Powerful Findings
Trusting someone is a decision you make; proving your right is their choice.
Unknown
BELLA'S POV
It was strange being connected to so many wonderful and talent people. I was learning daily from the sisters and the young wizards, I was even learning from Nickodemus and the Cullens. They were all patient with me, encouraging me to keep trying. Edward was my biggest supporter, not that Charlie and Grandfather weren't. It was just different with Edward and I wasn't sure why.
When I went to bed each night I was exhausted and troubled. It had been two weeks since I was linked with my protectors. I knew and understood why each was a part of the circle except Edward. He was still tight-lipped about whether he was told anything else during the ceremony another than his abilities as a mind reader would come in handy. I wasn't pushing him to tell me either. Whenever he choose to share was fine by me.
What was troubling me was what Grandfather told everyone during the discussion after the ceremony was over. Grandfather had told us I would be able to call any of them to me if I was in danger and that there was a different trigger for everyone. When I asked if he knew his, he answered with "only you will know, lass."
I had yet to find the trigger or triggers, as it were. Although, I had yet to be in any real danger; all the danger I had been in had been stimulated on the stimulation deck. The frustration I felt was mirrored by all everyone and that made me feel even worse, Jasper did try to tone it down. To top it all off, I couldn't move back to the star base with my father as they still hadn't found Jacob, and that mere fact alone should have helped me discover the triggers.
I spent my days with Esme, and my nights were dedicated to learning from the sisters and the wizards along with the Cullens. Charlie, Daniela, and Grandfather joined us on the weekends. When not learning, I mostly read and watched television, but neither held my attention for long. By the time that everyone got home from school, I was depressed and moody. And, despite how hard Edward tried to cheer me up, he couldn't. Not even sitting with him and listening to him play the piano could lift my spirits.
EDWARD'S POV
What I was told two weeks ago played on a loop in my mind. I was Bella's future. She and I would marry. I accepted that, but I was confused on having to do something in the past. What in the world did that mean? How was I supposed to go back in time and do whatever it was? Not being able to talk about it with Bella or even Carlisle was hard, and trying to figure it out by myself wasn't working. Then there was Bella. I was worried about Bella. She had gone to bed hours ago, but everyone knew she was awake since we felt depressed. Only when she slept did happiness trickle to each of us. I wished there was something I could do to help her.
"Edward, Bella needs to get out and have some fun. Shopping, that is what she needs. A girls' day out with no time to think or worry."
"Alice, do you really think that will work?" I asked.
"Of course, it will. We can even schedule a bit of a surprise. Put Bella in a bit of danger but no real danger."
I thought about what Alice was suggesting for a long while, listening as Bella's breathing became steady and peace washed over me.
"Who do you have in mind?" I asked.
"I was thinking Kate."
Kate would be perfect and Bella had yet to meet the Denali family.
"When you call Kate see if her sisters want to come for a visit. It would be great to see them all again," I said.
"I second that," Carlisle said.
"We're thinking Kate could help Bella," Jasper said as I entered the rumpus room.
"How could she help?" Esme asked.
"Bella hasn't met Kate, and we could use that to our advantage and put Bella into a little fake danger," Alice said, skipping into the room. "And, Kate said she will help. It will go down Saturday afternoon. Esme, Rosalie, want to take Bella shopping with me then?"
"I don't think this will work," Esme said, "but … I'm in."
"Count me in," Rosalie said.
We all discussed what Alice and Kate had planned out. I was a leery. Alice deemed it would be a success. I felt as if something would go seriously wrong and Bella would be in real danger.
"Alice, I don't like this plan," I said.
"Nothing will go wrong, Edward. Bella will be perfectly fine, I'll make sure of it."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it," I said, walking out of the room and to the music room.
I sat at my piano and stared at the keys. I was in no mood to play tonight. I needed to get out of the house or else my mood was going to affect everyone.
"Carlisle," I called. "I'm leaving for some time. I'll be back before Bella wakes."
I left the house at a run, needing to clear my head and think.
The plan Alice had presented was sound and though I hated betting against Alice, I didn't think it would go as planned. And knowing Bella, it wouldn't go exactly as planned. Jacob was still out there, somewhere. He could turn up at the mall and harm Bella, or Bella could kill Kate. Halting in a clearing, I screamed.
~~ B3W ~~
A misty dawn was appearing when I walked into the house four hours later. I had decided to do a little hunting once my mind was calmer. I had bagged two mountain lions before I decided to head home.
"We're not going to school today," Rosalie informed me. "It is going to be sunny all day."
"Is that going to change plans for tomorrow?" I asked, hopeful.
"No. Today is the only day the sun will be out all day," Rosalie said as I headed upstairs to shower and check on Bella.
Opening Bella's door, I slipped in and found her resting peacefully with a smile on her face. I wish I could read her mind and know what she is dreaming about.
BELLA'S POV
Stubbornly I clung to sleep, not wanting to wake up. The click of the door closing had me opening my eyes though. I sat up, stretching as my gaze drifted to each corner. No one was in the room.
Stretching again, I recalled the dream I had. It was pleasant, and I was still smiling. Sighing, I wished it were true. In the dream, I was in Milan with the Cullens. Edward had asked me to go on a walk with him. We ended up on the rooftop terrace of the Duomo. It was breathtaking walking among the spires and seeing the city spread out in front of me. When I turned to thank Edward, I found him on one knee, holding up a box.
"Isabella, will you marry me?"
I sighed again, if only. My love for Edward was evident to everyone, but us getting married, I didn't see it. Our relationship would end soon enough, but I knew he would always been there for me and it wasn't because he was one of my protectors. True, all heirs before me married their protector... I shook the thought away not wanting to thinking about it anymore.
The shower went off. Strange, I thought looking at the door that connected my room to the bathroom. Edward only took a shower after a hunt, and I didn't tell me he was going out. With a last stretched, I got out of bed heading to the bathroom. Not bothering to knock, I pushed the door opened.
"Good morning, Bella," Edward said, greeting me pulling on his shirt.
He was usually in his room a minute or two after shutting off the water. The sight of his bare chest set my heart to fluttering.
He gave me a crooked smile.
"Damn your vampire hearing," I said.
He chuckled, moving toward me. "We're not going to school today," he said, kissing my cheek before leaving the bathroom via my room, chuckling again as my heart tripped over itself.
Slamming the bathroom door, I commenced getting ready to face the day. I prayed that I would be able to keep my mind on simple tasks today and not on my problems. I hated feeling helpless and not being able to solve my own problems.
"And that, my dear child, is why you haven't discovered how to call someone to you. Let go and ask for help. You have always been independent, but it is time for you to trust that help is always a call away," Grandmother said. "I want you to picture the woods outside the Cullen house. Focus on an area that they could hunt in. Snap you fingers."
EDWARD'S POV
I clearly heard a snap. Bella. Racing upstairs with Emmett and Jasper, I entered Bella's room. It was empty as was the bathroom.
"Where could she have gone?" Jasper asked as the others joined us.
"I have no idea," I said.
This wasn't like Bella. She was so open with us, always letting us know if she was going somewhere magically.
Pulling at my hair, I asked, "Alice, did you see any decision Bella made?"
Alice shook her head as her eyes glazed over. "I see nothing right now either."
I started pacing Bella's room, having no clue where to start looking or who to call first. I was just turning for a forth pass when Emmett disappeared. Everyone's eyes went wide at the same time mine did.
BELLA'S POV
Consciously I blocked Alice's power, not wanting her to know where I was going. Edward had never told me where he and his family went to hunt, but I knew this was one of the places. Not sure how I knew, but I did.
"Now, what?" I asked the air.
"Close your eyes. Listen to the world around you. What do you see in your mind that is nearby?" Grandmother instructed.
"A bear, a huge bear and it's coming toward me."
"Open your eyes."
A bear was racing toward me. I didn't think, I reacted, grabbing my pendant. Emmett, I called out in my mind. The only reason I call for Emmett was... I didn't trust he could defend me. If he could handle the bear, he could best anything threatening me.
"Bella, what the…" Emmett began, but turned toward the sound of the approaching bear.
He jumped and landed on the bear. With a quick flick, he broke its neck. He did something else, too. I didn't see what, having turned my head when I heard the crunch of the bone. Moments later, I felt Emmett's hand on my shoulder.
"What are you doing here, and how did I get here?" he asked in a gentle but concerned voice.
"I don't know what I am doing here. Hell, I don't even know where I am, Emmett. But I know you're here because I called for you when I saw the bear running at me," I replied.
"How exactly did you do it?" he asked.
I stared at him.
He placed his hands on my shoulders after wiping them on his jeans. Looking me in the eyes, he said, "Bella, whatever you did to bring me here, saved your life. That bear would have ripped you to shreds. Please show me what you did."
"I reached for my pendant"—I did so as I spoke—"and in my mind I yelled Emmett. You know what happened next."
Emmett nodded. "Call for Edward," he said.
"I'm not sure if I can do that," I remarked.
"Try. He was close to pulling out his hair when you summoned me."
I grabbed my pendant and call out for Edward like I had for Emmett. Nothing happened.
"It's as I thought. I can't call for him," I said as Emmett's phone began ringing.
"It's Edward," he said, not answering as he took me by my shoulders again. "Was there something else you did, Bella, before the bear appeared?"
"I saw the bear before it started running toward me, but it was not here when I appeared in the clearing," I admitted.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"I closed my eyes, listening while I explored the area with my mind. When I opened them, the bear was charging."
"Do it and tell me what you see."
I closed my eyes, searching the clearing and surrounding area. "I see nothing that can harm me."
I kept my eyes closed and pushed myself further than I have ever done before, getting really dizzy in the process. My hand flew to my pendant. Edward, Carlisle, I thought as I started to fall backwards. Cold arms were around me in a flash.
I opened my eyes once I was settled on the ground and was met with Edward's concerned, golden eyes.
"Let me check her, Edward," Carlisle said.
"I'm fine. I got a little dizzy that's all. I was testing a theory."
"What is she talking about, Emmett?" Edward asked as Carlisle checked me over despite my objection.
"She found the trigger to call me to her. When I appeared in the clearing, a bear was about to attack her," Emmett answered. "I took care of the bear fast."
He motioned with his head. I wasn't about to look, but Edward did.
"She called for you not me," Edward said in a disbelieving voice, kneeling next to me again.
"Yes," Emmett said, throwing up his hands. "I was shocked but didn't have time to ask questions. Bella, why did you call me?"
"Your strength, Emmett," I said with a weak smile. Looking down at the ground, I continued. "I think I needed to know if I could trust you to protect me. While I was brushing my teeth, I figured out why I am having trouble connecting with each of you. I hate feeling helpless. I have always taken care of myself. Putting someone in danger's way is not something I want to do and asking for help is hard for me."
I felt fingers on my chin, lifting my face. "You don't need to ask, we will be there for you when the time comes," Edward said.
I nodded. "I know. It's still hard."
He smiled. "What was it that made you call for Carlisle and me?"
"I felt dizzy. I was searching the area for danger, pushing my powers further than I ever have. I knew I was going to fall and possibly hurt myself."
"Interesting," Carlisle said. "When face with an opponent stronger than you, you call for Emmett. When you feel you will get hurt, you call for Edward and me."
"Do you feel like you can go on and figure out the rest of the circle?" Edward asked.
"I-I-I think so."
I wasn't really feeling up to it, but the sooner I figured out everyone... A sighed escaped me as I played with my necklace, wishing my mother could be here to help me. I never got to know her. The closest people I had to a mother was Esme and Daniela. Both appeared.
"Where am I?" Daniela asked before noticing me. "Bella, have you figure out how to call us?"
"She's starting to do just that," Carlisle said before briefly explaining what had happened so far.
"What called Esme and Daniela to you?" he asked.
"Confusion and the need for my mother," I said, sighing before I looked over my shoulder at Esme and then to Daniela still kneeling in front of me. "There is so much I'm confused about, and I think I just need someone to talk with but it can wait."
An hour and a half went by, and the only person I was unable to call for was my father.
"It's pointless," I said, pacing. "I just don't know what his trigger is."
"Calm down, Isabella," Grandfather said.
"Listen to him, my child," Grandmother advised.
"You'll figure it out. Take a break, let's go back to the Cullens," he said.
"That sounds like a good idea," Esme said. "A walk will do you good, too."
Edward took my hand as everyone else followed Carlisle, causing me to stop. I looked over at him.
"Bella, you're amazing," he said as he leaned forward and brush my lips with his in a gentle, chaste kiss.
As we started walking again, I reached up to place my pendant beneath my shirt while thinking how frustrated I was with men, especially Edward. My father appeared in front of Edward and me.
Edward walked straight into him not knowing he was there.
"Charlie," he said, taking a step back.
"Where am I?" Charlie asked.
"It would be easier to explain when we get back to the house," Edward said, dropping my hand from the look of concern on Charlie's face.
Charlie glanced at me before returning his attention to Edward. The concern was replaced with a face that, to me, said, "What did you do to my daughter?"
Edward stood his ground, not moving or saying anything.
Their standoffish stances was too much for me, and I stepped between them, placing my hands on both of their chests. I wasn't sure if Charlie was going to give Edward the riot act where I was concerned. We needed to get back to the Cullens quickly before either of them said something they would regret later.
A dizzying sensation came over me, and I collapsed to the ground.
~~ B3W ~~
I woke to soft talking coming from the dining room. The dining room? "How long have I been out?" I asked in a low, more to myself voice.