I turned and saw him running down the terminal, a look of desperation and determination on his face. In that moment, I went over my options. I could go to him, tell him good-bye and try to cut ties but there was always the chance I wouldn't be strong enough to walk away from his embrace. But if I walked onto that plane and didn't say anything to him, I rationalized, then there was a chance that he would follow me and endanger himself as well. I couldn't let that happen.
I turned and told the girl taking the boarding passes that I forgot something in the chairs and took off in Edward's direction. When he saw what I was doing, a smile broke out on his face. It broke my heart to know that smile wouldn't last. When I reached him, I did not hesitate pulling him close to me and kissing him with everything I had. He matched my passion with his urgent movement of his perfect lips.
"Bella, love," He whispered between kisses. I wanted to stay with him, runaway and live forever with him by my side. My emotions took over my rational side and told me I could. They told me that we would be safe and I should just take his hand and leave this airport. But reality forced itself through and I pulled myself back and looked at his face. I put up a trembling hand and lightly touched his face with my fingertips, trying to burn the memory of the feel of it, taking in every curve and contour.
"Bella, love. What-" He began but I put a finger to his lips and shook my head, hushing him. A river of tears poured out of my eyes.
"It was never a matter of 'if' they found me, always 'when'…I'm so sorry, Edward. I should have stayed away from you. I shouldn't have let you get close to me. It was selfish of me," I cried. He pulled in into an embrace.
"Shh, Bella. No one has found you. You are safe. I wont let any-" He said, trying to comfort me. I shot my head up and looked at him.
"No, not yet. But they WILL, Edward. They WILL. If I stay in Forks, that means I am luring the most dangerous of creatures to the people I love. On top of that, I have to do what I can to save my mother," I replied, angrily.
"Bella," He said softly. I could see he was struggling with what to say next. "Your mother…the likelihood that she is still alive-"
"I know that, Edward. God, I KNOW that! But I am sick of running and hiding. I need to look the devil in the eye, Edward. I need to face him before anyone else I love gets hurt," I said, unable to control the volume of my voice.
"No, Bella. Let us help you. We can hide," He begged.
"And what about Carlisle and Esme and your brothers and sisters? Could we all hide? This is how they work, Edward! They don't go after a person directly but after their loved ones. They would be killed, Edward. You know that. I need to go," I explained, turning to go. He grabbed my wrist and pulled me back to him, his face contorted in pain.
I leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "I will fight, love. I will FIGHT." I kissed him lightly on the cheek. I turned and walked towards the gate. Tears were stinging my eyes. I didn't dare look back.
*******************
I am not sure at which point of the flight I had fallen asleep, but the flight attendant was now gently shaking me away.
"Miss, miss. The plane has landed," She said softly. I glanced around and noticed the plane had already emptied. With a sigh, I stood and headed out into the terminal. I stood at the luggage carousal and waited for my suitcase to appear. In my mind, I was trying to figure our where I needed to go next.
I felt a cold hand lay on my shoulder, making me jump. I turned to see two burly looking fellows behind me.
"Well, Bella. You just made our trip shorter," the one with the hand on me snickered.
"Glad to be a help. And you are," I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. He chuckled at my expression.
"Oh, how rude of me. I'm Felix and that is Demetri," He replied.
"Pleasure meeting you, Miss Swan," the one called Demetri said.
"Indeed," I replied, looking to see if my luggage was in view. I fought the urge to run as the fear had encompassed me now.
"I should tell you…Aro expects that Demetri and I return in the form we are now. If not, there could be dire consequences for your dear mother," Felix whispered into my ear. I felt bile start rise in my throat.
We stood in silence for a few minutes until I saw my luggage wind its way towards us. I stepped out and grabbed it when it was near. Felix stepped forward and took it from me.
"Let me," he said. I nodded and forced a smile on my petrified face. Demetri grabbed my shoulder and began guiding me out to a waiting car.
Felix got in the driver's seat and Demetri ushered me into the back taking the seat next to me. He pulled out a cell and began dialing.
"It's Demetri…Tell Aro we are heading back to the castle…There is no need….Because she came to us," he explained. His tone sent a shiver down my spine.
I watched the landscape as it passed by my window. It was truly beautiful. A few times, I felt a panic creep up and almost caused me to hyperventilate. I closed my eyes and pictured that Edward was sitting next to me. I imagined we were vacationing together. I imagined that we were safe.
The car pulled off the road and I saw in the distance a luminous castle. I was awe struck by its beauty.
We went past the gates and Felix stopped the car. Demetri got out and offered me a hand.
"Welcome to Volterra," he said. "I am sure you will love it here as we do."
They ushered me through dark, cold hallways. Suddenly, we were in a large room. It contained a small stand in which three grand chairs sat. I was about to ask where everyone was when I heard voice, a lot of voices, echoing down the hall.
Double doors bust open on the other side of the room. A pasty, crinkly skinned man came in first and smiled at me. Again, it sent shivers down my spine. He glided over to me with a sickly sweet smile on his face.
"Oh, dear child! It is SO good to see you," He chimed. I looked past him to see the large crowd of people, I mean vampires, filing in. I began to plan in my head. I was going to change every last one of them. But first, I must find out the whereabouts of my mother.
"Oh, how rude of me," the man continued, "I am your Uncle Aro, dearest. And this is your Uncle Caius." He pointed to another pasty, crinkly-skinned man who was sneering at me from behind Aro's right shoulder.
"And my father. Where is he," I asked, anxiously glancing at the sea of faces that were now silent, watching us.
Aro let out a laugh. "Oh, dearest Bella. He is a little…busy at this time. You will see him later," He exclaimed.
"And- and my mother," I asked, my voice wavering.
"She is safe…but her safety depends on you, dearest. I wouldn't want anything to happen to her if you decide to play with your abilities," He rang out and the room filled with laughter.
"Can I see her," I asked, my tone full of pleading.
"Not now, child. Patience. First, we must talk about you," He said, turning his back to me now and gliding up to the middle chair. Caius followed behind and took a seat in the chair to his right. The rest of the room gathered around these two men at various positions in front of me. I noted a girl was clinging to Aro's robe. She looked stressed.
Felix and Demetri took positions on either side of me.
Aro continued to look at me with a sickening grin. "You are quite a specimen, child. I never knew something like you could exist. Half-vampire, half-human…quite a mystery. I know of your abilities, from your mother, of course. I find it quite fascinating. I would like a demonstration…Stephan, would you step forward."
A man with jet-black hair and deep ruby eyes stepped forward and looked at Aro with apprehension.
"It's alright, Stephan. I am just curious to see her abilities. Bella knows better than to try anything funny. She knows that her mother's guard would be able to hear distress in this room and then her mother would be killed. Isn't that right, Bella," Aro asked, looking in my direction. I nodded my head in response.
"Alright, dearest. Let's see what you can do," Aro hissed with excitement.
I closed my hands and concentrated. I lifted my hand towards Stephan and flung my energy in his direction. Opening my eyes, I saw a black sheep standing in the room. Aro clapped his hands loudly.
"Impressive! Well done, Bella. Can you turn him back," He asked. I wondered for a minute why he didn't ask that prior to my changing Stephan. He must not be well liked in court.
I closed my eyes and flung it once more to Stephan, changing him back to his original form.
"Excellent," Aro cheered.
I cleared my throat. "Can-can I please see my mother, now," I asked, shyly. Aro's laughter boomed once more. "I just want to make sure she is still alive." Aro's laughter stopped and he glared at me.
"We are not done with you yet, Bella," He spit out venomously.
"I'm sorry, Mom," I whispered as I flung my energy at Aro. To my surprise, nothing happened. I gasped as the energy just flung back to me. Before I could try anyone else, I felt something hard hit my head.
Blackness surrounded me.