Chapter 24
It had been a total of five days since the altercation with the family and Alice and Bella found themselves out front in the forest, enjoying the early morning sun before the rain began all tangled up in skin and a soft light lavender comforter. Bella leaned against the rough bark of the large pine tree in silence as her molten gold orbs locked deep into her fated love's as she looked down at the resting and tranquil beauty in her arms. She had done this countless times throughout their time together but never once had this specific and foreign expression been visible dancing throughout Alice's eyes.
They had not mentioned the fated meeting with the Volturi, the conversation with Jake on the island and the events that followed, or the family in those five days and Bella was feeling much calmer and at ease with everything, but it was time to face the music. She knew that while this time had been necessary to get her emotions under lock and key, they were potentially wasting valuable time, time that they did not have to spare.
"Alice, let me make just one thing clear. I both understand and respect the power of the Volturi. This whole situation makes the Victoria fiasco look like nothing more than a cake walk. That's why I've been trying to avoid this whole ordeal until after the wedding. You didn't deserve to have to deal with this while trying to plan out essentially the most important day of your, I mean, our lives." Bella said as she fiddled with some loose pieces of bark.
"Bella, trust me, I know and I appreciate your never-ending selflessness. Truly, it is one of the qualities that I love the most about you. But I meant what I said a few days ago. The wedding doesn't mean anything to me in comparison to your intrinsic happiness and wellbeing on all levels possible. As far as I am concerned, the wedding is on hold until this has been dealt with and I plan on sending out those notices soon. However, I cannot shake that feeling that you and I really should go back to the family so you can let them know everything. While I have enjoyed my time with you immensely, I cannot fight this odd feeling anymore. I know you likely don't feel comfortable with that right now though, so I won't push the issue" Alice said softly, " But I assure you, everything will be okay in time. You haven't had the opportunity to see us all in action. We'll get you trained on our infamous Collaborative Cullen method as Emmett likes to call it and you'll see that there was never a reason for you to worry about us holding our own" Alice tried to soothe as she ran a comforting hand up and down Bella's arm.
" Alice…" Bella began but was interrupted as Alice placed a loving kiss on her lips, effectively swallowing Bella's nervous words.
" While we have never taken on the Volturi, we have had to fight before. Trust me, with training and preparation, we can take on anyone who poses a threat, including them." Alice reassured, " At least now I know and we have time to prepare."
Bella nodded after a few moments before locking fingers with Alice, knowing that debating in regards to their infallibility even as vampires against the Volturi was pointless. She felt utterly and completely stuck. She knew she needed to talk to the family and Alice was right but the confrontation with Rosalie was still fresh in her mind. She was not quite ready to face her but knew that it was necessary. After a few moments of deliberation, Bella made her decision with a rather curt nod.
"Okay, let's go back to the family" Bella said rather hesitantly.
" You sure? I really don't want you to feel pressured. Rosalie was way out of line. In fact, almost everyone was. You didn't need to be pushed to that extent, and I should have done more to stop it." Alice said in a soft voice, her eyes searching her mate's.
"No, while I hate to admit it, she was right. Hell, everyone was. I cannot wait and sit back on the sidelines while my bruised ego heals. I just… Needed to get away before any permanent damage to that relationship occurred. I was only a second away from leaving and not coming back." Bella admitted after a few moments before untangling herself from Alice and pushing herself off the tree as she began to walk back in the direction of the house with Alice walking by her side, fingers laced.
"You aren't curious to how I know so much? You know, about the Volturi and my fate that you have yet to see?" Bella asked as she broke the almost peaceful silence as they made their way back up the long dirt drive to the house.
"Bella, of course I am but I trust that you will fill us in good time. Right now, I just want you to focus on me, on us, and this moment. Nothing else. And please do me a favor and remember to breathe. You are only half of what I am so you still need to do that from time to time," Alice lightly laughed before becoming serious once more, " I swear on my existence, no matter what happens in that room, you will always have us and me, even if we have to leave and it's just you and I against the rest of the world." Alice smiled as she opened the door and the two walked back into the same place Bella had run from just five days prior.
As the two entered the room, the family quickly moved to meet them. Vampires couldn't cry but Rosalie certainly looked like she was desperately trying to as her pained and remorseful eyes met Bella's steady and emotionless expression.
"Bella- I…" Rosalie began but was silenced as Bella held up her hand with a slight shake of her head.
" Rose, I know. But not now. I just can't. I need time still. The only reason why I am back at all is because Alice thought it was a good idea and she's right… Like always." Bella said in a low voice as she sat back down, clearing her throat as she felt a different type of burn in her throat. The unfamiliar burn made her grimace lightly in pain. She had thought the burning from being thirsty had been one thing but that was something else entirely. She began to wonder if this pain was due to large amount of venom she had swallowed over the course of the past five days or so. Her emotions had gotten the best of her on more than one occasion while at the cabin but Alice had been there to reassure her and bring her back from that terrible place.
"Is your throat, okay?" Esme immediately asked as she walked over and inspected the area where the previous damage had been, happy to see that the cracks fully healed but was concerned about how hoarse her voice had just sounded. Was it possible that there had been more damage done than that appeared to the eye?
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I'm not thirsty but my throat is literally killing me" Bella admitted and Esme quickly moved to the kitchen to boil water. Within a moment, she returned with a cup of herbal tea with honey and lemon, which Bella took and sipped on, grimacing slightly in pain as the hot liquid flowed down her inflamed throat. Carlisle stood up and made eye contact with Bella, obviously seeking her permission before moving forward and kneeling in front of Bella. His golden eyes looked over Bella as he slowly reached out his hands to her jaw, seeing the newfound distrust and hesitancy in her eyes as she slightly recoiled from his touch. His gentle hands stilled as his fingertips ghosted against her jawline never breaking eye contact. Bella finally nodded after a few moments and allowed him to being to inspect her as any good doctor would.
"I think perhaps going forward, you should try to avoid swallowing your overflow of venom. The light coating on your teeth for hunting seems to be okay but large amounts appear to injure you like it would a shifter or any other being for that matter." Carlisle explained as he examined the back of Bella's throat, noting the rather intense amount of irritation and burns to the sensitive skin.
"It always seems like there is more learning to do about this new side of myself" Bella sighed as she finished the tea and sat the cup down on the table gently before granting Carlisle a thankful smile.
"So, pray tell. What made you two return? I have a feeling that it was not because you were quite ready to make amends." Esme finally asked as she looked over Bella with a concerned gaze, noting her guarded expression.
Bella opened and closed her mouth a few times, unable to form any words. She glanced over at Alice who took note of Bella's struggle. Alice furrowed her eyebrows in thought before taking in a deep and unnecessary breath and moved her eyes to her family, holding her gaze for a few seconds each.
"Everyone, we have to prepare. Please, don't go about asking a ton of questions. I haven't seen a vision yet but I know that I will eventually. Bella explained to me that one day in the near future, not sure just when yet as a decision hasn't been made but will be, the Volturi are going to come for her. Either to remove the threat of her existence or to force her to join them. Whichever, it's not happening. Not while I have a damn thing to say about it." Alice said quickly surprising the hell out of everyone, including Bella who audibly groaned and buried her face in her hands.
"Being tactful just isn't in your nature, is it?" Bella murmured as she ran her hands against her eyes with a sigh.
" Hold up, say what?" Emmett asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's complicated," Bella sighed as she sat forward and crossed her arms in thought, "Listen, parts of what I have to say are going to sound positively insane but you have to place some trust in me. I'm not lying and I'm not crazy." Bella said slowly as she looked across the room.
"Go ahead, we all will wait until you are finished with your explanation to ask questions." Esme said with an encouraging smile, simply content to finally have her daughter home.
"During my transformation… I got locked into my subconscious. The part that, well you know, my shield is located. Due to that, I wasn't aware of any pain or anything, at least not until the last few moments. I actually thought I had died if I were to be honest" Bella sighed as she played with her hands before continuing, "While in that state, I met two people, although I'm not sure if that is the proper term to describe who they were. These… beings were locked into my subconscious, one of which who have always been there. Their names are Aurelius and Taha Aki. As a human, I had numerous dreams involving them for the past several months but it was only during my transformation that they revealed who they were to me" Bella stopped, needing to take a breath to steady herself.
"Who are they?" Emmett asked despite himself, causing Rosalie to sharply elbow him in his side.
"Aurelius claims to be the first vampire to have existed and Taha the first shifter of the Quileute Tribe." Bella answered as she locked eyes with Emmett.
To her dismay, no one said anything. She wasn't sure if were possible for vampires to go into shock but it surely appeared as if they all were, Alice included. She looked at Bella with wide and ever so curious eyes.
"How were they able to communicate with you through your subconscious, Bella?" Carlisle finally asked in a calm tone as his gaze met her own above his gently folded hands beneath his chin.
"Because apparently they both are related to me through blood lines. According to them, they are my ancestors. I know that sounds positively ridiculous but I have no reason to doubt them." Bella replied as she swallowed nervously.
" But… How do you have Quileute in you? I mean, I've always just assumed you had a different shifter bloodline in you." Emmett asked causing Bella to look down at the ground.
"During a purely juvenile and emotional heated moment not too long after you all left, I tried to kill myself, and well, I would have succeeded but Jake transfused his blood into me. And so…yeah." Bella awkwardly finished, grimacing.
"Oh, my dearest little one." Carlisle sighed as his eyes filled with concern now fully realizing the full extent of the damage that they had caused so many months ago.
"It's gotta be tough knowing his blood is in you considering what he turned out to be. I imagine like it's similar to how I feel knowing Maria's venom is in me. Almost makes you feel disgusted with yourself, doesn't it? Practically like you're an extension of them." Jasper asked lightly and Bella exhaled as she nodded.
"Yeah, trust me. None of that has been easy to deal with. I assure you." Bella admitted before taking a breath, " But here's the thing. As much as I hate it at times, I couldn't have really done much to change it. According to Aurelius and Taha, this is my destiny. My existence was foretold centuries ago by a seer who was an ally of the Volturi" Bella concluded with a shrug.
Bella was cut off from saying another word and Carlisle let out a gasp and suddenly stood up and ran a hand through his kept hair, effectively messing it up and causing his normally slicked back bangs to fall haphazardly across his forehead.
"Of course, how could I have forgotten." He murmured as he moved quickly past his family and strode into his office, fumbling around for a few moments before reemerging with a weathered scroll in his hand that he delicately unraveled and placed the coffee table before the family to look at.
Alice looked down closely at the worn parchment, her fingertips ghosting across the faded handwritten Latin and Italian lettering.
"What is this?" Alice asked as he eyes shot to Bella and back to Carlisle.
"This is precisely what I believe Bella was making note of just now. This is the legend of the Conquestoris or more commonly known as Il Conquistatore" Carlisle whispered, his sharp eyes widening slightly in realization as he looked at Bella.
"And what exactly is that?" Rosalie asked with a raised eyebrow.
"An old Volturi legend. It was foretold that one day a being would be able to overthrow the Volturi and unite the world. The Volturi believed they solved the problem by eliminating the Children of the Moon or more commonly known as, werewolves. The true ones, not like the shifters at La Push. However, when the visions of the seer did not change, the Volturi was at a loss. They eventually gave up but then again, no other hybrid has ever existed until now as far as I'm aware. You may have been what the seer foresaw. Unfortunately, the Volturi killed her many moons ago when they no longer felt as if she was an asset or valuable to them" Carlisle explained with furrowed eyebrows.
" Yeah, Aurelius and Taha think the same as you." Bella admitted as she looked around the room, " I know it's a lot to take in all things considered. I never thought someone like me would create such an impact but here we are." Bella shrugged.
"Bella, please stop. I simply cannot stand to sit here and allow you to say one negative thing about yourself. You are beautiful, incredible, funny, irresistible. Everything that I have ever wanted and more. If there is anyone who would have been fitting to hold this significant of a role in fate's design, it is you." Alice lightly snapped but finished with a soft smile causing Bella to nod with a sheepish smile.
"So, hold up. Let me get this straight. You have the ancestor of both vampires and shifters inside of you, the Volturi are going to either recruit or try and kill you, and you're supposed to unite our worlds. Does that sound about right?" Emmett asked and Bella eventually nodded in affirmation.
"Not so delicately put, yes. That is why I did not want the Volturi getting wind of what had happened with Jake and I. Not yet. None of us were truly prepared and I didn't want any of you to find out like that. You deserved to hear it from me." Bella explained.
"So, now what?" Bella finally asked as she looked around after a few moments of silence.
" Now we train you, we strategize and we fight. No one and I mean no one is taking my daughter from me." Esme said as she stood up abruptly, " Emmett, tomorrow first thing, I want you to take Bella out front. We need to begin her training as soon as possible after she has a night to rest. I'll reach out to the Denali Coven and see if we can get some sort of backup. Knowing how they care for Bella, I'm sure it won't take much convincing."
Bella too stood up as Emmett grinned like a child in a candy store.
" It's about damn time! I've been itching to do this for months. It's not fair that the only one who had the opportunity to spar with you was Jake." Emmett chuckled as he cracked his knuckles.
" Emm, just remember she's not as indestructible as one of us." Rosalie warned as she wrapped her arm against the small of Emmett's back, earning a thankful glance from Alice.
Bella couldn't help but frown as she took in his overly excited and joyous expression over the situation. Bella knew that fighting was necessary at this point but she couldn't grasp how someone could be so happy to be doing so.
"I've been wanting to do this for so long. After seeing what you did to Jake's face, I'm even more excited!" Emmett enthused as Bella shifted uneasily on her feet before nodding.
"I fail to understand what is so wonderful about any of this." Bella mumbled as locked fingers with Alice and made her way back up the stairs towards their bedroom, closing the door behind her with her heel as she moved her way out to the patio and overlooked the forest.
" We all enjoy a good sparing match with one another. Once you get a chance to spar knowing that there is nothing on the line and you aren't forced to, you likely will enjoy it the same as any other vampire would. You'll see." Alice chirped as she wrapped her arms around Bella's slim waist and placed a gentle kiss between her shoulder blades.
"I guess I have to take your word for it. After all, I know better than to bet against you." Bella replied still rather unconvinced as she replayed the conversation in her mind, anxiously waiting for the likely reencounter with her extended family knowing full well that she was beginning to reach the end chapters with this specific fateful story, her story. She only prayed and hoped that this would not be the ending to end all, not just for her but for her family as well.
