Bleeding Stars/Emmett Cullen (Sequel to Whispering Dusk)

Chapter Nine

Jacob called me just after dark. Bella had tried to commit suicide by jumping from the cliff into the ocean. He performed CPR on her and she was a little shaken; he thought she would need me. He also informed me that Harry had a heart attack and died because of Victoria...

My heart ached as I cradled the phone in my hand by my side. Harry was a good man and he was always kind to me when I encountered him at the Swan's. He never judged me, never outed my family, or made rude remarks.

Emmett and I rushed to Bella's house and as we neared the edge of the driveway, I could hear Jake's and Bella's conversation.

"Sam lost it for a split second. What if I got mad at you?" he asked, referring to Sam accidentally phasing and Emily being too close to him. "I feel like I'm going to disappear."

"I won't let that happen. I'll remind you every day how special you are." I honked the horn just as they were about to kiss. Sorry, lover boy, but she belongs with Edward. We got out of the car and all four of us walked into the house.

"I smell a vampire," Jacob said urgently. Emmett and I looked at each other.

"Yeah, Jake. Us." I rolled my eyes. He shook his head and opened his mouth to speak, but a car horn jokted us. I opened the front door again to see Alice in Carlisle's car pulling on to the curb. My eyes went wide and Bella was next to me in an instant.

"Bella, you're alive!" Alice gasped as she ran toward is and pushed us all inside. Jacob stood in the corner, his arms crossed over his chest as Alice hugged Bella and me.

"Congrats," she whispered in my ear, so low that Jacob couldn't even hear.

"What do you mean, I'm alive?" Bella asked, surprised.

"I saw you jump off the cliff!" Alice exclaimed.

"I didn't try to kill myself. I was cliff diving. It was...fun."

"Also... Bella, Edward left us. He calls in every few months, though. And I know that Victoria has been around. Oh, my. What is that God awful smell?!" She crinkled her nose at the last part.

I whirled around to look at Emmett. He had to know about Victoria and Edward leaving and hadn't even told me!

"Werewolves are not good company to keep, Bella," Alice continued as Jacob stepped forward, growling.

I touched his arm lightly, shaking my head. I motioned for Alice to follow me into the living room while Jake and Bella stayed in the kitchen. They were arguing....

"Emmett, why didn't you tell me?!" I hissed. He held up his hands in defense and I rolled my eyes.

"I wanted to tell Bella that I'm pregnant, but no she had to jump off of a cliff and bring Jake home with her!" I was getting aggravated at Bella, honestly. The phone rang and we were all silent. As Jake answered, Alice launched into a vision.

"Swan residence," he said calmly. "He's not here right now; he's arranging a funeral." He hung up and I gasped, running into the kitchen. Edward was on the other line.

"That was Edward! He's in Rio and he thinks the funeral is for Bella. He's going to the Volturi...to get them to end his life." Alice looked terrified and I jerked my head toward Jacob.

"Why didn't you let someone else speak to him?! This isn't your house, you stupid mutt! That's my family. If he dies, it's on you!" I screamed, leaving the house in a flash.

I had already figured what was about to happen. Alice, Bella, and I would travel to Italy to stop Edward. Hopefully, we could before he spoke to the Volturi and I wouldn't have to encounter them.

If they knew about my family's abilities or that I was pregnant, who knows what they would do! I sat in the driver seat of the car. A minute later, Alice and Bella ran out and hopped in.

"Aubrey, please don't go to Italy! This isn't your fight. You have someone else to worry about now!" Emmett shouted as Jacob ran toward the woods, phasing. Bella turned to me.

"What is he talking about?"

"I'm pregnant, Bella," I whispered as I sped off.

///////

We caught a flight on Virgin America airlines to Italy. Alice drove after the flight, in a car that she had hot-wired at the airport. We sped disc the highways and Volterra can't into view.

I knew Aro, Caius, and Marcus; they would reject Edward's petition to end his life because they found his particular gift too valuable to destroy. I didn't need to be Alice to know that. They would offer him a spot on the Volturi guard, surely.

"He's going to expose himself to the humans during the feast of Saint Marcos. Bella, we can't drive any closer to the center of town. If I go to him, he'll read my thoughts and rush the process. He won't believe you're alive unless he sees you!

"He can't read your thoughts. You're the only one that can save him now," Alice said in a hurried voice. People in red robes crowded into the center of the city. Bella jumped out without hesitation and ran like her life depended on it.

Alice and I abandoned the car and stood up to watch the couple. Bella dashed through the red cloaks and down dark alleys. The clock struck noon just as she got the the town square. I turned my gaze toward Edward, who was standing in a dark entryway, disrobing.

He was about to step into the sunlight. Bella ran across a fountain and hurled herself upon him. She had seen him and she couldn't let him go. Edward, of course, professed his love for her.

"I was going to end my life because I couldn't live in a world where you didn't exist," Edward whispered. Alice and u smiled at each other and quickly joined them. They kissed and then the Volturi came to summon them. They were surprised to see us there...