When we got back to
Volterra, I shut myself up in my room to unpack. I sifted through the
pictures, taking my favourites out and sticking them to the walls by
the bed and around the mirror. As predicted, there were three
pristine new dresses waiting in the closet, one red and two black,
all silk and corsets. I used them as a cover for the long garment
bag, intent on wearing only my own clothes for as long as possible.
Also waiting for me was
a light grey hooded cloak.
This made it final.
I laid the cloak out on
my bed. Beside it I placed a photo of the whole family which Jacob
had taken about two weeks ago, on Esme’s birthday. I put my hand
between them, separating them.
Two different worlds.
Two different people. Never to touch.
A loud beeping startled
me, and I realized I had forgotten about the cell phone in my duffel
bag; the one thing I hadn’t unpacked. I dug through it until I
found the phone.
52 missed calls and 29
text messages. All from Edward.
I sighed and started to
cycle through them.
He had given up leaving
messages after the 25th call, and all the texts were
begging me to come home, or call him. It made my heart ache to read
them, but I never once thought about hitting delete. These desperate
pleas would be my only connection to him for who knew how long.
As I finished reading
the last message, the phone buzzed again.
Mommy, it said.
Help! I don’t know
what to do. We just got home, and you’ve been gone for days, and
now your books are gone, and your clothes, and all the pictures.
Daddy found a letter on the fire and now he’s crying. What’s
wrong? Why is Daddy sad? Help me Mommy!
Ness
What could I say? What
would reassure her? I hit reply.
Ask Daddy for the
note with your name on it. I’ve just gone away for a while. Daddy
will explain.
Please don’t text
me again. Tell Daddy to stop too. It won’t help anything.
I love you.
Mommy
I pressed send just as
a loud banging sounded on my door. I gasped and hid the phone under
my quilt.
“Come in.” I
called, trying to sound normal.
Jane stuck her head
around the door. “It’s dinner time, newbie.”
“N-now?” My voice
shook.
“Yes now,” Jane
said, sounding exasperated. She came more fully into the room. “What
are you doing up here anyway?”
She surveyed the room;
the pictures, the clothes in the closet... the small lump under the
sheets.
“What have we here?”
she said, sneering. Her voice sounded horrible.
Faster than I could
catch her, she darted over and pulled the phone out, just as it
buzzed once more.
She flipped the phone
open and I growled.
“Give it back Jane,
that’s mine.” I snarled. She didn’t listen.
“Let’s see. OH!”
Her cruel little smirk made yet another appearance. She chuckled.
“Mommy, don’t do
this,” she read, putting on a ridiculous high voice. “I know I
should be strong, but I can’t live without you. Daddy won’t even
talk to me. There must be some way you can get away. Please come
home! Nessie.” She laughed. “How precious! The little one wants
you back. Well, she’s going to have to get used to disappointment
then, isn’t she?”
With that, Jane flipped
the phone shut, held it up, and slowly crushed it between her
fingers. The plastic popped and the circuits cracked, and I snarled
again. She just smirked.
“Oopsie!” she said.
That did it.
I roared, launching
myself at her with all my strength. She squealed and fled, but I
caught her easily. We rolled down the stairs, snapping and snarling
at each other, wrestling for control. At the bottom, I pinned her
into the floor, holding her throat in my hand.
“Isabella!” someone
shouted, and my head snapped up. Aro was standing there, a shocked
look on his face. I jerked up, still defensive. Jane got to her feet,
straightening her rumpled clothes.
“Would one of you
like to explain to me what is going on here?” he asked, and the
same tone was in his voice as earlier; like he was talking to
misbehaving school children.
“She attacked me!”
Jane screeched, pointing an accusing finger at me. I growled.
“Isabella.” Aro
cautioned. I took a deep breath.
“I’m sorry Master,”
I said, trying not to snarl, “I still have a little trouble
controlling my temper.”
“Granted, but there
is no smoke without fire, so to speak. Was there a reason you got
angry at Jane?”
“I...” I hesitated.
Did I really want to say this? I decided I didn’t have a choice.
“I forgot that I
still had my old cell phone in my bag. Edward’s been trying to
contact me, and when Jane came in, she found the phone right when he
sent me another message. She read it out, and then she broke it. I
got angry. It’s as simple as that.”
Aro nodded. “That
makes sense. It is often difficult to channel our anger. Jane, you
will apologise to Isabella for breaking her phone.”
Jane glared at me.
“Sorry,” she spit through her teeth.
“Now Isabella, I
trust you do not have any other communication devices.”
“No Master.”
“Good,” he smiled,
“then we can proceed. This way ladies.”
He held his hand out
for us to go ahead of him. Jane stalked past me towards the little
door halfway down the hall.
I recognised that door.
All of a sudden, I couldn’t move. Aro was still watching me
curiously. “Something wrong Isabella?” he asked.
“Master, I... I don’t
know if I will be able to join you.” I whispered.
“Come now Isabella,
it’s only natural.”
“Yes Master, but
still... I’ve never... never killed a person before... ever. I
don’t know... if I can... change who I am... just because I have
changed my life.” I was very hesitant, not wanting to make him
angry at me.
I felt a feather light
hand on my shoulder, and looked up. Aro was looking at me, his eyes
full of his own brand of kindness.
“I understand
Isabella. You don’t want to disappoint your former family.”
I winced when he said
‘former’. He pretended not to notice.
“But you
understand that we can’t provide you with the nourishment you are
accustomed to. We simply don’t have the facilities. I’m afraid
it’s this or nothing.”
I shook my head. Not
wanting to face the truth.
“I’m sorry
Isabella. Truly I am.” He seemed lost in thought for a second.
“Give me a day or two. I’ll try to work something out. I can’t
promise you your usual diet, but I can try to find a way that you
won’t find difficult.”
I stared at him. “You’d
really do that for me?”
“Of course!” he
smiled, “I told you, I want you to be comfortable here. Now why
don’t you go back up to your room? They will be starting soon, and
I’m sure you don’t want to be around for that.”
I bowed to him. “Thank
you Master. I am truly grateful.”
Then I turned and
darted back up the stairs, to my little room.
The closest thing I had
to home.
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