A/N Hey everyone! MissAlex and I are collabing on our new venture! I hope you love it like we do!
Thanks to Mike, Alex's bf for editing.
We don't own Twilight but I we just play for fun.
Prologue: Wash Away My Sins with the Blood That Flows
My hands and feet were draped in black cloth and pure silver shackles adorned my wrists and ankles over the fabric. The dark blue robe covered me completely, ghosting the floor as I sat at the front, facing the hundreds of spectators. The air felt thick, scorching, though customary for this time of year in Italy. I was rendered helpless under these restraints, but ready to face the consequences of what I had done. If I had the opportunity, I would do it all over again without question.
The rogue responsible for the dreadful events that brought me here today was locked away for all eternity and that provided me with all the solace I needed to sit here proudly.
The silver shackles binding my wrists twitched slightly. I looked towards the back of the courtroom at my fellow coven members and locked eyes with the one who sourced the movement. I forced my exterior to remain solemn, but from my stare, she and the rest of my coven knew I felt her slight action. It was their way of showing their support since they could not voice it aloud or through any other channels.
Minion Alec worked for the Volturi and had the gift of blocking the special talent of any vampire, but only the ones of which he was aware. He made conscious efforts to focus on each vampire in order to accomplish this. Although the crowd was large, it was not difficult for him to handle everyone all at once. He could block thousands at a time if he wished.
Throughout this trial, Alec was in charge of ensuring that all of the vampires attending these proceedings were stripped of whatever powers they had registered in Volturi's database. But they did not know about her power. They did not know she had the power to release me if I wanted it so. She gave me a slight smile, but her face, as well as the expressions of my other coven members, did not display any hope.
Something told me that even if everything worked out alright, the events that led to today would haunt me and my coven for the rest of eternity.
I forced myself to look away. The concern, guilt and sadness in their eyes were too much to bear. This was my fight, not theirs, and I would never drag them down with me. I did this for them – for us – and if I was separated from them, sent away, I would expect them to go on with their existence without giving me another thought. Otherwise, it would have all been for nothing.
My recklessness and impatience brought me here today, but in my mind, those negative traits had been a blessing. It was those qualities that made me act how I did, without the assistance of my coven. And now she was safe. The end determined the means and I had no regrets.
I glanced to my right at Minion Jane who stood along the side wall in the official Volturi Government blood-red robe, hood up, monitoring the courtroom. One wrong move from anyone in here and she would inflict such excruciating pain on the unfortunate one with her mind that the victim would fall to the ground in agony, temporarily paralyzed until they could be properly restrained.
She was a petite vampire but her power was so great that she was the only security personnel the Volturi needed. Her abilities were legendary and most of our kind feared her. But not me. I feared nothing and no one. Her lips curled in a smirk as her black eyes locked eyes with mine. I looked away because I did not want to give her the additional satisfaction of seeing me in this vulnerable position. I was sure she enjoyed this enough already. She loved to see others suffer.
The large mahogany doors to my right creaked open and a cold blast of air flooded the courtroom. Aro, the head of the Volturi, strutted over the threshold flanked by Marcus and Caius, his top advisors. Aro took serious matters like this into his own hands and believed that his verdict was the only one that mattered. He was both judge and jury here today. Some of the spectators in the back gasped at his commanding presence. He was revered like a celebrity, but greatly feared by many. I did not even flinch, neither did my coven members.
His blood-red robe fluttered behind him as he marched across the room, coming to a stop directly in front of me, Marcus and Caius on either side. My gaze and confident posture did not falter when his menacing grey eyes met mine. He had the ability to read minds, including past thoughts, from just a simple touch to the skin of any vampire, but he chose to remain a few steps from me.
He was already fully aware of what happened. He had seen the events when he visited my cell upon my detention in North America and used his ability on me. He could have declared his verdict then, but instead, he insisted on putting on this ridiculous spectacle to showcase his power. His verdict could easily depend on his mood. There was no such thing as a fair trial where the Volturi were concerned.
He stared at me for a few moments before turning on his heel, taking his place behind the judge's bench. Marcus and Caius sat down at the long mahogany table in front of me, whispering furiously to each other in the Old Language, one that had long been extinct, except between Aro and his brothers. No one understood it except them which allowed for covert information to be shared within the highest powers of government without the risk of exposure.
"Order! Order in the court, I say!" Aro commanded, wrapping his gavel loudly.
Silence engulfed the room immediately. I stared blankly ahead.
"Edward Cullen."
Grudgingly, I turned in my chair to look into the eyes of the unsympathetic vampire in charge of my future. My shackles clinked together, echoing off the walls of the vast room. To avoid his gaze would be considered blasphemous and I would be held in contempt of court.
"Do you understand the charges brought against you by the court?"
I kept my voice low and monotone. I did not consider anyone my superior so my forced compliance was particularly tough, humiliating and out of character for me. "Yes, I do, Master Aro."
"You have entered a plea of not guilty and you have refused to accept legal council, is that correct?"
"Yes, that is correct, Master Aro." The formal title felt thick as it rolled off my tongue.
"You are prepared to defend yourself, then, and prove to this court that you should be freed and the charges expunged."
"That is correct, Master Aro." I lowered my gaze momentarily so he would not see the hatred in my eyes.
"Very well then, I will get straight to the point." His eyes narrowed and his icy demeanor radiated from every ounce of his being. "Why did you kill her?"
My mouth formed a tight line and I looked him directly in the eye. "I had no choice. It had to be done."
A/N So are you thinking, "ZOMG! I'm confused!!" Trust us when we say that things aren't always what they seem. All the pieces of the puzzle will come together and we hope you'll love it or we may throw you for a loop. Either or leave a review telling us what you think. We crave those suckers and honestly it helps all the more.
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