Drift Away

Twilight fanfic with alternate NM ending. It has been 99 years since Edward has left, 99 years since Bella has joined the Volturi (now as Isabella Marie Volturi). And then, all in one unexpected night, she meets the people she never thought she'd see again: the Cullens.

Chapter 1

JANE'S POV

"Jane!"

The voice echoed along the corridor and bounced off all four walls. I recognised the voice immediately, turning and finding myself face-to-face with the boy.

His dark hair fell across his forehead, his eyes sparkled. They didn't look happy. Even as a vampire, he was very, very handsome among our kind. I curled my lip up at him.

"Alec," I said to my twin brother.

He looked down at me. "Have you seen Isabella?"

"Isabella?" I thought back for a moment. "No, but I think she might be in her room," I replied coolly. He grimaced. "Is something wrong?"

"Training," Alec replied flatly as he started to move past me. I folded my arms as I listened. "She's supposed to be training with Demetri right now."

"It's not like her to be late," I mused. Isabella was always punctual for everything. In fact, she was good at almost everything and everyone knew it, though she never ceased to deny it. She'd joined the elite ranks of the Volturi, alongside Alec and I, after her maximum talents were discovered and the ability to prove herself worthy of it to the three main members of the Volturi, mainly Aro. Aro wasn't simple-minded, but also planned two steps ahead of a situation.

"Exactly." He winked at me one last time before disappearing into the shadows. I sighed and shook my head before heading on my way.

BELLA'S POV

Scars, so many of them.

I examined my arm, once warm and soft, now cold and hard, pale. Now left with all the scars of bite marks. Ever since I'd joined the Volturi, I was always on duty, on missions. I was one of the leaders of the Volturi because of my special vampire reflexes and abilities. Aro always reserved me to finish off the more... precarious missions, for lack of better word, the same case for any vampire who possessed rank, like Jane or even Felix.

But, as always, there was a mark that stood out the most. Like the brightest star in the sky. One name: James. I shuddered slightly as dark memories began to resurface, and quickly pushed them down, the same thing I did every time they brought themselves up.

They were too painful to access, even though I'd told myself countless times to forget about the past and move on. Up to now, I wouldn't even let myself think about them ‒ the Cullens. The wound would once again rip open, and it would always be too agonizing to try to stitch it back up again.

I reminded myself that they hadn't wanted me, had left me. That was the part that burned me up the most.

And then there was a knock on the door. It was so soft that had I still been human, I would not have been able to pick it up.

"Come in." I quickly pulled down my sleeve, as if I could hide the scars that permanently marked my life now.

The door pushed open. In one quick blur, Alec was standing in front of me, dressed in a dark cloak. He kneeled down in front of me.

"Isabella," he said. "What are you doing here? Don't you know you're supposed to be training with Demetri now?"

I looked away. "I don't feel like training."

Alec studied my face for a moment. I frowned at him. "What?"

"Nothing," he said, but I could tell he was lying. After so many years to practice, I'd learned to tell when people were hiding something. And of course to master the technique of lying.

"Alec," I said. "Tell me."

He sighed. "I was trying to tell if you were lying to me," he confessed finally.

"So what's my face telling you?"

"That you're most probably not."

I rolled my eyes and tried to change the subject. He climbed onto the bed beside me. "So, how did you know I was here ‒ hiding?"

"Jane."

I thought of my best friend fondly. How well she knew me. I felt myself smiling.

Alec grinned. "So, if you don't want to train, what do you want to do?"

His tone implied something with a deeper meaning. I swallowed and turned away.

"Alec…" I whispered, pain lashing within me. I felt him watching me. "Don't. It was a mistake, OK?"

There was a strange silence that passed. I finally turned, not able to stand the quiet. His face was impassive, closed, his eyes hooded. I exhaled softly. He still didn't move.

"I'm sorry," I muttered. I truly felt sorry. It was my fault. Alec and I ‒ we were never meant to be together. Any kind of love I had for Alec was only brotherly affection. That night…

*Flashback*

A rustle of gowns, the turning of golden masks, the handsome cloaks. Chandeliers hung from the ceilings, lighting the room in the most magnificent ways. I could see myself, dressed in the most beautiful plunging silver gown, swirl in it as I moved.

"Isabella?"

I turned. Aro was standing there, in front of a crowd of vampires, dressed in a dark and mysterious cloak that brushed along the floor as gently as a caress. His almost-translucent skin reminded me of a ghost, black hair a deep contrast to his looks.

I gaped at him. "You look... stunning, Master," I complimented him.

"As do you, fair princess," Aro replied, chuckling at my expression. "May I have this dance?"

Without waiting for an answer, he swept me onto the dance floor. The ends of my gown trailed behind me. I tried to pull away, I swear I did.

"Master," I whispered. "Honestly, I can't dance!"

"Oh, Isabella, please don't be modest."

"I'm not joking!" I protested. "Please, let's just go have a walk, or something. Anything but this." My fingers caressed the golden mask in my hand that I carried as part of my costume tonight, as if it might bring me luck.

"Ah, but what a waste it would be, my dear! You have certainly made the belle of the ball tonight."

If I could've blushed I would, truly, I would. And before I had time to make a witty comeback, Aro led me to the centre and put his arm at my waist. He began twirling me around to the rhythm of the music.

I was so careful not to trip over my feet that I barely noticed his eyes on me.

After a few moments, I turned to see him grinning at me. "There, not so bad, is it, Isabella?"

"Er… I guess so. I guess I'm just more used to kicking-butt than… um… dancing."

He burst into laughter at my choice of words. " 'Kicking-butt'?" he repeated slyly.

I tucked my long brown hair behind my ear, embarrassed. I looked around to find Felix grinning at me. I quickly looked away.

"Isabella, you are one truly extraordinary vampire," Aro told me, still chuckling.

I didn't say anything. As soon as the dance ended, I quickly slipped away. It was dark and peaceful outside… reminding me of, well, the night it happened. The night I pricked my finger, when Jasper had attacked me. And the next thing I knew, they were all after me.

The darkness, sobs that I'd suppressed for years finally became to much to handle, and I broke down outside in the garden. I honestly hadn't meant for anyone to see me, but Alec had been nearby and he caught me.

"Bella!" he said, surprised. "Are you all right?"

Bella.

Everything ‒ old memories, laughter, love, family, sounds, came rushing back. I cringed, then tried to run. But Alec was much faster than I was. He reached out in a single motion and grabbed my wrist to stop me, then my arms.

I struggled, but obviously he was more in control, and I finally gave up. Still holding me by my arms, he coaxed me to sit down on a nearby bench. I complied mechanically, and he sat down beside me. No tears ran down my face.

"Bella." Alec's voice was gentle. "What happened just now‒"

"Isabella," I interrupted.

He looked at me sharply, then shrugged. "All right, Isabella. Are you going to tell me what happened to you earlier?"

"I don't feel like talking about it." My voice was tight, and harsher than I'd meant it to be.

He eyed me warily. "I didn't expect you'd want to."

I didn't say anything. I hadn't really told anyone about my human life, just a brief idea. They didn't need to know. And I wasn't planning to do that anytime soon. Not even Jane knew.

Awkwardly, he moved to put his arm around me to soothe me. It was now that I realized I was still sobbing dryly.

"It's all right," he told me calmly. "Shhhh ‒ it's all right."

All the comfort ‒ or maybe even understanding ‒ that I needed was finally here, and I gave up trying and just let go. I slinked into Alec's arms. He smoothed my hair gently from my face.

Then ‒ somehow, suddenly, I didn't know how it happened, but when I looked up, our lips met, for the briefest moment. I felt him pull back suddenly, with an intake of breath. Even though I knew he was no Edward, the powerful urge to love and be loved again overwhelmed me so much that I reached up and dragged him back down, and suddenly we were kissing again.

*End of Flashback*

"Alec," I said now. I was so tired, suddenly, and felt the consequences of my stupid actions. I hated myself so much, hated myself for even existing. I wrapped my arms around myself, watching Alec quietly. It would surely take him a while to absorb all this, I knew.

He didn't say anything, just reached out and wrapped me in his arms tightly, hugging me against him. It was comforting. "It's all right," he finally said. "Don't be sorry, Isabella. Never be."

After Alec left, something in me lost it. I decided I needed to get the hell out of my room. To where, I didn't know, but not here.

I inched open the door and slipped passed some of the wives walking past.

"Isabella?" one of them said.

I blinked, searching for the person. It was Rayna, one of the member of the guard's wives. Her cloak rustled on the marble floor, dark eyes flashing once in awhile. A golden bangle sparkled at her wrist. I felt my heart constrict at how beautiful she was; even as a vampire, there was hardly any change to the way I looked.

"You missed training this morning," she simply stated. Seeing the blank look on my face, she added, "Aro said."

"Oh, right." I shook my head.

"Isabella, what is wrong?" I inhaled her magnificent perfumed scent. She reached out and touched my arm, concern flashing in her eyes.

"I'm fine," I said, shrugging her arm off lightly. The feeling had yet to be erased. "I just need some time to be by myself."

She looked me dead in the eye. Her motherly expression was back on, reminding me of… well, no need to be said who. I could tell she wanted to know more, but respected my privacy. "Well… all right, then. But honey, if you ever need to talk to anyone, you know I'm always here." Her tone was gentle.

I knew I wouldn't, but out of politeness, I said, "Thanks."

"Look after yourself, Isabella," she said finally.

"I will."

Please review! I love reviews, short or long, or just thoughts and suggestions. That's one of the things that makes or breaks a writer: the opinions of the readers. This is my first story, so please be easy on me! :D

~Silverduo