Ebb and Flow (Twilight x Reader)

Chapter 33

Demetri left us in the cheerfully opulent reception area, where the woman Gianna was still at her post behind the polished counter. Bright, harmless music tinkled from hidden speakers.

"Do not leave until dark," he warned us.

Edward nodded, and Demetri hurried away. Gianna did not seem at all surprised by the exchange, though she did eye Edward's borrowed cloak with shrewd speculation.

"Are you all right?" Edward asked Bella under his breath, too low for the human woman to hear. His voice was rough with anxiety. Still stressed by our situation, I imagined.

I could tell why. My stomach was roiling from hearing the screams of the helpless who'd been lured to the Volturi's place of feasting.

"You'd better make her sit before she falls," Alice said. "She's going to pieces."

It was only then that I realized Bella was shaking, shaking hard, her entire frame vibrating until her teeth chattered. She was sobbing.

"Shh, Bella, shh," Edward said as he pulled her to the sofa farthest away from the curious human at the desk.

"I think she's having hysterics. Maybe you should slap her," Alice suggested.

"Alice." My voice meant to be chastising, but it sounded more like a groan. All those people. . .

"It's all right, you're safe, it's all right," Edward chanted again and again. He pulled Bella onto his lap and tucked the thick wool cloak around her.

"Those people," Bella sobbed.

"I know," he whispered.

"It's so horrible."

"Yes, it is. I wish you hadn't had to see that."

Bella rested her head against his cold chest, using the thick cloak to wipe her eyes. She took a few deep breaths.

"Is there anything I can get you?" a voice asked politely. It was Gianna, leaning over Edward's shoulder with a look that was both concerned and yet still professional and detached at the same time. It didn't seem to bother her that her face was inches from a hostile vampire. She was either totally oblivious, or very good at her job.

"No," Edward answered coldly.

She nodded, then disappeared.

I waited until she was out of hearing range. "Does she know what's going on here?" I demanded, my voice low and hoarse. The nausea was slowly fading away.

"Yes. She knows everything," Alice told me.

"Does she know they're going to kill her someday?" Bella whispered.

"She knows it's a possibility," Edward said.

That surprised me.

Edward's face was hard to read. "She's hoping they'll decide to keep her."

Bella paled. "She wants to be one of them?"

He nodded once, his eyes sharp on her face, watching her reaction.

I shuddered.

"How can she want that?" Bella whispered. "How can she watch those people file through to that hideous room and want to be a part of that?"

Edward didn't answer.

Bella's breaths were slowly evening out. Pretty soon, she was asleep against Edward's chest.

"I'm going to go check how Jasper is doing," Alice said and started to walk away. I knew that she meant by using her ability.

But my eyes widened. She could not leave me alone with him. "Alice—"