No Choice - Story now complete.
Edward returns to Forks to fight for a hurt and angry Bella. Not such an easy thing to do in this story. This is set after the Cullens have been away for quite a few months but before Bella makes the decision to cliff dive. I hope you enjoy the differences. A huge thankyou to Shellym127 and Wyldfyre for my wonderful banners.
Cheers
Michelle
Chapter Thirty One (APOV) - Page 50 Chapter Thirty Two (BPOV) - Page 53 Chapter Thirty Three (EPOV) - Page 57 Chapter Thirty Four (BPOV) - Page 60
Chapter Thirty Five (EPOV) - Page 65
Chapter Thirty Six (EPOV) - Page 68
Chapter Thirty Seven (BPOV) - Page 71
Chapter Thirty Eight (APOV) - Page 74
The small pockets of warmth and hope that had been slowly finding their way into my damaged soul were threatening to disappear and it left me with a feeling of despair. Just when I thought that I had found some kind of reasonable existence – even a small tinge of happiness – I could feel that it was slipping away. Why did Jacob, my loving, fun, happy source of sunshine have to confuse our friendship for something more? Why couldn’t we just keep being friends and continue healing the broken pieces of my soul one small piece at a time through the warmth he had managed to bring to my life. Selfish, selfish. I knew it for what it was. I was being remarkably selfish to put him through this. To make him keep his distance at the same time as trying to pull his warmth into my very being. I was being unfair. He was being accepting. I should leave him alone but I really wasn’t sure that I could. I needed him to get me through this. It was only with him that I felt even remotely like myself – a shadow for sure but at least it was something beyond that awful place I was at when the other one left. I started to see the other’s face but I pulled myself away from that image and concentrated on Jacob, a different type of pain but somehow something less confronting. What choice was I going to make here? Neither choice would help. I would never love Jacob the way he wanted. Who am I kidding, I would never love anyone the way I should. I was damaged in that respect. I had known love and it had been ripped away. The darkness threatened to engulf me again. Concentrate - we are not thinking about that appalling time. Jacob. Yes Jacob. He knew that I couldn’t love him that way but he felt it might happen in time if I just let it. My choices could lead to even more heartache for him and I knew what that was like. Was I willing to put him through the emotional void I had experienced just so I could start to feel better myself? I had never been a selfish person. I had always been the one to look after others but……. I needed help and he was the only one who could give it.
“Bella. Are you home?” The front door slammed as Charlie entered the house. I quickly studied myself in the mirror. Not that I really cared what I looked like but I didn’t want Charlie to see that I had been crying again. It would break his heart if he thought that I was returning to that awful place I was at a few months ago. He was happy that I had finally managed to pull myself out of that hole and I was pretty sure that he was thanking Jacob for that in his own head. He knew I had a long way to go but I didn’t want to give him even an inkling that I could fall back into that abyss with the slightest provocation. It would hurt him. I sighed. There was always someone for me to hurt.
“Here dad”. I called as I made my way downstairs.
“ How was your day? Did you have fun with Jacob?” he enquired while he studied my face.
I pulled my face into a calm mask and answered the way I knew he wanted. “ Sure, we always have a good time together. We just hung out. You know how it is dad.”
“ When are you seeing him again?” Subtle Charlie. Why don’t you just ask me when are we going to get married and have kids so that you can be sure that I won’t completely lose it again.
“ Um. Not so sure. We are both pretty busy from here on in. You know school going back and all. I am sure it will be soon though” I added because I saw his face show a small sign of panic. “ Have to go dad the grocery store is calling or we won’t have any food. See ya.” I made a dash for the door before he could continue with the discussion and lead me to confess that not all was right between Jacob and I. It wasn’t something that I wanted to face.
Life was full of mundane everyday routines and this was one of them. Grocery shopping. Thank goodness for the mundane. It let me look like I was functioning without really having to think about what was going on in all the other parts of my life. It made people think that I was surviving when all I wanted to really do was curl up into a ball and……. Not an option I told myself firmly. You are not the only person that is impacted by your choices. Charlie, Renee, Jacob, Angela. All people I loved and wanted to protect. One step in front of the other. Slowly but surely things would get better.
I had finished the shopping and was heading out to the carpark. I looked up to see that the shadows were deepening and that twilight was upon us. Twilight was his favourite time. I shuddered and deliberately made my thoughts wander from that potentially destructive course of images. When would this stop. I sighed for the umpteenth time and started to put the groceries in the boot of the car.
“ Bella”. I closed my eyes tightly. Why on earth was I hearing his voice. I was putting groceries in the car for god’s sake. I wasn’t doing anything dangerous that could lead me to hearing his voice. I wasn’t trying to be reckless on one of the motorbikes that Jacob had fixed for me. I wasn’t putting myself into any danger by talking to strange men in the middle of a quiet Port Angeles street. There wasn’t anything remotely threatening in what I was doing at all. I chose to ignore it and kept packing.
“ Ah excuse me Bella”. Now I know I am going mad. His voice was never pleasant when he spoke to me in my mind. He was always angry at me for what I was doing. What a joke. My mind obviously wanted to believe that he cared when I put myself in danger even though I knew that there was nothing further from the truth. This was different though. This was that beautiful sing song voice that I had cast from my mind when he had told me he didn’t love me anymore. When he had told me that he no longer existed. Why on earth was I hearing it now?
I slowly turned around to see what was going on. I gasped and instantly felt a fierce joy overcome me. It was instantly rebuffed however as my mind began to register what was happening in front of me. This could not be real. Edward stood about two metres in front of me, flanked by his family. Every single one of them. How could that be? Why on earth were they all here in front of me in a carpark of all places. Edward looked nervous. Alice looked elated. Jasper was worried. Emmett was smirking. Rosalie looked bored. Carlisle and Esme stood a little behind. It seemed like ages before anyone spoke. I couldn’t even grasp if this was reality or some sick fantasy. I had pushed all these people to the bottom of my subconscious in the hope of gaining some semblance of normality. Yet here they were looking as real as uniquely beautiful people can look.
I felt my hands reach across my stomach as if to protect myself. I hugged myself fiercely. This was not happening. This could not happen now. Please, please leave me alone I yelled to myself silently.
“ Bella. we were um….. that is Bella we were hoping……..” His voice trailed off as I stared at him coldly. I watched as he slumped slightly and turned to Alice for help.
Alice placed her hand on his arm and turned to me smiling. “ Hi Bella. We are so happy to see you”
Was she joking? What were they doing? Happy to see me? I had never heard anything so absurd in my life.
Alice came towards me. ‘She is going to hug you.’ my inner voice yelled at me and I reflexively placed my hands up to ward her off. I saw her stricken face as she quickly moved back to her spot next to Edward without touching me at all. Jasper grasped her hand and I knew that he was using his gift to help her. I didn’t care. I was beginning to spiral out of control. I could feel it. I needed to get out of here.
I turned back to the car and slammed the boot closed with as much ferocity as I could manage. My mind was still yelling at me to get out of there. I moved towards the car door. I still had not said a single word and I could still feel seven pairs of eyes staring uncertainly at my back.
“ Please Bella. Don’t go”. His voice was pleading. There was something there but I couldn’t quite get what it was. I was too full of my own anguish that I didn’t want to see what he was trying to do. “ I am so sorry Bella. I truly am…
“ You. Are. Sorry.” I spat out at him. He looked like I had slapped him across the face but he remained calm and tried again.
“ Yes Bella. I am sorry. I should never have left you like that. I have been….”
I could feel the red hot emotion of anger come over me. I couldn’t think straight. All I knew was that the one that had hurt me the most , the one that had ripped my heart out and left me to fend for myself was standing in front of me saying that he was sorry. What did he want from me? Hadn’t he hurt me enough?
“ You left me Edward. You made me think that you loved me and then you just decided that I wasn’t good enough for you and you…. left…. me. Do you think I care that you are SORRY. I DO NOT CARE” I yelled at him furiously and then realized where I was. The carpark. I made my voice softer but kept the anger in it. There was way too much pain involved to just let this go. “ You made your choice Edward. You made my choice for me. Not only did you take yourself away from me… you took everyone.” I glared at the whole family. Oh god how I had loved this family but now all I felt for them was anger. “ Not one of you cared enough about me to check that I was alright. Not one of you tried to keep contact”. I looked at Alice as I said this and I saw her cringe and Jaspers hand tighten on hers.
“ I’m sorry Bella” Alice moaned “ I know it seems like we didn’t care but of course we did. We just had to do the right thing”
“ The right thing, the right thing. Are you serious. You were my best friend. I loved you like a sister. I would never EVER TURN MY BACK on you” I was becoming hysterical. “ You are as bad as him. You LEFT me”
“ We did it to protect you Bella” Alice stammered. “ We were thinking of you”
“ How could going away possibly protect me Alice. How could leaving me to face the others possibly help me. Laurent, Victoria and any other blood drinking mythical creature that feels that I am their personal magnet. It’s neverending. Every sound, every shadow. Constant fear and NOONE to protect me. “ My breathing was becoming quicker and I could feel the shock oozing out of every one of them. I didn’t care. “ How was leaving the right thing to do when I couldn’t feel or breath for god knows how long?”
I caught the significant look that Alice gave Jasper and I turned on him ferociously. “ DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT CALMING ME DOWN. You have no right. Let me be. Let me feel what I am feeling Not what you want me to feel. You owe me that Jasper” Another stab in the heart for someone I had once cared for. He would never forgive himself for what he had done that helped lead us to this moment and I had just driven it home even more. He stopped though. I didn’t feel any calm just the red hot anger. It made me keep the poisoned arrows hurling at the Cullen family. “ and you Emmett. Have you come back to tease me more. Bored, are you, without the silly human to entertain you – obviously I wasn’t entertaining enough to keep around hey even though I thought of you as the big brother I had never had?”
I turned to Rosalie as she hissed at me. No one insults Emmet without earning her wrath. What could I say to her? She had never professed to care so what had she done wrong? “ At least you never pretended to care Rosalie. At least when you left you didn’t make a mockery of a friendship. There never was one between us”
I turned to attack the two remaining Cullens and felt the wind come out of my sail. I had had enough. What could I possibly say to two of the most amazing people I know. I couldn’t inflict any more hurt tonight.
“ Please stop Bella. This is not my family’s fault. They only left because I forced them to…..”
“ Do you know what Edward, I am finished. When you left me you told me to forget that you or any of your family ever existed. Well you have got what you wanted. As far as I am concerned none of you exist. Go away and leave me alone.” I turned away from all of their shocked faces and numbly placed myself in the car as I whispered “I don’t need ANY vampires in my life – NONE”
Chapter Thirty Five (EPOV) - Page 65
Chapter Thirty Six (EPOV) - Page 68
Chapter Thirty Seven (BPOV) - Page 71
Chapter Thirty Eight (APOV) - Page 74
The small pockets of warmth and hope that had been slowly finding their way into my damaged soul were threatening to disappear and it left me with a feeling of despair. Just when I thought that I had found some kind of reasonable existence – even a small tinge of happiness – I could feel that it was slipping away. Why did Jacob, my loving, fun, happy source of sunshine have to confuse our friendship for something more? Why couldn’t we just keep being friends and continue healing the broken pieces of my soul one small piece at a time through the warmth he had managed to bring to my life. Selfish, selfish. I knew it for what it was. I was being remarkably selfish to put him through this. To make him keep his distance at the same time as trying to pull his warmth into my very being. I was being unfair. He was being accepting. I should leave him alone but I really wasn’t sure that I could. I needed him to get me through this. It was only with him that I felt even remotely like myself – a shadow for sure but at least it was something beyond that awful place I was at when the other one left. I started to see the other’s face but I pulled myself away from that image and concentrated on Jacob, a different type of pain but somehow something less confronting. What choice was I going to make here? Neither choice would help. I would never love Jacob the way he wanted. Who am I kidding, I would never love anyone the way I should. I was damaged in that respect. I had known love and it had been ripped away. The darkness threatened to engulf me again. Concentrate - we are not thinking about that appalling time. Jacob. Yes Jacob. He knew that I couldn’t love him that way but he felt it might happen in time if I just let it. My choices could lead to even more heartache for him and I knew what that was like. Was I willing to put him through the emotional void I had experienced just so I could start to feel better myself? I had never been a selfish person. I had always been the one to look after others but……. I needed help and he was the only one who could give it.
“Bella. Are you home?” The front door slammed as Charlie entered the house. I quickly studied myself in the mirror. Not that I really cared what I looked like but I didn’t want Charlie to see that I had been crying again. It would break his heart if he thought that I was returning to that awful place I was at a few months ago. He was happy that I had finally managed to pull myself out of that hole and I was pretty sure that he was thanking Jacob for that in his own head. He knew I had a long way to go but I didn’t want to give him even an inkling that I could fall back into that abyss with the slightest provocation. It would hurt him. I sighed. There was always someone for me to hurt.
“Here dad”. I called as I made my way downstairs.
“ How was your day? Did you have fun with Jacob?” he enquired while he studied my face.
I pulled my face into a calm mask and answered the way I knew he wanted. “ Sure, we always have a good time together. We just hung out. You know how it is dad.”
“ When are you seeing him again?” Subtle Charlie. Why don’t you just ask me when are we going to get married and have kids so that you can be sure that I won’t completely lose it again.
“ Um. Not so sure. We are both pretty busy from here on in. You know school going back and all. I am sure it will be soon though” I added because I saw his face show a small sign of panic. “ Have to go dad the grocery store is calling or we won’t have any food. See ya.” I made a dash for the door before he could continue with the discussion and lead me to confess that not all was right between Jacob and I. It wasn’t something that I wanted to face.
Life was full of mundane everyday routines and this was one of them. Grocery shopping. Thank goodness for the mundane. It let me look like I was functioning without really having to think about what was going on in all the other parts of my life. It made people think that I was surviving when all I wanted to really do was curl up into a ball and……. Not an option I told myself firmly. You are not the only person that is impacted by your choices. Charlie, Renee, Jacob, Angela. All people I loved and wanted to protect. One step in front of the other. Slowly but surely things would get better.
I had finished the shopping and was heading out to the carpark. I looked up to see that the shadows were deepening and that twilight was upon us. Twilight was his favourite time. I shuddered and deliberately made my thoughts wander from that potentially destructive course of images. When would this stop. I sighed for the umpteenth time and started to put the groceries in the boot of the car.
“ Bella”. I closed my eyes tightly. Why on earth was I hearing his voice. I was putting groceries in the car for god’s sake. I wasn’t doing anything dangerous that could lead me to hearing his voice. I wasn’t trying to be reckless on one of the motorbikes that Jacob had fixed for me. I wasn’t putting myself into any danger by talking to strange men in the middle of a quiet Port Angeles street. There wasn’t anything remotely threatening in what I was doing at all. I chose to ignore it and kept packing.
“ Ah excuse me Bella”. Now I know I am going mad. His voice was never pleasant when he spoke to me in my mind. He was always angry at me for what I was doing. What a joke. My mind obviously wanted to believe that he cared when I put myself in danger even though I knew that there was nothing further from the truth. This was different though. This was that beautiful sing song voice that I had cast from my mind when he had told me he didn’t love me anymore. When he had told me that he no longer existed. Why on earth was I hearing it now?
I slowly turned around to see what was going on. I gasped and instantly felt a fierce joy overcome me. It was instantly rebuffed however as my mind began to register what was happening in front of me. This could not be real. Edward stood about two metres in front of me, flanked by his family. Every single one of them. How could that be? Why on earth were they all here in front of me in a carpark of all places. Edward looked nervous. Alice looked elated. Jasper was worried. Emmett was smirking. Rosalie looked bored. Carlisle and Esme stood a little behind. It seemed like ages before anyone spoke. I couldn’t even grasp if this was reality or some sick fantasy. I had pushed all these people to the bottom of my subconscious in the hope of gaining some semblance of normality. Yet here they were looking as real as uniquely beautiful people can look.
I felt my hands reach across my stomach as if to protect myself. I hugged myself fiercely. This was not happening. This could not happen now. Please, please leave me alone I yelled to myself silently.
“ Bella. we were um….. that is Bella we were hoping……..” His voice trailed off as I stared at him coldly. I watched as he slumped slightly and turned to Alice for help.
Alice placed her hand on his arm and turned to me smiling. “ Hi Bella. We are so happy to see you”
Was she joking? What were they doing? Happy to see me? I had never heard anything so absurd in my life.
Alice came towards me. ‘She is going to hug you.’ my inner voice yelled at me and I reflexively placed my hands up to ward her off. I saw her stricken face as she quickly moved back to her spot next to Edward without touching me at all. Jasper grasped her hand and I knew that he was using his gift to help her. I didn’t care. I was beginning to spiral out of control. I could feel it. I needed to get out of here.
I turned back to the car and slammed the boot closed with as much ferocity as I could manage. My mind was still yelling at me to get out of there. I moved towards the car door. I still had not said a single word and I could still feel seven pairs of eyes staring uncertainly at my back.
“ Please Bella. Don’t go”. His voice was pleading. There was something there but I couldn’t quite get what it was. I was too full of my own anguish that I didn’t want to see what he was trying to do. “ I am so sorry Bella. I truly am…
“ You. Are. Sorry.” I spat out at him. He looked like I had slapped him across the face but he remained calm and tried again.
“ Yes Bella. I am sorry. I should never have left you like that. I have been….”
I could feel the red hot emotion of anger come over me. I couldn’t think straight. All I knew was that the one that had hurt me the most , the one that had ripped my heart out and left me to fend for myself was standing in front of me saying that he was sorry. What did he want from me? Hadn’t he hurt me enough?
“ You left me Edward. You made me think that you loved me and then you just decided that I wasn’t good enough for you and you…. left…. me. Do you think I care that you are SORRY. I DO NOT CARE” I yelled at him furiously and then realized where I was. The carpark. I made my voice softer but kept the anger in it. There was way too much pain involved to just let this go. “ You made your choice Edward. You made my choice for me. Not only did you take yourself away from me… you took everyone.” I glared at the whole family. Oh god how I had loved this family but now all I felt for them was anger. “ Not one of you cared enough about me to check that I was alright. Not one of you tried to keep contact”. I looked at Alice as I said this and I saw her cringe and Jaspers hand tighten on hers.
“ I’m sorry Bella” Alice moaned “ I know it seems like we didn’t care but of course we did. We just had to do the right thing”
“ The right thing, the right thing. Are you serious. You were my best friend. I loved you like a sister. I would never EVER TURN MY BACK on you” I was becoming hysterical. “ You are as bad as him. You LEFT me”
“ We did it to protect you Bella” Alice stammered. “ We were thinking of you”
“ How could going away possibly protect me Alice. How could leaving me to face the others possibly help me. Laurent, Victoria and any other blood drinking mythical creature that feels that I am their personal magnet. It’s neverending. Every sound, every shadow. Constant fear and NOONE to protect me. “ My breathing was becoming quicker and I could feel the shock oozing out of every one of them. I didn’t care. “ How was leaving the right thing to do when I couldn’t feel or breath for god knows how long?”
I caught the significant look that Alice gave Jasper and I turned on him ferociously. “ DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT CALMING ME DOWN. You have no right. Let me be. Let me feel what I am feeling Not what you want me to feel. You owe me that Jasper” Another stab in the heart for someone I had once cared for. He would never forgive himself for what he had done that helped lead us to this moment and I had just driven it home even more. He stopped though. I didn’t feel any calm just the red hot anger. It made me keep the poisoned arrows hurling at the Cullen family. “ and you Emmett. Have you come back to tease me more. Bored, are you, without the silly human to entertain you – obviously I wasn’t entertaining enough to keep around hey even though I thought of you as the big brother I had never had?”
I turned to Rosalie as she hissed at me. No one insults Emmet without earning her wrath. What could I say to her? She had never professed to care so what had she done wrong? “ At least you never pretended to care Rosalie. At least when you left you didn’t make a mockery of a friendship. There never was one between us”
I turned to attack the two remaining Cullens and felt the wind come out of my sail. I had had enough. What could I possibly say to two of the most amazing people I know. I couldn’t inflict any more hurt tonight.
“ Please stop Bella. This is not my family’s fault. They only left because I forced them to…..”
“ Do you know what Edward, I am finished. When you left me you told me to forget that you or any of your family ever existed. Well you have got what you wanted. As far as I am concerned none of you exist. Go away and leave me alone.” I turned away from all of their shocked faces and numbly placed myself in the car as I whispered “I don’t need ANY vampires in my life – NONE”
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Permalink Reply by Michelle on -
Again thanks for all the great comments. I am actually writing the next part right now so hopefully I can get it up today. Glad you are still all liking it.
Cheers
Michelle -
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Permalink Reply by Michelle on
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Chapter 29
BPOV
Edward was actually in my arms kissing me, telling me he loved me and that we belonged together. It was everything I had hoped for. His kisses were exhilarating and each one told me just how much he loved me and wanted me in his life. There was nothing better than this moment. When the kisses had become too much and we became aware that we were moving into dangerous territory he moved his mouth from mine reluctantly and placed my head against his chest. We stayed that way for a long while, his hand stroking my hair with tenderness until we were both breathing at a more reasonable rate and calmness had spread through our bodies. It was an opportunity to just be with him, to feel our love for one another and to try and take in that we were back together – that this was not just another one of my dreams to tease me.
“Maybe we should return inside Bella. After all you are one of the hosts” Edward suggested quietly.
“I don’t want to,” I replied petulantly. “ Alice and Angela have it under control, they don’t need me.”
Edward laughed at my lack of interest in returning to the limelight. “I am sure you are being missed and besides I want people to know that you are mine. There are certain people in there that need to understand that you are off limits when it comes to their uncalled for intentions.” I felt a thrill run through me as I listened to the note of possessiveness in his voice. He truly did care.
“Who cares what others think. I just want to stay here with you. I think we deserve some alone time don’t you?”
I could tell from the look on his face that I was tempting him with more time alone but his words contradicted this assertion. “ I think we need to show ourselves inside Bella, at least for your dad’s benefit. He needs to see us together in some sort of normal way before he is going to accept us being back together again It’s not something he is going to be happy about.” I grimaced and he grinned. I knew he was right. He continued “Besides. We have forever to be alone Bella. I am not letting you go again.”
I wondered if I was willing to push my luck further for one night and decided to throw caution to the wind. “Ah Edward….when you say forever are you talking about forever as in the rest of my short lifetime or forever as in you are willing to turn me into one of you?”
Pain instantly covered his face before he let it slip into an immobile mask. “Oh Bella. Please don’t ruin this night for us by making me think about that. Let’s just enjoy being together for now and deal with the other things later.” His pleading voice was my undoing so I allowed the subject to be dropped. It would definitely be addressed again sooner than later though. I had my heart set on convincing him to see things my way. I wanted to be with him for eternity and there was only one way to do that.
Edward never left my side for the rest of the night. We danced, we talked, we laughed and we showed the world that we were together. Edward’s family took great joy from our togetherness. Charlie displayed only irritation and suspicion. We had a lot of work to do in that department. I did not look forward to the questions and recriminations.
The night was nearing its end when Alice appeared to fall into a trancelike state. One moment she was standing there laughing with Jasper, Edward and I and the next minute she was in a whole different space. Jasper placed his arm around her shoulders comfortingly and Edward watched her carefully. I knew he was seeing her visions as they came to her. Edward’s face displayed a look of panic and I felt a slice of fear run through my body. Something was not right. Alice’s hands came up to her face and she covered her eyes as if she was trying to rid herself of whatever was being shown to her.
“What is it Alice? What can I do to help” Jasper was clearly agitated. He could not stand seeing Alice in any state of fear or unhappiness. She did not respond so he turned to Edward for answers.
“It’s Victoria. She went to the Volturi.” Edward could hardly say the words and I reached back into the recesses of my mind to think where I had heard that name before. The conversation in my memory brought more fear.
“Well I wasn’t going to live without you” Edward had said “But I wasn’t sure how to do it – I knew Emmett and Jasper would never help….so I was thinking maybe I would go to Italy and do something to provoke the Volturi. You don’t irritate the Volturi – not unless you want to die- or whatever it is we do.”
“She did what?” Jasper’s voice was a low hiss. His reaction told me everything. There was trouble on the horizon.
Alice removed her hands and we saw her stricken face. “They’re on their way. The Volturi are coming. We need to move quickly.” Alice’s voice became strong again and although she didn’t speak loudly I knew her words would be heard. “Carlisle I need the family outside quickly.” We were already heading that way ourselves.
Esme and Carlisle were already out there by the time we had weaved our way through the crowd. Emmett and Rosalie joined us soon after. Edward did a quick scan of the area. “It’s safe. People are either inside or moving towards the car park to go home. We can talk”
The worried looks on the faces of the new additions turned to horror when Alice told them the news. I listened quietly not fully understanding the reasons for, or ramifications of this visit. Everyone else seemed to understand without being told. All I knew was that there was danger involved and the Cullen family could be hurt. I couldn’t bear that thought.
“How long have we got?” Carlisle’s calm voice was directed at Alice.
“I am not sure – an hour tops. We need to get home so that they meet us there. If we are not there they will track us here and although it is not their intention an innocent might get hurt.”
“Can you see the outcome in this Alice?” Again Carlisle’s voice was calm.
“They haven’t made any concrete decisions. I am flickering between a variety of outcomes – none of them good. All I know is they want to know about Bella. Victoria painted a pretty picture of Bella for them. She must have become desperate when she realized she wasn’t able to get at Bella. They want to check if what Victoria said is true and we have allowed a human to know of us and our kind. They are not happy.” Alice’s eyes flicked towards mine in apology. “We are going to have to move Bella to safety.”
“No way. I am coming with you.” My mind was made up. If they were all in danger because of me I was going to be there with them. I was not leaving Edward’s side.
“There is no way you are going anywhere near the Volturi Bella. I will not allow it.” Edward’ voice was icy cold. I started to argue and Carlisle stepped towards me to hold my hands in his.
“Bella. You can’t be with us for this one sweetheart. If the Volturi see you with us they will instantly strike in retribution. As far as they are concerned we have broken the cardinal rule by allowing you to live with the knowledge of our secret. It is safer for all of us if you are not there. We might be able to talk our way out of this if they haven’t got you sitting in front of them. Please trust me on this. You can not be there.”
So I had no choice but to remain hidden and out of sight while the family I loved fought for their survival without me. My human weaknesses were again presenting danger to the Cullens and I could do nothing to help. I tightened my arm around Edward’s waist and remained silent. He automatically squeezed my hand in response but I knew he was in planning mode so I remained still beside him, rather than bury my face into his torso as I wished to do.
“Where can she go? They will track her to her house so easily. She can’t stay there. Charlie won’t even be home – he was called out about half an hour ago on police business.” Edward was only concerned about my safety. I wanted to scream at him to worry about himself and his family. To plan how they were going to get through this disaster but no words came out.
“La Push.” Alice said simply and held her hand up when Edward began to protest vehemently. “Think about it Edward. There is no safer place. They will be able to track her wherever she is but there seems to be a fog around her when she is with the wolves. I can never see her when she is with them. I can never see anything to do with the wolves at all. Maybe…just maybe… it will work the same way with the Volturi’s trackers. If this ends badly for us at least it will be harder for them to get to her. They will protect her. It’s the only way and we are running out of time”
Edward’s face displayed no emotion as he gave in to the inevitable position we were in. I knew he was thinking that he was sending me from one danger to another and that he wouldn’t be there to protect me. “Jacob won’t hurt me Edward. None of the wolves will. You need to concentrate on yourselves now. You need to find a way to get out of this alive so that you all return to me. I have just got you back. I can’t lose you again.”
Edward’s mouth was a straight line of frustration and apprehension. “I will take you there.”
Carlisle responded before I could “No Edward you can’t. They will be expecting you to be with her and they will track you if you’re not with us when they arrive. It has to be someone else. I am sorry son.”
“I’ll do it.” Rosalie spoke up for the first time. “I’ll take her to La Push and then I will circle back to be with you all when the Volturi arrive.” Edward was looking at her incredulously. I am sure I was too. Had Rosalie just offered to help me? She was usually making it clear that they were all in these kind of positions because of me and she resented that. “It makes sense for it to be me. I am the one that has had the least to do with her. They wouldn’t be expecting me to be with her and wouldn’t question my absence as much as any of you. I’ll do it.”
“Ok. Decided. We need to move. I am going to go and let Angela know that there has been a family emergency and we need to leave her to finish up. I will meet you at the cars.” Alice moved towards the hall where so many people were enjoying themselves, oblivious to the danger not so far from them.
The hasty goodbyes we had were not nearly enough. How did you tell someone that you loved everything they needed to know, everything you felt, if there was a high possibility that you might not ever see them again. I couldn’t and neither could he. I held onto him desperately and tried to convey it through my touch. “I know Bella. I promise I know.” He kissed me one last time before I got into the passenger seat next to a determined Rosalie. I wound down the window and spoke up to him.
“Edward if we get through this, some changes need to be made. This is the last time I run and hide.”
Rosalie put her foot down on the accelerator and the car moved away from Edward but not before I saw his look of resignation. I hoped to god that was not the last look I ever saw on his perfect face. It was nearly my undoing. -
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Permalink Reply by Tami on -
Gee Michelle...I'll say that you weren't quite through yet!
The Volturi coming for the Cullens? How many? Is it a hunting party? Plenty of conflict now...Yes! -
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Permalink Reply by Lady Cullen on -
Wow!!! Amazing!!! But I can't believe that Rosalie would offer. Even though it makes sense, why not Jasper or Esme? But this is your terrific story!!!!
Look forward to reading more soon! -
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Permalink Reply by Sarabella Cullen on -
Wow Michelle...I really thought that this was coming to a close....this new conflict may change that a bit. And I am so happy that there is more to come. I am proud of Rosalie...I think....I hope! I know that she wouldn't do anything too stupid, but its Rosalie. Things seem to have improved some with them if she is willing to take her to La Push. Anyway...amazing as ever Michelle. I can't wait for you to post more and what will happen with the Volturi!
Sarah -
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Permalink Reply by patricia bufford on -
oooooo.........my goodness girl you can write a story.i'm on the edge of my seat at this computer desk
then you sending bella to la push.i wonder what jacob is going to think when he see bella.
love the story can't wait for some more. -
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Permalink Reply by Veronique on -
WOW! Didn't see that one coming!
Please post more soon!!!! Can't wait to see how the wolves react to the new danger coming their way! -
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Permalink Reply by Stacie Maier on -
With that last comment, I think Rose is going to rip her a new one! I can't wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Permalink Reply by Molly May on -
oh wow michelle...... i was a bit worried with Rose taking Bella to La Push but after reading your comments to BellaMay i'm relieved......yeah Emmett has to love her for something else besides her looks. i have faith in you that Rose won't take Bella to the Volturi. Well at least i hope not, lol.
Once again you Rock Sister -
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