Hey, guys! Thanks so much for reading the story so far - it means so much! :)
Although all the chapters thus far have been from Carlisle's POV, this episode in particular is in the third person, for reasons that should shortly become apparent ;) After this, we should generally be back to plain old first person Dr. Cullen, although there may be some deviations from that norm wherever I see fit (although if you'd specifically like to hear more from these guys, do tell, and I'm sure it can be arranged ^_~).
Let me also take this opportunity to say how much I love hearing reviews from you guys. Please, please do keep reviewing! I read and appreciate every one. Oh, and if there's anything you'd especially like to see, please do tell.
So, yeah - there we go. And now, over to the Twilight Charries! :)
- Rosabella, xxx
"To Forks? Again?"
As soon as Demetri had spoken, he realised his mistake; perched behind the desk before him, Aro Volturi arched a brow, his lips curving into a smirk of amusement at the younger vampire's scepticism.
"You doubt my judgement, Demetri?"
"N-no – I – "
Aro laughed softly – a cold, mirthless sound. "And now you attempt to lie to me. Doubt thou the stars are fire?"
"I…" Demetri hesitated, then shook his head. "I'm sorry. I meant no disrespect."
Aro gave a thin smile. "Yes, yes. I assume that I can trust you to assemble the guard for me?"
"Of course."
"Excellent. Now, once we arrive in Forks, I will need you to locate several of our…suspects." The word brought another smile to his austerely beautiful features; had Demetri not been used to interfacing with the leader of the Volturi, he might have shuddered. "Of course, I don't suppose this will be any sort of problem for you, my dear one," Aro added; Demetri smiled slightly, softened by the praise.
"I don't suppose so, no."
"Excellent," Aro repeated, inclining his head in a gentle nod. "We leave for Forks just after sunset – the entire guard. We have quite a situation on our hands over in the States…" He hesitated; Demetri bit his lip, then suppressed a gasp as the older man snatched for his hand.
"I – "
Aro's eyes danced with malevolent glee, Demetri's mind streaming into his own at the touch. "You doubt me still, my darling."
Demetri's gaze shifted down. "I'm sorry."
Aro clucked his tongue. "I know, young one, I know. But, you see, I must have you on my side tonight…we will take on not one exceptional child, but an entire town. In fact…an entire population."
A chance for violence, for glory, for bloodshed – but still Demetri stood uncertain. "It's – it's only because the last time we went there – to Forks – well, it turned out to be a misunderstanding, didn't it?"
Aro rose finally to his feet, approaching his doubting servant with an unnatural calm – the eye of a storm. "Yes, but the last time we were foolish and complacent; went on hearsay alone. This time…" Once more he smirked; once more he reached for and took Demetri's ice-cold hand in his own. "…this time, my dear one, I was given the summons by Carlisle Cullen himself."
Alice Cullen snapped back to the present, grasping the corner of a nearby table to steady herself. What on earth had she just seen?