My heart pounded in my chest as I adjusted the hem of the black dress Alice had insisted I wear, for what felt like the hundredth time. She shot me a warning glare and my hands stilled immediately, she still hadn't explained what exactly it was that they would be eating and i'd be lying if I hadn't feared for my life momentarily.
She had picked me up at precisely seven, as promised and had driven us here. Now we were stood outside the large modern door that led into the Cullen house she seemed to pause for a moment, before turning to me.
"I just used the word dinner to make you feel more comfortable. We wont be eating." She confessed.
"Oh" I said, feeling my brow furrow in confusion. "Wait, who is we?"
At this she cringed slightly before answering. "You're here because he requested it, specifically. I'm guessing he will have had food prepared for you. Human food." She clarified.
"And you chose NOW to tell me this?" I knew my voice was rising but so was the panic that had so far remained somewhat dormant in my chest.
"Now Bella, calm down. I knew you wouldn't have come if you thought-"
"I thought we were done keeping things from each other Alice?" I knew I sounded disappointed but I didn't have it in me to hide my feelings. I had hoped we could move forward, but that wouldn't happen if she was going to continue to manipulate me to suit her own agenda, just like the other members of her family.
She took my hands in her cold grip. "Bella, I'm sorry. But he made it perfectly clear you weren't meant to know. I'm risking everything by warning you now. Aro wanted you here. He enjoys playing games and toying with Edward whilst you are sat watching will be an opportunity he can't pass up."
I nodded in understanding and realised just how much Alice was risking by telling me the truth. I smiled at her weakly and for the first time felt just how vulnerable I would be in a house full of Vampires.
"Don't worry, I wont leave your side." She whispered at me, almost as if it were she who had the gift for mind reading, before she opened the door and stood back to let me walk inside.
'What am I doing, what am I doing, what am I doing.' Was the mantra I repeated to myself in my head as I ascended the steps up to the kitchen, feeling a flash of deja vous as I recalled the first time I had stepped foot inside the Cullen residence.
"Bella!" Esme was the first to greet me, her enthusiastic call coupled with her kind face would have put me at ease, if it weren't for the worry that I could see in her golden eyes. She embraced me in what would have been a warm hug if it weren't for her distinctly different body temperature. "I had hoped you wouldn't come." She whispered so low into my ear that I almost didn't hear her. She pulled back and smiled at me sadly.
I felt confusion blossom in the pit of my stomach, together with the escalating panic that already resided there I felt that I might be sick, or pass out. Neither option sounded particularly appealing considering the company I was surrounded by.
"Everyone is in the dining room." Esme said, her emotions were always so visible that she struggled to hide the tremble in her voice. I looked at her with the confusion I felt showing plainly on my face as Alice took my hand and led me to the seldom used dining area.
The dining room was encompassed entirely by glass windows and suspended from the side of the house over the surrounding forest. It was a beautiful room that made you feel as if you were dining among the treetops. I had always thought It was such a shame the Cullen's had little reason to use it.
A large, long table sat in the centre of the room and I struggled to control my heartbeat as I looked at the Vampires who sat around it. Carlisle stood to greet me, momentarily blocking my view and helping me to calm before I faced the storm that awaited me.
"Bella, welcome. It's been too long." He said as he embraced me, and I knew he was telling the truth. This was his apology of sorts, without actually telling the other company in the room how we had been separated.
I noted from the corner of my eye that Edward had stood and made his way toward me, his beautiful face was tense and angry and I took a moment to wonder just what the others had been thinking.
"It's ok Edward, Bella is going to sit with me." Alice said kindly but in a tone that broke no argument and I silently thanked her. I didn't have the energy to argue with Edward and sitting beside him all evening whilst he glared at everyone who dared think about me didn't seem appealing.
Edward momentarily froze and glared at Alice before he turned on his heel to stalk back to his seat, I noticed as he left that the men around the table had stood upon my entry and were now all looking at me. This dress really had been a bad idea but Alice had refused to let me go in my usual casual jeans and top. I felt like it clung too much but in reality I knew that it didn't, I was just self conscious. It was flattering in all the right places and lace clung to my shoulders and arms meaning that whilst very little skin was on show it felt provocative.
I fought not to look immediately to the head of the table where I knew he stood watching me. Instead I looked at Jasper and Emmet and smiled at them, they both greeted me politely, Jasper did so in a somewhat strained sounding voice. Then I had no choice but to finally look at them, I couldn't remember the names of some of them. I of course knew Jane and Alec, but the names of the other two male vampires eluded me. I knew they weren't the leaders as I hadn't forgotten the faces of the three powerful men I had faced previously so they must have been members of the guard. One was large and bulky, this was the one who had thrown Edward around so easily, I remembered, once my life had been threatened. The other was smaller, with sandy hair and bright red eyes. They both merely nodded once, sharply in my direction before sitting again either side of him.
Finally when I looked at him it was a mere glance and I suddenly realised that whatever bravado I had, had fled me once the moment to face him had come. I felt like a coward as I bowed my head and followed Alice to the only two remaining seats left; I sat between her and Emmet down the side of the table that contained only the Olympic clan. Opposite were the Volturi.
It made quite a picture, the two leaders of each coven at opposite heads of the table, everyone knew however just who was in charge here. His rich, melodic voice drifted down to me from the head of the table.
"Dearest Isabella, how lovely to see you again. And still human." The last part was directed at Carlisle and Edward, not so much a question as an accusation.
"Let's not pretend you'd rather she was any other way." Edward growled and I saw Carlisle shoot him a glare of warning.
Aro tutted. "You ought to mind your tongue, Edward. You are just lucky my brothers aren't here to witness your betrayal."
"Why aren't they here? Or perhaps do they not agree with your obsessive-"
"Edward!" Carlisle reprimanded before he quickly turned to face Aro. "Forgive my son his lack of respect. He is quick tempered as of late."
I glanced briefly at Aro to see that he had laid a hand upon Jane's delicate wrist and I realised it was to stop her from unleashing her power. As I raised my eyes I realised that his were now firmly upon me, once our gazes met I looked away again, quickly feeling heat suffuse my cheeks.
"Whilst I understand that we are guests in your home Carlisle, I will not restrain her again." The threat was clear but whilst Aro had been addressing Carlisle his gaze had remained fixated upon me. "Now, I will admit I am pleased to see that you aren't one of us just yet."
I struggled to keep my face impassive as I wondered why he had put such an emphasis on the word just. I realised that I wouldn't be able to endure the rest of this 'dinner' in silence and gathered my courage before I raised my head and eyes to meet his.
"I have decided I no longer wish to be one of you." My voice was strong and for that I was grateful. Alice had enclosed my hand in hers beneath the table and it gave me strength as I held his stare defiantly.
"Is that so? You know the rules, Isabella." His head tilted to one side and he placed his fingers against his chin as he looked at me with avid interest.
"I do. But I decided I would rather not remain a teenager forever." I felt, rather than heard Rosalie shuffle slightly toward me on the other side of Emmet. I knew she supported my decision and felt grateful for her show of solidarity. Aro merely held my gaze as he lifted one of his hands palm up and held it out to his side. For a moment I was confused and glanced around the table to see if I was the only one, but then Edward stood jerkily and walked toward Aro and comprehension dawned. Aro had told Edward in his thoughts to come to him, to let him see everything.
I panicked for a moment as I thought about everything that had happened between Edward and I, everything he had witnessed. All the thoughts Edward had heard, maybe even Alice's thoughts. I stood abruptly just as Edwards hand was about to touch Aro's, my chair fell back with a loud bang upon the stone floor and Aro turned to look at me in curiosity.
"If there's something you'd like to know, I'd rather you ask me. Since my life is now forfeit anyway." I took a deep breath and felt it shake in my throat as Aro lowered his hand to clasp it back together with the other that had remained at his chin.
I felt as though the whole table was surrounded by a heavy cloud of suspense, everyone was waiting to see how Aro would react. He flicked his wrist and waved Edward away before he stood and I took a moment to admire his height. I hadn't realised just how tall he was considering he was usually stood next to his beefy bodyguard, who eclipsed everyone in height.
He walked fluidly around to where I stood and I turned my head minutely, trying not to lose him in my field of vision but I did. The only clue I had to where he was stood was the crackle of invisible tension I could feel between us. I heard the scrape of the chair as he lifted it from the floor and felt the gentle pressure of it at the back of my legs. I sat slowly and he pushed the chair in with my movement.
I couldn't restrain myself as I jumped visibly when he laid his cool hands upon my shoulders, their lack of heat seeped through the lace on my skin.
"Fear not Isabella, I will not invade dear Edward's thoughts tonight." A finger traced up my neck to my ear where it stroked against the shell before coming to rest at my earlobe. "These are magnificent pearls, they suit you." I swallowed thickly and my heart pounded within my chest as he moved away but left his phantom touch behind, chilling my ear and yet warming it at the same time.
A/N: A lovely long chapter for you, and so quickly after my last update! Since I spoil you why don't you return the favour and leave a review? :)