Author's Note: This is an AU rewrite of Edward's encounter with the Volturi in New Moon. This story starts in medias res, so the beginning might be a tad bit confusing. If you have a spare moment, please leave a review. I would absolutely love to hear from you.

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of Stephanie Meyer's work.

Summary: Carlisle has twenty-four hours to save Edward from an untimely execution. Unfortunately for him, the Volturi are feeling less than forgiving. AU of New Moon.

Carthage Burning

Prologue

And if you find your Ilium

And if you build your Troy

I hope you feel the pain I felt

Twice upon your sword

From "Dido's Reply" by Cruxshadows

The bells of Volterra sing when Jane brings the captives to the tower.

Sulpicia listens to the tintinnabulations, her tongue flicking out to taste the air. She smells the human at once, followed by Alice, the Cassandra of the New World.

But it is Edward's appearance that thrills her the most. The sacrificial lamb. The key to Carlisle's heart.

He meets her gaze as he steps into the atrium. His eyes are fierce. Shadows of gold sunken in a marble skull. She thinks of him as David, as that towering gloryso carefully crafted by Michelangelo's hands.

But he is weaker than stone and bleeds regret onto the tower floor.

Sulpicia smiles.

She knows his agony, his distinct torment. It is more effective than anything Jane could inflict. A poison. The succulent venom of an asp delivered to a broken breast.

Love. This Edward Cullen is in love with a human.

She watches as Aro envelopes their guests with one gracious sweep of his arms. "Welcome, dear friends," he says, his voice mingling with the bells, a pleasant tenor amongst baritones. "I had so hoped you would return to us. Sulpicia, darling, come greet young Edward."

She raises a brow at her husband, secretly delighting in his games. The clever cat cornering the witless mouse. How charming!

Sulpicia obliges him, pacing forward to embrace Edward. She clutches at his arms and delivers a polite kiss on either cheek. "We were most disturbed when you left us yesterday," she says.

Edward grimaces.

"And Alice and Bella too!" Aro sings. "This is a happy surprise!"

Sulpicia finds the human Bella cowering behind Edward. She is a slight, inconspicuous thing. The faint scent of her blood perfumes the chamber. Alluring, but not overpowering.

Sulpicia returns to her husband's side and brushes her hand against his.

A boring creature, she tells him. Entirely unremarkable.

Aro's mouth puckers, disguising his butcher's teeth.

She has amused him.

Caius and Marcus arrive with gentle Athenodora. Sulpicia hears their footsteps, the vibrations sending tiny shockwaves up through the soles of her feet. Marcus takes in the three visitors with his dead man's glance and retires to his chair. Caius does not spare them a look.

Athenodora alone seems anxious. Her nose wrinkles and twitches, her eyes finding Sulpicia.

Must you? she seems to say.

Sulpicia will not answer her. She has decided. Decided.

Aro is frowning now. "I am sorry for the circumstances. It seems there was an unfortunate occurrence in the Piazza this afternoon. Alice?"

The delicate pixie is standing still, her chin raised slightly in defiance. Sulpicia senses her fear. It strikes the air, wave upon cold wave. Alice's breathing becomes fluttery, hesitant.

"You're mistaken," she replies lightly.

Aro is too much of a gentleman to contradict her. Instead, he turns away, the hem of his robe sweeping the ground like a cobweb.

Sulpicia feels her impatience stirring.

"On the contrary," she says, her teeth closing with a decisive click. "It seems as though Edward has deliberately divulged our secrets to this human." She tosses her head at Bella, frustrated by the mortal's silence. The mute creature is like a sheep, emotionless, thoughtless.

But Bella surprises her when she steps forward. "They didn't tell me anything," she says. "I figured it out for myself."

Sulpicia realizes she's being challenged and it delights her. She wants to respond, but Caius steals her glory.

"We won't quibble over semantics. Aro," he addresses his colleague, "we have a liability on our hands."

Aro knows this. He also knows what he has promised Sulpicia.

Justice. Satisfaction.

"There is also the matter of your attempted exposure," Aro tells Edward. "When we denied you your request yesterday, we had no idea that you would jeopardize our entire empire."

"Such disrespect," Sulpicia adds, looking to Caius for support.

But now the white-haired vampire is silent. Surprisingly, Marcus has roused himself from his stupor and is watching their captives.

"I agree with Sulpicia, Aro," he says, his voice raw and rough.

Fear touches Edward's face, his skin pulled taut over high cheekbones. "I apologize," he says. "It was not my intention-"

But Sulpicia touches Aro's hand, letting her thoughts spill into him.

Please. Please, darling, you promised…you swore…

Discreetly, Aro withdraws his hand from hers.

This is as much her decision as his.

"As you wish," he mutters. Glancing at Jane, he nods almost imperceptibly.

The witch-child is alight with exhilaration. With a cherub's smile, she trains her gaze on Edward.