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Lethal Independence
It was 10pm before Chloe drifted off to sleep in Summer’s arms. Athe and Chloe fussed over Summer every second once they found out she was injured. Summer was able to easily heal her bruise, but she didn’t understand why she was still being coddled like a feeble infant. As soon as Summer laid Chloe in her crib and assured Athe that she was fine, Summer changed and picked up one of her favorite books, The Phantom of the Opera. She wondered why Aro was prolonging his matters. Although Dominique hurt her, she certainly did not wish death upon the poor girl. Yet, Aro insisted it must be so. He usually made no exceptions to rules that offered death sentences. She reached chapter three when Aro glided noiselessly through the door. “Is she asleep?” Summer put down her book on a nearby nightstand and pointed to the door leading to Chloe’s room, “Yes, resembling the little angel that she is.” Aro smiled back at her. He pulled off his jacket, slipped off his shoes, and unbuttoned his shirt. He lied next to his lovely wife, bundling her in his arms. “Are you feeling better?” She nodded, “Much better. My healing worked a miracle.” He snuggled her closely, “Wonderful, dear.” Summer twitched her lip; she considered asking Aro about Dominique. Eventually, he caught on, “Are you wondering about Dominique, love?” She relaxed her head on his chest, “Why did she need to die, Aro?” Confusion clouded his face, “She would have continued attempting to hurt you, Summer. She always refused to listen to orders unless it came from me. She deserved death.” Okay, so that was one thing Aro didn’t change.

He still believed people “deserved death,” rather than second chances. “Oh, okay…” She allowed her voice to trail off, “Why was she smitten with you?” Aro kissed the top of her head, “She interpreted my kindness to her as love. She doubted anyone could be courteous to a monster such as herself. So, when I expressed courtesy to her, she understood it as love.” That made sense, Summer thought. Dominique should have made an effort to see what everyone was trying to tell her. Aro was in love and married to Summer. Nevertheless, Summer saw Dominique’s actions as mistakes, not threats. Summer tilted her head upwards to face her husband, “I love you, even though you are much too overprotective.” Aro’s affectionate eyes took in Summer’s attractive figure, “And I love you too, although I can never do enough to earn your love.” “Oh contraire,” Summer smirked mischievously, “you captivate me with every move you make.” Aro slightly raised an eyebrow and smiled. Giggling, she laid flatly onto her pillow and pulled him down with her by the neck. Their yearning lips met and they kissed through the night till daybreak, while Jake’s heart bled because of Summer’s absence.

~*Back in Forks*~
Jake struggled in his sleep, being haunted by unwanted dreams of Summer. Around 7am, he tumbled off the bed, his head smacking the hardwood floor. Jake stared at the ceiling and smoothed back his hair with a frustrated sigh. Timely, Billy popped open his bedroom door, house phone in hand. “Jacob!” He called to his half-asleep son. Jake propped up on his elbows, “What is it, dad?” Billy wheeled over to him and tossed the phone to Jake, “It’s Bella.” Billy shut the room door on his way out. Jake cleared his throat, “Hello?” His voiced dripped with grogginess. “Hey, Jake!” Bella answered, trying to uplift his spirits. “What do you say coming down to the Cullens’ house in a while?” His lips tightened, “Why?” “We just want to talk to you a little. We haven’t seen you in ages.” The Cullens hadn’t told Jake that Aro brought Summer back to Volterra. Bella felt horrible playing with Jake’s emotions this way, but he would never come down to the “vampire hideaway” without proper reason. “No.” Jacob stated resolutely, hanging up the phone. “Jake…Jake…hello? Ugh.” Bella hung up and grabbed her sweater. “Where are you going?” Edward asked her politely, rushing to her side. She froze; he was going to protest against her plan. “I’m heading out to Jake’s place. He refuses to come see us here. Someone has to tell him about Summer leaving.” Those words stung her heart more than she thought possible. Edward deepened his gaze on Bella, “I’m driving you.”

He clutched the keys out of her hand and laughed. Bella smiled and ran after Edward outside, “Come back here, Edward! I can drive myself!” Too late, she thought. Edward had already started the car. He looked awfully smug when Bella stubbornly sat in the passenger’s seat. She buckled up and stared out the window. Still smiling, he reached his arm over and turned her cheek. She reluctantly glared into his eyes, but she couldn’t keep her glower on for long. He caressed her lips with his for a moment, “Forgive me, but I just wanted to spend some time with you.” His charm had such a powerful hold on her, it was almost embarrassing. Bella stroked his cheek, “I can’t even fake fury around you.” The two laughed and sped off toward the Blacks’ residence. Edward pulled up and parked five minutes later. He quickly embraced her, “Be safe, love. I’ll be right here waiting for you.” She nodded with a grin and hopped out of the car. Billy opened up the front door for her before she knocked. “Hello, Bella. Wonderful to see you around here again.” Bella beamed, “Hey, Billy. Is Jake home?” He glanced down the corridor to Jake’s closed bedroom door. “I think he’s still sleeping. Be my guest and wake him up, though. He been sleeping more than he needs to lately. “Thanks.” She walked up to his room and turned the knob. She found Jake sitting on his bed glimpsing at a mechanic’s magazine. “Hey, Jake.” Bella muttered, tiptoeing her way into the messy room. “Hey.” He barely whispered, not turning to look at Bella.

She shoved a few clothes off the edge of Jake’s bed and sat next to her best friend. She made an attempt to break the silence, “How have you been?” He didn’t answer. Bella’s eyebrows furrowed, “Um…okay. How’s the wolf pack?” He remained silent. He was seriously angering Bella now. “Okay, Jake. Enough.” She tugged away his magazine and threw it across the room. “What is with the depressed gig?” Jake’s eyes narrowed, “Why did you come here, Bella?” He uttered through his teeth. Bella crossed her arms. She was ready to stop beating around the bush. Jake was acting like too much of an obstinate child, now, and that peeved Bella to the extremes. “I came to tell you that you need to get over Summer and find the girl who truly belongs with you.” Silence overtook the room once more. Bella rolled her eyes, aggravated. “Look in the mirror, Jacob! Look at what you’re turning in to! You’re becoming a depressing, burdening guy who’s acting as if he can’t fend for himself.” Jake stared at the floor. Bella shook him harshly by the shoulders, “Jacob Black! Are you even listening to me?!” Thankfully, he was successfully restraining his anger.

Bella straightened up, “Fine. I’ll be leaving now.” She was walking out the doorway, but turned back to tell Jake one more thing. “The reason why I came here was to tell you that Aro unexpectedly showed up and took Summer and Chloe back to Volterra. She’s gone, Jake. This is how it’s meant to be.” Bella shut the door and thanked Billy for inviting her in. She and Edward drove off, while Jake desired to rip something apart, preferably that manipulating vampire husband of Summer. A tear ran down his balmy cheek, but he let it fall. No one, not even his brothers, understood his feelings for Summer. Then, the idea hit him. Why was he allowing other’s to control HIS decisions? After all, it was him who imprinted on Summer, not the Cullens or his other brothers. If he wanted to fight for her love, then he could do it if he wanted to, even if it meant death. Little did he know, however, the danger that awaited him in his decision.