Hey people! So yes this is the last chapter of My Promise to You and I must say it's been a pleasure to write for you all. Since this is the last chapter, can everyone who read this story please review this chapter? It would really mean a lot to me. Anyway, thank you again guys, for everything, go on and read I know you all want to :) I'll see you guys at the end. Now go ahead and start reading. Enjoy it guys!
And now, our story continues for the last time…*applause, curtain rises*
Disclaimer:
Me: For once I am going to say this willingly. I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT. Wow it feels good getting that off my chest.
Edward: I'm proud of you, Steph
Damon: Me too
Jasper: Same here hon
Dimitri: Good for you
Jacob: *grumbles* Big deal. She talked. I talk too; you don't hear anyone congratulating me.
Me: *looks at all of them with puppy dog eyes* Can I please? Pretty please? *flutters eyelashes*
*They all grin and nod*
Me: *grins evilly* Well now Jacob let me give you your congratulations…*leans in to kiss him*
Jacob: Really? Sweet *puckers lips and waits patiently*
Me: *hits him on the head with a baseball bat* HA YOU EVIL LITTLE DOG! Take that for killing Demetri! *hits him again* And that for hurting Edward! *hits him harder again* And that for everything you've done to Bella!
*Jacob crumples to the floor unconscious*
Jasper: Very nicely down Steph…
Me: Thank you very much Jazzy
Edward: Now, time for some honesty.
Damon: It's time to decide who you love the most
Dimitri: So choose.
Me: *gulp* Um…..uh…..err……*stammers*
Edward: Come on honey we haven't got all day. You know you love me the most so just say it. I'm the one with a poster on the wall after all.
Jasper: Ed, shut it. We have all eternity. And besides, we all know she's going to pick me.
*Damon and Dimitri share looks*
Dimitri: *clears throat* What about me?
Damon: And me?
Edward: Who cares? You guys are evil!
*They turn to Steph*
Jasper: Hey! Where did she go?!
*picks up note*
Damon: *reads note* Sorry guys, can't choose…love you all very much. I DO NOT OWN TWILIGHT. ~Steph
Edward: *holds his chest where his dead heart is* I think I'm feeling rejected.
$~*^*~$
Chapter Twenty One
It had been a week since our confrontation had happened. A week since my best friend who had just come back had been taken away from me by my ex boyfriend. A week since Demetri had dashed in front of that bullet to save me and Edward. A week since a part of my life had been snatched from me. It was true that Demetri had only been back less than a week but in those few days I felt as if I had gotten a piece of me back. With Demetri I was a different Bella. With Edward, I was his Bella. With Alice and Rose, I was their Bella. With Jasper and Emmett I was their Bella. When Demetri had come back, I was back to being the same Bella I was when I had first moved. And truth be told I had missed her. And Demetri himself. His wonderful loving fun self. And now thanks to Jacob, he was gone. Gone forever from my life.
I grieved for my friend in the last week and Edward was with me throughout the entire time. Edward who had hated Demetri so much once upon a time. But it had taken Demetri and Edward to be captured by Jacob to work out their differences. The time in the cellar when they were tied together, they were not unconscious as Jacob had thought but were talking when he was gone, plotting their escape. And in that time, they had become friends. They had realized how stupid they'd been and had realized that it wasn't worth it and all that mattered was that me, the girl they loved, was happy. And now, a friendship would never grow because of Jacob.
Edward hated him for that. He had already but when Demetri flew in front of the bullet for Edward, he had hated Jacob even more. I hated Jacob as well. For doing all that he'd done but most of all for killing Demetri. It was true that Demetri would not have died the way he did if he had not moved in front of Edward. But that was Demetri. He had sacrificed himself for his friends and the girl he had loved. Me, in other words.
Every time I thought of his last words to me, now as I lay in bed that Saturday morning and thought about them, I imagined a different scene from when he was uttering them. Not him bleeding onto the floor of a cold cellar with Edward next to me crying but a beautiful image. We were in a garden, the garden the night of the ball at the St. Martin's hotel. We stood by the fountain of love and Demetri was dressed in pure black. I was in a pale blue silk dress and he held me in his arms as he whispered his last words, "I promised to love you forever and always know that I will honor my promise to you."
I closed my eyes at the thought and settled into my soft pillow. A tear escaped my closed eyelids and cascaded down my cheek.
Demetri, I thought forlornly, why did you have to die? Why not Jacob?
As I thought his name pure anger and resentment flared up inside of me. Jacob had not died. After Edward had shot him in the stomach he had passed out due to his aversion to flowing blood. He was never one to stomach the sight of blood and had passed out when he saw his flowing onto the floor. He might have died due to the loss of blood if Edward and I hadn't called the authorities as soon as we did. Edward had managed to compose himself sooner than I had and was able to find Jacob's cell phone to call for help. The police had taken Jacob to the hospital. Luckily for him, the bullet had missed any vital organs and he was patched up and sent straight to the jail cell.
I hated him for surviving when Demetri hadn't. It wasn't fair. Why should he live when Demetri had to die? Why?
I had all the questions…but no answers. And I wouldn't get any.
Demetri's funeral had been held three days after the incident. Gianni was devastated and right after the funeral had left straight for Italy, her birth home in Volterra. She had talked to me though. She didn't hate me as I thought she would have. She accepted what Demetri had done for me and said, "Truth be told, Bella, he might have died either way. I know he would not have been able to stand losing you again." I was shocked at it but Edward was not surprised.
"No, Bella," he said solemnly, "Demetri and I think more alike than you think. We both love you unconditionally and neither one of us could have taken losing you. I know for a fact if you had not forgiven me, I would have probably died myself."
"Edward," I whispered aghast, "Never think like that. You have other things to live for besides me. You have Esme and Carlisle and Alice, Rose and Emmett and Jasper. So much more than me, Edward. Promise me you'll never think like that again."
His response to that was just a far off nod, a gesture which showed that he was not going to promise.
The Volter brothers, Chelsea and Afton had all been present at the funeral. They were all extremely distraught over Demetri's death, Chelsea and Afton the most since they spent the most time with him. Aro was going to release the songs Demetri had had time to record on a memorial CD for the fans he had already and the sure fans he would even after his death. Aro himself had asked me to sing another song or two for the CD as bonus tracks, one song dedicated to Demetri himself, the other anything I wanted.
"Especially since you've decided to turn down our offer," Aro said with a rueful smile. Indeed I had turned down the contract to sign with Aro's company once I was back at home. After the event with Jacob, it made me realize that life was too short. Demetri's death had made me seen that I needed to spend my time with my family and friends more, something I would not be able to do if I were a singer. True, I did love singing but I loved my friends and family more and I wanted to be able to be with them every step of the way. I did want to do the bonus tracks for Demetri's CD though. It would be my gift for Demetri and a contribution to the music world. One of my last though although I certainly wouldn't stop writing and singing. Just not as a professional.
Today was actually my recording with Afton. The brothers would be there too along with Chelsea to say goodbye since this would most likely be the last time I would see them as I was going off to Dartmouth in September.
I heaved myself off of my warm and comfy bed without another thought. Life had to go on.
I showered and dressed in a warm dark blue cashmere sweater and dark blue skinny jeans paired with my favorite black boots. Today was unseasonably cold for Phoenix for once and it actually resembled Forks for once. My meeting with the brothers was at ten thirty and it was already ten so I had to get a move on. I brushed out my hair quickly and applied some lip gloss quickly before slipping on my favorite silver locket that held a picture of Edward and me.
I made sure I was decent in the mirror before heading downstairs. There my grandpa and mom sat by the table sipping their coffee and reading their newspapers. They looked up at my entrance and I quickly kissed them on the cheek. I saw Mason give me a once over to make sure I was all right. Both he and Mom had been worried about me since Demetri's death since they had known about my troubles before. I was out of the house and in my car quickly and I sped over to the studio anxious not to be late.
I met Chelsea who was waiting for me outside and I had a flashback of Demetri doing the same thing. Tears brimmed over in my eyes before I could swallow them. Unfortunately Chelsea had seen them and she pulled me into a hug as I reached her.
"I know hon," she whispered consolingly, "I miss him too." I pulled back and thanked her and we walked over to the studio. As we passed the reception desk, I saw the receptionists shoot me sympathetic glances before returning to their work.
We met the brothers and Afton in the studio and went through the usual pleasantries. I could not help but notice Afton's and Chelsea's lessened jollity.
Afton was not his usual cheery self since Demetri's death but he was slowly getting over it as was everyone else. I could see that Chelsea was also still sad and I could sense there was more than a work relationship between Chelsea and Afton by the way they looked at each other. Maybe they'd help each other get over their grief together, I thought casting a hopeful glance at the two of them who were looking at each other out of the corner of their eye. I was surprised Marcus didn't see it. But by the way he was grinning at the two of them I think he had. Aro had too and he was also observing the scene with a casual yet amused air. Poor Caius was the only one who was oblivious to it all.
"So then, Bella," Afton said, a twinkle in his eye, "we better get a move on eh?"
I nodded and said with a grin, "Sure."
I walked into the studio and Afton flashed me a thumbs up sign.
I sat down at the piano and began to play the song. Later on I joined in singing.
Waking up to see that everything is okay
The first time in my life and now it's so great
Slowing down, I look around
And I am so amazed
I think about the little things that make life great
I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
I need you now
And I'll hold to it
Don't you let it pass you by
I found a place so safe no a single tear
The first time in my life and now it's so clear
I feel calm, I belong
I'm so happy here
It's so strong and now I let myself be sincere
I wouldn't change a thing about it
This is the best feeling
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
Cause I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
A state of bliss
You think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful
It makes you want to cry
A state of bliss
You think you're dreaming
It's the happiness inside that you're feeling
It's so beautiful
It makes you want to cry
It's so beautiful
It makes you want to cry
This innocence is brilliant
It makes you want to cry
This innocence is brilliant
Please don't go away
Cause I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
This innocence is brilliant
I hope that it will stay
This moment is perfect
Please don't go away
Cause I need you now
And I'll hold on to it
Don't you let it pass you by
As I finished, a single tear rolled down my face.
I stepped out of the booth. They were all staring at me with tears in their eyes. Aro pulled me into a hug. I was shocked. He never did this sort of thing.
"That was beautiful Bella, absolutely beautiful. Demetri would have loved it," he whispered into my ear. Another tear escaped as I pulled back. "Thank you Aro," I said softly.
The rest of them were now grinning and Caius teased, "I think you should re-think our offer Bella. You could make a lot of money!" I shook my head at him.
"Ready for Round two, Bella?" Afton asked, a full smile breaking on his face for the first time I'd seen since Demetri's death. I smiled and nodded. "Ready, when you are, Aft," I said with a wink,
I sat back down this time with a guitar in hand.
I loved this song I had written. It wasn't for Demetri but for myself. I thought that people would be able to relate to this one the most. I had written it a long time ago, the first day after we had moved in fact whilst I was cooped up in my granddad's study so long ago. It fit my life perfectly now.
Before the light I found the dark
Before tonight I feel apart
Frozen up I've realized that something's gotta change
It took a crash to understand
Time kept slipping through my hands
I never used to know
The sun will shine after the rain
Say goodbye, say goodbye to the way I was before
Say hello, say hello to a new way
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
To a new day
I was sleeping in a twisted dream
Dying just to make believe
A pretty situation was far from where I was
But I'm not up for giving up
Lying down and out of luck
My mistakes are in the open and know I'm finally coming clean
Say goodbye, say goodbye to the way I was before
Say hello, say hello to a new way
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
Cause everything, everything ends at the start
I'm healing and feeling all of my scars
Say goodbye, say goodbye to the way I was before
Say hello, say hello to a new way
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
To a new day
Say goodbye, say goodbye to the way I was before
Say hello, say hello to a new way
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
To a new day
I was lost, but I found what I was looking for
Waking up, waking up to a new day
To a new day
As I finished the song, I thought about the meaning. It was true. It was time to say goodbye to the past, to the old, before I could welcome the new days, the future. I would find my way somehow. With the help of those that I loved.
I let myself out of the little room and said my goodbyes to Demetri's friends. I would try to keep in touch but life does move on after a while though. I knew this from experience.
I had one unfinished business though before I could say goodbye. I walked to my car and drove to the only place I could. I walked amongst the graves a little before I found the one I was looking for.
In Memory of
Demetri Alistair Volturi
Loving son, nephew and friend
May his soul rest in peace
1989-2009
I knelt down next to the head stone and stroked it. "Hi, D," I whispered. I could feel the tears coming. "I guess you know why I'm here huh? Predictable little old me. I miss you, you know," I whispered imagining his beautiful face. "You have no idea how much I wish I was the one who had died and not you. Why did you have to take the bullet for us, D? Why were you so damn noble? You could have lived, D. It's so unfair that we have to live and you can't." The tears spilled over and were flowing freely. "You know what else is unfair? Jacob's not going to serve any time for what he did to you. They pleaded insanity on his case and they're gonna cart him off to some mental institute in Zurich. He'll probably get away again you know. And then he'll hurt someone else." I laughed mirthlessly. "Why should he live? Why couldn't he have died and you still be alive? Why is life so unfair?"
"Because that's just it: Life isn't fair," said a voice that I knew so well. I spun around to find him standing right behind me. He walked toward me as he spoke, "It has ups and it has downs. There are the bad guys who get away and the good guys who get killed in their place. This isn't a perfect world. Sometimes bad guys win and the good guys lose. Why is that? I have no idea. But we can't change anything about it," he said softly kneeling down.
"The only thing we can do is move on in the end and try to survive it," I said quietly looking at the tombstone. Edward watched me in silence as I spoke. "That's why I'm here, D. So that I can move on. People die, dreams go unfulfilled, memories fade…I know that eventually I'll forget. I know that which is why I'm here. So I can say one final goodbye before I leave and forget. I have to, D. You were, are and will always be one of my best guy," I said tearfully. "But everyone has to move on some day," I continued sniffling, "And maybe we'll meet again, D. You know, I've never been one to believe in reincarnation but who knows? If it is true, then I'll look forward to it. I'll always miss you and a part of me will always love you Demetri Volturi. I love you, D, always have, always will." I finished with a sob at the end and felt Edward take me into his arms.
"Shh…he wanted you to move on," Edward whispered into my ear. "He wanted us to go ahead and finish our fairytale. Romeo and Juliet remember?" He kissed my forehead and wiped away my tears.
I smiled at him and pulled him up. "How about we start that fairytale now huh?" he said smiling.
I grinned, "Sounds great."
And with that I walked away from my best friend's grave, hand in hand with the man of my dreams.
Everything would be fine.
All I had to do was move on from the past and try my best to endure the future.
Sounds easy?
I don't think so.
But I'll survive.
$~*^*~$
Third Person Point of View
Miles off in Zurich Billy Black was talking wearily to a specialist. His black hair was mussed from the minimal sleep he had had since arriving in Zurich. Taking care of his son was his number one priority these days. His daughters, Rachel and Rebecca, had both refused to accompany their father to Zurich unable to stomach what their brother had attempted.
"Dad, I love you," Rebecca had said, "but I can't go with you on this trip. Not after what Jacob did to Bella. I know you love us all equally but Jacob is no longer my brother anymore." Rachel had expressed similar thoughts except with a lot more words and much harsher language.
Billy sighed just thinking about it. It was true. His only son had done terrible things to his best friend's daughter who he also considered a daughter. Poor Bella…but what was he to do? Abandon his only son in his time of need? He couldn't do that. Jacob had been declared mentally unstable and thanks to that sentence he was left off for doing all the sins he had committed. Billy shuddered just thinking about them. Attempting rape, abuse, kidnapping attempting murder and murdering an innocent boy. Even after everything he had done the fact remained that this was his son. And now after what Jacob had done his family was spilt and there was no way to mend it again. But he held on to the hope that if Jacob were to get better, he may be able to atone for his all of his wrong doings.
"Will he ever be better?" he asked the doctor. The man and his assistant nurse, Claire, glanced at each other before he answered.
"Well, Billy, there is chance of improvement in your son. I am sure with the help of all the staff here, some day Jacob will recover," said the doctor in his kind but weary voice.
"Thank you, Mr. Banner," Billy thanked the man with a wry smile.
"Please, Billy, call me Benjamin. We've been friends long enough to be on a first name basis, not to mention we are brother in laws after all." He smiled, "Are you all alone, Billy?"
Billy sighed tiredly, "Afraid so, my daughters refuse to come to help me after what Jacob did and me, being an old man in a wheel chair and all, I have to get someone to take care of me."
Benjamin smiled kindly, "I think I can help with that. I'm sure Tia would be thrilled to have you. You're her only brother after all."
Billy smiled, "Thank you so much, Ben. I appreciate all the help I can get. I just want Jake to get better."
With the last sentence he looked at the room where his son was standing quietly, looking outside the window. The room was a simple room with only a small chair and bed and on the inside it looked completely close off except for the window and door but outside one of the walls served as a two way mirror though it looked like only a wall.
Benjamin patted his shoulder offering the old man some comfort. "Don't worry, Bill, he'll get better some day. Until then we'll just had to wait a little while and see."
Meanwhile inside the room, Jacob stood grimly looking outside the window. He knew he was being watched. He knew that this was his only way. He had had to act mentally disturbed in order to get away from his prison sentence for killing Demetri and all the other things he had done. He did not regret any of them though.
He had done it all to get back his girl. Was that really so wrong? She was his, his and his alone. Yet she didn't realize it and even now, she was letting another man touch her, another man make her laugh, another man kiss her. Jacob clenched his hands and gritted his teeth as he remembered all the days he had watched her with her boys. Whenever he'd touch her, whenever he'd kiss her, it would drive him mad. Then when the other one came in the picture it had taken all his self restraint to watch. He knew from then that that had been it. The last time he'd watch another man touch his woman.
He had planned it all so carefully and he had been so close to succeeding in the end. It had all been a master plan. He expected Edward to try to shield Bella. He had intended on killing him as he touched her and watching with satisfaction as his bleeding body would crumple to the floor. But everything had been messed up in the end. The other fellow, Demetri, had done something Jacob had never expected him to do and went and protected Bella and Edward from the bullet. He had thought of it in his planning but he had thought that Demetri's jealousy of Edward would allow Jacob to kill him. But he was wrong and it had cost him dearly for in those seconds when he was too stunned to move Edward had overpowered him and put a bullet in his stomach.
He ran his fingers over the scar it had left. He would repay Edward when he got out of his prison. It would not be too long before he was free of this prison. He had to act, to act as if he were slowly recovering from his "insanity". These people were all so stupid, so dumb to believe him. It was really all too easy but hey, who was he to argue with faith? It would probably take two years at most.
Well then, Bella, he thought as he watched a bird fly in the blue sky; enjoy your time with Edward while it lasts. Enjoy it for I will be back soon. To repay Edward for this scar he's left me, to punish him for touching you. And for you, well, you will get the ultimate punishment, my Isabella. Your precious Edward will get death whilst you will have to spend our life with me, mourning over Edward while you serve me. While I make you love me. Just wait, Bells, you don't know what's coming your way.
As he turned his back on the bird as it disappeared from sight, becoming more and more obscure in the distance, he thought: That, my love, is my promise to you.
$~*^*~$
And so ends our story….
Just so you guys know, no, there is not going to be a sequel. I just love leaving things off with a little more anticipation and mystery. Happy endings…BLAH! Who wants that when you can imagine your own ending?? xD
Anyway, again thanks guys, for reading, for reviewing, for everything you've done. There aren't enough words to express my gratitude towards you all for everything you have done for me. When I thought of this story I never expected to get all the feed back I have and I want to thank you guys really from the bottom of my heart for reading this story and especially those who took the time to review almost every one of the chapters. Also thank you to all those who favorited and story alerted as well as those who author alerted. A huge thank you to those who added me to Favorite Authors. You have no idea how much that actually means to me. Thanks so much guys for everything you've done for this story and for me. Thanks a million, a billion, gazillion and any more that I don't know. I love you all so much for sticking with this story! And thanks so much for reading!
As for the fans of WMA, I don't know if I will continue since I am getting mixed feedback. So if I get enough people to outweigh the others who do not want me to continue, I will.
Poll results: Edward Cullen= 82%, Demetri Volturi= 10%and Jacob Black= 6%
Okay guys, I guess this is goodbye for now. You won't be seeing me for a long while. Maybe next year…I don't know since school life is going to get a lot more hectic for me. I'll be posting a poll on my page for the story I should write next as well as more ideas that keep popping up in my head. Vote and I'll write again next time I am on vacation.
And heads up to those who asked for the playlist, it will be posted shortly after this chapter.
Again, guys, thank you for everything. :D
Leave a review for me please ;)
Huge hugs and lots of love,
~Steph~