A/N: Hi Everyone! Thanks for your patience with this chapter! I hope you enjoy and feel free to review. Love hearing from all of you xoxo. HAPPY READING!
CHAPTER TWENTY
(BPOV)
I tried to pull myself together as the many miles continued to pass on, but as Edwards words cut through the former silence, any resolve I had acquired began to slip away again.
"I am doing this for your own good. You should thank me. Show some gratitude!"
I glared at him, feeling the sting of tears as they welled in my eyes.
His smug arrogance was truly astounding.
"We'll be arriving at our destination soon. You should eat something." He then insisted.
"I'm not hungry." I bit back.
"Suit yourself, you'll need your strength. It's going to be a long night. Aro will surely have many questions and demands when we arrive."
My mind raced back to the painting that decorated Carlisle's wall in their home before they had left. The dark haired man in the middle, whose eyes could burn a hole through you, was now the focal point of my thoughts. I had never met him but knew of the stories Carlisle had told, knew of his devout power over their kind and the lengths he would go to keep their secret. I winced as Jacobs sunny smile flashed before my eyes.
He would know I was missing by now. He would be turning forks and La' Push upside down to find me.
He would soon discover who had me and he would hunt Edward down for it. He would come for me. I was certain and I was terrified at what that could mean for him.
"The plans Aro has for you are thrilling. He has discussed them with me... you will be magnificent for his use Isabella. Your future will be limitless. You will be able to have anything you desire... for all eternity.
I looked away from him upon hearing his words, my hands balling into fists as I thought of all he would be taking from me.
My human life was slipping away from me and I felt powerless to stop it. Like sand through an invisible hourglass.
The words left my mouth before I could stop them.
"Kill me."
Edward slammed on the brakes at this, jolting me forward as he swerved the car hastily off to the side of the long and winding road.
"Excuse me?" He angrily hissed. "Are you really that ungrateful to me? You have been given that which you wanted all along."
"I don't want it anymore!" I shouted, meeting his icy gaze with a cold one of my own. "I am not grateful to you for anything. I was foolish before... to be so willing to throw away my human existence and all that went with it for you. The only thing I owe you thanks for is for leaving me when you did. You shouldn't have come back for me. You should have left me alone. I'm not as invisible as you like to think I am. They will know I'm missing by now and they will look for me."
"They?" He hissed my way. "I assume you are referring to that mutt you've been spending your nights with."
"Jacob." I clarified. " -and I've spent more than just my nights with him."
Edward sat back in his seat, his eyes narrowing at me in accusation now.
"Why yes, I've seen your affection for him through the eyes of my nosy sister. Seems he played on your heartache? Don't you think?"
Anger welled within me from his callous words.
"Don't speak of him like that. You know nothing about him." I snapped.
"I know we are enemies and that his blood will be on your hands when he comes for you."
I shuttered and drew away from him in response, my eyes wide in horror as he peeled away from the curb and headed for Volterra.
Time seemed to tick on in agonizing fashion as we neared the city. Street lights lined the elaborate and winding roads as Volterra began to unfold before me. I shook when the car slowed, seeing a man cloaked in black waiting as Edward approached him. He removed his hood and my gasp was audible as his red eyes peered through the darkness at us.
This was the end for me.
I couldn 't breathe when Edwards iron clad hand gripped my forearm and forcefully removed me from the car. I kicked and screamed anyway, hoping against all hope that someone would hear my cries.
Edward hauled me along as if I were weightless, forcing me into the dark corridors of Aro's lair. My eyes struggled to see as he pushed me onward. It felt as if the halls were never ending and my legs were nearly burning with exhaustion before Edward paused by a single door, his eyes peering into the window above us.
"We've arrived."
"Please don't do this." I frantically begged him, feeling desperate enough to try anything. "It doesn't have to be this way."
"I'm afraid it does." He coldly offered, swinging the door open wide and hauling me through it with him. I felt numb as the men in the haunted painting from the Cullens home were suddenly brought to life before me. Their sinister and somewhat sadisitic smiles, making the breath in my body nearly cease.
"Ah Edward." Aro sighed, raising his hands in delight. "Finally, we have been waiting patiently for your arrival."
"Yes master. There was a bit of a delay. My apologies."
I stared up at Edward in shock. He had called him master.
My stomach churned as Aro approached me, his eyes a crimson red in color and wide with devout fascination.
"She is well worth the wait." He hissed.
I flinched away from him as he reached to caress a lock of my hair.
"She has been ... difficult." Edward huffed. "It is why we are late."
"Edward tells me you are an exception to his gifts? Is this correct?" Aro asked, his red eyes on mine.
I slowly nodded, feeling as if I could be sick.
"Delightful- simply delightful. There are none within my coven who possess such a unique ability. You are a rarity. A jewel among us. Tell me Edward, did you bring her alone as promised?"
"Yes master."
"She won't be followed then. We need no impromptu intrusions. I find them to be messy and a large inconvenience."
My blood ran cold as Edward's hand took mine in what was meant to be a loving gesture, but only made me more ill from his touch.
"She is with me alone- as promised."
"And the others?" Aro hedged. "Do they need to be dealt with? I've sent Jane to be sure there will be no issues."
"No issues will be found. I assure you." Edward hissed.
"Very good."
The room began to spin as he turned and walked away from us, his dark robe brushing along the floor as he went.
"You know me well by now Edward." Aro sighed, taking his seat on the throne before us. "... and you know I don't like being played for a fool."
Edward released my hand and moved forward in a defensive stance, his eyes as black as the night now.
"I have told you all there is-"
"Lie." Aro snarled, waving his hand at him. "You do yourself no favors by fibbing. I sent Jane and Caius to Forks long before your late arrival. To be sure there would be no mess left in her absence, and based on Jane's report back to me. You have lied to us. We have discovered the wolves and their leader. A factor unknown to me until now."
"A minor detail-" Edward tried to defend.
"Minor is not the word I would use for it. Their kind is more of a threat than you let on."
"They are mere inconveniences and easily handled."
"By whom?" Aro hedged angrily.
"By me if needed."
"You would not be successful. They have experience and numbers. You should already know this. Their tribe expands to the elders."
My head whirled hearing Aro speak of Jacob and the pack so casually, as if he were discussing a business affair instead of lives.
"I am sorry for the misinformation." Edward sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in exasperation. "But the wolves are not a true threat."
"You have taken something from one of them." Aro accused, his crimson glare setting on me with each emphasized word. "This will not settle well with them... from what Jane reports to me... they work together. Much like our coven. If an offense is made against one... they all unite to avenge it."
Edward simply nodded, his face full of apparent anxiety now.
"So how are we to deal with this then?" Aro asked in contemplative fashion, touching his chin and looking away.
Silence settled over us as we awaited his answer and my heart began to beat rapidly against my chest.
"Isabella..." Aro asked, reaching for me with a sly grin. "I believe your personal ties back in Forks will undoubtedly cause bloodshed. Something I'm certainly not opposed to. What was the young mans name again?"
I held my breath as Aro turned his attention to the white haired man who sat beside him with sharp features.
"Jacob."
The sound of his hissed and angry voice saying the name aloud, nearly sent me to the floor.
"Ah yes... dear Jacob. Is he the one whose heart you captured in our dear Edwards departure. Jane did say that this appeared to be the case. Was she correct? Are you tied to this one in such a way that he would come looking for you now?"
I shook as he glared at me, impatiently waiting my response.
I couldn't find my voice... though I tried.
"Answer him!" Edward hissed from beside me, his look cold as ice.
"Yes." I finally admitted, feeling choked as the word left my mouth.
"Well then, they shall all be dealt with... immediately." Aro declared.
"No!" I gasped, lurching myself forward. "No... No- please take me and leave them alone."
Aro found my reaction amusing, seeing the arrogant smile he offered to me in return now.
"You foolish girl! Are you trying to make some sort of deal with me? Do you not know I will get what I want anyway?"
"I will go with you willingly and stay here forever... if- if you leave the pack alone. They shouldn't have to pay for my mistake. Please! I'm begging you."
"You will be of great use to me Isabella.."
"Then take my offer and I will be your servant- for eternity."
I ignored the panic that tried to consume me as I stepped forward and took his offered hand, his eyes wide and filled with blood thirsty color.
"You would give your human life away for that of another so easily? For a mere boy? A wolf no less?"
Tears slid down my cheeks as I thought of Jacob... his warmth... his caring soul... his giving heart. I couldn't live in a world where light like that no longer existed. It would be robbing humanity of such greatness and of such life. It would be wrong on all accounts.
"Yes."
"If that is what you wish than I shall grant your request."
He released my hand and gestured toward the door. I followed his gaze to see a man there of brute stature, his stern stare chilling to behold as he waited for me.
"Go with Marcus. He will show you to your room. We will deal with you more in the morning."
I watched as Aro approached Edward then, speaking sternly to him before I was escorted out of the room. My whole body felt numb as I walked the damp and darkened halls, feeling the harsh grip of Marcus on my arms.
"This way." He yelled, suddenly shoving me down a separate corridor. When we reached the end of the hall, he pointed to the large door before us, swiftly digging out a set of keys from the large pocket on his robe. I heard the heavy door open slowly and tried not to scream as he hauled me forward, forcing me to enter it.
The room was huge. The walls were lined with old paintings and a fire roared away in the small fireplace tucked into the corner. I watched in horror as Marcus dangled the keys in front of me, his tone menacing when he spoke.
"This will be your home now. Aro will be sure you have everything you need. Your human desires will vanish once your changed of course and there will be more than enough supply of fresh blood to satisfy your thirst, so no worry there ... and any other desire you might have."
I gasped as his hand suddenly trailed up under my shirt, his icy touch on my skin making me want to scream. I moved away from him abruptly, huddling myself in the corner as he laughed.
"All in time Bella. All in time."
I held my breath until he shut the door, locking it behind him. When I could no longer hear his footsteps. I sunk down against the wall, my knees buckling beneath me. I
had been running on pure adrenaline for hours and it was wearing off now.
I pulled my knees up to my chest as a sob left me. I had made the right choice... Jacob would be safe. I had to believe that Aro would keep his end of the bargain. I had given him exactly what he wanted... me.