CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
SPEEDING UP THE PROCESS

    THEA was on edge for the remainder of the school day. She was right, she knew she was right all along. Bella knew. She knew of him being a vampire, meaning she knew about the entire coven.

While Emmett drove home, he continuously asked what was wrong but she didn't speak. Hell, she didn't even take her eyes off the trees that passed by.

Rosalie, who was in the passenger seat, tried asking as well but got nothing.

They began worrying horribly when Thea didn't even reply to Alice. It must've been bad.

Thea was grateful to see Esme's car, Carlisle must be working a late shift at the hospital. Thea was the first one to make it inside, she barged the door open, "Esme!"

Esme rounds the corner, frowning when seeing Thea's panicked eyes. "What's wrong?"

"Bella knows! That human girl knows!" Thea snapped, causing all the other Cullens to stop and look at Edward, whose eyes were now wide.

Esme was in shock, "you told her?" She looked at her eldest son.

"No." Edward was quick to say, he pressed his lips together, "She figured it out."

"Bullshit!" Thea scoffs, "If you would've stayed away from her, she wouldn't know about us!"

"Thea, baby," Alice spoke softly to calm down her frantic wife.

Rosalie was scowling at him. She couldn't even speak, knowing that if she did, she would say things she'd regret. She simply scoffed, turning on her heels and heading up the stairs. Emmett followed her.

Thea shakes her head, pushing on his shoulders harshly and making him stumble on his feet. "You know what will happen to us if the Volturi finds out that girl knows. They will kill us all! This entire coven, Edward!"

"Thea, I'm—"

"You're not sorry." Thea's voice was shaking, "If you were, you never would've done this. You don't care, you think you can just do whatever you want and not face consequences. Isabella will die! You will die! We will all die because of you and your dumbass decisions!" She smacks him across the face.

"Okay." Alice grabs Thea by the waist, pulling away the angry girl from a stunned and guilty Edward.

✸

     Alice pulled Thea off into the library that day but sadly it didn't seem to help much. Thea tried distracting herself with books but Edward was prominent in her mind.

How can he risk their lives? How can he be so careless?

The next day, Edward drives Bella Swan to school and everyone is soaking up the new juicy topic of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan.

While the rest of the family seemed a tad worried, Thea and Rosalie were filled with irritation and annoyance.

Thea simply turned back to Alice in the car and rested her head on Alice's shoulder. Alice kissed her forehead, hoping it would create comfort for her wife.

✸

     If there was one thing everyone knew about Thea McCarty, it was her devotion. Thea would do anything for the people she loved and adored.

Thea has spilled blood and she knew she was capable of spilling even more if it came down to it.

Thea couldn't risk losing her family the way she'd lost her child. She wouldn't let her last strand of happiness be ripped away just because of some human girl.

That being said, she had to take matters into her own hands.

Edward walked down an empty hallway, his eyes trailing across the small window to the classrooms. His golden eyes land on Bella from outside Mr. Varners trigonometry class.

Bella had her head supported by her hand, she seemed to almost be falling asleep in the middle of the class. But she catches a glimpse of Edward from outside and energy immediately rejuvenates her body.

Edward smiled, signaling her to come into the hallway.

Bella shifts in her seat, raising her hand.

"Yes?" Mr. Varner raises his brow.

"Can I use the restroom?" Bella asks.

"You should be going in between class periods." Mr. Varner seemed annoyed by the question.

Bella wore a tight smile, "This is more of a...women's problem."

Mr. Varner blinks. Silence. "...go ahead." He turns back to the board.

Bella grabbed her bag and hassled out of the classroom. She turns to see Edward leaning up against the lockers. "Hey."

Edward smiled in return, "Hey, I...I wanted to talk to you about something if you don't mind."

Bella shrugs, "No, it's...uh...it's fine."

✸

     The two made their way to the valley forest that was near the school. They walked on a small path to get to the view of the streaming river. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Bella looks at him as they continue walking.

Edward had his hands stuffed in his pockets, "I wanted to talk about...us."

Bella slightly smiled, "what about us?"

"Bella, this is...dangerous." He signals between the two of them, "You can be killed, my family can be killed because of our...relationship."

Bella was frowning, "Edward, I'm not going anywhere. I'm not going to tell anyone, you know that." She takes a step forward, making him take a step back. Bella sighs at the reaction.

"This isn't..." Edward was about to raise his voice but held back, "I need you to know that I'm sorry. Forever making you think this could work."

Bella felt her chest tighten, "what are you saying."

"I'm saying that this is a death sentence," Edward whispers, his eyes glazing over. "I'm sorry..." Edward's hand was seconds away from wrapping around Bella's throat and breaking her neck, but a strong force shoved Edward out of the way. 

Bella gasped, her eyes trailing across two figures that struggled with each other's strength. They broke apart and Bella was at a loss for words.

Standing in front of her were two Edward's. Both are identical down to the T.

Her heart raced against her chest, "what's going on?!"

"Thea, have you lost your mind?!" Edward snapped at the girl.

Bella's eyebrows knit together. "Thea?"

Thea scoffs, morphing back into her true form. "Have you lost yours?! Ever thinking that this is going to work!"

Edward's eyes were wide, he knew Thea was upset but he didn't know that she was willing to take Bella's life. "You were about to kill her, Thea, you can't do that!"

"Sure, I can." Thea shrugs, her eyes glaring at Edward, "She's going to die anyway. I'm just speeding up the process!" She kicks him directly in his chest, causing him to be thrown into a tree.

Bella knows of them. Meaning there were two options. Turn her or silence her permanently. And Thea would be damned to have to spend the rest of her eternity around curious George.

Thea tries taking another fast step toward Bella, who stumbled back and landed on her ass.

Alice appeared quickly, standing in front of Thea, "Thea, stop it!" She demanded sternly, knowing that a soft tone would go in one ear and out the other.

Thea squints. That's how Edward knew, wasn't it? Alice had a vision of it all happening.

Thea looked at Edward with hatred and disgust. She uses her vampire speed to run in the opposite direction, leaving two vampires and a traumatized human girl.

ragerwrites, Did y'all see this coming? I felt like the was the perfect opportunity to show that Thea's powers aren't useless, ya know? 🤷🏾‍♀️

wordcount, 1221