Give In to Us Chapter 10

No one said a word. No one moved. It looked as if the Cullen’s were waiting for the queens to decide to follow through on their laws and kill Edward. It was the one thing I begged them not to do. I understood the Cullen’s broke the law. I understood the Cullen’s were well aware of what would happen if they broke the law; but I didn’t care.

I just spent months of my life doing anything reckless I could think of to hear Edwards voice; for my mind to conjure up a vision of him. To keep me sane. I flew across the ocean, without telling my father, to save the man I thought was my soulmate from being killed. I thought he was my salvation, so I had to save him, how could I give him up so easily?

But I couldn’t deny the pull I felt towards Heidi and Jane. I barely knew them. I had only known of them for a week, but I couldn’t help but want to know so much more about them. It was like I was addicted to knowing everything about them, to just being around them; and they seemed the same towards me. It was the same way I felt about Edward; at least I thought it was. I didn’t think it was anymore.

“Edward has committed the worst crime we have as vampires.” Sulpicia said in a soft yet unnerving tone that threatened to send shivers of fear down my spine. “He may have been smart enough to allow Bella to figure out what he was, which allowed him to not break the law because of a technicality; but he did not deal with the fallout properly.”

I saw the Cullen’s tense and I could tell they were waiting for the queens to give their verdict, a verdict that would hurt Edward and possibly the family. I was personally very nervous and couldn’t help but lean forward in anticipation as I waited to hear what would happen to the vampires I once called family. I hoped they would do what I wanted but they were the queens of all the vampires. They would do what they wanted. In the end, I knew they would do what was right for their rule.

The three queens moved to stand next to each other, just a few feet in front of me. They stood united as one. Their positions made it clear that while only one of them would speak at a time, they were still speaking as one. They represented a united front.

“There are reasons we don’t allow humans to know about vampires.” Athenodora said, her voice just as low and as nerve-wracking. “Humans are afraid of what is different and of what they don’t understand. They have a very long history of attacking and killing first and asking questions later. We have our rules in place to keep everyone safe and not start worldwide panic and a decimation of our kind.”

She was right. I never thought what the reaction may be if the general population found out about human killing vampires. And hearing her explain it nearly made me regret figuring out what the Cullen’s were on my own. But at least I did not and would not ever tell anyone. I kept their secret better than they did.

“If we allowed just one vampire to get away with breaking the laws, it would show weakness on our part. Vampires are not weak; especially those with gifts. Vampires are made to take advantage of weaknesses; we are predators after all. As such, the Volturi cannot afford to show any.” Didyme said in the same eerie tone as her two mates. I didn’t like hearing that tone from her, it didn’t seem right. “We cannot allow what Edward did to go unpunished. He will have to answer for his poor decisions.”

“We can overlook Bella knowing you were vampires because of a technicality Edward exploited. A small loophole most would not think to take advantage of, or even care to do so.” Sulpicia said as she took a step forward, making me believe she was moments away from saying what was going to happen to Edward. I inched forward a little more in my seat, causing both Jane and Heidi to take a step forward and to put what I felt were restraining hands on my shoulders; but their hands actually gave me strength to continue to listen to the verdict. “What we cannot overlook is all of you abandoning a human with full knowledge about the existence of vampires. Carlisle, you allowed Edward to manipulate you and the entire coven, into leaving Bella. As a coven leader, you leave a lot to be desired.”

“A coven leader is supposed to act to protect their coven and ensure the laws are followed. They are the leader of their coven.” Athenodora said with a sneer. “You neither protected your proclaimed coven, human included, nor did you ensure the laws were followed. As such, you are no longer permitted to be a coven leader for no less than a century. Hopefully, in that time, you might learn something.”

My eyes widened as I heard Athenodora speak. She had just disbanded the Cullen family. She can’t do that! I moved to stand up, regardless of both vampire’s next to me were more than capable of keeping me back. Before I could move to stand or say anything, I caught Alice’s eyes. She shook her head ‘no’ and gave me a sad smile. She knew what was going to happen and she wanted to let it happen. As much as I wanted to say something, I knew to never go against Alice.

“I understand.” Carlisle said with a grim look on his face, matching the rest of his families looks. None of them looked overly concerned though. They had to know something I didn’t because if my family was getting taken apart, I would be upset. He wrapped his arm around Esme and pulled her to him, like he was drawing strength from her. None of the Cullen’s, even Edward, were acting like I thought they would if their coven leader was just demoted. Wasn’t it an unwritten rule all covens had to have some sort of leader?

“That said.” Sulpicia said, moving the conversation right along. “Edward needs to be dealt with. He clearly broke the law and manipulated all of you into following him. Per his own thoughts, he knew there was a very high chance your coven leaving a human would come to our attention long before the human died of old age. But he still wanted to leave in his own misguided belief of saving his beloved.”

I saw Edward tense and for a moment I thought he would either say something or move to do something. But he kept still. His eyes were trained on Sulpicia, I wasn’t sure if he was reading thoughts she had directed at him or if he was reading the room. I couldn’t tell where his emotions were and no one else seemed to want to give anything away either. I kept glancing back at Alice to see if she could give any hint of what was to come, but she seemed to be solely focused on the queens.

“We have been put in a unique position.” Didyme said, her voice calm and clearly misleading. “To protect the ones you love, you tend to want to lock them away in an ivory tower and never let them leave. But that would lead to resentment and hatred and we can’t allow that.” Didyme took a couple steps backwards towards me and extended her hand towards me. I wasn’t sure if she wanted me to take her hand or not, but I didn’t move. I was too nervous to be a part of anything she had planned if it meant hurting Edward or any of the Cullen’s.

“In our world, allowing too much freedom could very well end in death by those who want to spite us, or prove a point.” Athenodora added.

“Bella is very precious to us and our dear guards. We find we want her transition here to be as smooth as possible.” Didyme said as she lowered her hand as she realized I wasn’t going to take it, and I swore I swore a small frown for barely a second.

“She is in her last year of schooling before she’s socially allowed to be on her own.” Sulpicia added. “We figured, why not let her finish her last year?” She asked rhetorically and I saw the Cullen’s eyes widen in shock; mirroring my own. I thought they wanted to keep me here and never let me go until everyone I knew was long gone; especially since, depending on what they told Charlie, he might start looking for me.

“You would allow her to return with us to Forks?” Esme asked and my heart swelled to hear she was trying to include me once again with her family; although, a part of me scornfully wanted to know how long it would last this second time before they left again and if I wanted them to.

“We would allow her to go to Forks, if she so desires, to finish her last year of high school and then return here. Backpacking across Europe is apparently a popular choice for some students prior to going to college.” Didyme said with a smile. “If she wants, Bella can go back with you and finish her high school career before coming back home.”

I couldn’t believe they were willing to let me go. I had wanted to leave from the moment I got here but they were all insistent I had to stay in Italy. I thought, initially, they didn’t want me to go. Now, without even giving a hint, they were going to let me go? Did that mean I could get on with my life with the Cullen’s, like I had never come here in the first place? Did I want to?

“You’re really just willing to let her go with us?” Edward asked with a tone of disbelief and a hint of arrogance only he could pull off. I almost wanted to yell at him to not question what they were doing.

“Well, seeing as none of you can be trusted, there will have to be some stipulations.” Sulpicia said with a Cheshire grin. “Both Heidi and Jane will be going with her; to ensure her safety and to make sure those mutts you have a treaty with don’t start anything.”

I had to fight back a smirk at hearing Heidi and Jane going with me. I was a little perturbed they would be there to basically babysit me, but it would be worth it if I could get Jane to go to school with me. She would hate every second of it and both Heidi and I would love it. I was sure she would even work as a shield from having some of the boys, like Mike, from trying to ask me out.

“You’ll leave as soon as Bella is ready. If she wants to, of course.” Sulpicia said, turning with the other two queens to face me.

“We’re sorry we didn’t mention this earlier to you.” Didyme said as they all approached me. “We only decided last minute it would be a good surprise for you and a show of our good faith that you will return to us.”

I wanted to be annoyed they were making travel plans for me; without consulting me. But the plans they made were exactly what I wanted. I didn’t want to say or do anything that would change their minds. I was more than willing to go with whatever they wanted in order to be able to go home. I would be able to see Charlie again. And the pack. I really missed being home.

“I just want to go and see Charlie again.” I said. I still felt so much guilt from leaving the way I did and from being away for so long. While we weren’t necessarily the closest, he at least cared. And I was doing a good job of not respecting that. “And I do want to finish school.” I added. I at least wanted the diploma for all the work I had put into school since I was a kid.

“It will also give you an opportunity to give him a proper goodbye.” Didyme said, making me frown. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Charlie. I just barely got to know him again. I knew I would have to say goodbye to him sooner or later, I was just hoping it was going to be later.

“What if she doesn’t want to come back?” Edward asked the question I briefly thought about asking but had written off. I knew, no matter how I felt about them, I wanted to go come back. I couldn’t see myself never going back to Italy.

“I think you’ll find she will want to come back.” Sulpicia hissed at Edward before turning back to face me. “It may sound quite presumptuous but we know you will want to come back. It’s how the bond works, you will want to be near us for our protection and care; just as a child seeks protection from its’ mother.” She explained, and that explanation irked me. I was still struggling to see them as my parents but I had to admit, I was starting to see them as an important figures in my life.

“What she means, is with the way a child and parent bond works, is the child and parent stay within the same coven; to be near each other. To keep each other safe. Given your current human status, we feel more protective than you do of us, at least until you are changed, but the need to protect will still be there.” Didyme explained in a soothing tone, clearly expecting me to not be happy about their predictions.

“But if I don’t want to go back, will you let me stay there?” I asked and while I knew it wasn’t the case, I wanted to know I had the option.

“It would pain us greatly if that were the case; but we have history on our side. History shows the individuals involved in out type of bond, typically do not stray far for too long. The child does tend to stray more so than the parents though.” Sulpicia answered with a sigh. “We will not force you to come back, we want you to want to come back.” She explained and in that moment, it clicked.

They knew I wouldn’t be able to fight a supernatural bond; no matter how much I wanted to. Because of that knowledge, they were willing to let me go because they were beyond confidant I would come back. The freedom they were giving me almost felt like a simple slight of hand trick: they gave me the freedom they knew I would grow to hate.

“Though we are willing to allow Bella to finish her schooling there; it does not change the fact we do not trust the Cullen’s and that you have all broken the laws; especially young Edward.” Sulpicia said with a perfect politician’s mask. “After the events I have seen from you, we cannot allow Bella to return and expect her to be safe.” Edward growled, but was quickly cut off by a retaliating growl from Athenodora that was much more frightening than Edward. Both Heidi and Jane wrapped an arm around me when they felt my fear; their touch helped me get past the ancient vampire’s voiced anger. “Jane and Heidi will be going with her. They will be welcomed to stay in the Cullen household if they so wish while Bella is in school. In exchange for that curtesy, they will be sure to hunt far enough away to keep any suspicion away from Forks.”

“And if we don’t want them in our home?” Edward angrily asked, ignoring all warnings to keep quiet. The entire Cullen family had to be warning him to calm down in their minds, yet Edward only seemed to grow angrier and angrier.

“Edward.” Esme scolded with the harshest tone I had ever heard from her. “Both Heidi and Jane will be allowed in our household for as long as they wish; and given the circumstances, I believe that is the least we can do.” Esme seemed so firm in what she was saying, so opposite of what I was used to from the normally demur woman. It seemed since Carlisle was no longer allowed to be the coven leader, Esme would take over.

The other Cullen’s didn’t bat an eye at Esme taking charge and it made me wonder if perhaps Esme was always really in charge and Carlisle simply held the title because he was older and the one to technically start the family.

“I’m sure you won’t have anything to worry about with their presence around your home Edward.” Athenodora said with a smile that warned me she was much too happy about what was happening. “You will not be returning with them.” Edward immediately yelled in outrage, but Athenodora kept talking as if she hadn’t been interrupted. “You broke the laws; be impressed you are not already dead.”

“Do realize though, if it wasn’t for the weak bond we have with Bella and the stronger one she has with you, you would be dead.” Didyme added. “We will not risk hurting our already fragile bond but we will not tolerate your complete disregard to the laws.” She sternly added.

“As such, you will remain here, under heavy supervision. You will be locked in a room with nothing to do but contemplate your actions; just like a child being sent to their room.” Sulpicia said with a sneer. “We will keep you fed if only for our want of not wanting to deal with a starving vampire.”

“You are keeping him alive?” Esme asked and the hope in her voice was plain as day.

“For the time being dear.” Sulpicia answered. “Depending on his future actions and thoughts, if he starts plotting, we will kill him. I will make sure to keep a close eye on every thought he has on a regular basis.”

“For now, you are allowed to say your goodbyes to Edward and then you may return to Forks. Eventually, Bella and her mates will meet you there and Bella will finish her schooling.” Athenodora ordered.

“Can’t we say goodbye to Bella as well?” Emmett asked, though he received a sharp look from Rosalie for talking. If I didn’t know better, I would say Rosalie was afraid of what was happening; or just afraid her husband might say something to anger the queens even more.

“When will Edward be allowed to leave?” Esme asked, taking the attention away from Emmett. Was that on purpose to try and protect in the only way she could?

“We haven’t decided.” Sulpicia answered with a carefree tone. “Truthfully; he may never be. Life imprisonment is better than a death sentence; though we all know which we would rather give Edward.”

“Time will tell.” Didyme answered, giving Sulpicia a warning look. “For now, it seems to be indefinitely. But as old as we are, we’ve learned things tend to change. But for now, I wouldn’t expect to see Edward anytime soon. You may all say goodbye to him in his new home; but please don’t take too much time, we are still upset with every single one of you, you wouldn’t want to overstay your welcome.” Didyme warned.

“Of course not.” Esme diplomatically said, while giving a look full of regret. I wanted to go over and hug her but at the same time, I felt like I was glued to my seat and didn’t want to move until I was sure no other surprises were going to be thrown my way. But at least Edward was going to live; that was the one thing I had wanted and I got it. “And of Bella?” Esme asked, repeating Emmett’s question.

“Why say goodbye when she will be seeing you shortly in Forks?” Athenodora asked with a smirk and a part of me was actually happy I didn’t have to talk to them. After everything that happened, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to face them. I had questions, lots of questions, but I wasn’t ready to talk to them.

“Guards, take Edward to his new room, the rest of you make sure they follow our rules.” Athenodora ordered and instantly a group of cloaked guards entered the room and flanked Felix as he dragged Edward away. The Cullen’s all followed Edward out of the room to say goodbye. Not one of them turned to give me at least one look of farewell as they left and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that; especially when I had actually kind of hoped at least a few of them would. It hurt more than I thought it should.

Once the doors closed behind the departing party of people, the queens turned towards me with small smiles. I knew what was going to happen; I was going to be able to go home. But I wasn’t stupid enough to think they weren’t going to put stipulations or expectations or something on me being able to go. They were going to give me rules to follow and I wasn’t sure how to react to that.

“My dear Bella, I truly hope you do not mind we sprung this on you.” Sulpicia said with her politician’s smile; she really didn’t feel sorry about anything. I was sure she rarely felt sorry for anything if it didn’t negatively affect her mates.

“But we were all confident you would want to go.” Didyme quickly added.

“You really are going to let me go?” I asked, a part of me afraid it had all been an act and they were going to keep me trapped here.

“Of course, love. We keep our word.” Sulpicia said with conviction.

“So, I can leave right now then?” I asked, my excitement slowly growing the more I realized that I really might be able to go home.

“Not right this moment as we have to make travel arrangements. But you can leave as soon as possible, maybe tomorrow or the day after if you want.” Didyme answered.

A wide grin grew on my face at the thought of possibly going home, of going back to Charlie and the Pack. I knew the second Charlie saw me, I would be in for a lot of explaining, but at least I would be home.

“What did you tell Charlie, about me not being there?” I nervously asked, drawing comfort and strength from Jane and Heidi’s arms wrapped around me.

“We wrote a letter, post marked from another city in Italy.” Didyme answered right away. “The letter said you wanted a chance to travel and that you were going to try and do.”

I felt my mouth fall open in surprise, I honestly expected them to just tell him I died so I would be forced to never go back.

“We felt saying you were traveling would be a better way to give news of your demise later on; backpackers disappear and die all the time.” Sulpicia added. “But this way, you would also be able to go back, claiming to want to finish your high school after all the years put into it, and say you want to finish backpacking across Europe before college.”

“At which time, you disappear somewhere, in some other country and a fabricated police report will be given to your father that explains how, I don’t know, perhaps there was a fire in a hostel you were staying in. Then we make a hostel burn and your father will believe the story.” Didyme said, not really helping me to feel better. But no matter what would happen, Charlie would have to believe, in the end, I died an early death. Since the day I figured out what the Cullen’s were, I was going to have to have to die; one way or another. It would be the second time I would put Charlie through being told something had happened to me; but I knew the second time would be the last.

“So, he thinks I’m just traveling right now?” I asked, to make sure I was understanding correctly.

“Correct. We were just preparing to send him a message about your untimely death; but we apparently no longer need to.” Athenodora answered. “Instead, we’ll just send you.”

I instantly started to make plans to call Charlie as soon as I was in the States to let him know I was alive and well. I would have to just ignore the guilt; forget about what I was going to do to him in the near future. I would pretend I wasn’t about to permanently abandon him. I felt like the world’s worst daughter; but it was best this way. He would be kept alive this way.

“What if I decide I don’t want to come back?” I asked, already thinking about how hard it would be to say goodbye to Charlie without really saying goodbye to him. I also couldn’t help but think about Jacob and how he would know I would be going back to vampires. I couldn’t begin to guess how he would react to that news.

“You will.” Athenodora answered right away, full of confidence.

“But what if I don’t?” I persisted. Would they force me to come back, or would they let me stay and have more time with Charlie? I knew there was no way I was going to get out of becoming a vampire; I still wanted to be one. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was the time frame and how soon I was forced to say goodbye to my entire life.

The queens looked at each other and I could just see their mouths slightly move. They were talking with each other. Apparently, that was a trait all vampires shared: having conversations in front of the human who couldn’t hear them. Thankfully, it didn’t take long for them to bring me back into the conversation.

“Although we highly doubt you would not want to come back,” Didyme started and I chose not argue with her because I was sure she wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said. “If you were to decide that, Heidi and Jane would stay with you. You would have until the end of summer to return; we cannot let someone who knows about vampires just wonder about, no matter how much faith we have you wouldn’t say anything. We wouldn’t force you to change at that moment; but for appearances, we would need to make sure we had a handle of the situation. That would mean we couldn’t let you stray from the castle as it would mean we weren’t following our own rules.” Didyme explained.

“It could very well create anarchy.” Sulpicia added.

“So, no matter what; I have to come back here?” I asked. “I couldn’t just let the Cullen’s change me?” I asked, causing both Jane and Heidi to growl. “Or just be changed there?” I quickly changed my question to appease the two women. Truthfully, after meeting them, I couldn’t imagine anyone else changing me.

The queens hesitated again, it made we wonder if they hadn’t anticipated all these questions. “We highly doubt you won’t come home to be changed; but if you pushed the matter, I’m sure you could be changed there.” Sulpicia answered, it seemed she hated every word she said.

My biggest concern was being forced to come back. From what I could tell, they seemed like they would let me stay in Forks even if they didn’t believe I would want to. I still had other concerns, of course there were concerns when it involved the supernatural, but to me, none of them compared to my concerns about being forced to come back here. I knew I would eventually come back but I wanted to come back when I was a vampire and could defend myself.

What did it say that I hadn’t once thought about Edward or trying to see him since he was taken away?

“Let us go to our office and we can make the final arrangements there and go over the smaller details with you.” Didyme said as she gestured towards a door. I only nodded my head in agreement as I started to follow the queens. Hopefully returning to Forks wouldn’t be as hard as I was starting to think it might be.