Chapter 15: Chance Meeting

"...I know! Did you see the size of that thing..." Demitri was still thrilling over our last hunt in the Madagascar Rainforest.

We had left Volterra and spent just under two weeks together sightseeing the forest. We spent a lot of time wandering the area, hunting and swimming the waters. It's was beautiful there, definitely a needed change from this other world we live in.

It was mid-day in Volterra, so we were taking the tunnels back into the castle; hand in hand, walking at a human pace "It was fun" I replied to him through laughter at something he had said.

"I can't wait to do it again." He agreed looking down at me.

We had just rounded a corner when he had said that, putting us face to face with Edward the translator, and the repugnant smell of the shape shifter Jacob, making it so I was unable to reply.

Neither Edward or Jacob had not been moving down the tunnel, Edward stopping them and hearing our thoughts as we approached, I was sure, but seeing them put the two of us to a halt.

"What are you doing here?!" Demitri demanded after a long silence. Edward hadn't said anything, just stood staring at me with an unreadable expression on his face.

When he finally looked away to answer Demitri, his expression shifted and changed, making him look like an angry lover, like he wanted to rip his throat out and eat it.

"Business, that is none of your concern." He seethed.

Edward wasn't as big as Demitri in size, but he was menacing none the less. The look on his face and the venom in his words had me questioning who would come out ahead if these two were to battle, and having Jacob as backup was worrisome; he was bigger than Demitri. The thought woke my protective side, so I shielded Demitri before anything were to happen.

Knowing what I had done, Edward looked at me, his face changing instantly from anger to something sad. Like in the clearing, I felt an overwhelming urge to take his pain away, something I still couldn't explain, but I quickly pushed it aside.

"If your business is concluded, I would suggest you leave, before something happens or someone changes their mind." I informed him. I wasn't sure what reason he could have to be here, but I knew without a doubt that if trouble were to ensue, Edward and Jacob in total were far outnumbered and would not walk away.

"May I speak with you privately?" He pleaded.

"No."

"Please Bella, just talk to me, just for a few minutes." his voice was devastating.

"I have nothing to say to you, I've told you and your friends that already." I said to him, not unkindly. "Please just go."

"Bella please! There are things that you don't understand, things that you have to know..."

"No." I said to him tightly this time. My chest was beginning to ache and I didn't understand the hollow feeling that was beginning to pound through me, I found myself wrapping my arms around me.

"Are you alright?" Demitri turned me to look at him, grabbing my face in both of his hands, worry spreading across his features.

"Yes?... No, … I don't know..." I shook my head at his question, unsure what was happening or how to answer.

"She's reacting to you." Jacob said in a deep meaningful voice. "Just like she used to when she was still human, when you left her." he finished angrily, looking to Edward as he said the last part.

"What?" I questioned him, pulling myself from Demitri. "Are you doing this to me?"

"No Bella." Edward answered fervently.

"You may not remember us Bella, but your body still does. You feel it don't you? It hurts to look at him." Jacob said stepping forward and pointing accusingly at Edward. "It may not beat, but your heart is still breaking."

"Jacob! You're not helping." Edward hissed quietly at him.

"Screw you bloodsucker, she remembers, or a part of her does at least, look at her." He wafted his hand towards me. "She looks like she used to."

"Don't." Edward closed his eyes "Just stop, please." He begged, flaring up my concern for him yet again.

"What are you doing?! What is going on?" I took a step forward, only to be stopped by Demitri.

"Jacob here has a very good memory." Edward answered my pleas. "He's just making sure I'm aware of it."

"What are you talking about?"

"It doesn't matter, they are leaving. NOW." Demitri demanded. He was angry and he was acting as a Volturi guard. He walked past me, stepping in front of me, shielding me from the two of them.

"This stops now." He commanded. "If you want to leave, then leave now."

"We just want to talk to her, why are you all so afraid to let her?" Jacob questioned him aloof.

"She said she has nothing to say to you animals." He directed to Jacob. "Or you." He finished looking to Edward.

"Worried she might remember Demitri?" Edward said to him sourly and confident.

Demitri didn't say anything at that, they just stared icy glares at one another.

"Well, as entertaining as this has been," Jane said walking in from another corridor "I do believe it is time for you to go." She said stepping next to Demitri, turning her back on us and looking at the other two.

"Jane." Edward sighed in recognition and resignation.

"Edward." She spoke to him conversationally. "I thought Aro had dismissed you after your meeting."

"He did, we were just leaving." He said to her.

"Good." She replied to him "I doubt he would think very highly of you still being here, harassing his guards no less."

"No. I don't believe he would think highly of me still being here." He told her curtly. He moved then, closer to us; to the way out of the tunnels, but stopped when he was able to see me again.

"Bella..." He began to speak.

"No Edward. Just go." I told him, feeling a bit foolish that I was being hidden by Demitri and bailed out by Jane. Edward and Jacob were no one I feared. "If I should ever decide to speak with you, I will let you know."

"You are planning to stay on here then?" He asked, a seemingly ridiculous question to me.

"Of course." I said to him, and if I hadn't been paying attention and looking straight at him, I might have missed the small, fleeting smirk that passed over his lips.

He didn't say anything after that, just nodded, turned on his heel and walked past us towards the end of the tunnel with Jacob following.

Once they had left, I turned to Jane "Why were they here?"

"I have no idea; the meetings were private between him and the Elders." She told me.

"Meetings? They've been here more than once?"

"Edward has been here more than once, the dog only twice. I have no idea what they want Bella, maybe Aro will tell you." She finished dismissively then turned and walked away.

Demitri and I followed more slowly behind her, taking our time entering the castle. Once inside he escorted me the rest of the way to my room.

"Are you alright?" He asked "Did they hurt you? Do something to you?"

"No." I told him. "I don't think so anyway, I'm fine." I smiled at him so he wouldn't see through the lie.

He left me alone shortly after, so I could unpack and get cleaned up. I was grateful for the time to think, but scared; scared of the throbbing that was still quietly humming in my chest.

(2/23/11)