𝙀𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙄𝙣 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨

Chapter Nine

Late at night, I was just about to drift off to sleep when my phone buzzed. It was Edward. "Can you come to the Cullens' house? It's urgent," the message read. I quickly got dressed and made my way to their house, my mind racing with possibilities.

When I arrived, I knocked on the door, and Esme greeted him warmly. "Come in, Ishkhan. They're waiting for you," she said as she led him to the living room. 

Inside, I saw Bella standing in front of the Cullens, with Edward standing behind her on the stairs. I was confused. "Is this about what happened with the Volturi?" he asked.

Bella nodded slightly. "Kinda. You all know what I want. And I know how much I'm asking for. The only way I can think of it to be fair is to vote."

I was puzzled. "Why am I here then? I'm not a vampire."

Bella glanced at Edward before answering. "Edward wanted someone reasonable to vote."

Bella turned to Alice first. "Alice?"

Alice smiled warmly. "I already consider you my sister. So yes."

"Thank you," Bella said, her voice filled with gratitude.

Jasper was next. "It'll be nice not wanting to kill you all the time. Yes."

Bella nodded, acknowledging his vote. Rosalie stepped forward, looking a bit hesitant. "I'm really grateful for you being brave enough to save my brother, but this isn't a life I would've chosen for myself. I wish someone had voted no for me. So, no."

Emmett was quick to respond. "Hell yeah!" He hugged Bella tightly. "We can deal with the Volturi some other way."

Esme's eyes were soft with emotion. "Yes. I consider you family."

Carlisle walks closer to Edward, his footsteps almost silent but heavy with the weight of the moment. He sighs deeply, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and determination. Edward, his face etched with anguish, looks up at his father. "Why are you doing this to me?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper.

The room falls into a tense silence as everyone's gaze shifts to me. I take a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "I vote no," I say firmly, though I know that Rosalie and I are outvoted. The room remains silent, the air thick with anticipation.

I turned to Bella, my eyes searching hers for understanding. "Bella, is this actually the life you want? Do you really want to live for eternity and drink blood to survive, or is it because you can't live without Edward? If it isn't, then you need to reconsider your choice," I say, my voice gentle but insistent. 

I paused, letting my words sink in. "Think about the people you will lose once you make this choice because there is no going back. Your family, your friends... everyone you know will be left behind. This decision is permanent, and it's not just about your love for Edward. It's about the life you'll have to lead and the sacrifices you'll have to make."

As the Cullens continue their discussion inside, I quietly slip out of the house, needing some fresh air. I step into the cool night and spot Rosalie standing alone, her back to me. I approach her slowly, feeling the weight of the conversation we just had.

"I'm sorry you were outvoted," I say softly, hoping to break the silence.

Rosalie doesn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. I wait patiently, sensing that she has a lot on her mind.

Finally, Rosalie speaks, her voice tinged with regret. "It's not just about Bella becoming a vampire. It's about what she'll be giving up. She has the chance to experience a full human life, something I can never have. She could have children, grow old... things I can only dream of."

I listen intently as Rosalie continues, her voice growing softer. "I was turned against my will, while I was still young and beautiful. I never got the chance to live a normal life, to have a family. That's something I deeply regret."

Rosalie pauses, looking at me with a question in her eyes. "If you were human and had the choice, would you want to be turned into a vampire?"

I think about it for a moment before shaking my head. "No, I wouldn't."

"Why not?" Rosalie asks, genuinely curious.

I take a deep breath, choosing my words carefully. "I agree with you. I can't see myself living forever. I get too attached to people too easily, and it would be too hard to forget about them. It would make it harder for me to be a vampire."

I look at Rosalie, my eyes filled with sincerity. "I can't see myself drinking animal blood to survive; I would feel bad. The vampire lifestyle isn't for me. I wouldn't be able to survive one day as a vampire."

Rosalie nods slowly, understanding my perspective. The two of us stand in silence for a while, both lost in our thoughts, staring at the forest.