Edward lunged at the pair but stopped just in front of Aro when he saw how frightened Bella looked. Guilt took over and he instantly regretted his decision. Her heart was beating quickly and her grip on Aro's upper arm was so tight that if he here human her nails would dig into his skin hard enough to puncture
.
"Jane…" Aro called.
The small blonde in the corner attentively perked up.
The non spoken communication between them signaled what he wanted her to do. She broke her eyes from Aro and onto the Cullen boy.
Edward fell to the floor withering in pain from Jane's stare. Bella's grip on Aro's arm tightened when she saw the pain inflicted on Edward. It hurt her to see him that way but she has never felt scared of him prior to now. A part of her justified it but the guilt build up enough to speak out.
"Aro, please stop." She whispered. A shake in her voice snapped Aro out of his satisfying rage.
Alice tried to run towards Edward to help him but was stopped by a slim man with perfectly sculpted hair and high cheekbones.
Aro released the tension he felt in his body to touch the hand that held onto his opposite arm. Turning slightly, he caught a glimpse of Bella's concerned face staring at Edward and then returned his attention back to Edward. For a reason he couldn't tell yet, Bella's concern for the boy made him feel guilty and envious.
With a look, Jane stopped her control over Edward. Once composed, Edward got up from the floor. The sight of Bella clinging onto Aro's arm and looking frightened disgusted him. Alice was released by the man holding her and she made her way to Edward.
She said to him, "Edward, don't do anything stupid."
Bella released Aro and stood next to him again. Aro watched her closely and made sure to keep a vigilant eye on Edward and seemingly signal to Jane to be on alert in case anything happened again.
"What were you thinking?" Truly Bella meant to thinking it but the question slipped through her lips. It was brainless of him to lunge at her let alone Aro. He wouldn't have a fighting chance in hell if he went through with his attack.
The question didn't sit well with Edward.
"What am I thinking !? I left to keep you away from all this but you seem to crawl back at every opportunity. I did this for your protection and you just put yourself right back in the middle of it." The anger and venom in his tone were meant to injure.
Those words stung.
"You left Isabella unprotected with a known risk in the area. Convinced your family to leave knowing the danger. It wasn't until an informant arrived to tell us of a human with full knowledge of our kind was abandoned that I took it upon myself to probe." Aro interjected.
Edward tried to inject himself into Aro's mind but the only thing that he allowed him to see was of Laurents visit and the first encounter he had with Bella. After those scenes, Edward's ability to enter his mind again was cut off like a steel curtain.
Edward looked at Bella pitifully.
"Bella, I thought they would follow me instead of staying for you. I didn't know Victoria wanted you. If I had known the danger, I wouldn't have left. Leaving you was the hardest thing I've ever had to do."
Bella felt small but she knew that nothing would bring her back to him or the Cullens. No matter if they ignored or simply forgot about the danger she potentially faced, it was inexcusable. Recalling the crushing feeling of them leaving, of feeling abandoned by Edward and his family. They meant so much to her and introduced her to a life she yearned for but the thought of going back to what once was…that wasn't possible anymore.
As quickly as those negative memories and emotions came, they dissipated when she looked remembered Aro by her side. It was inexplicable, it didn't make any logical sense, but everything felt as it should. This is what she craved and needed.
Comfort, compassion, mutual respect, and understanding.
She recognized the absurdity. She barely knew the dark haired man but the pulling feeling towards him was beyond explanation. Edward was a morbid obsession that turned into infatuation in comparison. She had confidence in her decision.
Alice tried to talk some sense into Edward. She was the voice of reason to his blind anger but he was refusing to listen.
Turning back towards Bella, Edward pleaded again.
"You and I are suppose to be together Bella."
Bella refused to look at him. She kept her eyes to the ground to avoid his piercing gaze.
There was no way she had the capacity of explain to him what she was feeling at the moment. There was no words to describe it other than the sense of finding a home within a person.
"I think it's time you left Edward." She said softly, avoiding Edward's intense gaze.
Alice took the opportunity to reason with him again.
"I saw the vision I saw for a reason. This is how it's suppose to be. You can fight it all you want but if Bella want this, you should respect her wishes. It's time we left." She tried to be gentle. Bella gave Alice a smile.
Aro inquired, "What is this vision you mention?"
Alice momentarily paused before taking a step forward and extending her hand for Aro to take.
He left Bella's side to step forward and take the hand of the psychic. The visions she had were pulled into his mind, the latest being of himself and Bella. As clear as day he saw the same setting they were currently in, holding onto one another with a small smile on Bella's face and Aro looking adoringly at her. He picked up at the tiny details such as the gloss to her hair and the red tint in her eyes. Aro pulled his hand back, turning back to Bella.
When his eyes caught hers, a the same small smile he just saw in Alice's vision appeared on her face. Reassuringly he made his way back to her side and said, "I thank you for coming today." Without taking his eyes away from the woman in-front of him.
Again, Edward snarled.
"I am not leaving without my mate. If changing her is what you want, I will gladly do it. Now if needed. She will not be a risk or danger anymore if you just return her to us."
This angered Bella. Not only did Edward treat her like a small object but he assumed that she would blindly follow him home although her intentions were made clear. Thinking back, this was her least favorite trait of their relationship. Feelings of being a small and weak item that need to be protected like a rare glass sculpture in a china cabinet. It angered her even more that after knowing how long she desired to changed, now and only at the prospect of losing her, he agreed. She couldn't shake that anger and thought to herself that if he loved her he would have wanted to spend forever with her.
Aro could cut the tension with a knife. He took note of Bella's stiffness.
"I leave the choice to Isabella." Aro said. He backed away and closer to the platform holding the three thrones. The metaphorical ball was now in her court and he would not object if she chose to leave under the condition she be changed immediately. Aro had to admit to himself it was a sort of test to see where her intentions lye and to test this undeniable attachment they were experiencing. It didn't take Bella long to come to her conclusion.
She moved closer to Aro as a sign of her answer.
"I'm not coming back. I am staying here." She said. The sternness in her voice was clear.
This enraged Edward and he raised his voice, "We are mates Bella. You are coming home with us."
"I believe you are misguided young Edward. The mating bond is not one you share with Isabella." Bella and Aro turned around, seeing Marcus standing from his throne. The man stepped forward and it shocked even Aro. The last time Marcus involved himself was decades ago out of necessity. He made his way down the three steps of the platform towards the small crowd. Cauis watched carefully from his throne. The involvement of his co-leader was enough to provoke some questions as to the importance of the events unfolding. The blonde mans aloofness that he carried into every trial was starting to turn into curiosity. Perhaps this wasn't just a dispute amongst the Cullen boy and the human. He took note of Aro's protection of Bella and noted how out of character this seemed.
"You are lying." Edward said in disbelief.
"I have no reason to lie. It is in your best interest to return home."
By this point Edward has seen in Marcus' mind and what he meant. To Aro's morbid curiosity, he reached for his companions hand and saw as well. The thread connected between Edward and Bella was a broken string with a glow indicating she was his singer. The thread was frayed and showing signs of diminishing indicating a clear sign. Bella's side was connected in a thin but brilliantly bright line to Aro. It pulsed indicating its newness and showed promise of strengthening. After millenniums of interpreting Marcus' gift, he knew the signs of certain bonds. He has seen connections between all manners of relations but this one he saw between himself and Bella was amongst the strongest and most well defined. The sight stupefied Aro as he released Marcus and turned to Bella. With time, this thread would grow strong and unbreakable.
Suddenly it made sense. He was awestruck by the realization.
Her eyes were inviting, he was drawn to her once more.
Edward was defeated after the confirmation from Marcus. He turned towards his sister and confirmed he was ready to depart. The defeat in his tone was noticeable but he avoided eye contact with everyone but Alice.
"I apologize for my inappropriate and uncharacteristic outburst." Edward said.
Aro smiled almost ear to ear, the conclusion of this encounter was coming to an end.
"You are still a young in your existence as a vampire. It takes many years to control your fits. I will take no offense to your outbursts and assume that you have been misguided." The comment Aro made had the tone of sincere understanding but the words were meant as an insult. Edward didn't respond and took it has his opportunity to leave without any further humiliation.
The female Cullen made her way towards Bella and gave her one last hug, insuring her that she would leave her bag with someone before they left. Ensuring her that she can reach out anytime she wants to talk and once she's ready. With that, Alice placed a loving kiss on Bella's cheek and big her goodbyes to the three leaders before turned back to Edward.
Not a single word from Edward. He was defeated.
Both made their way towards the massive doors. In a moment, they were gone.
Bella held her breath for a moment, releasing it slowly as tears formed in her eyes at seeing Alice leave and the shattered look on Edwards face.
