Chapter Forty Three

Edward

I sat on the porch eagerly awaiting Bella's appearance, it had been so long since I'd seen her. Since the night of the party when I decided we should leave, get away from her deceit. Why I'd believed Alice I couldn't imagine, it was as if she'd cast a spell on us all. Yes a spell, that was a good analogy and one that put us, me, in a better light although what Bella would make of the idea I couldn't imagine. Would she have forgiven me? Would she smile when she saw me? Would she remember what we had once been to each other and want to rekindle the relationship? I knew Rose and Emmett had explained she was with Jasper now and it was his venom that had changed her but that didn't necessarily mean they were mates. And I refused to believe I'd lost my chance until Bella herself told me.

Emmett was busy talking to Charlotte while Luke stood leaning against the hitching rail his eyes, cold and red, never leaving me. What did he think I was going to do? I didn't know him but it seemed he was a friend of Garrett or Peter, he certainly resembled them with the watchful eyes and loose way of carrying himself as if ready to attack at the slightest provocation.

Rose

I sat on the porch listening to Emmett and Charlotte, so Bella had gone to get Jazz from the Volturi, I had to give her one thing, she had guts. I'd be hard pressed to go to Italy and I'd been a vampire a long time. It was ironic really that the very reason I had disliked Bella so much, her choice to become a vampire, had been snatched away without her even being aware. I wondered what it had felt like to change slowly from human to one of us. Was there an underlying pain or had it been so slow that she didn't really notice and was she completely vampire or did she still have some human in her? Emmett was at last coming to believe he had made amends for our desertion and I was glad because he hadn't been the same man since this ghastly drama started. I thought I might well strangle Alice myself if I met her again but then of course she would know that and avoid us but could she avoid Bella and Jazz for ever? I was glad I wasn't her because the thought of turning round one day to find either, or both of them, standing there would give me the shudders.

I saw a car turn into the driveway and drew everyone's attention to the fact. The talking ceased and we all stood waiting, some more nervous than others, to see Jazz and Bella again. When they got out the back of the car I gasped, Bella looked almost the same but for the paler skin and golden eyes, so she was living on blood now! Jazz looked terrible, as if he'd been through a terrible ordeal that still scarred him, and I wanted to run to him, throw my arms around him and hold him close but Bella's cold stare stopped me. Charlotte ran down to embrace Peter whose eyes were also on us, or at least Edward who had started down the steps towards Bella. He didn't get far though, both Garrett and Luke moved to block his path. Bella smiled a hello to Emmett who returned it then came to stand at my side and I was grateful for his support.

Bella

Rose looked nervous and guilty by turn but I really didn't have an argument with her, she hadn't liked me and she'd made no secret of the fact so her leaving without a word was understandable. The one thing that upset me was the conversation she had with Alice in the school parking lot the one Lauren overheard but as soon as I thought about it I could see it was engineered by Alice, just to twist the dagger she'd slipped between my ribs. For that reason and for Emmett I would forgive Rose. I turned my attention to the remaining Cullen, Edward. His face had no impact on me any longer, I felt nothing and I was glad. Jasper held my hand and I knew he was monitoring my emotions for which I didn't blame him. After all he'd been through he needed reassurance. I was grateful to Luke and Garrett moving to stop Edward but I needed to talk to him so I nodded and they stepped aside but stayed within arms reach at his sides.

"Bella, you are even more beautiful than I remember."

"Really? I can't say the same I'm afraid. I now see the monster behind the mask. How could you be a party to what happened to me Edward? After telling me you loved me you were a party to destroying my life."

"It wasn't like that Bella. We were all played by Alice and we've only just realised it. I admit I was taken in by her lies but..."

"No buts Edward. I loved you and you walked away believing I was some kind of tramp. I'll never forgive you for that, never."

"Alice is very convincing, even your precious Jasper was taken in according to Emmett."

"I know and he's paid a terrible price for that but don't try to equate his crime with yours. He did what he did thinking he was keeping me safe, his mate out of danger. You did what you did because you blindly believed I'd been sleeping with him. All of you believed that so you didn't think very highly of me did you?"

"Bella I think you are over reacting. We always relied on Alice because she saw the future."

"And no one stopped to think how strange and out of character it would be for me to sleep around?"

There was a short awkward silence and I nodded,

"I thought not. Well I've started to get my revenge on you. Carlisle and Esme are in Volterra accused of breaking your laws and the Volturi are looking for the rest of you, you in particular Edward. Aro is just itching to get his grasping little hands on you."

"You didn't give evidence against Carlisle and Esme did you? What did you say? You know you could get them killed for that?"

"Yes I did, revenge is a dish best served cold and I'm icy Edward. I gave witness about you too and soon I'm going to drag you to Volterra myself and watch as the Volturi pass judgement on you. What do you think about that?"

He shook his head looking shocked.

"What's happened to you Bella? You were never like this before, vindictive and cold."

"I was stabbed in the back by people who told me they loved me, treachery will have that effect on you Edward."

"What about him?"

He pointed to Jasper at my side,

"Jasper isn't guilty of anything except following his heart and trying to keep me safe."

"And the others? Rose, Emmett and Alice?"

"Emmett repaid his debt already and Rose, well Rose always hated me, she never pretended otherwise so why should I have expected any different from her? No Edward, you and your precious parents, Carlisle especially, are the guilty ones and you will pay for your deeds."

Darius

There was something that didn't seem to have occurred to anyone else so I thought perhaps I'd better bring it up.

"Rose, you said the Volturi had appeared at your place and Carlisle told you to run for it?"

"Yes that's right, why?"

"Well it might just be my paranoia but I'd guess that they wont just forget about you three."

Jasper groaned rubbing his forehead,

"You're right Darius. I would imagine Aro sent Demetri with them and he wont be far behind. We need to move fast before they turn up here."

"Why? Aro doesn't want us, just those three. Let him have the fuckers."

"Peter, your humanity moves me."

"You listen to me Darius, all the Cullens put the boot in and the fact these three have come scurrying here begging forgiveness doesn't change that one fucking bit."

"Peter, I'm the one who was hurt by their actions not you so thank you for thinking of my feelings but I think they deserve a chance to make amends and they can't do that if they are in Aro's clutches so I think we should move before Demetri arrives."