Chapter Eleven

"Hey sweetheart," my mum said, removing my head from her shoulders. "I'm sorry you had to go through that but your Aunt…" She paused as if to think of something, she settled on, "She means well."

"She's not my aunt!" I mumbled out, my voice was a little muffled from trying to sniff.

My mum looked like she was about to protest but my dad placed his hand on her shoulders and she looked at him, he shook his head and she relaxed. I went mad instantly, nobody wanted to tell me anything. "I am not a child you know and I'm not stupid."

My dad flinched like I had punched him and my sweet mum's mouth fell open. "Pumpkin we never thought that ever. We just don't know how to say goodbye to you." It was dad that spoke and he sighed loudly at the end of his words.

"Goodbye? Are you kidding?" I have said those words more times today than all my life. "I'm not leaving. Why do I have to leave?" I was on the verge of tears. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. These were my parents and they were willing to throw me into a stranger's arms.

"I really wish we could tell you but it's not our place to and neither would you believe." My mum said tears were pouring down her eyes. My dad used his arm to pull her closer as he rubbed her shoulders.

"Why wouldn't I believe? What could be more absurd than the fact that we have been living with a Vampire Princess for the past few weeks? Don't pretend you didn't know."

"We knew, there is no denying that." My dad replied.

"You didn't think it was important to inform your daughter and you guys kept calling her my aunt. What's your relationship with her? Why do you have to put up with her antics and requests?"

My mum burst into tears, her tiny voice sounded even tinier as she sobbed. She pulled out of my dad's arms and fled into mine. Burying her head on my shoulders she wailed. "We don't want you to go Bella, we wish you could stay but you can't." She pulled away from me and wiped her tears.

My dad stretched out his arm and she ran into it. "Do this for us. It is the last thing we ask of you. It won't be for long just for maybe a couple weeks until this whole thing calms down." He said but I couldn't help but notice he kept his eyes down as he spoke.

"Weeks! I am going away for weeks and what whole thing? Everything started going astray when she appeared. I am sure if she leaves, we would get our lives back. Don't make me go with her. I don't know what this is about and frankly I'm fine with pretending it never happened." I paused and sniffled.

"Pumpkin if we could do it, we would without giving it a moment's thought but this really is for your good. Go with your aunt."

"Don't call her that." My dad retracted his arm that was stretching out to touch me as he spoke.

My dad looked about today something when the door opened and EVP said, "Could you wrap this up? We don't have much time."

"The hell Calli! You don't show up in her life for fifteen years, show some compassion. She will be ready in a couple minutes." Calli huh… I assumed Carly and fifteen years hell I haven't seen this b***** in my life. I was done being polite.

Some unreadable expression showed on her face and she quietly closed the door. "I can swear on my life that she means no harm, she just doesn't know how to handle you. Go with her, if staying with us would be safer for you, we would let you stay in a heartbeat Bella but it's not." My mum said tears were still falling down her eyes.

Me? How is this my fault? I didn't want her to handle me, I needed her out of our lives so things could go back to normal so I can stay with my parents, have my normal life back. I didn't want to go traveling with some vampire Princess but I didn't say all these. I kept my thoughts to myself while my mum and dad coerced me.

"Please Pumpkin, it would just be for a little while. You would understand at the end of it all. I promise." My dad looked on the verge of breaking down.

"I will get ready," I managed to say. I was exhausted, the sight of them in such terrible states was draining me emotionally. I just wanted some sleep and something to eat, two slices of pizza didn't do jack to my empty stomach.

My mum started for me then paused, she only hesitated for a few seconds before reaching for my cheeks and she planted a kiss on both of them. "We would leave you to pack." I nodded and watched them leave, closing the door behind them.

I sobbed and walked to the bathroom. Picking a roll of tissue, I blew on it as I tried to clear my nose. I picked my favorite toothbrush. It was blue and red, weird colors I know but I like the way they blended as if on the verge of purple but not mixing. I didn't bother with paste.

I returned to the room and picked my favorite backpack, it was small but there wasn't much in my room I couldn't buy and I didn't want to take too much so I'll miss home and pester EVP to let me go as soon as possible. 

I was doing it for my parents, they had looked genuinely worried and I have never disobeyed them in my life. I would argue, yes but I always ended up doing everything they asked and they were never unreasonable. 

I walked to my bedside table, I picked the charm bracelet that Mia had gotten for me on my birthday. That was when I realized I wouldn't be here when she arrived back from summer camp. I wanted to text but I would just worry her so I decided to do it later besides I vaguely remember leaving my phone on the sitting room couch. I didn't want to leave my bed until I was ready. 

I picked up my half of our twin necklace and put it on. Taking off my nightclothes, I settled for a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt. I dropped the items I had decided on in my bag and zipped it close. I made to leave when my eye caught the Ruby ring. I picked it with the thought of returning the dreadful ring to the owner and fled the room.