A/N: Ugh, I've been so busy lately, that I'm barely finding any time to write. But I did, so here it is. :)
Disclaimer: Twilight and all its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Daniela, however, belongs to me.
Every step I took made the ache in my chest stronger. Each second I was away from Jasper, my body filled with regret and loss. But, I wasn't going back. I couldn't risk his life- my family's lives, just so I would feel better and complete with Jasper. I got over being selfish and self-pitying a long time ago.
"Bella…" I shook my head. "I've lost all hope." At my words, Jasper held me tighter.
Bella gaped at me. "You can't! Alice, come on! Please. You're the one who is always supposed to hope. You're the optimistic one!" I said nothing and Bella got her answer. "Fine. Be all depressed," she hissed and I was shocked. "But I can still hope because I know there's still a reason. The reason is that little blonde girl inside. The reason is every single fucking person inside that house. The reason is the man you love. Think Alice. It's not all about you. I hope you fucking remember that. Maybe Rosalie isn't the only one who changed. Maybe you just got fucking self-centered. You of all people should know that you're not the only putting your ass on the line." Bella brushed past us and headed into the woods.
I blinked a couple times and I realized that Bella was right. Every single thing she said was true. I needed to stop sulking and get my ass in gear. It wasn't just me who could possibly die tomorrow. I was being beyond selfish and I needed to stop.
That had been a wakeup call for me. It wasn't only my life that my decisions affected. Now, the stakes were so much higher. Now, there were so many possible ways to handle this than just sitting and waiting for it to happen. Leaving had been the only choice that I could think of. It was the only choice that, hopefully, would keep the Volturi away from my family and away from Jasper. This was the way to keep them safe.
I could only hope that Jasper understood, that he knew I had no other choice, that he wasn't mad at me for leaving him.
If the Volturi got me, what reason would they have to go all the way to Forks? It was obvious that only wanted me, only wanted my clairvoyance for their guard. If they had that, hopefully they'd give up their vendetta against my family that would ultimately cause death for the people I loved most.
Since I couldn't run all the way to Italy, I was taking a plane. If I used my credit card, I could easily be followed by any member of my family. Luckily, I kept a large sum of money with me at all times, in case of an emergency, of course.
My flight didn't leave for a little while, so I sat waiting, going through my visions.
"She's gone forever," Jasper whispered, his golden eyes full of incomprehensible pain.
"Don't think like that, Dad," Daniela murmured, though it seemed like deep down, she too believed what he said. "Mom has to come back. She loves you and our family."
Jasper sighed and shook his head. "That's why she left, Daniela. To protect us, because she loves us. I wish she wasn't such a fucking martyr. We could have faced the Volturi together, as a family. We have before."
"What if…she saw something else that made up her mind? Like…maybe she saw a battle that ended in death… She did say that Aro would have us eliminated. Maybe she saw that and is trying to stop it."
Jasper looked away from Daniela to hide the desperation his face plainly showed. It was in vain, since Daniela was his daughter and could easily taste his emotions. She placed a hand on his arm in a meager attempt at comfort.
I bit my lip in guilt and hugged myself tightly, trying to hold myself together in such a public place. Jasper was as torn apart as I felt inside.
Shaking my head, I shook away those thoughts until later, when I could deal with them. Right now, I had to focus on the Volturi and how my recent decisions affected the future.
"Alice!" Aro cried happily, clapping his hands together and lifting them to his chin. "So good to see you! To what do we owe the pleasure?"
I gave him a condemning look. "You can drop the innocent act, Aro. I know everything."
Aro sighed and shook his head. "I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about."
"You planned an attack on my family! You were going to take me, use me against them. So here I am, surrendering- if you promise to leave my family alone. For good."
Aro smiled maliciously. "I must converse with my brothers. Please, take a seat, make yourself comfortable." He gestured to a nearby ordinate chair that looked older than Jasper was.
"I'm fine, thank you," I responded coldly.
"Suit yourself." Aro turned swiftly, causing his robes to ruffle as he headed toward the thrones that Caius and Marcus were seated in.
Aro took one of each of their hands, though it seemed the conversing happened between Caius and Aro while Marcus just sat there. I suddenly wondered what had happened to cause him to be distant. It was almost like he felt like me- alone.
Suddenly, Aro dropped their hands and turned to me. Quickly, he hurried forward and held out his hand. Sighing internally, I lifted my own hand and placed it carefully in his.
Aro's eyes closed and he stood still for a long moment. Eventually, they reopened and he dropped my hand. "Welcome to the Volturi, Alice."
I blinked back to the present just as the final call for my flight was announced. Without thinking about my most recent vision, I rushed to get on the plane and into my seat. Once seated, though, I could let the overwhelming hopelessness take over me. I was joining the Volturi…and I'd never see Jasper again.