It had been a week since the Cullen's arrived and since then-much to my dismay- one or other of them was always in my line of vision.
When they first arrived and found my crying they had thought the Volturi had done something to me of course this wasn't the case. I made them all leave my room, but Carlisle believing his always knew best insisted that either Emmett or Jasper stay with.
Jasper cleared out of the room faster then lightning can strike so I was left with my only option: the grinning teddy bear.
He had of course tried to hug me till my brain exploded out of my head or my lungs collapsed. I someone managed to escape with my life.
For the next few days I was constantly followed by a string of Cullens. Let me tell you, it got annoying after the first few minutes.
Like for instance when I had tried to visit Caius to talk about a book he recommended me to read and everyone one of mine or his comments was followed by seven other comments from the peanut gallery. Caius had tired of it quickly and I thought it would be a good idea to leave before he blew a top.
When I finally got the chance to sleep that night, I was tormented by nightmares. It seemed even my subconscious didn't want me to have some peace.
When I woke up I was in a cold sweat and hot tears were pouring down my face.
It seemed every vampire in the freaking country was in my room- apparently I hadn't been waking up from my nightmare. I remember seeing Jasper in the back of the room concentrating that's when I started to feel beyond tired like I had just crossed the Arabian desert I knew it was his power. But I didn't push it away, I accepted and slept for the rest of the night.
The next day, the Cullen's tried to convince me to tell them what my nightmares were about and Emmett threatened to murder whoever made my life this miserable. I had actually cracked a smile at that; it was so like Paul or Sam. I missed them.
Once I convinced the Cullen's I wasn't going to be telling them anything, Alice insisted we go shopping-with Rosalie and Esme- and much to her personal chagrin I invited Sulpicia who had to bring Corin and Felix for her own protection.
While they all shopped I normally hung back with Felix both of us having differing levels of dismay on our face looking at all the pink, floral, and polka dot's that littered the store we were in. Sometime later, Marcus graced us with his presence and Felix, Sulpiciai, and Corin's eyes almost popped out there heads. Felix admittedly asked if we were under attack or if the world was ending when Marcus replied with a small smile he practically choked.
Marcus asked me to go look at a bookstore with him and we both left the gaping vampires. Marcus had got me to read a classic book I had never read because quite frankly the title was stupid(in my opinion) - Lord Of The Flies.
I had planned to buy it for myself, but Marcus seemed to think it was his personal job to pay for everything.
In exchange I made me a very well beloved modern-classic of mine -The Harry Potter Series.
He seemed delighted-or as delighted as Marcus could be at the idea of the book.
Eventually we had to meet up with the rest of group, despite my constant complaining.
Alice had been half way telling us all the shops we needed to go to, when suddenly Marcus
'remembered' he had work to do at the castle.
I had begged him to take me and Felix back with him, but he only let out a small chuckle before departing. And so I was left with these idiots.
Just great.
I spent literally the rest of the day shopping and Alice seemed to forget again when that I needed mere human things like food and sleep.
When we got back to the castle I didn't even bother eating just fell flat on my face on my bed.
It seemed I had been too worn out from shopping to have a nightmare or a dream of any kind which I was thankful for. The next day was spent installing new Tvs', video game systems, and acquiring cable. Outwardly I scowled at the Cullen's for doing so without my permission but inwardly I was doing cartwheels I mean I love Bambi and Snow White but those get old very quickly. I think Jasper was on to me by the way he winked at me, I just shook my head smiling slightly at him before going back to my scowling.
The next day was spent watching the guy's play video games and watch sport's while Esme looked through Better homes & Gardens magazines, Rosalie was flipping through some kind of magazine while she gave herself a pedicure, and Alice just watched everyone. When I said 'guys' that excluded Marcus, Aro and Caius. The first of who had was already on the last Harry Potter book, the second who seemed content to only watch and clap whenever something exciting happened on the Tv, and the last who seemed to like to just sit next to me and bare his teeth at only who tried to sit next to us.
Over the last couple days, Caius and I had become accustomed to each other. Where I could be found he was normally there and vise versa.
Alice didn't seem to understand this and was constantly trying to draw his attention to one of the thing's the boys were doing. But it never seemed to work.
The Cullen's left the city the next day to go hunting so I was left with only with the Volturi despite Edward's whining that I would "surely hurt myself" after I just rolled my eyes he seemed to get the idea and left me alone.
Once they left I spent time with Sulpicia introducing her to some music that happened to be made sometime after 1880. I tried to steer her away from most of my Itunes because most of it was had some kind of cursing or other and like Edward, Sulpicia almost fainted whenever a woman cussed. It was really beginning to annoy me and then she would say "A lady shouldn't use such language" and I would reply; "And who told you I was a lady?" she couldn't seem to wrap her around that one, cause after all who wouldn't want to be a lady?
The next day Edward had tried to have a 'talk' with me like he had days before only this time all of the Volturi were currently in the feeding room. So I had to take measures into my own hands luckily my Ipod had just happened to be next to be next to me so hurriedly I shoved the headphones in and picked what I knew to be Edward's-and coincidentally Jacob's favorite- song Sexy and I Know It. When I started playing it louder than necessary he walked away scowling so for the next few day's that's how I avoided him. But today it was unsuccessful. He had cornered me about 'talking' with all the rest Cullen's in the room, I had said I was busy he had questioned about what I was busy with and I hastily replied with; "Jasper! Jasper and me need to talk." so I had dragged Jasper out of the room despite Edward's and Alice's stupid protests. Honestly.
So I was now walking through the garden that I had discovered a few days ago with Jasper. He looked a little on edge and awkward. Maybe I shouldn't have picked me as my excuse.
"So, Jasper," I started.
"I know, Bella you most likely won't be able to forgive me for what I did-at your birthday party but I would like to tell how extremely sorry I am for it." He said pinching the bridge of his noise.
"You're right, I can never forgive you-"
"Bella..." He croaked.
"Let me finish! I can never forgive you..because I was never mad at you, Jasper." I said, looking up at him.
"How could you not have been mad at me? I tried to suck you dry, I'm the reason Edward left." He exclaimed looking at me like another head had just spurted from my neck. Sheesh, did he want me to be mad at him?
"Look, Jasper you're a vampire. Vampire's drink blood, it's only natural you shouldn't feel bad at about that, and second I should be thanking you for that." I replied grinning.
His eyes turned to the size of saucers while he looked me over, trying the best I could guess to see if some kind of alien had invaded my body.
"Thanking me? for Edward leaving?" He questioned a confused look on his face, that seemed rather ...odd on Jasper he never seemed to be a step behind on anything.
"Yes!" I laughed as I started walking again.
"You are a very strange creature, Bella Swan." He said appearing at my side.
"So, I've been told." I said looking at him out of my peripheral vision.
"Bella?" Jasper called a few moments later.
"Huh?" Came my intelligent answer.
"I wanna..thank you for forgiving me or I guess never being mad at me. When you left everything changed; Esme was devastated, Carlisle wasn't much better..they both considered you their daughter. Emmett was beyond himself, whenever he saw Edward he had to be restrained from pounding him into the ground. Alice was I think a little in shock, and preferred to keep her distance from everyone...even me. I think she blames me for everything that happened..which I suppose it is all my fault. But that's all beside the point, my point is Bella even if you and Edward aren't together you always part of the Cullen/Hale family. Am I understood?" He smiled the last bit but I couldn't find it in myself to be smily; I was beyond touched. Jasper, had always been rather reclusive with me maybe it was just because he was afraid of hurting me but I never considered him to be the 'sharing type'.
"Can I hug you right now?" I asked, as I blinked trying to keep my tears at bay.
He took in a deep breath although his eyes darkened, he seemed in control. He nodded his head slightly at me.
Turning somewhat towards him, I slowly wrapped my arms around him, he did they same; wrapping his arms hesitantly around my waist.
After a few moments when he didn't let go, I knew that he was battling with himself.
Deciding I didn't want to become vampire food I opened my mouth. Because Lord, knows that always seemed to help me.
"Thank you, Jasper, for telling me this. It mean's more than you know, even with your gift. You're like a brother to me. I love you, Jasper." I said softly as I tightened my hold on him, and the inevitable happened and a tear-disloyally- fell from my eye.
"I love you too, Darlin'." He said as he unwrapped me from him and held me at arms length.
I smiled broadly at him, before nodding my head at him; silently congratulating on his small victory of not eating me.
"Okay, enough with this sissy stuff let's go whip Emmet's ass at video games!" I cheered as I started walking in what I thought was the general direction of the way we had came. Keyword being 'thought'.
"Bella? We need to go this way." Jasper said pointing in the other direction.
"I knew that." I said as I passed him.
"Of course, you did." He smirked.
"I did! I was just..testing your memory, you're getting old you never know when your senses might start to leave you." I teased.
"Did you just call me old?" He asked raising an eyebrow at me.
"Hey, if the shoe fits." I said raising my hand's in mock surrender.
"One day, Bella. One day." He said shaking his head at me.
"One day what? your get old? Because dear brother of mine, that day is today." I continued.
He opened his mouth with a smile on his face most likely because of a good comeback that he had just gotten an idea for but sadly he was interrupted by Esme appearing out of thin air with Carlisle in tow.
"Jasper, could we have a moment with Bella?" Esme asked Jasper acting again as if I wasn't there.
"Of course," He said nodding to Esme as he turned to leave he winked in my direction as if to say 'serves you right for calling me old'.
How bad I wanted to stick my tongue out at him but resisted knowing since he had left already Esme and Carlisle might think I had gone mental sticking my tongue to the air.
Esme looked nervously before looking at Carlisle who nodded at her.
"Bella, we wanted to apologize for leaving you." Esme said. Oh, not this 'were sorry for leaving you to deal with a psycho redheaded vampire' crap. "It was just with the thing with Jasper and Edward telling us about how upset you were-"
"I was what?" I interrupted.
"Edward, say you were very upset. You said you didn't want to see us again and that you would tell everyone about us if we didn't leave." Carlisle replied, frowning.
"Me? I would never! I was never upset! I never said anything like that!" I protested.
"But Edward..." Argued Esme in a small voice.
"Edward what? Edward can't tell a lie?" I mocked.
"Bella." Warned Carlisle as Esme face blanched.
"No, Carlisle. You need to be aware of what he does. Your son is a lying and manipulative brat." I replied, narrowing my eyes.
"But you love him!" Objected Esme.
"What gave you that idea?" Was my only reply as I turned away from them and headed in the way Jasper had left.
Once I got in the castle, I let my -I-know-everying-and-nothing-scares-me face down. Edward had lied to them? They hadn't wanted to leave? Could I forgive them knowing that? Even though none of them had even tried to ask me how I felt?
"I'm getting a headache." I mumbled to no one in particular.
"Will you be needing pain medication for that?" Questioned Marcus's deep voice from behind me.
"Nope." I said popping the 'p'.
"Are you sure?" He persisted.
"Positive, but I do have a question?"
"And that would be?" He inquired.
"What happened to your wife..Didyme? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to." I hastened to say as he got the saddest look I had ever seen on anyone's face.
"Well, Aro said you would ask sooner or later. I was just hoping it would be later." He said frowning.
"You really don't have to tell me." I murmured.
"But I will nonetheless." He said as he offered me his hand. I took it. Next thing I knew I was on his back whizzing down the long, lonely corridors of the castle.
After a few moment's he slowed, then came to a halt and I hesitantly step down but kept a firm grip on his arm incase I got dizzy. After a few second's when my world didn't blurring I deemed it safe to let go.
"Where are we?" I asked as I turned around to see a dark red door.
"You shall see," He said. Oh goody. But I kept my sarcasm to myself.
Marcus pushed the door open and I followed slowly behind. When I finally got in the room I felt my breath hitch.
The room was circular, with shelves covering the walls all filled with book's but what the show stealer was the ceiling a tapestry of the women, I came to know as Didyme was hanging. It covered the hole ceiling even though she wasn't here her smile seemed to light up the whole room.
Letting out a breath I turned to see Marcus who was watching me intently.
"She's still beautiful." I commented.
"Indeed." He said nodding to me behind me to a leather love seat.
When I had finally taken my seat I found Marcus was to seated a few feet from me in another similar chair to mine besides the fact that my chair was black and his was red.
We sat there for a few minutes neither one of us talking-me not wanting to push him and him-I believe- dreading to tell me the story but determined for some reason.
"Didyme, was Aro's sister." He finally spoke. Aro's sister? they do actually look alike now that I think about it. "He changed her a few years after himself hoping that she would have a gift like his. But she did not she had the gift to make people happy, If it was anyone else they would have thrown out of the coven but she was his sister in blood and venom and we soon found out was also my mate." He continued. I stayed still in rapt attention.
"During this time Caius, also had a mate." He said watching me closely. I felt my eyes go huge but nodded for him to continue nonetheless.
"Her name was Athenodora, she was a rather ruthless and power crazed woman. And her bound with Caius was not a very strong one but they were mates nonetheless. One day Didyme and Athenodora had decided to go look into the village near a place where we were hunting, after a recent battle with the roman coven who had threatened us we had come out victorious. But we were neglected to be told there was a family of werewolves that lived in the town who had strong alliances with the roman coven and it so happened to be a full moon." He said grimly. I felt my hand go over my mouth but didn't remember ever having had the thought to it.
"By the time we found them, they were already beyond repair and the only thing that could be done would be to set them on fire. Of course Caius and I couldn't see the logic in this and Aro had to have us restrained but even he was beyond himself in grief for his sister and couldn't light them himself and had one of the other vampires do it. Caius killed him later." He finished as he slumped back into his chair and ran a hand over his face.
That's why Caius hates children of the moon so much. It all makes sense, why Marcus sometimes looked so grief stricken or why whenever Sam or Jake called me everyone one in the room stiffened and looked from me to Caius.
Unsure of what to say, I decided actions speak louder than words. Hesitantly I made my way from my chair to his slowly I bent down and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"I'm so very sorry, and I know me saying that will never bring her back and it will most likely not make you feel any better. But I am so, so sorry." I breathed.
"So am I little one, so am I." He said.
If you asked me at a later date what happened next, I never would have been able to describe it. But if you were there in that moment I would have sworn to you that I saw my father, Charlie. Standing beside us, smiling down at us. I convinced myself it was a trick of the light or lack of sleep that made me see this but secretly I treasured that memory more than anything.
A/N: Hullo, everyone!
How's everyone's life been? Mine's been particularly hectic. I hope you've all been doing well since the last time we spoke! Make sure you tell me down in the reviews what you think of this chapter! Love Ya!- Monet