All characters except for Annabelle Causley and a few others belong to Stephenie Meyer…and, of course, the writer is not receiving any profit for this story whatsoever.
This is an AU of Stephenie Meyers' Twilight series. This story starts after Eclipse, two weeks before Edward and Bella's wedding.
Chapter Three
Stepping out into the moonlight, she instinctively crouched into an attack position, keeping her eyes trained on him. Slowly approaching both of them, she shoved her gnarled raven-black hair out of her face. She knew she looked a mess –after all, she had been traveling on foot for weeks.
Locking eyes with his, she stopped in mid-step, her breath rushing out of her as his face brought back all those memories –
"Annabelle," Edward stepped away from Bella, shock written all over his face. The only reason he recognized her was because of all the memories rushing through her mind.
"It is you," Annabelle walked closer, her black eyes wide with shock and disbelief, "Edward Masen."
"You're –you're supposed to be dead," Edward took another step away from Bella, his eyes devouring her face, which was covered in dirt and grime. She reached up to brush dirt off her face, which just made more of a mess since her hands were dirty as well.
"No –" Annabelle dropped her hands, fingering the frayed edges of her faded checkered button downed shirt, "I mean, my parents did die but they decided to keep me."
"Who," Edward swallowed hard as his own memories of his past life, memories of this girl came rushing back, "Who changed you?"
"The Volturri –I don't know who changed me... I just know they decided to keep me," Annabelle shrugged, taking another step closer to him, "I've been with them ever since. I finally left three months ago... I couldn't take it anymore."
"You've been with the Volturri –all these years, you've been with the Volturri?" Edward reached out, briefly touching her face with his long fingers.
"Yes…" Annabelle cocked her head to the side, "I didn't know better –"
"Excuse me," Bella called out, her face slightly red and somewhat troubled. Edward turned guiltily, staring at his fiancée, wondering what to say. "How do you two know each other? What is going on?"
Annabelle cocked her head to the other side, her black eyes focusing on Bella. She unconsciously licked her lips as she sniffed the air.
"The Volturri would be interested to know you're still human, Bella" Annabelle stepped closer, her head snapping to the side as Edward mirrored her move.
"And I take it you'll be telling them," Edward snarled, keeping his golden eyes on her as he kept himself between her and Bella.
"They know I won't be human for long," Bella's eyebrows met in confusion, "How do you know who I am?"
"I've smelled you before," Annabelle stepped to the side, a small smile appearing as Edward moved with her, "In Italy. You never saw –nobody ever does. That's why the Volturri has kept me all these years…and no, I won't tell them. I'm no longer with them."
"Stop stalking her, Annabelle," Edward growled, shifting his muscles in preparation to spring. He recognized the thirst in her black eyes.
"Sorry," Annabelle stepped back, relaxing her stance, "Old habits die hard."
"Okay," Bella slapped her thighs in frustration, "Somebody needs to start explaining what is going on."
"Now's not the time," Edward pulled Bella into his arms, keeping his eyes on Annabelle, "The family is coming."
Annabelle tensed as six vampires entered the meadow from different angles, surrounding her to keep her from escaping. Turning full circle, her eyes jumped from vampire to vampire, her breath quickening.
"What is going on, Edward," Carlisle took a step closer to Bella and Edward.
"This is Annabelle…she's with the Volturri," Edward bit his bottom lip, wondering how he was going to explain this to Bella.
"Was –was with the Volturri," Annabelle shifted her weight onto the ball of her feet, looking at the gaps between the vampires, "I heard a lot about you –Carlisle, right?"
"Yes," Carlisle tilted his head, uncertain about this girl, "How did you know?"
"Aro thinks about you –a lot," Annabelle smiled a smile that let them know she had a secret, "Actually, he thinks about all of you –the Cullen family."
"Annabelle," Esme took a step forward, giving her a motherly smile, "Would you like to join us at our home?"
Annabelle frowned as she stared at Esme before her expression cleared and a smile flitted across her face.
"Yes, I suppose I could," she looked down at her dirty bare feet and torn jeans, "Although I'm in no condition to be visiting."
"We can get you some clean clothes," Alice spoke up, a smile blooming on her pixie face. Annabelle stared at her before returning her smile.
"Thank you but that's not what I meant," Annabelle turned to look at Edward, her eyes flickering between him and Bella.
"She needs to feed," Edward informed them all, pulling Bella in closer.
"She can't –not here," Jasper spoke up, staring at Carlisle as he send calming waves to Edward and Bella.
"I –I haven't fed in over three weeks," Annabelle muttered, shuffling her feet.
"If you know about us, Annabelle, you know we don't hunt humans," Carlisle pursed his lips in displeasure, "Forks is out of bounds so you'll have to go out of town."
