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"I'm not going with you. That pathetic girl has no importance to me. There's nothing you can say to change my mind." Tashikah returned her eyes back to her piano, ignoring the pleading eyes of Alice. The pixie girl finally left the room, and a few minutes later, Jasper walked in. Which wasn't at all fair because he was the only one who could actually convince her to help with situations. "Don't you dare mess with my emotions. I'll go. Now leave me be," she muttered.

Alice cheered from outside and Jasper left the room before the girl could chance her mind. She begrudgingly packed her things, and walked out towards the family room where Alice was waiting for her. "I'm driving." Tashi stated, and the pixie haired girl did not make an attempt to argue, just following her "sibling" out to the car. .

They got to Forks, Washington, and Tashi was quiet the entire time there, which was no surprise considering she didn't like talking all that much. She climbed out of the car, her platform boots making a crunchy sound against the rocks. She followed Alice to the house, and it was obvious nobody was home. "She's probably fine and you're just overreacting," Tashi mumbled, pushing the door open and walking inside the empty home.

"You should be very angry about this. You hate Victoria." Alice said, causing the telekinetic girl to grimace. "Well, I won't hate her if she takes care of the human girl before the Volturi find out and have us all executed," Tashi mutters unpleasantly. She suddenly tensed up, smelling some awfully foul odor, "are you sure the human girl doesn't have dogs?" Her nose scrunched up in disgust, glancing around the quiet home. 

"Quiet. I hear something." Alice walks over to the door, standing there whilst Tashi leaned against the wall boredly. The door opened and Bella walked in, looking to her right as she shut the door. Then she turned to the left, her eyes landing on Alice, the vampire just standing there in shock. "Alice? Oh my God! What are you-?" Bella had practically jumped into her arms upon seeing her. "I'm sorry, I just can't believe you're here."

"Told you she wasn't dead. Can we leave now?" Tashi spoke up, and Bella looked over to her, and she was actually relieved to see her, even if the girl disliked her. "Don't listen to her. Would you like to explain to me how you're alive?" Alice questioned, looking at the human in disbelief. "What?" Bella retorts in confusion. "I saw a vision of you. You jumped off a cliff. Why in the hell would you try and kill yourself? I mean, what about Charlie?"

Bella shook her head quickly in objection, "I didn't try to kill myself. I was cliff jumping. Recreationally. It was fun."

"Humans. Just filled with stupidity." Tashi mutters in disdain. Alice huffs at her attitude, "Tashi, make her a cup of tea." The vampire rolls her eyes and walks into the kitchen to do as told, simply because she didn't feel like arguing and because she was one of the few vampires in the family who knew how to work a stove. Alice brought Bella over to the couch for them to sit down after Tashi finished the tea. She brought the mug over to Bella and handed it to her, the human girl smiling softly, "thanks."

"Don't thank me." Tashi stated coldly, and moved over to the windows, leaning against it as the two spoke.

"I have never met anymore more prone to life-threatening idiocy." Alice expressed. "Did you tell him?" Bella asked, brushing off the girl's comment. Alice shook her head, knowing she was referring to Edward. "No. He only calls in once every few months. He said he wants to be alone. Tashi is the only one who goes to check up on him every other week." Bella glanced over her shoulder at Tashi, but the vampire just scrunched her nose in disgust, "bloody hell?"

Alice soon realizes the smell and grimaced, "Bella, what is that God-awful wet dog smell?"

"That's probably me. Or it's Jacob." Bella explained, pulling off her jacket that contained majority of the dog smell. "Jacob who?" Alice asks, not finding the name familiar. Tashi just smirked to herself, she knew all the names of the werewolves in Forks, and she knew who would turn, she expected Jacob to be a late bloomer, no surprise there. "Jacob's kind of a werewolf." Bella said. Alice huffs in exasperation, "Bella! Werewolves are not good company to keep."

"Speak for yourself." Alice turned around, her eyes landing on the werewolf boy. Tashi tilts her head as Alice stands up, "well well, how's Paul doing? Give him my regards, will you?" She winks. Jacob glared at her, "he wants nothing to do with you." She smirked, "aw, is he still whining about that little stratch? I said I was sorry. How ungrateful of him."

He ignored her and turned his attention to Bella, not wanting to give Tashi the pleasure of a response. "I had to see you were safe." Bella looked up at him from her place on the couch, deciding she'll ask about the Paul stuff later. "I thought you couldn't protect me here?" She questioned, even though she knew what his answer would be. "Guess I don't care."

"Well, I'm not gonna hurt her," Alice spoke up, confused about this interaction.

"No, you're just a harmless Cullen." Jacob scoffs under his breath, displeased with their presence. "I'm talking about the other bloodsucker who tried to kill Bella because of you." Tashi scoffs, rolling her eyes, "as if she didn't pursue our family first and almost get us killed."  Alice furrowed her brows, looking down at Bella, "Victoria?" Bella nods in confirmation, "yeah, Victoria's been around."

"I didn't see her. I didn't see you get pulled out of the water, either." Alice looks over to Jacob with a glare, "I can't see past you and your pack of mutts." Jacob took a step forward, "don't get me upset, or things are gonna get very ugly," his jaw clenching in anger but he couldn't do much when Tashi sped in front of him, a daring look in her dark eyes. "Think very well about your next move. I'm not afraid to end an entire bloodline. You're a baby wolf, zero experience of fighting a vampire without your precious pack, I'd tread carefully."

"Stop, stop, stop, please stop." Bella stood up quickly to stand in between the two, Alice reached for Tashi's hand and carefully pulled her back, the girl's eyes still glaring into Jacob's. "We'll give you a minute. Tash, come on. Let it go." Alice says in a soothing tone, leading the girl away from the werewolf. "Hey," Bella spoke up, causing Alice to turn around but Tashi just faced the door. "You're not going anywhere? You're gonna come back, right?"

"As soon as you put the dog out." Tashi pulled open the door and walked out, her heels clicking against the ground and she made her way to the car. "I'll be waiting in the car," Tashi stated, and Alice nodded with a smile. The pixie girl suddenly froze as she pulled open the drivers door. Tashi rushed over to her, "what'd you see?" Alice blinked, trying to process what she just seen. "He's going to the Volturi. He's gonna kill himself, Tash."

Tashikah froze, the memory of her brother invading her mind again. "Get the girl. We're going to Italy." She orders, walking around the car and climbing into the driver's seat as Alice rushed back into the house. She couldn't let this happen. Not again. History could not repeat itself. She wouldn't let it. Alice got into the backseat, telling Tashi that Bella was gathering her stuff. She watched as they came out, Bella holding a backpack with Jacob behind her, and it took everything in Tashi to not kill him right there for telling Edward what he did.

"I'm 18. I'm legally free to go, and I left a note." Bella says, pulling open the passenger door and climbing in. Tashi reached for the keys in the ignition but Jacob reached in and grabbed her hand, the vampire freezing up. "Get your hand off of me before I break it," she says through her clenched jaw. He quickly let's go and look to Bella with pleading eyes, "please, Bella, just stay here. For Charlie. Or for me." He pleads.

"I have to go," Bella said, her eyes momentarily glancing over Tashi, the girl visibly uncomfortable with Jacob so close to her. "I'm begging you. Please." Alice set a hand on her shoulder in hopes to calm Tashi down, aware of how she could get when people were too close to her. "Goodbye, Jacob." Bella said, but he still wasn't leaving. Tashi glared at him, "you have two seconds to get your hands out of my car before I rip out your throat. She's leaving with me now." He shot her a glare before backing up.

Tashi quickly started the car and the human girl put on her seatbelt. "Drive to the nearest airport. I got us three tickets to Italy. Step on it." Alice says.

"I'm going to kill that boy when I see him," Tashi mutters in disdain.

Alice forced a smile, "she's just joking."

"No, I'm not."

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"Go follow her! I'll park the car." Alice said. Tashi huffs and climbs out of the car, making sure her body was fully covered. Alice slid into the driver's seat and Tashi took a breath, feeling really uncomfortable in Italy. She did everything to avoid it, to avoid the Volturi and now she running towards it all because she cared too much. She had to run like a human unfortunately, so she wouldn't expose herself and give the Volturi another reason to kill her.

She saw Bella run into Edward's arm, covering his body to the best of her ability. Tashi ran around the fountain and rushed over to them, "get out of the sun, now!" Edward quickly realized he wasn't dead and allowed Bella and Tashikah to push him back through the doors. She shut them quickly with a sigh of relief, but the unsettling feeling was always pricking at her neck. She tugged off her scarf and gloves, rolling her eyes as the couple was having a moment.

Suddenly the sound of a gate opened and Tashikah tensed up, the sight of the two Volturi guards, Felix and Demetri making her nervous. "I won't be needing your services after all, gentlemen," Edward said, his body holding onto Bella's to mask her scent but there was no use for that, not when these vampires were experienced. "Aro wants to speak with you again," Felix says, his voice cold, but smooth.

"No rules were broken," Edward states. Tashi wish that were true, but it wasn't, because Bella was very human and aware of the existence of vampires. Something that was forbidden in the world of vampires. She would know. It's what killed her brother. "Nonetheless, we should take this conversation to a more appropriate venue," Demetri adds smoothly, his eyes skimming over Tashi's figure for a split second. Edward finally agrees, not wishing for a fight he'd lose, "fine. Bella, why don't you go and enjoy the rest of the festival with Tashi?"

"The girls come with us," Felix stated.

Tashi closed her eyes, really wishing she finished that painting before her death. Edward shook his head, not only concerned about Bella, but Tashi as well. "No. You can go to hell." The lock to the door suddenly breaks and Alice walks in, pushing down her scarf with a smile. "Come on, guys. It's a festival. You wouldn't want to make a scene." Alice says, issuing a protective stance next to the couple, Tashi still off to the side thinking about her inevitable death.

"We wouldn't," Felix mumbles.

"Enough." A very tiny, young woman appears, Jane. She also wears a dark overcoat, her Botticelli angel-like face peering out from under the hood, revealing her crimson irises. Felix and Demetri are back off immediately. Edward and Alice step back, as well and Bella can see they're afraid of this small girl. Tashi remained still, but the sight of Jane was enough to make her wish she was dead.

"Aro sent me to see what was taking so long." Jane states before turning around, signaling for them to follow and they'd be stupid to argue. "Just do as she says," Alice says towards Bella. Demetri looked to Tashi, eyeing her so she didn't try to make a run for it. She begrudgingly followed, still keeping her distance, not liking to be close. So the sight of the elevator made her wanna throw up, if she could that is. Resisting all urge to make a scene, she stepped into the lift, standing in between Felix and Demetri.

The atmosphere was awkward and uncomfortable, so Tashi was relieved when it ended and they stepped out. A human secretary greeted them in Italian, something Tashi rolled her eyes at. After a question from Bella about the human secretary, Jane pushes open two large doors to a throne room. "Sister. They sent you out go get 1 and you bring back 3, and a half. Such a clever girl." The voice belonged to Jane's twin brother Alec.

Tashi stayed in the back, trying to be as invisible as possible. She could only wish that was her gift, but she only had telekinesis. For some odd unknown reason, she felt a sudden rush of happiness, but it was gone as soon as it came. She squints her eyes at the shiny floor, feeling something drawing her in. It was a weird, unfamiliar feeling, and she didn't like it. The sound of Aro's cheerful voice broke her from the trance. "What a happy surprise! Bella is alive after all. Isn't that wonderful? I love a happy ending. They are so rare."

Tashi averted her eyes to the floor at all times, not even looking up when Aro took Edward's hand. She had a pearl beaded mask around her face still, so nobody recognized her, yet. "Her blood appeals to you so much, it makes me thirsty. How can you stand to be so close to her?" Aro questioned, still not noticing Tashikah, thankfully. "It's not without difficulty," Edward muttered through a clenched jaw.

"Yes, I can see that," Aro says, his hands still holding onto Edward's hand. He could sense Bella's confusion and made attempts to explain, "Aro can read every thought I've ever had with one touch. And now you know everything. So get on with it." Aro smiles, but it had an unsettling feeling to it. "You are quite a soul reader yourself, Edward. Though you can't read Bella's thoughts. Fascinating."

Aro backs up, dropping Edward's hand. "I would love to see if you are an exception to my gifts, as well. Would you do me the honor?" He sets his hand out towards Bella, and after a few seconds of hesitation, she steps forward and sets her hand into his cold one. "Interesting. I see nothing." He drops her hand and turns around, taking some steps away from them. "I wonder if...let us see if she's immune to all of our powers. Shall we, Jane?"

"No!" Edward runs forward, only for Jane to mutter one simple word under her breath, a word that drops him. "Pain."

"Stop it!" Tashikah shouts, throwing her hand out and forcing Jane to her knees. Edward drops, sighing in relief. Alec clenched his jaw and runs at Tashi, but she just throws out her other hand and drops him to his knees next to his sister. "Don't move or I'll kill them," she warns, noticing how Felix and Demetri were getting into stance. Aro's red eyes twinkle in interest, "what's your name? I've never seen you around before." He asked.

"Tashi, let them go," Alice pleads, knowing her abilities wouldn't be able to hold the twins for long.

"I advise you do as she says," Aro warns calmly. Tashi blinks, dropping her hands, the twins glaring at her. "Tashi, is it? Remove your mask." She glanced at Alice, the pixie girl just nodding as she still held onto a concerned Edward. She reached for the loops around her ear and pulled it off slowly, Aro's eyes widening for a split second. "You look just like your brother. I'm surprised you've lived this long."

"Well, someone had to be alive to write a memoir about your death," Tashi stated coldly.

Aro chuckles evilly, noticing how she still never met his eyes. He extended a hand to her and she shook her head, "no. You have no right to my memories. Not when you burdened them with death and sorrow." She finally looked up, finally meeting his crimson eyes. Alice sighs, "Tashi, please just do it. Stop resisting." She didn't even look at her, still staring into his irises, "what's he going to do? Kill me? He already took everything, I'm not giving him the last thing I have."

"Just kill her already. She misses her brother so bad, let's reunite them." Caius spoke boredly, and finally, she looked away from Aro, meeting the eyes of her brother's very own killer. And for a second, her eyes softened, and her heart softened, filling with love and admiration rather than hate and aggression. He tilt his head, and he felt something he hadn't felt since he was human. He felt happy. He felt peace. He felt love. He felt admiration.

They hated it.

"Brother, let's not be harsh. She's only protecting her new family. Step back. But if you dare try it again, I won't be so forgiving." Aro smiles sickeningly. Alice took Tashi's hand and pulled her back, but Tashi was still staring at the blonde vampire King, and his eyes were fully trained on her, studying her, admiring her, and hating her. He hated the way she was making him feel and she hated it even more than he did. What kind of sick and twisted shit was that? Who mates with the very man who killed her brother? It was some sick joke and she wanted no part of it.

"Jane. Go ahead, my dear," Aro gestures for the teen girl to work her powers on Bella. Jane smirked, "this may hurt just a little." Her smirk quickly dropped upon realization that Bella was immune to her powers. Aro suddenly laughs of excitement, "remarkable! She confounds us all. So, what do we do with you now?" Aro's hands fold in front of him as he stares at the human girl.

"You already know what you're going to do, Aro." Marcus spoke in a bored tone, probably wishing he was anywhere but there. His jet black hair was slicked back, robes adorning his body, and from the way he sat, he had to be above 6 foot. There was nothing comforting about him. Tashi could smell craziness from a mile away. He seemed more evil than Aro and Caius and that was saying something. Only his outside demeanor outshines his inner personality, making him seem like a normal guy.

"She knows too much. She's a liability." Caius comments, removing his eyes from Tashi, but he could feel the glare from her golden eyes, it filled him with amusement. "That's true. Felix?" Tashi's eyes widened in realization, Edward quickly moved Bella out of the way and jumped at Felix. Alice ran forward but was restrained by Demetri. Tashi ran forward only for strong arms to wrap around her body, and that's when she saw the black smoke invading her mind. She couldn't see, she couldn't hear, she couldn't even feel. She felt nothing. All of her senses were ripped away.

She couldn't hear the fight going on between Felix and Edward. She couldn't hear Bella pleading for him to stop, or offering up her life for his. She couldn't hear Alice showing Aro a vision, not just one vision, but two of them. One of them was Bella, as a vampire, running in the forest with Edward. The second one contained a vision of his very brother Caius, sitting on a piano stool with Tashikah, both of them sharing a sweet kiss.

"Go now. Make your preparations." Aro spoke eagerly. Felix begrudgingly released Edward, the younger vampire rushing to Bella, glad she was safe and they were being let off. "Let us be done with this, Heidi will arrive any moment. Thank you for your visit." Marcus says plainly, standing up with a generous posture. "We will return the favor. I would advise that you follow through on your promise soon. We do not offer second chances. Alec, release the girl," Caius says.

Alec nods, obeying his master and releasing Tashi. He let's her go, and returns her senses, she almost falls but Caius had sped over to catch her. His touch sends shivers down her spine for some odd reason. She hated that feeling more than life itself. She looked up, noticing it was Caius who caught her and not Alec. Instinctively, she shoves herself out of his arms, "don't touch me," she says through gritted teeth. He just smirks, watching her back away from him like he was the plague.

Edward went to take her hand, showing concern but Tashi just brushed him off with a glare. "This is all your fault." She storms out behind Demetri, not even hearing Aro sending his goodbyes.

They unfortunately couldn't leave immediately since it was still daylight and the volturi wouldn't risk it. So they sat in the lobby, waiting for the sun to go down so they could get out of there. Tashi looked up upon hearing light footsteps, and she was faced with Demetri, the man only looking at her, paying the other three no mind. "Masters would like to see you. They promise no harm to come to you."

"Do I have a choice?" Tashi stood up, her jaw clenched as she met his eyes.

"No." Demetri smiles tightly.

"You'll be okay, Tash," Alice assured. "I know I will. He wouldn't dare lay a hand on me." Tashikah scoffs, pushing past the guard and walking down the hall. He quickly caught up to her and they made it to a different throne room, probably because they were still cleaning up the mess in the previous one. She walked in, her arms crossed behind her back, her posture ever so straight. She noticed one two of the kings were present, and Caius wasn't either of them.

"You requested my presence? May I ask what for?" Tashi spoke, tilting her head slightly as Aro was flipping through a book. Marcus was just leaning back in his throne, reading a book, and to her surprise, it was Romeo & Juliet. He didn't strike her for the romance type of guy. Funny. "Ah yes, Tashikah, is it? I remember your name carved into a bed post, right next to your mother's, yes?" He questioned.

She faltered for a split second before regaining her posture. "Yes, but she wasn't my mother."

"Could've fooled me. Nonetheless, I don't wish to take up too much of your time. But Marcus has informed me, you and my dear brother Caius, are mates." Aro revealed, and that word just made Tashi feel absolutely sick hearing it. She denied it before, the whole interaction with Caius in the throne room was nothing to her. She didn't care about it. She didn't think about it anymore. At least she tried not to. But that was proven difficult when he was invading her mind.

"You are mistaken. We are not mates. Mates do not exist, not between two people who couldn't hate each other more. I don't care what your gifts say. It is untrue. Nothing in this world could even make me like him, let alone love him." She stated, her tone cold and filled with hatred and disgust. The idea of loving a man who took her life just disgusted her.

"Ah well, I see you've made up your mind. I suppose there's nothing I could say to persuade you to stay here. And I do not wish to hold you against your will. But, there is one thing I will ask of you," Aro set the book down and approached her. "And that is?" She raised a brow, her voice filled with curiosity. "Speak to Caius. Just have a civil conversation. See if you can work out an...arrangement. Just so I'm sure he doesn't go ballistic once you leave."

She kept a poker face but internally, she screaming any insult she could think of. She didn't want to leave on bad terms, she was already lucky she was getting to leave without a scratch. "Fine. I'll speak with him. Though, I cannot promise it will end in a true loves kiss." She says, the undertones of her last sentence crowed with sarcasm. "Not everything can be a fairytale. Heidi will show you to him." Aro smiled, and in walked said Heidi.

Tashikah turned on her heel and followed Heidi, she led her to an entirely different part of the large Volturi castle. She kept her distance, not talking the entire way despite Heidi's failed attempts to conversation. She pulled open a large door and held it open for Tashi to step into. "The last doors on your left. Just knock twice." Heidi didn't give her a chance to respond before the door shut on her.

She cursed under her breath and walked down the empty corridor, the only light being provided was the orange glow from the stained glass windows. She stopped at the large doors, and after some hesitation, she knocked on the door and backed up, always keeping her distance. The door opened after a few seconds and there he was, water dripping down his body, his blonde hair formerly straight, but now adorned with natural curls. It was obvious he just got out of the shower, probably cleaning off all the blood from his "lunch."

She didn't bother looking any lower than his face. She wasn't going to suddenly fawn over because he was shirtless. "Aro said we should speak," she stated blankly, almost like she was automated computer with built in responses. "Can't imagine why," he mumbled. "Me either. There, we spoke." She turned around but the second his hand grabbed her wrist, she turned and threw her hand out, throwing him back. He hit the bed post with a groan, the wood splintering from the impact.

"What can you not comprehend? I said, do not touch me." She said, appalled by his audacious actions.

"Fiesty, aren't you? I'll let that go, but do not make the mistake of repeating your actions," he states, getting back to his feet and brushing himself off. "What are you going to do about it? Kill me? You're a coward!" She threw her hand out, throwing him into a wall, his body falling into the coffee table, completely shattering the glass and wood. "Don't say I didn't warn you." In a flash, she was thrown to the wall and the leg of the broken table was pressured into her abdomen.

She chuckles, glancing down at the stake that pinned her body to the wall, she looked up at him, his eyes staring into hers. "That's the best you could do? Just kill me. You didn't seem to hesitate when you killed my brother. Do it. Don't hesitate. Some stupid fairytale bond doesn't mean anything if I'm dead. So kill me and get it done with." She grunted, feeling more pressure before he let up, dropping the stake and taking some steps back, thoughts running behind his eyes.

"Oh, don't tell me you actually believe in this stuff? Mates? True love? This isn't Romeo and Juliet. This isn't some Cinderella story. You killed my brother!" Tashi glared at him, and he turned around, meeting her eyes, a scowl on his face. "You're brother had it coming! He broke the rules! I did what I had to do!" She scoffed, his words only fueling her anger, "had it coming? You didn't even give her a chance to plead our case! You just murdered them like they had no importance to the world. All because they didn't follow your stupid rules you made up to play royalty!"

"Don't start that. We gave you a chance. We warned you, you fled like a bunch of cowards. We had to teach you a lesson, make an example out of you. Your brother was a fool for thinking he could ever make a life with a human and get away with it." Caius sneered, watching as kicked away the pieces of wood with a grunt. "You think I don't know that?! I was going to turn her myself! But no, you just needed to assert dominance instead of actually listening. God, you act as though you are so cruel and evil, but you're just Aro's bitch."

"Watch your mouth," his jaw clenched in anger, and she stepped forward, invading his space. "Or what? Do something, I dare you. You won't, because you are pathetic. Such a waste of a mate. This supposed bond we have, means absolutely nothing to me. If you think I will ever see you as anything but the bastard who murdered my brother, you're even more delusional than he was." She sneered, and moved away from him, walking towards the door. Ignoring how she actually wasn't bothered by the closeness between them.

Caius smirked, looking over to her, his curls falling over his face. "Call me whatever you want, but it wont change the fact that you're bonded to me for life, darling."

She tensed, pulling open the door, she looked at him over her shoulder, "well, word of advice, Caius. Straight hair doesn't suit you, it never has." She moved out of the room, letting the door slam behind her, he could still hear the heels on her boots clicking against the tile as she walked the corridor. His hand reached up to touch his curly hair and he hums, walking over to the bathroom. He grabbed the hair straightener and tossed it into the trash.

He pulled open the cabinet and grabbed a pair of scissors, he was sick how long it was anyways. If he was gonna keep the curls, he may as well make them look good. Maybe Tashikah wasn't so bad after all.

Though she'd never say that about him.

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a/n: well new moon is officially complete! unlike my other book, i won't be doing chapters with 1-2k words, i prefer making them a bit more lengthy now

i alr love tashi sm, if u hate her- u just don't understand her character bc her behavior is quite justified and you'll see that further into the story! everything in this book happens for a reason 🙏💗

anyways, vote &/or comment ☺️

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