I know. I know! I'm truly horrible. I was thinking about posting this chapter on saturday, but as soon as I got it back, I couldn't help myself. You all have been so patient! All I can say is thank you for sticking with me while I navigate my life. Just some shoutouts/info:
1) Thank you, thank you, thank you! I can't say it enough to you. Your reviews/alerts and just general support are fantastic. I know it's frustrating to have to wait, chapter by chapter (sporadically, I might add), but for those who are still with me, I'm so appreciative of you. You guys are seriously the best.
2) You know who's also the best? SunflowerFran because I would be lost without her and her magnificent work on these chapters.
3) I've finally found away to keep you guys updated about posting, so that I can give you a heads up on whether or not I'll be posting that weekend. I've created an FB (facebook) account for "Christie Hart." You can go ahead and add me, message me, post on my wall -do the works (so long as it doesn't make me cry). My profile is the one with generic music/writing themed pictures.
4) Disclaimer: I don't own these characters!
5) It's 3:00 am as I'm posting this, so if there happens to be any mistakes in here, they're my own. Odd things happen at these hours.
6) Enjoy the chapter!
PART III: SWAN
Chapter 20
Oddly enough, the moment Bella ceased to view herself as a child was not when her mother was taken from her, but a short time after. It was when Esme had been killed, and Aro had already begun drawing away from his daughter. Sulpicia took advantage of Bella falling out of her father's favor and slowly started relegating the eight-year-old to odd, grueling tasks. Some included cleaning rooms in the castle, but for the most part, Bella served as Sulpicia's personal lackey. No matter the time of the night, Sulpicia would beckon for Bella, calling for her across the hall that separated their rooms. Jane would always share a sympathetic glance with her whenever Bella entered their quarters, but could do little to stop her mother from her cruelty.
However, it isn't even these instances that stripped Bella of her youth. It happened one night in such a swift and horrendous moment that Bella almost doesn't believe it to have occurred. Whenever she thinks back on it, she experiences a disconnect between herself and the little girl who had changed her life forever with one action.
The dimly lit halls of the Volturi castle were muggy as Isa trailed back toward Sulpicia and Jane's room. The teacup rattled in her hand, her body vibrating with fear. Rationally, she knew that monsters weren't real –her father had told her this many times. But Isa also knew that other bad things could happen in the dark; like murderers, thieves, or your mother dying. To her, these things were worse than monsters. She focused on the candles to help guide her down the winding, narrow staircase. She was about to turn a corner when she was met with one of the castle guards.
It was the same guard with green hair that had carried her mother away almost a year ago. After she'd watched this guard (and the other blonde-haired one) remove Esme from the castle, she could never see them without anger spiking her blood. Thankfully, the blonde haired guard had left shortly after the Queen's murder, so Isa only had to face this guard periodically. Truthfully, she didn't know much about him. She only knew that he'd beenin her father's service for a handful of years and could shape-shift to appear with an alternate face. For all Isa knew, he could be an amiable person. However, this didn't matter to her. In her eyes, he would always be the man who had towed her mother's lifeless body from her room.
"Sir William," Isa greeted, her voice shaky from nerves, "You frightened me."
"I'm equally surprised to find you here alone, Princess," he replied.
"Mistress Sulpicia requested some tea," she informed him, "If you'll excuse me-,"
"Sulpicia should know better than to leave you unattended in these halls," William started, "Especially dressed as you are."
Isa looked down to her nightgown, perplexed as to why Sir William would point out such a thing. Confusion aside, she did not like the way his eyes lingered on her and wanted desperately to return to her bed. She made a move to walk past him, but the narrow staircase and his position on the lower step made it impossible.
"I order you to move this instant," Isa commanded. She didn't often make requests as Princess, but this moment certainly called for it.
"Big words for such a small girl," William laughed, reaching out a hand to touch the silver ends of her hair that lay against her collar.
Isa took a step back, hoping to put some space between them, but William advanced a step to close the distance.
"If you make one more step toward me, I'll tell my father!" she warned.
"You think the King cares about you? He ordered your mother to be killed," William reminded, causing a stab of grief to spring to Isa's mind, "It's only a matter of time before he has me dispose of you too. I might as well enjoy your presence while you're still here."
He reached out again with another determined hand, wrapping his strong fingers around Isa's waist. She doesn't scream for help. She believes William's words that no one cares about what happens to her. If Sulpicia cared, she never would have sent Isa out in the night. If Aro cared, he would have stopped Sulpicia from her degradation of his daughter. And Jane. Sweet Jane was held in her mother's clutch so tightly that she couldn't possibly help Isa.
This didn't mean that Isa wasn't wracked with fear. She felt the fright so potently that her system seemed overwhelmed by it. Instinctually, she dropped the porcelain in her hands, and frantically pushed his hands away. The moment her skin touched his, a surge of energy passed between them. A web of orange overtook his skin, spreading from the point of contact, all the way up to his hairline. He gasped in pain as his irises decayed to a rotten orange color.
Horrified by what was happening, Isa pulled back. It was too late. Another guard rushed down the steps behind her, voice harsh as he called out to her.
"What did you do you, you demon child?" he accused, grabbing onto her wrist.
His demise was swifter. Within seconds, he dropped to the ground, tumbling down the stairwell until Isa could hear his body fatally collide with the bottom step. She didn't have to go after him to know that he didn't survive her charged touch or the fall.
She turned back to the guard collapsed at her feet whose eyes had returned to their natural state but were devoid of life. At that moment, her emotions departed from her. She felt as if her soul was stepping outside of her body to leave a vacant, unfeeling shell. She couldn't sense anything. The only thing she could register was this thought:
No one can know.
More quickly than should have been possible for someone her age, she realized what she needed to do.
She grabbed the candelabrum mounted to the wall and slipped it out of its holder.
She pried the candle from its pike and placed the light on the step above her.
She turned her attention to William.
He was slumped on the steps; face angled with his mouth agape. For a moment, Isa was entranced by the way his pooling saliva glistened with the flickering of the candle flame.
She moved closer to his side.
She inverted the candelabrum, pointed side down.
She lifted her arms above her head.
The candelabrum was actually quite weighted. Its smooth, black iron was thick in her tight grip. Her mother had always told her never to touch them, as they could fall off and hit her. They were dangerous. But Esme wasn't there to scold her now.
She shut her eyes.
She stabbed the pike into his left shoulder.
She screamed.
Aro had found her after that. Following her first scream were several more, filled with her returning emotions of fear and distress. She'd been so inconsolable that it had taken a sedative to calm her down, and when she'd awakened, she was in her cage. Aro had simply told her that it was for her safety and the safety of those in the castle. She had killed two men and was therefore too dangerous to roam the halls freely .
She had what seemed like endless time after that to think about what she'd done. Being trapped in a cage meant that you were forced to be alone with your thoughts, with nothing to distract you from your reality. She'd gone through countless stages of processing; shock, grief, anger, disgust. For months, she refused to look at herself in the mirror because she felt revolted by her own appearance. The first few months of her imprisonment, she'd woken nearly every night with her throat raw from screaming. The only thing, or person, that had kept her sane during that time was Jane.
Jane knew that Bella had killed the guards out of self-defense. She told Bella on countless occasions that it wasn't her fault what had happened, and that if she were in the same position, she would have reacted similarly. Day after day, when allowed, Jane visited her cage, bringing along storybooks to help calm Bella with the tales. Her sister had been her life preserver in a time when she'd felt herself drowning.
Why think on this now, when the world around her is collapsing? Because, when Bella realized that Edward was not the other Guardian, she felt a large part of her hope escape from her. Some part of her had always thought that when she revealed the identity of the Guardian to him, he would awaken with cognizance and know what to do to help her. She'd thought, with Edward as the Guardian, she'd finally have her partner to share her burden. Instead, she was left with the man she loves fuming a few feet away from her, and no sign of help in sight. This thought alone is enough to make Bella want to give up, but she doesn't because, despite the chaos surrounding her, she's sure of one thing.
She's survived worse.
"Yet …" Edward begins, his hesitancy apparent, "Alec does."
"Alec does what?" Bella asks her voice is no louder than a murmur, completely deflated from the previous revelation.
"Alec has the Guardian insignia," he clarifies. "At least, I think he does. I remember when we were younger he had odd markings on his back, but my parents told me it was a rash. As he also had a moon insignia, I didn't question it. But now that I think about it I never saw him shirtless afterward."
"Did your parents believe in the Guardians then?" Bella pressed, wanting to know as much as she could, "Why did they hide it from you?"
"I've entertained enough of your questions," Edward refuses, "I demand to be taken to my sister."
The hardness of his tone leaves no room for argument. Bella nods and begins to lead him through the forest to the uo ara stone. The tense silence around them forces Bella to seek refuge in the sights around her. She finds little comfort in them. She would think the blue light of Cialori gently filtering through the canopy of leaves to be beautiful if it weren't a marker for the destruction this day had brought. Cullen Castle, the place she had grown to consider a home is now nothing but ruins, with its King and Queen buried beneath the rubble. Worst of all, she can't linger to mourn the loss. She must fulfill her duty as a Guardian, a mother's dying wish, and protect the Cullen heirs.
A couple of minutes later, Bella waves her hand to reveal the lunella hatch. If Edward is shocked, he doesn't betray it. He simply follows through the base until they reach the area where Charlotte is hidden. The first thing Bella notices is Lua stationed by the cave opening, prepared to attack if needed. Bella affectionately scratches behind her cat's ears before venturing deeper into the room. Once she nears the back corner, she leans forward to find Charlotte huddled on the ground, dagger held in front of her.
"Bella!" Charlotte cries, throwing herself into her handmaiden's arms. Bella returns the hug tightly, finding comfort despite the unfamiliarity of Charlotte's hold.
"We can't stay here any longer," Bella shakes her head, separating to search for a pen and slip of paper. She finds a scrap in one of the few chests in the cave and scribbles out an impromptu note for Claire and Bree.
That is, if they're still alive.
"Where are we going?" Charlotte asks.
"There is no we," Edward corrects. "Charlotte and I are leaving and you had better not follow us."
"I don't think you understood me earlier," Bella turns to him, "I made a promise to protect your family."
"And I believe that you misunderstood me," Edward challenges, stepping toward her with anger burning in his eyes. She has never been on the receiving end of his fury, and while it is certainly an unpleasant feeling, he does not scare her. "I will not repeat my mistake of trusting you. We will not be following you."
"The two of you trying to escape without reinforcement will be impossible," Bella tells him.
"I don't need your help," he objects.
"You have a legion of adversaries searching to kill you," Bella points out, "Do you really think you can defeat them on your own?"
"I would rather find out than spend another moment in your presence," he spits.
His words hit her harder than any blow Demetri had delivered. She opens her mouth to speak … once … twice. Her throat is raw from her crying and shouting earlier, and agitates once tears again threaten. Bella knew that Edward would be infuriated once the truth came to light. In fact, she'd known she'd most likely lose him entirely as a friend once he figured out the extent of her lies. But a part of her had held onto the hope that he'd see her as genuine in her care for him and his family. Now, as she looks at him, she doubts she'll ever be more than a liar in his eyes.
"You don't need to trust me," Bell finally speaks, regaining her voice as she quells the throbbing pain of Edward's barbs, "But I will not let your hate stand in the way of me completing my mission."
"I am commanding you to stand down," Edward barks, hands clenched into tight fists.
"And I, Isabelle Marie Volturi, am refusing," Bella replies, enunciating each word.
His eyes widen, "Will your lies never cease? Princess Isabelle was executed several months ago."
"Yes, in a sense she is gone," Bella agrees, "When I was thrown into the Pylae, the caged, naïve girl that I was, died. And then I reemerged with the fierce intent to protect you against my father. That aside, surely you can make the connections. My hair color, black irises, and general facial structure are in his image."
"It is obvious you are a shape shifter, that holds no weight for me," Edward argues.
"What about the fact that I showed up at your castle merely a month after Isabelle's disappearance?" Bella continues.
Edward's hard resolve noticeably crumbles a bit when she says this. "Coincidence of timing," he refutes weakly.
"And this?" Bella removes the Volturi signet ring from her skirt pocket and tosses it onto the table. The ping of the metal and jewel against the wooden surface is almost too loud in the silence. "Is this coincidence?"
Edward is quiet, his green eyes void of the warmth they usually possessed when he gazed upon her. He looks betrayed, angered, shocked, and most painfully … lost.
Finally, he whispers, "I don't believe I ever knew you."
Bella takes a deep, steadying breath to clear the stifling hurt from her chest. She can feel her tears, mournful and dejected, stored behind her eyes, but she hasn't time to shed them. She would not let her loss of Edward's friendship be in vain –she had to save him.
"You can hate me," she says lowly, "But you cannot leave me."
"I will not follow you," Edward insists.
"Then I will follow you," she sighs in frustration, "We will go wherever you want to go, but I can't leave you two unattended. You and I both know that on your own, you stand no chance against an attack."
"Two is hardly an army," he points out.
"But it's double the protection for Charlotte," Bella rationalizes, knowing Edward will do anything to save his sister.
She can see his resignation the moment it crosses his face, "We will do things on my terms."
"Very well," Bella acquiesces, even though she knows following his orders will be more complicated in practice. "And where is it we're going?"
"To the one person we can trust," Edward answers, "Sir Carlisle Masen. We're going to Lunaria."
~SWAN~
Bella had argued with Edward for another ten minutes over their destination before she realized that he would not change his mind. So she forces herself to accept that they will be traveling to the home of a man she couldn't trust, even though her life depends on it. After they settle their differences –or at least agree to disagree –they leave to gather two horses for the journey. Edward assures that one of the Cullen stables is quite removed from the castle, so they should encounter no people, and the horses should be unscathed. They travel in silence, the only sound in the air being the crunch of brittle leaves beneath their feet.
A cool breeze lifts Bella's brown locks from her shoulders. She'd decided to change back to the state Edward and Charlotte were accustomed to seeing, so as to not overwhelm them with her change. However, she keeps her wings extended in the event she needed to take flight quickly. Of course, she wouldn't be able to carry both Cullens, but she will do her best to protect them, and that includes being prepared.
Once they arrive, Edward creeps towards the stable with his hand alight in case of a trespasser. The girls wait outside, Bella warily surveying the field around them, and gazing out into the forest located some feet away. They are closer to the castle now but removed enough that shaking ground hadn't destroyed the stables. She knows they're near, not because she can see the palace, but because of the distant noise that comes from it. Whether it is the sound of fighting or plain distress, she cannot tell, but her heart is laden with the thought of either.
Lua shifts uncomfortably beside her owner, pointed ears twitching as she monitors the premises. Bella feels more connected to her pet now more than ever, and she can't help but wonder why. This connectedness is accompanied by an overall intensification of her senses, apparent in the way she's hyper aware of her surroundings. Her eyes dart back and forth, scanning the tree line to catch for any movement. When a shift catches her eye, both she and Lua perk at the alert.
"What?" Charlotte asks, picking up on the change in Bella's stance.
"Go inside to Edward," Bella whispers, already beginning to stalk to where she caught the disturbance.
"You're going to leave me again?" Charlotte hisses, "I'm not as fragile as you think me to be-,"
"Suto!" Bella commands before heading off to the trees.
She sends a cursory glance to ensure that Charlotte is doing as instructed and then flies to the entrance of the forest. After landing, she only makes it several feet when she catches sight of a huddled figure looming over a small body. She watches as the stranger pats down the unconscious victim, searching for their belongings to steal.
"I'd advise that you leave," Bella warns as she creeps closer. The thief startles at her presence and takes a menacing step forward. However, Lua's vicious growl quickly sends him scampering.
With the threat now gone, she makes her way to the person lying on the ground. From a distance, they appear to be small, but she doesn't make any assumptions. It's only when she is a few steps away that she gasps in realization. Not only is the victim a child –he's a child that she knows.
"Seth," she cries, as she rushes toward him. Hurriedly, she searches his body for signs of external harm. Lua licks at his face, coaxing him to awaken, but to no avail. The moment Bella's fingers touch his abdomen she's greeted with warm blood. Who could have done this? Who would leave a child to die in such a cruel way? She presses a palm to her mouth to stifle her rising sob.
"If you think you can command me just because you're supposedly a Princess-," Charlotte's voice sounds suddenly from behind her. "Is that the messenger boy?"
"He's hurt badly, but still alive," Bella croaks, pressing her hand to his wound in case there is any fresh blood flow. "We need to get him back to the stable and see if there is anything there to help him."
Charlotte nods as she helps place Seth in one of Bella's arms, and then steps into the other. Her flying drags, but Bella is somehow able to shuttle the three of them close enough to the stables. From there, she and Charlotte carry Seth; his arms hung over Charlotte's and his slender calves gripped in Bella's hands. A frantic Edward greets them at the stable's entrance; his initial reaction is to spit fury at Bella before he catches sight of who is in her arms.
"What happened?" he rushes over.
"I don't know," Bella answers, and then urges, "Help me get him into the stable."
"Bella, we can't stay here any longer," Edward warns.
"Do you prefer we leave him?" she snaps, "Because he won't survive the journey if we don't tend to his injury."
Edward clenches his jaw, knowing that Bella is right. She knows that he would never leave Seth to succumb to his wounds –if he did, then he certainly wasn't the man she had come to care for so deeply. Edward leads the way into the small stable and clears off a workman's table on which to place Seth.
"We'll need to clean the wound with warm water, and see about finding some sewing materials. Then we'll need a fabric compress and something like string or rope to tie it against him. In the meantime, raise the lower half of his body so that it's elevated slightly above his heart. " Charlotte instructs suddenly, the information flowing from her. It takes Bella a moment to realize that it's Charlotte's gift that has prompted this expulsion of information, and she's more than grateful for it now.
The next minute is spent tearing through the barn to procure the needed items. To Bella's dismay, they're able to find all the materials except for the needle and thread required to close the wound. Until they can think of an alternative, she and Edward work to clean the trickling gash.
"It seems to be about an inch deep, but hasn't hit any major organs," Charlotte assesses, "The blood flow has nearly stopped, but we need to close it if he's going to be traveling with us."
"We don't have the suturing equipment," Bella says.
"We also don't have much more time," Edward grits, "If you truly saw a looter, then it won't be long before someone heads our way."
"Bella has a dagger," Charlotte suddenly exclaims, "And Edward, you have fire! We can cauterize it while taking less time than sewing."
"Won't he wake up in pain?" Bella questions.
"It's either that or he won't wake up at all," Edward answers pointedly.
Two voices from outside the stable gradually draw nearer, and Edward and Bella exchange a frantic glance as they realize their time is up. He stands immediately; hand covered in flames as he approaches the stable door. However, Bella stops him with a tug on his arm. She tries to ignore the way he reels back from her the moment their skin makes contact.
"Seth needs you," she reminds him and hands him her dagger. Both of their eyes are drawn to the dried crusting of blood on its blade. It's a glaring sign of the rapid turn their lives have taken.
"Can you handle both of them?" he asks. Bella would love to take his question as a sign of his concern for her, but she knows he's only ensuring his and Charlotte's safety.
"They will not pass me," Bella assures.
He spares her one last glance before heading back to where Seth is lying. Bella takes a deep breath and steps outside the stable to be confronted with two men dressed in Cullenian armor. It's clear from the loose fit of the plates against their forms that it doesn't belong to them, and she immediately pegs them as looters. Disgust fills her at the thought of them stripping the uniform from lifeless Cullenian guards.
"You are trespassing on royal lands," one of the men says to her with unconvincing authority.
Certainly not in the mood for their antics, she telekinetically strips both men of their swords and wields the weapons at their necks. Her hands are suspended like a conductor, ready to coordinate their slaughter if need be. There's a thrum of energy in her, daring her to end their existence with a simple flick of her wrists, but a voice inside stops her.
"Get on your knees," she commands.
"Please, don't kill us-," the other man begins to beg.
"Don't test my patience," she warns.
With quivering limbs, they lower themselves to the ground, heads bowed at Bella's mercy. They're still babbling their pleas when she lifts the swords high above their heads, and then lowers them, using the hilt to strike the men unconscious. When she reenters the stalls, it's with two new swords.
"Do I even want to know what happened?" Charlotte asks as she approaches Bella.
"I didn't kill them," Bella huffs, and walks over to where Seth is lying. "How is he?"
"We stopped the bleeding, and wrapped him pretty securely," Charlotte informs her, "He won't wake up, but it's probably better for now that he is unaware of what's going on."
"Thank you, Charlie, we couldn't have done this without you," Bella acknowledges. She reaches out to place a hand on the Princess's arm but is obstructed when Edward steps between them. His harsh glare and unmoving presence send a clear message:
No touching.
"It's time to leave," Edward instructs.
Bella peeks at the sack he has gripped in his fist, "What have you packed?"
"Some food that was stocked here," he answers, "And a few cloths to change Seth's bandages. There wasn't much, but take this."
He hands her a coat made of coarse cotton, the feel itchy to the touch. Charlotte is given a similar one, and she timidly threads her arms through the sleeves. It makes sense to have some form of protection against the elements –the weather would only become more unforgivingly cold as they ventured toward Lunaria.
"I will travel with Charlotte on my horse, and you will take Seth," Edward plans, "We'll have to ride for a while, so prepare yourself."
"I'm not a stranger to enduring harsh conditions," Bella enlightens him.
"We'll see how you fare," he mutters.
Edward readies the horses while Bella finalizes their sacks of supplies. Afterward, she creates a sling made out of barn tarp to secure Seth to her torso. It ties diagonally across her chest and bunches around her waist so that he can be snug in the hammock, close to her body heat. He's secured in the sling only after she mounts her horse, a muscular thing that brays beneath her touch. It's been over a decade since Bella has ridden, but she doesn't worry about navigating her mare. Equally confident of his riding abilities, Edward mounts his horse with grace and assists Charlotte to his front.
They enter into the cold night air only minutes later, traveling at a steady gallop. Instead of using the city roads, they keep to the forest paths in the hopes that they'll avoid any contact. Over an hour of riding passes before they reach the outskirts of the boat dock. The rush of panicked citizens attempting to leave the island is unreal; men and women of every race and kind frantically hurry to board any ship available, while the overwhelmed crew members attempt to calm the unruly crowd. It's complete madness, and yet it serves to Bella's favor.
"The lunellas have a vessel planned for escape," Bella informs them, "If we can find the boat-,"
"The Royal Family also has an escape vessel," Edward interrupts, "Which we will be using."
"Three of your employees have made attempts on your life," Bella reminds him, "Not to mention an army of traitors freely attended your ball to create a massacre. Do you actually believe your escape route remains uncompromised?"
"I'm meant to trust the band of militants you deem loyal?" Edward challenges, "Forgive me if I'm wary of anything you tell me."
"They're the only option you have right now," she asserts, "You, yourself, said that Sir Carlisle is the only one to be trusted, and he's not here to provide help right now. Furthermore, why would I go through the trouble of removing you from the castle, only to allow the lunellas to harm you? If I wanted you dead, I would not have waited so long to do so!"
"Do you forget earlier in the day?" Edward brings up heatedly, "Was that not an attempt on my life?"
"No, that was a girl foolish enough to let her guard down so that she could be kissed by a man for whom she cares deeply," Bella seethes.
"It was I who was foolish," Edward nearly shouts back.
"Enough," Charlotte interjects finally, "You two can have your lover's quarrel when we're not being hunted. I, for one, am tired of finding out those under my employ are vying for my head, so if Bella has comrades who are at least loyal to her then I will gladly choose them over the alternative. The issue is getting to the vessel without being noticed."
Edward trains his glare on his sister, "Fine. We'll go with her carrier. But how do we get through?"
Bella is already two steps ahead as she shifts Seth out of the sling around her, and removes the tarp from her torso using her free arm. She's retracted her wings; as they call more attention to her than necessary, and she is now fully in her alternate state. Edward catches on to her idea the moment she flings the tarp toward him and Charlotte. Once the cover of fabric shields the two, she gently passes Seth to them to be included in the bundle. Lastly, she demounts her horse and gently begins to lead their group into the bustle of people.
The tarp covering almost isn't necessary. People are so concerned with their own affairs that they hardly spare a glance to Bella leading the royal heirs through the crowd. She navigates the port as quickly as possible, keeping her eyes peeled for the marker used to identify the lunella vessel. Instead of the marker, she catches sight of Lucy's signature violet hair. Bella resists the urge to hug her fellow lunella once they reach her.
"Essa," Lucy breathes with relief. Her eyes widen as she catches sight of Edward and Charlotte, "How did you …"
"It's a long story, but I had no choice but to bring them with me," Bella tells her.
"Of course," Lucy nods.
Before continuing, she waves a hand to lead the group into the boat. Bella is pleased to see Tia meet them on the inside, who assists with getting Charlotte and Seth off the horse before taking the two animals to a stall area. Lucy then leads them further into the belly of the ship, and to Bella's surprise, there seems to be about thirty other people aboard.
"Lunellas," Lucy answers Bella's unspoken question, "They're returning to their hometowns."
"Surely the collapse of the castle doesn't have them fleeing the island entirely?" Bella asks. "There are still people to protect here."
"Which is why some of us will remain along with the Cullen guard that is still loyal to the crown," Lucy agrees, "But, Essa, it wasn't solely the castle that underwent siege. Aro orchestrated several other uprisings to erupt across Cullenia. Port Anchelus, Sattle, and Was Inchus, have been destabilized, and the Cullenian National Guard has been deployed to provide assistance. The lunellas are returning to help the groups we have stationed there."
"And what of Cullen Isle?" Charlotte questions.
Lucy bows her head slightly in respect as she answers, "The castle has been destroyed, and … the King and Queen have not been found, Your Highness. As far as the Iris are concerned, they have defeated Cullen Isle. The lunellas will stay to assist in any way they can, but the bulk of attacks are on the mainland."
"The opposition is calling themselves the Iris?" Bella laughs without humor; "They bring darkness to the land, but have the audacity to call themselves sunlight?"
"They are a force to be reckoned with, and have more support than we anticipated," Lucy acknowledges gravely, "It is frightening to know that we are outnumbered by the hateful in our land."
"They are not the majority," Bella counters, "They are merely the ones who have struck first. It is their nature to conquer violently, but they underestimate those who are loyal not only to the crown, but to morality and civility. We were not defeated today."
"And we will remain undefeated," Lucy agrees vehemently, "Which is why we need to get you all to safety. Tia and the crew will be setting off momentarily, but you will not be arriving at the Sattleport."
"Where is our destination?" Edward presses, "And has Lunaria been overtaken?"
"The Sattleport is too hostile to attempt docking, Your Highness," Lucy replies, "And as for Lunaria, while we haven't received word from our brothers and sisters, entering the capital would be virtually impossible given the siege of the surrounding cities. The only way to enter would be to go through the mountains."
"Are there any vessels headed to Forxx?" Bella asks.
"You'd be hard pressed to find a trustable crew of sailors willing to leave their families," Lucy tells her, "I wish I could continue to answer your questions, Essa, but I have to return to the docks. Sola Tia and Sola Amber will ensure your safety and comfort on the voyage, Your Highnesses."
"One last thing, Lucy," Bella stops her, "Tyler … did he make it out of the castle?"
For the first time, Bella sees Lucy smile, albeit timidly, but it's present, "Yes, Essa."
"I'll pray for the safety of you both," Bella says softly.
"As I will for yours," Lucy bids before giving a curt bow, and then departing.
Moments later, Tia leads them to the far end of the ship where several cushions have been placed. Edward relinquishes Seth to Charlotte's hold so that he can settle himself, and then gathers him back into his arms once again when it's Charlotte's turn to sit. Bella is about to take a seat, but Edward's penetrating gaze halts her movements. Since they aren't in any immediate danger at present, she takes the opportunity to put some distance between them.
It takes the remainder of Bella's strength to hold in her tears until she's reached the upper deck. She doesn't care that the crew is bustling around her, or that she is clearly visible to any prying eyes. She simply needs some time away from Edward's accusatory stares, and Charlotte's uncharacteristic silence toward her. The worst part is that she can't even blame them. She would feel equally betrayed if she were in their place.
Despite knowing this, her heart still aches from the loss, and this pain overflows in the form of tears. Lua, who had been her constant shadow through this ordeal, comfortingly nestles into Bella's neck as her owner cries into her palms. She'd thought the cacophony of the crowd would distract anyone from her display, but she's not as unnoticeable as she'd thought.
"It is indeed a tragic day, but you mustn't lose hope, Essa," Amber sounds from beside her.
Bella hastily wipes her cheeks as she replies, "I haven't lost hope. Merely a bit of my heart."
"Ah, the most painful of ailments," she notes, "Though I don't believe the Prince will stay mad at you for long."
"How…" Bella begins.
"It was no secret to the court that the Crown Prince fancied you," Amber rolls her eyes.
"It is not only he who causes me pain but myself," Bella admits, "I killed two people tonight."
Amber nods as she procures a handkerchief from her pocket. She then opens her hand to allow a thin layer of ice to form and melt and uses the leftover droplets to wet the rag. Tenderly, she wipes Bella's cheek and chin of the dried blood on her face. Whether it is Seth or Demetri's blood, she doesn't know.
"Cora e os'ato no po're di dis'one,"Amber murmurs as she finishes cleaning Bella's face. She's able to make out some of the lunella's words, but it's been a while since she's heard anyone speak Forxian. "Per'or si'nale ove pri frech'a e'be co'pire."
"I didn't know you were Forxian," Bella admits, "What did you say?"
"I come from a long line of lunellas," Amber informs her, "We didn't originate from Forxx, hence my lack of wings, but I did grow up there. And during my training, I always asked why we would let the Guardian endanger themselves by going into battle if we wanted them to be safe. It made no sense to me that the very people I was pledging my life to would be put in the line of fire."
"I imagine it must have been difficult to grasp as a child," Bella sympathizes.
"Very difficult," Amber hums, "And then my mother would tell me, "'A queen doesn't wear a crown so that she can deploy the masses in her favor, she wears it so that her offenders know where to shoot the first arrow.'"
Bella's eyes water as she pictures Queen Heidi huddled in the midst of the pandemonium, refusing to leave her husband and her people. She knew Aro or Sulpicia would never perish with those fighting to protect them, as would many monarchies that believed their subjects to be beneath them.
"I learned that while it is strategic to hide away your leaders in hopes that they will remain unscathed, a true leader is one that will do anything for their people and succeed," Amber continues, "And success doesn't always mean that no blood was shed –including their own."
"Thank you, Amber," Bella breathes, wiping the last of her tears from her cheeks. Amber embraces her briefly, just as the ship begins to cast off.
"Anytime, Essa," she bows her head slightly, "Un'i Is'ia Forxia."
"Ett'io," Bella nods in kind.
She allows herself to rest at the edge of the boat, leaning against the wooden railing. As the ship picks up speed, she closes her eyes and allows the wind to push away the violence of the night.
There had been no hesitation when it came to ending Demetri and Mistress Pope's lives. All that had occurred to her was that if she didn't, she would lose the ones she loved. And yet, why did she have to battle with the lust of draining the guard impersonators? Why could she feel a hunger she'd never experienced before become satiated as her insidious darkness crept through Mistress Pope's veins?
Is she becoming like her father?
Immediately, she reels at this thought. No, Bella would never be like her father. There was once a time she'd thought she was incapable of love, but now she knows this isn't the case. She has seen firsthand that her father is the epitome of a soulless being, unable to empathize or uphold morality. He is the one that is unable to feel anything other than lust for power. Therefore, though they might share the same ability in all its facets, one key factor separates them:
Bella will never become like Aro because she knows how to love.
Terminology
Suto! –Now! [Cullenian command]
"There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying." ― Sarah Dessen
~CH
