Twilight; (Most of) The Cullen Family Leaves Forks ...And 'Bella'/*I Want My Innocence Back*...
Pinocchio didn't mind her new room with its wooden floor, light blue walls, peaked ceiling, yellowed lace curtains, and rocking-chair from her 'baby days' in the corner that matched the old pine dresser and bed- it was fairly cozy, comfortable. Moderately pretty without being *STEREOTYPICALLY girly* (no offense to Alice's room). Any gripes that 'Bella' had SHE HERSELF didn't.
Figaro and her cricket companions liked it fairly well, too. -Though currently, the very former was more interested in curling up *in Pinocchio's lap* rather than on her bed.
"...So, -*what's HAPPENED* t' ya here in Forks up until last night, Pinoke honey???" a concerned Jiminy wanted to know. "How did ya come t' meet an' be friendly with VAMPIRES?? Much less more-or-less *get romantically involved with* one??!"
Her freckled cheeks flushed a stinging embarrassed shade of red even as her sweet-lipped expressive mouth contorted and grimaced in now-disgust. *BLEH*- she HATED the thought of kissing Cedric on *the LIPS* now. *Unadulteratedly loathed* the thought of kissing any other guy!! She like-liked *GIRLS* and *ONLY girls*, 'millegrazie'!
-That is, *Pinocchio Edlyn Seth Benjamina Belmagio-Swan 'nee Tommaso* did. 'Isabella "Bella" Marie Swan' had been (*SHUDDER*) *straight as a stick and Robin Hood's aim with a bow and arrow*. 'Mother Dearest's' doing, she was more than sure; you know, *just in case*...
But still- *HOW* to put all those events into mere words????
Finally, she decided to start off with, "It was- It was ...kind 'f a cross b'tween your typical modern-day 'new girl in town' story mixed with 'Pride 'n Prejudice' with, well, *vampires* sprinkled in..."
Almost run over (accidentally or no). *Almost ATTACKED* by dirty-minded lecherous men again- *thank you God, thank you angels, THANK YOU CEDRIC* for saving her in time!!! Stalked, herded, chased af- no, HUNTED, attacked and badly hurt, *BITTEN* and *just barely Turned* by a psychotic vampire with Stromboli's and the Coachman's cruel callousness combined and Honest John's charm and charisma...
*Badly hurt LAST NIGHT* due to a 'recovering addict's' struggling mightily with *MERELY* the sight and smell of *a single drop of blood* brought about by an accidental paper-cut to the point of *needing stitches*-!! And tomorrow, *MASSIVE heartbreak* on 'Bella Swan's' part once 'Edward Cullen' left along with his family...
The Cricket Triplets felt like they were going to be sick. *Even FIGARO* looked more than a bit disturbed, poor little thing! Their dear sweet once little wooden girl with a big heart of pure gold and soul as clear and blue as her eyes, so unbelievably lovable and likable to the point that you just fell in love with her the moment she started talking- once again, she had *suffered SO MUCH* a la Collodi if not a modern-day Stoker (ha- the irony of that thought)... And as this 'Bella', she would be suffering still for quite some time- and all for that *BLOODY BITCH'S* AMUSEMENT!!!
*That settled it*- the moment Ilaria AKA the Scarlet Faerie was either thrown in jail or dropped dead one way or another, they were THROWING A PARTY. Alcohol involved, even; why not??! *She'd bet on, led astray, tricked, and hurt HER OWN DAUGHTER*- blackmailed and sweet-talked her elder sister into a wager before and after TRYING TO BURN PINOCCHIO UP-
She'd turned their sweet innocent kind-hearted Pinokes into this 'Bella Swan' who was a complete MARY-SUE; *egh*!!! Probably had had something to do with poor Cedric being turned into 'Edward Cullen' AKA Mr. Gary Stu, as well...
*HEARTLESS*. They HATED them, those rotten-souled cruel callous beings!! And poor Pinoke- one of them was *her MOTHER*!
-Well, at least Jiminy, 'Bastian', 'Gem' and Figaro were now awake, and the Polyjuice Potion had worn off, so to speak. *PINOCCHIO* was awake and alive while Bella Swan was now merely a veneer- and so was Cedric Diggory. 'Kill the spare' INDEED- *in your face*, Moldy Voldy!!! How d' ya like *THOSE apples*?! You too, Mr. 'All for the Greater Good' *DUMBASS-dore*!!
Besides, even when one was no longer a 'heartless' little live wooden puppet anymore, he-or-she STILL needed a conscience's guidance and support now and then. Not to mention just simply a *true friend* or three (four, counting Figaro), *PERIOD*...!
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There was a *BAD* feeling in the pit of Jiminy's stomach the next day- *PLEASURE ISLAND level*. He just KNEW that school for either Pinocchio or 'Bella' was going to follow the same frustrating, terrifying, silent pattern as yesterday ...and end BADLY for the latter where 'Edward Cullen' was concerned.
(First day was one thing. It wasn't advisable or safe to accompany their young formerly-wooden charge and ward *EVERY day* hereafter, whether invisible or shut in a lantern hanging from her belt. Every once in a while would be best, because even an old-fashioned coin purse twenty-four/seven would result in QUESTIONS. Besides, little Figaro needed to be kept company, too...!)
Her being led *deep into the woods* a la Collodi or the Brothers Grimm didn't at all help with Pinocchio's conscience's nerves one little bit, either- even though CEDRIC DIGGORY clearly meant her no harm. And his brothers were just as anxious, concerned, and worried- Gemini to the point of knocking on wood and tossing salt over one shoulder! Sebastian mostly muttered rosaries in Italian under his breath...
Jiminy himself?? He paced, either on foot or in the air via his wings.
'Edward' would abandon 'Bella' ...just like Geppetto had thrown away and abandoned Pinocchio. He had DIED *right in front of her*- and Pinokes?? She'd never once gotten to really grieve, because then SHE had swooped down and verbally torn 'Little Woodenhead' to shreds, rags, and tatters before beating *the 'MERDA'* out of her and *CURSING* her...
This and the coming months would be *Hell on Earth* as much as for Pinocchio as they would be for 'Bella Swan'. But for the former, *NOT* because of a certain handsome bronze/auburn-haired youth, at least...
And because SHE was watching, official therapy was unfortunately going to be *OUT*, even though it was clearly something that Pinocchio would *fucking need*!! Jiminy *HATED* Ilaria Belmagio as much as *those DAMN MONSTERS* Foulfellow, Gideon, Stromboli, the Coachman, and a certain chicken farmer plus *oh-so-'good Geppetto'*; HATED this 'James' for what he'd done to his, 'Bastian's, and Gem's beautiful little girl last spring break whether she was 'Bella' or herself. At the *very least*, Pinocchio had thankfully *NOT been raped again*!
(That probably didn't stop her from frightfully dreaming about it, though. What COULD HAVE been mixed with what had happened- *EVEN WORSE* given her own past puppet-child-day memories, now... *HORRIBLE*, but logical.)
She was going to be back *LATE*, and not on her own feet- whether steady or stumbling.
Gemini's heart SHATTERED in his chest at the soul-wrenching sight he, his brothers, and Figaro could just see outside Pinocchio's bedroom window despite its' being night and *NEW MOON-dark* with their respective Fae-touched cricket eyes and feline optics. Pinocchio, limp and mostly unresponsive in Sam Uley's strong muscular russet-skinned arms- like a broken doll or puppet with her strings not just cut off but *yanked out*. Paler than usual, causing her freckles to stand out. Tears streaking- no, *STAINING her cheeks*; her closed eyes red-rimmed, damp, and swollen...
'*DamnyoucurseyouFUCKYOUGeppettoandIlaria*-!!!!! *You did THIS* to YOUR OWN DAUGHTER- your *OWN CHILD*, whether boy or girl, daughter or son!!! You couldn't just at least *TRY TO accept and love her*- that sweet lovin' little sugar-drop of a girl??!! *Screw. You. Both*!!!'
He heard and saw Seb sob hard- saw Jimi fall to his knees with a soft wounded broken sound falling from his lips- heard Figaro mournfully meow. KNEW that none of their eyes were the least bit dry...
Just vaguely, he and the others heard foster father and daughter 'talking'.
"Bella honey, are you alright??"
"-Charlie...?"
"I'm right here, baby."
A different doctor was here- nice fella, even if he wasn't Carlie Cullen. He checked over 'Bella'- thankfully, she wasn't at all hurt. (Outwardly, anyway.) 'Dr. Gerandy' finally diagnosed her with Shock and Exhaustion and advised Charlie to let her sleep it off. Said that he'd check on her again tomorrow...
"Is it true?? -Did they leave?"
"Dr. Cullen asked us not to say anything. The offer was very sudden; they had to choose IMMEDIATELY. Carlie didn't want to make a big production out of leaving..."
"*A little warning* might've been nice."
"Yes- well, ...in this situation, some warning might have been called for."
"*ALL the Cullens* left town, Charlie. -*Good riddance*."
Okay- *what THE HECK* was old Mr. Billy's prob-??? ...Oh. *THAT old chestnut*: prejudice between vampires and werewolves. *Sheesh*...
Shifting- stumbling- hurried running footsteps. *WET heavy breathing*-
Pinocchio had just rushed up to her room, had shut and locked the door. That *STUPID* Glamour was still up even though she was alone (DAMNYOUFataScarlatta). Currently, she was holding back her tears, as though too numb to cry aloud or silently-
Frantically, heartbrokenly, 'Bella' checked her CD player and photo album- Any remaint of 'Edward Anthony Masen Cullen' was *gone gone GONE*, from a CD to pictures. As though he'd never existed, save for in her mind/imagination...
She fell to the floor beside her bed. *PAIN* pulled her under, yet she didn't faint-
*HER cruel mocking watching eyes* were now gone- *good fucking riddance*. A soft shaky shuddering breath, a broken whimper- and then Pinocchio let out a garbled muffled sound between a wail, howl, scream, and sob as she curled up into a tight ball. Gemini could actually SMELL the salt of her tears now coursing down her cheeks again...
"*You promised, Father*- *you PROMISED*!!! You promised that you'd *ALWAYS* love me just as I was!! You said you'd *NEVER leave me*- never ever HURT me in *ANY way*! You- *You BROKE that promise*!!! You sc-*SCREAMED at me*- shouted, yelled, *CURSED*- sp-*spit on* me! H-*HIT me*- shoved me away! All- All b'cause I wasn't either Carlo come back, a *Real BOY*, 'r BOTH!! C-Called me *AWFUL NASTY names* when b'fore you were so sweet, gentle, 'n kind; l-LOVED me...
"But- But then, you- you *ALWAYS* hurt me, even if you said you didn't! You- You *TOUCHED me*- k-KISSED me; made me- m-made me...!! You- You 'n Carlo- *AAAAHHHH*!!!! *You touched him- adult-kissed him- had sex with him*!! Didn't wanna b'lieve it- shoved it away, brushed it off... then- th-then you threw my REAL *TRUE self* away and d-*died*...
"*I loved you*- *I love you STILL*, there's the torment of it!! -Yet *I HATE YOU*; *hate you for what you did t' me 'n to him*! I- I- Literally *FUCK YOU, 'Padre'*!!"
Jiminy gasped, gagged, snarled, and sobbed with a gloved hand slapped over his mouth- Sebastian went from blue to as sickly pale green as their brother as a choking whistling wheeze faintly yet explosively blew from his own lips. Gemini's soul HURT, his heart feeling like someone had thrown a rock through a window all over again- his stomach churned and lurched. ... Poor Chief Charlie, meanwhile, was being violently sick in the bathroom. He had heard- been listening worriedly outside Pinny's bedroom door.
Gemini *SCREAMED* loud, long, and raw deep inside until the Haunted Mansion sound effect ringingly echoed in his ears. Even before the Fox and Cat, Puppet-Master, Coachman, and Farmer, *Pinocchio's FATHER* had hurt her inside and out as much as her mother- had TOUCHED and *KISSED* her while longing for his beloved dead Carlo not-as-platonically-as-one-would-think. -*That SICK BASTARD*!!! That *MONSTER*!!
Geppetto's A+ Parenting *so fucking* *NOT*. WORSE, even, than del Toro or Schwartz's adaptations at first and for a while- even than in 'Lies of P'. *WHO had been the liar all along* actually, huh??!! Not sweet lovable little Pinny (his Pinny- Bastian's 'Nocchi- Jiminy's Pinoke[s]; brave, truthful, and unselfish with such a big warm tender heart and a mind as bright as her spirit), that was for sure...!
It wasn't just 'Bella Swan' who would have nightmares *for MONTHS*, now. NOBODY in the Swan household was going to be sleeping well in/for the foreseeable future, muffling ragged sobs and piercing screams into a pillow as he or she jolted awake...
*DOUBLE damn* that Pinocchio wouldn't be able to actually partake in a therapy session or many because of HER!!! She *NEEDED* it, and badly.
Later that night, there was one shining warm ray of light in the vast cold new-moon darkness. Not just the news via email that *Alice*, at least, would be staying still- but someone else -*someone GOOD, KIND, PURE, AND SWEET*- from Pinocchio's past along with her...
'My dearest "dolce piccola" Pinocchio-
It's me. Cleo. *HIS pet goldfish*- the one he treated also like (UGH) his own child. That night SHE wiped, twisted, and locked away your memories and *CURSED* you before putting Figgy, Sir Jiminy, Signor Sebastian, and Signor Gemini into a deep enchanted sleep and whisking them and you away who-knew-where, she also turned me into a human for her own amusement- one whom had almost been drowned and was very near death as well as rather battered...
The spilled blood lured *a VAMPIRE* to me- one who fed on humans alone. However, instead of feasting on me, he instead decided to Turn me- change me into "nosferatu" myself. He was cruel- mean; it also amused him. He did not recognize me, though- merely thought me a lovely lost shipwrecked teenage girl who had mostly likely been orphaned alongside. No small favor, considering he then went *after YOU* because of how good your blood smelled-!!
*PAIN*- I had never in my life known such PAIN. *Three straight days*, his venom burning through my body- congealing my blood, (mostly) stilling my heart... I awoke in the sun, in the morning ...but daylight does not harm me. I can still enjoy and lie out in the sun, if I wish. I can still eat and drink "human" food, but have to ingest blood at least once or twice a month. Crucifixes, crosses, holy water, and other such items do not harm me the least little bit, either; neither does garlic, unless one was already allergic. Quite thankfully, I *do NOT* have to sleep in a coffin, much less one packed with dirt from my own homeland!
(Just to be safe and in case such is needed, however, I DO carry a small box of dirt from my homeland on my person- though for now, I have stored it in a safe place. After all, one never knows...)
All five of my senses are sharper and clearer than before- not as though I'd been blind and deaf before, however. More akin to no longer needing hearing-aids and glasses. I *CAN still sleep*, and dream, even if I don't really need to. ...I feed on both animals and *the SCUMBAGS* of the world- the domestic and child abusers, the rapists, the sex predators, the molesters, the serial killers, the murderers, the gaslighters. Hence, rather than merely a tinge of deep burgundy red or topaz/gold, my eyes are now always touched with amber, though they're still mainly chocolate-brown as when I was a mere pretty pet goldfish...
*ONLY the monsters and creeps* of the world, little woodenhead. *NEVER* innocents, much less CHILDREN! And *never ever pets*. I swear- *I PROMISE*!
...I know- I *SAW* what he did to you when he thought you were asleep. If I could have done something -*ANYTHING*!!!-, then I would have! I would have protected you- scooped you up out of that house and ran like hell with you to safety and sanctuary!! (Taking Figaro, Jiminy, Sebastian, and Gemini with us too, of course.) -But all I could sickeningly do was WATCH and *listen*. In our cozy little cottage- on the beach after we'd all escaped Monstro...
Then I was Turned, and I wandered on foot for seven years. A vagabond- a vagrant; *WILD*, practically. Where could I settle without suspicion??? Who would take me in?? -On top of all that, you wouldn't *REMEMBER remember* me, whether as a sea creature or a human girl. I would only frighten and upset you ...and I *could NOT* risk possibly biting you, while I was still a "new-born". That would *KILL me* if I'd either killed YOU or Turned you!
-So I wandered. I stayed away. I ate, drank, Fed, avenged, slept, dreamed/had nightmares... and then, night before last, it all *SHATTERED*. *You remembered*- your Curse had been broken!!
Then, by chance, a rather nice "donna vampiri" came upon me as I roamed through the forest of Forks, Washington. Her name??? "Alice Cullen". A dear friend of yours'- or rather, "Bella Swan's". After we exchanged stories, she surprisingly *HUGGED me* (which felt awful nice, even if from a stranger) and then offered me a place to stay. So now I am once again actually living in a house- sleeping in a *BED bed*, and the like, even if I still occasionally need to go out and Hunt...
Your semi-birth mother and father both hurt you *BADLY*, and who knows where your dear sweet kind "zia" is??? (Possibly still cursed herself, poor "donna"-!) -But *your SISTER* -your "grande sorella"- has NEVER, *would NEVER EVER* hurt you in any way. *I love you*, Pinocchio "dolcezza"- forever and always. Always have, always will- whether boy, girl, non-binary/gender-fluid, gay, lesbian, bi, pan, demi, or straight!! *Donkey ears and all*...
I have *ALWAYS loved you*- just as the Cullens still care for you despite HER cruel nasty games. Just as Sir Jiminy, Signor Sebastian, and Signor Gemini do as well as Figgy and now Signor Chief Charlie Swan...
See you soon hopefully, "sorellina". But if it is too much too soon, especially after getting your memories back (*ALL OF your memories back*), then I understand and will wait as long as you need me to. If you are angry and upset with me as well, -then that is also more than understandable, given *the HELL* and BACK you've gone through back in your puppet-child days (excuse my French, so to speak)...
Sincerely, with *MUCH love*,
Cleo'
(Pinocchio cried HAPPY *poison-releasing* tears during and after *HER SISTER'S* letter which she printed out and placed on her bedside table, the cackling demons and mocking ghosts of her dark past mostly put to rest for that night thanks to a certain 'little water-baby'/'little mermaid'. Gemini, his siblings, and Charlie WELL KNEW that their sweet girl was going to give Cleo a BIG *WARM* hug and more than a few kisses whenever she next saw the elder female; that in her eyes, there was *NOTHING to forgive* concerning ...THAT. After all- what could *a LITTLE GOLDFISH* really do against one being hurt?? -Nothing but *watch, listen, seethe, cry, and sympathize*, that's what.
*ONE Belmagio-Tommaso* would be forgiven. Chiara?? -That kind of remained to be seen...)