Chapter 14 – Confessions
I became a statue. "Bella?" someone called my name. I didn't even blink. "Bella?" Edward grabbed my shoulders and made me face him. I blinked slowly, "Why me?" was all I could say. "Because things like this happened to you all the time," Emmett interjected. Edward, Jasper and I scowled at him. "Em, this is so not the time," I spat. "We'll leave you two alone." Jasper offered. He elbowed Emmett in the ribs, "Let's go." Jasper and Emmett left, leaving me to crumble in front of Edward. "Bella, it'll be fine." I looked at him, "How? It won't be fine. You know as well as I do Felix will not give up." I groaned, "He reminds me of Jacob. Jacob just kept pushing for more of a relationship." Edward stared at me, "What do you mean?" "Well, he was persistent in what he wanted. He put Mike Newton to shame." I closed my eyes, "Edward?" "Yes?" I looked up at him, "Who the hell is Mike Newton?" I chuckled, "He was one of the boys in our school who really liked you." I nodded, "That makes sense. I remember when the three of us went to the movies. The movie was awful, but both of them kept their hands on the armrest, hoping I would take one of them. I felt like a poor animal being cornered." Edward put his hand under my chin, "Y6ou remember that?" I nodded, "Yes. I know that was several months after something terrible happened to me and I was trying to recover."
He sighed deeply, "It must have happened after I left you." I looked at him, "I still don't remember that part. I have more memories of you, but I don't remember you leaving." He half-smiled, "honestly, I 'm glad you don't. I don't want you to remember that day." I leaned my head against his neck, "Even if I do remember one day, I know I will not be mad. You were just trying to keep me safe." Edward wrapped his arms around me and his lips found mine. Being wrapped in his embrace, I felt warm. I felt a sense that we had done this before, just standing with each other, locked in our arms. He brushed my hair back and held me closer. Too soon, he broke the kiss, "We should get back. I'm sure you'll want to see your friend off." I smiled, "you read my mind." He smiled and kissed me again, "I wish." "You go ahead. I'll be right there." Edward kissed my forehead and dashed off in the direction of home. I paced the field I was in. How was I going to let Felix down gently? Men like him have large and fragile egos. He would try and get back at me, or worse, my family Edward. I picked up the sound that someone was running through the trees. I looked back and saw a flash of red.
My eyes narrowed. This was my family's territory. I ran after the flash until I caught up with it. It was a woman with long flowing red hair. She glared at me. "Where you hunting in this region?" She scowled at me, "No, just passing through." The woman had crimson eyes and a feline face. It struck a cord of familiarity, but I put it aside. She smiled, "I saw you early? He's very handsome." "Thank you." I saw she was a little disheveled, "We have a home near by. Would you like to come by and clean up?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, "We?" "My family. We're the Denali clan. Our cousins, the Cullens are visiting." She looked at me, "I've met the Cullens." "Well, then, please, come with me. I am Isabella Denali." "Isabella? Denali?" She looked me over and smiled, "I'm sorry, I thought you were someone else. You looked so familiar." I half-smiled, "It happens to all of us." She lowered her head, "But I must decline your invitation. I was just going to meet some friends of my own." She turned away, but looked back at me, "By the way, was that young man, Edward? The youngest son in the family?" "Yes." Her eyes widened, "It's nice to see Edward find someone. Goodbye."
She dashed off and I watched her. I watched as her hair blew behind her and it brought back my memories of me in the hospital. A nurse with similar red hair, standing over me. I ran back home, with this gnawing feeling. I entered the house in time to see Alec and Jane leaving. Alec held Jane's wrist as Alice came to hold mine. Carlisle was saying goodbye and he looked at us. My sister smiled, as did the Cullens. I smiled, "Alec, can I talk to you for a second?" He nodded and we went into the kitchen. I turned to face him, "I thought I should let you know, Felix said he wasn't planning on returning to Volterra... ever." Alec's eyes widened, "Why not?" I shrugged, "He didn't say." Alec deliberated, "I will inform Aro. Thank you, Isabella." He hugged me and left. I leaned against the counter with a devious smile. I wasn't playing fair, but I had to get my life back on track. And having Felix staying here wasn't helping. I heard the twins depart. I pushed the kitchen door open to find my sisters standing there, all of them with their arms folded. I smiled, "What?" Tanya was shaking her head, "You are an evil little girl." I scoffed, "Thank you, but what are you talking about?" They looked at each other, then back at me. "We heard you. Felix wasn't going to go back to Volterra and you told Alec, knowing he will tell Aro." I rolled my eyes, "And?" "So you have no intention on telling him the truth?" I held up one finger, "Now, I never said that. Of course, I'm going to do the right thing and tell him. Just…. me telling Alec would expedite the whole thing."
Carmen scoffed, "Don't give us that. We know you." I shook my head, "Hey, do you think I'm that evil?" "Yes!" they said together. I made a face. I walked past them, but Kate got ahead of me, walking into the living room, "Was she like this before?" Alice giggled, "Nope. She was very sweet." My eyes widened as I sat on the armrest of the couch, next to Edward, "I'm still nice." Irina stifled a giggle. I reached back and slapped her arm. Edward chuckled, "I know you are." We smiled at each other. "Bella," I looked up at Esme, "so what are you going to do?" I sighed, "I'm going to tell Felix that there is no relationship for us and it would be best if he went back to Volterra." "What?!" Felix and Demetri were standing at the French doors. Felix was staring at me and I froze. Irina stared at Demetri, biting down on her lip. Carlisle stood, "We'll leave you alone." The family departed, but Alice was gawking at me. Carlisle looked back, "Alice?" She waved at him, "Yea, see you later." Rosalie pinched Alice's ear. "Oh Rosalie! Come on!" Alice protested, being dragged from the room.
I wanted to laughed, but looking at Felix, I didn't chance it. Demetri looked at Irina, "Is that what you had to tell me?" She nodded. "You're choosing him," and Felix was pointing in the direction the Cullens left. "Yes, I am." "Why?" I looked at him, "Because of what you two had." I nodded, "And for what he and I could have." Felix held my face, "But I could give you more." I looked in his eyes, "Felix, you mean, that you could give me more power. I don't care about having power." He looked at me, "Is that all you think?" I nodded, "Yes." Irina and Demetri went outside to have their conversation. "Isabella, I would and could give you more than that." "I know, but you should give it to the one for you. And that's not me." He looked at me, "But you think you're the one for Edward." I shrugged, "I don't know. All I know is that I want to be with him. Not because of a past I can't remember, but from my heart." Felix stared into my eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off. "Isabella!" I looked back to where my sister's shrieked voice called me. Kate ran into the room, "Kat, what's wrong?" She took my hand, "Come on, Alice had a vision." Irina came back into the room, "What did she see?"
Kate towed me to the top of the stairs, where Emmett and Rosalie stared at me. "What is it?" Edward came out of Alice's bedroom with shocked eyes, fixed on my face. I went into Alice's room and found her with her eyes closed. "Bella?" I sat down next to her, "Alice, what did you see?" She looked up at me, "Charlie." My eyebrows furrowed, "My dad? What about him?" Edward held my shoulders and I looked up at him, "Bella, Victoria is going after your father." My eyes widened, "Why?! Why, after all this time?" I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to think clearly. Jasper tried to calm me, "Jasper, it won't work." My father was in danger and I couldn't do much to help him.
