flightless bird

Chapter 33

I anxiously bit my nails as Alice sped along the country road on the way to Volterra. "I'm guessing you didn't rent this car?" Bella said breaking the silence. "I figured you girls wouldn't be opposed to grand theft auto" Alice joked and I let out a sigh as I bounce my leg up and down. I saw Alice go quiet and realised she was having a vision.

"Alice what is it? What do you see?!" I said as I leaned forward from the backseat waiting for an answer. "They refused them" Alice said. "So?..." Bella asked, slightly confused. "They're going to make a scene. Show themselves to the humans" Alice said and my eyes widened. "What?! No! How long?!" I exclaimed.

"They're going to wait till noon, when the suns at its highest" Alice replied and I sat back in my seat gripping my hair as I let out a groan. "Alice you gotta hurry up" Bella said. "There's Volterra" Alice said and I looked out the window to see the approaching village. "Jesus Christ!" I said as I began to hyperventilate. "Serena, calm down" Alice said as she looked to me in the rearview mirror.

"I can't Alice! What if we're too late?!" I cried as tears of panic filled my eyes. "Just breathe ok?" Alice said and I sighed before taking deep breaths. As we entered the village, Alice honked the horn at bystanders who were walking in the road as we sped through. "Why are there so many God-damn people?!" I said as we drove through a crowd, Alice beeping at people who were in the way.

"Why are they all in red?!" Bella said. "San Marco's day festival. They're commemorating the expulsion of vampires from the village. It's the perfect setting. The Volturi will never let them get far enough to reveal themselves. " Alice said. "Not helping Alice" I said as I rubbed my face. "We have five minutes!" Bella said and I looked to the time to see it was 11:55 AM.

"You know, Bella, just breathe" said Alice as Bella's breathing became ragged. We came to a halt by police officers. Bella jumped out and I climbed through jumping out of the car after her. "Alice!" Bella said. "Bella, Serena, you're the only one Edward won't see coming. If I go, he'll read my thoughts. He'll think I'm lying. Then they'll rush into it" Alice said.

"Where do we go?!" I exclaimed in desperation. "They'll be under the clock tower. Go!" Alice said before Bella and I sprinted off into the crowd. We came to a stop after a few feet and looked around. "Which way?!" said Bella as she looked around panicked. "Shit! I don't know! Lets go this way! They're all going this way!" I said before we continued shoving through people.

"Move!" I exclaimed as people got in my way and I pushed past them causing them to yell at me in Italian. Bella and I came to a stare case that led to a small alley way. Without hesitation I sprinted up the stairs, Bella faltering behind me. "Come on Bella!" I exclaimed over my shoulder. We came to a halt as we saw the crowd of people cheering on the parade.

Bella tapped me and I followed behind her as she pushed her way through the crowd. We ran through the parade and adrenaline rushed over me as the clock tower came to view on the other side of a fountain. The clock chimed as it struck twelve and I immediately stopped as my mouth fell ajar.

My heart beat raced as I saw Edward approaching the open doors, Christopher beside him as the two of them began unbuttoning their shirts. I gasped before immediately jumping into the water and sprinting through the fountain, leaping out of it as I made it to the other side. I watched as Edward stepped out of the building into the sun.

"Edward noooo!" I cried as I got closer before leaping onto him, shielding him from the sun and spectators. "Heaven" breathed Edward as he placed his hand on his head. "No! Edward, it's me! I'm here! I'm really here! I'm alive! Look at me!" I cried as the tears fell from my eyes, my hand coming to his face. Edward opened his eyes as he looked at me and shook filled his eyes.

"Move! You have to move or you'll be killed!" I exclaimed. "Serena" said Edward before he backed into the building, the door slamming behind us. I held onto him tightly before pulling away as I looked up at him. "You're here" he said and I nodded as I looked up at him. "I'm here. I'm ok" I said and a smile broke out on his face.

"You're alive!" I heard Christopher say and turned to see him holding Bella to his chest tightly. "I couldn't let you die thinking I was gone. You had to see me once to know that I was ok" I said as I looked up at him, the tears continuing to fall. "I can...I can let you go now. You don't have to feel guilty anymore" I said as I stepped away from him.

"I never acted out of guilt. I just couldn't live in a world where you don't exist" said Edward as he looked at me. "I-I thought you didn't love me. You didn't want me" I said in confusion as I looked at Edward. "I lied. I had to lie. I knew you wouldn't believe anything else. I knew that if I hurt you, you would stay away" he replied

"I thought I meant nothing to you" I said as I shook my head. "Serena, you mean everything to me. You're everything" said Edward and I felt him slip something into my hand. I looked down and saw the necklace I had given back to him and bit my bottom lip. Edwards hand caressed my cheek and I looked back up at him before leaning forward pressing my lips to his so passionately.

It was so over whelming. I was kissing him after so long. I felt my legs tremble as they felt like jelly. My hands knotted in his hair as he held me to him tightly, the familiar coolness of his skin touching mine bringing me relief and comfort. I felt normal once more. I felt whole as my missing piece was restored. A door opening caused Edward to pull away and we turned to see two men approaching us.