Eyes Wide Open

JacobxBella

Rated M

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or the franchise, as it belongs to Steph Meyers

Eyes Wide Open

Chapter 27

The drive to the Cullen mansion seemed to take ridiculously longer than usual. But perhaps it was because she was trying to gain her bearings about being back there after so long. Bella and Jacob had left Ms. Opal's house after staying for another ten minutes, and Bella had suggested they go straight to Carlisle and Aro to fill them in on her decision. Jacob had wanted her to wait it out, but Bella had argued that if she held back on letting them know her decision, she'd never say it. That, and she didn't want to have another run-in with Edward for her to make the decision she had already made.

Jacob looked beside him at Bella as he drove her truck, noticing her troubled expression. He wished she hadn't made such a hasty decision to let the Cullens know she wanted Aro's help right away, but he also knew she was too stubborn to change her mind about waiting. Even Shadow was looking at his mistress in concern before turning to look at Jacob, a small whine leaving him. Jacob rubbed the top of his head before reaching past him to take Bella's hand in his.

The brunette looked over towards him and asked, "What is it?"

"You really want to do this now?" Jacob asked. "We can wait until later."

Shaking her head, Bella answered, "No, I need to let them know my decision now. The sooner I let Aro know I want his help concerning Edward, the sooner he will do something about it and Edward will leave me alone. Hopefully Aro will work fast and can get whatever he has planned before next week. I really don't need Edward cornering me at random in school."

"I know you feel that way Bells, but I just don't trust this leech. Even if he does help us with your leech problem, what is keeping him from doing something to you or me or the Pack? You did say after all that one of them hates werewolves."

"Yes, but it's not Aro."

"But what if he has some sort of aversion to us too? After all, we are designed to kill their kind and can do it."

Bella looked at her love's aura for a moment before closing her eyes and sighing. Opening them again she said softly, "I just have to believe this is all going to work out. And like Ms. Opal said, it might just be worth taking this risk then letting the problem fester, no matter what the can of worms brings in taking Aro's help. And whatever comes next, we'll deal with it."

Jacob had to admire Bella's determination and courage. Life had dealt her a bad hand when she got involved with the Cullens that resulted in his blindness, but she had grabbed life by the balls and was rolling with the punches. She was much stronger than she had been before and more confident in herself, yet Cullen was lurking around trying to snuff out the light that she had finally found in her. Her wanting to take that back and take control of the situation wasn't farfetched, but he wanted her to do so safely and not make any reckless decisions. It did help to know that she was still wary about accepting Aro's help, but it still made him uneasy about what would come later.

Soon he pulled into the driveway of the Cullen mansion, the house stupidly large and imposing, no matter how fancy it was. Putting the truck in park and shutting off the engine, he got out of it and walked around to the other side where Bella had opened the door and Shadow had hopped out. She got out after him, her white stick tapping the ground before closing the truck door. Taking her hand he asked, "Ready?"

"Ready," Bella replied.

The two of them walked up to the front door of the mansion, Shadow walking with them, his nose filled with the sickly stench of those creatures that seemed to want to be around his mistress. Low growls escaped his muzzle, his hackles raised as he went on instant alert. Bella's white stick tapped against the steps of the Cullens' porch, and she lifted her foot to climb the steps, Jacob helping her along the way. Before either one of them were able to knock on the door, the door opened and revealed Esme. Shadow immediately began barking, only allowing his barks to decrease to growls when his mistress calmed him down a bit. This creature seemed to be more friendly than the others, but he didn't trust her one bit.

Esme smiled kindly at them and greeted, "Hello Bella, hello Jacob. Please, come in." She looked down at Shadow and smiled at him as well. "You can come in, too."

Jacob, Bella, and Shadow all walked into the Cullen mansion, following Esme to the main room. As Bella walked, she gave in involuntary shiver. She remembered first being brought into the house. She had thought it had been magnificent if not excessively big, but it had been wonderful and homey. But now, now she felt cold being here. Was it because she wasn't seeing it now, she could feel and realize that the glamour the house gave off was to hide the cold and dark secrets held inside? She knew it did, as she had realized a lot of things since losing her eyesight. Even though she was blind now, she wasn't blind anymore to the dazzling the Cullens and Edward had done to her in the months she had been in Forks. No, her eyes were wide open and she suddenly found that if she never got her eyesight back, at least her eyes were open to what had truly happened with her and she could see now those that genuinely cared for her for who she was and not how they wanted her to be.

Following Esme into the main room, Jacob and Bella were met with the Carlisle and Aro standing waiting for them. Shadow growled at them and stood defensively next to Bella, Jacob's hand holding hers a little tighter as his shoulders tensed. Smiling at them Carlisle said, "Jacob, Bella, welcome."

"Hi Carlisle," Bella greeted politely.

"Hello Bella, young Jacob," Aro greeted with a grin.

Jacob hummed and nodded at them, not really wanting to speak, least of all to the vampire king. Aro chuckled and turned his attention to the brunette standing next to the Shifter. Looking at her he asked, "Can I assume you are here to tell me whether you are taking my offer to help or not?"

Bella swallowed and nodded, her grip on Jacob's hand tightening. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Yes, I am. I've done some thinking and decided on what to do. Aro, I want your help in dealing with Edward. Whatever you plan on doing, I would like you to do it to keep Edward away from me and out of my life."

Aro nodded, smiling at the determination in the girl's voice. Grinning he said, "As you wish, Miss Swan. Consider your request done, and I promise to have your situation dealt with within forty-eight hours. Perhaps sooner if Edward doesn't resist me."

Jacob didn't like the way Aro's red eyes glinted in the light as he said that but decided to let it go. He was going to deal with the stalking leech, and that was good enough for him. Looking at Carlisle with a hard expression, he said, "Just to be clear, once this is all over and done with, you and your family need to leave Forks and never return here ever again. You and your family have caused enough trouble and I won't have you creating any more problems."

Carlisle and Esme looked at each other, sad expressions on their faces, but they knew this was coming. Nodding he acquiesced, "I understand Jacob, and I agree. I believe my family and I have overstayed our welcome and caused enough trouble for not only Bella, but you as well. Once Edward has been dealt with, we will leave within a week. That should be enough time for us to move and secure a new place to exist for a while."

Satisfied with that answer, Jacob nodded to him before turning his attention back towards Aro, the vampire staring at Bella rather intently. Frowning and instantly on his guard, Jacob wrapped his arm around the brunette's shoulders and pulled her close to him, molding her to his side. Bella seemed to know that Aro was staring at her as well, for she pressed herself into Jacob as well while Shadow moved from beside of Bella to slightly in front of her, standing on guard while growling lowly at the old vampire.

Aro watched them for a moment before turning to Carlisle, a fond smile on his face. "Well old friend, if you will excuse me, I will be off finding young Edward."

Aro waltzed towards the door to leave, ready to begin his hunt of Edward Cullen. However, before he left, Carlisle calling his name stopped him. Turning back towards him he asked, "Yes Carlisle?"

Carlisle had a pained expression on his face before saying, "I know you will…dispose of him only if you have to, but please try and spare Edward's life if you can; he's my son."

"I know, and like you I am fond of him too. But we cannot allow his shenanigans continue Carlisle, not while this girl's life is hanging in the balance. Not only her life, but the secret of our true nature and those of the wolf Shifters." Aro turned to look at Bella before continuing to speak. "Oh, and Bella?"

Bella blinked and stuttered, "Y-Yes?"

"Let's have a talk when all this drama with Edward is over. Carlisle told me enough to get me involved, but I'd like to hear your side of the story about everything and how you really got involved with Carlisle and his family, particularly young Edward."

Bella stiffened at his words and Jacob glared at him, his hold on Bella tightening slightly. Looking at the leech he demanded, "Why?"

Aro simply smiled at the young man. "So I can decide what to do about her knowing our secret. She isn't supposed to know about us, and yet she does, and nothing was done about it other than keep her knowledge of us quiet."

Esme gasped and Carlisle stepped forward. "Aro, please."

"I cannot let this go without taking some form of action, Carlisle. You know the rules, better than anyone. The penalty of knowing about our existence has not been carried out, so I have to make a decision. But take comfort in knowing I won't make it right away, for I have to deal with Edward." Aro looked at the shaking brunette. "I will alert you when I am ready to speak. Until then, Isabella."

With that, Aro was gone, leaving Esme, Carlisle, Jacob, Bella, and Shadow in the main room of the Cullen mansion. Bella was shaking terribly at Aro's words, her heart racing in her chest at them. Aro, one of the kings of the Volturi, was going to personally do something about the fact that she knew about the existence of vampires. This was the can of worms she was afraid of opening, but she also should have seen this coming, especially when the high king so to speak left Italy to come to Forks personally. She didn't know what to do, other than agonize over when she would be contacted by Aro once he dealt with Edward.

Her voice shaking, she whispered out, "Jake."

Jacob held her close and replied, "It's alright, honey."

He then noticed that she had tears in her eyes, frightened tears that were threatening to spill over. The sight of them made his heart ache in his chest. Jacob then looked at Carlisle and Esme, his teeth clenched as he sought to control his anger at the situation that they were now in. "I hope you're happy now. You've all ruined Bella's life more than necessary. Like I said, once the leech king has dealt with your pitiful son, get the hell up out of here."

The Alpha said no more, just simply lead Bella out of the mansion and back outside to her truck, Shadow hot on their heels. Once they were in the truck, the tears that Bella hadn't cried fell down her cheeks, her hands trying desperately to wipe away them away but they just kept coming. Shadow whined and placed his head on Bella's lap from his place in the floor of her truck, trying to lend her comfort to make her feel better. Jacob hugged her and shushed her, urging her to calm down but knew that his honey would stop when she was ready. She had been putting on a brave face about everything up to this point, it wasn't a surprise that she had finally broken down to cry, even though her crying was due to the fear of Aro's words and what they could mean for her.

Wanting to get Bella away from the mansion and all the vampires, Jacob put the red beast in drive after cranking it up, and pulled away from there, heading right back to Forks to the Swan residence. Along the way, as Bella's crying subsided into sniffles, Jacob gripped the steering wheel tightly in his grip, an almost murderous expression on his face.

That leech thinks he can do something to Bells, just because she knows about him and the other fucking vampires of the world, Jacob thought. Over my dead body. I won't let him take, hurt, or kill Bella. He'll have to kill me before he gets his hands on Bells.

And Jacob was serious about it, meant it. If Aro wanted Bella, he would have to go through him first. Aro wanted to hurt Bella because of that fuck-up Cullen? Not on his watch.