There mysterious girl

Chapter 6

Alice gripped Bella's elbow as they ascended the stairs, lest she fall. Her balance was still unsteady and her head throbbed dully.

"We can use my room," she said, steering Bella down the hall.

They passed Edward's door, which was open ajar, but Bella studiously looked at the carpet as they walked by it. Once, it had been a safe haven where Edward would play his massive collection of cd's while they lay with their limbs intertwined on his leather sofa. Now, it represented something more sinister.

Edward had holed them up in there several times during the last month when all Bella wanted to do was leave. He had kept her from Jake- he hadn't even let her spend time with Esme! Worst was that he had known, he must have known, that she wasn't his mate. Yet, how many times did he casually call her just that?

If she were a vampire, she would recall the exact number, but Bella was still tragically human. For now. She had a feeling that would be remedied in short order.

When she was finally immortal, would she know that they were not mates? Could that be chiefly among the reasons he would not change her? Had she ever really known him at all?

Alice pushed the door open to reveal a room that Bella had never seen before. There was a massive four poster bed with soft white linens and gossamer curtains enclosing it, all of which Bella knew wasn't used for sleep. There was also an oversized vanity with round, ball like light bulbs circling an oval mirror.

"I'll run you a bath," she said lightly, leading her inside and closing the door behind them.

"Um, a shower would be fine," Bella said awkwardly. It felt strange enough to shower in the bathroom that Alice, her former friend, shared with Jasper.

"Trust me," she said, grinning. "This tub is heavenly. Esme had it made when we moved in- I had to wait three months for it!"

She wasn't wrong. After Bella removed her soiled clothing and donned the white robe Alice handed her, her eyes grew round.

"I told you so," Alice winked, seeing her expression.

It truly was magnificent. The tub was free standing and looked as though it had been carved by a single slab of white marble. It was also big enough to fit several people in it.

"I'll be in the bedroom, packing you a bag," she said, seeing herself to the door.

"What?"

"You didn't think I'd send you to Italy with just the clothes on your back, did you?" she chirped. "I ordered everything weeks ago."

"Weeks?! You've known for weeks?!" Bella exclaimed. "But- but you've been avoiding me! I thought...I thought we weren't friends anymore." Her voice grew smaller now, insecurity coloring her voice.

Alice's face fell.

"Oh, Bella, I'm really sorry. This is all Edward's fault! If he hadn't made us leave in the first place! Ugh," she sighed. "Anyway, he made me stay away. I saw things in Volterra that he didn't want you to know, and- well, you'll find out soon enough."

Bella frowned, put off by this. Alice was an adult- nearly a hundred years old, in fact. Surely, she didn't need her surrogate brother's permission to talk to Bella. Certainly, she could use her vision to thwart him if he tried to prevent it. But, she reflected, that wasn't really Alice's M.O. was it? No. She was only too happy to let Edward call the shots even if it was at Bella's expense. Their abandonment came to mind.

Mentioning her confusion and disappointment was an option, but it didn't appeal to her. Bella wasn't sure if or when she would ever see Alice again. Arguing seemed pointless.