When The Ball Drops 3

“I think whoever is calling you isn’t going to stop until you answer.”Isabella said when Rosalie’s phone started ringing for the tenth time. Rosalie heard the phone each time and knew who it was. Everyone in her family had a different ringtone and Rosalie had heard all of them at least once including Edward’s. Rosalie wasn’t surprised they were calling. She had left without making any plans only leaving a note saying she would call them when she settled. Rosalie figured they hadn’t noticed she was gone until recently or they would called sooner. Pulling Isabella’s naked body close to her own Rosalie kissed her mating mark smirking when her mate shivered.

“All those calls are from my former family and I don’t want to deal with them right now.”Rosalie wanted to continue the activities they had been doing for the last twelve hours.

“I know you don’t but you have to at least confirm you are alive or they will do something drastic and neither of us want to deal with that kind of drama.”Isabella didn’t want to deal with the Cullens at all but they would eventually have to.

Rosalie groaned.”Do I have to?”

“I’m sorry sweetheart but if you don’t answer them they will go to Alaska and start a war with the Denali thinking they did something to you because Alice can’t see your future anymore.”Isabella told her.

“You weren’t kidding when you said they would do something drastic.”Rosalie knew the Cullens were stupid but to go after the Denali was dumb even for them. Rosalie kissed Isabella on the forehead and got out of bed.”What should I tell them?”

“You can tell them anything you want just don’t mention me.”Isabella had to remain hidden for the time being.

“When will I be able to tell them about you?”Rosalie wanted to brag about being the one Isabella chose in the end.

“After we collect your things. If we said anything before that they would wreck everything you own and empty your bank accounts. Not that you need to worry about money I just want you to have your independence. Also you don’t need to worry about any of your cars. If you are truly attached to any we can take them but now that you’re with me you don’t have to tone down your presence in the world.”Isabella hated that Rosalie seemed to go out of her way to dim her light.

“What do you mean by that?”Rosalie asked.

“You won’t be playing adopted teenager going to high school anymore. You also aren’t going to be held to the same rules as other vampires. You don’t need to hunt anymore and probably didn’t even realize the thirst and craving for blood you have had since waking up is gone.”Isabella said.

Rosalie took a moment to check herself over.”You’re right I’m not even thinking about blood. When I was going to feed was always at the back of my mind.”

“Exactly so you don’t have to worry about having wild life to feed from or dealing with blood lust. Plus the sun is no more of a problem for you with my gift. That and we have the Volturi’s backing. That means we can spend our money on whatever we want and flaunt our wealth. Never again will you have to pick your car based on how well it would fit in with a bunch of high school kids. If you wanted you could buy a fleet of the most expensive sports cars in the world and drive one everyday and no one will stop you. You no longer have to play the role of bitchy blond ice queen teenager. You have the freedom and support to be whoever you want.”Isabella told her.

Rosalie thought about Isabella’s words.”You’re right about that as well. We pick out everything from our clothes to our cars based on how well they would blend into society. Even the project cars I pick out aren’t that flashy. Carlisle says it would draw to much attention if a teenager was able to restore more exotic cars.”

“That life is over now sweetheart. Now the world is your oyster and you have unlimited funds and no limitations to do what you want.”Isabella was looking forward to watching Rosalie become her own person.

“That’s kind of exciting to think about.”Rosalie would have no problem spending Isabella’s money knowing that she made a lot with her gifts. That meant it would never run out. That being something Carlisle worried about constantly. That worry leading to them getting small allowances. As it was Rosalie made all her money buying beat up cars, fixing them then selling them.”I think the first thing I want to do is buy my dream car.”

“What car would that be?”Isabella would happily help Rosalie buy her dream car.

“A 1920 Locomobile Model 48 Dual Cowl Phaeton. At the time you could have bought more than three houses for the price of that car. My father was desperate for one. He even had an advertisement from a newspaper that he kept in a drawer in his study that he would look at. When I found out how much he wanted that car I vowed one day I would own one just to prove to him how much better I was than him.”Rosalie had made it her mission in life to get that car. She had even spoken to Royce about getting one. Now she was happy he never did because her female mate was going to get it for her.

“Then I will not rest until I get you that car.”Now it was Isabella’s mission to get the car for Rosalie. Rosalie’s phone ringing stopped further conversation.”You really need to get that.”

“I can’t wait until I don’t have to pretend with them anymore.”Rosalie grumbled as she went to the living room and found her purse which had her phone in it. Pulling up her contacts she decided that dealing with Esme would be the easiest. Even if Rosalie now knew that her fake mother figure had been fully on board with supporting Edward in a false mate bond. Rosalie was unsurprised when instead of Esme answering it was Alice.

“Rosalie where are you?”Alice voice sounded panicked.

“As I told you in my note I was going on a trip.”Rosalie reminded her.

“Why has your future disappeared?”Alice asked.

Rosalie knew this was the real reason Alice was calling. To make sure she was alive and to find out how Rosalie was blocking her gift.”I met a gifted vampire whose gift covers everyone who stands within a certain distance of them. That gift being it blocks mental gifts.”

“Who is this vampire?”Rosalie heard Carlisle’s voice coming over the line. It seemed Alice had her on speaker phone.

“They aren’t keen on people knowing who they are.”Rosalie told him.

“Are they the ones that helped the Denali block our gifts?”Edward asked.

“Yes they are and no they will not help you.”Rosalie cut off that request before it could be asked.

“I assume they helped you.”Jasper said.

“Yes they did as they help anyone else who knows their identity. It was one of Aro conditions when they joined the Volturi.”Rosalie thought mentioning that Isabella was a member of the Volturi would be a good excuse not to answer their questions.

“How did you meet this person?”Rosalie bristled a the accusatory tone Emmett used.

“How I met them and who they are is none of your business. I only called you guys so you would stop blowing up my phone.”Rosalie made a mental note to turn off her phone as soon as the call was over so they couldn’t track her with it.

“Now wait just a second Rosalie. You are a member of this coven and I am your leader. You are to tell me right this instance who this person is and how you got involved with a Volturi guard.”Carlisle demanded.

“If you want to know who the person is take it up with Aro. As for how I got involved with them that is between me and them.”Rosalie wasn’t going to tell them anything.

Carlisle growled.“Tell me right now Rosalie or there will be consequences.”

“You may be my coven leader but I won’t go against the kings. I was told not to reveal this person’s identity and I’d rather face whatever punish you think is worthy over whatever the kings would do.”Rosalie wasn’t afraid of Carlisle. She had Isabella backing her now.

“What’s so great about this person that you left home without telling us and are with them all by yourself in some unknown location?”Emmett asked.

Knowing what she knew now Rosalie could hear the bitterness and jealousy in Emmett’s words.”The person I am with is amazing and I’m very lucky that they chose me to spend time with.”

“What’s so amazing about them that you can’t tell your family?”Alice asked her voice frustrated.

“Once again if you want to know about the person I’m with contact the kings. I’m sure they would love to talk to all of you.”Rosalie bet the royals would have a few things to say about Edward’s false mate bond and leaving a human alive without changing or killing her. Isabella’s relationship with the royals was something Rosalie was going to ask her about later.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”Jasper asked.

“Take the statement however you want to. Now I’m going to let you all go. Then I’m turning off my phone. I’ll call you when I get a free moment.”Rosalie didn’t even wait for a reply before disconnecting the call. She immediately turn the phone off and put back in her purse. Then she made her way back into the bedroom and lay on the bed next to Isabella.”You heard?”

Isabella nodded.”They sound just as entitled as they did when I was human.”

“They really are aren’t they.”Rosalie agreed. The Cullens always expected to get everything they wanted and if they didn’t there would be hell to pay.

“Yes they are. I personally can’t wait until they call Aro. He is going to have a lot of fun with them.”Isabella predicted the Cullens to be left very unhappy with the outcome of that call.

“You said that you turned yourself over to Aro and I wouldn’t be safe in the castle but how did you become close with the royals.”Rosalie knew they were close because the queens called Isabella personally.

“Initially Aro was very afraid of me.”Isabella was cut off by Rosalie.

“Why was Aro afraid of you?”Rosalie had never heard of Aro being afraid of anyone or anything. Mostly because he had the guard backing him.

“My shield makes it so I’m unable to be killed because it is always actively protecting me from dangers. He was nervous about that but was excited when I told him it could protect others. It was when I told him that I had a second of gift and explained how my sponge worked he didn’t believe me. I then used Jane’s own gift on her after Aro had her try it on me.”Isabella told her.

“You used Jane’s gift on her?”Rosalie wished she could have seen that.

Isabella chuckled remember how angry and shellshocked Jane was.”Jane was very unhappy with me but she got over it. The Denali sisters each thanked me for making Jane feel what they felt when she came with Aro for their mother.”

“How close are you with the Denali?”Rosalie knew close enough that Isabella gave them the block.

“Aro called Eleazar to the castle to use his gift on me. He brought the rest of his family with him because they were curious about my sponge gift. Kate apparently begged them to go because she wanted to feel what it was like to be electrocuted. The first time I met them I shook her hand and she tried to electrocute me but my shield blocked it. I then electrocuted her and she drop to the floor laughing as she collected herself. Her sisters were excited because someone could finally get back at Kate for all her hijinks. After the meeting in the castle they invited me to visit. After the first visit I have been back to their home and they have visited me many times.”Isabella enjoyed the Denali very much.

“I’m surprised they never mentioned you.”Rosalie would have thought that Kate would have slipped and said something.

“They were extremely angry when they found out my history with your former coven. The only reason they didn’t do anything was because it wouldn’t have been safe for you and them.”Isabella told her.

“What did you see?”Rosalie figured Isabella had a vision that stopped the Denali from acting.

“If the Denali would have told the Cullens that I was alive they would started a verbal argument with the Denali and left. When they got home they would have killed you so that Edward could claim me because of how powerful I am. Then they would have gathered allies and attacked the Denali which would have led to the five of them dying. I still didn’t have a proper footing with the Volturi at the time so  I wouldn’t have been able to help.”Isabella was just thankful it didn’t come to that.

“That brings us back to the Volturi. What happed after you used Jane’s gift on her?”Rosalie wanted to get the full story.

“Once I stopped hurting Jane I looked Aro in the eye and saw uncontrollable fear. His thoughts were racing going over all the ways I could kill him, the other royals and the guard. He was fixated on me wanting to be the sole ruler of vampires. I tried to calm his concerns but nothing worked. I then pledged my loyalty to him and the other kings and offered my services as a member of the guard. I told him all the gifts I had encountered so far and about what I could do with my shield and told him I would become his personal body guard if he wanted. He accepted and as the years went by I became a trusted member of the guard and friend to the royals.”Isabella was still surprised Aro accepted.

“Why did you even bother to offer though? I know you said that it was to keep me alive but I’m sure you could have done something else to bring us together.”Rosalie was sure that Isabella could have worked out a less time consuming way to reunite them.

“It was the only scenario that didn’t lead to either your death or me killing off the royals and all the guard members.”Isabella told her.

“Why would you kill the royals and the guard members?”Rosalie didn’t think Isabella was violent person.

“Because if I united with you before Aro read Carlisle they would have tried to kidnap you to use as leverage against me. The only way for us to live in peace would be to kill the kings who wouldn’t stop in their quest to own my power and would send armies after us. That’s why I had to have their trust before I reveal the mate bond.”Isabella explained.

“I could easily see the three kings doing that.”Rosalie had no problem believing that the kings would go to such extremes to gain control of Isabella.”Still you could have at least told me you were alive.”

“You wouldn’t have stayed away if I did. That and why I was at the castle your family would have killed you. Even if you tried to go into hiding they would’ve hunted you down and killed you. I only got my freedom from service to Aro last month with the condition that I come in if he ever needed me. I was allowed to leave the castle but not long enough that you would be protected and if you tried to live in the castle with you would have been targeted by my enemies.”Isabella wanted to go to Rosalie many times but held back.

Rosalie took a moment to go through everything Isabella said. One thing stuck out to her.”It seems like you have a lot of visions of my former family killing me.”

“They kill you because you are mated to me. With how powerful I am Carlisle wants me for his coven. If Edward didn’t take an interest he likely would have let you pursue me and not tried to interfere. It’s his love of Edward that has him giving the order. Alice goes along with it because she had big dreams of her throwing a huge wedding for me and Edward and us being best friends who had sleep overs and went on shopping trips for eternity. She knew that if I was with you that you would take me and we would leave the coven. Jasper wanted my gift for the family and wanted Alice happy so that’s why he went along with it. Esme wanted the perfect daughter and that didn’t include her having a female love interest and Emmet well he went along with it because if he can’t have you no one will.”Isabella hated to be the one to expose Rosalie’s family to her but she wouldn’t lie.

“I want to say that I’m surprised hearing all this but I’m not. The Cullens like to say they are a real family not a coven but they don’t act like a family. Each of them are out for themselves. Even I am. I thought of Emmett like a brother but after you pointed it out it was quite obvious that he never saw me as a sister. Not that I feel bad for him. I was very vocal about saving myself for my mate. Never once did I lead him to believe that I would ever settle for less than my mate.”Rosalie had never flirted with Emmet or been overly affectionate. Actually she was never affectionate at all and was constantly removing his arm from her shoulders and pushing him away when he tried to hug her.

“When I was around Emmett was very keen on talking up Edward and changing the subject anytime you were brought up. It was obvious that he was in love with you.”Isabella didn’t even have to read his mind to know Emmet loved Rosalie.”Although I did want to punch his face in many times for his thoughts about you.”

“I don’t want to know.”Rosalie didn’t want to know what the man she thought of as a brother thought about her that made Isabella want to punch him.

“I won’t tell you them. What I will tell you is that Edward is horribly jealous of you.”Isabella smiled at the look of shock Rosalie was sporting.

“What are you talking about?”Rosalie didn’t think Edward was jealous of her. She thought he hated her.

“Edwards animosity towards you was because you turned him down after you woke up as a vampire. Then you went off and killed those men he was jealous because of how much praise you got from Esme and although he didn’t say it out loud Carlisle approved of your actions.”Isabella said.

“Carlisle approved of what I did?”Rosalie asked.

Isabella nodded.”Edward read his mind. You getting all that praise was why he went off on his own to kill criminals. He of course didn’t just pick men who committed crimes but ones that he thought were living in sin. He actually killed a gay couple he stalked to their apartment.”

“That bastard.”Rosalie always thought Edward hunted innocent people.

“So when he comes back he expects lots of praise and instead what he finds is disappointed parents and a new coven member that doesn’t care about him and is obsessed with you. That made him even more jealous. Then was years went by he would get jealous every time someone either said out loud or thought about how good looking you are when everyone alway thought he was broody or dark. He was never the focus of anyone’s attention when you were around and it ate at him. Then we he found out that you were actually my mate not him he had to be talked out of killing you by Alice. She had seen a vision of him doing it and me not wanting to be around the family anymore with you not there. They kept you alive because they thought that I felt the mate bond enough that I wanted to be around you. That was their way of keeping me with Edward while making you feel like you hated me.”Isabella told her.

“Did you show her that vision?”Rosalie figured Isabella had to.

“Yes because it was the only way to keep you alive.”Isabella had manipulated a lot of Alice’s visions to keep her and Rosalie safe.

“I can’t believe Edward has been jealous of me all this time.”Rosalie just thought he hated not being the only child anymore. That was kind of true but to be jealous of the attention she got was surprising. Edward always seemed like he hated people looking at him.

“He was turned when he was 17. He doesn’t have a fully mature brain and he never will. That is the reason he acts the way he does and why he clings to Carlisle and Esme like they really are his parents.”Isabella knew that Edward would never mature. He was always going to be a teenage boy dragging along all that teenage drama with him wherever he went.

“How old were you when you were turned?”Rosalie didn’t think Isabella was much older than she last saw her.

“I was 21. Victoria and James are big believers that you should at least be able to buy alcohol before you turn into a vampire. I did live with them before I was turned. They bought a house for us to settle down in and we used my time as human to play with the stock market. To get our starting nest egg I played in some underground illegal poker games because they had the biggest prizes.”Isabella had a lot of fun playing poker. She would have to see if Victoria and James would want to go with her again.

“When you were human James and Victoria let you play in illegal poker games?”Rosalie asked in disbelief.

Isabella shrugged.”They weren’t that big on making money and mostly stole what they needed. I wasn’t keen on that idea so we had to find a way to make some fast cash. Illegal gambling clubs are the best way to do that.”

“I’m so glad you’re a vampire now.”Rosalie didn’t think her un beating heart could take dealing with Isabella’s hijinks when she was human.

Isabella leaned forward and gave Rosalie a kiss.”I am to and I’m also glad that I am finally able to see you in person and not just a vision.”

“Thank you for keeping me safe for all these years.”Rosalie hadn’t even realized how dangerous it had been living with her family.

“Knowing you were safe and that we would get our happy ending is what has kept me going this whole time. I knew that all the sacrifices would be worth it because in the end we would be together.”Isabella had reminded herself of that when she was feeling down.

“Well I for one am happy we are because I have missed you terribly.”Rosalie rolled on top of Isabella and kissed her hard on the mouth.”I am also happy I can do that whenever I want.”

Isabella looked out the window.”It seems the sun is up. Do you want to go for a drive?”

“Oh yeah the convertible.”Rosalie had completely forgotten. Jumping up from the bed Rosalie went to the closet and started rummaging through the clothes.”Why are some of these in my size?”

“I figured if you actually showed up you wouldn’t have any luggage so I picked out some stuff. I thought one of the things we could do while we are out is shopping.”Isabella told her.

Rosalie held back a squeal of excitement.”I can’t believe that I’m going to be spending the day in the sun with my mate who I thought was dead exploring the city of love.”

“It does sound like the perfect way to spend the day.”Isabella agreed.

“And to get it started I’m going to take a shower.”Rosalie made her way to the bathroom calling over her shoulder.”Alone.”

“Now I know why you are called the ice queen.”Isabella called back.

Rosalie just laughed in reply. It had been a long time since she laughed so freely and she found she liked how it felt. She also liked how happy she felt. Happy and free. Being with Isabella meant that Rosalie could break the shackles that were holding her to the Cullen coven. Based on what she learned it was a good thing she was getting away from them because if she stayed they likely would have killed her. Rosalie bet that Isabella had seen more than just the few visions she told Rosalie about that led to Rosalie’s death. One thing that Isabella was definitely was right about was if Rosalie knew about her she wouldn’t have been able to stay away. After thinking Isabella was dead Rosalie would have done anything to see her if knew she was really alive. They were both just lucky that Isabella had better control than Rosalie did. Something that would likely come in handy in the future. Especially when it came time to deal with the Cullens.