Emmett's POV
We arrived in Forks, Washington, back home for my family. Though it wasn't the biggest place, we were close to Shelton and the wolves in Washington. Isabella wanted to talk to her pack and I wanted to talk to the Quileute's. We haven't seen them for four years and I'm sure that there were more wolves added to Sam's Pack. We don't really talk to them, but it's something we needed to start doing. There was no way we would be able to take on the Volturi by ourselves. We needed training and much more people.
As of right now, Esme was trying to settle everyone into rooms, feeling like the families should be together. In the end, Isabella, Carlisle, Esme, Edward, Rosalie, Alice, Jasper, and I were staying in the room. I knew Isabella would be a little upset that she couldn't stay with the girls, but she didn't complain, because their rooms were right by ours.
After settling everyone into their appointed rooms, exhaustion settled over me and I decided to go upstairs and lie down. Carlisle and Jasper were leaving to get blood bags from the hospital. Even though Carlisle hasn't been here for the past four years, I'm sure he was capable of getting some blood, even if he isn't considered to be working there anymore.
Soon, I thought back to the basement cell. It wasn't a dream. It was a nightmare. A recurring nightmare that has happened to all of us, especially Isabella. I didn't want to know what Caius did to her, but at the same time, I did. But just thinking about all the possible things he could do, it pissed me off. If she were to tell me, which needs to happen, I'm positive my anger will get in the way of us accomplishing killing the Volturi.
The plan had to be precise. It had to be perfect. Training has to occur every single day, for at least six hours. We had to be flawless in everything we were going to do. One single mistake could end the life of any of us. And that was something I did not want to happen. Yes, all of us are capable of getting killed by the Volturi. But we were also capable of working together, communicating. The Volturi has always had problems communicating while fighting, it was their weakness. But now that we possibly have an inside person, Marcus, who knows what he was capable of doing. He was going to destroy the Volturi from the inside out. Marcus was our strength.
About an hour later, Isabella walked into the room and laid next to me. We stared at the ceiling, probably thinking the same thoughts. What were we going to do? What are we capable of doing?
"Any plans?" I asked her. She shrugged her shoulders, sat up, and curled into a ball.
"Emmett…" She whispered. "For once, I just wish I didn't have a bad feeling." I sat up and looked at her. "We left… we escaped. They don't know where we are. But why do I feel like we're being watched? Why do I feel like they're here?"
"I honestly cannot answer that." I said. I grabbed Isabella and laid her against my chest. "You know you have to go with it."
"I know." She whispered. "But what is it?"
"I don't know." I said. "There are many possibilities, but, with all things considering, it's hard to pinpoint what our problems are from the many."
She nodded, agreeing with me. Much wasn't said after that, so we laid back down. I was planning to ask her what happened with Caius, but I wasn't prepared to hear what he had done. But when I think about it, Bree probably knows what he did. Maybe I'd ask her.
I heard a soft sigh come from Isabella. She was asleep. I was about to close my eye and sleep too, until I heard Carlisle and Jasper come back. I quickly slid her off my chest and went downstairs to save a couple of bags for Isabella. Although they were all human, I guess my family didn't care anymore. We needed strength, so drinking human blood was the only thing we could do. I just felt really bad for Jasper. After years upon years of staying away from it, it's been ruined. We're all back to square one.
"I suggest you go straight to bed when you're done." I said. "We have a long day tomorrow."
After I grabbed a couple of bags, I went upstairs to Isabella, who was still sleeping. I changed my clothes and laid down. Though I couldn't sleep until the rest of the family laid down. It took a while to get Edward to calm Rosalie down. To do that, I just told him what Rose likes and doesn't like. What she doesn't like are the words "Relax" or "Calm Down." She hated it when anyone told her that. About twenty minutes later, Rose was settled. But she wasn't upset because she was mad, she was scared. We all were. Maybe tomorrow we could talk about what has happened.
I later fell asleep, holding Isabella intensely close to me. During the night, I believed she was having some type of nightmare, or something. She continuously kept jerking around. I think at one time, she sat up, about to scream. At 5 in the morning, Jasper told me to wake up Isabella.
"Bella." I whispered, shaking her.
She gasped and looked at me in a daze. "What?"
"We're not there. We're home." I whispered, knowing exactly what was wrong with her.
She looked away, sort of upset about her nightmares. But I knew, with some time and help, she would be able to get through this. It's not like we have a high chance of being locked in a cell again. We were prepared for anything. Soon, Isabella was able to fall asleep again.
At 10, I woke up along with Jasper and Edward. We walked around the house, making sure nothing has been misplaced. Today, I would be talking to the entire Quileute tribe, trying to get them to help us. Although I didn't feel like I would have much luck. The pack was against us, and we drink animal. But, then again, they hated vampires. Maybe they'd hate the Volturi with us.
Around 11, everyone started to wake up. I was waiting for Carlisle to get up, so we could talk to the wolves. I knew they would never listen to me alone, but when Carlisle came around, they would listen to him. I never understood why they would. I am a part of his coven, I haven't killed any humans… I don't know, they just hate me. Maybe it'll change.
"Emmett?" I heard Isabella. She was standing behind me, smiling. She was smiling… She held out her hand, wanting me to come with her. Of course I took her hand, then she led me outside.
We sat down in the backyard, on a bench. It was a nice day, actually. The snow was melting, so it was a little warm. Our house was filled with green grass and trees that filled the backyard past the river. It was a scene I have always enjoyed. And I'm enjoying it more since I was with Isabella.
"I love you." I whispered to Isabella.
She chuckled and looked at me. Her golden eyes meant she found the blood bag I kept for her. But they were lighter this time. Even after all the things that has happened and last night, she was happy. For the first time, you could actually see that she was happy. And I loved it. It's what I breath for; Isabella's happiness.
I pressed my lips against Isabella's soft lips. It's been a long time since we've done anything close to romantic. Even with all the stress happening, maybe I'd take her out somewhere. She deserved it.
"Be safe today, please." She whispered.
"I will." I said. I kissed her again and finally went to Carlisle so we could leave.
We didn't take a vehicle, considering it was pointless. We ran to the border line between us and the wolves. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long. The wolves came to the line, highly confused.
"Carlisle… Emmett…" Sam said. "Where have you and your family been? You guys disappeared."
"I don't see that as a bad thing…" Paul mumbled. I sort of growled at him, mainly because he doesn't know what we've been through. Carlisle put his hand on my shoulder.
"Paul, be quiet." Sam ordered. "What happened?"
"A lot." Carlisle said.
"Yeah. And you think it's hilarious." I snapped at Paul.
"The Volturi is trying to kill all of us. Every single vampire that is against them, including us. We've been captive for four years, as of our disappearance. We were able to escape, with the help of two Volturi members. I don't believe they know we're here, but we need your help. A girl named Isabella, Emmett's mate, helps wolves who are typically alone with no alpha. There are many of them and they're willing to help Isabella and the rest of us. I know that this is a risk towards you and your pack, but we need help. All of us."
"Also, if you get to the house, leave Isabella alone." I said. "There's something wrong with her. Well, actually, all of us, but she's had it the most."
"How many vampires are there?" Jacob asked.
"Why does that matter?" I asked.
"Because, the more vampires there are, the more boys will turn into wolves." Sam answered.
"About 30 to 40 of us. Maybe close to 50." I said.
"Why are your eyes red?" Leah asked, narrowing her eyes at us.
"You think the Volturi would feed all of us?" I asked. "No. We've been starving for four years, all of us. We were weak."
"So you all killed a human?" Seth asked.
"No. We just robbed a hospital's blood bank." Carlisle said. "We have to hide, so we're not going to kill any human. Just going to the hospitals repeatedly."
"Alright. We're going to have to talk to the tribal counsel, before we make any decisions."
"That's all I ask." Carlisle said. "Come to us when you've made your decision."
Carlisle and I went back to the house. I mainly wanted to see Isabella, to make sure she was alright. She was talking to all the girls, trying to lighten up the mood. She was smiling, laughing, joking around. I think she just wanted everyone to relax for once. Although it was nice, we didn't have mind to sit and relax. We had to train everyone, make sure they knew what they were doing.
"Everyone come into the living room." I said throughout the house.
Isabella looked at me, with a small smile but curious eyes. For some random reason, I saw her intensely adorable.
"Focus." I heard Edward say behind me.
"Get out of my head." I said. "Before I show you something you don't want to see."
Isabella chuckled and walked over to me. She kissed my cheek and stood next to me. "How did it go?"
"Their making their decision." I said. "When are we leaving to get the others?"
"Soon." She said. "I'm a little excited to see them. It's been a long time."
"We'll get there." I said. Everyone came downstairs and sat on the couch or floor. "Carlisle and I went to go speak with the wolves. They have not made a decision on whether they would help us or not, but they are going to talk to their tribal leaders."
"And now that's out of the way, we will need to begin training. At least six hours a day. The rest of the time we have left over should be talking about plans, setting up strategies. Jasper, Maria, Peter, Garrett, and Dominic I have chosen to be the strategists and the rest of us will need to listen."
"Also, I think there should be some rules." Carlisle said. "The Volturi will be looking for all of us. So there can be no telephone use, no camera use, anything the Volturi can get a location on. If you need to get somewhere, do not use a car. Keep low, away from any video cameras. I'm not sure what they really have. Pay anything and everything with cash. And absolutely no killing humans. We have unlimited blood bags. I don't want to hear on the news there was a murder here in Forks, Washington. If everyone follows these rules, then we should be safe. If there is anything out of the ordinary you must tell someone. Anyone. You cannot keep it hidden."
"We begin our training at one. You have an hour to do what you need to do." Isabella said. "I suggest relaxing. And I will be right back."
"Do you want me to go?" I asked her.
"No. I'm taking Alice." She said. She kissed my cheek and walked out of the house with Alice.
"Is she okay?" Esme asked. "She seems… unusually happy."
"I believe so…" I said.
"No. She's not." Jasper said. "Emmett, I feel what she feels. She's on the edge of breaking, falling apart. She's hiding it, very well. It even tricked me for a while. Till I read her, but she's blocking me. Emmett… I'm afraid of something happening to her, emotionally."
"I'll figure it out." I whispered. Hopefully…
Isabella's POV
I ran away from the house, into the forest that was one the other side of the river. Alice was trailing behind me, though I didn't tell her where I wanted to go. But I didn't even know where I was going. I was just running. Running further and further away from anything and everything.
I stopped when I reached the cliff's edge, close to Canada's border.
"Bella?" Alice whispered.
I looked at her, completely letting myself fall apart. "I can't… I can't breathe." I fell to the floor and screamed. Alice's voice was the last thing I heard.
Emmett's POV
We waited till one to start the training, the same time Isabella and Alice came back. I was hoping she would come back a little earlier to spend some time with me, but I guess they were caught up with something.
I smiled at Isabella and she smiled back. Jasper tapped the back of my shoulder, indicating she was still hurting. But Jasper looked curiously at Alice, but she just nodded on. Jasper and I looked at each other. Alice never hides anything. She told Jasper everything, even things that were completely useless. The girl talks, but now she's silent. Something was obviously wrong.
We started the training, beginning with everyone, then breaking into smaller groups. Isabella was nodding when someone did what they were supposed to; protecting themselves, using their hands and mind instead of their gifts. When it got to my turn, I purposely did not concentrate like I was supposed to. She was getting upset with me, but not verbally. She'd shake her head in disappointment, look down, and glare at me. Jasper knew what I was doing, when he'd go against me, as well as Edward.
"Emmett, will you at least try?" she asked.
"I am trying." I said.
"Don't lie to me." She said.
"I will try when you stop lying." I mumbled.
"What was that?" She asked. "I didn't quite get that."
"Nothing, my love." I said, sarcastically. She narrowed her eyes at me. Probably wondering why I was acting like this.
"Switch." Isabella said, after an awkward staring fight between Isabella and I.
We continued with the big group training for another hour until I felt the presence of a werewolf. Hopefully it was Sam telling us he was willing to help us. Carlisle and I went to the front, leaving the others in the backyard. Fortunately, it was Sam.
"Sam." Carlisle said.
"I've talked to them." He said. "We are willing to help, of course. But I don't know if you want us at the house."
I thanked him silently and figured Esme would want them to be at the house. Mainly for safety purposes. If the Volturi found out that the wolves were working with us and wanted to kill them, they would attack their families also. It was time for the wolves to separate with their families.
"Thank you, Sam. Really, I appreciate it." Carlisle said.
"No problem." Sam said. "I just hope this problem with the Volturi ends with all of us alive."
"Esme will want you at the house." I said. "So your pack is going to need to pack and say bye. The space is a little tight and all the vampires are perfectly fine with your pack being at the house. Actually, they want to thank you all. What we've been through and knowing there's some hope, it's a nice relief. And don't worry about any vampires wanting to kill any of you. We all know better."
"And the pack will be on their best behavior." Sam said. "We will be back in about an hour."
We nodded and ran back into the backyard. Isabella was sitting at the bench, watching the others. I hope she knows that she was going to fight as well. She wasn't training. Maybe something was wrong. What the hell? Something is wrong, she just won't tell me, which is why I wasn't focusing. I know she's going to ask me about it later, but I wasn't going to tell her. I will only tell her when she tells me what's wrong with her.
I sat next to her, a little far from her, wanting to create some space.
"What was up with you earlier?" Isabella asked.
"Nothing." I said.
She looked at me, slightly mad and disappointed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I don't know what's going through that head of yours, but I don't like it. Now is not the time for secrets."
"Well then tell me." I said.
"Tell you what?"
"You know what." I said. "What did Caius do?"
"Excuse you?"
"What did he do to you?" I asked. "You had nightmares last night and all of a sudden you're happy? You're hurting yet you hide it. How am I supposed to help you if you don't tell me anything?"
"Maybe I don't need help." She said. "Maybe I am fine."
"So why do you keep blocking Jasper?"
"Emmett. I'm fine." She said.
"Stop lying to me." I said, standing up.
"Don't raise your voice at me." She growled, standing up also. We glared at each other then realized that we weren't alone.
"Umm… not to interrupt, but… can we do this later?" Bree asked. She was slowly coming towards us, very cautious.
"Yeah… that's fine. We were done talking anyways." I said and walked away. I knew it would hurt her, but she needed to know that I was here for her. But I can't do it until she tells me what he's done to her. She needed help; I don't know why she was hiding it.
Isabella's POV
I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked at Bree. Her eyes were curious, filled with concern. She knows what Caius has put me through. And Emmett, being the gentlemen but stubborn ass wouldn't ask Bree, he'd want to hear from me. But I can't just tell him what happened with ease. It was hard. Hard for me to even think about. And of course I blocked Edward. Jasper was a little trickier, so I'm not surprised he knew how I felt.
Alice suddenly grabbed my hand and led me out to the forest, out of hearing distance.
"What?" I asked.
"So, we're not going to talk about what happened?" She asked. "You're making me lie to Edward and Jasper. And soon, Emmett's going to ask. I can't keep lying and neither can you. You need to tell them whatever has happened to you."
"But-" I started.
"And you need to tell them that you blacked out, which is highly impossible for a vampire to do, but it happened."
"I'm fine."
"No, you're not." She said. "And you know that. Isabella, you are far away from fine. You have a couple of days to tell Emmett, or I'm going to tell him what happened today." She grabbed my hand and led us back to the house.
When I walked back into the house, Bree was sitting next to an obviously frustrated Emmett. Alec was in the room, obviously, waiting for Bree. The boy was in love with her. It was kind of cute, but also creepy. I don't know why, but it was.
"Emmett, she'll talk to you." Bree said. "Just give her some time. I promise."
"Thanks." Emmett said. Bree smiled and walked away with Alec following close behind.
I came into Emmett's view, telling him I wanted to talk to him. I was debating whether I should tell him as I was walking up the stairs. But I was afraid.
"I don't mean to hurt you by hiding what happened. I know you want to help me… But I'm… I'm a lost cause Emmett… What happened to me, will never change, it will never go away. And I need you to understand that… when the time comes, I will tell you." I said. "But I need time. Okay?"
"Alright." He said. I leaned my forehead against his and closed my eyes.
I decided that I wanted to wait for the wolves before we began any plans. In the meantime, Emmett laid with me, holding me until then. No one bothered us or asked us for anything. Esme handled the wolves getting their rooms.
Towards the end of the wolves getting settled in, Emmett started getting a little touchy.
"Emmett…" I whispered.
"Sorry." He whispered, but I could hear the smile in his voice. God he was annoying, but lovable.
"Emmett, Bella…" I heard Esme call for us.
We walked downstairs and I saw the Quileute Pack for the first time. There weren't many of them, but anyone was enough.
"This is Isabella…" Emmett introduced me. "And this is Sam, the alpha."
"Hi." I said, giving a small smile. "Thank you so much for your generosity."
"My pleasure." He said. "When will… your wolves be coming?"
"Tomorrow…" I said.
"Alright. Well, we're ready for anything you need us to do." Sam said.
"Yeah. Don't worry about them anymore. We got this." Someone said. He was well-built, sharp face, but very cocky. And if it's one thing I didn't like was cockiness.
"You think this is a game." I said, not in the form of a question. I walked up to him, standing purposely in his face. "What's your name?"
"Paul." He said, then he bowed down to me. "My Queen."
I heard Emmett growl, but I wanted to take matters into my own hands. I pinned Paul against the wall, choking.
"Since you think that you're all that, I want you to go against the Volturi yourself." I growled. "I want you to feel the pain that we've all felt. But yet, my pain. I want you to scream the word hope, family, and love from the inside out. I want you to feel hope slowly slipping away into a dark abyss that you can barely see a glimpse of." I let him fall to the floor, almost killing him because I was choking him. "That's just part 1 of the millions of tortures I've been through. You'd be amazed of what our body can go through, but you just heal back." I picked him up again, this time by his shirt. "Next time I hear something come out of your mouth like that, I will kill. I won't care whether they want me to or not. You watch your back. Because I will never forget." I threw him to the ground and walked away. I just needed to cool off.
Emmett's POV
After Isabella's slight outburst, I picked up Paul myself.
"I could have sworn I said to keep your mouth shut. And here you are, teasing us?" I asked. "The next time you say something, it won't be just Isabella you should be afraid of." I threw him to the floor and went to chase after Isabella. But Alice stopped me.
"I'll go." She said. "Stay."
I narrowed my eyes at Alice, feeling like she was hinting something to me. Usually, when Alice told me to stay, I would always end up going. Plus, she was staring at me.
"Okay." I said.
Alice walked out of the house, so I waited a couple of seconds before leaving. I followed their scents, making sure I was a little out of hearing distance for Isabella to not detect me. Unfortunately, Isabella went far, making the noise level from the town and the house disappear. Now we were sitting in silence.
But what I saw next not only scared me, but broke my heart.
And that's it for this chapter! I hope you have enjoyed. And again, like usual, sorry for the delay. Senior year is hectic.
Also, you guys don't know this, but I put A LOT of foreshadowing. You may think you know what's going to happen… But only I know. What you're thinking, it's not right. :)
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Thanks for reading! I really enjoy seeing how many people like this story. 3