Title: Solstice
Author: marjorie16
Fandom: Twilight
Summary: This is a story mid New Moon. Edward leaves Bella. Bella befriends Jacob. The werewolves kill Laurent BUT Victoria gets passed the werewolves and bites Bella.

Laurent: "...but if you knew what she had planned for you, Bella..."

Well, what if you did?

* Third Person POV

CHAPTER 12

"Well, she's definitely got her sense of humor intact." Emmett broke the silence that enveloped their small group. They had just witnessed vampire Bella, not a sweet clumsy hilarious human Bella, interrogate a vampire. Okay, that was putting it mildly. She terrorized the vampire. She had actually broken his face and chest---not at all like the Bella they knew.

"What did you see?" Alice turned around to face Edward. He had just gotten over the things he saw in Aro's mind. Now that he was asked to retell the story, he wasn't sure he could explain.

"Edward, I can see you running after her and I can see her pushing you away. What did you see?" She paused. "Answer me."

"I think you should give it a minute, honey" Jasper said, his voice was rough from the battle. "He's feeling a little disconnected."

Alice pouted her lips. She dearly wanted to know what happened to Bella. Beneath all her inhuman appearance, she recognized her best friend. "What was she feeling, Jasper? Was she angry?" Bella's face had been murderous when she was hitting the vampire but there was something about how she immediately succumbed to Aro that made Alice wonder.

"Yeah. She was feeling a lot of strong emotions at that time." He paused. "But mostly she was frightened."

"Frightened?" Rosalie hissed. "She was a monster!"

"I think she doesn't completely know what's happening to her. She knows what she is but she doesn't know what to do. So, she's just letting things happen as they go. She's feeling a lot of hate. And she's dealing with it the only way she knows how." He looked at his sister. "She's taking revenge."

"But why?" Esme wailed. If she could cry, she would have. "What has Victoria done to her? Except turn her into a vampire, that is."

Everyone looked at Edward who was staring at the dark forest where Bella disappeared. He lowered his head and gazed absently at the fire that slowly burned the small house. He heaved a deep sigh and then narrated everything in short sentences.

"Bella was kidnapped. She was tortured for weeks. Then, when at last they let the venom spread, they buried her 500 miles beneath the ground in windowless, doorless box."

For a few seconds, none of the vampires could move.

"H-how did she get out?" Jasper asked. He was feeling extremely guilty.

"I don't know."

"How did the Volturi find her?" Alice's composed face turned surly. This was why Bella acted like a savage. She was hurt. And nobody could tell her that revenge isn't going to make anything better. Alice swore. She should never have let Edward convince her to leave Bella alone.

"I don't know. The thought never crossed anyone's mind."

"Well no wonder she's determined on beating the hell out of this guy." Emmet kicked the searching hand of the vampire body that still tried to put itself together.

Suddenly, Edward's head snapped up.

"What is it?" Carlisle asked. "What's wrong, Edward?"

Edward sprinted into a run leaving only a single word for his family. "Charlie"

As the others started towards him, he looked at them with relentless authority. This was something he had to do alone. They did not move one more inch.

Rain started pouring.

* * *

"He's you 'lab partner'? what the hell kind of answer is that?"

"A true one, Demetri" Of course she could always say, 'he was the guy I loved', but that would probably have raised too many questions. She and Edward's love is a finished chapter of her life that she was just too reluctant to reopen. Suddenly, Isabel was feeling cold. And it had nothing to do with the weather.

"Where are we going?" Alec asked. Always the practical one. The others remained quiet and thoughtful. The rain was going to be a nuisance.

"To a meadow."

"And that's where this Victoria is?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure that pixie of a girl told you the truth?"

"Yes. She's…" My best friend. My sister. "honest."

"Isabel, you're going to have to explain to us who those vampires are." Felix said before Alec could ask any more questions. "They're not normal. Did you see their eyes? It was had a gold, butterscotch shade. It's weird."

"That's because they don't feed on humans like we do, Felix" Jane answered. She was feeling especially irritated that Isabel had become everybody's concern. And she couldn't do anything about it. "They're philanthropists with an appetite for livestock."

Everyone, except for Isabel, laughed at that.

"That's not very comfortable." Felix said, struggling hard to speak.

"Or appealing." Alec added.

The laughter stopped when the wind shifted. It blew a wave of the most delicious, most irresistible scent in this rain-drenched forest. It was the scent of blood. Warm, thudding blood.

And alas, there was the culprit. The sound of footsteps stooped behind a huge tree at their left, attempting to hide.

"We know you're there." Aro said. "What do you want?"

The human's heart was beating so fast it sounded like dancing. Hand then, the mortal walked around the tree to face them.

It was Charlie.

"I want to see my daughter."

He was looking at Isabel with bold certainty. At that moment, Isabel knew he would not live for long. And she wouldn't let that happen.

"We don't know who you're talking about, sir" She said.

"Bella, stop this right now." He exulted. "So this is what you've been doing!"

"We don't know any Bella" She tried to say but her father was hysterical.

"You disappear for three months. You never write. You don't even call. And then, I find you at a slaughter party. And now, you're hanging out with criminals."

"Sir, I'm not your daughter. My name is Isabel. Do I look like her?" From the shadows, Isabel stepped into the moonlight.

He saw it then. Those gleaming red eyes. The same eyes that terrified him earlier this evening. Monster's eyes. He cautiously took a step back.

"But…" He couldn't find the words. There were no words. What would you say to a person who looked like your daughter but was not your daughter? "You're…" He pointed at her companions. He noticed that they all looked similar. Pale skin. Hard, statuesque face.

"Not friendly." Jane shot a small dose of her power through his brain. A small dose, it maybe, but Charlie was brought down immediately. He crumpled on the ground, screaming.

"Stop!" Isabel ordered but Jane wouldn't stop. "Stop it!" She started to launch herself towards her when Aro's hand seized her.

If this is her father, Aro thought. Killing him would sever all ties Isabel might have in her old life. If her father dies, Isabel would be devastated. And then, she will be like a prideless lion seeking for guidance His guidance. Perfect.

"Master," Isabel pleaded. "He hasn't done anything wrong."

This was the second time Isabel had shown signs of emotion. Aro and the rest of the vampires had thought she was as cold-blooded as her plan for revenge. But, earlier this evening, she had lost control. First, when she fought with Riley and now when her father's life was involved.

It was a good thing Aro had dealt with this kind of thing before. Marcus, his silent friend, was once like her. Marcus was madly in love with his sister, Didyme. They had planned to leave him. And so, he did what had to be done. He killed his sister. He killed the most important thing in Marcus's life. And now, Marcus had forgotten to smile. Well, no worries. As long as Marcus's power stayed with him, it wouldn't matter if he showed no signs of being alive.

Of course Marcus didn't know these things. If he did, he would have killed Aro. But Aro was careful not to let him know. And so now, he wouldn't tell Jane to go ahead and kill the human. But then, he wouldn't tell her to stop either.

"Master!" Isabel begged. "Please! She's hurting him."

But Aro wouldn't move.

Then, there was a flash. Jane crashed to a tree. Charlie went limp on the wet ground.

And there he was. Edward watched the frail human.

"He's not dead." He paused. His velvet voice strained. "Yet."

"Edward," Saying his name sent a rush of colorful sensations within Isabel. The man had no idea how he affected her. Even before when he had her heartbeats to show her emotions, he didn't know how much she loved him. If he did, he wouldn't have left.

But now, she was pale and cold. She couldn't blush for him anymore. However much she wanted to, he wouldn't want her to. He was probably just feeling guilty.

Before Isabel could think of anything to say or do. Jane had straightened herself and smiled her beatific smile at him. And he went tumbling down as Charlie had earlier. The rest of the vampires merely stood there, watching, waiting for a command.

"Jane stop it!"

"Don't worry, Isabel. Your lab partner can take it." She smiled even wider. "He's not going to die."

Isabel couldn't stop her. She couldn't even rely on Master Aro. Although she didn't want anything to do with the man who didn't want her, she didn't want him to suffer. It wasn't his fault. With all her being, she wanted to protect Edward from this injustice.

Save him. Save him. Save him.

A moment later, Edward had stopped seething and started to stand up. Jane's eye brows drew together in confusion. Nobody knew what was happening. Isabel sighed in relief. Something had stopped Jane. Whatever that was, she was thankful for it.

A slow clap pierced the silent forest.

"Well done, Isabel" Aro said, his clapping stopped. "Finally you have demonstrated your talents." Aro was just as surprised as anyone but he didn't dare show it. He was the head of this coven. He would not be as naïve as the others.

"I haven't done anything, Master."

"Oh you certainly have, Isabel." He said. "You're a shield. And you're the strongest shield I have ever encountered." From the other side of the group, Renate stirred in the darkness.

Isabel briefly considered prolonging this particular conversation but Edward was staring at her with unreadable eyes. "Thank you." She simply said.

"Thank you." Edward replied. He paused for a while, thinking if this was the appropriate time. "Bella, may I please talk to you?"

Soft butterflies of hope fluttered in her stomach. She crushed the emotion instantly.

"Why are you calling her 'Bella'? That's not her name." Chelsea said. "Her name is Isabel."

"No need, Edward." Isabel said, ignoring Chelsea. "Everything's all right."

"Everything is not all right." He insisted. "I need to tell you something. You need to know something."

She shrugged. "What is it?"

He looked pointedly at the other vampires. "Maybe some place more private."

Isabel looked at Aro. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry. Whatever it is, this is as good a place as any."

He sighed. If this is where it's supposed to be, this is where it's supposed to be. "I want to apologize to you." He paused. "If I hadn't left you, things wouldn't be like this."

That's all?

"I never intended for you to get hurt. I'm sorry for everything I've done. I should've made sure you were safe from my world." His eyes pleaded with her. "I shouldn't have entered yours in the first place. I---"

"Stop" she whispered. How could he be so repulsive? Is he disgusted with what he sees? He sure looks like he doesn't like what he sees.

There were so many conflicting emotions stirring within her. Her life started when he became a part of it; she didn't want him to regret that. Then again, maybe he did regret it. Maybe it wasn't as important to him as it had been to her.

She had given him a lot of things. She had given him her heart and he crushed it. She had given him her future and he had taken it away. And now, he was asking for her forgiveness. And she would give it to him.

"I forgive you." She whispered. It wasn't his fault that she had been kidnapped and tortured. She had already accepted that it was her fault. If only she had been stronger.

"What is this?" Jane demanded. "Somebody please explain what's happening!"

Isabel turned her back to the group, unable to bear the hateful expression in Edward's face, and gazed at the small tree whose leaves had fallen on the wet ground.

"There was once a girl. And her name was Bella." She began. "She was a human who fell in love with a vampire. She loved him with all the love she could give. And, at that time, he loved her too. At least, she thought he did." She sighed. "She gave everything she had to give, and all she wanted was to become like him. But he didn't want to change her. He didn't want to be with her. He didn't want to spend eternity with her." She paused. "So he left. And he took with him her heart. That was the day she forgot how to smile."

Isabel shifted some of the pebbles aside.

"Then, she got into a lot of trouble. And now she's just getting by."

She moved closer to the leafless tree. In the moonlight, it was beautiful. The cold feeling in her chest consumed her entire being. For a moment, she thought she would turn into this lifeless tree. It was dead, but it was beautiful.

"Maybe she wasn't pretty enough." She continued. "Maybe she wasn't smart enough. But maybe, she just wasn't enough."

"And now that she's just like him, what does he see? Does he see a monster?"

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her. Edward whirled her around and hugged her fiercely. "I would love you in any form." He said softly, sternly. Then he tightened his grip as if she would somehow vanish in thin air. "Even this."

For a moment, she thought she could hear her own heart beating. Everything about him sent her senses adrift. His scent. His voice. His cool masculine power. She closed her eyes, reveling the pulse of life that seemed to consume her.

But that was only for a moment.

She opened her eyes. "The heart dies a slow death, shedding each hope like leaves. Until one day there are none."

She reluctantly removed the arms she wished to keep and said a silent good-bye to the man whose love she wished to have. No matter what he said or how he said it, she knew it will be out of guilt. She wanted more from him. And she knew he couldn't give it to her. Something that was rejected before wouldn't be accepted if it were offered the second time.

And she wasn't sure what else she could offer.

"I forgive you for everything, Edward. Thank you." She smiled at him then and framed his face with her hands. "What happened to me is not your fault. Let go."

She turned away from him and walked towards her unconscious father. She resisted the urge to breathe. The, she scooped him up and brought him to Edward who was standing still, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"Take him home." She offered Charlie to Edward. For a few seconds, he didn't move. And then, he put out his arms to carry her father.

He seemed like he was planted at that very spot. He was just vaguely aware that the Volturi, had slowly disappeared in the darkness. One by one they walked through the veil of the pouring rain. Bella was the last. She turned to him one last time.

"By the way, I'm 'Isabel' now."

---------------------------------------------------------

DRAMA.

Please review. Long ones, short ones. I like them all.