AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hi. Here's Chapter 17 for you very early. But this is to make up for the very short chapter yesterday. Hope you enjoy it!
Previously:
"Princess? Are you okay?" It was Aro this time. I swept up Victoria's ashes and poured them in the trash bin. Then, I put the broom and dustpan back in the closet, overlooking the other piles of ash littering the room. Without looking at anyone, I walked to my room and locked the door. After changing into the biggest pair of pajamas that I could find in my closet, I climbed into bed and went to sleep.
Now:
Sleep. That's all I knew for the next three or four days. That, and breathing just for the fun of it. Jane came to check on my periodically throughout those days. Her questions were answered with silence on my part. I wish I knew why. I don't know why I felt the need to take this retreat from the reality of my complicated life. And even after all these days, I felt just as restless as I did when I swept Victoria's remains from the floor. I think I need to recollect myself. I need to start over.
I reached over to my black nightstand and grabbed my iPod from the top drawer. After waiting impatiently for it to turn on, I scrolled to the 'S' selections and chose "Start Over" by Beyoncé. As this played through the device's speakers, I walked into the bathroom and stripped myself. Placing the iPod on the sink very carefully, I stepped into the shower and settled on the water staying warm.
Did I want to start over with Edward? Could I take this risk? Better yet, could my heart take it? What if it doesn't work out? What about Dylan? He seems to like me. But he's human. And I'm sure he hates me after what I put him through. So, that leaves Edward. The ending to "Start Over" played in my sensitive ears and the shuffled iPod played another song. "Clarity" by Zedd and Foxes started which I smiled at since it was one of my personal favorites.
I finished up my quick shower and wrapped a towel around my body before exiting the bathroom. Going to my closet, I couldn't really decide on an outfit for the day. I grabbed some random jeans and a shirt which turned out to be skinny blue jeans and a white tank top. I put on a red half shirt that was worn around my shoulders and stopped under my breasts. It read 'love' across the front in elegant script and the 'o' was a black heart. I found a pair of red ballet flats in the back of my closet and pulled them on. Walking over to the mirror, I pondered how my hair should be styled. I braided two fishtailed cornrows on either sides of my face and used them as a sort of headband and I used a rubber band to hold the two braids together in the back. The rest of my hair flowed freely down my back. Now that I was prepared physically, I could finally leave my room and face the problems that were approaching very, very soon.
"Good morning, Princess." Santiago greeted me with a sly smile. I nodded at him and kept walking.
Saying very few pleasantries to those that I passed in the halls, I made my way to the throne room where it seems like I've spent a lifetime at in the last few weeks. As I walked in, I was greeted with the sight of a group discussion between the Cullens and my family consisting of only the Elite guard and my uncles and Father. As soon as I walked in, silence fell over the entire room with the thickness of a winter fog. Everyone watched me as I walked to my seat next to my father's throne. I looked up at everyone to find them staring at me like I was an entirely different species or something.
"What?" I said, impatiently.
They began to stutter and fix tidy piles of paper, stumbling for the right words to invite me into the conversation. I smiled at their antics, but got right down to business.
"May I ask the topic we seem to be discussing rather intensely?" I asked, sweetly.
"Well, we were just brainstorming all of the possible meanings of Victoria's final words." Aro answered. I sighed with obvious irritation. Are we really still dealing with that? I definitely do not feel like going through all of Victoria's twisted motives to find a counter to it.
"Okay. And how close did we get so far?" I leaned my elbow on the right arm of my throne and rested my head against my hand, truly uninterested. Everyone stared at me like I was supposed to read their minds.
"Nothing? You have no theories whatsoever?" Some shook their heads, while others just looked around. I chuckled a little.
"Well, I guess that makes two of us. Or how ever many people there are in this room, including me."
"So, what should we do? You know her better than most of us." Carlisle spoke up.
"But that's still not much." I pointed out.
"It's all we have." He responded with a grave expression. But he's right. I have to think. Analyze every single word that came out of her mouth. Believe it or not, I think she felt sympathy for me. Maybe there was a clue hidden in her words.
Make sure that you know who you label as 'friends and family'
Every family has its secrets.
And don't think that this fight ends with me.
You may have won the battle.
But, make sure you prepare for the war.
Darling.
"Jasper, do you remember the fighting in the south that happened around the time you were turned." I asked rhetorically.
"Of course. It's how I became who I am." He looked at Alice when he answered with a slight smile.
"What were they over? Like, for what reason?" He began to look at me with interest trying to find what my point was.
"It was a way for someone to claim territory. You know, without any other creatures interfering with their business." He still didn't get it.
"And what were the consequences of someone disagreeing with the leader of a specific region?"
"They'd battle it out. Winner takes all." For a smart guy, Jasper was pretty slow at times.
"And if more than one group or coven disagreed…" He stood still as his brain registered what I was trying to say. Flashbacks of the horrors that he'd witnessed upon his birth streamed through his mind.
"War. Not a battle. A war." He whispered.
"I don't understand what this has to do with our predicament though." Caius argued, angry that he was lost.
"Aro, who many rebels have come against the Volturi?" I asked.
"Oh, dozens." He chuckled. "But, the Roman's extraordinary coven was the only one to come close to succeeding. There were so many…" He trailed off. Suddenly, the arm of is throne crumbled under his pressured hands. A growl escaped his lips and his eyes glinted with the darkness of a true murderer.
"What?" Jane questioned. I was surprised she hadn't caught on yet. She was usually the one who figured this kind of stuff out.
"Victoria, has formed an army." I began, but Aro got over his shock to interrupt my statement.
"She has declared war. She plans to overthrow the Volturi with the help of our many enemies."
Emmett, trying to make light of a bad situation, joked, "Well, you can't possibly have that many enemies, right? I mean, not enough to overthrow the guard and the original family. Right?" he restated when no one answered him.
"You have no idea." Marcus' input made me realize how bad the circumstances were. I turned to my father.
"Whatever secrets you are keeping from me better come out right now or we will all die." I commanded my guarded father with all of the head guard position authority that I could muster up.
"Isabella your gift is amazing. I knew, even when you were human, that you would be an amazing addition to the guard. I just didn't know—" He tried to reach for my hand, but I snatched it away bitterly.
"Just. Tell me." I growled.
"Victoria didn't change you." I laughed at this ridiculous statement. So, he'll make up a stupid lie to hide the truth? Well, I'll play along.
"Oh, really? Then, who did?" I smirked to cover my anxiety.
"He did." Edward answered for him. I looked to my father.
"Excuse me?" I needed to hear it from his mouth.
"Isabella, I changed you." I searched his voice for any sign of quivering or insincerity. The flames didn't start inching in his direction until I stopped searching.
Because there were none there.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow. Even I didn't expect that. Anything that you don't understand should be explained in the next chapter. So... WHAT DID YOU THINK? Review and let me know.