Disclaimer- All recognizable characters belong to Mrs. Stephenie Meyer, whereas all new characters belong to me.
Chapter 22- Torn between two lovers
I opened the door to my room and stepped inside. The room was quite nice, it was clear that someone in Volterra had good taste. I would bet any money it was Marcus. He was quiet, Aro was way too hyper to put the time into decorating his home. He'd probably rather torture someone. And Caius, well he just didn't strike me as an interior designer. He looked like more of the silent but very deadly type. I ran my hands over the sheer black canopy that hung from the posts of the queen sized bed. I dug my bare feet into the fuzzy, deep green carpet. The cherry colored wooden furniture went well with the room in my opinion; my clothes were already inside the dresser. A couple paintings hung on the ceiling, they looked old. I had my own bathroom, that was mostly a white marble. I had yet to shower in there though, I'd get around to it eventually. A pair of French doors led to my balcony, which overlooked the gardens of Volterra. All in all, I could tell the room was fit for one of the Volturi. They'd probably placed me in here because they knew I wouldn't refuse their offer. Sighing, I sat down on the bed and ran my fingers along Yuzria's cheek. He was fast asleep, his heartbeat nice and slow.
I didn't know what I was going to do about my decision to join and become one of the Volturi. I knew everyone would be proud of me, happy for me. Well, everyone except the Cullens of course. They saw the Volturi as heartless killers. I didn't know why I cared so much about what they thought it, it was like a curse. ' It's because you cared about them so long ago. They were family to you.' I thought silently. Those feelings never fade, no matter how much time passed. I learned that the hard way, after seeing Edward for the first time in twenty years. God, I didn't know what it was about that man that drove me out of my mind! Every time I got angry at him he said something that just made me forget. But he was so god damned stubborn! If I didn't figure out the answer between us soon, I was going to end up going insane. I laid down beside Yuzria, feeling his warm skin on mine. I knew he deserved better, I was going to have to tell him sooner or later. I couldn't stay with him. He deserved to have children and a family. I couldn't give him that. I loved him yes, but not in that way. I just didn't know how I was going to tell him. Or when. I closed my eyes and felt him subconsciously wrap his arm around my waist. I smiled and got close to him, breathing him in. I'd miss it, the warmth of him. His heartbeat, his scent. Then it hit me. I was going through what Edward probably went through when he first found out I was a vampire. He could no longer feel my warmth, smell the scent of me he'd love so much. . . ' Oh how the tables turn.' I chuckled in my head. My mind wandered to those brief days that Edward was human again. He was wonderful, and I knew he missed it. I'd turned him back and then left him. . . Sure, he'd kissed Lynn. But, I knew in my heart it meant nothing to him. He hadn't meant it. If anybody was to blame it was Mitchell, for planning the whole thing. He'd done exactly what he'd wanted to do; he drove Edward and me apart. But why? Why even bother? What did it matter to him?
The phrase 'forgive and forget' kept popping into my mind. Of course, not about Mitchell. That bastard would get what was coming to him. But about Edward. No matter how hard it was for me to forgive, I had to. I couldn't live without him. We'd already missed twenty years, why miss more? But, I was always a Volturi member now. How would he take that? He wouldn't stay here, he'd want to live with his family. And I couldn't keep all the Cullens here. They weren't one of us. None of them drank the blood of humans. I groaned and wiggled my way out of the bed. I just couldn't shut my mind off. I glanced at the clock hanging over the bed and frowned, it was only three in the morning. Opening the French doors, I stepped out onto the balcony. A breeze ruffled my hair behind my shoulders, the moon was high and bright. I glanced down at the beautiful gardens, this was my home now. A shadow moving in the grass caught my attention. It was Edward. I turned my head around briefly and bit my lip. I didn't want to leave Yuzria, but I had to talk to Edward. I quietly closed the doors and leaped down from the balcony, landing gracefully on the grass beneath me. I walked up to Edward, a small smile on my face. He faced me, his face sort of blank. " Hey." I said quietly. " Couldn't sleep?" I joked. He laughed slightly and nodded his head.
" Yeah, my insomnia gets the best of me." He answered. He held out his arm and I looped mine through his. We started to walk along the edge of the pool.
" It's beautiful out here." I breathed. " The kind of place you could get used to." He shrugged his shoulders and guided me over a rock.
" Too bad it belongs to them, the Volturi." He said the name venomously. I felt my heart tremble a bit, I was right. He'd never stay here with me.
" Why do you hate them the way you do?" I asked, maybe I could talk him out of it. I doubted it, but it was worth a try.
" They're killers Bella. You know that." He replied, his voice strong but quiet. I looked up at the starlit sky and sighed.
" Sometimes it's kill or be killed Edward. Hell, most of the time it is. I kill all the time, I have no problem with it." I said softly. He stopped walking and gently turned me so I was looking at him. His eyes were a dark topaz. I knew he wasn't hungry, he was worried about me.
" Bella," He put a hand on my cheek. " I wish you would tell me what happened to you. I want to know." I smiled weakly and put my hand on top of his.
" No, you don't Edward." I responded. " You don't want to know. It was. . . It would kill you."
" I'm so sorry Bella. I can't tell you enough."
" I know Edward. I forgive you, for everything. I understand why you left, if I was in your position I'm sure I would've considered it. And everything that happened with Lynn. . . I know you didn't mean it. It hurt, yes, but I know you never meant it. I was angry at first but now, I just don't want to waste the energy with it anymore. I was so scared of being hurt again, of you leaving or. . . " My voice trailed off and I cleared it. I hated this, he always brought out the emotion in me. Feeling so strongly was never one of my strong points. I'd gotten that from my lovely sire. He picked my chin up and kissed me softly. I was about to give in to the kiss when I remembered not only Yuzria, but that I had just become one of the people he hated most in the world. " Edward, I have to tell you something."
" Anything." He breathed softly. I put a hand on his chest and let out a trembling breath. I didn't know how he was going to take it. . .
" Aro, he offered me a spot in the Volturi and I took it." For a moment he was silent, and then ran a hand through his hair.
" Why?" He asked, his face full of confusion. " Why would you do that?" I stepped back and started walking again, he followed close behind.
" Because, it's where I belong. I'm not a regular vampire Edward. I can help them, and I can rid the world of the vampires who deserve to die. Who need to die. There are some sick fuckers out there Edward, and it'll be me who drives a stake through their heart. Well, you know what I mean." I stopped and bent down by a patch of roses. I picked one up and held it to my nose, it smelled so sweet. So pure. I stood back up and faced him, the rose in my hands. " I know I probably signed the death certificate on our relationship by joining but-" He laughed, cutting me from my thoughts. I arched my eyebrow in confusion. He was laughing? " Edward. . . Are you okay?" I questioned him. Maybe he'd gone insane, did I cause him to go crazy? He moved closer to me and put a hand on my cheek again.
" Isabella, do you honestly think I'm going to stop loving you over this?" He replied. I shrugged my shoulders and chuckled.
" Maybe because I joined the Volturi?"
" Bella, I dislike them. Not you. I'd go to the ends of the earth for you. I know sometimes I'm, well an asshole to be blunt. And I know I'm stubborn, but you, my sweet Bella, my feelings for you will never change. Never." If I could cry, I would've been. And hard. I swallowed and closed my eyes.
" I love you Bella." He whispered. I nodded my head and opened my eyes.
" I love you too Edward. I'm ending things with Yuzria. I love him, but only as a close friend. I mean, he's an awesome guy. And I know he would treat me right. But he deserves more, he deserves a family." Edward shook his head and brushed a piece of hair out of my face.
" Bella, if you want to stay with him, do it. I've seen the way he treats you and. . .I'll admit it's better than I've been lately. He loves you, anyone can see that."
" Oh Edward, I could never love him like I love you. I can't imagine why because you're right, he does treat me good. But," I put a hand to my heart and smiled. " You're in here. Even though you may piss me off quite a lot, you're it. You're my number one man. You always will be, and it isn't fair to Yuzria that I stay with him because he just. . . He just isn't you Edward. But, if you want my love I have some ground rules." He chuckled and stood up straight.
" Tell it to me straight." He teased. I rolled my eyes and gave him a small push.
" First, you keep those lovely lips of yours off of any other girl but me. You kiss another Lynn, that's it. You're gone. No matter how much I love you, I'm not putting up with that. Second, don't ever leave me again. I don't care what the reason. Once you're gone, that's it. You're gone. Third, accept me for who I am. I'm going to kill, I'm going to drink human blood, I'm not stopping anything that I do now. This is who I am. I've told you it before, you have to take me as I am. You can't have just Bella, you have to take Noleen too. This is me. And, I think that's it." He smiled and went to kiss me but I held up my hand. " No, not until I've talked to Yuzria. I won't put him through that Edward."
" I understand. Well, shall I walk you back to your room?" Again, I rolled my eyes and gave him a slight push. Not seeing that the pool was right behind us, Edward went tumbling in. My mouth opened in surprise and I looked at him. He was soaked. He scowled, but I knew he was holding back his laughter. I giggled and walked away. " Hey! Aren't you going to help me?" He shouted. I peeked over my shoulder and shook my head no.
" You'll try to dunk me in. I'm not stupid Eddie." I sang and skipped past the door. I smiled, everything was working out okay. Well, as okay as things could be before all hell breaks loose on the battlefield. I made my way up to my room quickly and quietly opened the door. Yuzria was still sleeping, but I could tell something was up. His body position was different, he almost never moved in his sleep. I picked up his hand and sat on the bed. " How much did you hear?" I asked him. He opened one eye and then sat up.
" I felt you leave. . . I heard all of it." He replied softly. He put a hand on my cheek, just like Edward did, and smiled. " Bella, I know you love him. I knew you were his when we got involved in this. I always knew you would most likely go back to him. It's okay. I'm, I'm fine with it."
" Yuzria, I can tell you aren't." I wrapped my arms around him in a tight hug. " I meant it when I said you deserved more than me. You should have a family. I'd love to see a bunch of tiny Yuzria's running around. I can't give you that."
" I understand Bella, fully. Just promise me that you won't let him hurt you. You're too special to have to put up with that." I pulled back from the hug, why did he have to say that? Why did he have to be so sweet?
" Do you mean that?" I whispered. His eyes burned into me, like he was reading my soul.
" Of course. I only wish you would see yourself as I see you."
" And how do you see me?" I didn't like the way this conversation was going.
" I see you as a strong, beautiful, proud, loving woman. Who can kick ass better than anyone I know." I kissed his full lips softly, I couldn't help it. I'd never, no one had told me something like that in a long time. " I love you Bella." He whispered as soon as the kiss was broken. I closed my eyes and let out a tiny groan.
" Why me?" I muttered and pulled away from him. Standing up, I began to pace around the room. " Why are you so god damned sweet? You say things that. . . Ugh!" I turned to him, my breathing fast. He was still just sitting there. Gentle, sweet Yuzria. " I have to. . . Go back to bed. I have to go talk to someone." He nodded his head and slipped back under the covers. There was only one person who had enough years of insight to help me. I ran through the castle, looking for him. Finally, I came to the library. He was inside still, the fire still dancing. I stepped inside and bit my lip nervously. " Aro, I have to talk to you." I said.
The fire was warm on my back. I was sitting on the floor in front of Aro, having just told him everything that was going on. Seeing as how I was now one of his "team", I figured I could go to him for help. He looked honestly concerned as he leaned forward. " Wow, that's some predicament you got yourself tangled in Bella." He replied finally. I nodded my head and leaned back a little.
" I don't know what I'm going to do. I really don't." I answered.
" Well, what does your heart tell you?"
" That's just it! My heart is torn between the two of them! I don't know who to choose. I'm so confused." Aro stood up from his chair and sat down with me on the floor.
" I'm going to tell you a story Bella. It's of when I was a young vampire, probably around Edward's age-"
" You call that young?" I asked him. He laughed softly and shook his head yes.
" When you've been around as long as me, you'd think his age is young also. Now, please don't interrupt. This is very important." I smirked and bent my head once, telling him to continue with the story. He cleared his throat and picked up his glass of blood. " I was in love, madly in love mind you, with this young girl. She was beautiful, smelled so wonderful, she was so innocent and pure. And here I was, this dark creature of the night. I knew I shouldn't, but I kept seeing her. And soon, she told me she loved me also. Now, back when this was happening vampires were simply a myth. A tale mothers told their children so they'd stay in bed at night. No one believed we were real. So, naturally I hadn't told her. When I did however, she didn't react the way I thought she would. I thought she'd go running and screaming from me. But instead, she put a hand on my heart and smiled. ' I don't care what you are,' she told me. ' All I know is that I love you.' That of course, made my dead heart beat with joy. I couldn't believe that this young woman could love me, even though I was this. . . Monster. But, I also knew I couldn't stay with her. So one night I kissed her as she slept, and left." He paused and took a drink. I couldn't believe it. Aro? In love? " I don't know what happened to her. I never went back to find out. It would've been too hard."
" Wow. . . Aro, I didn't know. I'm so sorry." He smiled weakly and shrugged his shoulders.
" I regret it every day. And that's the point of this story. Don't do something you'll in turn regret. Because, it'll eat at you everyday for the rest of your eternal life." I nodded my head and gave him a small hug.
" I'm sure she died loving you." I whispered in his ear. When I pulled back, I could see the sorrow in his eyes.
" Well, I know that if I die in this war, I'll die loving her." He whispered. Then he looked up and patted my cheek. " Go to sleep Bella, get your rest. You're going to need it. If anything, think. Decide what to do. Don't leave those two men waiting long." I kissed him on his cheek and whispered a small goodnight. Then I got up and left.
A/N: Whoa, long chapter eh! Haha, hope you liked it. I liked writing it. Who will she choose? Hmm. . . lol. The war will probably happen around chapter 28, give or take. I've already got the main plot for the third one, so yay! Well, that's all for now folks!
Until next time,
Faith