Chapter XIII

Edward and I stared at the door, my heart frozen in terror. I never liked horror movies, and experiencing one is at the bottom of my list…

Slowly, Edward edged towards it, holding a warm kettle.

"Edward! Bella! Are you there?"

Alice! We sighed in relief and my heart returned to normal. Edward opened the door and Alice skipped in, just as cheerful as I saw her last.

"It's dark in here," said Alice, glancing around. "Are you saving money on electricity or something? Not a good idea. Edward, our parents want you and Bella with us tonight. I'll tell you the reasons in the car. I tried calling you, but the line went dead. Have you received my text messages? I must've sent like a dozen out! I asked you to pack your bags. You won't be back in a while. Okay. Edward, you're a man. You'll get rid of the fire and Bella and I will take the suitcases to the car."

Edward rolled his eyes and said nothing.

A few minutes later, we were in the car and speeding to Carlisle and Esme's home. I felt happier as we were further away from the cottage.

"You're driving too fast," complained Alice, glancing out the window. "I swear that three speeding cameras caught us in the last ten minutes! I know you want to get to safety as quickly as you can, but I for one don't want a letter that states an expensive fine in my mailbox! Do you? Besides, I can see if we're being followed or not."

"Are we being followed?" I couldn't resist asking.

Alice pulled out a pair of binoculars and stared through them out the window. I glanced at Edward and couldn't help but laugh as he rolled his eyes and pulled a face at Alice.

"We're not!" announced Alice, as she received a death glare from the driver in the car beside us (his passenger flipped her the bird). "Okay, now that we're assured we're not being followed, we can talk without being worried that we're overheard. Our parents received a letter this morning from a certain Aro Volturi, and was informed that he offered you a partnership. I think it's a great offer, but unfortunately they don't seem to agree. Apart from information found on Wikipedia and other doubtful biased sources, how much do you really now about the Volturi Brothers?"

"Not a lot," shrugged Edward. "What is there to know?"

"Have you noticed the case of red eyes?"

"What about them? They all wear red contacts. Band requirement?"

"Supposedly so. They normally keep this quiet and out of the Press. You know the monthly camps they talk about? The ones when they travel around?"

"Are you getting somewhere?"

"Apparently some of the band members don't come back. The ones that do, are different. They act weirdly and are extremely loyal to his or her fellow Volturi members. There are also talk of mysterious disappearing cases that happen in the places the Volturi Brothers travel to. Are you sure you want to take the risk and be a future member of the Volturi Brothers?"

"You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself! Remember those karate classes we were given when we were younger? I'm sure I can put it to good use if I ever have to fight my way back. I thought you're happy I'm offered a partnership with them!"

"I am! I'm just worried about your safety, and Bella's of course."

"What about my career options? What about your own future?"

"You're great at everything! You can be a doctor-"

"Alice! I don't want to be a fucking doctor like Dad! Just because I passed with degrees to be a doctor doesn't mean I want that path! Why does everything think that I want to be one?! I want to help the sick, but I don't want to spend my entire life living between hospitals and staying with Bella and visiting you and our family on rare occasions like Christmas and Easter! What if let's say, you marry and your wedding is on the same day as a vital surgery? How am I to pick?"

"I can't believe we're arguing over this again! Taking the job as doctor will be great!"

"I want recognition as a musician! I don't want to be known as a doctor like my father! It's great to have a doctor for a dad, but I want a different future. A musical one. Why do we have to all be viewed stereotypically by people? Even to you! Bella, if you meet Rosalie for the first time, what do you think she wants to do for a career?"

We stopped at a red light and both Alice and Edward looked at me.

"Um…" I said, unsure what to reply. "A fashion model? I don't know…something to do with clothes and modelling and becoming rich?"

"She wants to be a mechanic," Edward said flatly. "Working in the fashion industry, yes. However, she also wants to have a career revolving around mechanics. I don't know why, but she does. Anyway, is that all our parents want to talk to me about? I'm not in the mood for family discussions that end in shouting and chucking things across the room! I rather take the chances of finding the stalker than involve myself in family arguments. Got it?"

"What's wrong with you?" said Alice crossly. "You were never this angry before!"

Edward said nothing and looked away from her.

For the rest of the ride to Carlisle and Esme's house, we were all silent.

So silent that I could hear a pin drop!

"Glad you can all make it," said Jasper solemnly, opening the door for us. "Our parents are starting to get concerned. Nice to see you again Bella. Why don't you wait in the living room? I don't think you will be comfortable listening to family matters."

"Bella is family," said Edward firmly. "If not by blood, but by love. My future will most likely be her future too. I suppose Rosalie, you, Alice and Emmett will join our parents, Bella and myself in this family talk? You're all here."

Jasper nodded emotionlessly.

Sometimes I thought of him as a marble statue; no emotion, always silent…

"Bella," said Esme, embracing me when she appeared next to Jasper. "So pleased you're here safely without much fuss. Are you hungry or thirsty? I'll arrange something for you and Edward. Are you sure you want to be with us in our family talk? I don't want to exclude you, but it might not be pleasant, and from experience in previous discussions, they normally end with broken vase pieces scattered on the ground and everyone storming to their rooms! Why don't you go with Rosalie and watch some movies or do something together?"

"No," I decided. "I'll be with Edward, and I'll make sure that this day goes down in history as the first day the Cullens have a family discussion without arguing!"

Everyone laughed, and even Jasper cracked a smile!

We all sat around the dinner table with Esme and Carlisle at the table ends.

On the middle of the table was a folded piece of paper.

"Edward, Bella," greeted Carlisle, with shadows under his eyes. "Great to see you! You both seem well and healthy. Now, this letter is the reason Esme and I called you all here. I know you're legally an adult and all, but please listen. In the hospital, there are always rumours going about. Uneasy ones that only the critically injured and mentally damaged patients talk about. A few weeks ago, I heard rather disturbing ones about the Volturi Brothers. Unfortunately, I didn't get to hear the whole story, as the patient next to him is a Volturi Brother fan, who told the first one to shut up or she'll flush his head down the toilet. I know it sounds ridiculous, but it bugged and perplexed me. Today, we received this letter from Aro Volturi himself, who told us about the partnership with you."

"We don't think it's a good idea," said Esme, looking at Edward carefully. "I know you want a musical career, but perhaps a partnership with another singer or band apart from the Volturi Brothers? What about with the other, more nomadic musicians? I'm sure anyone will be better than those…those weird people. If they are even human."

Edward shot her a deadly look.

"It's Edward's life," said Rosalie flatly. "If he wants to be musically famous and will use the Volturi Brothers to step towards it, let him. If he decides to involve himself in America's top scandals and law-related issues, his fault. No point stopping him."

"Rosalie!" said Carlisle in exasperation. "He's your brother!"

"She has a point," said Emmett, randomly winking at me. "Edward is now a big boy and can protect himself and his gorgeous girlfriend. The Volturi Brothers aren't that bad. Just a bit creepy with the whole red eyes and a lot of powder thing, but that can be manageable! Who knows? Maybe next time Edward visits, his skin will be deathly white and he'll be wearing red contacts! Wouldn't that be great? We'll have a Goth in the family! Maybe Bella will become a Goth too! It'll be fun! We should all be part of the Volturi Brothers and wear red contacts!"

"Emmett!" said Carlisle and Esme in unison. "It's not funny!"

"How bad can it be?" said Jasper mildly. "Edward has to make his own choices with or without us. If he wants to put his life on the line, he can. We'll mourn his death as all family members should, but we can't dictate what he can or cannot do!"

"Jasper," sighed Carlisle. "Even you? Why are all of you so determined to sign Edward's death warrant and allow him to die? If any of you have sisterly or brotherly compassion for him, why don't you agree with us? He's an adult, but still my son!"

Edward clenched his fists angrily.

Uh-oh.

The anger temperature had rose up.

"I'll be with him at all times," I volunteered. "I won't let him out of my sight whenever he's around or with the Volturi Brothers. If I feel the Volturi Brothers are too dangerous for him, I'll convince him to find a new band or job. I seriously care for him, and will do anything to save him from trouble. I'm sure the Volturi Brothers won't mind."

"They won't mind," Alice agreed. "Just be warned that even though Aro has a fiancé, his eyes still wander and he normally catches whatever he wants in a matter of minutes. Sometimes he would send Sulpicia away with Athenodora just to um…play with his latest catch."

"Are you talking about women?" Edward said at once. "How many had he slept with?"

"Too many to count?" suggested Rosalie.

"Why do you care?" smirked Emmett. "Worried that Beautiful Bella will become prey to Aro's lecherous hands? She's a smart girl. I'm sure she can hit him in the place where he would hurt most of his victims from his many hunts. Can't you Bella? Will you do us all a favour and whack his slimy balls with a bat like in a rough baseball game? I'm sure the majority of us will thank you for it! I don't know why they even have fan girls! There music is terrible! Good, but at the same time, terrible. Especially the ones when it only features Aro and his shitty brothers-"

"Emmett!" said Esme sharply. "Language! As long as you remain under this roof, I don't want any swearing or inappropriate words!"

"Yes mommy," said Emmett childishly.

Rosalie rolled her eyes.

"What do you want me to be then?" said Edward sarcastically. "A doctor? A lawyer? A dentist? Fine! I accept Bella's proposal! I'll have my eyes on her and she'll have her eyes on me! Is there anything else we need to discuss? I'm planning to rent a house-"

Tap tap. Tap tap.

We stopped and stared at the door. I felt squeamish in my stomach. A sick and extremely nauseating feeling washed over me.

Cautiously, Carlisle stood up and walked towards the door. I held my breath and Edward squeezed my hand. His fuming expression had transformed into a worried one. Alice's vigilant eyes darted around the room carefully and Jasper was as still as a statue again. Rosalie clasped her hands together and rubbed them, as if warming herself from the cold.

"Hello?" called Carlisle. "Anyone there?!"

Tap tap. Tap tap.

Edward placed his arm protectively around me.

"Anyone there?" repeated Carlisle, his hand on the door knob.

Tap tap. Tap tap.

I squeaked as the lights began flickering dangerously, as if there was a power outage. The branches and leaves slammed against the windows like the doors against the walls.

Carlisle opened the door and looked around. He spotted a parcel on the ground and picked it up. He quickly closed the door and faced us with a puzzled expression. With his surgical gloves, he placed it on the middle of the table, on top of the letter. We looked closer at the brown wrapping, all uncertain what to do with it (though the obvious was to open it).

"No note?" said Esme, pulling out a torch from a nearby drawer.

"Nothing," said Carlisle, gently removing the fragile strings that held the brown paper together. "There wasn't a note or deliverer."

As he spoke, a small piece of paper fluttered from the wrapping and landed on the ground. It was coated in blood and what looked like…tears?

Edward and I glanced at each other.

Jacob definitely wouldn't have killed a person….wouldn't he?

"Rosalie is in red," read Carlisle, a frown slowly creasing on his forehead. "Alice's in blue. Bella is prettier and delicious too. Do you like my little poem? Sad that you ran back like a coward to the Cullens' house, but you can't run from me. I'll be watching every step you take. Wherever you go, I'll be there and watch your eyes dart around. You'll be like a deer in the forest. You may run now, but I will catch you, and that is a promise. When I do, your screams will be sweet music to my ears, and I will enjoy tasting your flesh in a way you never liked Lion de Montagne that night with your darling Eddie Cullen. Be a dear and go and eat there again tomorrow night. Wear this dress as a favour to me. If you don't, you saw what happened to your dear Sam. Would you like that to happen to a friend…or relative?"

Shit.

Rosalie wore a red dress while Alice donned a blue shirt. How the Hell does that creepy stalker know what they wore?! Oh god! Is it my fault that this creep is after me and the Cullen sisters? What if he/she kills all of us?!

"We'll discuss the Aro thing later," Edward said firmly. "I don't care if we shout and scream about it, but for now, I'd like to focus on this stalker issue. If he knows almost everything about Bella, he might be able to track down Rosalie and Alice."

"What do we do?" said Rosalie worriedly. "Be under witness protection?"

"A rapist is on the loose," said Alice thoughtfully. "Your rapist."

"Jacob isn't responsible," I said defensively. "I know it isn't him."

"I suppose giving it to the police is an unwise option," Carlisle murmured. "That stalker will surely find out. The Sam incident was unfortunate, but was a threat to not only you, but all of us. He's clever. It could be a woman as well. Whoever it is, will know or find out everything about us. His or her main target at the moment is Bella. Any one of us or anyone associated with Bella will be threats to this stalker. The best thing to do at the moment is act normal and as if nothing's going on. Just don't blog or post private stuff online or talk to strangers. I'm sure you know that."

"I think it'll be best for us to stay here for a while," Edward said, squeezing my shoulders. "The cottage isn't safe for us."

His mobile rang and I nearly jumped out of my skin!

"Edward Cullen here," said Edward, switching it to loud speaker. "Who is this?"

"Aro Volturi," said the silky voice at the other end. "Hello Cullen. I'm sorry to call you at such a late time, but you can call it an emergency. Normally I would ask my secretary to ring potential partners, but I decided to call you myself. Now, are you up for the job? There are many other greater singers and pianists in Forks, but I've decided to choose you over them all. Will you be a fully committed Volturi member and show up for rehearsal first thing tomorrow morning?"

"You haven't told me about this before."

"I know. I just thought about it a few minutes ago. Just imagine yourself on stage, Cullen. After your trial period as a temporary Volturi member, I will decide if you are worthy to be a full-fledged Volturi and take your rightful place in our coven in Volterra. Don't worry. It's in Forks. It's the name of my rather large and broad estates. All Volturi members have their own entourage of servants, and a fine house close to mine, for the convenience of rehearsals. Have you heard of the bands Muse and the Rasmus? We're gonna practise a few of their songs and make covers of them as gifts to my adoring fans. Now, just listen to Uprising, October and April and Funeral Song. We're covering those ones."

"Right…I'm sure I'll be able to find the piano sheets for those particular songs. I never heard of them, but I'll listen to those songs right away. I thought the Volturi Brothers compose original songs? Doing cover pieces seems a bit iffy to me. Is it alright if I take someone along with me? I'm sure you know the love of a girlfriend. Is it okay with you if I take Bella with me to the rehearsal? We have a little bit of a problem at the moment and it-"

"I don't care about your problem. If she goes with you, will you focus?"

"Focus?"

"Answer this truthfully, Cullen. With your girlfriend at your side, will you focus more on her or on perfecting songs with the rest of us?"

"I'll be putting all my effort into fitting in and making sure the songs are up to standard with you and the rest of the Volturi Brothers."

"Very well. However, I cannot give you permission for her to be with you."

"Why not?"

"Girlfriends seem like distractions. Even if they're loyal ones. I can give you permission to take a person along with you, but she can't be your girlfriend or a friend. Preferably you take an attractive and talented sister. She won't cause any troubles."

"Then how will it be possible for me to take Bella?"

"Are you really that much of a douche? Do wedding bells… ring a bell? "

Thank you for your patience! I know it's been a while, but I wouldn't have uploaded a chapter today if it wasn't for Team Edward Rules All's constant urging for me to write and upload :) Please review!