CHAPTER SEVEN

Deception

I knew I was going to regret my decision, but I didn't expect it to be this soon. The first time Edward wrapped his arm around Emma's waist, her surprise was nothing compared to how I felt. It was like someone was stabbing me in the heart, slowly, and with a blunt dagger. I wanted to take him away from her, cry in his arms and tell him that I can't do it, I am not strong enough to handle it, he must find another way. I won't bear seeing her in his arms, even if I knew it meant nothing to him. If he once had patience to put up with the presence of Jacob in my life, I don't have it in me to do the same for him. I wanted to say all that, but I couldn't. I knew how much this means to him, how much he cares for her, how he is willing to do anything, just anything to save her. I knew that noting I would say or do will change his mind. I had to pull myself together, turn a blind eye, or may be try not to be around when they are together, easier said than done.

Day after day I watched them get closer to one another. I was tortured with every smile, every laugh, every whisper, every gesture and every touch. I watched her not only take over my husband, but my daughter too. Their newly found telepathy that developed over that doomed night was taking over almost all of Nessie's time. No one seemed to care how it came about or how they were doing it, they just enjoyed watching them talk in each other's head, with the only one peaking on their silent conversations, is my husband. I never felt more left out in my life, they were like the three musketeers, I had no place between them.

I followed them around like a true stalker, I couldn't help it, I didn't know what else to do. I was falling down a spiral, I lost count of days... Months, I didn't even know if it was day or night. Edward's love is what always defined me and without it I was completely lost.

Every day I struggled to come to terms with what the circumstances had dictated on me. Not only was I emotionally devastated, I was torn apart because no one in my family noticed how it was tormenting me, I was drowning, and no one bothered to even offer me a straw, not even Edward. The little time he spent with me, was all about her, about her progress. He kept going on and on about how her face looks better, how she can run faster now and how she is showing interest in hunting. He was so obsessed with her, he was utterly oblivious to what it was doing to me.

Emma was not only getting better, her attitude was changing. Nessie had been complaining that she was avoiding seeing her future in the mornings, that every day, she would come up with lame excuses to elude their sessions together. This was no surprise to me, Emma believes she secured Edward's love now, she doesn't need to win Nessie over any more to get his attention. Their future telling session is just a start, she is surely to back out from all the activities they do together, one by one. Her attitude towards me was no exception, she used to shy away from me, embarrassed either because of her feelings for Edward, or because of his feelings for her, but now...now she insists on looking me in the eye, with so much confidence and pride, showing off Edward's attention as if it was rightfully hers.

Edward and Emma were celebrating their anniversary tonight, an anniversary that had a different meaning for each one of them, and more importantly a deep impact on me...

Edward's black tuxedo and Emma's off white dress, made it look like their wedding not just a night out. She was so excited, She couldn't contain herself, it doesn't get any more personal than celebrating the day you met, she couldn't go out on her special night without bragging about it, and rubbing it in my face.

"How are you Bella?" she asked, so full of herself.

"I am fine Emma, how are you?" I kept my voice casual, I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of annoying me.

"I never felt better," her words came off pompous and irritating.

"It seems you have been escaping Nessie future sessions every morning, any reason for that?!" I teased letting her know I see right through her.

My question caught her by surprise, She was edgy for a second, but she pulled herself together quickly and answered,

"oh, wow, you are talking to me about bailing out on Nessie, tell me Bella, have you been attending to her at all lately. I mean did you show up for your "precious mother-daughter time" for the last two weeks?" she said half-heartedly with evident sarcasm in her voice.

Her words hit me like a bullet to the brain, I was so shocked, that I became speechless. How did this backfire in my face?!, how could I have forgotten my daughter that much?!, how could I have let my obsession with them take over me?! and take me away from my baby?!

She didn't allow me to dwell on what she had just said, she had plenty more to say,

"I really don't understand you, Bella. I thought you love Edward, but I can see clearly now that you never did. If you love him you wouldn't allow yourself to lose him that easy, with no fight at all. I expected more form you, but I obviously gave you more credit than you deserve. When I first came here, I thought you were a perfect family, I had so much respect for what you have. I wouldn't even in my dreams allow myself to do anything to touch that. But now, now I believe you don't deserve them. And I promise you that I will do all I can to take them both as far away from you as possible," she said sharply, and walked away, freeing herself from her moral obligation towards me, and setting a challenge that she is totally committed to.

The contempt in her words made me really mad, not only has she lectured me about my mother duties, she is threatening to take over my family. Her illusion have gone too far, it has to end tonight. This would be the best way to celebrate her anniversary, to put her back in her place. Nothing will make me happier than to take that swagger off her face.

My mind was set, Edward charade will end tonight. I intercepted him on his way back to Emma.

"I need to talk to you," I said urgently, pulling him into Carlisle study and locking us in. I made sure he had his back to the office door before I spoke,

"I can't do this anymore," I said in a chocked voice, staring into his eyes, as I slowly extended my shield around him, I knew with his anxiousness to be with Emma, he wouldn't notice it, and I didn't want him to hear her thoughts when she gets closer.

"Bella, I know it's been hard on you, but I still need more time," he pleaded.

I waited a moment, pretending to be struggling with words, until I saw her shadow pass by the door.

"More time for what exactly?!"

"Carlisle has not found a solution to help Emma yet, and I have to keep this up until he does," he said desperately.

"This have gone so far Edward, she thinks you really love her," I said emptily, watching her shadow freeze behind the glass door.

"How you think she would feel when she finds out the truth? That this was all an act of mercy to save her life," I said flatly, the lack of interest in my voice gave me away. He caught my eyes as I shot another quick gaze at the door.

He immediately turned around just as the office door opened, and Emma walked through it. He was shocked, but it didn't take long for his shock to be replaced by anger, His face darkened with fury and utter disappointment.

"I believe I owe you an apology Bella, no woman should endure what your husband forced you through, I am sorry!" she faintly apologized, as she clenched her fingers to prevent the obvious pain in her eyes from turning into tears.

"I never felt more cheap or more humiliated in my existence Edward, Thank you!" she snapped, before storming out of the house.

"Why? Why Bella?! Why did you have to do this?! Ruin everything?!" he asked frustrated, he could barely contain his rage.

"I never promised to fight fair, and she deserves to know," I quickly reminded him, for these were the exact words he told me before, when he did the same thing with Jacob.

He looked at me, his eyes burning with fierce flares, but he just shrugged, shook his head in disbelief, and rushed behind Emma.

After debating with myself for a moment I decided to go after them, but Nessie was by the door,

"Did dad and Emma already leave?!" she asked.

"Yes,darling,"

"Let's go home then, I am ready."

I was not paying much attention to what she was actually saying, my mind was just too clouded with the thought of Edward and Emma together alone.

"I am not going home now baby, I have something to do first," I muttered, racing out of the house.

I could hear Nessie's voice behind my back, but I was so distracted to figure out what she said.

"Okay sweetheart," that was all I managed to say to her before I sprinted into the forest.

It wasn't difficult locating Emma, her painful cries echoed through the empty forest. Edward caught up with her by the lake, and I was not far behind them. I watched them from a close distance ready to step in whenever needed.

He wanted to reach out and take her into his arms, but she weakly pushed him away,

"Edward, please go away," she pleaded, with teary eyes, her hands still on his chest.

"Please Emma, just let me explain,"

"please go, my mind is racing with everything that happened, I have no control over my head right now, and I don't have any strength to fight," she interrupted, looking up at him, her voice cracking with distress.

"Why Emma? What are you hiding? why do you have to control your thoughts around me all the time?!" he wondered defeated, grasping her by the shoulders.

She forcibly closed her eyes letting her tears snake down her cheeks, and whispered,

"That's why?!" she sighed deeply, letting her guard down and allowing Edward on the secret she kept for decades.

I could see the flood of thoughts, memories, and feelings on Edwards face, his eyes seemed to stare to focus on the images he was seeing, he was so overwhelmed he had to close his eyes to contain them all.

When he finally opened his eyes, his face brightened with so much affection, yet so much sorrow. He pulled her hard toward him, she was trembling in his hold, and forced his lips eagerly against hers with so much passion and intensity. His arms tightening around her waist, as he took his time caressing her lips with his, drawing her closer. She tried to drag herself away, but his grip was too strong. She shut her eyes and gave in to her emotion, kissing him back with all the strength she got.

This was probably the time I should have interfered, but It was too much for me to take. It was like the world had stopped moving, I could feel life draining from my body. I couldn't believe what he did, I couldn't believe how awful it made me feel.

Finally she pulled back, but not far enough. She was literally gasping. He dropped his forehead to hers, gazing directly into her teary eyes.

"I waited my whole existence for this moment," she whispered under her panting breath.

Suddenly she broke away from Edward hold, Her face tainted with chagrin and shame,

"But even this, you ruined for me. I guess there is no way of telling now if this kiss was real or was a part of your act," She said with evident defiance, the pain in her voice pulled at his heart

"Emma wait,"

he helplessly called after her, as she charged further into the forest.

"Are you going to answer her question? Or should I answer it for you," I said through my clenched teeth.

"Lets go to our cottage, we have so many things to discuss," I firmly ordered, betrayed and hurt.

He wasn't surprised to see me, and I didn't need to study his face to realize that his eyes had no regret in them, not at all, they just reflected a great deal of anger.

"How could you betrayal me like this Edward."

"It just happened." He said flatly

"It just happened! that's all you are going to give me?! It just happened! No justification, no apologizes, no regret."

I was infuriated, I wished he would have just lied, made up a story, came up with any excuse. I wished he had fooled me, but that was never him.

"There is so much more to Emma than you know Bella," he said softly, trying to hide his vulnerability.

"Actually I know, I know everything and still it doesn't justify what you did!" I fiercely interrupted.

"What do you mean you know?!" he wondered, shocked at the revelation.

"The whole family knows the sob love story Edward, you were the only one oblivious to it," I continued bluntly.

"The whole family! How the hell no one ever told me the truth?!"

I shook my head firmly and said,

"Don't you even dare to turn this on me, this is not about her. It's about us."

"That's where you are wrong Bella, it is about her. She is the part of my life that I have lost forever. The part of me that's really me, or at least who I once was. The part I would give all the treasures in the world to get a moment of it back. She loved me when I was a mere human, an ordinary young man with a simple life, without the supernatural powers or irresistible features. She loved me as a human not as a vampire," He said with a mixture of pride and frustration.

"Where is all this coming from Edward? From the time you spent with her. She has been filling your head with nonsense, turning you against me!"

"No, this is all coming from the night I thought Carlisle found a cure, and I came running to you with optimism and high hopes, for you to slam me hard to the floor. Without hesitation you refused even the assumption of being human again. Coming up with the lamest excuses in the world just to cling to the forever part with you nails and teeth," he said in an utterly disappointed tone.

"I can't believe you just said that."

"I couldn't believe you would turn down a chance to be human and have a normal life away from all of this. It makes me really think that you just loved the vampire and not me." he realized his words hit me deep, yet it didn't change his heart.

"You are doubting my love?! The only reason I turned down humanity is because I was scared. Scared of exactly what you are doing right now. I was scared if we all became humans you will chose her and not me," I said in a strangled tone of voice, hurt and angry.

"Always the lack of faith in my love," he shrugged.

"You just lost faith in mine a moment ago Edward, but this ends now."

"Well you made sure it ended," he reminded me.

"No, she has to go, you need to ask her to leave," I said firmly.

"But I don't want her to leave, I need her. I just told you she is a part of who I am," he harshly insisted.

"You have to, sorry you don't get to keep your wife and your former lover. You can't have us both," I said more firmly.

"Don't do this Bella," he said with a commanding tone.

"It's either me or her, make your choice now."

An urgent knock on our door cut me off. Edward unwillingly opened to a very tense Alice.

"Sorry to interrupt your ... intense conversation, but Emma is leaving and Carlisle needs Edward back at the house to try and stop her," she said hesitant and petulant.

I cast a sharp gaze at Edward and shrugged.

"You can both go, I will stay with Nessie, I am surprised she is still sleeping with all your arguing, I could hear you guys a mile away," she gently offered.

"Nessie!Nessie is not here!" I argued shocked and alarmed.

"What do you mean she is not here? She is not at the house, and Rosalie said she saw her leave with you," Alice said mildly, trying to hide her panic, but failing.

For a moment I felt nothing. Alice words were ringing in my ears like a loud buzz, muting all other voices. My heart was plagued with fear recalling how coldly I had treated her earlier, how I most probably have granted her permission to follow me into the forest without realizing it. I did this Even when I knew of the lurking threats around us waiting for a a chance like that, and I just handed her over on a silver plate. My throat tightened, terror dominated me, my brain was frying inside my head, I felt like I was having a night mare, realizing the horrifying consequences that would follow, because deep down inside me I knew that my daughter was taken.

In a time of crisis, it's strange how your brain walks you through the difficulties feeding you with small lies, convincing you of things that you know aren't true, but you chose to believe them any way to ease the trauma you are facing. Lies like Nessie may be at Charlie's, or may be she went to Jacob she must miss him. Both options were far from true, with zero possibilities of happening, but you convince yourself with nonsense just to avoid facing the truth. With every failing attempt, with every false hope, you slowly come to terms with the invertible.

I think we all knew she was taken, but we chose to deny that truth for as long as we can. The whole family was searching, Charlie had the whole police department helping, even Jacob and the wolfs came to our aid. We scanned the forest inch by inch, we turned every leaf, every stone. We searched every cave, every hole, but she was gone. Her tracks disappeared a few miles into the forest, it was like she flew away. Emma couldn't hear or see anything from her, which was no surprise to me, I never expected her to help. Actually not only do I blame her for what happened, I believe she is a part of it all.

Edward expressed no fear but he reflected immense anger, that he barely controlled. His eyes blazed with rage but they were mostly filled with pain. I could feel his desperation, his anguish. I could feel his hopelessness and that scared me to the core. It frightened me more than the fact that he has been keeping a safe distance between us all night. I felt frustratingly handicapped, because I didn't know if he blamed me or not. He didn't expressly avoid me, but he ignored every attempt I made to reach out to him. I was trembling, my overloaded brain was about to collapse. I could barely hold myself together, I wished I could turn the pain and anger in my chest into audible screams. I needed him more than any other time in my existence, but he was further away from me than he has ever been.

We all gathered back at the house to try and figure out what we could do, and after a long argument I sent for Jacob to join us, despite everything, we need all the help we can get.

"There is no tracks, no scent. We have no leads," Edward said through his clinched teeth, infuriated and puzzled.

"I have a lead for you," Jacob screamed storming through the door and heading towards Emma.

Edward stepped in front of him, to stop him. Their eyes locked, Jacob cocked his arm back and punched Edward hard in the face. The potent blow knocked him out for a moment.

"I told you this would happen," Jacob said furious and devastated.

Almost instantly, Edward grabbed Jacob by the neck, strangling him. He lifted him off the floor, and tossed him across the room. The thud was too loud, I could hear Jacob bones breaking against the cement wall.

"Listen carefully wolf, what you did will never be forgiven nor forgotten, so don't push your luck. You are not welcomed here, and if Bella didn't insist, I would have never let you walk through that door, ever," Edward said the words slowly, holding on to Jacob gaze with a look that was so evil and violent. Jacob stumbled on the floor, blood running through his nose. I rushed to his side helping him to his feet.

"Stop this Edward. We don't need this right now. And before you jump the gun on Jacob, why don't you ask your precious Emma why she hasn't been seeing our daughters future for the last two weeks" I shouted out my own angry accusations.

I watch Edward face change from mildly shocked to suspicious. At least now he could channel his anger toward the right person.

"Is this true?!" he asked, struggling between trust and doubts.

"Is this a question or an accusation?" she asked mildly, hiding her panic.

"Just answer Emma," he snapped, his face contouring into one of extreme impatience and anger.

"Your lack of trust couldn't have come in a better timing. I really did not want it to come to this. I will answer to your accusation, but then I will walk away and no one would stop me," she demanded fighting hurt with pride.

"Quit stalling Emma," I urged her, fed up with all her drama.

She ignored me completely focusing her eyes on Edward.

"You can leave whenever you want Emma, no one will hold you back, you have my word," he said flatly almost in acceptance.

"Well, it all started that night with the wolfs," she started tentatively,her gaze shifted to Jacob for a split second and then back to Edward.

"My ability started to demolish, I didn't know the reason behind that and I really didn't bother, because at that point you had started your master plan to safe my life. All I cared about was you and the dream that was coming true. I didn't want Nessie to notice and start asking questions, questions that will lead to analysis and theories. I didn't want any of it, I loved the fantasy you created for me and I was willing to do anything to keep it. of course at the time I didn't know that I was dying, and that is probably the reason why my ability was fading away," she continued, barely hiding the tears welling up in her eyes.

"What do you mean fading away?!" I argued in dissent, not buying any part of her pretense.

"You know I can't control it Bella, you give me your hand and I show you what I see. It used to be preview of a full day, then it started to get shorter and shorter. Now it doesn't even last for a few minutes, give me your hand and see for yourself and let's end this stupidity once and for all, you have more urgent matter to handle," she replied annoyed and intolerant, holding her hand out for me to give it a try.

Amids the stares and anticipation of everyone in the room, I unwillingly gave her my hand. But unfortunately she was telling the truth, her future vision didn't even last a minute. Panic built up in my chest, I was going to suffocate. In a twisted way she was my last resort, my final hope. Now I have no clue where my daughter might be, and that was more terrifying than losing her in the first place.

Edward watched us carefully, evidently relived as he confirmed the truth through her thoughts. The relief on his face was immediately replaced by regret as he watched her pick up her suit case and walk to the door. He ached to stop her, but he gave her a promise and he is a man who always honored his word.

She suddenly stopped, her eyes subtly altered, so were his. His eyes were fixed on her, but he was focusing on something beyond, something that brought a slight light to his saddened face.

She turned and looked at him with a faint smile,

"she is awake," she said with alacrity.

She and Nessie must have finally made contact.