𝐑𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐅𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐇 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃

IV | "Only those who love you most can ever truly hurt you."

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"RED WINE, PLEASE. THANK YOU." MARGEAUX SMILED POLITELY AT HER waitress as she poured an alcoholics helping into her wine glass before leaving the Bellerose by herself.

It was far later in the evening. After Margeaux had set up a place for Edward and his lover to have their last bang in the sheets before they perished tomorrow. She felt good about the five star hotel. Even to go as far to pay for it herself.

If she were to finally have her revenge on the Mindreader, she wasn't going to be entirely cruel. Marge sometimes enjoyed the finer things in life and from what she remembered, Edward did too. Unless, his tastes have changed. She was confident though.

Spending the night like she usually did, Margeaux sat at a fancy restaurant reservation for one.  She wore the same black velvet dress from before, which was held up by thin straps. Her cloak was too inconspicuous when the St. Marcus celebration was over, so she opted for a basic leather jacket. She was cornered off by high backed booths for privacy. A dimly lit candle sitting in the middle of the cream cloth spread.

A medium rare steak with sweet potatoes and asparagus sat in front of her. The smell made her mouth water as she cut into it, taking her time, savoring the experience. Margeaux wasn't opposed to dining alone. In fact, she preferred it to company. She had been doing it for so long, it felt wrong to share it with another.

Her wine was rich. A concoction that rivaled the sweet potatoes nicely. Which simmered on her tongue and awakened her senses.

But Margeaux was not content.

Here she was, checking off all the boxes that she supposed would satisfy her. A extravagant meal paired with a wine. She successfully defied her father without backing down. She was getting back at Edward for abandoning her all those years ago. However, those accomplishments only left a ruminating battle of wills within her.

Her demons scuffing with a weakened angel, still fighting to the end.

She felt sick.

"Margeaux Bellerose," A voice familiar to one particular man; Edward Cullen spoke.

The raven haired hybrid scraped her knife against the golden plate before she set her wrists against the table in pause. "Vous faites de votre mieux pour me surprendre. I am not intimated by you, Edward Cullen." (you try your best to surprise me)

Her tongue curled around her native dialect as her eyes slowly raised to the blank face of her offender. She'd admit, he was still handsome. But like she noticed almost a hundred years ago, she had seen a lot of handsome faces before. Edward did not stand out from the crowd, at least, not to her.

How could such a generic face cause her such sorrow? The question was mind boggling, albeit arrogant. But she was still bitter from his last disappearing act. She wondered if he would do another one before the trial.

"No surprises. May I sit?"

She scrutinized his face, his posture, his entire air. It was stifling, her sudden repulsion of him. Made her jaw clench under her supple skin. Yet, she did not deny him. "But of course," She mused suspiciously, instead.

Going back to her meal, Margeaux found that she lost her appetite. The meat was piping hot and steaming up to her nostrils, but she went straight for the wine. Her lips teased the rim of the glass, nursing it as she waited for him to say something.

"It has been a long time, Margeaux."

"Apparently, not long enough. You wish you could've held off a few more precious years, with your Bella, till you saw me again." She swallowed from her glass and noticed he didn't follow the movement like he did so long ago.

He was no longer bewitched by her.

Edward stiffened at the mention of his love, then relaxed the next second to a cool mask. "Don't put words in my mouth. You don't know that."

"No? Tell me, do you regret leaving me that night? Do you ever think about it?" The Bellerose leant forward slightly, showing her investment in it all. Her lips were downturned, displeased and disturbed with his indifference.

A pregnant pause settled over them as Edward thought over how he should word it. He averted his gaze from her intense expression to the table. "I... we weren't lovers, Margeaux."

This caused Marge to flinch like she'd been slapped. Her lips pursed in a simpering rage but she forced herself to reign it in. "No, no. I suppose we weren't," She whispered and it sounded far more broken than he'd ever heard her before. "But we were friends."

"Marge--"

"We were friends!" She emphasized with offense before shaking her head. There it went again, her uncontrollable rage. It knew no bounds. Rising like a dragon over her shoulders, breathing fire and flame to anyone in the vicinity. His blantant disregard for the three years they spent together, whether it be platonic or romantic, pissed her off.

She had spent many many countless years being ignored, pushed aside, and belittled by her own family. Margeaux expected it from them. It was why she left Volterra so often. It was why she was so addicted to coming back.

But when she went out and decided to make relationships of her own. Ones that could potentially be a positive influence on her. They could love, care or even tolerate her existence – it would've been far better than the first seven years of her life.

To put it plainly, indifference to her existence was a trigger. And if Edward was trying to smooth things over, he was doing an awful job.

"And friends don't leave you naked... and alone in a bed with dead bodies sprawled everywhere, knowing the fucking Volturi guard were coming to vindicate us!" Margeaux slammed her hand on the table, causing the cutlery to jump. He reached his hand across the table but she snatched it away, glaring at him heatedly.

"I left you," Edward murmured, relenting. As if just now remembering the events, connecting it to his most recent actions.

"Yes, you left me." She swallowed the last of her wine, twirling her fingertips around the stem. "You're a coward. Or you were, maybe you've changed... but I still hate you for what you did to me."

Biting his bottom lip, he picked at the table cloth like a scolded child. His head bowed meant a lot more than what he was doing verbally. "I am so sorry, Margeaux... And I know you don't have to forgive me, but if you would just hear our side. I hope your wise judgement won't be shadowed by my regrettable past with you."

"I plan to hear every facet of the truth. I take my reputation seriously here." She leaned forward in her seat, lips pulled back in a sneer. "I have something to prove and it has absolutely nothing to do with you."

Margeaux wiped at her mouth with the napkin in her lap, setting it on the table in front of her. "But if I find anything, and I mean anything, worth persecuting you for, know that I'll do so satisfied justice was served."

Edward clenched his jaw, but he thought it was fair. He was struggling not being able to read her thoughts to find out the truth. Was what she was saying genuine? He couldn't tell.

"Where do we go from here?" He sounded borderline desperate. A emotion she hadn't heard from him yet. It caused her to pause. The sound of her mother's voice sneaking out from the dark corners of her mind.

For a moment, her features softened from vindictive to neutral. "Introduce me to your... Isabella."

...

"I will only be a moment, Felix." Margeaux reassured as she tightened her leather jacket around herself. 

The night mostly covered her and Felix in darkness. Somehow, her eyes sparkled like stars still. Her innocent appearance was incentive enough to keep her safe. Felix knew Aro would have his head if anything happened to her. Although, he was also confident that she could take care of herself.

His tall frame towered over her like a boulder. She appreciated his presence, but knew it was more out of obligation than loyalty to her.

He nodded yet stayed in the parking lot of the hotel anyway. Felix wasn't going to move from his post until she was ready to leave. Her own personal, immortal bodyguard.

Inhaling deeply, Margeaux prepared herself for whatever she was going to walk into. Edward and his entourage probably hated her guts right now, rightfully so. But she wasn't here to make friends, she was here to hear the facts and speak her peace.

Whether they wanted her there or not, she was showing up outside their door.

Standing on the obnoxious hotel carpet in front of their room, she raised her fist and knocked twice. The door immediately opened, a little too eager in her opinion. But who stood on the other side of the door was a pleasant surprise.

"Hello, Margeaux right?" She was perky and bright, like a bottle of sunshine. Margeaux had to squint her blue eyes just to see her.

"Yes, and you are absolutely auroral."

The pixie was short and petite, much like herself. Her hair was cropped and cut at odd angles as if it simply grew out that way. With vibrant golden eyes, she grinned at the compliment. Hand extended despite Marge thinking she was going to be far more negative towards her.

"Oh, please! You're style is so chic, I could die, again and that's not a invitation," She giggled.

Margeaux couldn't stop herself from laughing at her dark joke. It was unexpected. For a straight forward, usually serious person that she was, it was refreshing. "I'm Alice."

"You're not trying to soften me up so I go easier on you guys, are you Alice?" She scrunched her nose as Alice took up most of the doorway.

"Depends, is it working?"

"I'll let you know when the evenings over. May I come in?"

"Of course," Alice moved out of the way by pushing the door open. She welcomed Margeaux inside, smiling to herself with a knowing glint in her golden eyes that Marge did not see. "Edward is not here. So, he won't interfere in your time with Bella."

Marge took off her leather jacket, exposing her light olive toned shoulders to the warm lighting in the room. She was somewhat happy the Mindreader wouldn't be here. Marge didn't want Isabella to sugar coat her details in order to keep Edward guilt free. "I won't be long. Edward can rest assure that I won't harm his Isabella."

"Oh, I know you won't." Alice spoke confidently, intertwining her fingers. "They're across the hall and will be over shortly."

"They?" Margeaux tilted her head slightly as she sat down at the glass table, crossing her smooth legs at the ankle. Alice didn't respond. She smiled, wiggled her fingers in a form of a wave and left Margeaux to her devices.

It was a little unsettling, the ominous shift in the atmosphere, but she grounded herself for the long haul. Only those who she loved most could ever truly hurt her, and right now, she didn't have anyone left to love.

She had nothing to fear, right?

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Written Unedited 28 November. 2021

I wanted to build some suspense my lovely readers! Share with me your thoughts on the conversation with Edward. Do you think Marge's ruthlessness is justified?

Comment, vote! Xx