The thick silence clogging the room was uncomfortable at best, painful at worst. I, personally, was leaning towards the worst end of things.
"Elizabeth," asked Carlisle, sounding more on edge than I believe I'd ever heard him, "not that it isn't a pleasure, but why are you here?"
"Do I really need a reason to visit my son?" she asked teasingly, eyeing Edward once before glancing away from him dismissively.
"After more than one-hundred and fifty years, yes, I believe you do," I found myself saying. Her eyes focused on me intently. The way she seemed to be sizing me up reminded me of how I looked at my prey. My instincts kicked into high gear at the threat in her piercing glare, and I growled low in my chest, moving too-quickly for human eyes to stand in front of Edward protectively. On auto-pilot, my body associated the people around me with titles, not names or emotions, and was quickly prioritizing who to protect.
Those on the floor were family, important to protect I decided quickly. The two that remained standing were to be taken out promptly, but most importantly was the one I stood before. Mate my body screamed, ready to lash out at anyone who threatened him. Love, called my heart. Edward, Edward, Edward. My heart and body seemed to be in agreement that Edward was by far the most important to protect, although their reasons weren't entirely the same.
"Bella, it's okay," soothed Alice, only serving to irritate me. I snarled at her, crouching lower in front of Edward, assuming the same position he had taken more than seventy years ago in that ally way in the depths of Volterra. The hurt that flashed across Alice's face snapped me back to attention, and I straightened, slightly embarrassed by my behavior.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I don't like it when someone messes with my family."
"What she meant was that she doesn't like it when someone messes with Edward," I heard Emmett hiss to Rosalie, his tone teasing. A loud slap filled the air as she him in response.
"Ow! Baby, what was that for?" he whimpered, rubbing his skull.
"You are so whipped," mumbled Jasper, earning him a stern look from Esme that seemed to be covering up a smile, and a small chuckle from Edward. At the sound of his familiar laugh, I spun around and flew into his arms quickly, his tense muscles betraying how uptight he still was. His finger lightly traced the sides of my face before he spoke, his voice even and soft.
"I think it would be best if you left." My heart tore as those words left his lips, but quickly healed as I realized that those words weren't directed at me, rather at Elizabeth. I didn't look to see her reaction, but what I could hear of it was colorful. My eyes never strayed from Edward's face as he smiled at me reassuringly, then pressed a gentle kiss to my lips. It took all I had not to jump him, but somehow I resisted.
"Ah!" I cry out, arching my back sharply as something hot hits me square between my shoulder blades.
"Bella!" yells Edward, catching me as I fall. His hold is careful, gentle, and I squirm in agony as the mysterious heat spreads, consuming me in agonizing waves. It's the worst pain I've ever felt besides the pain of my change from human to vampire.
"Bella!" chorused a group of voices, the concern in their tones extremely noticeable. It went deathly silent in the room quite suddenly, and I strained my ears to hear even the unnecessary breathing of my family.
"My dear son didn't know what he was thinking," a sickly sweet voice announced, sliding through my head like an icy current. I childishly put my hands over my ears, not wanting to live through my greatest fear; the fear of the truth. "You aren't worth his time you stupid child." It seemed that Elizabeth Masen was indeed speaking within the confines of my skull, for my hands seemingly had no effect.
"Stop it," I moaned, the fire in my body flaring up sickeningly. I cried out as my legs seemed to snap, but when I glanced down I saw them to be perfectly alright. My eyes squeezed themselves shut, and I cowered against Edward's chest, whimpering pathetically.
"He doesn't really love you," she goaded, seeming to know and expose my weaknesses.
"No," I moaned softly, the pain in my voice evident. "No!" I screamed as I began to thrash against the iron grip that locked me in place.
"Get out!" I screamed aloud, cursing the mother of my husband mentally.
"Stop it!" I heard Jasper groan. I looked over sympathetically as he doubled over in pain. "You're hurting her!" he choked between gasping breaths. Our arms gripped our sides simultaneously, as he began to thrash much to the protest of a certain pixie-like vampire.
"What are you doing?" roared Edward, pulling me as close as he could while attempting to still my thrashing appendages.
"He hates you for being so weak." It echoed through my head, and I immediately froze my body with all my strength. Even though I hated to admit it, she was right in a way. I had to be strong for Edward, I couldn't allow him to suffer from or resent me. Stiff as a board, I willed Jasper to not feel the same pain and that's when it occurred to me. I beckoned him over weakly, suppressing a scream as a new wave of pain washed over me.
"Stand up!" I urged, biting my lip hard.
"I can't," he groaned, shimmying across the floor. "We're stuck on the ground!" Nodding mutely, I reached out and touched Jasper's arm gently, keeping contact with his skin as his discomfort disappeared. He collapsed weakly, the guilt in his eyes powerful, and I nodded once to let him know it was okay. He shouldn't have to suffer with me; what was the point in that?
I turned slowly, flinching as wave after wave of agony knifed me, to face our attackers. I knew how I could free my family. The question was, would I be able to do it?