(The year is 2006, in no way does this story follow the events of The Originals, which is far too convoluted and complex to unravel. It takes place before either The Vampire Diaries or The Originals started in 2009 and therefore is an alternative timeline for Elijah, but after Bella returns from Volterra)


A/N: Each section is a different P.O.V, whose, should be easily apparent xx Slipped in another place name for my Facebook group xx Alexis


This is the correct title for this chapter: It's Still A Cage, Even When You Can't See The Bars!

I have hoped, I have even prayed and I have tried to believe that things could change. I really, truly did hope that him thinking he'd lost me to death. Would make Edward change too, change for me, for the love of me! Unfortunately, I was the only one hoping for this; nearly everyone else in his family thought they could go on like before they left. They now act as if their leaving had never happened, brushing it under the carpet so to speak. As if it was something shameful that I had done and not them! The fact they left me, no abandoned me, left me to die because of their son and brother's mistake hurt, oh, it really hurt. The fact they pretended Edward and themselves had done nothing wrong, wounded me much, much more.

But worse they expected me to play along in this, their ridiculous fantasy! Pretending that I hadn't changed or grown up in those long excruciating pain-filled seven months, but I can't, no I won't pretend! It's not like he left me safe, even though he unthinkingly insists that's why he left! But I don't believe it, he ran because he's a child and a coward, he always has been. I no longer believe blindly what he says and I know he hates that new quality in me! They just floated off into the sunset leaving me to the machinations of a demented vampire and her besotted sidekick. Hell, even Laurent had tried to take a bite out of me and if not for the La Push wolves I'd be dead right now.

The problem with them saving me was just another slap in the face for me. Jacob the boy who once was a friend, my best friend. Well, he expected to take Edward's place; he thought he owned me now body and soul. I, he thought should be his prize for doing his job of protecting Forks from vampires! Damn was he pissed when the Cullens returned, huffing when Edward appeared to steal his toy back, that toy being me, of course! I'm only back in the fold because the Volturi now want me dead or changed, for that and for no other reason. I should never have gone with Alice and still don't know why I did! Jasper has vowed to kill Victoria personally, as an apology to me.

Since they should have before they left and he had told them all that at the time and again when they decided to go. He was shot down by Edward and Alice both times. She's skating on thin ice with her husband now; he consciously doesn't make any decisions, no matter how small. So she can't see him, this is a punishment she'd do well to accept. All in all, I've become a little harder, a little more forthright and I will not sit quietly in the corner anymore while Edward controls my every move. Telling me who I can talk to, meaning no wolves! What I should wear, meaning skirts and dresses and this morning telling me what I was allowed to eat, meaning no pop tarts.

Well, I didn't eat them, but he ended up wearing them. It's amazingly refreshing what you can do when he can't read your mind. Emmett found it hilarious and I think Esme has started to get the picture, unlike her son! If one more member of this dysfunctional family says, 'But Bella, We know what's best for you! After all, we are vampires' I'm gonna set someone's ass on fire! Alice actually saw that decision loud and clear, as it was her ass I was imagining at the time. The cans of hairspray and lighters were all hers and so very easily accessible to me. Funny how after that, they have all disappeared from the house! The fact they are still withholding information from me really hurts, have they truly learned nothing from all this.

It didn't take long to see Alice can't get proper visions of me personally anymore. Not unless they relate to them specifically, although they haven't actually told me so. What hurts the most is that they are acting as if the Volturi hadn't issued a command for me to be changed or die. No, don't tell the human, she's too simple, she's too young and she's too bloody human! But I've gotten really good at eavesdropping; well they left me no real choice. I cannot depend on their help or back if the shit hits the fan. In fact, I could easily see both Edward and Carlisle trading my life for their own! So, that was the reason I locked Edward out of my room, that and the utter shit he was waffling the night of our return.

I couldn't believe he actually thought that the Volturi would forget all about me for thirty years or so. Edward is so full of his own self-importance he thinks they won't come against the Cullens! Why not? It would be so easy, apart from Jasper the rest can't fight very well at all. Because of Carlisle's pacifism, masquerading as compassion, which he's indoctrinated into them. He's taught them nothing useful, only how to be human and they are absolutely rubbish at even that! They are sitting ducks and eventually, Caius will come and pick them off. Well, I won't be with them when it happens, I don't want to be changed anymore!

I have a feeling Jasper is aware and he's saying nothing to them, thank God, but he owes me too and he knows it. Hell, he'd have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to feel what is happening within me. He must sense my loathing and disgust for everyone but him, Rose and Emmett. So with Edward not hearing me and now Alice not seeing me, I'm free to make some small decisions for myself and my future. I can't make sweeping big ones that would impact on them just yet. So I'm getting ready to run, as far and as fast as I can. I never wanted to be Edward's possession; I wanted to be his partner, his equal! But I'm not stupid, that's not ever going to happen, he doesn't love me, he just wants my blood.

He won't ever change me and I refused to stay in this loveless, pathetically chaste and of course, damn near-emotionless relationship! Just so that psychotic weirdo can get his fix. He may be sexless, but I'm not and I'm not doing without for the rest of my life, for him or anybody else. I'm no china doll and this shelf is boring and lonely. I'm suffocating, slowly, inexorably suffocating. I can't breathe here; the bars of my invisible cage are closing in with every day that passes. I no longer feel anything but disdain and loathing for him, he is a child masquerading as an adult and it truly shows. Every word he speaks is childish and centred around him and what he wants.

I'm just waiting for the moment he stamps his foot and has a tantrum because I won't do what he wants. Oh, it's coming as sure as my name is Isabella Swan! But I fear I'll never see it because I'll be long gone from Forks. I actually have two unexpected partners in crime, Rose and Emmett. He's had new documents sent to my house for me; she's fixing up a jeep that will be mine. Even Emmett doesn't know my new name nor does Rose know my final destination. So far they, the four main culprits have no idea. Jasper is staying neutral in all this and I understand why, he believes he wronged me, unlike them. Those three are the only ones who apologised and asked for my forgiveness.

Well, it will be soon and where am I heading, New Orleans! Renee has extended family there and they will be my first port of call. I'll get a place of my own once I have a job, but they will help me to begin with and I'm truly happy about that. I'm not stupid though; I'm flying to Atlanta first and then driving back towards New Orleans. I don't want to make it too easy for him to find me. Because Edward is too arrogant and immature to give up gracefully. Rose is sending the jeep to Memphis tomorrow and then I will arrange for it to be transferred to Atlanta at the start of next week. I'll pick it up there when the time comes for me to flee, that way I'm the only one who knows where I'm going.

It's a bright red at present, but it will be getting re-sprayed in Memphis, black I think, no gunmetal grey. Edward thinks I'm too simple to outwit him, but he forgets he's seventeen and set in stone, no cement. While I'm just a couple of months shy of nineteen, still growing and learning and way more intelligent than him. I always have been, I just didn't see it before, but it's beyond obvious now. I so love making it known when he doesn't know something and I do. Sad I know but, I have to find my fun somewhere because that's what was always lacking in our relationship, fun! After all, what he's done and is doing to me now is humiliating. So getting some minor revenge is fair, well, I think so.

It's a pity I won't be around to see his face when he realises I've dumped his sorry ass. I think dad has guessed I'm leaving. He's been giving me little sideways looks, but all he's said so far was,

"I understand Kiddo! Tell me nothing, can't lie if I don't actually know. Just be safe okay and finish school if you can!"

It didn't surprise me and after all the sleepless nights he had with me, he knew I was different and not happy with Edward now. It started when Jake found all that shit under my floorboards and in my closet. Once it was gone and burned I started to feel more like the old me from Phoenix, again. I was just getting my act together when Laurent attacked and it all went pear-shaped. I had wolves constantly following me and that's when Alice returned and begged for my help. Did she know from her visions, I would refuse? Or had I just disappeared altogether from her sight? I'll never know I guess because they tell me nothing. Next thing I knew I was up to my ass in vampires and barely made it out of there alive, no thanks to Edward.

Alice showed Aro a vision of me as a vampire and I knew then it was all lies, I don't want that or Edward anymore. Hell, even Emmett and Rose don't know all that went on or is happening now. Just a few more days and I'm getting excited, I can't help it. But Edward has noticed something is going on with me. How do I know because he's practically glued to my hip and if he tries to breathe in my face once more I'm outing him. Emmett in a roundabout way asked Jasper what that meant. Was it important whilst hunting humans and that's when we worked it out? He has been glamouring me as a way to control me. From before he left and he's been trying to since his return.

But I tend to hold my breath when he leans in too close or just move away subtly. Here it comes, I even heard him draw in a breath,

"Edward! Humans find it rude when people intentionally breathe right into their faces! I don't know what it means to vampires? But I'd like you to stop constantly trying to do it to me. It's frankly a tad sick, even for you!" I say very loudly and the whole house comes to a standstill and Esme drops the casserole dish she was holding,

"Edward! My study now!" Carlisle says angrily, so they didn't really know, except Alice, because she did it too,

As I look around at the horrified faces, well all except Alice, she looks scared. I know it's time to leave not just here, but Forks. Jasper is growling harshly at her now and I know she's gone too far this time. So does Alice as she's trying to look for a vision but he's not making any decisions at the moment by the fearful look on her face. She has purposefully helped Edward to draw me in and trap me but why? She had to know he would never willingly change me. Were they going to one day share my blood? What other reason could there be? I wouldn't believe anything she told me now; Alice is as big a liar as Edward. I nod towards the door and Rose gets up telling me,

"I'll take you home Bella"

IOOH

I'm being drawn back to America, for some inexorable reason I can't fathom! I really hadn't planned on returning as of yet. I know my brother Niklaus is there and I believe so are a Finn and Kol, which Klaus has daggered, once again. Rebekah is running as fast and as far from him as she can, but will no doubt return when she gets lonely. That's the trouble with being immortal, boredom and loneliness dog your every step. As I touchdown in New York, I try to get my bearings and it's strange. Seattle or New Orleans, those are my choices, but New Orleans feels right somehow as if what I'm looking for will find me there! Over the millennia, you learn to trust your gut feelings, they seldom steer you wrong, but sometimes they do!

Well, no rush it appears, so time to update my wardrobe and reaffirm so old alliances. It's the same old thing, every time, pressing the flesh, greasing palms and flattering the obsequious. I don't tend to use fear like a club to beat them over their heads like Klaus, but they fear us. Because if we die they die, so it bodes well for them to keep us safe! Of course, I've made many missteps over the years, but I like to think I've grown, matured, learned from them as well. But the biting loneliness is the worst, especially as we don't trust each other enough anymore to stay together as a family, a whole family! Damn, I'm becoming morose in my advancing years, how very Finn-like of me!

IOOH

Well, this is it, just short of a week early but I'm ready. Rose phones the house and tells Emmett to pack because she can't stand to look at Edward for another second. This is nothing unusual and no one will bat an eyelid. Next, I drag out my pre-packed bags and leave the already written note with dad's fishing tackle. For him to find on Saturday when he goes fishing with Billy. Emmett and Rose will head for Canada, as I head to who knows where now, instead of Atlanta. Jasper will make sure the jeep is picked up for us tomorrow. I have had my window nailed shut since Edward's return and his pathetic speech that first night. So I'm leaving the bedside light on and a recording of my heartbeat on a loop on my computer.

That will give me a little time, I hope. Dad's working a double tonight and tomorrow so he won't miss me at first. Then he'll find my letter and cover for me as per my instructions, which are fake, of course. When Edward finds I've gone he'll follow my first red herring. Then hunt down Rose and Emmett in Canada. All they know is I have new papers and am heading to Atlanta, which won't help him much, because I'm not doing that now. If he tries to find out from the guy who did my ID he'll strike out because he farmed to out on Emmett's instructions. What he won't be aware of is I have two, the one Emmett organised and the one that arrived through the mail and will be the one I use after I leave Seattle.

Who sent that? Well, that would be Peter Whitlock. Why? He just said I deserved to get away from Edward and find my destiny far away from the warped life the Cullens lead. I was really touched that a virtual stranger would help me. I know he's Jasper's brother, but Peter doesn't know me from Adam. But apparently, he just knows shit and obviously knew something about my future. I never mentioned it to Rose; I thought that the less everyone knows the better for me. Even consciously trying to keep Edward out of their heads doesn't always work, well except for Jasper, he has no problem dealing with the child. I feel so clear-headed and free for once. Yes, the rarefied air in the Cullens house is dangerous for humans.

IOOH

I can't believe Carlisle reprimanded me, how else am I supposed to control Isabella. She has been acting far too independently since I returned. I expected her to be so thankful and compliant; after all, I got her out of Volterra alive didn't I! But no she's being willful and argumentative, annoyed that I had refused to lie to Aro when I find lying to her so easy! She is angry and pushy because I won't set a date to change her. I blame the wolves for corrupting her while I was gone. Yes, I know that was my one little mistake, but did she have to seek them out. They could have dealt with Laurent without her knowing, but no they let her see him and them.

Plus Jacob had the audacity to think he could take my place, he only wants her body, for his animalistic carnal enjoyment. Whereas I want her emotionally and spiritually, nothing as mundane a just mere copulation, which I know she would hate as well. I'm not following her tonight, I'll let her stew for a while and let her realise she misses me. Then when she calls me in the morning, I will graciously go over and see her. I know Charlie won't be there tonight, maybe some alone time will remind her what she's missing out on. My wit and intelligence is far superior to hers of course, but she does try to keep up, bless her. I am a little annoyed with her about the glamour thing.

I didn't think she understood what was happening, probably a lucky guess or just an unfortunate wording on her part. Rosalie and Emmett have gone off to Canada in disgust, thank goodness. But the others are very condemning in their thoughts towards me! Except for my sister Alice, she has my back or had until her gift failed me! I had no intention of them ever finding out, I see I will have to take Isabella away for her own good. I can't have her undermining my authority at every turn. Jasper is staring at me, but I can hear nothing. I know Alice sees nothing because the barbarian is making no decisions to punish her for helping me. Her own brother, of course, she'd help me why wouldn't she.

He's just chagrined she spends more time with me than him, but then I'm so much more interesting than him. I'll just retire to my room for the evening and be ready when Isabella calls to apologise in the morning. She won't be able to sleep without me there, of course. That reminds me those things I hid under her floor were gone and all the clothes Alice got her on my say so too! How on earth could she find them? It had to be one of the wolves, but what were they doing in her room? Yes, we really need to go before the corrupt her purity and innocence. I can't have them putting licentious ideas in her head! Next, she'll be wanting me to have intercourse with her. No, I'm overthinking this, of course, she wouldn't want that!

I'm surprised Isabella hasn't called yet, well, I'll give her until lunchtime. That will be sixteen hours since she saw me and she'll be getting antsy, because of the glamour wearing off. Not that I've been able to fully reapply it since my return, unfortunately. I storm down the stairs to demand if any of them have heard from her yet, I'm not happy about this thrawn behaviour at all! Jasper is smirking at me, what does he know, I hate when he deliberately keeps me out of his thoughts, how dare he block me! Me his better in every way. Well, Miss Swan, I will come to you, but you won't like how irate I'll be! I plan how to I'll behave on the way over, what I'll say and how she will respond, yes my plans are perfect.

I eventually gained access to their severely lacking house, well once I broke in. Only to find it's not her in the house at all, it's a computer programme playing her heartbeat over and over on a loop. Where the hell is she? She better not have gone to the reservation to see those damned wolves! I'll be forced to severely reprimand her if she has; she knows how I feel about those things, yes things, animals! Now I'll have to call her father and admit I don't know where she is, how galling. I hate that man; he has the temerity to dislike me, but treats that dog like a son! What have I ever done to him? I pull out my cell to do so.

"Chief Swan has Isabella gone to see Jacob today do you know?" I ask, trying to be polite, but I just don't like his attitude or tone when talking to me,

"Nope! Her truck there?" he barks, damn it! I never noticed,

"Yes, it's here! Did she say anything to you about her plans?" I start to demand, if I was there I could take it out of his mind, well mostly I could,

"I'm here father Edwin, not her damned keeper!" he retorted and I bristled at him getting my name wrong again, stupid man never gets it right! It's outrageous, he hung up on me, how dare he!

IOOH

Well, the damn fool immature boy has gone to see Bella. But I'm guessin' she will be long gone by now. If I'm right she would have left as soon as possible after Rose dropped her off last night. I've just signed off the jeep to the hauliers; I know it's for Bella! I also know Rose and Em have been helpin' her, it's beyond obvious to anyone with a brain. So that leaves out Edward, Alice and Carlisle. I also know Peter has helped her too, yeah he's cryptic, but I got the gist of it. When he said he'd been helpin' a little bird fly free! I have a feelin' Esme will be happy for the poor girl, but will never admit it. Eddie thinks because he doesn't hit her, he isn't abusive but he's wrong.

Leaving her was his stupidest mistake, she's not the same anymore, because she's human and humans constantly grow and change. Especially with all the shit, we left her in, she is lucky to be alive! Thank god the wolves had the brains to protect her because otherwise, it doesn't warrant thinkin' about! If she had died because of Edward and Alice, I might just have killed him too. No, I'd have dismembered him and buried his bits, continents apart for a couple of centuries. Alice, oh I'll deal with her soon enough, she'll be pretty sorry when I'm finished with her! Even she hasn't noticed I've already shipped all my important stuff, why because it wasn't important to her, only me.

Time to get my own show on the road; I want to be gone before he returns.

"Go and pack Alice, we're goin' on a trip! Leave all that shit you bought me, I'll buy my own clothes from now on" I tell her and she at first looks excited, then desolate, yup still blockin' her,

"Carlisle, Alice and I are leavin', we will be gone before that child you call your son returns. We probably won't ever be back, unless you actually take control of what's left of your coven! Got a feelin' Rose and Em won't come back for some time either; I hope he's worth losin' everyone else for?

I've got a lead on Victoria and I will deal with her like I should have been allowed to before! I at least owe Bella that, oh and talkin' of Bella. I believe she's gone, but I'm sure Eddie will confirm that for you soon. Remember, when the Volturi come for him, you allowed this to happen! You let a child dictate to you, your mate and your coven. We just aren't prepared to put up with it or his crap any longer.

Alice will be punished for her part in all this, you can be sure of that. Unlike Edward, whom you'll coddle and placate until he gets you or Esme killed! Is he worth your mate's life, Carlisle?" I say in a speakin' voice and he and Esme appear in the doorway, she's aghast that we'd all leave,

"Five minutes Alice, leave the crap, you don't need it where we're goin'. Esme sell anythin' we leave and put the money in Alice's account. I already returned all her money to you, Carlisle, so she'll need it for essentials. Once she acts like my mate and wife I'll start supportin' her, but as long as she's Edward's bitch, she gets nothin' from me!" I continue and hear Alice sobbin' upstairs.

I remind her she's wastin' precious packin' time and it stops abruptly, like I thought, fake as hell. She's not goin' to like livin' with the Major, but she sure deserves him after all her crap towards me and against me, for the last fifty years! Don't get me wrong I know she's my mate and I can't hurt her, but I can and will put the fear of god into her. I will also claim her properly like I should have done, but she persuaded me not to and look what happened. She must have seen her not being in charge and Alice loves to be in control. Well, those days are over forever, now! I've allowed too many inferior vampires to dictate my life and it's about to stop. For once I'm goin' to take charge and if Alice is lucky, I'll learn to trust her too, not just be her mate!