Chapter 12 – Why?
I watched Alice as she slowly blinked, "What are you taking about?" She exhaled a long breath, "The Romanians. They're coming with their own followers. They knew the tower was empty and are heading there right now." I huffed, "Felix." I called his name like he was right next to me and in the next moment he was. Aro came a moment later. Alice offered him her hand and his head bowed. After a short moment, he straightened, "We have to return immediately! They will be there in a few hours." I knew nothing of these Romanians, but they sounded like a threat.
Everyone ran back to their private houses, slipping through the hypnotized crowds, still watching the sky. Felix was out of his costume and into his suit before I could make it upstairs. I was preparing to change, throwing my mask and gloves on the bed, when he held my shoulders, "What do you think you're doing?" I looked at him, "Changing out of my dress. I'm going with you." His eyebrows pulled together and he shook his head, "No, I want you to stay in Venice."
My mouth fell open in surprise. He didn't want me to go with him? I couldn't let him leave without me. "But Felix, I'm…." His lips crushed mine, cutting off my words. There was a resolve in his eyes. A pleading that I didn't understand. The man that looked at me was someone I've never seen before. "The Guard is widely known for having nothing to lose." His arms held me closer, molding my body to his, "But I have you now." His thumb brushed my lip, as his eyes drifted over my face and I sighed, "And you don't want them to know your weakness."
He nodded a hard nod, "Exactly. If I lose you, I lose everything. Please, stay here and enjoy the festival." He kissed me again, harder this time. His lips held me, not letting me escape. There was a knock on the front door, "I have to go." He held my hand as we walked to the front door. It was Esme, "I'll take care of Bella. You go. They're waiting for you." Felix kissed me again and my arm wrapped around his neck. His body straightened, taking me with him. "I love you," he breathed. "I love you too." He looked at me in shock.
It was the first time I said it and it was true. I did love Felix and, until he was back, I was going to be worried about him. Outside, Demetri stood in the street. Felix left and Demetri nodded at me. That was his way of sating goodbye. In that instant, they were gone. Esme and I stood in the door, looking into the empty street. A few people in their festival costumes passed by the open door, looking at myself and Esme. She closed the door, while I sat on the couch, "Who are these Romanians? Why are they attacking Volterra?"
Esme sat on the couch with me, "They once tried to take Aro's power, but lost greatly. Aro had their castles burned for their betrayal. It would seem they thought it was their time for revenge." My arms folded as I shivered at the thought of the fight, "Do you think they'll be all right?" Esme nodded solemnly, "Of course. With Jane alone, this fight will end quickly."
That was true after all. Only Alice, Edward and Aro knew how many fighters were coming and Jane would burn them all. I could picture the rivals falling to the ground, screaming in pain just from her gaze. Easy pickings in Felix's eyes; too easy for him. I could only make a small smile and Esme smiled in return, "Well, let's go back to the festival. It's still early." My feet didn't move. She took my hand, "I know you're worried, but the Volturi have won many fights. That's why they're the ones that enforce the law. He'll be back in two days, if that."
Esme was so much like Renee. She still knew how to make me feel better. I sighed, "All right." My eyes fell to the floor. "Bella, he asked you to enjoy the festival. Let's go." She retrieved my gloves ad mask for me. I looked at her and she smiled, "You still can't stop worrying. At least that hasn't changed." Esme took my hand and walked outside. The others were behind us. Alice took my other hand. The lights of the city shone on us. With a heavy sigh, I tied back on my mask and partook of the festival. Emmett kept me laughing, when I didn't want to. Jasper's influence worked over me. I could taste it; a sweet feeling on my tongue. My mood picked up and I danced with him.
"Sorry, Bella." My smile was genuine, "Don't be. I needed it, so thank you." Edward asked me to dance again. Jasper's cloud over me made me so happy, that I said yes before I thought about it. "Jasper was right to influence you," he said, whirling us in a small circle. "You're too lovely tonight to be upset." My eyes looked up at him, "Normally, I would think you were just saying that, but this time I'm going to agree with you. Quite a few people were looking at me."
His musical laughter was a beautiful reminder of how we once were. It was familiar and wonderful to stand with the Cullens, laughing and smiling. It didn't even bother me that Edward kept his arm locked around my waist. My hand touched his chest when he made me laugh. His eyes were a bright gold when he laughed, being himself again. There were no Guard members watching us, no Felix waiting for me. It was like I was his Bella again.
The sun was coming into the sky as we went back to our houses. All of us wore long black cloaks, with our hoods up. Alice and I walked hand in hand, "See you later." When the front door closed, my cloak fell to the floor. Jasper's influence faded away as I walked up the stairs, letting the fear eat away at me. I threw my mask on the bed, my body slumping onto the mattress. The festival was fun, but I was still worried. Concern consumed me as the last bit of the cloud disappeared. I didn't want Felix to be hurt. But Esme was right; the Romanians were the ones in trouble. Instead of worrying, all I should be doing is waiting for him to come back.
Walking across the room, I passed a floor-length mirror. My eyes fixed on my dress. It was so beautiful, that I didn't want to take it off. The front door open and closed, then the sound of steps came up the stairs. The door swung open, "Hey Bell." I rolled my eyes, "Hey Emmett. What are you doing here?" He sat on the bed, "Checking on you."
I turned to look at him. He smiled a wide innocent smile. "What is it with me that people feel the need to check on me every few minutes?" "Do you not remember how you were when you were human? If I remember correctly, danger magnet." I glared at him, "Not funny." My arms folded as he chuckled, "But it's true. It practically made me gag when Edward was worrying about you on our hunting trip and that was before you were his girlfriend."
I plopped myself on the bed next to him. The tulle of the skirt covered Emmett's leg. We laid back together and looked up at the ceiling, like brother and sister. Emmett was silent for a surprisingly long moment; not like him. Emmett was never one for silent moments and it was getting uncomfortable. "Okay, this is boring." He sat up, "Great, what are you up for?" I had to think. He looked back and smiled, "Change and we can go play baseball." I looked at him, "I thought you have to wait for a thunderstorm."
He shrugged his huge shoulders, "To hell with a thunderstorm." Emmett's cheerful attitude was just what I needed. The front door opened again and someone dashed up the stairs, "Emmett." Edward stood in the doorway. I sat myself up, propped on my elbows. He looked only at Emmett, "Alice is heading out to a field far out of the city. She wants you to help." Emmett swiftly kissed my cheek, "Hurry up." Emmett was gone, leaving me with Edward, alone. He looked at me, "When you're ready to go…" I sat up, "You'll drive me. No thanks."
Jasper's influence over me was too strong. Edward was becoming comfortable around me. My happiness, smiling and being with his family at the festival had consequences.
Edward looked at me, "Then you're still angry with me?" I folded my arms, "It's difficult to be kind to a man that wants to take you from you husband." He looked at me confused, "I never said I wanted to do that." My foot began to tap, "Oh, so you never thought 'I will not lose her. Not again, not to him.'" His eyes popped as I revealed his secret, "How did you know that?" I shook my head, "Don't worry about that. Edward, you made your choices." He stepped closer to me and I stepped away. The tension was rising and I wanted him to leave. The familiarity was gone, at least for me. I had to be indifferent, for Edward's sake and mine.
"Bella, I regret everything what I said to you." I sighed in frustration. This was a sad story and I was tired of hearing it. Edward had to leave my house. "Fine, you're sorry. I get it, now stop apologizing." His eyes were saddening, "I guess you would be tired of hearing that. I'm…." I glared at him, cutting him off, "Don't say 'sorry.' I'm tired of hearing 'sorry' from you. Edward, why are you staying here?"
The silence was deafening. The space between us was thick with our mixed emotions; regret, frustration, love, loss and so many others. I turned away and took off my gloves. Why was this happening? What happened to 'you'll never see me again?' Inside the closet, my ears listened out for his departure, but there was only silence. My fingers laced behind my neck. I sucked in a long breath and turned toward the doorway. Back in the bedroom, Edward stood outside the closet door. We looked at each other; gold into crimson. My eyes were angry, but they softened. I blinked and bit my lip, "I think you shou.."
Edward's lips were on mine. My body froze from his kiss. Before completing the thought, my hands began to push at his chest, but his hands held my waist. I wanted to pull my lips away from his, but his hand held my face and held his lips to mine again. "Edward," I protested under the kiss. "No," my words mere muffled. He held me against his frame, then backed me against a wall. This wasn't Edward.
He never did this before. I tried to pull away from his hold, but he pushed against me. My defenses were falling. His lips were hard and determined on mine. His arms were tight around me. His hold wasn't as strong as Felix's, but it was unbreakable. But I was a newborn vampire. I was much stronger then he was, so why wasn't I getting away from him? I was kissing a man that wasn't my husband. Felix was off fighting to protect our home and I was here, kissing another man. No, I wasn't kissing him, he was kissing me. My arms tried to get out of his, but his hands were quicker.
His arms locked around me, air passed and Edward's body had me pinned on the bed and his lips were on the skin of my neck. He moaned as he tried to claim my lips. Just in time, my head turned away, "Edward, I am not doing in this." His fingers held my chin, making me face him again, "Oh yes, you are," he said while he undid the clasp of my skirt. My skirt was tossed onto the floor and that helped. My legs were able to move me away from him, but his hand held my knee and pulled me back. His hands pinned mine to the bed, "Just say you don't love me. Say you don't and I'll leave. You will never see me again."
I hadn't realized that he was half dressed too. His body throbbed against mine; ready and willing. His hair grazed my skin as he kissed down my chest, "Just say the word, Bella and you'll never see me again." His hand parted my legs and hitched one around his hip. Why was I letting him do this? For crying out loud, I was married! Before he went any further, he looked into my eyes, "Bella, have you stopped loving me?"
My lips hardened into a line; I could say this. Say 'I don't love you' and he'll be gone. My shoulders were rigid and my eyes were determined. Sayit,sayit,sayit! I looked into his eyes, but my mouth wouldn't form the words. In his eyes, everything was there. Everything that reminded me of how I couldn't say the words. My lips parts, but they were stuck. That wasn't a sentence I could say, not to Edward. Dammit, I still did.
He looked at me and his thumb grazed my cheek, "I love you too." His lips pressed mine as I was one with another man.
