I texted him back quickly, telling him I'd leave my house now. I grabbed my keys and slipped on a light jacket.
"Where are you going?" Sarah asked me. I stopped looking at her. My mind was racing. What to tell her?
"I'm going out." I said, reaching for the doorknob. "To eat with my friends. Tell Uncle Bert for me, okay? And watch Danny." I smiled.
"Okay." She replied, plopping on the couch next to Danny watching Spongebob.
"Thanks! Bye!" I called out, closing the door behind me. I ran out to my car and proceeded to back up out of the driveway, but a car flew to the end of my driveway and halted with a screech. I had to stomp on my own brakes just to avoid a crash. My dice fell down to the floor. I reached down to pick it up and hang it back.
Tap, tap. I looked to my left. There he stood, tapping my window to get my attention. I rolled it down.
"You weren't kidding when you said you were leaving right now." I was still speechless. "I came to pick you up." He opened my driver side door and held out his hand. I looked at it oddly, people usually didn't offer their hand to help you out of a car. He waved it a bit and I took it. He pulled me out and led me to his car. His car was nice. Very nice. Sleek, black, leather interior, and if I wasn't mistaken, it was a Mercedes. I don't know a lot about cars, but I knew Mercedes Benz cars are very expensive. I was actually scared to track dirt into the car. It looked spotless.
"Wow." Was all I said. He led me to the passenger side and opened the door for me. As soon as I got in, he shut the door quickly. He appeared in his driver's seat faster than I could put on my seatbelt. He didn't put one on. He started driving. Real fast. The last time I had driven with him, he had told me he was a good driver. Somehow, him going 80 down my little street didn't really prove it. I held on tight. "Um...You're going eighty." I pointed out. He looked at me stupidly. I looked down. The car actually slowed, only by ten though.
I looked at him. "So...Why does Carlisle and Esme want to see me?" His body grew tense. He shook his head.
"We just need to talk. Not just you and Carlisle...All of us." He replied and that was the end of it. We flew down Marlow Road and his car spun and made a sharp turn into the small road leading to his house. I had only been there less than two days ago.
I got out of the car, shutting the door slowly. I felt a bit dizzy. I regained my balance and composure and followed Edward into the house. Everyone was already sitting in the living room. Edward pointed to the same black leather armchair I had sat in the first night. I looked nervously again from vampire to vampire in the room. This time, Rosalie and Emmett were present. The room was filled with an awkward silence.
"So...How are you doing Emma?" Alice broke the silence.
"Good." I replied. "Um...And you?"
"I'm fine, thank you." She smiled.
"Do you want anything?" Carlisle commented.
"Stop stalling, just tell her." Esme turned to Carlisle. He let out a sigh. This has to be serious.
"Emma, we're running into a bit of a problem." Carlisle said. I raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?" The all looked from one another and Edward ended up being the one to tell me.
"Alice saw some visitors." He looked dead at me. I knew there was something more than just a few harmless visitors.
"What kind of visitors?" I asked.
"Our kind." Jasper replied. I probably should've been panicking; freaking out, running for my life? Instead I sat there saying nothing but a simple, "Oh."
They all watched me, half expecting a bigger sort of reaction.
"Remember when I told you, you can't know about our existence?" I nodded at Carlisle's question "These vampires, from what Alice says, they're not quite like others. They're part of a group of royal vampires. They've come a long way."
"What do you mean by royal? And long way? What're are they here for?" I asked.
"Did you hear about the killings up in Vancouver?" Alice asked me.
"Yeah, the supposed mountaineer up in Canada that's killed six people, right? What's that gotta do with our current problem?"
"The group of vampires I saw, like Carlisle said, they're not just any vampires. They're the Volturi. The Volturi is like the royal family of all vampires. They're the most powerful coven of vampires. Their job is to keep our existence under wraps from the humans. To keep our only law enforced. You knowing, that's where the problem comes in." Alice concluded. "As for the killing in Canada, it probably turned out to be another vampire on a killing spree. The Volturi went to put him down before anyone else got hurt. And Carlisle's a long time friend. I guess, they just wanted to pay a visit and check out some things."
"Then, I'll just not let them know that I know." I suggested. Edward shook his head.
"It's not that easy. Aro, the leader, once he even touches one of us, he'll know everything we've ever thought, let alone know." I hadn't noticed, until I felt a sharp pain on my left hand. I was wringing my hands again. They were red and blotchy. I continued to look down, thinking.
"What'll they do to me?" No reply. "You know, if they find out I know?" There was a small silence.
"They'll kill you." Rosalie said bluntly. I tried to breathe calmly.
"We won't let them hurt you." Edward said, glaring at Rosalie. "Alice, who's coming?"
Alice shrugged. "Aro and another boy. I'm not sure who he is. He may be newly brought into the Volturi. That's why Aro's with him; training." They all nodded.
"When?"
"Tomorrow, around nooon."
"So what should we do?" I asked, scared.
"We're not doing anything. And we shouldn't. We can't do this again to the Volturi. I told you not tell her." Rosalie shook her head at her family. Emmett tried to calm her but to no avail. She sat there with her arms crossed, glaring at me. I felt myself shrinking into the chair under her gaze.
"What if I left town. I could go to my aunt's." Edward nodded.
"That's what we were going to suggest. None of us can know where exactly you're going though. You'll be safe at least." Edward reassured me. Another thought crossed my mind. Why did I always have to worry more than a normal person should?
"What about you? I mean, if you guys broke the law telling me, so what happens to you?" No one answered. I had realized this eerie silence wasn't good. I now understood why Rosalie had been so against her family's interference in this situation. Nothing good could come out. She knew that. Everyone did, except me. "I'm not leaving."
"Yes you are. It wasn't your fault. You're innocent in this. We're not going to let you die." I shook my head at Edward's words.
"If I leave, they're not going to let you go, are they?" I asked solemnly. Silence again.
"That doesn't matter." Edward pulled out a small envelope from his pocket. He handed it to me. "This is as far as we should take you. If we take you to the airport, we may find out where you're going and all our efforts will be wasted."
It was too late. I hadn't come to discuss anything. I was here to be told what to do. To receive an order. I should've been happy that they were willing, well all but one, to save me from this situation. Yet, I got a sickening feeling at the pit of my stomach and my heart felt like it was being burned, scorched. I felt a lump in my throat and a feeling rose deep within me. A feeling I never wanted to feel again. A feeling of helplessness, just like the day my parents died.
