17. THE INVITE
THE SUN WAS STILL RISING BY THE TIME RHONA AND I REACHED TO THE MANSION'S LARGE DOORS. She opened the door and we entered. Gabriel stood in front of the active fireplace - which was confusing to me - and Helena was standing behind him. Simon and Alana sat side by on the couch to the left and Joseph was on the opposite side.
"I thought we need to have a search party," said Joseph.
"She was just enjoying a walk at night," Rhona said to him.
I spotted a book lying on the ground. I walked to the book.
"Say, for a coven who has a library" I voiced, sauntering to the book. "You left that book on the floor."
"It's not me," Simon rose his hands.
I picked up the book and, abruptly, something landed in front of me. I saw Ethan, who roared at me like a little kid trying to scare me. He was a big kid. My amber eyes stared blankly at him as he stopped screaming.
"Oh, hi, Ethan," I greeted him after picking up the book.
"Were you scared?" He asked me. "Tell me honestly."
"I was close to being scared that time." I sarcastically replied.
"Oh, I'm going for fearsome here, but I just don't feel it!" He said as we walked to the coven. "I think I'm just coming off as annoying."
Did he think? Man, does he listen to himself?
We sat down on the couch: Ethan with his parents and Rhona beside Joseph and me beside her. Gabriel held a white envelope in his right hand and opened it. He pulled out a small card, cleared his throat and started reading it.
"Isabella Marie Swan and Edward Anthony Masen Cullen," he began. "Together with their families; request the honour of your presence at the celebration of their marriage."
A part of me squealed inside me. Edward and Bella are getting married? Why was I surprised? They had been dating for quite some time, even with the madness of Victoria, the newborns, the wolves and, possibly, the Volturi.
"That's great news!" Alana said happily.
"Well, it's about time," Joseph added.
When they were celebrating, I remembered something. Something that Jane said to the Cullens about Bella.
"Caius will be interested to know that she's still human."
Why would Caius be interested in Bella and her mortality? How much does the Volturi know about Bella?
"The date is set," I whispered to myself.
"What?" Gabriel sounded concerned as he asked me.
"Bella said that to her."
"Who?"
"Jane."
His golden eyes stared blankly at me as the room went quiet. Dead quiet. This wasn't good.
"You saw the Volturi?" Joseph spoke first.
"Just the four. Jane, Alec, Felix and Demetri." I answered him.
"I assumed they were aware of Victoria and her army," Gabriel added.
I nodded. "They would have stopped her but I couldn't help but think that they already knew."
"Why's that?" Simon questioned me.
"I don't know" was my answer. "I just do."
"So Bella knew about them?" Helena asked.
"Seems so," I replied.
"Why keep her alive?" Helena's words caught my ear.
"What do you mean?" I sounded worried.
"Usually when a human discovers the Volturi, they would become food," Gabriel said. "The one rule all vampires have to obey is to keep our existence a secret."
"Well, Victoria kind of broke that rule," I said. "Many people were disappearing in Seattle. Yet the humans didn't think they're vampires now."
And most likely, dead. Except for me. I wondered if the people in Forks were worried about me. Were they looking for me for all those times?
"How did the Volturi miss you?" Ethan enquired and his mother nudged his stomach. "What? Am I not allowed to ask her that? I'm just curious, that's all."
"I was invisible when they arrived. That's when Bella told Jane."
"Lucky escape, for you," Rhona added.
"Are the Volturi invited?" I asked them.
"I hope not," said Simon. "Since there will be few humans at the wedding."
"And they have a great thirst for human blood," Gabriel added. "And to avoid any suspicions, Carlisle invited Bella's family and friends."
"Will there be other vampire covens?" I inquired again.
"The Denali Coven," Helena answered. "They lived in Alaska and they also drink animal blood."
"Which is great for the humans," Rhona joined in. "I mean the drinking animal blood as well as them not knowing about us."
"They're like the cousins to the Cullens," Ethan said.
"Who is in that coven? How many?"
"Five," said Gabriel. "Tanya, the leader, her sisters Kate and Irina, Eleazar and his mate Carmen. It would be nice seeing them again."
The Denali Coven sounded interesting. It would be nice to meet other vegetarian vampires.
"Anyway, when's the wedding?" I asked.
"Thirteenth of August," replied Gabriel. "This Saturday coming."
Today was Wednesday. That was three days away. How long did Edward and Bella date? A year, maybe? Maybe Bella wanted to marry Edward so she could get turned into a vampire. It would solve the problem with the Cullens so they won't keep any secrets from her. Or maybe people would think that the Cullens are secretly a Mormon family who converted a young woman to the religion. Or cult to some people. Either way, the wedding will happen.
"I'm thinking that the wedding will be at their place?" Simon asked.
"It said it's at four hundred and twenty Woodcroft Avenue in Forks, Washington," said Gabriel, looking at the invitation.
"Oh, yeah," I spoke up. "Their place." Everyone looked at me. "It was a nice place..." I spotted Alana looking at me as if she was offended by my comment. "But this place is way nicer."
She turned her gaze away from me. I think I saved myself from her wrath. Who knew how many times she would get mad?
"That means we can do our girls' shopping trip!" Rhona squealed with excitement.
"A shopping trip for a wedding," said Helena.
"But would the humans see us sparkle?" I asked. "That would suck."
"Don't worry about it, lass," replied Alana. "It's going to be pouring rain tomorrow. Your typical London weather." She ended with a chuckle.
"It's going to be your first time, Violet," Rhona added. "It's going to be fun!"
Rhona reminded me of Alice a little bit. Bubbly and sweet. I couldn't help but feel excited about the whole thing.
The countdown for the wedding has begun.
Continue to 18. DRESS SHOPPING
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