Sorry for the long time to update but i've been quite busy, but this has been a work in progress. I've thrown in my own surprise in the plot that many of you may not expect. I'm working on the last couple chapters. This is a long chapter and i made it super action packed and dramatic. Hope you enjoy it! R&R!
Chapter 27
Pulling into the Cullen driveway, Alice parked the Volvo in the garage and exited without speaking a word to Edward, who remained deathly silent throughout the entire journey. Edward had a tense, pained expression that he exchanged with Alice making his way dourly to the house. Alice tagged along behind Edward wishing she could hug the worry out of him. Jasper and Emmett crashed on the couch eagerly staring at the screen watching the baseball game intently to be bothered to pay attention of what was happening around them.
"Damn you Yankees!" Emmett yelled at television as Jasper gave him a smug look gloating with a rubbing-it-in-your-face smirk.
"And I can't even see the future to predict they'd win," Jasper declared boldly still beaming widely flashing his perfectly white teeth.
"Shut up!" Emmett snapped irately.
"Make me," Jasper teased sticking his tongue out at him.
Emmett hurled himself toward Jasper knocking him from the couch onto the floor with a loud thud against the wood floor. Emmett and Jasper wrestled with each other challenging one another till Carlisle, who was casually passing by the living room when he had finished up a few things up in his den for past couple hours. Esme was in Vancouver with Rosalie since the morning for a brief elk hunting trip because deer was satisfying enough as a vegetarian vampire though you got sick of it if hunted it always with no variety like elk, grizzly bears, or mountain lions. The house was empty otherwise with Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett, since Alice and Edward had left awhile back to see Bella in Forks.
"Emmett! Jasper!" Carlisle reprimanded firmly.
Either of them paid attention as they intensely fought playfully. Carlisle waited to see if they heard him though blatantly ignoring him just to annoy him testing his patience or earnestly didn't hear him at all. Apparently, they seemed to be blatantly ignoring him that infuriated him, usually Carlisle remained calm in majority of situation no matter what it may be, but like this case his patience wavered as annoyance and impatience set in his facial expression changing from calm and collected to aggravated and edgy. Only rare occasions did Carlisle ever get furious, and when he did he really got angry that it would surprise you how intense and scary he got.
"No wrestling in this house! Take that outside!" he ordered in a loud, forceful tone pointed toward the front door.
Emmett and Jasper instantly stopped and got to their feet scrambling to the door not even daring looking Carlisle in the eye as he stood utterly still his arms crossed tightly across his chest with the most irritated expression. "Sorry, Dad," they apologized softly while staring at the ground and shutting the door behind them.
Once they reached outside, Jasper stated, "That was all your fault, Emmett!"
"What the hell? How was it my fault? You were asking for it when you gave that smug son-of-a-bitch smirk gloating," Emmett justified.
"I can make whatever facial expressions I feel like it when I want! Carlisle was seriously pissed back there why you didn't just get off and stop your childish immature game by ignoring him completely. I am so sure Mom will find out and we're going to pay somehow since there aren't much rules or restrictions given to us. The only exception is no fighting or wrestling any part of the house as it has antiques that Esme values greatly. Fighting can be only outside!" Jasper stormed off away from Emmett nearly barreling into Alice and Edward, who recently returned from Forks.
"Jazzy!" Alice exclaimed giddily tossing her arms around Jasper in her joy.
Jasper lightly kissed Alice's forehead. "Honey you're back early. What happened?" he asked looking at Edward who just gave him a void glare then looked away. There was something wrong with him.
"Well…Bella wasn't at home when we went and I went inside asking Billy if she was there he said that Bella was in La Pusha with Jacob."
"I see…" Jasper responded arching an eyebrow amused to see his brother jealous that his girlfriend was hanging out with her best friend, a werewolf, who had had a serious crush on her and was obvious to everyone but Bella. Edward was known to be moody often, though Bella has brought happiness to him and other emotions the family had though he had lost forever for past century that made it impossible to fall in love with anyone.
Edward briefly glanced at Jasper and Alice, and then continued to walk towards the front door. Emmett watched from afar, but approached Edward as he got closer. "Welcome back, Edward," he greeted warmly.
Edward exchanged a bitter glare with him then back to the direction of his journey, but Emmett blocked it by stepping in front of him. "What's up bro? Has the cat got you tongue?" he lightly joked with a bellowing chuckle lightly punching Edward's shoulder.
Again, he replied with another sour glower shoving Emmett out of his way walking towards the front door not looking back.
"What is his problem now?" Emmett asked irritated and curious as how he could take his joking around so solemnly.
"Nothing to worry about," Alice clarified in her usual perky tone. "He's just having his usual case of jealousy when it comes to Bella hanging out with Jake. By tomorrow morning, he will be his usual self all that Edward needs now is some space from us instead of hovering around him bombarding him with questions."
"I really don't get why he has to be such a sour puss and moody mostly. He should be happier now that he found Bella," Jasper stated bluntly.
Emmett laughed, "That day when Edward is no longer moody I will laugh so flipping hard because Edward has always been moody as long as I've been part of this family. It is part of her personality and image he reflects to the world as the 'the mysterious, loner guy'. He's almost as emotional as a chick sometimes."
"We all can't always be funny like you Emmett," Jasper remarked with a friendly smile.
"At least theirs is one funny guy in our family," Alice said complimentarily.
"Thanks sis it takes skill to be as epically humorous as I."
Alice wrapped her arm around Jasper's waist walking in-sync with him and Emmett besides them as they ambled casually to the door chatting along the stone paved walkway.
Bella sprinted through the forest as she contemplated nervous of her explanation to the Cullens especially to her love, Edward. Edward will be devastated as he purposely wanted to keep her human for as long as he possibly could so she wouldn't miss out on any normal teen experiences as a human. As he constantly reinforces, once you are a vampire the same experiences you have as a teen are much less exciting as you continue on for eternity never aging a bit living same routine or lifestyle. The forest was a serene place which she enjoyed particularly this moment as she figured out the best reason to tell them slowly breaking news to them. She knew that it would be impossible to fool them trying to feign humanity when she was now immortal, and they would immediately detect a change. The clearing of the forest that came right behind the Cullen house was in short distance with anxiety kicking in full gear and nerves messing with her self-composure. Bella took one last waft of the fresh, piney forest with her super-smell and enjoyed the serenity of the forest using her super-hearing. Once Bella stepped out of the forest, she couldn't not turn back for they had to know and if not they'd find out another way or from another source besides her. The entire journey from the clearing of the forest to the Cullen's porch felt like a century with her taking time in no rush all. Standing at the front door, Bella tried to calm her quivering hands and look composed. By now, she didn't even have to lift her hand to know before Alice swung the door open wearing a beaming grin on her adorable pixie-face.
"Bella! We missed you so much especially Edward. He's been mopping around and sullenly playing his piano to pass the time. Did you enjoy you time you spent with you friend this afternoon? What you guys do?"
"Nothing much just chatted and catching up with each other it's been awhile since I saw Jake. We had fun this afternoon. I missed you guys too," Bella answered amiably with a convincing fake smile. She never did actually see Jake, but she had to make her lie persuading enough that it didn't seem false.
"That's wonderful! Come on inside I'll get everyone you can wait in the living room won't be gone for too long," Alice said pulling her inside the house.
Bella stood in the foyer timidly and approached the mirror that was hung on the wall to examine her appearance. Her pale skin with her mahogany brown wavy hair tumbling down neatly and her brown eyes that flickered red along with her reddish-pink lips stood out with her pale complexion. Combing her fingers through her hair uneasily, she sauntered toward the spacious living room taking a seat on the plush white love sofa tapping her nails against the couch. Alice arrived with Edward, Jasper, Emmett, Rosalie, Esme, and Carlisle in tow behind her.
"I don't get why I have to come down to see that human. This family had been brainwashed and only Emmett and I are the only sane, reasonable people in this family it seems," Rosalie muttered under her breath with her typical vain expression she wore.
"Bella how wonderful to see you!" Esme gushed giving her a loving hug.
"The house has been quite empty and boring without you," Carlisle stated.
Jasper stood behind Alice and said shyly, "Hi."
Edward's pale face lit up with a beaming smile as his eyes topaz eye glittered at her beautiful sight. He ran towards her wrapping his arms around her waist firmly and swinging her around merrily, and then placed her down planting a tender kiss on her lips.
"Ick!" Rosalie commented disgusted by Edward's affectionate PDA. Her guilt started to kick in full gear when she noticed a change in Bella as she didn't look her usual self. Memories of her intense bloodlust when she went hunting with Alice in the woods behind the house few days ago flooded back to her thoughts. She thought that she had killed her though instead Rosalie changed Bella into a vampire. Edward would never forgive her for that especially when she was against Bella becoming a vampire irony had a sick sense of humor and irony.
Bella maintained a decent façade to show she was glad to see them hiding the fact that it would be matter of time they'd realize something was different about her more than usual. Thrown off a bit, when she noticed that Rosalie's expression had turned from her normal pompous glare to a concerned, antsy facial expression with fear and panic in her golden topaz eyes. Crap! Rosalie was the only person so far to notice difference in her appearance. Bella took seat back on the couch folding her hand neatly on her lap trying to remain calm and keep up her façade for longer without cracking.
Edward pulled back his affectionate glance contorting into a lost, pondering gaze at Bella. "Are you alright, love? You seem cold and I can't hear you pounding heartbeat. There is something slightly different about your eyes than usual."
Alice closed her eyes hoping the premonition she had that was similar to this. Bella is fine and nothing is wrong with her. She is still human like she should be. With constant reassurance, Alice hoped it was nothing as horrid that Bella is now a vampire that would devastate Edward, who valued her humanity strongly urging to keep her human for as long as it is possible.
Clearing her throat, Bella nervously ran her fingers through her wavy hair maintaining her fake smile that faded into a slight frown. "Honestly, I feel thirsty as hell and I feel so damn cold with nothing helping to make me warm," she admitted avoiding looking at Edward or anyone else as she stared at her feet burying her face in her hands. "I remember being attacked by something vicious that bit me and drained me then I lost consciousness falling into oblivion. I felt weak and fragile like the thing was sucking life out of my body I could barely breathe normally as my heart faintly beat pumping blood. That's all I remember when I woke up lying on the dirk of the forest with this huge pang of thirst smacking me my throat burned. My body temperature felt more cold than usual and my skin seemed paler than usual."
"This can't be. It just can't," Edward repeated under his breath as Bella described how she felt and what had happened past couple of days. They all described of a vampire attacking her and changing her into a vampire. She still seemed to have control not allowing her insistent blood thirst get the worse of her.
Rosalie stood frozen unable to react as she slowly began to have flashback of that day she let her human bloodlust get the better of her impairing her thoughts that was only focusing on the succulent human blood that she could waft several feet ahead of her. That human both Alice and Rose smelt their presence and Alice almost gave into the temptation of hunting for human blood immediately once she realized the error in her judgment. On the other hand, Rosalie gave into her temptation head on becoming a predator preying on an innocent human roaming the forest late in the evening. Bloodlust had completely overwhelmed her warping her judgment. In her misjudgment, Rosalie tracked down Bella until she attacked her drinking her blood when she was already defenseless and draining her to death ultimately morphing her into a vampire. Her mind ran through the worst scenarios that Edward could do once he discovered that she is the vampire that attacked and changed his girlfriend against her will. Edward valued her humanity emphasizing to keep her human for as long as possible not to loose out on the opportunity to experience certain event in her human life. Now, Bella had lost her chance to enjoy her life being human now cursed to an eternity stuck being same age and not once aging. Panic flooded Rosalie as she stood utterly still looking sane and thinking typical vain thoughts in case Edward was eavesdropping to see if the attacker was anyone in the room, while her sanity ran wild with fear. Edward would be seriously enraged when he found out that Rosalie changed her against her will forcing her into a life she didn't ask for. Rosalie stood against the vote when Bella asked the family to decide her "destiny" of whether they want her to become a vampire or not. Rosalie had experience personally many years ago what it was like to be changed against you will with no option to escape you doomed fate. Rosalie boasted in her statuesque flawless beauty, but part of her longed for her humanity back to live out the life she never had as it was taken away by that drunken bastard who changed her into what she is today. She regrets never being able to fall in love or get to marry her fiancé and grow old with him or to have her own kids to raise with her husband.
Alice stood petrified when she stopped her own thoughts to try to convince her that Bella was normal, and face the cold and obvious fact in front of her. Bella was no longer the same for she was no longer a human. Alice felt both elated and saddened because she had had a premonition that Bella would eventually become one of them, but she knew that Rosalie is the one responsible for this and it killed her for to lose her sister and brother for however long they runaway to escape Edward's wrath. Edward was no way letting this go even tracking down this attacker getting his revenge eliminating them. Edward typically never acted on his wrath but when it came to Bella he was extremely possessive over her well-being to keep her safe from any harm. Slowly, he has learned he can't be there for her always to shield her from danger and it eat at him painstakingly. Edward has consistently emphasized that the only condition she would be a vampire is once she has experienced basic things all humans should to get a memory of high school for it would be last of those good years and glory days before reality hit you in the face with the real world. Bella will be able to graduate, though now life will be much more complicated to live day by day. It takes many years to completely control all temptation to drink human blood and live off animal blood to help suppress the thirst even if not as satisfying as human blood. Being a vampire came with responsibilities, "vegetarian" vampires had to learn to blend in with humans and not endanger them by preying on them as their instincts tell them to. It was a continuous battle to fight you inner demons that screamed to prey on humans and instead be around them their presence taunting your very being. Thus, being a vampire wasn't all cracked up as it seems its worse than being a human since you live forever watching your loved ones leave and die around you, though you have no control over their fate or help them.
Carlisle could feel the tension and anxiety rapidly building in the room, clearing he throat he stated in his calm voice, "I'm sure it's not what we all think. She hasn't been hydrated or eaten in awhile also she maybe hallucinating and say things that shouldn't be taken into full consideration."
Esme chimed in, "You're right hunny I didn't even consider that. Let us get you some food and water Bella dear." She made her way past her husband and Edward to Bella placing her hand on her shoulder to guide her to the kitchen. Something in Bella made her resist Esme which was rare as Esme did things out of love and compassion this was unlike Bella.
"I'm not fine! Nothing is fine!" Bella exclaimed sinking down to the floor burying her face in her hand as her hair fell covering her face. Humans could tear up easily, but no tears escaped her eyes as she felt like sobbing till this pain was gone. Bella felt she had been put in a horrible nightmare and would wake up any moment to her normal life like usual. Neither a tear or sob came out which angered Bella. "Why can't I cry? I knew it this isn't just a bad dream I'm living I was attacked in the woods and now a vampire. I though this would be exciting but its so overwhelming my moods and emotions are all over the place its conflicting. I barely have any control over myself!"
Rosalie stepped away from Emmett ambling to Edward to confess though it was utter suicide it was going to bother her endlessly and something that she will have to live with forever. There was a high possibility that she would die but at least on her own terms. All the years she had been with the Cullens, its been the best time of her life she has grown to love them all and not know what to do without them. It has been told she a cold, heartless bitch even by Edward. Rosalie didn't have too great of a humanity and beauty is what she thrived on to get attention and feel loved. No one knew how much she had gone through before becoming a vampire that carried on such vain traits followed her in her eternity. She did have a heart in fact only few saw her soft side when she didn't have her normal shield up keeping most people out except few such as Emmett, Alice, Esme, and Carlisle. She went through her life all its ups and down knowing that whatever may happened she had a great life. She faced death head one not afraid of her doomed fate.
Alice stepped away from Jasper and grabbed Rosalie arm, which was passing by her, and warned her as her eyes were wide open with sheer fear, "Don't do this, Rosalie. You didn't mean to do that. He won't be able to forgive and forget, but still let you live without glowering at you with such hatred or killing you. I care too much for you to just throw your life away. Edward isn't thinking rationally."
"I have to, Alice. He would find out anyway and it is better it comes out of my own mouth and not another source. It's been great knowing and bonding with you over these years. You're the closest thing to a sister I have had," she said as if it was her last words she would tell and exchanging a sorrowful gaze with Alice gently squeezing her hands.
Carlisle felt something was off as he examined his kids and Rosalie looked pensive as if deep in thought embracing Alice. Jasper stood still glancing around sensing a strange mood that he wasn't quite able to identify to be of any assistant to control the emotions of people and vampires. Emmett stood his arms folded across his chest gazing off at the wall thinking about the football game on Sunday of whether to place a bet on the New York Giants or the Philadelphia Eagles. Esme was behind her husband their arms linking together as they examined everyone trying to figure out how this would end because Edward was seriously raging with revenge that it radiated off of him as he held Bella against his chest stroking her hair and humming a light tune comforting her in her state of disarray.
Rosalie closed her eyes and took in her last moments as she took steps closer to Edward becoming jittery and anxious which was rare for her to experience. Taking a huge gulp of air, she began to open her mouth then paused as if she had lost her voice and unable to vocalize a single word. You have to do this. There is no other option. I have to accept my consequence for my wrongful, impulsive action. Edward continued to hum a gentle lullaby in her ear with Bella still in utter confusion quivering in his embrace. It pained him to see her in such a condition as such and unable to help at all. This is why I wanted to keep you human, Bella. It much more difficult than it seems being a vampire not much benefits in the deal. Whoever did this to you has hell to pay for this heinous act! Anger boiled in his blood, whilst he contemplated of who it could be since there weren't many vampires in Forks. No on in the family would do this as they know how he strongly felt against Bella being a vampire. He didn't want to inflict such torture and painful onto her. Rosalie cleared her throat trying to keep her quivering hands under control to regain her composure to seem a semblance of herself before confronting Edward in his volatile rage that was about to ignite.
"Edward…I have a confession…"Rosalie began to say before Alice ran to her side.
"No! I won't let you do this Rose!" Alice exclaimed with terror in her eyes of the outcome of this. "I won't let you destroy yourself over this."
"What the hell are you talking about, Alice?" Edward asked raising an eyebrow curious of the explanation of her sporadic outburst.
"If I tell you…" Alice stared intently at Edward. "You must promise not to harm Rose despite what she did! If you don't I swear I am going to be so furious at you Edward I can't even describe it!"
"No…Alice. Its fine I can handle the consequences," Rosalie clarified.
"I will not watch you die!" she spoke in a high pitch.
"Die….?" Emmett added in.
"What is going on, Rose?" Carlisle requested in his usual kind, calm tone.
"I…it is my fault…all my fault" she stuttered attempting to string her words together her head hung low her blond hair falling in front of her face.
"What's you fault honey?" Emmett inquired coming close to her grabbing her hand.
"I'm the reason that Bella is the way she is…" she confessed in a low voice. Vampires had acute ability to hear the quietest sound.
"You did this?!" Edward spouted angrily in disbelief waving his hand in the air.
"I…didn't mean …to…I didn't…know…it was Bella. I was tracking a human…but my bloodlust got the worst of my judgment while out hunting with Alice. I only realized it was her toward the end of the hazy period," she explained timidly prepared for his wrath.
"Calm, brother," Jasper said resting his hand on Edward shoulder. "Rosalie would do anything intently like this to hurt you. We're family and we all screw up…"
"Damnit! Bull! She didn't screw up she altered Bella's whole future! This was her plan all along since Bella has been part of the family! She has made it clear she despises Bella! It could have been her plan to change her even my strong feelings toward her staying human!" Edward ranted in a bellowing voice anger burned in his eyes as he glared with revulsion at Rose.
"Rosalie would never do such a horrid thing like this on purpose son," Esme reassured Edward.
"Oh…yes she would!" he disagreed. "She doesn't want to see me happy in fact Rosalie enjoys seeing me wallowing in my own damn misery for all eternity."
"Edward, son, you aren't thinking clearly. Rosalie doesn't look like she did it on purpose. Accidents happened we learn to deal and move on with them."
"I am thinking so clear than I have in awhile. I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Things were too calm and perfect some drama or tragedy had to happen," he explained enraged his face contorted into a menacing grimace.
"Edward…" Alice attempted to cut in.
"Stay out of this all of you! This is between Rosalie and me!" he shouted getting annoyed with his family's interference.
"You're going to do something rash which you will regret. Just calm down. Take a second and get some fresh air," Alice strongly suggested.
Edward charged toward Rosalie at full speed with his fury fueled to the maximum. Rosalie did her best to run away from him as fast as she could, but he caught up to her in the kitchen tackling her to the ground with such an impact the floors creaked from the force. Placing his hand firmly around his throat, he got up and lifted her several feet above the ground. She was a few years younger to him in vampire age, but his strength overwhelmed hers as she squirmed and kicked to get out of his grasp even though it wasn't as if he was suffocating her. She was afraid of heights and this was making her very uneasy being several feet from the ground. The rest of the Cullens rushed in to find them in the kitchen with Edward's hand clutched tightly around her throat and suspended several feet in the air. Emmett growled at Edward running towards him knocking him off his feet causing him to loosen his clutch around her throat and dropping her on the floor. Emmett grabbed Edward effortlessly by his shoulders and slammed him against the wall fuming with rage that he dared to lay one hand on Rosalie. Both of them exchanged intense raging expressions for several minutes as if trying to challenge each other to make the next move.
Alice rushed behind them and declared, "Stop fighting! Just stop it! Emmett! Edward!"
Emmett and Edward ignored her as Edward escaped Emmett's clutches as he grabbed Rosalie from the floor slinging her over his shoulder and made a run for the door heading outside. Emmett growled huskily and ran after him with Alice following behind them. Carlisle and Esme wasn't too far behind Alice trying to catch up best they could to stop this madness that had erupted in their family. They became very worried about Edward who was not in his right mind and acting on his impulses. Once, Emmett got involved they immediately knew they had to break it up before things escalated to even worse. This was no ordinary horseplay for this was legit lashing out in the form of violence.
"Give me back Rose! Or I swear I will rip you to shreds!" Emmett proclaimed lividly.
"Not in hell! She deserves do die for what she did!" he responded back with equal fury.
"For what it matters! I think Rose did you a damn favor!" Emmett exclaimed
"Favor?" Edward demanded.
"Yes, you were so inconsistent about you decision whether or not to change her after graduation. Also, that you didn't want to condemn her to a life as a monster! Well, she got what she wanted I don't see why you can't take it for what it is? This way she isn't a danger to any predators preying on her to get to you."
"This isn't a favor! This is a curse that was done against her will! Rose beat her when she was down instead of just leaving her alone!"
Arriving at the perfect time, Alice intercepted them reasoning in a panicky, worried tone, "Seriously! You guys! Violence will not solve anything! Violence is just making it worse than it was to start off with. We're supposed to be a family!"
"Family! Family my ass!" Edward spouted in response with raging wrath. "Family doesn't go behind one another back and do something that someone is clearly against! Family doesn't betray them by doing something that would hurt them. "
"People make mistakes even vampires!" Alice justified with conviction.
"This isn't just a mistake! This is a completely new lifestyle change that can't be reverse like a plain ol' mistake."
Emmet chuckled deeply. "Oh…now this is rich! Look who's talking," Emmett snidely commented. "It's the king of 'I messed up big time'."
"Back at you too, brother!" Edward fired back. "You would know what its like to have to get away every couple of decades after drawing too much attention to our family both you and Rosalie. You couldn't even keep one damn house that Esme has built for you guys. She got sick of hearing you 'Oh, I'm so sorry that was a total mistake. We will keep this next one in one piece'."
"I see someone's jealous that he isn't getting anything," he remarked amused smirking deviously.
Alice interjected between them, "Both of you stop this petty bickering and drop this subject entirely. As you see Rose is extremely sorry for what she had done, Edward. I know you are quite enraged at the moment and you want to get revenge. You don't want to do this for you will regret it terribly."
"Alice, she deserves to pay! I can't be in the presence of that…that bitch! Every time I look at Bella it reminds of how Rosalie acted selfishly punishing me just because she was jealous of Bella's humanity and she goes on for eternity never age."
"I meant what I said, Edward," Rosalie muttered softly as her face was hidden under the mass of her long blond hair staring at the ground. It was unbearable to attempt to look at Edward or how he was glaring intensely at her with a cold, emotionless sparkle in his dark topaz eyes.
"Of course you did…" Edward mocked bitter at Rosalie.
"Seriously…"
"Shut the hell up, Rosalie!" he spoke raising his voice as his annoyance and anger bubbled over. "I'm done hearing you crap! You're just a ruthless, shallow bitch! You can't think about anyone but yourself except when it comes to Emmett and Alice."
His words ate at her like acid eroding any shred of hope or energy she had mustered up as hopelessness and misery festered inside of her multiplying rapidly. Emmett had enough of Edward's insults against his wife and decided he was going to teach that bastard a lesson of what happens when you cross Emmett McCarty. His fist clenched in a tight ball as he stepped in front of Rosalie shielding her behind him. Caught off guard, Emmett effortlessly wrapped his hand around Edward's throat lifting him a foot off the ground in mid-air as his chest huffed with rage while he contemplated of how to make sure Edward doesn't harm his wife ever again. A devious grin spread across his face and his eyes glistened with unadulterated vengeance, Emmett took off into the forest away leaving Alice, Rosalie, Esme, Carlisle, and Jasper on the front lawn before it registered to them to follow him. Edward squirmed to get out of his clutch even though he was suffocating from lack of oxygen he began to panic as Edward sense that Emmett was determined to destroy him with that fury written all over his face and blazing in his almost black pupils.
"Shit!" Alice exclaimed as she made a mad dash into the woods as her husband and her parents followed closely behind her. She was getting newer visions often today especially and one not too long ago was set deep in the woods. Two figures were fighting to death in a vicious combat having semblance to Edward and Emmett. Nothing too detailed but the premonition ended with the leaner, shorter figure being destroyed ripped to shreds then thrown into a roaring medium-sized fire on the outskirts of the forest's entrance. Alice was not going to get Emmett do this because it was honestly rash punishment that would not solve the problem, in fact it would make matters worse when Bella found out about Edward's death. She was a newborn vampire who needed supervision and training in this new lifestyle and if she found out Emmett killed Edward Bella would run away and become rogue bloodthirsty vampires like James and Victoria.
Emmett rammed Edward against the tree and said fuming, "I warned you! That if you dare lay another hand on Rosalie or insult her anymore I was going to beat the hell out of you and show you what happens when you push my buttons."
"She doesn't mean a single word. Rosalie is a compulsive liar, who is willing to say anything to save her own ass especially now due to the fact that I won't let her get away with her heinous deed. "
"You're more deranged and paranoid that I though you were! You don't know her as well as I do. My Rosalie wouldn't dare hurt Bella intentionally. That was a fucking accident! Also, you have hurt Bella more times than I can remember and I don't see how she can still want you after everything. You are a sorry waste of vampire. You are the most cowardly and spineless vampire I've ever met."
"I don't think you know Rosalie as well as you may think. She a conniving witch when she wants to be and this is one of those times," Edward clarified aggravated in roaring voice.
Edward wrenched Emmett's hand around his throat and kicked him hard square in the center of his chest that hurled him several feet back into a tree. Emmett charged toward Edward tackling him to the ground and pinned him down securely. "I'm stronger than you. You can't win against me," Emmett stated bluntly.
"I am just as strong as you," Edward declared boldly.
Emmett laughed incredulously in a taunting tone and a challenging glance his eyes, "I would love to see you try!"
Edward used all his might to wrestle Emmett off, but his strength overwhelmed Edward's. Watching amusingly, Emmett gloated in the fact that Edward struggled managing to get out his firm grip. Thrashing against his stiff grasp, Edward refused to give up finding new ways to wrestle Emmett off, but continuously failed.
Emmett let out a bellowing evil laugh.
More than half and hour passed by, Edward struggled still as Emmett became bored watching Edward's constant failed attempts. He had enough and rose from the ground holding Edward in the air by his shirt. Emmett ran through the forest smashing Edward against multiple tree trunks. From deep within the forest, they were on the outskirt of the forest entrance. Emmett allowed his burning wrath consume him entirely as he ripped Edward to shreds with his arms first, then his legs, finally his head and tossing them in a haphazard pile. Gathering piles of wood and spindly sticks, Emmett made a medium size fire and patiently waited till it was a roaring bonfire. He chucked the arms, legs, torso, and head into the fire as he delightfully watched the reddish-orange flames devour the Edward.
Alice sprinted through the dense forest with Rosalie, Jasper, Carlisle, and Esme tying to keep up behind her. Her thoughts were racing a mile per minute not allowing her to take a break as she raced through concentrating intensely and panicking about Edward's well-being whether Emmett had already gotten rid of Edward.
Bella was in already a state of confusion that if she found out about Edward being killed that would send her over the edge. She was in a very volatile transitioning and adjusting to being a vampire as her body tried to keep up with this drastic diet change. It was horrid to have a suicidal vampire, but worse to have a new changed suicidal vampire. Not only did it put particularly humans at risk anyone who came in contact with vampire, but also for the vampire themselves. Bella was smart and she knew escapes routes to end her life for even immortal vampires could die all she needed to do was take a trip to Italy for the Volturi.
A dreading pang reverberated through her as she sensed conglomeration of hatred, revenge, and hostility, but no peace. The forest had a melancholy environment for the darkness didn't bring serenity or peace instead brought evil. The air seemed to guide her to finding Emmett and Edward with the air thickening with hostility. Rosalie blankly followed behind Alice with Jasper few steps behind her as he wondered what she was musing intently about. Carlisle and Esme were right behind Jasper concerned for their sons and Bella who was rocking herself on the couch back at the house, while they took an adventure in the woods to find Emmett and Edward. Fear sunk in heavily, Alice was only few feet from the area where they were located deep within the crowded forest. A chill struck her when she hear a chilling maniacal laughter from Emmett and smelled wood burning which both didn't have a favorable sign implying doom. Not everyday you heard him manically laughter or had burnt wood smell as vampires were afraid of fire because it could destroy them with no way of recovering from burns afflicted upon them. This was a fact that mortals did not know about and believed they are indestructible and no harm can befall them every because they are immortal beings cursed to be the same age forever. Most humans were naïve enough that immortals enthralled their attention for their flawless beauty that drew them.
Emmett towered above the fire with a malicious grin plastered on his face watching Edward's ashes in the fire. Payback is a bitch! That's what you get when you try to hurt my Rose! Gloating proudly at the fire, Emmett didn't entirely care about much except if Rosalie was alright. She was his world, and if Rosalie wasn't in his life it would be empty and no point living eternally. He did what was needed to protect his love. He loved his family, but Rosalie was the closest, most valuable person he cherished. Edward was gone for good. Ironically, Emmett felt not a hint of remorse within him for killing his own brother. Edward was a pain in the ass most of the time with his "moody" attitude often that sometimes he swore Edward was just as emotional as chick. Though, Edward had his moments when he was fun and entertaining to be around particularly when his brothers would horse around wrestling outback or watching baseball games on television. Emmett preferred Jasper over Edward because at least Jasper was as temperamental with his emotions that enable for more quality time instead of shrinking off to his piano playing somber tunes for hours. As Emmett contemplated besides the fireplace, Alice was quickly approached his location using her sensitive sense to track him with the scent of the fire and hearing carefully for his voice.
Emmett was aware the there would be a severe consequence for his action, probably getting kicked out of the family for a bit but Rose and him had already had it happen to them couple times. They would manage going it on their own for few years, and when the others had moved on and forgiven them things would return back to normal. Carlisle and Esme were too kind to banish any of their children from the family, no matter what they might have done.
Alice located Emmett hoping that Edward was still alive not decapitated and being burned in a fire. All her hope was lost when she had a vision of standing proudly above the fire throwing Edward's decapitated body into it whilst maniacally laughing. Jasper, Rose, Esme, and Carlisle, who were trailing closely behind her, stopped immediately when she fell to her knees burying her head in her hands gloomily instantly causing panic within each of them. Alice was never this saddened unless she had a horrible vision predicting the worse future events for her loved ones. Jasper rushed towards her crouching next to her.
"What's wrong, Alice," he asked highly concerned.
"It's too late…it's too late…it's too late," she muttered grimly.
"What's too late?" Esme inquired as she emerged behind her daughter.
"I couldn't save him…" Alice started to speak but became utterly silent preventing her to further explain how Edward was dead.
Carlisle knelt next to his wife and placed his hand on Alice's shoulder. "I am sure everything is alright."
Her head arose out of her hands as she turned around to look at Carlisle with a depressing glance. "I couldn't stop it from happening. I have failed him. And now he's dead."
Rosalie, who was kneeling behind Carlisle, heard this and without a doubt felt a sinking feeling develop in her gut as soon as she realized what Alice mean. Alice had a vision about Emmett killing Edward and it made her feel like a failure that she was unable to prevent it from occurring at all. Because of her failure to prevent this, Edward was now dead. Rosalie gulped as her panic manifested quickly developing a paranoia that she had to leave to find Emmett and runaway. Alice cared and loved Edward. You never saw either of them not bump into each other every day and avidly discuss various matters. Rosalie was unsure of how would Jasper felt about this once he figured out what Alice meant. Jasper and Emmett were often seen hanging out together either taking competitive hunting trips, watching sports particularly baseball and football betting on the team to win, or horsing around by having wrestling matches outside on the front lawn. Esme and Carlisle had been the most amazing people she had ever met with such compassion and love toward others. They never cruelly punished their children when they had done something awful instead acted civil sometimes even instantly forgiving them. Most cases such as in Emmett and Rosalie's they had been sent away for a while before allowing them to return back to the house again. This would not be the similar cases such in their past history with getting in trouble, Esme and Carlisle would allow their children who killed another family member to ever return back to the family possibly disinheriting them. Rosalie listened to the conversation Esme, Carlisle, and Jasper were having with Alice attempting to delicately extract information to make her statements understandable to them as fear overwhelmed her in full gear not allowing a logical thought to develop and manifest within her.
Jasper took her hands in his caressing them gently to help calm her down enough to tell them more clearly what she was trying to convey to the rest of them, unaware that Rosalie was fully knowledgeable of this information. "I am here, darling. You have to tell us what you are trying to explain because we do know what you are talking about."
"Emmett…Edward…fought…and he died," she stuttered still in shock slightly quivering in Jasper's arms.
"Wait who died?" Esme exclaimed in a shocked tone as her topaz eyes became huge in sheer horror of losing any of her children. "Emmett? Edward?"
Alice did not respond instead became deathly silent resting her head on Jasper's shoulders as he gently stroked her back comfortingly. Rosalie did not want to answer Esme, but she knew that Esme would keep asking because she loved her children and if any of her children died she had to a right to know.
Clearing her throat nervously, she said in a timid voice, "What Alice means to say that Edward and Emmett were intensely fighting and Edward is dead."
Awkward silence hung in the air for awhile as Carlisle and Esme exchanged heartbreaking expressions and Jasper cradled Alice tenderly as he tried to cope with the loss of his beloved brother, Edward, also doing a great job hiding any hint of emotion maintaining a collected composure. Rosalie was considering of slowly slinking away while they weren't paying attention to her and run to find Emmett to grab a few things from the house to runaway for a couple weeks. While they were away, this would let them heal from this loss they suffered. Even though, Edward was not her most favorite person to be around, she felt some remorse in being the cause of his death. Edward should have just stopped his threats and left her alone then Emmett would not have confronted him aggressively to avenge Edward's viciously torturing Rosalie. None of this would have happened otherwise if Edward would have not become overconfident and proud with his level of strength as he went off to fight against Emmett knowing that only one of them was going to survive the brawl. Part of Rosalie wanted to stick around and aid to console her grieving family, but afraid they would turn on her blaming this entire tragedy on her. Conflicted, Rosalie remained motionless as her thoughts fought for control to tell of what her next action plans should be. Despite her remorse of abandoning Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, and Alice while she sprinted to grab Emmett and runaway together, Rosalie knew that it was the best chance of not facing any scrutiny of her family members as they struggled with the death of Edward.
Slowly rising from her crouching position, Rosalie back away from the other that were too distracted in their own thoughts and sorrows to pay the slightly attention to Rose. She made a mad dash deeper into the forest to locate her husband quickly before the others realized her disappearance arousing much questions about her whereabouts as they would track her down. Emmett was not too far only about twenty miles away from where she was. Her senses became keener as Rosalie came across Emmett as he finished burning the last remnant of Edward's decapitated body.
"Emmett!" she exclaimed in panic. "We have to get the hell out of here as quickly as possible! I've bought myself some time by skillfully getting away from the others entranced in their mourning for Edward. The best option is to head back to the house for some needed items and runaway for a couple weeks or so and let this mess blow over. Our safety is no longer here because unlike our other screw-ups Carlisle and Esme will not be as lenient on their punishment for us."
Emmett brushed the ash and soot that flew up from the fire onto his crisp grey buttoned-up shirt. "If we runaway that would make us appear even guiltier than if we stick around and wait to hear what punishment Carlisle and Esme have for us," he noted frankly as he kept a firm grip on Rosalie's shoulders preventing her from sprinting in the opposite direction. Paranoia was written all over her face and her eye wide with terror of their future.
"We will be guiltier if we stay around and anxiously wait our fate that is in the hands of Carlisle and Esme when they have moved on from the grieving state," Rosalie corrected him.
"What is the purpose of running away? They will track us down anyway no matter how far we run."
"It is better than sitting her going stir-crazy awaiting our final judgment from our parents!" she exclaimed frantically flailing her hands.
"We can do this, babe! There is no need to runaway. They would not do anything rash such as disinheriting us from the family and kicking us out of the coven."
"What?" she spoke in a high pitch voice. "I was not even thinking of that option but thanks to you now I am! That is even more reason to runaway while this blows over and them come back when they aren't pissed off at us. We are worst off without a coven and roaming around as rogue vampires. That will put us in more danger than if we were backed by our loving and supporting family who have been there for us even when we royally messed up sometimes."
"You need to get a grip, Rose!" he shrieked getting annoyed from her paranoia talk flowing out of her mouth.
"How can I get a grip when our future and well-being is at risk? We can survive on our own!"
Emmett moved his firm grip from her shoulders to her arms locking them to her sides keeping her from flailing like an insane vampire. "If that what it comes to, I say that we can survive being rogue vampires. Our life will be more challenging to adapt to but we will take it one step at a time."
Rosalie was completely failing to see how he could remain so unbelievably calm through all this, while she was freaking out. Emmett was being stubborn and resistant to running away because he didn't want to seem a coward. Guys can be so egotistical sometimes. She had to get it through his thick skull that they would have a better advantage of running away for awhile while the rest of the Cullens got over their mourning and returned to their normal lives before they would return when the Cullens were more civil and calm. Her anger and paranoia fused together as she spouted off, "Stop being so damn arrogant and open your eyes to our situation!"
"Arrogant? I seem to be only person here with any reasoning instead of letting panic overcome my logical process and emotions," he clarified somewhat insulted by the comment as his voice edged with irritation.
"You are going to get us into a worse end result if we stay back here as our family members pass us with glares mixed with grief-stricken pain."
"I promise that it would be way better if we didn't runaway. This is the panic talking not the logical and collected Rosalie I know," Emmett stated softening his tone while he stared deeply into her eyes gently stroking her cheek.
"I started this whole mess by turning that feeble human accidently in the first place! I have to get out of this turmoil!" Rosalie justified.
"None of this is your fault. Edward should have never brought Bella into our family in the first place. He knew that keeping her around us would endanger her, but he ignored our warnings," Emmett explained. "To best solution to remove the danger surrounding her fragile human life was to turn her, but again he wouldn't do this for it would prevent her from experiencing the fullness of her life. Edward didn't want to be responsible for ruining her life. He always viewed being a vampire as a curse. He is quite wrong about that it is an advantage giving us superior over humans."
"That I completely agree with you, but it still doesn't change anything!"
"Yes, it does actually," he said as his eyes light up. He had an idea of how to make it seem like this was not intentional but for the good of Edward and keeping our family's identity safe. "I just thought of something that would make all these events seem like it was purposely out to get Edward, instead was meant to make him accept that keeping her human was risking her life and the family's identity."
"Huh?" she said rather perplexed by his proposition.
"I'm a flipping genius! This makes us seem like less of the bad guys. We have to convince Carlisle and Esme that the longer Bella remained human put her closer to death but also the safety of the identities being exposed. Our enemies would use Bella to threaten her life knowing that we would rescue her and expose our secret to the public at the same time!"
"How the hell does that do us any good?" Rosalie asked still no comprehending Emmett's logic.
"It profoundly helps us because this way we have a foundation to explain that you changed Bella by accident during your hunting, but it would be beneficial in the long run because it eliminated the threats from our enemies using Bella as bait to lure us out to reveal us as vampires. Thus if revealed our efforts to blend in wonderfully with human society would be decimated forcing the family to go into hiding." He paused continuing with same enthusiasm his train of thought, "If Bella is already a vampire this gets rid of threats by external forces such as rogue vampires like Victoria and James and protects our secret identities from the general panic."
Rosalie was slowly understanding his idea as she ran the facts bit by bit coming to a complete understanding her eye dimly shining with hope. "You are a genius, husband!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around his neck and passionately kissing his lips.
Emmett kissed back fervent then broke the kiss to say smugly beaming at her, "I was being logical this whole time and came up with this brilliant idea that saves both of our asses not even remotely suggesting any running away, while you were panicking like a maniac as if it was a freaking apocalypse going to happen."
"You were right…this time," she said with a twinge of annoyance being forced to admit it out loud.
"I will remember you said that," he responded boastfully still widely grinning at Rosalie. "I think we better get back before Carlisle, Esme, Jasper, and Alice gets suspicious of us. Everything will be alright, babe. There is no need to worry we got us an amazing back-up plan thanks to me."
"Shut up," Rosalie snapped at the Emmett. "Tell me what our plan is going to be while we are walking back to the rest of them most probably still parked motionless at the same spot."
Rosalie and Emmett walked hand-in-hand leisurely back to Carlisle, Esme, Alice, and Jasper as Emmett detailed the plan to make them look less guilty of their crimes thus getting a lesser punishment from Carlisle and Esme. They would return back to the others with a morose and saddened expression over the loss of Edward feigning it at least even though neither felt that losing Edward was a major loss entirely because life would go on without him. Over time, Edward would be past memory as the Cullens might occasionally think about him from time to time. Emmett would tell them that Rosalie had no intention of changing Bella that it was in fact a horrible accident when she was hunting and her blood lust briefly overwhelmed her as her control was very little also it was quite dark in the woods. This way Rosalie had no knowledge that it was Bella ambling through the forest that late in the afternoon. After that, Rosalie would tell how she had chosen to admit that it was her that unintentionally transformed Bella into a vampire and Edward completely flipped out at the news. Edward then started to become violent and enrage viciously assaulting and attacking Rosalie who was not looking for a fight just a listening ear on Edward's part. Edward had let the human infiltrate his mind affecting his control that whenever he heard anyone had done harm to his beloved Bella he became aggressive losing all his control of his emotions and any shred of logic that existed and acting on his own belligerent impulses. Edward was ferociously inflicting pain upon Rosalie, who was unarmed and not fighting back resisting his violence. Emmett had no other option but to step in and fight against Edward who was not in any right state of mind at the time. Emmett would further say that he was not going to allow Edward to brutally hurt Rosalie, his sister, even if what she did was something that he did not want for Bella. Her humanity was important to him, but the longer she remained human it only increased the risk for Bella's life and the Cullen family vampire identities being discovered. In a way, Rosalie inadvertently changed Bella against her will, but this would ensure the safety of Bella and the Cullen family in the long run. Emmett would claim that he did his best to make Edward calm down, but Edward refused to let go of his intense anger fuming off of him. Edward had never been so riled up and agitated like this and with his sporadic violent behavior only one of them would come out alive. Edward left him no other option but to fight against him with all his strength and come out the winner. Edward's death could have been avoided if he had only listened to Emmett and settled down becoming calm thus easier to talk it out peacefully which would have let both of them come out alive. Edward's enraged state made it impossible for any civil discussion to occur.
I will do my best to update on the next couple remaining parts of this story. I've had a blast writing this over the past year or so and proud of my work that has quite changed than my original intention for the plotline, but i like how it is going. Feel free to comment or make suggestions if you all have any. Thanks for you patience!