Chapter Eighteen

She panicked.

She knew this already, and when Zondrea panicked, she ran and ran as fast as she could possibly go. She knew she should have stayed and talked it thoroughly with Emmett. It wasn't fair of her to just go running away, like she always did. But, she knew that if she were to stay she wouldn't have been able to deny him of anything.

All these human-like feelings were resurfacing, and if she were to be completely honest, it scared her. It scared her more than anything.

Of course, Zondrea had been naive enough to think that Emmett and her were just really close friends, she hadn't even realized it was more than that till this evening. And now, she couldn't stop all the emotions of infatuation and love out of her mind. It was suffocating...but, in the best way possible.

She couldn't let herself even look back, though. She was constantly thinking of Rosalie and how the girl already hated her as it was. She didn't need to give the girl any more reasons to dislike her.

But, then there was Edward, who was sure not to keep this a secret. And, Zondrea couldn't blame him. Even though the two of them got on really well, this would never be allowed. Ever.

And, that's why she had fled.

She was skirting around by the waterfall now, not sure what to do. She knew she should wait till morning to return. But, they'd all probably think she had run off or slipped up. But, she had to be close enough now where Edward could hear her thoughts.

So, when a growling noise erupted to Zondrea's left, she wasn't all that surprised. At first she had thought that maybe it was Emmett, who could very well be angry with her.

She was surprised, though, when she stood straight up from her crouching position to find Rosalie heading towards her. She looked absolutely and utterly terrifying.

The girls eyes were darkened with not only thirst, but anger and hatred. And it was all directed towards Zondrea, who was now starting to crouch again, trying to calculate what Rosalie was planning on doing.

She had obviously been told everything and Zondrea cursed Edward's abilities.

"You," She hissed, coming towards her at a slower pace, and the two started to circle each other, each of them trying to predict what the other would do.

"Rosalie," Zondrea started in what she hoped was a calming tone.

"How dare you." She immediately accused, eyes like a snake.

"Please, don't do anything rash." Zondrea tried to plead with her, because if it came down to a fight Zondrea wasn't sure who'd come out on the top.

"Look who's the one talking." She countered, now slightly bent as if ready to pounce at any moment.

"I didn't mean for anything to happen." Zondrea tried again, feeling desperate. She wanted more than anything to just run away from all of this and pretend her whole trip here was just a bad dream. But, dreams didn't exist for her anymore.

"You little, human-sucking creature." She spat out, "Coming here and walking in like you're one of us. Not only do you worm your way into this family, but you try to mess around with my mate. You cursed little demon. You're not one of us and never will be, even your eyes say different." Rosalie was getting closer now and Zondrea was stunned by her words, hurt filling her chest heavily.

"You should have died in your century. You don't belong here." She continued and Zondrea could only take so much.

"We all should have died in our own centuries, but you're here and so am I and I may have done something wrong, but only half of what you're saying is true." Zondrea was starting to become defensive, a low growl forming in her chest. Her vampire instincts were starting to overcome the human ones and she was starting to remind herself of the girl who left Italy.

"I want you gone." Rosalie shot back, still circling.

Zondrea stepped back a bit. She should have been expecting this.

"Where are the others?" She questioned, know wanting Carlisle's wise words more than anything.

"Back home, completely oblivious. Edward told me only. I'm giving you one chance, Zondrea." Rosalie said her name like it left a bad taste in her mouth. "One chance to leave and never return and that'll be my deal. You act like this never happened and I'll let you go alive."

The cocky vampire in Zondrea wanted to scoff at this. If she really wanted to right now, she could have Rosalie tearing herself apart limb from limb.

But, there was a point in her words. She couldn't return like nothing ever happened, and if she didn't go now, there would be an outbreak and the family would hear and she'd never be accepted.

She had two choices : Leave calmly or be forced to leave.

So, Zondrea choose the first, stepping out of her crouch and hanging her head down slightly. She was ashamed with herself for letting all of this go on. She should have never left Italy. She was soon realizing that that was where people like her belonged. She had no place with these peaceful people and all their goodness. She would have never fit in long enough to stay forever.

"I'll leave and never return, as you wish." She spoke so quietly that only someone with hearing like Rosalie's could hear.

"I never want you back here. Don't try to keep in contact, because, trust me, I'll find it." She warned, an obvious hint of success in her eyes.

"Understood. Goodbye, Rosalie." Zondrea would have been sobbing now if she were still human. "But, I want you to know, I never meant to hurt anyone. I came here to better myself and I never planned on my stay being any what permanent. But, you must know that this was all like a dream to me. I've always wanted a family and I never had one, not even as a human. So, just know that you've all brought out the human in me that I had thought had died long ago." Zondrea was turning away now, not really sure where she was headed.

And then she remembered something, "And one last thing, don't tell Emmett about this. Let him think I left on my own. Don't let him know that you know. He's a beautiful person, Rosalie, don't break it."

And then, she vanished.

She started to flee again, a thing she was getting quite good at.

But, this time she heading back to somewhere she'd never thought she'd ever return.

She started heading east to go back to Italy. Back to the Volturi.

(A/N : So, this one is a little shorter than the others, but I don't really have the energy to write a whole lot for this tonight because I'm working on a new fic for Percy Jackson. So, hold on tight for tomorrows chapter! Remember to review!)