This chapter seemed to flow much easier than the others so I'm pleased to be updating so soon! As always I hope you enjoy reading and I look forwards to hearing your comments.
INHUMAN RAMPAGE
Red and Black: desire and despair
"If she's with Jane, I can only assume they will be heading to Volterra." Carlisle mused. The whole family remained congregated in the living room, attempting to piece together these unforeseen events. Alice and Jasper hovered next to the sofa, clutching each other's hands. Alice's face was pained, her eyes filled with sorrow as she struggled to accept that she hadn't been able to foresee this, to see her sister would be taken from them and to prevent it. Jasper's golden eyes roamed over her, obviously unsure how to bring her comfort. Just in front of them Carlisle and Esme perched edgily on the oversized couch. Edward, Bella and Renesmee grouped together by the smouldering fireplace. Edward stood protectively over his wife and daughter as Renesmee read through yet another fairytale Carlisle had given her, they needed her with them, but to have her distracted was preferable to her being completely aware of the danger that loomed over them all. The atmosphere was tense, uncertain, which put them all on edge. They knew that if the Volturi had taken Rosalie, then there was a strong possibility this was not going to end well. When they had eventually left after their last visit concerning Renesmee, it was made pretty clear that they would not take defeat lightly, and that they would return. But, no-one had imagined it would have been quite so soon.
"I don't see why they have chosen Rosalie. It doesn't make sense." Esme added, she had left Erica and Alyan in the cottage to make sure she would not overhear any of their conversations. After all, Erica was oblivious to the knowledge that she was residing, hiding out even, in a house of vampires.
"They must have been watching us," Bella realised, but only as she spoke the words. "Though that doesn't explain why they would choose to separate Rosalie from us. Would they not have come for Edward or Alice, they are who they want, right?"
"Maybe, but we cannot afford to draw any unfounded conclusions until we have the facts," Carlisle ran one hand through his blond hair as he placed the other on Esme's shoulder.
"If they have been watching, then they would have seen what Rosalie did." Emmett spoke quietly from the other side of the room. He faced away from the others, gazing out the window as if expecting to see her waltz back towards him at any moment. His chest was still, holding his breath as he realised what they would do to her. "If they know, they will not give her another thought. She will ..."
"Emmett, we won't let it come to that." Even without allowing Emmett to finish his sentence, Edward knew exactly what he was thinking. The room fell silent as each of them in turn caught on to his meaning. The Volturi had always been looking for away to bring them down and Rosalie had stepped out of line. It would certainly be a starting point for them. By exposing herself as she had, they would kill her without question. Emmett turned slowly back in to the room.
"What do I do?" He spoke in a low, muffled tone feeling completely lost. His eyes gave away every emotion he was feeling. After a further moment of awkward silence, he straightened himself up trying hard to piece himself back together. "I have to get her back. I won't sit and wait for them to..."
"Emmett." Carlisle glanced to him, hushing him with a single look that asked him not to think such thoughts. Edward winced, obviously wishing he had stayed out of Emmett's head at that moment. But he was right, they had to act and fast. Rosalie might not have long once she had been presented to Aro, and Carlisle knew that would be an inevitability. They were not likely to forgive Rosalie for exposure.
...
The daylight swiftly and majestically faded once more into night on its never ending cycle. Bella had taken Renesmee up to bed once she had begun asking questions that were becoming more difficult to answer without scaring her. She had reached out a small hand to Bella's cheek, showing her that she remembered exactly who the Volturi were. And both Bella and Edward decided that she had heard and understood quite enough. They hovered in the doorway to Edward's old room where they had allowed her to sleep for the night.
"I don't want her to be away from us Bella," Edward shook his head as he watched his daughter sleeping soundly. Dreaming innocently.
"And I do?" She challenged him. "Jacob will be able to protect and hide her if ... if things get worse. If we have to go to Volterra, I will not have her with us and being put in the face of danger."
"I don't like it, but I agree. I'll call him in the morning, ask if he can care for her for a few days."
"No Edward, I will call him." Bella informed him bluntly. She hadn't spoken to him for a while anyway and she was sure he would be planning on visiting Renesmee soon. It was a little strange that he hadn't seen her in almost a week now, and that in Bella's mind, indicated something was wrong.
Below them in the sitting room, no-one else had moved; except to occasionally offer comfort to their partner, or to Emmett. He sat quietly on the furthest seat from the group, his head buried deeply into his hands. It only seemed a moment since she had been taken from him, but in reality it was almost five hours ago now. Every single idea they had come up with had been disregarded for one reason or another, and they seemed to be going in circles. They were wasting time, precious time that they would not be able to get back. How long would it be before her judgement day? When some Volturi tosspot decided if his wife would live or die? Emmett slammed his fist against the wall, leaving a deep crater in it. Everyone jumped before turning to him; everyone except Alice. They watched in astonishment for a moment as the plaster fell to his feet.
"Decide already. If not, I'm going ... alone." His voice was low, definite, with a deep growl under toning his words. Esme flittered to his side, pulling his clenched fist away from the wall.
"Careful Emmett, don't let the anger go to your head. We cannot simply dive in head first, that will get us all killed. The army we may face is a dangerous foe. The Voltouri guard is harder to catch, to trick and to fight. You know that." The authority Carlisle asserted towards Emmett was made clear as he tried to make him understand that rushing in would do more harm than good.
"So what? We sit here and do nothing?" he roared. Esme swung around as she failed to hold Emmett back. Anger took hold of his emotions and of his self control as he shot to Carlisle. Standing face to face with him, his breathing was erratic and his eyes bored holes into Carlisle's. Feeling Emmett's anger only increasing Jasper swiftly left Alice's side to offer Carlisle his aid.
"Don't take this out on him Em, we are trying to help." He narrowed his eyes as he sent waves of calm over them both. As Emmett stood before Carlisle guilt built in his features.
"Sorry, I just ... I need her back Carlisle, before anything happens to her. Sitting here when we should be out there giving everything to get Rose back, it's ..." He sighed heavily, taking a step back into Esme's open arms. "... just getting to me."
Knowing better than to react, Carlisle eyed each member of his family in turn. They had to decide what they were going to do, now.
"It's time for us all to decide who we are. Do we stay here and let it play out, or do we fight with everything we can give for Rosalie? We are a family, a unit, but we are more than that. We are vampires, strong ones together in battle; we have proved that several times over. It will be dangerous and tough. I cannot deny that." He waited for a response, knowing that the answer would be too fight, they had no other option now.
"We owe her Carlisle, well, I know I do. She may have been hostile about it at first, but she has always fought beside you for me, for Edward and for Nessie. I think it's about time I repaid her for that." Bella made her way into the room, closely followed by Edward. She looked to Emmett, flashing him a sisterly, but strong smile. "I say we fight."
"So do I."Alice shifted to stand beside Bella and Edward before looking to Edward for his decision. His features frowned at hearing Bella be so ready to walk into war. There was no guarantee they would all walk out of this alive.
"I'll fight for my sister, Bella's right, I owe her. As I do all of you." He glanced to Jasper.
"Fight." He answered simply but confidently.
"She is our daughter and I will do anything for my children." Esme took hold of Emmett's hand. "We will get her back, son."
"Well then. We should prepare." Carlisle turned and headed out the room towards his study. Kissing Alice's cheek, Jasper glided along behind him, as did Edward. Alice returned to the same spot she had been sat in all evening, trying desperately to get a vision of Rosalie. Esme ran her fingers down Emmett's arm and smiled weakly up to him before joining Alice. Once everyone had dispersed, it hit Emmett that Rosalie really was not here. His eyes scanned the room seeing little things everywhere that reminded him of her absence. He shook his head as though shaking the images and thoughts from his mind. Not wanting to deal with it any longer, he sauntered out on to the balcony; he could talk fighting talk a little later. Right now, he just wanted to be alone where he could love and miss her.
The night air held no interest for him as it had done when he would see Rosalie standing in it. He stared blankly out into the darkness and up towards the moon. Maybe it could show him where she was, shine down on her? He stared a moment longer, his hands resting themselves on the balcony where all this talk of children and their future had begun all those weeks ago. No, it seemed the moon didn't want to co-operate tonight. Her face haunted his mind as could see nothing but her. Who knew he would feel so weak without her. He didn't even feel like talking about tearing apart the Volturi which was something he had been looking forwards to for a long time now. But not when it meant the possibility of losing his soulmate, his life, his gravity, his wife ... his angel. As he lost himself in the loneliness he felt without her, he heard tiny footsteps head out to meet him. He spoke softly to the disembodied feet.
"Alice. Now's not a great time."
"Once again, I'm sorry!" A little voice piped up. Emmett spun himself around as his clean air became polluted with the scent of sweet human blood. The shock on his face was clearly amusing to the woman, who was rocking a baby in her arms. "It's ok, he's sleeping. A noisy bugger when he's awake."
Emmett stood as still as stone, not quite sure why she was here, or way she was talking to him. As she slowly rocked her way over to his side, he realised that standing this still might seem a little odd, so quickly shifted his weight in an awkward manner. He thought over several amusing comments to make to her, but quickly decided against them.
"What up?" He greeted her eventually as she turned and leaned against the glass.
"Not much," she chuckled. "You must be Emmett. They said I wouldn't miss you." Her eyes roamed over his large shape as she compared her tiny figure to his.
"Yeah ... who are you?" He knew exactly who she was, but playing dumb might get him some answers.
"The name's Erica. Your family helped care for me after our accident up in the mountains." She eyed him, not quite sure how to gauge his reaction to her. He seemed ... a little on edge. "We got too high up, the thin air apparently knocked us for six, so the Doctor says anyway."
"Yes, he must be right ..." Emmett watched her closely, trying not to breathe in her scent. But when she looked to him, he had to breathe every now and then to appear normal. "So, you're ... staying here?"
"Yes, I thought they would have told you already? Seems not." She sighed and turned back to face over the balcony. "Guess I'll be the one to tell you then."
Emmett relaxed a little, slightly grateful for the distraction and also for some answers, finally. His eyes widened as Erica went on to tell him about her husband, the man Edward had saved and how violent he had been towards her over the years. She had looked embarrassed as she explained how they had gone hiking so she could pretend to lose him and free herself from him. Emmett found himself shaking his head over and over again in horror of her story. But he was also a little impressed by Carlisle's inventive mind for getting him and Rosalie out of the dark. He couldn't help but think how this could play to his advantage ... she had no clue they were not human! As he began to plot how this could save Rosalie, he was suddenly brought down to earth with a thud.
"So, you see. My husband is a threat to us and I made the decision alone. I cannot care for this child as he deserves to be cared for. After speaking with the doctor I decided that people who are brave enough to save a total stranger, are the kind of good people Alyan should have as parents. Alice mentioned to me that you and your wife were unable to have children, so ..." She paused seeing the dumbfounded look on Emmett's face.
"I'm sorry, this is a shock to you. I'm not very good at explaining myself, I kind of ramble on and on and on ..." She rambled.
"No, no. Its fine, I just ... I don't quite believe what you're saying to me. You want Rosalie and I to have your child?" He fell over the words as he struggled to comprehend what she was telling him.
"No, I don't want you to have him. I want you to adopt him. I've been waiting here so I could meet you and your wife. Well, hiding out from my husband too, but mostly for you guys." She looked around, "Where is she? I'm desperate to meet her. She's a very attractive woman, you've done well kid." She nudged Emmett's rib in a taunting manner.
A laugh escaped his lips, "More than you could possibly know."
Emmett began to explain that Rosalie was away for a while, but was abruptly stopped as Erica handed him the baby boy. The skin of their arms brushed lightly against each other's as the remarkable exchange happened.
"You're cold, you should get indoors soon." He laughed again, his eyes fixated on the most wonderfully gift that could ever be bestowed upon him. The baby's hair was dark, little dimples resting on flushed cheeks. He was everything Rosalie had asked for. "His name is Alyan, it means blessed. He's yours if you want him. If your wife wants him?"
"She will, I mean she does!" He answered hastily, still not quite taking this in. Suddenly becoming aware of several pairs of eyes staring out the windows at him, he looked up. Carlisle and Esme looked horrified that Erica had obviously told him already. Alice was grinning like a Cheshire cat and he could see Jasper stood in the shadows just behind her. Edward and Bella joined Esme and Carlisle, both looking rather worried by this untimely development.
They had to focus on Rosalie, and this could possibly only exasperate things. Emmett stood cradling his new son in his arms before whispering too softly for Erica to hear.
"We have to get Rosalie. Now."
... ... ...
Rosalie held her breath as she marched down the endless corridor. The stone walls seemed to be closing in around her and her nerves tangled themselves in knots. The journey to Volterra had been a long one. She had spent the majority of it trying to hold her tongue, being belittled at every possible moment by Jane, and fighting off Felix's wondering hands and inappropriate comments. It was no longer a question in her mind that Felix seemed to have built an infatuation with her, it was now a fact. Jane strode on ahead of Rosalie, Felix glided along behind her. As they finally reached the old, large doors that concealed the great hall, Jane halted.
"Good luck." She laughed to Rosalie and with a flick of her wrists, the large doors flew open. Rosalie swallowed hard. The caged tiger had been placed in the centre of the room, he was barely moving now, too weak and unfed to hold himself upright. As her eyes moved over the cage and up to the three large thrones, she saw them. Aro, Caius and Marcus.
"Welcome, Rosalie."
