Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns this, not me. Sadly, I do not own anything so wonderful. :(
Chapter 2: Into the Lion's Den
I could hear Bella's frightened heartbeat beside me as we made our way down the alley. She looked up at me, her eyes frantic and full of questions, but I could only shake my head. I wanted so much to comfort her, to do what I could to ease the dread she must be feeling. But I couldn't—not with Felix and Demetri so close behind, not with Jane just ahead, her dark cloak fluttering quietly in the shadows. My own curiosity burned like a hungry flame; I wanted to talk to Bella, to ask her what had happened, but this was not the place for an extended explanation. I glanced sideways at Alice's hardened expression. I could not read Bella's mind, but I could get the information I needed from my sister.
It was difficult to decide how I felt about Alice at the moment. It seemed like a lifetime ago that I had wanted to wring her neck for going back to Forks. Maybe I still did, in a way—after all, if not for her, Bella would probably be safe at home this very moment. And if she'd never had that vision, I thought sardonically, or if she'd somehow stopped Rose from making that call, I might still be in that slum in Rio, doing my best to get through another day—no, more like another hour—of being apart from Bella...yes, how wonderful, Edward. Just being with Bella again was indescribably wonderful, even if we were in mortal danger. Maybe that was why it was difficult to feel anything but gratitude toward Alice at the moment.
"Well, Alice," I said, trying to keep my tone conversational, all too aware of the three unwelcome sets of ears which surrounded us. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised to see you here."
"It was my mistake," Alice answered just as casually. "It was my job to set it right." In her mind, I saw the image of Bella hurling herself from the top of a high seaside cliff—the vision which had begun this mess. I suppressed a shudder.
"What happened?" I kept my tone almost indifferent, as if I had little interest in the matter. No outside listener would have guessed at the burning curiosity behind my words.
"It's a long story." Alice's eyes flickered toward Bella and away. A very long story, actually, and to be honest, I can't pretend to understand all of it. "In summary, she did jump off a cliff, but she wasn't trying to kill herself." What? I wanted to ask, but I let her finish. "Bella's all about the extreme sports these days," she added, her golden eyes suddenly boring into mine with something which looked rather like accusation.
And the images assaulted me then, a flurry of her memories from the last few days—conversations with Bella, with Charlie...a confrontation with Jacob Black. My horror grew as I began to form a sketchy picture of what the last six months had been like for Bella. I noticed that Bella herself had turned her gaze resolutely forward, her cheeks suddenly quite red. I wondered if she understood what was passing before my eyes right now.
I almost recoiled from the knowledge, unable to digest it all. She had nearly drowned when she'd jumped, but she had been saved by Jacob...who was...a werewolf. That knowledge hit me particularly hard. She had befriended a werewolf—no, a whole damn pack of them! Did the girl have no sense of self-preservation at all? I'd had no idea, no idea at all that the wolf transformation had reasserted itself among the Quileutes—it had been so long! My eyes widened involuntarily as I heard the rest, and I realized how much danger she had been in.
Victoria. Even in my thoughts, the name came out as a snarl. I hadn't paid her enough attention in the clearing, what seemed like a lifetime ago. I had underestimated her bond with James. True, I'd thought she might come after me one day, but I should have realized what her true target would be. All the time I'd spent tracking her had been wasted; I should have known, when she'd shaken me off in Texas, where she would have gone. She had come back for Bella, and I had not been there to protect her.
I felt the venom rise in my throat like bile; it was a wonder that the others could not feel the hatred pouring off of me. It would have alarmed Jasper, had he been there. Hatred for Victoria...hatred for myself. My thoughts from just a few minutes ago came back at me, and I did not miss the irony: I had kept myself away from her to protect her, to give her a chance to live the safe, normal, happy life she deserved...and I had accomplished the opposite.
No, she was not dead, as I'd thought. But that changed nothing. I remembered how I used to tell Bella, half-jokingly, that she was a magnet for trouble. It seemed I'd been more right than I had ever realized. Even with my cursed presence gone from her life, danger continued to stalk her. Victoria, Laurent, werewolves...and her own recklessness. Another conversation with Bella flickered through Alice's thoughts. Hmm. The werewolves had killed Laurent, it seemed. Good. At least the mongrels were good for something. And they had protected her from Victoria, kept her safe...but how long could they have continued to do so? I suppressed another shudder.
And Jacob Black had done more than just save her from drowning. Before that, he had been a friend to her, had comforted her during those painful months. A very good friend indeed. My eyes narrowed slightly as I felt a stirring of jealousy within me. Nothing more than friendship, I told myself. And surely she was entitled, even if it were somehow more than that. Despicable wretch that I was, I had abandoned her, and what right had I to complain about anything she chose to do, or anyone she chose to be with?
But I could not afford to think of any of that just now.
"Hm," I said curtly, my casual pretense gone. Focus, Edward. Concentrate on getting yourself and your loved ones out of this, and then you can berate yourself all you want.
We were nearing the end of the alleyway, where Jane had already disappeared down an open drain. Alice strode toward it without hesitation. I'll go first; don't worry, I'll catch her. She raised her arms daintily above her head as she dropped down. I heard the lightest of thuds as she landed.
I felt Bella tense at my side, her heart suddenly beating even faster than before. She was afraid, and I didn't blame her. Of course, the minor obstacle of the drain itself was nothing compared with the horrors which awaited us further on.
"It's all right, Bella," I told her quietly. "Alice will catch you." I watched her eye the hole doubtfully, her brow furrowed with worry, her eyes wide with fear. I would have carried her, but the drain was too narrow. I would have gone first, had Felix and Demetri not been waiting behind. It made me sick to think of leaving Bella alone with them for even a moment.
With hesitant movements, Bella crouched down and swung her legs into the hole. "Alice?" she asked in a shaky whisper.
"I'm right here, Bella," Alice said from below, trying to reassure her. I could see that Bella was not very reassured.
I reached down to close my hands like shackles around her wrists. Her skin was so soft, so warm...and like everything else about her, so vulnerable... With great care, I lifted her from the edge and lowered her down as far as I could reach.
"Ready?" I asked, looking past Bella's body to where Alice waited below.
Don't worry, I won't let her get hurt...and Jane is out of sight. "Drop her," she called aloud.
It was easier to let her go knowing that Jane was not waiting at the bottom—I listened and found her thoughts, still centered around Aro's likely pleasure at her success, some fifty feet down the tunnel. Bella squeezed her eyes shut, and I let her fall. I watched her descend into the darkness, never losing sight of her—my eyes were strong enough to see to the bottom. I watched Alice catch her in her arms, wincing a little as I imagined the bruises she'd probably have afterward. If we live long enough for her to develop bruises, I won't complain, I told myself. And I suspect she won't either.
As soon as they'd moved out of the way, I dropped down beside them. I drew Bella close to my side and began to move forward, wanting to put some distance between us and the drain before Demetri and Felix dropped down. Both of her warm arms snaked around my waist as she pressed herself closer to me; it made walking awkward for her, but she didn't loosen her grip as we made our way down the tunnel. I kept my arm tight around her as well, and tried not to listen to the ominous, metallic sound of Felix sliding the heavy grate back into place over the drain before he dropped the rest of the way down. It wasn't so much that the grate was a physical barrier to our kind...but it was just another reminder of the severity of our predicament.
Walking beside us, Alice was silent—still concentrating on her shifting visions, trying to see the future. Bella's heart beat at a frantic pace as she tripped and stumbled on the uneven stones, her staggering footsteps echoing through the dim, dripping, stone walled tunnel. I doubted if she could see anything at all, now that the dim light from the drain had faded behind us. Maybe that was a good thing. I thought about carrying her, but Bella's human pace at least kept us slow, and I wanted to give Alice more time to explore the possible outcomes. Besides, I wasn't eager to hurry along what was coming.
Behind us, Felix heaved an impatient sigh. I don't know why we have to keep such an insufferable pace...stupid, slow human. I wonder how long it will be before they let me...
I tuned out his thoughts, struggling again to control my rage. Patience.
Instead, I focused on Bella. Wanting to comfort her, and also just needing to touch her, I reached over to cup her face with my free hand. I traced my thumb across her warm, full lips—I'd forgotten just how perfect they were. No, forgotten was the wrong word. I had never forgotten. Just tried not to think...
It had been futile, of course, it had all been futile. I should never have left her, and if we somehow survived this, I would never leave her again. The realization...no, the promise of that spread over me like a soothing warmth. I pressed my lips to her hair, wishing I could make her understand. I didn't know how much she comprehended now about the lies I had told her. Surely she could not still believe them? That terrible day came flooding back to me...the day when my life had seemed to come to an end. I had walked away from her, leaving her heartbroken behind me. Could I ever make amends for that? I would try.
I pressed my face into her hair again, realizing with despair that I might not get the chance to make those amends. She tightened her grip around my waist, and I continued to soothe her face with my hand, trying desperately to tell her without words how much I loved her. Trying desperately to tell her that it would be all right, that we would get out of this somehow, though I barely believed it myself. I pressed my lips silently to her forehead.
Beside us, Alice was still mired in her flickering visions, the future still so uncertain.
I gave part of my attention to the thoughts of those around us, though I was careful to avoid Felix, not quite trusting my temper. Up ahead, Jane was still lost in the exultation of her success, anticipating Aro's delight with pleasure. I was just glad that she wasn't thinking anything else...for the moment, at least. Behind us, Demetri was allowing his mind to wander; he too found the pace uncomfortably slow, but he had more patience than Felix. He was thinking of a mission he'd carried out recently, tracking down someone who had been of interest to Aro. I concentrated, trying to understand how his ability worked. He seemed to be able to catch the flavor of someone's mind, and though he could not hear their thoughts as I could, he was able to home in on them across great distances. He was a tracker, the best tracker in the world...and it was for this ability that Aro valued him. He was one of their most important assets—no one could truly escape the Volturi as long as they had him.
But if, as I suspected, his talent worked along the same lines as mine, perhaps Bella was immune...
I mulled over the possibilities as we continued down the tunnel. If we could just get away, maybe I could hide her, make her safe... But I knew that with Jane there, there was no chance of escape.
Slowly, the tunnel began to brighten. Bella could probably see something of our surroundings now. I wasn't certain whether I wanted her to or not. She was already shaking in fear...or was it something else? Abruptly, her teeth started to chatter, and I realized that she must be cold. Her clothes were damp—what had she done, run through the fountain in the square to get to me? I realized how frigid the tunnel had to feel to her...not to mention my skin...
I loosened my grip on her and gently tugged her arms free of my waist, though I kept hold of her hand. I regretted having to put any distance between us, but I couldn't let her freeze to death. For what was surely the thousandth time, I wished I could be warm, like her.
But she wasn't having it. "N-n-no," she chattered as she threw her arms around me again.
She's been apart from you for so long...she needs you to hold her, chimed Alice's thoughts. She'd tell you just the same, if she could. Of course, she was telling me, with her actions; I doubted words could have made it any more plain. I chafed against her arm with my hand, trying to warm her with the friction. It wouldn't be too long before we left the cold tunnel behind. I felt a shiver of my own at the thought of what waited beyond.
Our progress was slow, though I doubted Bella saw it that way. Felix continued to heave a sigh now and then. But he kept the peace, for the moment. I knew that he was just as wary of Jane as I was. At least that was some comfort.
As we approached the end of the tunnel, I could smell the strong scent of rust coming from the iron bars of the grate. Jane had left the small door open for us; I ducked through with Bella and hurried on to a larger, brighter stone room. The grille slammed shut with a clang, and Demetri snapped the lock into place.
We crossed the room and passed through the low, heavy wooden door on the far side. Bella glanced around in surprise as we entered a brighter corridor of a more modern design, and I felt her relax against me. She found the change of setting soothing, it seemed. I wished I could have said the same. I tensed, glowering darkly down the long hallway to where Jane waited by an elevator.
Jane's face was impassive as ever, and her thoughts were still quite controlled. But I could sense the excitement beneath the surface. She was looking forward to delivering her prize to Aro and the others...and she was hoping for the chance to use her unique ability on all of us.
It took everything I had to force myself and Bella down that hallway.
Alice kept closely to Bella's other side. Don't worry about her right now. I can see it beginning to come together. Aro is curious, it seems. He really doesn't want to destroy any of us.
I knew what he wanted. I didn't need Alice's visions for that. Aro was a collector—a collector of knowledge, power...and most of all, talent. The permanent Volturi guard was teeming with it—Jane, Alec, Demetri, Heidi, Chelsea, Renata...not to mention Marcus. And Aro himself. I grimaced at the memory of his touch, at knowing that all my memories belonged to him now. I had half-wondered, at the time, how one mind could hold so much information, from all of the people he must have touched in his three thousand years. I had barely cared then, lost as I'd been.
But now I focused. I knew what Alice meant when she said he didn't want to destroy us. Truly, he didn't. He wanted to keep us. Alice, with her visions of the future, would be an invaluable asset to him. And my ability to read minds—multiple minds, and from a distance of several miles away if they were familiar enough—would be almost as irresistible to him. Yes, Aro would give much to have us both as part of his collection.
I thought briefly of Chelsea, who did so much to hold the Volturi together with her cohesive power. In some ways, I was glad of her influence—for instance, it would help to prevent individuals like Jane or Felix from acting on their own impulses. But could her power force Alice and I to join them—break down our bonds of love and loyalty to our own family and bind us to the Volturi instead? I shuddered again internally. No, I had to believe that we were both stronger than that. Our bonds to our family were so much more potent than those of an ordinary coven. Surely we would be able to resist.
But to what end? Perhaps if it were just us, death would be preferable to such servitude. But what about Bella? Uneasily I realized that they could use her against me, threaten her to force my cooperation. Aro had seen the depth of my feelings when he had taken my thoughts; he knew the power she held over me, even if he could not truly understand it.
Jane watched our approach from where she waited by the elevator, unaware of the gears whirring in my mind. Her face betrayed nothing, but her thoughts were still smug with anticipation. She lived to serve Aro and the others. I was disgusted at the thought that I could ever be a slave like her. That desire to inflict pain continued to hover at the edges of her mind—she took pleasure from that as well. Too much pleasure. Despite Alice's words, I didn't trust her for a moment. I kept myself between her and Bella as we stepped into the elevator.
Jane, Demetri, and Felix all relaxed a little once inside the elevator, content now that we were almost there, and that Bella's human pace would not be slowing us for much longer. Bella watched them with wide eyes from her corner of the elevator as they threw back their hoods, her human eyes seeing their faces properly for the first time. I felt her cringe against me as her shivering intensified again—whether more from the cold or from fear, I could not tell. I continued to chafe at her arm with my hand, never taking my eyes off Jane.
After the short elevator ride, we stepped out into the windowless (of course) reception area. It was decorated in a bland, generic sort of way, meant to seem familiar, comforting...like any other business lobby in the human world.
I wanted to sneer at the deception. It was for the humans who came here, to keep them unsuspecting for as long as possible, before... I didn't allow myself to finish the thought.
To complete the charade, the human woman called Gianna stood behind the high, polished mahogany counter in the center of the room. She smiled pleasantly at us, and I could see Bella's astonished stare through her eyes.
Of course Bella would want to know why this woman was here—whether she knew what was really happening around her, whether she understood the nature of the creatures who surrounded her every day. For once I was almost glad that we could not talk here, because I wasn't sure I wanted to explain this. Particularly in light of Bella's hopes for her own future.
"Good afternoon, Jane," Gianna said politely. She was not at all surprised by our appearance. Half-naked man, frightened girl, cloaked figures with demonic red eyes...just another day at the office.
Jane gave her a lazy nod. "Gianna." Always so hopeful...almost never able to make the cut. I doubt very much that this one will last out the month.
We all followed her toward the double doors on the far side of the room. Felix threw a wink at Gianna as he passed the desk, and she giggled. Ooh, he's so unbelievably handsome...I wonder if he'll choose me as his mate when I become one of them? Mind you, Demetri wouldn't be a bad catch either...heck, all of them are beyond gorgeous. That new one is back, I see...I wonder if he's going to join the guard? Looks like he's already attached, though...
I tuned out the rest of her thoughts in disgust. I didn't need to read minds to know Felix's intentions. I wondered if Gianna would have been less confident had Jane given her own assessment aloud. Probably. But then again, hope springs eternal for some. Gianna was like a dark mirror of Bella, hoping for a soulless future. But at least Bella had chosen a more civilized group of monsters to want to join...
I pulled myself away from such thoughts. Focus.
Alec waited for us beyond the wooden doors. He came forward to meet us, smiling as he reached out to embrace his twin. "Jane."
"Alec," she responded, her reedy voice almost warm. They exchanged kisses on both cheeks in greeting—anyone would have thought she'd been away for weeks, rather than half an hour. Once they had parted, Alec turned to appraise us.
Impressive...and unexpected. "They send you out for one and you come back with two...and a half," he noted with a glance at Bella. Rage roiled within me at the indignity of his pronouncement, but of course, that was how they all thought of humans. "Nice work," he added, smiling. Aro will be very, very pleased.
Jane's answering laugh of delight did nothing to comfort me. Her thoughts were filled with adoration for her brother; this affection, at least, did not need to be enhanced by Chelsea's bonds. Alec and Jane were as close as any of the Volturi...had their bond not been so tainted by their vile natures, I might almost have called it love.
"Welcome back, Edward," Alec said with a nod toward me. "You seem in a better mood."
"Marginally," I told him, remembering the state of utter despair I'd been in the last time I'd been here. I saw Bella glance up at me.
Alec chuckled, studying her with a bemused expression. "And this is the cause of all the trouble?" he asked with a doubtful frown. How very odd...I wonder what pull the human girl could possibly have for him...apart from the obvious.
I smiled contemptuously. Then I froze as I heard the tenor of Felix's thoughts.
"Dibs," he called casually from behind.
I turned to fix him with a murderous glare as a warning snarl began to build deep in my chest. Felix smiled. Come on, then...I'd love to have some fun... He beckoned me forward, his crimson eyes dancing with anticipation. Isn't your little girlfriend worth a fight? I literally saw red as I glared at him, fighting for control.
I felt Alice's touch on my arm. "Patience," she cautioned me. I looked at her, and she held my gaze as unstable visions flickered across her mind—some of them pictures of violence, others of the two of us stumbling around, blinded by Alec's power, and still others of me writhing on the floor, being tortured by Jane as Bella's screams echoed from somewhere in the distance. I clenched my teeth. Fighting isn't going to help, Edward, Alice told me, her eyes boring into mine. We're in their power now, so please, get a grip on your temper; the last thing we want is to give them an excuse to act. We have to play along for now, that's the only way we're getting out of this. Felix isn't the one we have to worry about.
In her mind, I saw Aro's face, and then Caius's.
No, Felix wasn't the one we had to worry about. That didn't mean it was any easier to listen to him. I took a deep breath, shoving my anger into a corner of my mind as I turned back to Alec.
"Aro will be so pleased to see you again," he said in a calm voice, choosing not to comment aloud on what had just passed. I wonder, though, which of them would win if it came to a fight. I'd have to stop them, of course. Aro wants them all alive, for now. I wonder if Jane had to teach them a lesson up there...probably not, she still looks unsatisfied, somehow.
I fervently hoped that Jane would remain 'unsatisfied'.
"Let's not keep him waiting," Jane suggested. She was impatient; she wanted to get her prizes to Aro. And there was something else...
I nodded once.
Jane took her brother's hand, and together they led the way down the wide, ornate hall. I reached out with my mind, searching for Aro's thoughts. To my surprise and chagrin, I found them in an unexpected place. I realized they were taking us to that room. Halfway along the hall, Alec stopped to slide aside a piece of paneling and pull open the plain wooden door which was revealed, holding it open for his sister.
Of course, I should have realized where we were going from Alice's visions. But I hadn't been concentrating so much on the specific setting.
Every part of me rebelled at taking Bella into that place—that little tower room where so many humans had gone to their deaths. I told myself that this was different, that their plans for her were not the same. Still, I understood now that other thing that Jane was anticipating—that they were all anticipating, in fact. Heidi was scheduled to arrive soon, with a group of unsuspecting humans in tow.
They were getting ready to feed.
I kept Bella clutched close to my side as I pulled her through to the other side of the door.
The small stone antechamber opened quickly into a brighter, cavernous room, perfectly round. It was the interior of a castle turret, high above the unsuspecting city. I scanned the room quickly—it was the first time I'd seen it with my own eyes, though on my last visit it had featured prominently in the thoughts of the Volturi and their guard. The stone walls were barren, apart from some high, narrow windows, and the only pieces of furniture were the three massive wooden thrones which belonged to Aro, Caius, and Marcus. They were more props than anything else, symbols of their power; like all of our kind they never tired, and did not really need to sit. I tried not to look at the drain in the center of the room, and I fervently hoped that Bella wouldn't guess what it was for.
There was only one way in or out, unless I pulverized the wall itself...which I could certainly do, if it came to it. Of course, escape would still be impossible. A fair number of the guard were in attendance; they had been milling around, but paused in curiosity as they surveyed the newcomers. I focused only on Aro. His delight at seeing us was obvious...and beneath the facade, his greed.
"Jane, dear one, you've returned!" he cried in his soft, sighing voice.
I felt Bella tense as he drifted forward; I could see her widened eyes through the minds of those who faced us. I wondered what she thought of Aro's appearance—his clouded eyes...and his skin, so papery and thin, surely an obvious distinction even to human eyes.
He took Jane's face in his hands and placed a light kiss on her lips, then retreated a step. What success! I knew I was right to send her—I could never trust Demetri and Felix with such a delicate task.
"Yes, Master." Jane's eyes sparkled as she smiled. Yes, yes, yes! I knew it would please him! "I brought him back alive, just as you wished."
"Ah, Jane." He smiled back at her with genuine fondness. "You are such a comfort to me." The best acquisition I ever made, you and your brother. It frightens me, sometimes, how much I rely upon you both. He turned toward us then, his smile brightening enormously.
"And Alice and Bella, too!" he rejoiced with an eager clap of his thin hands. So the human girl is not dead after all...I look forward to hearing that tale! "This is a happy surprise! Wonderful!" More than I ever could have hoped for! Think of it, the possibilities! If I could but convince them to join us... Ah, but of course, you can hear me, can't you Edward? How thoughtless of me to forget, even for a moment. You would be such an asset to us, you know... But first things first...I must send for Caius and Marcus...
He turned to Felix. "Felix, be a dear and tell my brothers about our company. I'm sure they wouldn't want to miss this." Not that anyone would truly miss their company, I suspect, he mused as Felix acknowledged the order and left the room. Caius dwells in such extremes, and Marcus...well, I suppose I can understand his indifference. But it was a long time ago...
I knew what Marcus's problem was. He'd had a mate, once: Aro's biological sister, Didyme. But Didyme had been killed, under circumstances which I gathered had been suspicious at best. Though Aro was very careful with his thoughts, I had an inkling that he'd had something to do with it. I could not fathom what his motive might have been, unless the strength of Marcus and Didyme's bond had interfered with their loyalty to the Volturi. In any case, Marcus had been left an empty shell of a man; Chelsea's gift had been all too useful in keeping him a part of their coven. I wondered how Marcus would have reacted to his loss, if not for her cohesive influence. Would he have been the one to rip aside his clothing and step into the sunlight, hoping his brothers would grant him death?
"You see, Edward?" Aro chided. His smile held a fondness that had a great deal to do with how he coveted my talent. "What did I tell you? Aren't you glad that I didn't give you what you wanted yesterday?"
That much, I could say ardently and without question. "Yes, Aro, I am." I drew Bella even closer to my side as I spoke.
"I love a happy ending." Aro sighed. "They are so rare. But I want the whole story. How did this happen? Alice?" He turned to look at her, his greedy eyes teeming with curiosity. "Your brother seemed to think you infallible, but apparently there was some mistake."
"Oh, I'm far from infallible," she assured him, flashing a smile. She was working hard to maintain a casual facade; the only thing which betrayed her were her hands, balled into fists at her side. "As you can see today, I cause problems as often as I cure them." I'm not the only one who does that, of course. Certain all-knowing mind readers can be pretty darn thickheaded at times...
"You're too modest," Aro admonished with a slight shake of his head. "I've seen some of your more amazing exploits, and I must admit I've never observed anything like your talent. Wonderful!" Ah, yes, such a powerful addition she would make! I wonder if she could be persuaded to join us...
Alice's eyes flickered to mine. He's seen some of my exploits? Carlisle did say he had some sort of mind reading power... I saw the visions wavering in her mind. Hmm...is he thinking what I think he's thinking? Blink once if I'm right.
I blinked once.
Huh. I'd like to see them try. But I think there might be a way out of this...just a few more decisions so I can see clearly...
Aro had not missed our exchange.
"I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced properly at all, have we?" he said apologetically. "It's just that I feel like I know you already, and I tend to get ahead of myself. Your brother introduced us yesterday, in a peculiar way. You see, I share some of your brother's talent, only I am limited in a way that he is not." He shook his head, his thoughts full of envy.
"And also exponentially more powerful," I added dryly. I really did believe it. After all, those who understood my power could at least try to hide their thoughts, lie to me in their own minds. With Aro, such a thing was impossible. He saw everything. I met Alice's gaze as I explained. "Aro needs physical contact to hear your thoughts, but he hears much more than I do. You know I can only hear what's passing through your head at the moment. Aro hears every thought your mind has ever had."
Alice raised her delicate eyebrows, her golden gaze fixed on mine. Every thought? So...if he touches one of us now, every half-formed plan we've come up with to get out of this...he'll know all of that? I inclined my head. Wonderful. And he sees everything we've ever experienced—every conversation, every private moment you've ever shared with Bella...or I with Jasper...every kiss, every touch? Sheesh, and Em thinks you and I are voyeurs!
It did make me feel a little sick that Aro was so intimately acquainted with my love life. But at least I didn't think he dwelled on that part too much. Well, I could hope.
"But to be able to hear from a distance..." Aro sighed with a wistful gesture toward the two of us, and the exchange that had just taken place. "That would be so convenient." Truly, Edward, you don't know how powerful your gift is. To be able to know the thoughts of everyone in this room...to be able to flit from mind to mind as easily as a hummingbird flits from flower to flower!
And I was flitting about, albeit with only part of my attention. I was trying to pick their brains for a way out of this...but most proved uncooperative. They were all vaguely excited, anticipating the coming bloodbath which they euphemistically called a 'feast'. But mostly they were focused on our conversation with Aro.
I noted that one of the females—Renata—never strayed too far from Aro's side, and was concentrating on him even more than the rest of them were. She was Aro's personal bodyguard, and a talented one at that. She was what they called a 'shield', because she possessed the ability to divert any attacker away from the object of her protection. I knew that if I tried to attack Aro now, I would suddenly find myself heading in the wrong direction, muddled by her power. But that wasn't really important, because attacking Aro wouldn't get me anywhere, even if Alec, Jane, and the others didn't stop me before I even got close. Fighting was not an option; the only thing we could do was to try and talk our way out of this.
I continued to scan the others, but found little of use. My best lead was still Demetri and the potential weakness in his talent...and even that I could not be certain of (and in any case, it did us little good at the moment). And now I could hear more minds approaching...
Quiet footsteps sounded from the hall, and we all turned to look. Felix had returned with Caius and Marcus.
"Marcus, Caius, look!" Aro crooned. "Bella is alive after all, and Alice is here with her! Isn't that wonderful?"
'Wonderful.' Hah. Ever the fool, Aro, ever the fool. What is so wonderful about any of them? I don't trust them. No one should ever trust their kind—deviants, every one! And imagine falling in love with a human...ugh! And it would sully us to have any of them join our coven, so don't even think about it. But of course you are thinking about it, aren't you. You are a fool, Aro, an utter fool for letting this play out.
It was clear that Caius's attitude toward me had not softened since I'd last seen him last.
Ah...I see. Interesting, I suppose. Sigh. Surprisingly strong connection between them. Hmm. Never seen its like in three thousand years, in fact. I suppose Aro will want to hear about this. He always does. Sigh.
And Marcus had apparently found no new lease on life, either. Not that I had expected him to. I found that I pitied him, in a way. I knew exactly what he had gone through, after all...only my ending, at least, now had some chance of being a happy one.
It was interesting, seeing our connection through his eyes. The best way to describe it would be as a glow which seemed to envelop us. To a lesser extent it extended over to Alice as well—the three of us were the brightest thing in the room to him, far outshining the lesser glow which hovered between Alec and Jane—but clearly the strongest part of the bond was between Bella and myself. Not that I needed Marcus's gift to know the way I felt, but it was still something to see it in such a way.
"Let us have the story," Aro crooned, almost quivering with anticipation. Come on, Marcus, can't you move any faster than that? I know you're bored out of your wits, but you must have something to tell me. I can almost see their bond with my eyes—I certainly felt it in Edward's mind, tainted as it was by the pain...
Caius drifted away, still grumbling in his thoughts as he headed for his wooden throne. Marcus paused beside Aro, reaching out to touch his palm briefly. I felt the rush of thoughts pass between them. Aro raised one black brow.
Ah! So very interesting indeed! He was both confounded and delighted with what Marcus had to tell him. I tried not to think about why that bothered me. So very, very interesting. Really, Marcus...you find a bond which is stronger than anything you've ever seen before, and you're still bored out of your mind, aren't you. What am I going to do with you, old friend? Ah, but the strength of it—for a bond between a human and an immortal to be so strong...stronger even than any mated pair of of immortals that Marcus has encountered! I would never have believed this possible! For one of our kind to feel this way about a human...and for a human to feel the same about him, knowing what he is! I can scarcely believe it! And her blood is such a beautiful temptation to him...most of us would have succumbed by now, surely! Such a waste!
I snorted very quietly.
What? Alice asked silently, looking at me. What did Marcus tell him? He looks like he's been hit over the head with an anvil...
"Thank you, Marcus," Aro said aloud. "That's quite interesting." An understatement to end all understatements! If only every day were as delightful as this!
Marcus had drifted over to join Caius, who continued to glare at us balefully. Bella was watching them with a fearful fascination in her eyes. I wished I could know what she was thinking. Any ordinary human would have fainted by now.
Aro shook his head. "Amazing. Absolutely amazing."
Alice was frustrated. What is amazing? Don't keep me in the dark here!
I turned to explain to both her and Bella. "Marcus sees relationships. He's surprised by the intensity of ours."
Surprised? Huh. I'd like to see him on a normal day.
I met Bella's eyes for a moment; she stared back at me, her expression oddly blank. I wished I could hear what she was thinking.
I turned back to see Aro smiling at us. "So convenient," he repeated to himself, before addressing us again. "It takes quite a bit to surprise Marcus, I can assure you."
I can believe that, Alice added.
"It's just so difficult to understand, even now," Aro mused. His milky eyes were fixed upon my arm, still wrapped around Bella's waist. Your singer...the call must be nearly irresistible. "How can you stand so close to her like that?"
"It's not without effort," I answered. But as I said the words, I realized that it was taking far less effort than normal. I took half a second to contemplate this. I remembered how it had felt when I had inhaled her scent back in the alley—painful as ever, yes, but there had been no instinct for me to fight, no monster inside of me ready to take her life if I let down my guard. At the time, I had thought it was because we were both dead and in heaven (hah! heaven indeed!), where the monster could not follow.
But we weren't dead, and it didn't make sense, really. We had been apart for so long...more than long enough for me to lose any desensitization I'd had to her scent. And I was thirsty, probably more so than at any other time in my life. I had been denying myself for nearly two months prior to Rosalie's phone call, in the hope that a different kind of suffering might help to take my mind off of Bella. I had been wrong, of course—nothing had been strong enough to do that.
Standing so close to her now, inhaling her sweet scent, I could still feel the familiar burn in my throat. But nothing more. No monster waiting in the wings for me to make a mistake, no instinct to sink my teeth into her flesh. Nothing. It was as if my very being recoiled from wanting to hurt her. It could be just the stress of our current situation, I supposed. But what if it was something more? What if the thought of her loss had somehow cured me of this? Perhaps even my very instincts had been changed by that experience—just as my whole outlook had changed. The thought heartened me somewhat.
But there was no need for Aro to know any of this, of course. Unless he decided that he needed to share my thoughts again...
"But still," he was saying, "la tua cantante! What a waste!"
It would seem that way to him. I almost pitied him; if he lived another three thousand years, if he spent all of that time studying my memories, I doubted he would ever understand the true power of what Bella meant to me. I huffed a humorless chuckle.
"I look at it more as a price." It was still true, though the burn in my throat was such a tiny price compared to what the monster had been. I almost laughed again.
Aro narrowed his eyes, skeptical. "A very high price."
"Opportunity cost," I said softly.
Aro laughed. Ah Edward, it is good to see that your dry wit has not deserted you entirely. "If I hadn't smelled her through your memories, I wouldn't have believed the call of anyone's blood could be so strong. I've never felt anything like it myself. Most of us would trade much for such a gift, and yet you..."
"Waste it," I finished, unable to keep the sarcasm from my voice.
Aro laughed again. "Ah, how I miss my friend Carlisle!" Memories flashed past of the many debates they'd had on the merits of human versus animal blood, on the morality of taking human life... I had seen these discussions before, of course, but from Carlisle's perspective. "You remind me of him," Aro mused, "only he was not so angry."
"Carlisle outshines me in many other ways as well." In just about every way imaginable, in fact.
"I certainly never thought to see Carlisle bested for self-control of all things, but you put him to shame."
"Hardly." I could hear the impatience in my voice. Self-control was hardly my strength—couldn't he see that? So many times I had put Bella in danger, unable to help myself—of course, even when I tried to take my cursed shadows out of her life, it still caused her harm! But to compare me with Carlisle, to say that I bested him in any way, let alone that way... He had more self-control than any vampire I knew of, able to work around human blood without difficulty or even discomfort. It had taken him centuries to perfect it, and I was nowhere near as disciplined. I wasn't sure I ever would be.
He's right, you know, came Alice's calm thoughts from Bella's other side. Most of our kind would never have been able to be as close to Bella as you've been, particularly not with the draw her blood is for you. You don't give yourself enough credit, you really don't.
I tried to ignore her.
"I am gratified by his success," Aro mused, his thoughts still focused upon Carlisle. "Your memories of him are quite a gift for me, though they astonish me exceedingly. I am surprised by how it...pleases me, his success in this unorthodox path he's chosen. I expected that he would waste, weaken with time. I'd scoffed at his plan to find others who would share his peculiar vision. Yet, somehow, I'm happy to be wrong."
I didn't reply. It was clear that he was pleased with Carlisle's success. Aro was always fascinated by anything new to add to his histories, even if it was something he considered an oddity. But there was something else as well when he thought of our coven...a touch of unease, or perhaps fear? I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
"But your restraint!" Aro sighed in admiration. "I did not know such strength was possible. To inure yourself against such a siren call, not just once but again and again—if I had not felt it myself, I would not have believed."
I was careful to keep my expression neutral, but I could feel it coming, one of the things I'd been dreading about this meeting. His curiosity was insatiable—like me, he relied upon knowing the thoughts of others, and the nagging frustration I could feel from him was all too familiar to me. He would not be satisfied until he had tried to read Bella's thoughts.
I wondered if he would be able to. And what his reaction would be if he could not.
"Just remembering how she appeals to you..." Aro chuckled, momentarily distracted. "It makes me thirsty."
I tensed, for I could feel the truth of his words. Actually, they were all thirsty. These ancients did not deny themselves for weeks at a time as my family did, but it had been a few days since their last meal...and of course, Bella smelled sweet enough to all of them. And at this moment, with my stolen memories swirling in his head, Aro's thirst was the greatest...
"Don't be disturbed," Aro reassured me when he saw my reaction. "I mean her no harm." Truly, Edward, relax. Do you think I would destroy her now, fascinating as she is? Knowing how it would hurt you? I assure you, she is perfectly safe. Despite his assurances, the way he looked at her made my skin crawl. "But I am so curious," he said aloud, "about one thing in particular. May I?" he asked me eagerly, holding out his hand in Bella's direction.
"Ask her." I could not give permission for such a thing. It was her choice whether to accept, knowing what he could do. Not that any of us had much of a choice about anything at the moment...but I was determined to leave it to her, in any case. Besides, it irked me how they all talked over her, like she was a lesser being.
"Of course, how rude of me!" Aro exclaimed, pulling his hands in to his chest. Looking suitably contrite, he addressed her directly. "Bella, I'm fascinated that you are the one exception to Edward's impressive talent—so very interesting that such a thing should occur! And I was wondering, since our talents are similar in many ways, if you would be so kind as to allow me to try—to see if you are an exception for me, as well?"
Bella glanced up at me, looking terrified. Again, I wanted to comfort her, to tell her that everything would be all right. I hated the thought of Aro touching her, even if she confounded his efforts to read her mind. But I could see that he had no intention of hurting her...and there really wasn't any choice. I gave her a nod of encouragement.
She turned to hold out a trembling hand to Aro. I tightened my hold on her ever so slightly. It was tearing me apart that I couldn't protect her from this...
Aro came slowly forward—his gentle smile was meant to be reassuring, but I doubted Bella saw it that way. Could she see the greed that lurked there, ever-present, never quite satisfied? And the confidence...his very being exuded it. He did not expect to be thwarted—no one, human or vampire, had ever blocked him before. He thought his gift stronger than mine, in this respect at least.
There was a very small part of me, loath though I was to admit it, that hoped he was right...for if he could see into her mind, I would be able to glimpse her thoughts as well, as they passed through him. But the very thought of him knowing her in that way repulsed me. And I knew how she valued the privacy of her thoughts. My own petty curiosity was not worth violating that.
I tried to listen to Alice, to see what would happen. But she was deep in concentration at the moment, trying to see further into the near future. Did that mean she was certain that this wouldn't be a problem?
Aro reached out to take Bella's hand, and I felt her give a minute shudder. He smiled down at her, his filmy eyes full of greed and anticipation, and it took everything I had not to yank her away from his touch.
A/N: Had to end it there, before it got too long! Please take a moment to review, I'd love some feedback. Chapter 3 should be up soon!