Blood And Bonds

When I wake up my vision is strangely blurred. When it focuses I find Marcus standing in front of me.

"My dear friend," Marcus sighs quietly. "I am so, terribly sorry."

I lean forward, only to realise that I am shackled to a wall.

Well this is just too familiar.

"Where are my family?" I growl. "Are they safe? If they have been hurt then I swear to God..."

Marcus chuckles, and as I look down I realise his feet are shackled to the floor. "I always admired you Carlisle. You always put everyone before yourself. And to answer your question, yes your family are safe. Aro wanted to make it appear as though you had been killed by a nomad, but that was just cruel. I am sick of Aro's games, so I appeared to your son and told him to run home, and that you are safe for now."

"So, my family knows I'm here?" I ask, shocked.

"Yes," Marcus whispers. "And because of that, and because I allowed Bella to jump off the cliff, I am no longer part of the guard. But I have a feeling I know what Aro's plans are for you."

"You're not part of the guard?" I repeat, trying to wrap my head around it.

"No," Marcus clarifies. "I am in here as a prisoner. The reason you are shackled to a wall is so if Aro comes in to talk to you you can't attack him. He doesn't seem to think I will attack him, which I might."

"What are his plans for me?" I ask hesitantly.

"He wants you to replace me as one of the three leaders in the guard." Marcus hesitates. "He wants you to change your diet."

"No," I snarl. "I will not harm innocent people. I will not harm people who aren't innocent. I will not harm people."

Marcus sighs. "Something tells me it won't be your choice."

I feel tears that will never fall form in my eyes. "Why has he done this?"

He shrugs. "If you take down the leader you take down the coven. You were the soul of the Cullen clan, and Esme was the heart. But without the soul the heart cannot function, and without any kind of leader neither can the rest of the body."

I slump down against the wall; the shackles the only things keeping me from falling to my knees.

That was the last time I will ever see my family.

The strange thing is, I feel like I don't care. I feel as if they were all just a burden that I am glad to be rid of.

All except Esme, my love.

"Marcus," I croak out. "What is happening to me? I feel as if the only one I ever had a connection with is Esme."

"That will be Chelsea," Marcus replies grimly. "She will be working your bonds to your family, severing them, and then tying them to the guard. The only bonds she can't mess with I are the bonds of mates. But," Marcus grips my shoulders and forces me to look at him as I try to fight the hate I feel towards the family I know I have loved for over a century. "I know you are strong enough to fight the hate. I know you are strong enough to shake the bonds you feel for the Volturi. I know you are strong enough to fight you way back home."

"Conspiring against me, are we?"

Marcus and I both look up to see Aro standing in the doorway. "Maybe," Marcus retorts. "What's it to you?"

Aro shrugs, "Not much. Its not like you can do anything. Now, Carlisle..."

I try to glare at him, but I can't. He is my friend...

No! He's not my friend. He tortured me, then my daughter, then me again! He killed my love twice and caused my family more pain than they could possibly ever deserve.

I cry out in pain as I try to fight against the bond I feel to him and the guard. "Stop fighting, Carlisle," Aro reprimands. "You can't fight." He kneels down slightly so his eyes are level with mine. "Animal blood has made you weak. We are going to change that. Felix!"

Felix wasn't around in my time here, but I can see why Aro chose him. He must be strong, but not as strong as Emmett.

But what I mainly notice is the semi-conscious girl in his arms, with blood pouring from her throat.

No...

Aro grabs the girl and brings her closer to me. I never had a chance to hunt before I was captured, and I know my eyes are black. He slowly brings the girl's throat closer to my mouth, and I struggle against the chains binding me to the wall, and the bonds tying me to Aro. The bonds that tell me I can trust him, and the bonds that tell me to just drink.

"Just drink, Carlisle," Aro murmurs, bringing the girl's throat a mere inch from my mouth. "We will make you strong."

I clamp my mouth shut and close my eyes, jumping slightly at the feeling of the girl's neck against my lips. Aro shifts her so the friction parts my lips and her blood smears against my teeth.

I still don't allow myself to taste her blood. If I do, I will be completely under Aro's control, and I must stay strong for Esme.

"No!" I scream, but immediately I know it's a mistake. The movement made my mouth open slightly, and her blood slips into my mouth and down my throat. I can pratically feel my eyes becoming crimson.

Then I clamp my mouth shut again, even if Aro is my friend, Esme is my mate and she would not be happy that I took someone's life. Aro sighs, and drops her at my feet before untying my shackles and leaving the room.

"Have fun," He says slyly before locking the door.

Marcus looks at me with sadness as I look over the girl. Her wounds are too severe, and she has lost too much blood to survive. I will not turn her into a vampire and damn her to this life, but nor will I allow her to bleed to death on a hard cold floor.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, taking her head in my hands. "Forgive me."

Then I snap the girl's neck.