Chapter 38

I woke up slowly, and as I took stock of myself, I quickly realized I was back in my own room. A frown crossed my face as I yearned for the plush comfort of the bed I had grown used to in Italy, not to mention the hunky naked guy who usually accompanied it. With a sigh, I reminded myself that I would have both again eventually, and that thought brought a small smile to my face.

Sitting up, I felt fully rested. I stretched my arms out wide, feeling my muscles respond, and leaned over to check my phone. My eyes widened as I saw the display - I had been asleep for a full 12 hours. It was clear I had needed the rest more than I realized.

It was five in the morning, and as I gazed out of my window, I noticed that it was still dark outside, but the first rays of sunlight had just begun to grace the horizon. Eager to seize the moment, I hopped out of bed, knowing that there was no better time than now to go for a jog. After a brisk shower, I dressed in my usual jogging attire. I was determined to fall back into my daily exercise routine, so I set out, ready to embrace the quiet, early hours of the day.

It was always so peaceful jogging through Forks this early in the morning. Forks was the quintessential small, quiet town, and at this early hour, I was usually the sole inhabitant of its streets, aside from a few passing cars and trucks. Before long, I reached the high school, my old stomping grounds. I paused, taking in the view of the utilitarian buildings and the empty parking lot. It struck me that I would probably never set foot in those buildings again. With a smile, I offered a little wave of farewell, relishing the sensation of freedom. I resumed my jog, eventually arriving at the town square, which was just beginning to stir with signs of life. Lights were flickering on, and I could see people moving about in some of the shop windows, likely preparing for the day ahead.

As I pressed on, my thoughts wandered to the Cullens. Being vampires, they were obviously all awake at this early hour. Their house was a good 11 miles away, but that didn't bother me. I decided to shoot Alice a text, and see what she was up to and if she wanted to hang out.

Bella: Hey, you awake? :)

Alice: Hah, sure am.

Bella: I'm out jogging. You up to hang out?

Alice: Sure. Do you want me to pick you up?

Bella: Nah, I feel like running. I'll be an hour or so, less if I run faster through forest.

Alice: Okay, see you soon.

I sent a quick text to Charlie so that when he woke up, he'd know my whereabouts. Slipping my phone back into my pocket, I surveyed the road ahead. The familiar road to the Cullen house lay before me, but it would require I jog at a leisurely pace, hardly satisfying my desire for exercise and to really push myself. My gaze then drifted towards the forest. Although I'd never ventured that way before, it presented a more direct route, promising a faster pace and a lot more enjoyment. I couldn't help but grin, recognizing that there was no real question about which path I'd choose.

The unknown path it is. I ventured into the forest, and after a light jog, ensuring I was well within the tree cover, I scanned my surroundings. Naturally, I found myself alone, so I transitioned into a swift run in a direction I was pretty sure would lead me to the Cullen house. As I sprinted through the woods, the familiar embrace of the Olympic forest enveloped me, its crisp air casting a soothing spell of calmness. While the Italian forest had its own allure, and the company there was certainly more desirable, it couldn't quite rival the essence of this place. As I ran, my gaze fell upon two deer in the distance, a mother and her fawn, moving gracefully in parallel to me. Observing wildlife in their natural habitat always brought me joy. Hopefully, neither would ever run into the Cullens. While I sprinted down a gentle slope, I spotted what looked to be a large river ahead, likely the Calawah.

As I reached the river's edge, I came to a halt and scanned both directions. No easy crossing presented itself, and the river spanned a good 25 feet in width, far too great a distance for me to attempt a jump. It struck me that this might be the perfect moment to place a shield around myself and float across the river. Just as I was on the verge of attempting it, a different way flashed into my mind. I thought about the shield I was able to erect in front of me and how all the Volturi had tried to get through it but failed. Erecting and maintaining such a shield had become second nature to me. A notion struck me, why not craft a succession of these shields in front of me and walk across the river on my own two feet? It would be akin to walking on air. I hoped this worked as if it didn't I would look quite the fool showing up at the Cullen house soaking wet.

I created a flat shield, positioning it about one foot off the ground in front of me. Stepping up onto it, I kept the shield steady; it felt stable enough. Adding another shield, I took a step forward, a smile gracing my face as I saw it was working so far. With much more confidence, I continued the process, placing another shield in front of me, and then another, forging my way across the river.

Stepping onto the ground on the other side, I looked back, marveling at my achievement. This first test of using my abilities in this way had gone perfectly. I knew I'd begin work on improving this new skill later today, probably when I reached the Cullens, especially if Emmett was there to hear what I had done. The thought of enhancing the speed at which I could create the shields intrigued me. I had a feeling that as a vampire, I would be able to run on air. I couldn't help but smile, contemplating how amazing that would be, and with that vision in mind, I took off once more for the Cullen house.

As I raced through the forest, I pushed myself to the max. It was exhilarating, running at this speed. My strides stretched long, and I relished jumping over objects like fallen trees, even launching myself off them or large rocks, creating a momentary sensation of being airborne.

Thankfully, I didn't get lost, and as I burst out of the tree cover, the Cullen house came into view. Slowing down to a walk, I couldn't help but smile. The run had been so invigorating that it felt like I had even more energy now than when I had started. Approaching the driveway, I noticed Edward's silver Volvo parked near the garage. It always puzzled me why he didn't have a sportier, faster car, considering his love for speed and running, matched that of any vampire I've met.

As I reached the steps leading to the porch and the front door, I saw the door open, and Alice greeted me with a wide smile on her face. "Hey, Bella. When the others heard you were coming over, they all wanted to hear about your trip. I hope you don't mind sharing your adventures with everyone? They're all in the living room."

I grinned, "No, not at all." I was happy to share stories of my exploits abroad with everyone. We made our way to the living room, and the entire Cullen clan awaited us there. Even Rosalie was present standing next to Emmett. "Hey, everyone," I greeted them with a casual wave of my hand. "Long time no see. It feels like it's been longer than just two weeks, doesn't it?"

As we settled down, everyone greeted me. Carlisle and Esme occupied the love seat across from the fireplace. I took a seat next to Alice, with Jasper on the other side. Rosalie and Emmett claimed the other sofa, while Edward sat on the bench in front of his grand piano in the corner of the spacious living room.

Carlisle was the first to speak. "It's good to see you, Bella. I was relieved to hear from Alice yesterday that you had a good trip. Please, share some of the highlights with us."

I pondered where to start; so much had happened on my trip. I decided to kick off with what mattered the most to me. "Well, the most important highlight is Demetri and I made our relationship official. I guess we had been in an unspoken relationship this past year, but Demetri finally found the courage to man up about his feelings. I was thrilled because I had been a coward too, and was going to wait to make my move until after I had become a vampire. We're in love."

I couldn't get the smile off my face as Esme gushed, "Oh Bella. That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks, Esme. We're quite happy too. We'll be doing the long-distance thing while I go to college, but I'm sure he'll be stopping by more often."

"Demetri is a fine man, Bella," Carlisle said approvingly.

"Come on, Bella, enough with all this lovey-dovey crap. Let's hear all the juicy details," Emmett proclaimed with a wicked smile. "What's it like staying with the Volturi? Did they like to drain their victims and then just toss the bodies into a corner of their rooms like garbage? I always pictured them savoring their 'kills' akin to slurping down oysters at an all-you-can-eat human buffet."

I shot Emmett a side-eye, with a 'what the fuck' expression on my face. "Come on, Emmett, let's keep it somewhat realistic. It's not like I witnessed dead bodies being hauled off in wheelbarrows or anything like that. We're not in the dark ages, you know." I shook my head, admonishing him, and Emmett looked rightly ashamed.

Inwardly, I laughed and would share the truth with Emmett when we were alone. I wanted the Cullens to visit me when I'm living in Volterra, and knowing some of them, they wouldn't come if they thought it was a constant bloodbath over there.

"Okay, back to my trip. When Demetri and I got to the castle, I was amazed. It felt like we had stepped into the pages of a fairy tale story. Other than you, Carlisle, has anyone visited Volterra before?" I glanced around, and everyone shook their heads. That was a shame.

"Okay, I know some of you are wary of the Volturi, but I've got to say, I think you'd all enjoy a visit there. Everyone was so friendly. The castle, well, it's got everything, and I bet each of you would find rooms and events you'd all love. The castle itself, it's the most beautiful place I've ever laid eyes on. There were towering spires everywhere, and even though it looks massive from the outside, it feels even bigger when you're inside it. Demetri took me to the tallest spire, and we could see for miles in every direction. I managed to get lost several times those first few days while I was exploring. Honestly, I think it'd take multiple trips to truly take it all in."

Carlisle interrupted my musings, wearing a concerned look on his face. "You traveled in the castle alone without an escort? What if something happened?"

"Well, Aro told everyone when I first arrived to behave and treat me as a guest. Besides that, I was always on my guard and would have decapitated anyone instantly if I ever felt a whiff of danger. Luckily, that step was never called for. It was really just like hanging out with you guys. The only difference is they have a different diet, but since I've never seen either the Volturi or you guys chow down, I suppose it's exactly the same."

I hoped that would ease Carlisle's concerns. It was evident that he was apprehensive about vampires who drank human blood. Sadly, he probably still regarded them all as abominations. Hopefully, he did not privately think of his own family that way.

Continuing on, "One of my favorite places was the training center, which was just like a gladiator's coliseum, but it's almost entirely underground behind the castle. Jasper, Emmett, both of you would love sparring there. They even hold competitions every couple of decades. I plan to compete in the next one." I hoped I would be a proficient fighter by that point. I planned to add combat training to my growing list of pursuits for life after I became a vampire. I was glad I would not have to sleep, as there were only so many hours in a day, and I would need them all.

Jasper broke me out of my musings. "Yes, your shield is quite powerful. I can see how you would excel in any combat competition."

I smiled. "While that's true, I really have no interest in a competition using my abilities against other gifted vampires. I want to enter the hand-to-hand combat competition, as that is the one where one's skills are truly proven."

I looked at Edward, who was sitting alone in front of his piano, as he listened to my trip. I figured now was as good a time as any to share some tidbits about what awaited them if they decided to visit the castle.

"Edward, I'm sure you'd appreciate the numerous music rooms throughout the castle. Demetri even took me to one that housed a piano originally used by Beethoven. I gave it a try, but it sounded pretty awful since I can't play a lick. I'm confident you'd be able to do it justice."

I watched Edward's face closely, and his smile revealed his interest.

"Another one of my favorite spots was the gardens. They encircle most of the castle and are shielded from human view, allowing you all to venture outside during the day. They seem to stretch on endlessly and are incredibly beautiful. Scattered throughout the gardens are some magnificent, large fountains with giant Koi fish in them. Many visitors like to grab a handful of fish food before strolling through the gardens to feed them."

I turned to Esme and added, "Esme, with your green thumb, I'm sure you would appreciate the different and rare varieties of plants and flowers that thrive on the grounds."

I looked to Rosalie. "Rosalie, they have a full car repair facility right next to their giant garage. I think they used to repair a lot more of their cars in the past, probably because the sporty new cars they own today all require specialized facilities. Demetri walked me through the garage, and there were several vampires hard at work restoring antique cars and motorcycles, just like you enjoy doing."

"Carlisle, you've already lived there, so I don't need to tell you about anything, but you were right; the library was the most impressive one I've ever seen. I went there many times during my stay and had a good time chatting with Marcus; he seems to be there like it's his second home." I turned my attention to Jasper. "Jasper, I actually found your book while browsing the shelves. I read some of it and thought it was very well written. I liked the picture you included of the human you."

"What's there that would interest me, Bella?" Alice said with a playful pout.

I bumped my shoulder into hers, getting her to smile. "I could tell you all sorts of things, but I think we both know you would be more interested in the shopping opportunities outside of the castle." Alice merely shrugged, acknowledging I was right with a good-natured grin.

"So they didn't mind that you were human, Bella?" Edward inquired.

"No, other than Caius putting up a stink for a few minutes when I first got there and he learned of my existence, everyone welcomed me with open arms. I got to know all the members. I had several interesting conversations with Aro. I was very interested in the differences in how human minds work and how they change once one becomes a vampire. Aro has the most unique insights into that topic as well as so many others. To think about all the information that is rattling around in his head is mind-boggling. I wanted to understand the distinctions when Aro absorbed the knowledge from a genius compared to an everyday normal human, and he was able to describe the differences in the minds of individuals and how people think. It made me wonder if he had ever deliberately sought out someone to gain their knowledge. He revealed he hadn't done it recently, the last time being Leonardo da Vinci. Afterward, he rewrote all of da Vinci's journals for posterity's sake. I had a chance to examine them, and the drawings and diagrams were truly impressive."

I turned and addressed Carlisle directly. "Aro did ask me to convey to you, Carlisle, that he hopes you would visit again someday. He says you and he used to engage in similar discussions like we did. I think he misses talking with another intellectual vampire."

I was starting to feel a little fidgety but tamped it down and went back to addressing everyone. "Truthfully, I think a lot of the members would be happy to meet all of you. My only advice is probably to stay away from Caius. He was a hard nut to crack, but by the end of my stay, even he told me I was welcome back anytime."

"The place sounds fantastic!" Emmett said excitedly. "What did you do for fun?"

"Demetri, I, and groups of others went to night clubs several times to relax, dance and have a good time. I'm sure most of you would enjoy them, as we've had fun at similar clubs in Seattle. I know you guys don't drink human blood, but we visited this one club several times that served blood-laced drinks that everyone loved." I noticed Carlisle's body stiffen, probably thinking about how the blood was procured. "Don't worry, Carlisle. I questioned where the blood came from too, and it was from blood banks. It would have otherwise been discarded, so maybe you guys wouldn't mind that. I drank a bottle of it, and it tasted absolutely dreadful, but then again, I'm still human, so that was probably the reason."

Emmett interrupted me, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Hang on a second. You can't gloss over that one, Bella. You drank a bottle of human blood?" His grin stretched from ear to ear, clearly needing to know the whole bloody affair.

I flashed him a devilish smirk, "Oh, I sure did. You know me, Emmett, I can't resist a challenge. Felix bet me that I couldn't do it, and, well, you know the outcome of that bet. So, would everyone like to witness the epic downfall of Felix Volturi?" With an eager grin, I pulled up the video on my phone. "Gather around, everyone. You're in for a treat."

Every eye in the room remained fixed on the video playing before us, a mesmerizing spectacle of Felix grappling with his monstrous burger. The cacophony of his slow chewing echoed through the screen, which must have been even more amplified with the Cullens' sensitive vampire hearing.

"What's that wretched crunching sound?" Edward inquired, his expression a mix of fascination and disgust.

"That would be all the onions and pickles I had them add to the burger. It came fully loaded for maximum damage," I said with a mischievous grin. As my words sunk in, a visible shudder passed through several of the Cullens, discomfort etched on their faces at the mere thought.

In the video, Felix appeared visibly queasy as he endured each agonizingly slow bite of his colossal burger. That's when Corin chimed in, "Fifty Euros says he's about to hurl. Oh, Felix, how the mighty have fallen."

Without hesitation, my past self confidently responded, "I'll take that bet," and the camera shifted to capture Corin and me sealing the wager with a handshake before panning back to Felix. In the video, my playfully needling words could be heard, "Felix would never throw up all that melted cheese and tough, well-done dry meat." I had made sure to emphasize each component of the burger, finding humor in the discomfort my words caused Felix. "Felix is too big and strong. No vampire is going to be brought down by a layer of thick mayonnaise or a whole plate of greasy french fries! Right, Felix?" The camera zoomed in on Felix's face, clearly showing the misery in his ruby eyes as he looked at me, taking in my words of support. But the spirited voices of everyone around the table, egging Felix on, left no doubt that we were all thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.

By the time the video ended, all the Cullens were laughing, finding it quite amusing. Even Carlisle wore a smile. After the video, I began recounting some of the amazing sites Demetri had taken me to in Italy and Greece. While I was in the middle of regaling them, the restlessness I'd occasionally felt in recent days intensified, and I noticed myself absentmindedly tapping my foot on the rug, a curious departure from my usual calm composure.

I determined that when I was done here, I'd run back home, perhaps spending some time in the forest to really let loose with my abilities. That had helped me the other day. After a while, I was almost done telling about my trip and had just finished the part where I learned to extend my shield over Demetri, which blocked Alec's and Jane's powers from working.

Rosalie, who had been quiet the whole time, surprisingly spoke up. "You can protect others from vampire powers? Do you think you could block Edward's mind reading from working on us?"

I thought for a moment, considering the idea. "I think so. It can't hurt to give it a try. Why don't you sit next to me for a minute, Rosalie, and we can test it out? I'm not sure how far I can extend my shield since Demetri was right next to me during my initial testing."

Rosalie joined me on the couch, gracing me with a slight smile, and I reciprocated while extending my shield over her, much as I had done with Demetri. "Okay, Edward, are you getting anything from Rosalie?"

Edward focused his attention on Rosalie for roughly 20 seconds before responding, "No, I can't hear a thing from Rosalie. It's as if she's not even there, much like with you, Bella. Truly impressive."

Turning to Jasper, I inquired, "Jasper, any emotions coming from Rosalie?"

Jasper's reply came swift, "None at all, Bella."

"Okay, I think that's your answer, Rosalie," I replied with a smile, meeting her gaze. "But remember, it'll only work while I'm around and actively projecting it." As I spoke, I idly wondered if, in the future, this would always be the case, or if I could one day learn to make my shield permanent, so I wouldn't need to project it actively.

"Thank you, Bella. Feel free to cover me whenever you are around," Rosalie said, her smile warm and genuine. She rose gracefully, returning to her seat beside Emmett.

Another interesting test sparked in my mind. "Let's try something else." I rose from my seat and strolled over to where Edward stood beside his grand piano. I extended my protective shield around him. "Alright, Edward, I've put you within my shield. Can you still hear everyone's thoughts?"

Edward smiled. "No, I don't hear anything at all. This is amazing, Bella. It's so quiet."

"Hmm, you mean you can't hear my thoughts either?" I looked up at Edward, who shook his head, still reveling in the peace I had given him. I mused aloud. "I must have a second shield that protects my mind further than the shield I'm extending around us. Otherwise, you'd likely hear my thoughts when you're inside my shield with me. I think we can all do some fascinating experiments before I go off to college. I'd like to see how far I can extend my shield and how many of you I can get it to encompass at one time."

At this point, I was beginning to feel rather weird, and I really just wanted to get out of there and do... well, something. I glanced down and was surprised to see my hand shaking. I lifted it up curiously and studied it. It was at this moment that Carlisle spoke up in a concerned tone, "Bella, are you feeling alright? Over the past hour, I've noticed a series of seemingly involuntary movements in your body, and they appear to be increasing in frequency."

I looked up at everyone and thought about what I was feeling, which I noted felt like it was getting stronger, whatever it was. "I am feeling a little off, Carlisle," I admitted unhappily. "I first noticed it a few days ago. A restless feeling. I thought it was because I couldn't maintain my usual exercise routine as we were constantly on the move during my trip." I attempted to will my body to relax, but it wasn't working. "It feels like my body needs to do something, but I don't know what."

I was getting a little worried. This had never happened before, and it felt like it was worsening even as we spoke about it. Carlisle stood up and walked over to me. "I think it would be best if I gave you a full physical, Bella. We truly don't know how your body is being affected by these abilities of yours. A human shouldn't possess any supernatural powers, and, truthfully, you have more abilities and power than the most gifted vampires I've ever encountered. You know this to be true, Bella."

I hated to admit it, but I had to agree with him. I liked to think of myself as some sort of superwoman, but the truth was, I am a human who somehow possesses extraordinary abilities. I looked up at Carlisle and nodded. "Okay, Carlisle, maybe that's a good idea."

I began to move when, all of a sudden, the restlessness that I was feeling skyrocketed. It wasn't a feeling of sickness or pain, but rather an overwhelming sensation, as if I had to much of… everything and I just needed to release it. I didn't know what was happening, but I felt an urgent need to get out of there. My eyes darted to the front door, and I sprinted towards it, pulling it open with such force that I partially ripped it off the door frame. I couldn't be bothered by that as I raced out to the front of the house."

After getting outside and away from the house, I had hoped the fresh air might help me calm down, but it didn't. A peculiar feeling, something I couldn't classify, seemed to be spreading throughout my entire body and intensifying. I was growing increasingly nervous. What was happening to me? I began pacing back and forth, attempting but failing to control whatever was occurring within my body.

"Bella?" I heard Carlisle's concerned voice, and I paused, turning my head to see him and all the Cullens next to the front steps, staring at me with worried expressions. Carlisle began to move toward me, but as he did, the intense sensation I was experiencing increased again to an almost unbearable level.

"Stop!" I yelled. "Don't get near me." I couldn't bear it any longer. My body felt like it was on the verge of bursting, and I knew I had to release whatever was building up inside me. I couldn't keep it bottled in any longer. I didn't know what would happen, but as I let out a blood-curdling scream, I let go, and the world around me exploded in fire and mayhem.

"Can Bella endure this fiery predicament? Are the Cullens out of harm's way from her unforeseen power? And what lies ahead for the epic tale of Bella and Demetri's love? Stay tuned for the heart-pounding revelations in the next exciting chapter of 'The Bargain'!"

I'd be interested in hearing everyone's opinion on what just happened. I guess it's a good thing I didn't finish the chapter with 'THE END'