A/N- Okay so here is the third chapter hope it is to your liking. Thank you to everyone who reviewed your kind words help me stay motivated to write. Please continue to review good or bad all are welcome. Enjoy
I in no way own any part of Twilight or New Moon.
Felix and Demetri were trying to push us deeper into the alleyway. I would not let them hurt Bella. I had her back and I would not lose her like this. Fighting both of them was impossible perhaps if I put her on my back and we ran for the plaza but there was still the problem of the sun.
"Edward," suddenly I heard my name being called but not from any of the figures visible to me nor was it out loud and this particular voice I would have known anywhere. Alice! I should have known she was the one who brought Bella here.
"Let's behave ourselves, shall we? There are ladies present." Alice walked over to my side. I was happy to have her with me however Emmett would have been preferable just for his size. Her thoughts were screaming at me even though she appeared very relaxed.
"I am so sorry it was a mistake. But seriously, what were you thinking! Did you even think what it would be like for us to live without you?"
At the sight of Alice both Demetri and Felix relaxed their stance. Felix had several disapproving thoughts of even numbers running through his head.
"We're not alone," she reminded them.
The small family that was watching us from the entrance to the alley was looking more nervous with the addition of another person. The man walked to the guards in the red coats making an obvious complaint about what was happening further down the alleyway. Six guards joined the family in watching us.
Demetri was very frustrated with the situation there was little he could do now. "Please, Edward, let's be reasonable."
"Let's and we will leave quietly now, with no one the wiser." If only it were that easy. I knew that they did not like the appearance of Alice but they had their orders and it was unlikely they would just let us go.
Demetri's frustration was much clearer in his thoughts and his tone this time. "At least let us discuss this more privately."
"No," I wanted to make it clear that we would not be going anywhere with them. Bella was with me and I needed to keep her safe, needed to be able to tell her all the reasons for what I did. I needed her forgiveness and her warmth. As I was continuing to plan our escape a voice broke through the tension.
"Enough." The voice could only belong to one person and as the cloaked figure approached my suspicions were confirmed.
"Jane." The time for escape was over. Jane was a formidable opponent, one I could not defeat. I let my arms fall from protecting Bella. It was now a fruitless effort. I only hoped that what waited inside the Volturi residence was not anger for my actions but understanding of some sort. I noticed that Alice was not pleased with the arrival of Jane; she too understood the implications of what could happen now.
"Follow me." It was a simple instruction; it pained me to have to do it. Felix gestured for us to follow Jane first. The pleasure of the outcome of the situation showed clearly on his face. His thoughts were full of the same pleasure. Alice followed Jane at once. I slipped my arm around Bella's waist and lead her down the alley way. I could feel her eyes looking at me full of questions but I could not face her. I had once again put her in danger. This time however we were being lead to a residence full of vampires that preferred human blood, ones that were possible quite irritated with me. And there were a few that wanted to see me suffer for my arrogance. How could I make so many mistakes surrounding the one person I loved? There had to be away out of this. I would figure out something. This could not be end. This cruel twist of fate will not destroy us. I realized then I did not know how Bella was still alive.
"Well, Alice, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."
"It was my mistake. It was my job to set it right."
"What happened?" I had to know even if it were bad, I needed to know.
"It's a long story. In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself. Bella's all about the extreme sports these days."
I received numerous thoughts coming from Alice. The cliff jumping was far from the worst. Alice allowed me to hear things from Charlie's point of view. The state Bella was in when I left, the emptiness, the lack of desire she had to live, and worst of all the nightmares. Then there was the fact that Victoria was hunting her, I had seriously under estimated Victoria, and werewolves were protecting. Werewolves! Onein particular werewolf she had been spending a great deal of time with, the thought pained me.I had left Bella so she could have a normal life yet she barely managed to exist. The pain I had caused her was visibly clear in Alice's thoughts. I would never leave her again. Even if she had moved on, I would watch over her and protect her. I couldn't allow my existence to have such effects on her life.
"Hmm," was all I could manage as a response to what Alice had shown me. I could feel Bella's body heat rise and heart rate quicken when she realized Alice was filling me in on her many adventures. I was unsure of what to do with all this information. At least she had gotten up everyday and tried to exist. I was much more hopeless. Many times I didn't move for days frozen by the pain of her loss.
We were now at the end of the alleyway and it was time to enter into the Volturi residence. I could only hope that they would some how understand and let Bella go. Alice slid down the opening first and I could see panic come over Bella's face.
"It's alright, Bella, Alice will catch you." She seemed hesitant and I wished for a way to calm her. I wished I could have gone first and caught her but Demetri and Felix were still behind us and I did not trust them. Felix, especially, had many thoughts I did not approve of. Bella finally crouched down and called for Alice. I took hold of her wrists and lowered her. The contact between us sent ripples of heat through me. The warmth of her skin was a sensation I had not experienced in such a long time. I craved it, I couldn't live without it and I would somehow get us out of this.
Once Bella was down the tunnel I slipped down behind her. The hallway was very dim. This was one of the old stone tunnels beneath the city that had existed centuries ago. The Volturi created this city and used every part, old and new, as their personal playground. As soon as I landed on the damp stone below I took Bella into my arms. We were now deep into the Volturi residence and there was no turning back. Bella held me very tightly as we walked down the old cobble stone path. It was not very well lit and I could tell she was afraid. Her heartbeat was frantic and it worried me. I wish there were a way to calm her. She had risked her life for me, someone who didn't deserve her.
Bella was having trouble walking in the dark. Her feet tripped over the damp stone. I wanted to carry her, hold in my arms, close to me but that would speed up the process of fate. I wasn't so sure I was going to like the outcome so I decided it was better to go slow. Enjoying what time we may have together. Felix was growing very impatient behind us. His thoughts about Bella were angering me. He let out an audible sigh and my grip tightened on Bella.
My concern grew with each passing step. I found myself wondering if this really would be the end. After all we had been through would this be the only reunion we would have? My existence would surely be the end of her this time. I brought this on us. I did this to her. I was just as bad as the monster I buried deep within me.
Without realizing it I had started to stroke Bella's face. I traced her lips and jaw line with my thumb. I leaned down and breathed in her scent. I lowered my head to rest on hers trying to be as close to her as possible. I was drowning in my own personal guilt. Bella's arms tightened around me. I wish she knew how much I wanted her, how much I needed her. My existence had been nothing during her absence. I gently touched her forehead with my lips. It was my way of telling her I was sorry. Even if she wouldn't accept my apology I had to try. I wished we could speak but even whispers would be heard by all.
The path started to descend deeper into the darkness, we were almost to the end. I could feel Bella shiver beside me, at first I thought it was fear but her teeth began to chatter, she was cold. Her clothes were still wet; I assumed she must have climbed through the fountain in the square to reach me. The bravery she had shown in coming here was something I cherished about her. I was not worthy of the goodness and light she brought into my life. I released her from my arms, choosing instead to hold her hand; the cold of my body was not a comfort to her. I wanted nothing more than to hold her and caress her but the iciness of my touch could never make her warm.
"N-n-o," Bella managed to chatter out a small response to me pulling away. I quickly took her back in arms, rubbing my cold hands up and down her arms hoping to create warmth through friction. I tried to hurry her through the deep cold tunnel against my previous thoughts. It would be warmer outside of the tunnel but it would also be more dangerous. All too soon we reached the end. In front of us stood a small wrought iron door, I quickly ducked through it into a brighter stone room. Bella seemed to relax a bit in the brightness. Everything in me tensed and I clenched my jaw tightly shut.
How could this be the end for us?