Ellie stood waiting at the foot of the stairs.
After a talk with Evie's parents and some quick arrangements, Ellie had finally been able to get her sister ready for her journey to Forks. A smile graced her lips at the thought of her home. She was ready to get back to her daily routine and most importantly Jasper. She had not seen him in much too long, and she was ready to be in his arms once again, to feel his lips on hers, and maybe finally tell him she loved him.
"What are you smiling about?" Evie questioned as she pulled her suitcase down the stairs, the wheels popping with each step.
Ellie had been so distracted by her thoughts that she hadn't heard her sister descending the staircase.
Light pink covered her cheeks as she answered, "Just thinking of home."
"Thinking of home or thinking of that guy?" Evie countered, an eyebrow raised in smugness.
"I'm not going to like you being able to read my mind," Ellie said, poking her tongue out.
"That makes two of us," she said, scrunching her nose up. "Keep it clean."
A laugh sounded from Ellie's lips. Her mind was perfectly clean as was her relationship. "Oh, Little Sister, I'm not the one you have to worry about."
Ellie was certain that the large amount of hormonal teenage werewolves that were accumulating in La Push were going to be her real problem. She just wasn't going to tell her sister that.
"Okay, you are older by two minutes. It doesn't count," Evie said, reaching the bottom the staircase and placing her hands on her hips. "I'm older in actions, anyway."
"Yeah right," Ellie scoffed, lifting a brow. "And what actions would those be?"
Before either could continue their argument, Evie's parents entered the foyer.
Brenton O'Connell had tears swimming in his eyes as he gazed upon his daughter. He had only had her a short time, and now she was going off on her own for a short while. It was only until he and Fiera could locate a nice property, but it was long enough without his only child. "Are you two ready?"
A frown pulled Evie's lips down as she shook her head. She was not even the slightest bit ready for this next chapter of her life, but she had no choice. She could already feel the pull of her mark calling her to Washington. She may not be ready, but her new life was ready for her. She could only hope that whatever was in store for her would work out for the best.
Releasing a puff of air, Evie said, "I'm not ready, but it is time."
Ellie smiled at her twin and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I'll be there to help you. You're not in this alone."
The road would be hard and long, but as long as the sisters stuck together, they could overcome anything.
Ellie stepped back from her sister before a serious expression shifted onto her face, "Now, I'm going to have to teleport back since I technically entered the country illegally, but I will be at the airport to pick you up as soon as you arrive. Think you can handle it?"
"I don't have a choice," Evie shrugged, turning her head away from her family.
"This life will not destroy you any further, Evie," Ellie said, her face stern. "I will not allow it. You have nothing to fear going to the wolves in Washington. While they may be angry, they are loyal and will protect you, just as you will learn to protect them."
"And the vampires?" Evie's mother asked, not wanting her daughter to have to go through the heartbreak of losing a loved one again.
"Are mine," Ellie answered, a smirk lifting her lips. "They only drink the blood of animals. All humans are safe when it comes to them. The only problem we could have would be nomadic vampires passing through, and we are more than capable of handling any situation that comes our way."
"You'll take care of her while we locate a new home?" her father asked, his eyes piercing Ellie's.
"With my life," she nodded.
Evie pursed her lips, wanting to tell her sister that she didn't have to offer so much, that even though she didn't want this life, she would be okay, that at worst, she would be reunited with her lost love. Evie wanted to tell her sister so many things, but she couldn't. So she settled for pulling her twin into a bone crushing hug.
Ellie held her twin tightly. She knew this was extremely hard on Evie, but she also knew that the best way to face the calling was head on.
Pulling away, Ellie opened her mouth to speak before Evie cut her off, "I'll be on the plane. Don't worry. Now, go home to your lover boy. I'm sure he's dying to see you."
"The puns are only going to get worse, aren't they?" Ellie asked, her nose scrunched up in distaste.
"Oh, you know it," Evie smirked before bidding her sister a final goodbye.
Their journey was only beginning, but neither could fathom the troubles they were about to encounter. They could only hope the battle wounds wouldn't run too deep.
Jasper Hale released an unnecessary breath before closing his worn copy of 'The Importance of Being Earnest.' He couldn't focus on the words. The only thing on his mind was his Ellie and how upset she would be once she found out they were gone. He knew he should have waited. He should have told her in person, but she would have never agreed. She would have been right there with him, furious that he had even considered leaving her behind.
He could just imagine the fire that would ignite in her eyes and how she would clench her jaw before she told him exactly how she felt.
He missed her.
"She's coming back today," Alice said, leaning against the doorway of his room.
His eyes held a sadness that he had not felt in quite some time. Today Ellie's heart would break, and he would be the cause of it. He couldn't help but think Carlisle had been right, though. She needed to be away from the supernatural. Maybe she could stay hidden without them around. Maybe it would be better for her.
"Is she okay?"
Alice watched the pained look cross over his eyes. He was regretting his decision to leave. Good. Pursing her lips, she said, "For now."
He paused, debating the gravity of his next words, "Do you think she'll ever forgive me?"
And that was one question that Alice could not answer.
Focusing on the Cullen house that she knew so well, Ellie found herself in a shell of the world that resided in her memory. Large white blankets draped over the furniture. The flowers that Ellie loved so dear were no longer present, and there was no sign of the people Ellie had began to claim as her own family.
Furrowing her brows, she climbed up the stairs hoping to find some semblance of her coven, but as she searched each room and found no one, the idea of what had happened began to form in her mind.
Coming to the last room, Jasper's room, she hoped with all of her might that the tall, honey blond vampire had not done as she suspected, and turned the door knob to enter. The room was bare of Jasper's personal items. Glancing around the room, she would have suspected that no one had lived here in years. She had only been gone a short while. It was as if they had wanted it to seem like their existence was merely in her imagination. The only thing that threw the whole idea of it being in her mind off was an envelope sitting on his pristine desk.
Ellie could have screamed upon opening the envelope as it read words that she never dreamed she would hear from Jasper.
My Dearest Ellie,
I am so sorry that it has come to this, my love, and I wish I could tell you in person, but Edward is not one for patience, and I am running out of time.
There was an incident the night of Bella's birthday, one that I regret wholeheartedly. It showed me just how much of a monster I really am, and you deserve so much more than that. You deserve the chance to be normal, and you can't have that if my family and I are in the picture.
By the time you receive this, my family and I will be long gone. It is in your best interest that we leave.
I am sorry, my love.
I only ask that you don't come looking for me.
Yours Always,
Jasper
Ellie had never felt such emotion. It was as if her whole world was collapsing from right beneath her, and she just couldn't get a good grip to hold herself up.
Jasper had actually left her.
Had she not been enough for him? Was it because she hasn't told him she loved him? Why would be ever think that she wanted to be normal? It had been a long time since she had felt that way. She had accepted her fate as soon as she received her second marking.
Why would be just leave her?
Before the tears could fall from her eyes, though, the flames ignited in her body.
Her hair whipped around her face, and her eyes darkened as the familiar rage swirled within her. Before she could gain control of herself, glass was swirling around the room, and a guttural scream released from her lungs as angry tears leaked from her eyes.
How dare he leave her after she had shared her deepest fears and darkest secrets with him?
How dare he leave her alone?
How dare he!
She knew better than to trust a vampire, and yet she went against all of her instincts and fell in love with someone who couldn't even tell her to stay away in person. She trusted him, and he broke every word he had ever spoken to her. How could be just leave her like that?
The sobs came shortly after his room was destroyed. She didn't care that she was surrounded by glass. She just allowed herself to feel human and broken for just a moment.
Human.
Bella.
If they were gone, she could only imagine how Bella felt. The poor girl must have been distraught.
With the thought of Bella on her mind, Ellie pulled herself together and concentrated on the home of the brunette human who was like a sister to her. Opening her eyes, she found herself on the doorstep of Bella's house.
Ellie, with her shaking hands, knocked three times before the door was opened and a pajama clad Charlie appeared in front of her.
"Ellie?" he questioned, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "What are you doing here so late?"
Ellie had to swallow the lump in her throat before she could answer, "I just got back." Her voice wobbled through the rest of her sentence. "They... They left, and I wanted to make sure Bella was okay."
Charlie observed the way the way the normally fierce girl's shoulders slumped. The light that normal resided in her carefree eyes was dim, and he could see her trembling from where he stood. Those Cullens had hurt her just as badly as they had his Bella. Shaking his head, he said, "Why don't you come in?"
As Ellie stepped through the foyer, he continued, "She's not been herself. She doesn't eat, doesn't talk to anyone, and the nightmares keep both of us awake."
As the words left his lips, a broken scream sounded upstairs only for Charlie to look up and nod as if the sound had become a common occurrence.
Ellie looked at Charlie with pity. The poor man had a lot on his plate. Placing a hand on his arm, she said, "I'll take this one."
The man nodded, and Ellie trekked up the stairs. When she got to Bella's room, the screams increased in volume, and Ellie could see her thrashing in her bed. Before she could even think about it, Ellie raced to her side, shaking the girl awake.
Tears flowed from Bella's eyes as soon as she was awake, and Ellie wrapped her in her arms, tears flowing from her own eyes, and whispered, "It's okay, Bella. It will be okay. We'll be okay."
And as Bella trembled in her arms, more broken than she had ever seen, Ellie swore that she would ensure that they would really be okay.