In a fog, we walked slowly back into the school. I was still wondering over my newfound power. Still feeling betrayed that no one had mentioned it to me before. I supposed, though, that I probably should have guessed something along similar lines before then. After all, it had seemed that whenever I held Edward's hand, whenever I kissed him, caressed him, sat on his lap even, he the silent conversations that usually went on between him and Alice became vocal. Alice, too, hadn't been able to use her power correctly whenever I was touching her. Last time I had leapt up to hug her and beg her to tell me when we would next be able to play baseball, she had merely shrugged and said in a goofy voice,
"You'll just have to wait and see." It was so obvious to me now, that I felt dim for not having noticed it before.
"Edward?" I asked, my voice scarcely a whisper. The bass from the music was becoming deafening as we approached the gymnasium, but he could still hear me perfectly.
"Yes, love?" His musical voice was thick with anxiety, giving it a rough undercurrent.
"Why me?" Though my question was vague, Edward knew instantly what I meant. He stopped, cupping my chin to bring my gaze up to his own.
"Well," he considered. "Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie lack the kinds of powers that the Volturi want. They could really care less about compassion, beauty and restraint," he muttered, disgust coloring both his tone and his expression. I nodded slightly. In their line of work, compassion would slow them down, restraint wasn't necessary, and they already had other vampires working the 'fishing' role, as they'd so carelessly called it.
"But what about everyone else?" I asked him, wondering what exactly made my specific power the most desirable for the Volturi.
"I couldn't read that despicable creatures mind, as you happened to be touching me the entire time we were in his proximity, so I don't have an answer for you, Bella." His voice had morphed into an angry tone, and he quieted himself quickly. "I'm sorry," he said, more gently as he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. I shook my head violently, not about to let him blame yet another thing on himself.
"Edward," I said, savoring the way saying his name made my un-beating heart sing, "I should have figured out my power long before now, so none of this is your fault." He gave me a contradictory look, but let it drop. Mostly.
"You're wrong," he exclaimed fiercely, placing a finger gently over my lips when I parted them to speak. "But I won't fight you on it tonight. We're at the prom after all, and I have the most beautiful date here." Were I still human, my cheeks would have flushed an embarrassing shade of crimson. I wasn't human, though, so I settled for playful teasing to break the tense mood instead.
"The most beautiful in this school?" I asked, false innocence coloring my tone. Edward flashed me a crooked grin, and I could swear I felt my un-beating heart pound frantically.
"By far."
"In the city?"
"Most definitely." He placed a soft kiss on my forehead.
"In the country?"
"Absolutely." Another gentle kiss went on my cheek.
"In the world?" A long silence, only interrupted by the constant noises coming from the gym, stretched between us as Edward pretended to ponder this.
"I suppose," he answered, flashing me a wry grin.
"You suppose?" My attempt at a hurt look failed, as a giggle escaped my pursed lips. Edward's musical laugh put mine to shame, as he joined in. With a final kiss, this time on the lips, we linked arms and continued on into the prom, determined to think about everything else later.
We return to the dance floor, dancing once again with my feet balanced on Edward's. As Alice and Jasper spun past, I leaned out to ask her a question that had been nagging at my mind.
"What are we going to do?" When they passed by again a few seconds later, she replied,
"I'll know once you know."
Edward and I were riding in the Vanquish on our way home, when I realized what it was that I had to do. I didn't like it much, but it kept my family safe. Seconds after my epiphany, Edward's cell-phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket, but before he could answer it, I swiped it and answered myself.
"Don't say anything, Alice," I threatened.
"Bella," she yelled, her voice sharp and demanding, "you can't do that!" I sighed heavily, feeling Edward's inquiring eyes on my face as I conversed with his easily excitable sister.
"I can and I will," I promised. Just before I hung up, her voice sounded shrilly from the phone.
"Don't go…" I snapped it shut, making a split second decision. I disliked my new course of action even more then I hated my original, but it couldn't be helped.
"Bella, what…" Edward began to ask, his face contorting in pain. I was out before he could finish his question.
In one swift movement, I quickly opened and slide out the door, taking off in the opposite direction towards the sound of running water. When I arrived at the large river a few seconds later, I could hear that Edward was not far behind. Thinking quickly, I dug my heel into a sturdy boulder on the rivers edge, throwing myself back the way I'd come. When Edward leapt the rushing water, there would be no trace of me. I was going to disappear. What's more, I still had his phone with me, so Alice couldn't help him with direction. I dropped the thin, silver mobile, and smashed in with the heel of my shoe easily. Leaving the pieces where they were, I rocketed off in the direction of the nearest airport.
Upon arrival, I bought a single ticket for a direct flight off a man for four times it's worth, and boarded the departing plane. The rumble of the engine started up minutes after I'd sat down, and I focused on the hypnotizing melody to keep my thoughts occupied. The flight went by quickly, too quickly, and soon I was in a city neighboring Volterra. Not bothering to steal a car, I simply ran along the roads, vaguely familiar from my impossibly foggy human memories.
There was no festival this time, making the city strangely quiet. There was the occasional shuffling of footsteps from several streets away, and the fountain that had saved me before burbled merrily. The Volturi's castle loomed ominously above the town, and I raced up to the gated entrance I remembered leaving through the last time I was here. There seemed to be no one watching the gate, so I called out,
"Aro, It's Bella. I've come to join you!"