Throughout this story you'll find: Mild language, scary and intense scenes, and teen situations. Thirteen and older, please.
In the Grip of Twilight
By:
Olivia Tannis Moore
Chapter Twenty Three:
Preparing for Departure
I slept for twelve hours straight. It was late morning on Sunday when Edward and I left the serenity of his room. The day would go by in a blur of activity as we followed our plans and schemed to protect the ones we loved.
It was shockingly easy to reach a compromise with Aro. Evidently, I was more valuable than the ancient corpse in Carlisle's lab.
According to our terms, The Forgotten would stay in Forks so that Carlisle could run tests on the mutating virus, and Edward and I would leave for Volterra on Tuesday instead of Monday. I explained to Aro that my parents needed the extra day to come to terms with the fact that their only little Swan was traveling half way around the world to go to another school—as impressive as it all sounded.
When I had called Renee and told her of the trip, she had nothing but praise for my "accomplishments". And instead of asking the usual parental questions about supervision and safety, she had asked about the wardrobe I'd be taking—and how I must always look my best while there. I was almost dizzy after hanging up the phone with her. It never ceased to amaze me that I could present my mother with salt from the Dead Sea and she would buy it.
Nevertheless, Charlie was a much bigger challenge. And I prepared as much as possible by preparing a spaghetti dinner and having it on the table when he got in from Seattle that Sunday night. Next to his plate, I had placed the heavy manila envelope from Volterra.
He had sat down, noticing the big bowl of spaghetti first and complimenting me on it. Then he had curiously picked up the envelope. "What's this?"
"Just open it, Dad."
After reading over the acceptance letter Aro had fabricated for our purposes, Charlie was incredulous. "You and Edward in Italy for six weeks…That's…that's like a honeymoon—and you're not even engaged yet."
Honeymoon? Day after day I'd be getting a small blood transfusion, so honeymoon wouldn't be my first choice of words. The only thing that made it tolerable at all was the fact that Edward would be there with me.
I picked up the document that Charlie had removed from the envelope. I couldn't get over how official it appeared; right down to the Volterra academic seal. It occurred to me then, that my secret life was now engulfing me; that for almost a year I'd flirted at the edges, but now I was front and center—no longer playing among the vampires, but soon to be one of them, sort of.
Yet, it was never easy to lie to Renee and Charlie. I had to think of it as shielding them. "It's a huge honor, Dad."
And then I made it impossible for Charlie to grumble. "With this program on my application, I can practically get into any college I want." This was quite true as I understood it, with just the Volturi recommendation.
"Really?" His face had relaxed a small bit. "A scholarship, maybe?"
"I'm working on it," I said vaguely.
"Well, if I knew that you were in Italy with that goal in mind…and you were serious about your studies…"
"Haven't I always been a serious child?"
"But you're not a child anymore, Bella," he said with gravity. "That's why I wish Alice was going with you instead of Edward—not that I begrudge him the opportunity—but I'd sleep a lot better at night if it were Alice, or Angela, or Jessica…"
"I get the picture, Dad."
Charlie sighed. "It's just so incredible…What are the odds that they would choose Edward of all people?"
"Billions. But Edward is a very intelligent guy," I defended.
"I don't doubt that. I'm sure Dr. Cullen sets a very high bar for his son." He shook his head again, "But why not Alice?"
I couldn't help but smile.
Charlie picked up the documents and studied them for a moment as if the answers were there in black and white. "Well, I can't complain about the supervision. It says here that you'll be chaperoned by Priests."
I nearly choked on the noodles in my mouth. Yes, Priests, I thought. How ironic that the one thing that gave Charlie comfort was the main source of danger for me.
(Note: Thanks go out to everyone leaving comments and emails. You make it a blast to write. See you tomorrow, and thanks for reading. –OTM )