Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

Sins Of The Past

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 09:

Jane POV

She looked so peaceful. I always thought Edward Cullen was a perverted freak for watching her sleep, but when she arrived in Volterra the first time and asked to sleep in my chambers I understood a bit. Watching her sleep was beautiful. The rise and fall of her chest. I tried to stay away but found myself wandering back several times a night with an excuse of reading. In reality even then I had to be near her.

I was confused for so long. She brought out feelings in me I had never had before in my existence. I spoke with Master Aro several times about this. He gave me the courage to express my feelings to Bella. When Bella told me she felt the same, I felt hope for happiness, real happiness, not the type Corin provided, for the first time in my life.

She became my best friend and eventually we conquered our mutual fear of touching others. She had only touched her mother and daughter. I had only touched Alec to that point. As a result of our union we both became more receptive to touching other females. Hugs. I will never forget the glimmer of tears in Mistress Sulpicia’s eyes when I allowed her to hug me the first time.

Of course men were off limits. Bella and I both had our limits. I loved my brothers in the Volturi. But the idea of a male hand on my body sent me back to that village. Alec in a cage while man after man took me. I stopped screaming after the fifth. By the time I was tied to the stake I was grateful for the flames to come. Instead Master Aro arrived.

That being said I tried my best to not watch her sleep for more than a few minutes. She was exhausted. She took three Vicodin at 7 PM and was in bed at 7:30, sleeping deeply. It was now midnight. Of course her bitch daughter was still up. The times I wanted to kill that little bitch. Half of her was the foul creature who injured my love.

The half of her that was Bella kept Dani alive.

I hated to wake her. I should have been over earlier. Instead I was at the Cullen’s foul residence attempting to hurt Demetri and Felix. Master Aro would not allow it. He saw their thoughts and was convinced that Bella was acting like the warrior she was and Demetri and Felix were simply outsmarted. Ridiculous. She was on the ground. He could have taken her gun. Demetri swore he had the situation under control. Master Aro was convinced of this as well.

“She needed to fight him on her own Jane.” He tells me.

I reneged on my threats. I should have been with her. Instead I was babysitting her permanent reminder of the worst night of her life in that hideous high school surrounded by petulant snacks.

I would be relieved when Bella took her place at our side. Renata protected the Kings. Bella would protect us all. She would make us invincible. No one could touch us. No power and no person. Most importantly she would be invincible even by vampire standards.

I brushed her hair off her eye gently. She always slept on the stomach, a result of the years of pain, caused by her back injuries.

She smiled. She knew my touch.

“Jane.” She whispered, not opening her eyes.

“Yes my love. I hate to wake you but I want to inform you of what went on in school today.”

Bella rolled to her side and opened her eyes, grinning at me.

“You’re not going to tell me you are leaving me for a younger woman, are you?”

“No. Several girls and boys I thought we could have for dinner, but no one can replace you my cougar.”

Bella sat up and pressed her back to the headboard, wiping her eyes. She was nude. Focus Jane.

“So tell me what happened. Dani was very quiet.”

“A young man approached her at lunch outside.”

“That’s not new. I’m surprised only one did. She didn’t… do anything on school property did she?”

I sighed. The little whore actually kept her legs closed today.

“No love. She managed to act like a lady during school hours. The boy however was not a student. He approached her outside. He was Quileute. He claimed to be a nephew of Sue Swan, your father’s wife. He tried to convince her to speak to you along with Sue about visiting La Push.”

My love’s grin was gone.

“What did she say?”

“She told him basically it would not happen.”

Her shoulder’s dropped in relief.

“Billy Black visited me today and asked about bringing her to La Push. He feels they have some claim on her.”

“Should I kill him? I can do it tonight. I’m sure Master Aro would not mind. Master Caius will race me to the man’s residence.”

Bella seemed to think deeply about this.

“No. No yet. They want Dani but somebody really wants her. If Sue is involved I want to know. I need… I wish I knew why Charlie became involved with her. He obviously suspected the tribe. He must not have suspected her or why… I don’t know.”

“Let Master Aro find out. This could be over in a matter of hours.”

“Perhaps. But I want a chance Jane. You understand right? If you had an opportunity to kill all the men from your village who raped you, would you want Master Aro to do it for you?”

“You can kill him. However many are involved you can do it Bella. We will just find the guilty parties. That has always been the plan.”

“I know. But I want them to know. Know they didn’t outsmart me. It’s personal. The last personal thing I will ever do in my human life. Please understand Jane.”

A part of me did. That was the problem. Another part of me wanted to surround her with the Guard and slaughter the residents of La Push one by one. The problem is that is exactly what Edward Cullen would have done. Master Aro and I have spoken of this many times. Bella was not meant to be protected any more than I was. We were warriors. Enforcers. Enforcers are not protected. In two years the opportunity would have been there. She would have been immortal and could have fought the wolves one on one. Now that she is human and they are not phasing, Bella would have the opportunity to fight them now.

“I do my love. You should know the male who spoke to her could smell me, as Dani has. Dani also mentioned he was running a fever. I gave him a slight taste of my power and he ran, but he is obviously close to phasing.”

“Interesting. But Dani is not running fever. Leah Clearwater is the only female shifter in the history of the tribe. Not even Rachel and Rebecca Black shifted and they had just as strong bloodlines as Leah. Her ability to smell vampires may be just that. An inherited trait and not a sign that she will phase.”

“What if only females in the Clearwater’s bloodline can shift?” I suggested.

“That would mean… no. That would mean Seth… we don’t know that Jane. Not for sure. Just keep watching her please. Keep chasing off tribe members. If she runs fever, then Aro will touch Seth Clearwater and we will all leave quickly.”

“Okay.” I sighed. “Also Dani was reading a book at lunch.”

Bella chuckled softly.

“Magazine Jane. Magazine.”

“No Bella. A book. A black book with no title. She was engrossed before the boy arrived. It appeared to be a journal.”

“But… where would she find a journal?”

“Your father left notes in a safe at the police station. Who knows what she has found around here. Looking for drugs most likely.”

“I… thank you Jane. I need to get that book.”

Bella moved to rise from bed.

“Stop my love. You need rest. Whatever is in that journal she has already read. I will grab it when she falls asleep. You need sleep. We have an eventful day tomorrow. Demetri is very excited about being in charge of a police station. Felix is very upset he is not in charge. We have work to do. Sleep.”

“I can’t sleep.” Bella grumbled. “Not knowing that she…”

I laid down beside her and pulled her into my body.

“I will handle the book. You sleep. You trust me right?”

“Yes Jane.”

“Then sleep. As soon as she is asleep I will be there. I will get the book and we can discuss it tomorrow on the trip to the Cullen’s. You are seeing your ex tomorrow. You want to look your best. No bags under your eyes right?”

Bella giggled and I began gently rubbing her back. I didn’t shy away from her scars. As much of a reminder they were of what happened to her they were also a reminder of what she had overcome. She sighed and within minutes was asleep. I gently unwrapped my arms from her and covered her. Dani’s breathing had leveled out and her heart rate had slowed. She was asleep. Time to see what the nosy little bitch was up to.

Dani POV

I woke up looking forward to another day in Hell High. Luke texted me last night. Wanted to see how I was doing. If I had given anymore thought to talking to my Mom.

He asked me out on a date this weekend. I seriously doubted Mom would let that happen so I let him down easy. He said he understood.

Mom was already in the kitchen. I could hear her down there and the smell of eggs told me she would be playing happy homemaker for an hour at least. Dani would be eating today. Thank God. I was starving. I usually had a cup of coffee in the morning and a slice of toast. Today I wanted to eat like a pig. I hope I wasn’t pregnant. I argued with Mom that condoms weren’t always effective and she said I shouldn’t be having sex. I told her I wasn’t a man hater like she was. She said I was 16. Yeah. 16. She really hasn’t been paying attention since I turned 14. She was either stupid or in denial. I knew she wasn’t stupid. I better not be pregnant. Damn those eggs smell good.

I showered quickly trying to ignore that damn smell that seemed to permeate my room this morning. Luckily my clothes smelt okay. I finished grandpa’s journal last night. At the end there were several blank pages. His last entry was three weeks ago. He had decided he would have to confront Sue with what he knew. He wouldn’t say anything about Mom or me. He would ask her about the legends. He would tell her he knew about Sam Uley and Jacob Black. He would not let it go. He needed more information. He needed to know who the Alpha was and he would not let her keep it to herself. He decided the Alpha had to be my father. He just wasn’t sure who it was. Embry Call was also a possibility because no one knew who his father was.

I honestly didn’t know what to make of it. It was so crazy. Vampires? Werewolves? Crazy shit. He must have gotten lost on and went off on a crazy tangent.

The problem was he never believed until he had no choice but to believe. Mom’s scars flashed in my head every time he mentioned werewolves.

Grandmother said Mom was scarred by my father. No way had a human made those scars. I never doubted Mom when she said bear attack. But Mom told me my father did it to her as well. The bear attack had been a lie. So what could a man use to make those scars? Grandpa decided the legends had to be true. In my mind only one woman knew the absolute truth. Mom.

I would give her the book and ask her about it. Tonight. When we were both home I would ask her about it. I needed to know. I had to know. She probably needed to know that Grandpa was going to confront Sue about this so called wolf pack. The Alpha? The Alpha was my father. Grandpa thought so. He figured it was the only way it could have been hid. He had gotten DNA samples over the years of his three suspects for alpha, Sam Uley, Jacob Black and Embry Call. Every time he had it typed it came back degraded. The sample testing would not identify it as valid DNA. Something was wrong with it.

I moved to grab the journal and place it in the hiding spot in the floor.

It wasn’t on my night stand.

Shit.

Had Mom came in this morning and gotten it? Did she have it now?

Damn it.

I put on my favorite black tights and a white button up shirt that hung to my knees and threw my hair in a ponytail. With no one to impress I really didn’t see much point in provocative dress. I could dress in a black garbage bag and those idiots at that school would be up on me throwing game they didn’t have.

Teeth brushed, the smell of eggs overrode my fear of Mom having that damn book. I eased into the kitchen and saw she was smiling.

“Good morning baby.” She kissed my cheek and put a plate on the table.

“Morning Mom. You sure are in a good mood.”

“It’s a good day to be alive sweetie. Soon this will be all behind us like a bad dream and we are going to be shopping in Time’s Square and watching Broadway plays on the weekends. Soon Dani. I have a good feeling.”

“You mean soon you kill my… the guy who…”

“Yep. That’s exactly what I mean sweetie. Eat your breakfast before it gets cold.”

Okay…

“Mom what if we just left? Let it go?” I tried.

She stopped humming and turned to look at me.

“Dani they know about you. Billy Black visited me yesterday and told me you should be going to school on the reservation. It’s too late for that baby. I wouldn’t let it go anyway.”

Okay…

“Could I go home? To New York? Stay with Grandmother?”

Mom gave me a sharp look and then her face softened.

“You brought me here. I thought this is what you wanted?”

“I wanted to find out about my past. Where I came from. Meet my grandfather. I didn’t want you to be involved in shootouts in the woods and planning to murder people for revenge.”

“Yes well sometimes curiosity can bring more than we bargained for. I was curious once and it changed everything about me. It killed the person I used to be. The person I could have been. Now I am this. And I will have revenge.”

She sat down across from me and began eating.

Fuck it.

“You mean your curiosity about the Cullen’s?”

Shit. She just froze mid bite. So much for waiting until tonight.

Then she began chewing again. A drink of coffee.

“Eat.” She ordered. I obeyed, figuring I had poked the tiger enough this morning. I finished my plate pretty quickly. When I looked up I saw she was staring at me.

“What?”

“Hungry?” she asked, eyebrow raised.

“Yeah…” she reached across the table and touched my forehead.

“I think you are right. This weekend I am moving you and your Grandmother somewhere else. Somewhere far from here. I will take you myself Saturday.”

“Why? Why do you keep… does this have something to do with the wolves? You… you don’t think I’m going to turn into one do you?!”

“We will talk about what you think you know and don’t know tonight. I have to take a day trip. Police matter. I will be back around 5. I am letting you use the car today. You are to go straight to school and then come straight home. No one will bother you. The security company watching your grandfather will have men here unseen watching the house. No one will bother you. Stay inside. Do not leave. Straight to school and straight home. I will know if you go anywhere else.”

“How?” I asked before I could cram the words back in my mouth.

“I will. Don’t worry about it.”

“You’re going to have me watched, aren’t you? You don’t trust me at all.”

“Trust? Dani when have you given me any reason to trust you? How long have you had Charlie’s journal? Since the day you arrived? You didn’t think this was something I should see? No Dani, I don’t trust you.”

“Why the hell should I trust you?” I asked, standing up and getting very angry, very quickly. Mom just stared at me.

“Calm down. Now. You should trust me because regardless of whether I lie to you or hold things back I am the only person on Earth who completely wants what is best for you. You are going to have to trust me. You have no choice. Do as you are told. Tonight I will tell you what I think you need to know. You won’t have to go to school Friday. Saturday you and Mom are going to be at your new residence under new names. Now I have to go. Be good. I love you. Whether you believe it or not.”

“Why do I have to go to school? If I am leaving this weekend why bother?” I tried.

Mom seemed to give this some thought.

“Fair enough. Stay at home. Do not leave the house. It will be easier to guard you here anyway. See you later baby. I love you.”

That said Mom walked grabbed her coat and walked out the door.

I ate another three slices of toast and scrambled more eggs. I grabbed another cup of coffee and went to her old room. It wasn’t mine. That was for damn sure. I opened the window and lit a cigarette. Where would she send me next? Then it hit me.

Mom never denied anything I said. I asked her if she was afraid I would turn into a monster and she told me she would talk to me tonight.

When the cigarette was done I was pretty sure I would be smoking a little something extra. I can’t believe the nightmare my life has become.

I should have stayed in New York. I was so fucking stupid.

Bella POV

Master Aro sat across from me in the luxury helicopter that Santiago had flown in behind the station. I was so excited to see him I didn’t have time to take in the chopper. Now that I was here I admitted it was very, very nice. Master Aro instructed him to leave Afton for a few hours. They had been in Pennsylvania observing a nomad attempting to make a new coven of newborns. Not exactly new born army numbers. Just four. An instant coven he would control. The nomad must have felt threatened by a traveling trio of nomads who recently threatened him and ordered him away from their feeding grounds. We would stay out of the matter unless larger numbers of newborns were created or he couldn’t control four newborns at once. Then we would step in. Master Aro wanted Santiago for extra protection.

“Isabella you are not to attempt a physical shield unless you are in direct danger of an attack. If you are in danger, no one else. I expect there to be no physical shields. You may use your mental shield to your heart’s desire. No physical shields. We understand each other?”

“Yes Master.” I said quietly, desperately trying to prevent my eyes from rolling. I had worked with Master Aro for years on my mental shield. Learning to control my gift, even as a human. One day in the throne room I was brought in to be introduced to a vampire from Tokyo. As I walked before him he grabbed my hand, despite being told I was not to be touched and bent to kiss it.

I screamed and he was knocked away… by me. I could feel a wall around me. It didn’t last long. Only a few seconds. The vampire, I believe his name was Asiro, tried to apologize to me. I say tried because he was in pieces before the apologetic sentence could be completed. Felix and Alec ripped him to pieces and Master Caius lit him up without another word.

From that point on I begged Master Aro to work with me on the physical shield. Heidi tried to touch me often, always succeeding. I agreed hesitantly to allow a male outer guard member to attempt to touch me. I gritted my teeth and bared it, expecting to be touched and praying I could deal with it. He approached me slowly. I panicked the closer he got. Just before the tip of his finger reached me I lost it. I screamed and felt the wall surround me again.

I woke up three hours later in Jane’s bed with the entire guard standing over me. A female doctor had been brought in to examine me and was promptly drained after announcing me well. Master Aro had feared I had a brain aneurysm. I had a massive nose bleed and a massive headache but I was fine. After that I was no longer allowed to perform a physical shield unless my life was in danger. I agreed with Master Aro that is was not worth the risk.

“Thank you for not rolling your eyes Bella.” He winked at me and I knew I had been caught. Faking a humble voice has never been my strong suit. I simply smiled and leaned back in the leather chair to relax quietly. Until Alec spoke.

“Come sono i vostri studi di lingua andando?” (How are your language skills sister?”)

I saw the grin on his face. He thought he was so much smarter than I was, just because he had a couple thousand years on me.

“Il mio italiano è bella come tua sorella. Мой русский уродлив, как ваши волосы брата.” (My Italian is as beautiful as your sister. My Russian is as ugly as your hair brother.)

This brought laughter from Jane and Master Aro. Alec simply smirked and waived his fingers through the mop on his head.

My language skills had improved. They would be easier to pick up as a vampire but I had Italian down and Russian somewhat passable.

The chopper began descending. I stood up along with Jane and we wrapped our robes around ourselves. I placed my hood over my head. I knew eventually I would run into the Cullen’s again. It was a long existence. I didn’t plan on it being this soon or as a human.

Jane straightened the hood. I knew my face could barely be seen behind this. I also knew they would recognize my scent immediately, most likely. Santiago and Master Aro would be by my side in the event Edward was overcome with my scent. This was simply an informative visit. I didn’t want to burn them all. Truth be told they were an annoyance. Risking our kind to exposure constantly, but they were by no means a danger to our family. Master Aro blamed them for what happened to me. But as Chelsea and I had discussed many times if I had not discovered the Cullen’s I would not have found my true place in this world. Master Aro was convinced I would have found my way to the Volturi regardless. He believed in destiny.

The chopper touched down and Master Aro smirked. I looked at him questioningly.

“As I suspected Isabella. They never saw us coming. Alice Cullen is panicking right now as are the rest of them.”

I chuckled a bit. That fact alone would cause fear for the Cullen’s. They relied on Alice for survival. If she couldn’t see an outcome, whatever would they do? Master Aro used to desire Alice for the Guard. At least until I told him just how inaccurate she was. He agreed and Master Caius said that he simply could not take her living in the castle. He also refused to live with Edward Cullen.

Jane and Alec stepped out first. Santiago winked at me and walked in front. Master Aro and I exited at the same time.

The door opened and a very frightened Esme Cullen stood at it, doing her best to hide her fear with a smile.

Jane and Alec brushed past her without a word. Santiago followed inside.

“Welcome Aro…” she seemed confused. Probably at my heartbeat or scent. She couldn’t see my face. Perhaps she could. Either way it didn’t matter.

“Thank you Esme. I hope we haven’t arrived at a bad time.”

“Of… of course not.”

“May we enter? I have some issues I need to discuss with your coven.”

“Of course.” Esme backed inside quickly and we followed. I remained by Master Aro’s side. The house was of course huge and opened to a large parlor, resembling a Greek mansion. Marble columns and floors. Tall columns and a beautiful marble staircase. It truly was a gorgeous house, impeccably decorated. I preferred castles but if you were into mere mansions I suppose this was a way to go.

“Aro.”

My eyes were drawn from the interior to Carlisle’s voice. My shield stretched over my family. I looked at Edward. He was sniffing.

“Bella?” he asked.

I pulled back my hood and smiled.

“Hello Edward.”

The Cullen’s were frozen. I suppose I should get to the point.

“My father tracked you Carlisle. He tracked your appearances at various hospitals over the years. He tracked your children. I have not spoken to him more than twice a year in 16 years and gave him no hints. He did it on his own. You left me with knowledge of vampires as a human. Another violation of the law. As of this moment, by order of the Volturi, you are to cease working and living among humans. You obviously cannot hide your movements and place our kind at risk of exposure. No more hospitals, no more patients, no more high schools or colleges. A trial will be held at some point in the future to determine what exact laws have been broken and what punishments your coven will face.”

“Bella what are you doing? What have you done to her?!” Edward moved towards Aro. Bad mistake.

Edward hit the ground, screaming.

“Aro please! This has been a surprise. Please have Jane stop!” Carlisle begged.

“I’m afraid we have a new rule in the Volturi, Carlisle. Jane only stops when Bella asks her to.” Aro said cheerfully.

The Cullen clan, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper, Alice, Esme and Carlisle looked at me.

I looked at Edward on the ground and smiled. He really did have a lovely scream.

Finally I walked to Jane, brushed her hood back and kissed her gently on the mouth.

Edward’s screams died down.

“How… you accuse us of… you are using a human, Aro. Bella is… she…” Carlisle tried.

“She is what? You left her. I found her. I offered her a place in the Volturi forever. She accepted. She has been a member of the Volturi for 16 years Carlisle. She will be one forever.”

“Why? Because she had knowledge of us?” Esme asked quietly, looking so sad.

“No. I would have let her go because she can keep secrets much better than you can. Bella was offered a spot with the Volturi because she is a warrior. A gifted warrior. She accepted a spot and is one of us now. Soon she will be fully immortal. The reasons for the delay are none of your business. You are accused of her father finding out about you on his own. I don’t believe this is a major violation. I do not believe any of your coven will die. I don’t want any of them to serve in my guard. But this exposure must be answered.”

“You have always wanted Alice and I in your guard.” Edward gasped from the floor.

“Why would I want either of you in my guard Edward? Can you read my mind? Can you read any ones? Alice could not even see this coming.”

All eyes were looking at me. Edward must just be realizing he couldn’t hear a single thought in the room. I winked at him and smiled.

“You are a shield? As a human?” Jasper whispered.

“Amazing, isn’t she?” Master Aro stated with pride. “Now we simply came to tell you to cease and desist any contact with humans. However there is one issue I would like resolved now. Obviously Isabella will be immortal soon. I was wondering what your plans are for the girl hiding upstairs? I’m assuming the trembling heart beat I hear upstairs belongs to a friend of yours Edward? Of course I may be a fool to assume it is a female. Perhaps you have a new male best friend? I don’t judge. As you can tell by Jane and Bella’s relationship we are very open minded in Volterra.”

No one said a word. This was interesting.

“Carlisle are you going to invite the person down or shall I go up and introduce myself?” Master Aro asked.

Edward sighed and looked upstairs.

“Dion? Please come downstairs to my side.” He said in a raised voice.

A trembling blonde teenage girl around 17 or 18 walked downstairs quickly and grabbed Edward’s hand.

Wow. It is a girl.

“Dion is it? Nice to meet you. My name is Aro. Would you mind if we shook hands?”