An Eternity Chapter 8: Arrival and Defense, a twilight fanfic

Ok. I feel Really bad, and I mean REALLY BAD about taking so long to update, especially after a cliffey. I just toally didn't write a single thing for like 5 days, and i am soooo sorry. So now I really am going to my absolute best to hurry to try and make up for the time lost. Soooo, I dont own Twilight or any of it's characters and here's chapter 8.

Recap: One word brought so much fear, so much confusion, and so much agony all at once.

"Volturi"

My pain was now merely one grain of sand on a huge beach. I strained my hearing, and all of my senses, to try to follow the conversation. I knew that this was bad. The Volturi were probably coming to check on me. The last time we'd seen them, we hadn't left on the best note.

Jane had mentioned how I was still human, and how interested Aro would be with in this little bit of info. The Volturi had already been rather merciful with the fact that the Cullen's had broken the one rule. If it hadn't been for Carlisle's friendship with the Volturi and the fact that they were intrigued by how there powers had no effect on me, I would probably be dead, along with the rest of the Cullen's. Well, the rest of the Cullen's would be...well...deader.

"Alice, tell me what you saw." Edward's voice held authority, but pain all at once.

"I'm not completely sure. The Volturi have decided they need to act, but they havn't decided when yet. They keep on changing their mind's. It's very frustrating." Alice was frantic but managed to keep her cool as she told Edward what she knew.

"Have you told Carlisle?"

"Yes. He's more worried for Bella's safety. It's obvious that that's why they're coming. This is horrible. They're thinking it's time they followed throught with some consequences. They are unhappy we broke the rules, but are more intrigued by Bella, which is why they won't make a decision yet. If she ends up with a power, they're going to force her to join their guards and if not, they might kill us all." I was so scared of what Alice was saying. I was once again putting my family in danger.

"Are you sure you don't know when they are coming? Alice, it is insanely important that we find out." Edward's 'calm' facead was slipping. He was losing it.

"I know, Edward. All I know is that they're coming soon." Alice stated, panicking again.

"How soon is soon? A day? A week?"

The room suddenly became eirily silent as Alice didn't answer. My nervousness was eating a hole in my brain as I waited for Alice to answer. I forced my eyes open, hoping it would give something away, and I quickly realized why Alice hadn't answered.

Alice was standing at the foot of the table I was lying on, her eyes glazed over, staring into an abyss. When she finally came back to reality, her face became twisted with worry.

"They're going to be here, knocking on our door, at exactly 4:28 this afternoon." She stated, her voice cracking.

This new information drove me insane. She couldn't have said 'They'll be here in 2 hours' or something like that. She had to give a time. Well that time meant very little to me when I didn't even know what time it was now.

I had to say something. I craned my neck upwards, attempting to find some air to speak and attempted to clear my throat. " What time is it now?" I just barely managed to say. My voice was hoarse and dry and my throat burned after speaking.

"Bella, there's no need for you to worr-" Edward began, attempting to soothe me, before Alice cut in.

"3:54" She stated precisely, allowing a little more worry to seep into her voice.

I couldn't manage anything to acknowledge that I heard Alice. All I could think about was how little time we had before they arrived. Would my change even be over by then? Oh great. I just had to bring my attention back to the change. At least when my mind was on the Volturi and I couldn't focus on my pain, it wasn't half as bad, but, now that I was paying attention again, the pain was even more unbearable.

Every sound, touch, smell, sight, even flavour having far more of an effect than it should have. My heartbeat was even weaker, struggling to survive, and how I wished it would just give up and give in.

I noticed that Alice seemed to be thinking. I could hear the Cullen's minus Edward, Alice, and I downstairs debating over what to do, and Alice was unsure of whether she should leave and go help the rest of the family, or to stay with Edward by my side.

Edward must have noticed as well because he motioned for her to go downstairs with the family. After Alice left, the room became awkwardly silent, accept for the continuous ticking of the clock on the wall.

Tick

It just kept going, counting down the seconds until the Volturi arrived.

I just lay there, writhing in pain. I'd stopped screaming several hours ago. My throat was engulfed in fire, and it hurt to breathe. Every now and then, I would look over to my Edward, sitting beside me, his head in his hands. I wanted so badly to reach out to him, comfort him, tell him everything was fine, but, everything wasn't fine, and I barely had enough energy to keep my eyes open.

I simply waited; time passing slowly, like the beating of my heart. Before I knew what was happening, I heard a knock on the door downstairs. Edward went stiff at my side, and any noises of my family downstairs seased.

I could just barely make out the muffled voice, but it sounded like it was saying "Open the door or we will enter by force." I heard several, slow foot-steps before a door opened.

"Ahh... Alice, and how are you doing?" I heard Aro ask pleasantly.

"Fine. Now, why, may I ask, are you here?" Alice practically growled.

"I feel no need to answer that, since I'm sure you already know. Now, where is Bella." Aro seemed to be getting impatient and at the mention of my name, Edward became very tense.

When I heard Esme answer I was shocked. "You leave Bella out of this. She is an amazing girl. Now please go and leave my family alone."

"We will go when we wish to leave, you disrespectful-" I heard someone who I assumed was Jane begin.

"Now, now, Jane, let's be reasonable. Where is Edward?" Aro cut in.

I swear I heard Edward growl beside me. Great. Surely the Volturi heard that.

"Ah. Edward, would you mind coming here." Aro's fake pleasantries were starting to bother me.

"I'm afraid Edward is a little preoccupied at the moment." Carlisle knew that Edward did not want to leave my side.

"I'm afraid that he has no choice. Either he comes here, or I go to him, and if I need to go to him, then, well lets just say things won't turn out the best." Aro warned. I looked up at Edward, seeing the torn expression on his face. He was torn between doing what he needed to do, and what he wanted to do. He'd promised me that he would never leave me again, but I knew that this was what needed to be done.

"It's ok, Edward. Just go, I'll be fine." I barely managed to croak out.

"But-" He began before I cut him off.

"Go. Please?" I begged as Edward closed his eyes, contemplating, before sighing and grudgingly standing up and heading to the door. He stopped at the door, giving me one last glance, before swiftly heading down the stairs to the Volturi awaiting below.

I remained as silent as I possibly could as I attempted to listen to the conversation going on.

"Edward, I'm sure you are aware as to why we are here. Now, if I'm not mistaken, I do hear a heartbeat coming from inside this house. Now I'm certain that none of you have a heartbeat, and since I know that Bella must be here, it could only be her's. Care to explain?" Uh-oh. Aro still thought I was human. This could be bad.

I heard no answer as Edward simply growled menacingly.

"Touchy, are we? Well I'm sorry, but it seems you have broken a rule. We were merciful at first. That was very fortunate of you, as we do not believe in mercy, but, now, after we gave strict orders that she was to become one of us, and you still have not followed through, we will not be as merciful. Perhaps we shall continue this conversation in Volterra." Aro said strictly, in a tone that was final.

"We are not leav-" Rosalie began before Aro, once again, cut in.

"I'm afraid you have no choice. That's an order. Now, I do believe I will go get Bella. Anyone moves or makes a fuss, and this could end badly." I heard Aro onec again say, well, more like order, but hte mention of my name scared me more than I thought possible.

"Stay away from her!" Edward roared and I heard a loud crash as, I can only assume, Edward flew at one of the members of the guard, most likely Aro, before his cries of pain tortured my ears.

"Jane, that will be enough. Now, Edward, be a good little boy and st-" I heard Aro begin but my pain cut it short.

I began to thrash violently, my heart picking up it's pace, sending me into convulsion. My limbs flailing madly, smacking against the tabel, the chains struggling to restrain me. I could feel my bones stretching, melting, reforming, twisting, cracking in agony as my change was coming to an end. I closed my eyes, willing the pain to stop, failing to hold back any screams as I listened to my heart, slowly, yet surely, give up it's last fight.

Tha-thump

Slower and slower still.

Tha-thump

Until it finally stopped.

A/n: Cliffey! YAY! Another chapter! Once again, super sorry bout not updating for such a long time. :( I've just been kinda busy, but, I know that that is a horrible excuse. Anyhoo...sorry if i kinda dragged out her change longer than necessary, I just had alot of things I wanted to cover and have happen during her change, and I wanted the timing to work out so that something would happen immediately after her change was over. But please, Please PLEASE R&R. PLEASE!! I'll update really soon cuz I'm already pretty far in the next chapter, so it shouldn't be long:P