Something Darker (Book Three)

XLVII. Stitches

I was in complete shock.

Renesmee lied. The vision wasn't real.

"That's what I thought," Jane sneered. "See, Violet? Wouldn't your life be easier if you just listened to my from the beginning?"

"What?" I said, cutting my eyes to meet Renesmee's, "Why?"

"You were so set on joining the Volturi," she said, biting her lip, "but you'd be better off in with me and my coven. I knew you'd never listen to me because you have Jane in your ear...and Alec. And Demetri, apparently."

"So, you took it upon yourself to manipulate me?"

"It was for your own good," she said, gaining confidence. "You even asked me about it, back when you lived in Forks."

"Right. Before you and your entire family kicked me to the curb with no friends, no family, no job, no education, no resources...why the hell would I want to live with you? At least the Volturi would never abandoned me— they wouldn't leave me out in the cold, homeless and alone."

"Oh, you're right! They'd never leave you in the dust; they'd kill you before they let you leave," Renesmee retorted.

"I'd rather die than be a Cullen," I spat. I knew I was being petty, but she had seriously crossed a line. "You guys think you're so much better than us, but your lot is every bit as calculating and manipulative as mine. At least my coven isn't so self-involved."

"I was only trying to help you," she pouted as she narrowed her eyes at me. "Yeah, I lied. But I only said what was plausible. You don't think they wouldn't turn on you for being different? For being you? I know you. You don't have to heart to feed on people, and you don't have the heart to run around executing other vampires. You have a good heart, deep down. I still believe that, even after everything you've done."

Jane, still standing close to me, shook her head condescendingly at Renesmee with a light smirk on her lips.

"You're always fighting with them, Violet" Renesmee continued, growing agitated. "Your supposed friends! Jane still picks on you, you still fight with everyone - you're going to be miserable in the Volturi, and forever is a long time."

I involuntarily blinked rapidly a few times and I felt my fingers twitch. I was seriously holding myself back. She thought I only got in fights with Volturi members? I wanted to prove her wrong desperately - but I knew kicking her ass in front of everyone wasn't a good move.

"Stop acting like you know me," I said, fighting to maintain my composure. My throat burned, I was agitated, and for some reason, Renesmee refused to shut the hell up and sit down.

"But, I do," she insisted. "I know you better than you know yourself - and much better than Jane does!"

"No, you don't, you goddamn idiot! Because if you did, you would've known that Demetri is my mate!"

"I'm not an idiot," Renesmee said tartly, growing angry.

"You a fucking fool, Renesmee! And you lied. You tried to drive me away from him."

Renesmee's face twisted into a grimace. "Really? Like how you drove Jacob and me apart?"

Bella groaned in pain, the emotional wounds still fresh for her.

"You said you forgave me," I said evenly.

"How could I possibly forgive you after the way you tore my family apart?" Renesmee snapped. "I'm so sick of listening to you crying and complaining about how horrible you life is. Look at you! You killed my mate, and yet you get two! And you think I'm the spoiled one." She had the nerve to cross the room and get in my face.

"Golly," I said, stepping up in her face, as well - two could play that game. She knew damn well I only had one mate; she was just hamming up her sob story for the audience, "I didn't realize you were just as brain damaged as your slow, socially stunted mother. Dumb bitch is so stupid I'm surprised she can stand up on her own two feet."

Cullens hissed and sucked in their breath; Volturis bit back smiled and tried not to laugh.

"Well, at least my mom isn't dead," Renesmee said icily.

"Wow. What a burn," I smirked as Jane drifted closer to me, angling herself toward me and standing close enough that we almost touched.

"We dealt with that," Jane said without inflection.

"Renesmee, come back," Edward called after her, his tone terse.

"Of course you would think that," Renesmee glared at Jane, "considering her death was all your fault in the first place."

"Don't speak to her," I threatened Renesmee. She'd mouthed off at Jane far too many times. If it weren't for her relationship with me, Jane would've given her a one-way ticket to the afterlife.

Why couldn't she just shut up and be thankful?

"Renesmee," Bella said, stepping towards us.

The guards on our side of the room took a step towards Bella, stopping her in her tracks. When she stepped back, they did, as well.

"It seems like mistakes have been made on both sides," Aro said in regard to my boiling feud with Renesmee. We were going nowhere good, fast.

"They're young, Aro," Carlisle said, stepping in on Renesmee's behalf. "They have a lot to learn. Its nothing we can't work through."

I grimaced, and Renesmee glared back. If only she knew my body count - maybe then she wouldn't be trying to act so big.

"Violet is a newborn," Carlisle continued, "and Renesmee is—"

"A sheltered brat," Jane interjected.

"Jane. Please," Aro said gently.

It was true, what they said. Jane could do no wrong in Aro's eyes.

Jane glanced at Aro and obediently quieted down.

"I can't believe you chose her," Renesmee said in disgust as she gave Jane a hard look.

"I didn't have much of a choice," I shot back.

"Renesmee," Edward called, his voice touched with distress.

"Yes, you did," she said, ignoring her father. "Admit it. You'd rather have Evilness over here rather than me, an actual good person."

"Don't talk about her like that," I said, growing cold.

"She's a no good bully," Renesmee sneered, "and a huge bitch."

"RENESMEE," Edward thundered. "They're in Bella's bubble! I can't hear their tho—"

Before Edward could finish his thought, however, Jane reached out and tore Renesmee's head off.