Chapter 12
Bella:
"We were going to mention it when you told us what you know about Edward's whereabouts."
"I'm afraid he's no longer here, if that is what you are getting at," Aro replies simply.
"Why didn't you tell us when he left? We're his family, we've been worried!" Alice huffs. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that she doesn't like him all that much.
"Sweet Mary Alice, his request was incredibly specific. When he had served for his crimes he would part with us quietly. He didn't want anyone to know where he was going," Aro says to Alice patronizingly.
"So, you have no idea where he is?" Maggie clarifies, shooting me a look. A look that says; he's about to lie. We came up with the silent signal years ago.
"That was what he requested. That no one knew where he was, myself included. I'm very sorry I cannot help you further," Aro says.
"That's strange," Maggie begins. "I get the distinct impression that you might not be telling us the truth."
"Are you accusing me of lying?" Aro asks quietly.
I notice all the Cullen's tense around us. I pay them no mind as I wait for Maggie's reply.
"No, I'm telling you. I have a gift, you see, which tells me when people are lying. Sadly, it doesn't tell me why. So are you going to tell me why or are you going to let me run around telling everyone you're a liar?" Maggie says.
Aro's eyes narrow, his posture tense and unmoving. Maggie and I stare him down and I pray that the Cullen's are following suit. After a nervous couple of minutes, Aro relaxes into his chair.
"Dimitri, Felix, leave us." At Aro's commands, the two guards swiftly exit the room. "Brothers. Would you mind giving me a moment alone with my old friends the Cullen's?" Aro requests. They raise their eyebrows and eye us warily, but eventually they both get up and leave the large throne room. "Now we at least have the illusion of privacy. I don't doubt they're all eagerly listening in," Aro chuckles.
"Why the privacy, Aro?" Carlisle asks, leaning forward the rest his forearms on the old, wooden table.
"It is for your son. If I had to tell you the truth, he would thank me for telling you like this," Aro says.
"It sounds as though you two grew close?" Esme says. I can hear a wobble in her voice, like she's about to cry.
"We did, that is true," Aro says, his eyes flickering over to Maggie. She nods in agreement. "He did not leave too long ago. It was a few months ago, I believe. Edward came here to work off his crimes, but you were never truly told what his crime actually was," Aro explains.
"Yes, we were. You said it was about his fight with James, how they were nearly spotted by a human!" Alice argues.
"That, I'm afraid, was a lie," Aro admits.
"Why? What did he do that was so horrible he made you lie about it for him?" Alice shrieks.
"It wasn't horrible, what Edward did. But he was incredibly ashamed of himself for what happened."
A/N: Any theories on what Edward did?
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