Dear Reader

To answer publicly to a very good comment sent by heralderofspringtime on my last chapter, I also understood just how toxic Renée is by reading Midnight Sun. In the end of the book, as Bella is at the hospital, and Edward hear Renée's thoughts, he realizes her mental voice is like a scream, extremely loud and it translates to her being extremely charismatic to humans. People are just drawn to her, and want to answer all her needs, help her, protect her. She's the ultimate doe eyed manipulator, always the victim. It's a very interesting scene that really shines a new light on her mother and show how much of a narcissist and "emotional vampire" she is. Strangely enough (not really), Edward realizes that, but never talks to Bella about it. He never let her see the manipulative ways of her mother...maybe because if she started to identify abusive behaviors, she would see his? Interesting isn't it? What do you think?

In any case, I was happy to see that many of you shared my vision of Renée and how I dealt with her in my last chapter. I hope you'll also like this one. Since it will be the last chapter of the week, I made this one extra-large.

Enjoy

Chapter 12: Persephone and Demeter

The letter came the next morning, hidden amongst the bills on the breakfast table where Renée and Bella drank their coffee in silence. Phil has gone to the gym early - quite literally running away from the cold war that had taken over the house in the past twenty-four hours.

Bella ignored Renée curious glance as she opened at the normal looking long while envelope. It contained a dark red smaller one, as well as a rigid glossy pamphlet for the University of Pisa and an official stamped document announcing - in Italian and English - her enrollment in said university starting from the new semester in February, in the major of her choosing.

"But I haven't even graduated High School yet." she mumbled to herself, but the document gave her the answered she needed: apparently the credits she'll get in that semester would serve to help her graduate, as her score as an Advanced student in Phoenix and then in Forks granted her a sufficient level. She frowned to the utter fishiness of the explanation, but one look at Pisa on the map told her all she needed to know: it was just next to Volterra.

The red envelope confirmed her suspicions, as it contained a card folded in two, with a design strikingly similar to the postcard she had found in her notebook, with the red gothic V and the thorns and roses. It now reminded her of the armoire ring on Caius' hand. Inside, in beautiful calligraphy, she could read:

"Dearest Persephone,

Pack your bags and say your goodbyes to Demeter.

Go to Jacksonville airport January 19th at noon.

The Kings of the Underworld await your arrival.

C."

She smiled that the mirror version of her letter. Caius definitely had a sense of humor. January 19th...it was the next day. She had a day to pack her bags and leave the continent for...ever?

Say your goodbye to Demeter. Bella glanced up at Renée. Demeter was the Goddess of Agriculture, and mother of Persephone, goddess of Spring. Only in the tale she is actually scandalized when Hades come to take her daughter away, and pleads for her return. As a show of goodwill, Hades accepts the let his new bride Persephone come back to the Moral Realm a few months a year so that she can spend time with her beloved mother. Maybe he expected her to go back to her family for the summer vacations...like she once did.

In another version, Demeter was actually a possessive mom who smothered her daughter, until Hades fell in love with her and granted her safe haven in his realm. That sounded more like it.

She couldn't bring herself to apologize to Renée. She knew that she had gone too far when she exploded the day before, and that her mother was still gravely hurt by her words. But her guilt was only made worse by the knowledge that she had meant every single word of it. This time, this one time, she wanted to stay true to herself.

She had thought about it long and hard for hours during the night, and if she was perfectly honest with herself, part of her didn't want to apologize because of what her mother told her at the end of their argument.

"Maybe it was a mistake, you coming back here."

She had never had a rebelling phase during her early teenage years. Renée always told her how "mature" she was, probably to make her feel obligated to live up to that label. And so, she did. She was always the responsible one, and never spoke out of turn. Yet, in one day, one argument, Renée had given up on her. You're eighteen now. Maybe it's time.

She never had stood a chance. Even with a daughter trying to graduate High School, even with a daughter who came back from her first day at her new high school with a pamphlet on eating disorders because her appearance had granted her an appointment with the school nurse, even with a daughter in therapy because she can't get over... In any circumstances, Renée was going to choose herself. Always.

So, Bella decided it was time she did the same. As selfish as it was, she would not try to make Renée feel good about herself anymore. She would not apologize to give her the satisfaction of deciding if she would forgive her or not. Maybe she was in her rebelling phase. Better late than never.

Renée gaze was burning he forehead as she examined the brochure on the University of Pisa. She clapped it shut and met her gaze with intense seriousness, almost defiance.

"It would seem that I have been accepted to the University of Pisa, in Italy on full scholarship. I'm expected to move in the campus tomorrow night."

Renée stood her gaze a moment, and went back to her coffee "Don't be ridiculous, Bella, you haven't even graduated yet."

Strange, Bella thought. She expected Renée to be thrilled she had a reason to leave. But maybe she didn't expect her to actually go through with it. Not somewhere permanent and...so far away. Not Italy, where she herself had always wanted to go. She could still remember how she had been, when she first told her about moving to Jacksonville. She was certain that she would come running once she called back for her. Leave when you're a burden, come back when you're needed for emotional support. No more.

"Actually," Bella said with a smirk, "I have you to thank for that."

That would always get her full attention, but she didn't fully buy it, as Bella's gaze transpired no form of gratitude. "Remember when you put me through the Advanced Program, in hope that I would graduate faster?"

Renée said nothing, so Bella continued, "Well, though Forks didn't have an Advanced program, the University considered my grades and decided that enrolling me a semester early with a few extra classes could do the trick, if I wished to do so."

"But-"

"And I do. Wish to start early." her eyes showed nothing but steel determination "You were right, mom: Maybe it is time."

Renée tried to keep a poker face, but her coffee mug lost some of its stability in her hand and she had to put it down on the table. She wiped her mouth, certainly to get a few more second to compose herself "You still have therapy."

"I can arrange with Dr O'Neil, maybe she'll accept to do it remotely on the phone or with Skype."

"That would be awfully inconsiderate, Bella. Think of what this would do to her schedule, having to adapt to the time zone and the technical difficulties for your sake"

It was almost funny, Bella thought, how easy it was to spot her manipulation. Don't be ridiculous, that's inconsiderate…. Making her doubt herself. Was she always like that? How did she not see it? And why could she see it now?

"Maybe Dr O'Neil won't want to adapt, you're right." Bella said calmly "It's okay, we don't have to continue the treatment together. I will find a therapist who will."

"Your dad is paying for her, you know that? Do you realize how ungrateful that would be to just wave away his gift, to just leave behind everything we've done for you just so you can go to Italy a few months earlier?" Renée's eyes shot burning lasers at her face. Bella crossed her arms and tried to remain as calm as possible.

"If Charlie is paying for her, he would probably also pay for any other therapist who would meet my criteria. His goal is my well-being first and foremost, and if I say I'll have a better shot at being happy in Italy, then he'll probably just be supportive and would genuinely wish me the best."

Renée scoffed and spat bitterly "Right, your Dad is perfect, isn't he? Best Dad Ever, is that what you're saying?"

"Yes" Come on, just try me on this. I dare you.

There was a moment of silence between them, as Renée never really experienced Bella taking Charlie's side over hers before, and panic was starting to pulse in her.

"Do you really hate me that much?" She asked, her eyes tearing up "Do you really think I deserve to be treated like this?" She grabbed a tissue from the box on the corner of the table. She had to show her what she was doing to her mother. How could she be this cruel?

Bella only squinted and sighed "No Renée. Once again, this is not about you. I am just doing what I've seen you do all my life: I'm putting myself first. My health, my future, my opportunities. And frankly, I don't see myself getting better if I have to take care of you as well. You have Phil now. I left so you could be happy with him. I came to live her with you guys because Charlie thought I needed a change of scenery and he was right. Just, not here. I'm going, Renée, and there is nothing you can say that would persuade me to stay."

xXx

Unsurprisingly, Susan was more than happy to switch their arrangement to Skype video sessions, and she congratulated her on her early admission to the University. She didn't know yet what she was going to major in, and would study the pamphlet extensively in the plane. They had a long conversation about the argument with Renée, and though Susan did congratulate her as well on finally expressing her true feelings, she did mention something that put threw her off balance.

"It would seem that you have crystalized your anger on your mother. From what you say she did neglect you for years and is still quite childish and self-centered now, but I wonder if when you were talking to her, you weren't also thinking of somebody else. Someone who was always forcing you to adapt to his needs, regardless of your emotions. Someone who made you feel unsafe, perhaps?"

She couldn't agree to that. Susan didn't know the full story, which made if understandable for her to draw the wrong conclusions. If anything, he was the one to always adapt to her. She was the one...lacking. Too slow, too weak, too...mortal. She's be dead for now, if it wasn't for him.

And yet, in a corner of her mind, protected by Edward's voice, something she said to her mother sometimes shone bright like a gem under water

"If you hadn't taught me to never speak up, never exist; always please others, always fucking sacrifice everything I feel, like it's my sacred duty in this mortal existence I would have never, never, NEVER!"

Never what?

Susan didn't insist, but Bella knew the subject would come back at some point. She was getting to know her therapist, even if it had been only three weeks. If she was being honest, she would have been disappointed to change for some other doctor. Susan was starting to grow on her.

Convincing Charlie was another thing.

"Italy? You're going to Italy?"

"Yes, dad," Bella said, using the 'dad' on purpose to win him over "it's great isn't it?"'

She explained all the technical details once again, and fortunately he seemed to think they made some sense.

"You'll come back and visit, right?"

"Yes, Charlie. I will" she promised, hoping she'd be able to keep her word. "But it will be alright, you don't have to worry."

"It doesn't have anything to do with Cull- with them, right? "

"What? No! Absolutely not, Charlie I'm doing this for me. I want to go. "

How could he imagine she would take a flight to Italy just to join them, she thought with a tight pain on her chest at the mention of their name.

Because she would have. Honestly if they had called her, instead of Caius, and told her they wanted her back. She would have come.

For the first time, part of her saw how pathetic that sounded. But she would just accept anything to be back together with… with her family. Whichever one would claim her first. The Volturi did, so she'd go to them. It was that simple. She would have to talk to Susan about that, she decided, making a mental note to herself.

She actually heard Charlie smile on the other end of the phone line "you want to go. Bella in only three weeks you actually want to do something. Not just anything, enrolling in university, changing your life."

"I… guess so. Why, is this weird? " Is This suspicious?

"No, just… I'm proud of you, Bella." His voice was hoarse «You really had me worried you know" But was he crying? Bella felt like tearing up herself

"I know Dad. I'm sorry. You were right, about me needing change, and help" She sniffed loudly "thank you Dad. "

"You… you know I… I love you, Bella. And that I'll always be just a phone call away"

Oh gosh but this was harder than she thought it'll be. "Yeah. Me too Dad. Call me anytime. I love you too. "

"And you better visit! Don't go all European forgetting your old man here"

"I won't, I promise" She said in between sobs.

After that, it took Bella a moment before she was strong enough to open her suitcase.

_xXx_

Dear Reader

Gosh, it's dusty in here

I'm team Charlie, how about you?

This was a great week, and I'm really glad more of you keep reading this fiction and adding it to your favorites. Please don't hesitate to post a small review, I read them all with absolute pleasure.

Now I wish you a great weekend, stay safe, and see you on Monday.