I wanted to melt into the wall at that point. I was embarrassed or... something and I didn't know why. I pulled my hood down further and tried to blend in with the wall as much as possible.
Felix opened the door and Heidi stepped in along with seven other vampires. The buzzing in my chest was remarkable, I would say I never felt anything like it... but I think I have. I was having a bit of deja? vu... but I couldn't remember.
I closed my eyes as I heard the ever enthusiastic Aro greet the visitors. I put my hand against the wall to feel the vibrations running through the ancient building. It was soothing in a way. I could almost picture everyone standing in there positions. It was like a pulsing radar going into my sensitive fingertips. A song entered my head that went along with the pulsing. I hummed it to myself. Drifting slowly, barely hearing the conversation in front of me.
"Carlisle! How good to see you! It's been to long. Is this Esme? Charming. Charming. Carlisle is a lucky person. Always was. And you've brought everybody? Wonderful! More the merrier I always say."
"This is Emmett and Rosalie. Alice and Jasper, and Edward and Be- well these are my 'children' so to speak." Carlisle said while pointing to each person in turn.
"Marvelous. I'm so excited you are all here. Marcus isn't this grand?"
Marcus looked far from excited. He eyed Edward blankly then touched Aro's arm.
"Oh, dear. Edward are you feeling quite all right?-" He was about to continue but Carlisle cut him off.
"No Edward isn't all right. None of us are. We came here to talk seriously. We believe you have information that we need. And we won't leave until we get it. I'm sorry for being so forward, but this matter has been tearing us apart and we won't stand for it any longer. We promise we won't be much trouble, and we will get out of your hair as soon as you cooperate."
EPOV
"Oh dear." Aro sat back in his chair. His face fell a little. But it perked back up. "Of course Carlisle. But, what is it do you think we are hiding?" Aro held his hand toward Carlisle.
Carlisle stepped forward but Edward jumped in front of Aro and touched his skin first.
Aro closed his eyes for a few seconds in concentration. 'Oh dears'and 'goddesses.' were muttered from his chalky lips.
Aro sat back and pulled his arm away.. "I'm so sorry Edward. Terrible. But, what can we do to help you?"
Emmett spoke.. "You know where she is."
"Do we now?" Caius said.
"Yes." Esme almost pleaded.
"And what would you do if we didn't want to reveal that information?" Marcus spoke so softly, that it raised the hairs on the back of Bella's neck.
"We'd become your own personal ghost. Haunting you until you spill. We know you know."
"Alright, we'll think about it. But would you be so kind as to excuse us as we discuss our options."
Edward scowled disapprovingly but Carlisle nodded.
"Good." Aro turned to the guards. He eyed Isabella and smirked. "Please escort the Cullen's to the south quarter lounge chamber."
She nodded and walked at a fairly slow pace to the double oak doors.
"Follow me please."
She walked us through a bunch of hallways. I inserted the path into my memory.
"Here it is." This girl said so dismally. I noticed it was just far away enough from the rest of the Volturi to hear their thoughts clearly. I wanted to see her face but it was covered by the Volturi hood. It startled me when I realized I couldn't read her mind. My chest almost exploded. Bella! But I saw a piece of off-white hair fall from under her hood. It wasn't Bella. It wasn't my Bella. I slumped in one of the chairs, beating myself up for having such hope.
Carlisle wanted to talk to her but thought better seeing how she backed into the wall like she just wanted to disappear.
But Emmett had no such boundaries. "So. How long have you been here?" He boomed.
"Almost a month."
"Ah, so you went with them to Hawaii?"
"No."
"They didn't go to Hawaii?"
"They did. I didn't. I wasn't ready."
"Ready for what?"
"None of your concern." She put an end to the conversation. But Emmett was never one for grammar.
"So how did you get into this?"
"I was... as you might say, drafted. Or forced." Her voice... it sounded so familiar... but so fresh. I couldn't place it. The person it reminded me of... well, I didn't want to think about it. "Excuse me. Stay here. Someone should be with you shortly."
"She sounds like Edward. No emotion... or too much of it that they overloaded. Poor dear." Esme thought.
I sighed and leaned back against the very renaissance looking couch they provided.
The guard left and one minute later Marcus entered.
"We were just wondering. How long do you intend to stay?"
"Until we get the information we need." Jasper spoke.
"Right. Bella is it? Well... how about this. We know where she is." Our ears perked up. "But she is very special to us.-"
"So you have her here!" I blurted out.
Marcus held up a hand to silence me.
"We don't like the idea of giving her away... but she is a bit tiresome. So I have a proposition. If she wants to go back with you than you can have her. But, if she doesn't... then she stays with us."
"You've brain washed her." Emmett accused.
"No. No. We haven't done anything of the sort." He waved him off. "But, surely she would want to go back with you, if everything that happened between Edward and her is true. That she was forced against her will to leave. That's not fair is it? It's caused all sorts of problems. So be considerate. Don't force her against her will."
"Fine." Carlisle said looking at the ground. He looked up at me. "Is that alright Edward?"
I nodded. I just wanted to see Bella.
Marcus nodded back. He was such an odd character. His face never gave away anything.
"Alright. Bella, come back in." My chest roared. She was here. She was right here. She's coming. My Bella is coming. She's already been here. She was the guard! I knew it... but... wait... then...
The black clothed female guard stepped back in. She kept looking down.
"What do you want Marcus?" She almost growled.
"Look at our guests and tell me if you want to be with them." I missed the giddiness in his voice.
She lifted off her hood.
I gasped. Bella. Bella. Bella. Bella. That's Bella. She's... what happened to her?
The white hair I saw earlier was only a highlight on her bangs. Her mouth was ruby red and sensuous. All her features were flawless and sexy. Rosalie has competition. Of course Bella was always beautiful... but not like this. It was different... but still magnificent. Her eyes her crimson and she had more prominent cheek-bones.
I stared at her for what felt like ages, just accounting all the differences. But, if you looked at the big picture... she hasn't changed that much. I realized I hadn't breathed since she walked in.
"I don't recognize them. Why would I want to go with them? I don't know them at all."
JPOV
Ouch. That hurt. That ripped Edward in half. I tried to keep the emotions mutual but there were too many to control. Edward was basically screaming with agony inside... but soon... it just stopped like he died. Like he gave up..
I tried to perk him up, it helped a little. At least he hasn't given up completely.
BPOV
"That'll do Bella. That was all." He nodded approvingly. I was about to turn away but I needed to talk to him. This going away business made me think of something, I have been pondering for a long time.
"Well, she doesn't even remember you, let alone want to go with you. So sorry to hear that. Now if you-" He turned back to me, realizing I was still there. "You can go now." I stood where I was.
"I need to talk to you." I said calmly.
"I'm busy right now." He turned back around. "As I was saying,-"
"But I need to talk to you." I pushed.
"Bella, later. We can talk later."
I sighed and looked at the ceiling.
"Dr. Marcus Malcolm. Do you know what I can do?" I asked casually using my extra prowess.
"Of course I do silly girl. I created you."
"Then let me repeat." I pushed off the wall and looked directly at him. "I need to talk to you." I said in a dark tone.
He stepped back a little. And sighed. "Of course." He bowed his head in defeat.
He walked past me and I looked at the Cullens. "We'll only be a short while." I was about to turn around but one of them caught my eye and made me stop dead in my tracks. I looked at him a second and shook it off.. The buzzing in my chest disapproved, but I kept walking away.
I flipped my hand behind my back and the door to the lounge closed.
I sped up to Dr. Malcolm and guided him to a deserted old storage room.
"What do you want Bella?" He sighed warily.
"I want to leave."