I knocked on the Cullen's' door. Esme opened it warily.
"Bella? Is that really you?" Esme asked squinting slightly as if she couldn't recognize me.
"Yeah, can I come in?" She showed me in where the whole Cullen family had now congregated in the hall. Emmett and Rosalie were holding hands and watching me warily. Alice rushed to hug me while Jasper hung back with a slight smile on his face. Carlisle had joined Esme at the door with a bright smile on his face.
"Welcome back Bella." He said in his soothingly paternal voice.
I looked around the room and finally my gaze was locked with the gaze of the most important member of the family. Edward. His eyes burned amber and I could see his hands fist in what could only be anger.
"I'd like to speak with you" I said to Edward and as an after-thought I turned to the rest of the Cullen's, "All of you"
We gathered in the living room everyone seating themselves on one of the couches or chairs.
"Please, Bella, go ahead" Carlisle gestured to me. Suddenly nervous I got up and began to pace.
"What exactly is going on?" I asked stopping and staring at Edward in question. "I was at a bar tonight with Jessica. It was called RED? Any of you been there?" There were looks of shock amongst the family. Edward got off his chair in anger.
"Can you not stay away from trouble for 5 minutes?! Do you want to get yourself killed?"
"Jessica was the one who wanted to go, not me!" I replied. "And anyways, I'm fine aren't I?" I took a deep calming breath.
"I didn't know that vampire bars existed, and I didn't know that the owner of said vampire bar happened to be connected to the Volturi" Everyone in the family had the decency to look sheepish except Edward.
"What does it matter?" He asked exasperatedly.
"It matters because the Volturi want something from me, and this Damien could have recognized me somehow."
"Probably not, so many people there your scent would have been hidden"
"Yeah, about that…" I shuffled my feet awkwardly.
"What did you do?" Edward growled.
"I sort of got into a fight…" I mumbled still gazing at my shabby Chucks.
"WHAT?!" Edward exploded, causing Alice to jump and grab his arm as a calming measure.
"She started it! Garbo. What kind of name is that anyway…?" I saw Edwards's eyes blazing with anger. "This was not the point though," I said hastily backtracking. "My point is that I met Kerrigan who told me that all these vampires are starting to gather in Washington like bees to honey and right now, the number of werewolves in La Push is growing as a defence mechanism against something big. So why don't you guys tell me what the hell is going on?"
The family was silent.
"Come on! I am not a little girl that needs protecting! Either you tell me now or I go find out from Damien myself."
Esme gasped and turned to Carlisle in fear. "Tell her." She pleaded. Carlisle sighed and turned in the sofa to face me.
"Vampires are probably not the only things assembling here. Werewolves, Halflings humans…"
"Okay…" I said urging him.
"They're gathering here for something big, epic in a way, seeing as it's never happened before.
"Right."
"There is something they want here."
"Okay, great, what's the thing?" I asked irritated now.
"You."
There was a serious silence. I stared at Carlisle like he was crazy while Edward glared at Carlisle murderously.
"What?" I whispered.
"You." He repeated.
"Me?"
Carlisle sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly.
"There is a sort of myth in inhuman culture that prophesizes the coming of a person of special blood. We knew of course the moment you arrived in Forks that there was something irregular about your blood. The way the smell is pungent with a vitality we have not experienced before, and the way it is harder to resist your blood than anyone else's." He sighed again and looked deep into my round ones.
"You are possibly the most unique human to date. If you are changed, you would become the most powerful vampire in the world. And we have already seen this from when you met the Volturi, the way Edward cannot read your mind and Jasper cannot influence your emotions. You are what the Volturi want because they want your blood and they want to make you theirs.
There was a heavy silence in the room, which made the blood rushing in my head thunderous as I tried to grasp what was said to me.
"I…I don't understand…" I stammered.
"The werewolves, Bella, are more your friends than we anticipated. They are the ones that can make sure you are not harmed and that you do not become a vampire."
"But why?"
Edward stepped in, stepped closer as if he could sense the fear engulfing me.
"We suspect that somewhere a long your bloodline someone was bitten but not changed. We are not sure of this but rumours have been going round that imply that you have a sort of resistance to vampire venom... and pretty much all vampire tricks. "
"But then that means I can't be changed! Right? The venom is what changes…" I exclaimed with sudden hope.
"We don't know. It may mean that you will have to be changed by a more powerful vampire. Aro, for example, might do it."
"But…"
"That's not the problem Bella. It's your blood they want more than anything. Changing you would be an added bonus but all that blood coursing through you would go to waist. They believe your blood can make them...invincible." The last word came out in a sigh as Edward looked away from me. I couldn't think, I couldn't conceive how yet again I was in a bigger mess than I thought I was. Edward stepped closer to me and took my face into his hands.
"Don't worry Bella; I'll protect you no matter what happens." He whispered into my ear and kissed my temple gently. A little shiver of pleasure coursed through me and warmth was starting to seep back into my frigid bones.
"So what do I do now?" I asked looking directly at Carlisle.
He looked back at me, equally lost.
"I really don't know"
I stared at him for a long moment before turning around and walking out the door. I'd had enough of all the danger and adventure; I wanted to be normal for just a little while. I thought of Charlie and I got angrier. I slammed the door behind me and began walking to the car, fury swelling inside me.
"Bella!" I heard Edward call out behind me but I kept on walking. He reached me before I could take another step.
"What?! What do you want from me Edward?!" I yelled. I opened the car door and got in.
"Bella, you need to get away from here." He said his eyes startling me with their seriousness.
"Yeah? What about Charlie?" I asked simply.
"I'll handle that, just leave."
"I'm not going anywhere Edward; I'm done running away from al this…this paranormal bullshit. I'm not going anywhere."
I was about to close the door but he stopped me, his face inches from mine.
"Do you want to get killed, or worse, become a blood bank for the most influential vampires on the planet?
"Then change me now! What the hell are you waiting for?! At least that way I won't become a pet!" I yelled.
"I can't."
"Why Edward? Why can't you? I wanted to be with you forever and now you can't even when my life is in jeopardy?"
"Wanted?" He whispered.
"What?"
"You said "wanted". Past tense. As in not anymore, is that right?"
"No. Stop twisting my words."
He shook his head morosely. "You want to live, Bella. I want you to live, which means I can't do this to you."
"So what now?" I asked dumbly. His fingers touched my cheek in a gesture that reminded me of the old days - the days in which my love for him was much less complicated.
"Now, we have to fight."
"But the Volturi…"
"This is more than you, this is us." He said his hands grasping hard on my chin. His eyes gazed deep into mine as his lips pressed hard on mine. My head spun and everything I was called out for him. My hands lifted limply over his shoulders while my heart thudded slowly to a stop. My head spun as my whole being reacted completely to his in a sign of love; of forever. His lips cruised over mine hotly, parting them gently only assault my mouth, my tongue, my soul with passion and promise.
With the aid of the cool northern wind, I snapped back to reality. There was something in the air.
I turned to find Edwards eyes staring into mine lust and knowledge clouding his irises.
"I have to go" I kissed his cheek. "I'll always love you" I whispered, knowing full well he understood the meaning behind them.
I drove as fast as the truck was willing to go. My eyes had started leaking translucent truths that with each drop, reminded me what I had known all along. I reached Charlie's and stared into the nearby forest.
"You got my attention" I said straight into the dark.
A girl that seemed to be around my age appeared from the forest her black, straight hair blowing in the wind. I stepped into my "wanna fight?" stance, my hands balling into fists. Before I could say anything a large wolf appeared behind her. Its green eyes glimmered like emeralds while black face contorted into a warning snarl. This time I adopted the "fuck!" stance. Werewolves were not my forte. Yet again before I could do, think or say anything, the angelic Kerrigan stepped out of the forest. His chin-length blonde hair was swept around his face as the wind whipped around us.
"Miss me already?" I said sarcastically looking deliberately at the girl.
"Aww, baby with that ass, anyone would miss –" Spike was interrupted by Kerrigan's abrupt "Shut it"
He turned back to me. A shiver passed through me. "We're not going to start anything, so just keep that knife in your boot.
I loosened my stance a fraction and smiled.
"Okay. Now you tell Rambo-Barbie there to take her hand off that hilt." I observed nodding at the rather angry girl. Her eyes said she was Asian – slanting enough to be oriental– while her pale face seemed to reflect the starlight. She was like a diamond and possibly one of the most beautiful – and menacing – things I had ever seen.
This would have been well and dandy if not for the fact that her hand was now twitching on the handle as her jaw stiffened
"Kiki…" Kerrigan said, his hand pressing slightly on her shoulder. Her hand dropped down to rest on her thigh – which I knew concealed a weapon of some sorts.
"Bella, we aren't going to touch you –"
"Unless you want me too" Spike sneered.
"Shut up" Kerrigan and I said in chorus. Spike backed down but still continued to sneer.
"We're here to protect you" Kerrigan said. I stared at his lips for most of the time, gazing at the cupid-like shape of them. Exquisitely beautiful people were my weakness.
When I realised I had missed all the words coming of those lips, I blushed and asked "what?" stupidly.
Kerrigan stared at me, confused.
"We came to protect you?"
I looked him straight in the eye and laughed heartily. I grasped my tummy as they ripped through me like knives of anger.
"Protect me?" I laughed again. "Join the club, I think the enlisting queue will keep you out of my way" My eyes went cold with anger along with my voice.
"Bella you can't do this without help" Kerrigan reasoned.
"Fuck you, Blondie." I looked around to gauge any signs of how long they'd been there. "How did you find me? I better find Charlie safe in bed…"
"Charlie's fine. Seriously, Bells, we are here for the same reason as you are."
"Oh you came to Forks to escape the life of tour bus passengers, too? What coincidence."
"We came 'ere to protect your sang and you mock us?"
"Oh look she talks too?" I spat sarcastically. "Girl, get off my case and you" I said pointing at Kerrigan. "Get off my property before I show you the meaning of haircut"
Kerrigan shook his head and gestured the others to come closer to him. There was some low mumbling, a curse from Frenchie after which they broke apart and separated. Kiki turned to give me a glare of hatred, while Spike gave me a smug smile as they walked back into the forest. Leaving me with Kerrigan.
"What do you want Blondie?" My arms locked at my sides I glared at him.
He just shook his head. "What is with the aversion to help?"
"Gee, I don't know maybe its cause I don't like or know you!"
"Yeah well everyone knows you so why don't you stuff your assumptions."
He sighed.
"I didn't come here to argue with you."
"Funny how life goes…" I smiled sarcastically.
"Are you always this sarcastic or do I just bring out the worst in you?"
"Do really want the answer to that one?"
"Do you even know what you're facing in a few days? We are talking about a magnitude of power hungry, bloody thirsty, vampires. Add a little werewolf vendetta on top and you've got a soup of good ol' fashioned shit"
"What is it that you're telling me" My eyes narrowed into slits as his beautiful face glared into mine.
"I'm telling you to prepare yourself for something nasty. We've been watching the Volturi like hawks for months, we know them, and they know you. And if there's one thing you do not want, it's to be known by the Volturi."
"We found out about your blood, we found out about what its worth to them, and now we have to keep you away from a fate worse than death." He thought for a moment. "Or death."
"And why is that? Because this whole good Samaritan thing is sort of hard to believe" He walked closer to me so that I good see the way his ocean blue eyes sparkled in the night. I lifted my eyebrow; did he know his good looks were a distraction to me, or was he just winging it?
"Because of the fact that you're even more valuable alive. You could become – with some training – the best slayer I know.
"And what, join the Barbie team? No thanks."
"No. So that you keep innocent people alive."
"Ha. Ok." I laughed sarcastically.
"Look it's not my fault you're a walking vampire eternal spring of life, nonetheless I have a code to follow, whether you like it or not.
I stared at him like he'd sprouted a second head.
"Who the hell are you?"
"My name is Kerrigan and I hunt vampires, what more do you need to know?"
"How the hell did you find me?"
"Kiki is an excellent tracker, not to mention your scent is the most overpowering one in Washington."
"You know what Blondie? Why don't you go fuck yourself while I go inside and enjoy a nice night's sleep. The fact that you have a knight-in-shining-armour complex means I'm going to stay away from you and you should do the same with me. Believe me; I don't need your help."
Without a second glance I turned around and entered the house. I double bolted the locks and breathed deep. What the hell was going on around me?
What seemed like hours later, I was lying on my bed, staring at my ceiling. The day seemed to have lasted for years, while each moment in it lasted for nothing but seconds. I wondered how the new turn of events would pan out. What should I do? Should I become I vampire was no longer the question of the day. Now I had to figure out how I was going to survive.
Why am I so attractive to danger, I asked myself as I rolled around in my too-hot sheets. Not only had I fallen in love with two of the most dangerous people in the state, but I had gathered a few even more hazardous friends a long the way. My mind strayed to Kerrigan and prophetic words. He had come to help me but I rebuffed his offer without a second thought. It was probably not the wisest decision I had ever made, but a girl still had her pride. All the men already in my life falling over themselves to try and protect me was enough. I didn't need another beautiful addition or the imminent complications it would bring.
What Kerrigan had said about fighting vampires drifted through my mind. Was that something I wanted to do? Did I want to fight evil for the rest of my life? Until a few months ago all I had wanted was to fit in, to be normal, now everything in my life had turned into real-life horror movie. I had wanted to be one of those pristinely perfect girls that weren't clumsy, didn't spill food when they ate and had regular boyfriends without the hero-complex. Instead not only did I start off with one less than normal boyfriend, but I fell in love with my best friend that happened to be just as un-normal. Obviously, there something very wrong with my life.
I pondered on how I was going to solve that particular problem. I couldn't choose either of them but I couldn't have both. I loved them equally and unfalteringly but still in different ways. I was almost completely sure that the life of a vampire was not for me, but I didn't want to leave Edwards's side, not ever, and just the thought of him staying young and beautiful while I grew older and suffered the ills of mortality made me shiver. Jake was surprising and what I felt for him was even more so. I had convinced myself that I would never feel the same powerful feelings I felt for Edward; and I didn't. What I felt for Jake was like a breaking the surface of the sea and taking a deep lungful of breath. Being with Edward was like watching the sunset the same way every day, knowing that it would rise again the next day. Day and night, darkness light, Jake and Edward naturally repelled each other in what they were. Yet what I felt for each of them was just as strong.
Their faces swam hazily in my minds eye and I sighed again settling into the bed. With that last vision I fell into a deep but restless slumber, the fresh dawn streaking through my closed blinds.