

"No, because I trust my old friend. He's hiding her from Edward as much as anything. The fact that whatever he's done hides her from us too is just a bonus for him. I hope he didn't think us cruel enough to snatch Bella and imprison her in Volterra in order to use her condition to conduct scientific observations."

"You sound like a dreadful horror movie, Aro."

I smiled, "I do, don't I?"

Caius thought us mad but then he cared for nothing that did not impact him directly. Personally, I thought that our optimism might just be rewarded.