Chapter 28 ~ What a Tangled Web We Weave

 My eyes began to flutter open as I felt the plane begin to descend. “Good Morning Sleeping Beauty.” Alec said sarcastically.

I just gave him a roll of the eyes and sat up straight. Moriana was in the same exact position I left her in. I heard a voice from the cockpit, “When we land we will be met.” 

Alec stood up and walked into the cockpit, Moriana moved slightly simply grabbing her dress up exposing only a small bit of her leg. It was scorched beyond belief. I tried not to think anything of it but when she looked at me quickly I knew she had known I saw it. 

So many strange things I have experienced in such a short time. I wished I understood more. When Alec came back he was carrying shackles. He walked toward me. “What the hell do you think you are doing with those?”

 

He took my arm, “What’s the matter princess, you prefer gold?”

“Get the fuck away from me; I am not putting those on.”

He just sighed tossing the shackles to Moriana, “She is your daughter you deal with her.”

It seemed weird how he didn’t fear her as he should have, Moriana jumped when the shackles fell on her lap, just nodded and took them over to me. “Isabella, please just put them on.” 

“Do you think because you said please that I would just say OK?”

She put her fingers to the bridge of her nose; she was full of stress it was like a balloon with too much air, just one strong breeze and, POP! “Why do I need to be shackled?”

She sat back, tossed the shackles to me, “They are scared of you, those are laced with Gypsy dust, you won’t be able to break free of them.”

Jane turned to us, “Moriana, is there a reason you would tell her that?”

Moriana just waved her off, “They can’t tie up your mind Isabella, so just make them happy and do it.”

It felt almost pointless to argue, the whole situation seemed idiotic, so I grabbed the cuffs and put them on, “There, happy?”

She shook her head and returned to her seat. When the Plane touched down I could see what looked like over a hundred figures in perfectly straight lines, still as statues. “Who are they?”

“Everyone,” Jane said as she got up and opened the doors. Alec quickly got out and walked to one of two figures draped in a long black robe. Jane then followed suit.  Moriana turned to me, offered her hand to me.

“It is time my dear.” I hesitantly took her hand, unsure why I would bother, but oddly I didn’t feel safe otherwise.  The shackles were dreadfully loud, we slowly went down the steps of the plane, I looked over the figures, the general sense was terror, I looked at Moriana, and she just nodded and whispered, “They are afraid of what they do not understand.”

We stopped a few feet from the figures in black; they took down their hoods, and before me stood Caius and Marcus. Two of the men I wanted to kill most in this world. “Greetings Isabella, it is so good of you to finally accept your fate.” Caius said with a huge amount of cockiness. 

I glared, “Just the shackles are magical Caius, I can still use my mind.”

He smirked, pleased with my response, “Then by all means, go ahead, light me on fire, turn me to ash, I beg of you Isabella.”

I was so confused, “Are you suicidal?”

He began laughing, “On the contrary, I am enamored by life, I can’t wait to have even more than I do now, but do you think I would bring you here and not take precautions?” 

My eyes surveyed the area, I took in all the figures, I looked at Moriana, and her eyes were downward, absent any eye contact. “Moriana?”

She didn’t look up, she didn’t even speak, I turned to Caius, “What is going on here?”

“Let us get you inside, we have a rather delicious meal planned and then we can discuss the future Isabella and then your questions shall be answered.”

Two lines of guards guided me inside, down the familiar corridors to a circular room. I had never seen this place. I figured it was built after I had left. A large banquet table was in the middle of the room. The walls and the floor were made of marble. There were no windows just the table, chairs and an extravagant chandelier.  “A new addition I see?”

Caius simply nodded once and took his seat at the head of the table, and gestured to the chair next to his. “Do have a seat Isabella.”

I wasn’t sure why he acted like I had a choice but I went as if it was my decision.  Moriana sat across from me, Marcus at the other end of the table. Alec was beside me and Jane sat beside Moriana. There were two empty seats. “Are we expecting more company?” I asked.

Marcus let out an exasperated sigh and waved to one of the servants. “Bring in the food.” She bowed slightly and exited the room.

“Are we not talking? I know you said I would get some answers.” I was using a forceful tone, but it was useless.

I stood up, “ If I am not going to get any answers then I am not staying in this room, just take me to whatever dungeon or whatever you have made for me and let’s get this over with!” 

Caius eyed my stance, took a quick look at Marcus and tapped the table. “Sit down.”

“Not until I understand this strangeness.” 

Caius rose, looked me dead in the eyes, “I said sit down!” 

My body slammed into the chair against my will. I shot a look at Moriana, but she just shook her head at me, as if to tell me it was not her doing. “How the hell did you do that?”

Caius smiled and sat back down, “Precautions, like I had stated earlier.” 

Eight servants entered each holding silver platters. They placed them on the tables in front of each seat.  In unison they lifted the silver domes. Part of me was nervous at what food there would be. But there was just a challis filled with blood.  I heard Alec chuckle, “What did you think there would be severed baby heads?”

“Oh please nothing you all would do would surprise me.”

With that I heard the doors from behind my chair open, Moriana’s gaze lifted to the sounds, and then it was in her face that I saw, the joy and the fear. I slowly turned my head. My heart almost leapt out of my chest. Right there before me stood the two people I never thought I would see. Until I heard the voice I was almost uncertain of what I was seeing. “Hello my daughter.”

My words were strangled in my throat I stared at the woman that my mother continually warned me about, Alice. Beside her confidently stood my father, “ Aro?”

Chapter 27~ A Woman Scorned

Normally I would have found it odd that Moriana and the twins were travelling back to the Castle using cars and planes, but I was overcome with an almost maddening depression. I sat in the back seat of a stretched limo, Jane and Alec on either side of me, Moriana sat across from me just staring at my face. I glared down at the interior, my mind wandering, thinking about Edward, Mara, Emily and all of them in the cellar. 

I guess I always knew this could end badly, but the hope was if the worst outcome was to be had, it would only be my own death not Mara’s, not Edward’s, not my family. 

“Isabella my dear are you hungry?” Moriana’s tone was almost motherly. It irritated me even more. I wouldn’t even acknowledge her question. Alec elbowed my ribs. A low growl escaped my lips.

“Touch me again you rabid tween and I will turn your body into ash.” He chuckled; a hint of nervousness in it gave me slight joy.

The car entered an airport; I watched the freshly falling rain stream along the window. Alec stepped out onto the tarmac and walked to a small jet and quickly boarded. “This is our next stop my dear.” Moriana cheerfully said.

Again without a word, I slid across the seat and got out of the car. I stood briefly in the rain, lifting my face to the sky, remembering the night I had with Edward on the mountain. I was happier now more than ever I was able to have that memory with him. Jane pushed my back to get me moving. I turned to her, “Seriously what is the deal with you shitheads, are you unaware of what I can do to you?” She just rolled her eyes and walked onto the plane.

Moriana gently took my arm, guiding me to the plane, “I know you are angry with me Isabella, but when you have been around as long as I have you begin to prioritize.” 

I pushed her hand from me, “How would I know this, how will I ever even know what life truly feels like, you had me to kill me, you are sadistic, you are the devil, no part of you is right.”

She smiled only briefly, “Child, you were never supposed to procreate, but you did, and I am happy you were able to have that moment to cherish, but everything must end.”

“ Yes, I have felt love, true once in a forever kind of love,” I got an inch from her face, “ My father never loved you, when he touched you he only felt disdain, disgust that he even needed a lesser being to achieve the amazing, and that amazing is me not you.”

It was that moment when she instinctively slapped my face, I knew she felt, she bled like the rest of us, her war raged not because she wanted to conquer the world, because she wanted to destroy the one thing that meant anything to the only person she ever loved, Aro.  The clarity made me break out in laughter. “All this for a scorned love, Mother?”

She grabbed my arms and violently shook me, “Shut your mouth you asinine child, your words will cost you a great deal.”

“Like what, let’s see, like my daughter or the man I love, no no wait I know my sister?” I smirked, “No, you are already going to kill them so fuck you.”

She shoved me against the plane making a small dent, “Might want to watch your temper mommy dearest, unless you don’t feel like using this particular plane?” I gleefully hopped on board leaving her to stew for a bit. Took a seat, jokingly buckled my seatbelt, looked up at Alec who was watching me curiously, “Gotta put my belt on, you wouldn’t want any of my blood to spill prematurely now would you?”

Moriana eventually boarded she sat with her back to me, no longer making eye contact with me. Something interesting happened, I hit a button, found a weakness maybe? Something didn’t make any sense though. Why destroy me? It wasn’t like it would affect Aro, he was dead, and she could no longer hurt him. I stared out the window; my heart was tingling, like a million butterflies were kissing it. I took a deep breath and I smelled Mara. My eyes widened, I looked nervously around the tarmac for her, but saw nothing.  I looked at Alec, Jane, and Moriana, none of them were reacting. I figured I just was missing her.

I rested my head on the seat as the plane began rolling, I closed my eyes, and like a breeze I heard her, “Mama, can you hear me?” 

Again I felt fear, and then I realized she was trying to communicate with me. I thought of her face, the adorable dimples in her cheeks, her jeweled eyes, “ I can hear you my darling, mommy can hear you.”

“Mommy, we are coming for you, do not be scared.”

“Mara, no you can’t you need to tell daddy that is the plan, she is hoping you come so she can take you too, you are safe there, please stay.”

“I am not strong like you mama, I cannot force them to listen to me, they are coming for you.”

“They, you mean you are staying?”

“Yes, I stay with Emily and a few of the wolves, I know she wants me, I can see what she has said to you, mama?”

“Yes sweetheart?”

“I am so afraid.”

“Hush now my sweet, don’t you worry, I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“Mama, I feel what you feel, when we hugged we joined, you feel fear to.”

“Only for you, but I am happy you are staying safe, you near a bed?”

“Yes”

“Go lay down, I will hum you a song, it is the same song my father would hum to me so I would sleep.”

I began humming the same song Aro sang to me when he tried to calm me, I concentrated on Mara’s breaths, I felt her calm down, just as the plane lifted into the clouds, I continued to hum even long after she was asleep. I looked At Moriana, I could see her nails digging into the arm of her seat, and she was gritting her teeth. It was the song, it angered her. I knew she had dipped into my mind and heard me humming it, I decided to think it no more and started humming it loudly.

She tore the arm clean off the seat, lifted from her seat and turned to me, not thinking she slammed the arm rest at my head, “SHUT YOUR MOUTH YOU AND YOUR FATHER AND THAT GOD DAMN SONG!”

I could see by Jane and Alec’s sudden head jerks at Moriana’s words; she had said something she should not have. “Mommy, I think you angered the twins.”

Moriana quickly composed herself, looked at them giving them a reassuring nod. “No more humming, anyone.”

She took a different seat, this time I could see the profile of her face, her cheek and eye were twitching, and she was losing it. What had her so angry?

Aro really had broken her, he was like the Joker and she was like Harley Quinn. The thought made me smile. “He really did a number on you Moriana, seriously you should have just let the scorned memories die with him.”

She slammed her eyes closed, like she was trying to block me out, or something out. The whole situation had my mind in knots. Something was going on, and by the anguish on her face I knew I was right. She was trying to block me out. She didn’t want me reading her thoughts. She was hiding something from me. Her eyes flashed open. “Stay out of my head Isabella, I swear I will give you pain like you never dreamed possible.”

I had no idea how to read her thoughts; I didn’t know how to penetrate the shield she had up. “For now mother, but I am an impatient person.”  I watched out the window as we ascended higher in the sky, the clouds below us, I began to doze , thinking of Mara and her scent, and her words, soon I was asleep.

Chapter 26~ The Cellar

Clutching Mara to my chest we run to the house, I turn every so often to see that everyone is following. The wolves have taken human form to fit inside.  What once a sunny bright day only moments before has turned into a lunar eclipse. I grab Edward, “We all need to get down to the cellar!”

He nods quickly, jumps onto the living room table, “Everyone we need to get to the cellar so calmly please follow Emily down there.”

No one pushed, there was no chaos. It was a creepy calm, and single file in a showing of trust in Edwards’s words  they went to the cellar, I gently kissed Mara’s head and handed her to Edward, “ Bella what are you doing?”

“I need to secure the cellar door, Moriana once said it was my love that protected Mara, now I need it to protect everyone, I can’t hold Mara and do that at the same time.”

“Bella, we aren’t leaving you.”

“Edward, my magic won’t deny me entry into the cellar, but it might for you and Mara, so please go.”

He takes my arm, “I told you I won’t leave you, and it wasn’t open for negotiation.” 

I leaned in, caressed his cheek, and lovingly kissed his beautiful lips, “ I know what you said, and I also knew you would never agree with me when it comes to my power, but Edward, you need to keep Mara safe, it is her she wants.”

His eyes widened, “Bella no don’t”

I closed my eyes, “I am sorry,” I lifted my hand and using my gift forced them through the cellar door, and slammed it shut. A single scarlet tear ran down my cheek as Edward screamed behind the door, his strength would normally make splinters out of the wood, but it could not penetrate the shield that I placed upon it. I walked to the door, places my hands and forehead on frame, “ I love you both, trust me please.”

Edwards words of disapproval got louder with the sound of my voice, “Very well then my love.” Placing my hands on each side of the door I repeated over and over “Darkness, silence them, protect them” I did this until their words, cries and screams were no longer heard through the cellar door.

It was pitch black outside, I walked around the coffee table a few times, waiting, anticipating. I thought there would be a thunderous explosion, but like a light summer breeze the front door opened, and she calmly walked in taking a quick overview of the room.

“Hello Mother,” Distain was dripping on each word I spoke.

She grinned devilishly, “My darling daughter, so good to see you again, and so much stronger, you make mommy proud.”

With a roll of the eyes, “Oh well you being proud of me is all I live for.”

She lightly laughed,” there is no need to be so disrespectful Isabelle.”

“On the contrary you are lucky I am only greeting you with disrespect and not a rod of fire up your ass.”

Moriana laughed boisterously now, “So cocky, it is like looking in a mirror.”

I glared fiercely at her, “Don’t compare me to you, we are nothing alike.”

She pursed her lips, and shook her finger at me, “True, I would never be so stupid to trust everyone who simply promised me loyalty.”

Anger was seething through me, “There you go again, trying to get me to turn on those who have fought by my side, who would protect Mara with their own life, when you her own grandmother want to kill her.”

Her face was placid, only a mild twitch of her eye, “Kill her?”

“Don’t play dumb, it is an unflattering color on you.”

She took her nails and annoyingly scratched along the walls of the house, stopping at the cellar door, “When you silence them, even you cannot hear them.”

My eyes flicker to the door and then to her, she smirks, “Do you think a hushing spell would hide them from me?”

“Maybe not, but you are not allowed down there, you can’t harm them.”

She shook her head in agreement, “You are correct, I cannot enter there, and you are a smart witch Isabelle.” She inhales, pursing her lips once more, then turns her attention to me.  “Luckily for me I am smarter.”

I began walking to her, “Get away from the door.”

She backs away with a smile, “You would have made it harder for me had you simply told them to be quiet.”

Part of me wanted to open the door, run down and see if they were all there, the other part knew if she was lying I would be sending them to slaughter. “What can Mara’s blood give you that mine can’t?”

I decided, to trust my gut and not open the door, I confidently turned and looked at her, waiting for her answer.

“When did I say I was going to spare anyone, or slaughter anyone, and when did I say that your blood was less valuable?” She sat on a rocking chair, folded her hands on her lap.

“I watched you turn Jasper to ash, you told me you would take Mara, you promised death!”

“Fair enough, I killed Jasper, but he was not loyal to you, just like the pixie princess, neither are here for you or your fight.”

Every part of me wanted to charge her and beat the shit out of her, but I calmly sat on an ottoman in front of the fireplace, “Let’s pretend for a moment you aren’t mindfucking me, why would Alice stay this long and not kill me, and most recently kill or take Mara?”

Moriana, leans forward, staring deep into my eyes, “What makes you think Mara is still safe?”

“Because Edward wouldn’t let anything happen to her, and Alice alone wouldn’t be able to fight off everyone down there.”

She grinned, “Exactly, there was no time where she could defeat you alone.”

I could feel the terror inside me, it was rising and I feared Moriana was telling the truth. Was she killing time with me so that others could deal with everyone down stairs? She knew she couldn’t get down there, but she is powerful, she could teleport others there. As I found my mind wandering in a million directions, her face was reacting to my thoughts, she could hear them. “You can read my thoughts?”

“ Of course, and Mara’s, at first it was just I could feel everything, but in time I was able to hear thought, much like your prince charming, but since you and Mara are blood, it is much easier.”

“You have been playing on my thoughts?”

“I have never been playing with you, any of you, I came for something, not to chit chat, and now that I have it I will be going.” 

As she rose from the rocker I rushed her slamming her against the wall, “What the fuck do you mean now that you got it?”

She effortlessly pushed me off, her eyes darted to the front door; I turned and saw the twins standing there, “Me?”

“It has always been you Isabelle, your own powers locked them away downstairs, unable to help you, Don’t get me wrong, Mara is needed to, but I am sure as soon as the spell wears off Edward will be in a frenzy, and I will help it along, leaving little bread crumbs, and he and Mara will bring themselves to my feet.”

“Why didn’t you just take me on the mountain then, when you froze everyone?”

“My sweet child, you had not presented Mara to me, and now that you have it will be only a matter of time until I have you both.”

My body slumped, every decision I had made has been wrong. I felt Jane and Alec at my sides, I looked up at Moriana, “She is your blood, the growth of your bloodline, why destroy it?”

She stroked my cheek, “I don’t know love Isabelle, I never have and I never need to, I know only power, your father and I were good together in that aspect, but he got all soft when it came to you, I see chaos, war, mayhem coursing through your veins, your blood will make my army unstoppable, there is nothing I can’t accomplish at that point.”

“And when you have conquered the world, then what?”

“She chuckled, “I am not sure, take up golf maybe.”

The twins took my arms, I knew I could fight but against Moriana, it would do no good. I knew no matter what I said to Edward he would still come after me, I couldn’t stop him. I knew the only way to stop this was death, my own.

Chapter 25~ The Reason We Fight

Edward and I picked up our clothes, they were shredded, he was laughing and shaking his head, “What are we going to do; we can’t walk back down there like this?”

I couldn’t help but giggle, “Well maybe I can put them back together?”

He shrugs and tosses me his disheveled ensemble, I laid it flat on the rocks, I stroked the tears with an open hand, over and over, trying to picture it stitching back together.  Amazingly, the shirt began putting itself back together, then faster and faster everything connected and his clothes were new again.

He bent down and took the shirt and pants, “Outstanding,”

“It’s so weird, it’s new but it feels familiar at the same time.”

“You are referring to your powers, not the shirt right?”

I nodded, “I just hope it all returns in time” I quickly fix up my clothes and dress myself. Edward takes my hand.

“Bella, when you decide on something, it happens, when you dream it, it becomes a reality, and when you Love, the world feels saved, it will return, because you need it to.”

“You believe in me, and the others to, but maybe too much.” I began walking, Edward stops me.

“What do you mean?”

“ Edward, I couldn’t save Jasper, and that was just a couple of days ago, She knows I can’t save you all, she will strike you all down, until I have no one and I am alone, she will kill you last, I just can’t let that happen.”

“Bella, we are here because we have to be, not just because we want to be, if she wins it will be the end of us all.”

I kiss Edward, gingerly on the lips, and stroke his cheek, “I will not watch you or anyone else perish”

He grabs my shoulders forcefully and with a hint of anger he kisses me back.

When he eventually pulls away he stares into my eyes, “Don’t you go at this alone Bella, let the fear drive you and not push you away from me.”

All I could do was smile slightly, I couldn’t promise him anything, “I have no more control over what happens next anymore then you do Edward” I turn and continue down the rocks. Maggie and the others are waiting patiently for us. Emmett winks in obvious approval of the sounds he heard last night. I embarrassingly smile “Let’s go”

Edward was holding my hand tighter than usual as we walked on. His face was riddled with worry and fear. He was truly worried I was going to take this on by myself. I knew his biggest terror was my death, and Mara’s abduction. I had no words that could comfort him, I didn’t have any idea what we were going to face when this all came to a head. I looked back at the others, Rose and Emmett were hand in hand, and Maggie and Alice walked somberly. Everyone was quiet. I was trying to keep it together myself.  If they all came in contact with Moriana, Caius and the others like this they would be destroyed. Edward jolted. I turned to him he was staring straight ahead. I followed his gaze, over a small hill stood a tiny house. Two figures running around the front yard, one small the other my height. Focusing in I could see her, light red and golden tendrils bouncing and shining in the sunlight, “Mara.”

I began running, faster and faster until it almost felt like I was flying. My heart was pounding; I felt the moisture of my tears streaming down my face. Mara stopped and turned to look at me. Her face told me she knew who I was, she was beaming, she began laughing and starting racing toward me. Edward wasn’t far behind me but I knew he was giving me this moment. 

As Mara and I got closer to each other it was like our energies were pulling us together. Finally she was before me, I slowed so I wouldn’t crush her, I grabbed her and slammed her into me. Her hands, arms and legs wrapped perfectly around me. Her hair tickled my face; her scent was like pure heaven.  We were both laughing and crying. I never wanted to let go. We fell to the ground into a pile of leaves. She looked into my eyes, “I knew you would remember mama.” Her voice was like angles singing, I kissed her face, every single inch of it.

Edward was standing in front of us, his face painted with longing. Mara looked at him and smiled and jumped onto him squeezing him with every inch of strength she had. His eyes closed, I knew he was taking in every second of this moment just as I had.

I lifted myself, brushed off the leaves; Emily was hugging Jake and the others.  I watched her for a moment. I was remembering the days we played hide and go seek in the garden, the secrets we shared, and the nights when storms would roll in and we would rush to each other’s rooms for comfort that only a sister could give. Finally her eyes locked with mine. We became hysterical at the same moment.  We embraced each other, “Thank you sister for your sacrifices, I love you so much.” She kissed my cheek.

“ It was never a sacrifice Bella, I wanted to do it, you would have done it for me, Lord knows if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t even be here today, so I thank you.” 

Maggie stands beside us, “Typical sisters, martyrs the both of you are.” We laughed and continued hugging.

Alice’s voice interrupted the perfect moment, “ I think we all need to get inside,” she points to the sky, the sky was darkening and storm clouds were rolling in.

I watch the sky, “That’s not the weather, it Morina, she has found us.”