Chapter 13 - Broken Hearts

Seth woke in his bed alone, rubbing his eyes as he sat up. "Tara?" There was no answer however.
He waited patiently, worrying that she left to hunt. Then he spotted the note and opened the folded paper. His heart pounded as he read it. The note fell to the floor as he leaped up. He nearly lost his balance as he dressed quickly, shoving his legs in the pant holes. When he slipped his shirt over his head he smelled her scent that lingered on it still. Then he dashed to his bike and headed to the Cullen's house.

Seth drove recklessly fast, running two stop signs and breaking all the speed limits. About three quarters of the way there, Charlie's cruiser pulled out onto the road. The lights came on as it followed him. Seth ignored him, giving his bike as much gas as he could. When he pulled into the Cullen's driveway, he parked his bike and ran for the house yanking his helmet off. "Tara!" he shouted as ran inside, heading for the stairs.
"She's gone," Edward said from behind. Seth turned around and saw Edward and Carlisle's somber faces staring at him. Edward heard every painful thought in Seth's mind. Without a word, Seth darted for the exit while thinking about driving to the airport. "You won't find her there, they traveled on foot. They're gone, probably half way there by now," Edward explained.
Charlie suddenly came through the door after him."What the hell are you doing boy?" he yelled. "Do you have any idea how fast you were going and how many laws you broke out there?"
"Not now." Seth looked at him angrily, trying to get out the door.
"Yes now damn it! You're not going anywhere." He blocked the door preventing Seth from leaving.
"Dad, wait…I need to talk to you," Bella interrupted. Charlie turned his attention to Bella as she pushed him out the door, unable to break free from her grip.
"I'm so sorry Seth. I truly know how you feel," Edward empathized.
He turned towards Edward, hurt and angered. "How could you let her go then?"
"She felt it was the only way. She didn't want to risk anyone's life for her own sake."
"I would have protected her with my life, because it's nothing without her in it," his voice cracked.
"That's why she left without you knowing. She didn't want to risk your life. Aro will stop at nothing to get what he wants. He had several guards posted at Charlie's last night. He threatened to kill him and your mother if she didn't comply. She couldn't let herself be responsible if any harm came to them. She loves you too much. She also asked me to give this to you."
Edward held out the locket Tara gave him. Seth's eyes welled up with tears and one rolled down his cheek. He slowly grabbed the locket and wiped the tear off with his arm.
"Seth,” Carlisle spoke. “She begged me to let her go without a fight. I promised her I wouldn't force her to stay here if she didn't want to. There was nothing I could do."
Seth fought the urge to fall apart completely. "Then you have to help me. Help me go to Italy to bring her back."
"I can't do that. I promised I wouldn't. She doesn't want any harm to come to you. She loves you too much. It would be suicide for you to go there. There would be no fight Seth, they would just have you killed."
"I don't care, I have to try. I can't just sit here and do nothing. I'll die inside anyway, so what's the difference?"
Carlisle saw the desperation in his face. "I know how you feel, but there is nothing you can do. None of us want this for her either but she wouldn't have it any other way. She refused to put anyone at risk," he said.
"I can't accept that. If you won't help, I'll just find her myself." Seth turned his back to him and reached for the doorknob to leave. Edward listened to his plan to use his savings to buy an airline ticket and pass port.
"Seth, consider the family, your mother. Consider them and what will happen when you are killed." Edward made no mistake pointing out that he would not being making a return trip if he goes.
Seth turned his head. He stared at Edward coldly. "You seem to forget who I am. I was built to destroy your kind. That's my purpose in life. I intend to use it and I intend to kill Aro for what he's done." Seth looked different than they'd ever seen him - driven completely by anger. He opened the door and stood half way out and paused, then turned and looked back at Edward.
"My family will understand. They know what it means to risk everything for someone you love, even your life. Consider this Edward….what if it was your Bella…. or Ness. What would you do had Aro tried to steal them from you and threatened to kill your family if you tried to stop him? Oh wait, he did! I remember, because I was there!" Edward just frowned. The guilt poured over him as he stood there in silence. "I love Tara more than anything and I'll do whatever I have to in order to get her back if that's possible...even if I die trying!" Seth walked out slamming the door.
Charlie stood outside with Bella waiting as Seth headed for his bike, not even looking at them. He grabbed Seth's arm and stopped him. "Now you just wait one minute! I know you've got a lot going on right now but I better not ever catch you pulling that crap on the road again or I'll haul your butt off to the station, do you understand?" he said in a sharp tone.
Seth's disposition was breaking. He turned to face Charlie and his face displayed pure anguish. "Yes sir," he spoke in a low angry voice and then walked to his bike and stood in front of it. Images of Tara ran though his head while he looked at the locket in his hand. He closed his fingers over it and squeezed it tightly. Tears welled up in his eyes and began to stream down his face. He started to wipe them and then rubbed his forehead that was throbbing. Then he snapped, kicking his bike over with so much force it slid out to the road. Seth cursed and screamed as he slammed his helmet into the ground with so much force it cracked.
"Hey now!" Charlie yelled. Bella grabbed her father not allowing him to get close. She suspected what he was about to do soon and didn't want him to be in the way.
Seth's body vibrated violently. Suddenly he ran for the forest and leaped in the air. His clothes fell to shreds as he transformed in mid-air. He ran as fast as he could back to the reservation.
Edward and Carlisle came out just in time to witness his outburst just as the stepped off the porch. Bella had never seen Seth in such a state as this. She always knew Seth to have the most cheerful temperament of any human she'd ever known, even during the most trying times. It disturbed her to see him this way. She leaned down picking up the locket that had fallen to the ground as he dropped it.
"So all this because his girlfriend broke up with him?" Charlie asked, trying to put the pieces together.
"Yes, Tara left him," she answered.
"Well where is she? I thought she lived here with you," he questioned Carlisle.
"She went to Italy," Carlisle answered.
"Italy? What is it with Italy?" Charlie remembered how Bella left to go after Edward. He'd found out much later where she had actually gone to.
"Nothing you need to know dad," Bella replied.
"Sheesh! What is it with you Cullens?" Always leaving the ones you love behind?" Charlie shook his head. "No wonder that poor kid is a mess."
"Dad!" Bella blurted out.
"No Bella! I went through three months of hell with you when Edward left you and now poor Sue is gonna have to deal with the same thing? Did he imprint on her?"
"You know about that?" Bella asked surprised.
"I know a lot more than you think. I can keep secrets too ya know," he replied.
"Yes he imprinted on her," Edward answered his question.
"So I guess it's just his problem now huh? She's done with him and she can just run off and change her life like that? Do you guys ever consider that humans have strong feelings and emotions? You can't just toss people aside when you're done with them. If you're gonna at least try to co-exist with us you can't be so cold and heartless!"
Edward came to the realization that Charlie knew more than he led on about why he left Bella, even though he tried to keep it from him. Charlie's words cut through him like a knife. Carlisle grabbed him before he could act rashly. "It's not like that. It's complicated!" Edward said heatedly.
"Right." Charlie huffed. He didn't want to hear any more excuses from Edward. "I'm going back to work now," Charlie said before he kissed Bella on the forehead and then got in his car and drove off.
The Cullen's stood in silence and sadness as they watched Charlie leave. "I'm going with Seth," Bella said, looking at Edward.
He didn't have to read her mind to know what she was thinking. It was the same thoughts from everyone else's head. They were going to Italy.

Edward called Jacob, explaining the situation to him. When he agreed to the plan he called Sue's house and spoke with Leah. She happened to be the only one home when Seth returned. Despite all the problems he had with her, the moment she saw his desperate face, her heart went out to him and she embraced her little brother, letting him cry in her arms. She begged him not to leave to find Tara but she knew that would be a losing battle.
Then she helped Seth pack and offered to go with him - not for the love of Tara of course, but for the love of her brother. When he tried to refuse her in order to protect her, she told him he didn't have a choice.
"I'm going too!" Renesmee said to Jacob when he explained the plan to her.
"No!" Jacob roared.
"Yes! I almost lost you once I can't bear to lose you again Jake, please take me. She's my friend too," she wailed
"Ness this is no place for you. It's too dangerous. I want you to stay with Sue and Charlie till we get back."
Tears rolled down her cheeks and she began to sob. "But what if you don't Jake? What if I never see you again?" She put her hands in her face.
Jacob grabbed her and wrapped his big arms around her holding her tight. "Shhh, Don't cry. It'll be okay. We will come back, you'll see." He rocked her and stroked her long, soft curls that hung down her back.
"I'm so scared. I'm afraid of losing you, and mom and dad. I'll have no one Jake. I'll be all alone. You're all leaving me," she cried.
He grabbed her by the arms and looked her in the eyes sternly. "I swear to you, I will come back to you, and I will protect Edward and Bella and the others. We'll do what we have to in order to survive. Just trust me, okay?" Renesmee nodded.
Jacob was scared though. He knew it was a huge risk going there. Despite his fears however, he wanted to fight them- badly. For all they had done to his family, and all the grief they had caused, he was ready to finally fight for them once and for all.

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VOLTERRA looked just as Tara remembered it. There were some newer building and shops but for the most part it looked unchanged.
The place the Volturi brought her however, looked completely unchanged with its antiquated appearance still intact, not even looking a day older than when she left. The same art work hung on the walls, the same furniture in the corridors and rooms, all perfectly preserved like she had never left.
Felix looked like a giant next to Tara. He escorted her to a large room that looked much like the one her family was murdered in. However, this one had only one way in or out. The large, heavy door could only be locked and unlocked from the outside of the room. Not one that she couldn't break down to get out if she wanted to, but she knew she could never leave without penalty now. Felix entered the room with her. "You'll stay here for now," he said to her.
"What's this?" she asked.
"Mmm let's just call it…detox." she chuckled coldly.
As he started to step out, Tara began to follow him. "Wait!" she demanded but giant vampire jerked around and shoved her back tossing her across the room. Her body looked like a rag doll as it slammed into the wall on the other side.
"We'll see you in a few days to see if you're hungry." His vile grin made her uneasy as he pulled the door shut. The enormous bolt clanged as he locked it tight. Then Felix stood on the other side to guard the door as instructed.
It took several days before Tara's eyes began to darken and the aching thirst to set in. When she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, deciding she would thrash the door until someone brought her food, she finally heard a commotion outside the room. It sounded very much like muffled cries. Suddenly, the bolt on the door moved, creaking as it opened. Demitri brought a young girl in. She looked about the age of twenty. When the girl started to shriek he clenched her neck tighter so she couldn’t scream as he dragged her along. "Here we go…I saved one for you. I know it was a long wait, I'm sure you're thirsty by now."
Tara shook her head and coiled back in the corner.
"Ah come on now. You must feed. You need your strength. Surely you didn't think Aro would allow us to bring any animals in here for you," he laughed.
As Demitri held her by the neck, he exposed the flesh on one side. He dug his sharp pinky finger into the skin slicing a shallow opening down the side. Blood oozed out of the gash. He licked the blood and the girl cried out in pain. He covered her mouth again, annoyed by the sound. "Mmm… do you smell that Tara? It's calling you," he taunted her.
Tara turned to face the wall as the smell of the blood burned her throat. She balled her hands into fists struggling with the temptation. She tried to cover her mouth with both hands and hold her breath.
"Ah well, I'll just leave you two alone. Eventually you'll give in." He tossed the girl to the side and she crawled away from him cowering on the floor.
"Please, please let me go!" the girl pleaded as tears ran down her face but Demitri just coldly walked back out of the room. The door made a loud noise as he sealed it again.
The girl looked at Tara in horror, clearly seeing she was one of them. She got up and tried to pull at the doors to get out but there were no handles. She tried to dig her fingers into the crack to pull it open, screaming and crying as she struggled effortlessly to get out.
Tara curled up into a ball on the floor and disappeared from the girl's view. It was hard to concentrate while she was so thirsty. Her powers weakened from hunger and she buried her face in her knees attempting to cover the smell as she held her breath.
Within a few hours, the large door opened up again and Aro stepped in the room. He saw the human girl lying on the floor, still alive and weeping, but no sign of Tara. "Where are you Tara? I know you're still here. No hiding from us remember?" he reminded her.
Tara remained cloaked.
He looked down at the human girl, huddled on the floor. "Agh! What a waste," he snarled, grabbing the girl by the arm and pulled her into him. The girl screamed when Aro ripped her shirt from her neck, smelling the blood coming from her wound. His mouth opened wide, exposing his perfect set of razor sharp teeth.
As he sunk them into her neck Tara uncloaked lunging forward with one arm stretched out. "NO!" she shouted.
Aro pulled away, blood dripping from his mouth. He pulled a small hanky from his pocket and dabbed his mouth eloquently as if he was in a fancy restaurant and had dribbled a little food on his chin. He carelessly threw the girl down and she began to thrash as the venom spread through her body. "There now, I did the hard part for you. Go ahead. You know you need it, you're only making yourself weaker by refusing and you're no good to us that way." He began to walk out but then turned back quickly to speak again. "You better hurry before the venom spreads too far…then you won't want her any longer."
Then he disappeared.
Tara's pitch black eyes watched as the girl wreathed in pain on the floor screaming from the fiery venom in her veins. Suddenly she lunged for the girl, hovering over her body. The she knelt by the girls side and inhaled. The smell of the blood burned her throat. "Please help me," the girl pleaded.
"I can save you. Do you want to live?"
"Make the pain stop!" she screamed.
Her eyes were fierce and hungry. "I can't. The venom is spreading through your body. I'm going to drink your blood, but you can still live…if you want to."
Tara knew she could drink just enough to make her stronger but that she could stop herself just enough to allow the girl's heart to beat.
"Will I stop hurting?" she cried. Tears poured down her face as her body convulsed.
"No. Not unless I drain you, but you'll die then." She shrieked louder.
"Stop screaming, it doesn't do any good!" Tara yelled at her. Her head was aching and her body was starting to hurt now. She wanted to feed, badly.
"I'm on fire! Please! Stop it from burning!" the girl wailed.
"You're changing. You must endure it if you want to live. Make a decision! I can't hold back much longer."
Tara's eyes were fixed on the blood pouring from the base of her neck.
"Changing? Into what?" The girl looked in Tara's eyes.
"One of us."
"No! I don't want to be a monster! Please, I wanna go home! Where's Steven?" The girl screamed the name of her husband.
"If he came with you he's dead. You can never leave. They won't let you."
She girl thrashed about, sobbing. "No! No! Steven!"
The couple had been in Italy on their honeymoon. They were pulled into the same tourist trap that her and her family fell into. Tara was unaware that they had even stayed at the same hotel that she and her family did in Piazza dei Priori.
"Decide now! Do you want to live?" Tara demanded, aching for her blood.
"No, no!…I don't want to live without him. I'd rather be dead…please make it stop!"
Tara couldn't bear it anymore. It wasn't just the enticing smell of the blood oozing from the girls neck that drove her to the bite, but also knowing she could spare this girl the pain of living forever alone, without the one she loved. Tara realized she'd spend the rest of her very long existence only to never see or smell or taste the one she person she'd loved more than anything. She pulled the girl in close and bit down on her neck. As the warm blood trickled down her throat she felt the sorrow and grief being pulled from her lifeless body transferring into her own. Images of Seth ran through her head over and over. She remembered his sweet words to her, telling her she was not the monster anymore. She felt as though she failed him. Tara bit down more violently, gripping the girl tightly to body as she drained her. Once every drop was removed she released and let her fall to the floor. Streams of blood ran down her chin. She balled her hands into fists and threw her head back screaming for her broken heart.