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Charades
Edward sat anxiously in the shadows of the Ristorante Etruria Outdoor Café watching Bella's back as she walked across the Palazzo dei Priori and into the street entrance of the Volturi headquarters. The sun was low on the horizon casting long shadows, but they had both dressed cautiously to avoid exposure. Once the door closed behind her, he closed his eyes to concentrate on the voices that would be closest to her direction, looking for any mind that might see Bella as she made her way to the reception area where Gianna was sitting. He was crumbling the biscotti he'd ordered with tea into its individual molecules.
This place is so old… I wonder when…
Look at those lucky tourists stumbling around out there. If we don't get a vacation soon I'm going to….
I can't believe how these utility bills have skyrocketed this year, you'd think these monsters would take an interest in…
How did she get in here? Edward stopped breathing; there she was clear as a bell, a sight that could only be seen through a pair of eyes as keen as his own. The short, dirty blonde wig did a great job of concealing her own beautiful hair. She's probably lost, she's… ah, no, not lost... she's our kind. Hmm, I've never seen her before. Ah, well whatever, I can't take care of everything around here by myself, I have to get to that….
Bella was quickly out of sight again.
Felix is so sweet, I wonder if he'll bring something back for me next time he goes out of town. I hope he remembers…
"Hello," Bella's voice rang clearly in Edward's mind.
Gianna looked up and gave him a clear view of Bella's new dark sunglasses and green silk scarf, "May I help you?"
"Yes, I wonder if you could make certain this will be delivered to Chelsea Van Buren please?"
Gianna picked up the letter and looked at the exquisitely handwritten name:
To: Mrs. Chelsea Vivaldi Burebista
She smiled courteously back at Bella, who saw no sign of recognition in her expression, "Of course, when she asks, may I say from whom it was received, Miss?" She slapped a post-it on the envelope with 'Van Buren' scrawled on it.
Bella smiled at her and turned, leaving without a word.
Edward continued on in Gianna's head, and watched as she shrugged and laid it in a stack of unopened incoming mail behind her desk. Some of them are so rude, I'm never going to treat humans like that, once I'm immortal. I sure hope they make up their mind soon, I'm not getting any younger and if I start getting wrinkles, I'd rather just die than spend an eternity…
Edward couldn't stand to listen anymore and Bella was coming across the Plaza toward him. His biscotti was dust.
"How did I do?" She asked, sitting down on the opposite side of Edward's table.
"Just fine, they'll have the video to look at, but I don't think it will do them much good, Tia did an excellent job." He reached for her hand across the table, as he pointed to his nose, indicating the false one Tia had planted on her face. "Gianna, at least didn't give it a second thought. That's good news."
"Do we need to wait then? Or can we just leave?" Bella whispered at an undetectable level for humans.
"Just a little while longer, love. I want to see if they distribute…" Edward's voice trailed off while his eyes stared into space. "Ah, here we…"
No one gives a damn about my opinion around here. Look at this, what? Have they been saving up all this stuff waiting for me? Doesn't anyone else around here know how to read? Fine, job security, whatever. Wow, fancy schmansy, who? Edward caught sight of the ancient stationery, Oh, yeah… Chelsea, here she is. He watched as the vampire slid the note into her mail slot. "OK, love. It's in her mail slot, we can go now."
"Great timing, Edward." Bella stood and walked as nonchalantly as she knew how next to Edward. It was strange and uncomfortable to be next to him and yet to not be touching him… how odd, she actually felt off balance. They climbed onto the Bus with a small crowd and waited in silence as the people found their seats.
Chelsea turned the unopened envelope over and over again in her hands. She slid it back into her coat pocket and headed out into the cold night air. She needed to find some privacy where she could open this thing. That prospect had filled her with dread since she'd read the initials on the stationery. There weren't a lot of people still around who knew her ancient name, and even less who would dare to use it. She'd been Miss Chelsea Van Buren for centuries now.
She shouldn't have gotten irritated with Gianna. What was the point of causing a stir? She didn't want Aro getting curious about her private affairs in any case. She could go back to the Villa, but she didn't want to risk being interrupted, Rualdi was there after all. She needed to find a place she didn't normally go, a place no one would be expecting her to be. A place others of her kind normally didn't frequent. It wasn't long before she was climbing up the stairs to the great cathedral.
Once inside, she reverently genuflected and bowed her head. Then, she took a seat in a pew close to the exit. Chelsea stared at the stationery, VSWB, of course, she lifted the paper to her nose. His scent was very faint but unmistakable. Carefully breaking the seal on the envelope, Chelsea pulled out the folded papers and spreading them carefully on her lap, she gasped as the photo of a necklace popped out at her. She gazed disbelieving, at the photo for a long time, what sort of trickery was this? Finally, she began to read the letter:
Dear Mrs. Chelsea Burebista;
I recently became aware that I am in possession of one your most prized belongings. I would very much like to return it to you. However, I am in need of your assistance in an urgent matter that I am not at liberty to discuss on paper.
I will await your presence tonight at the Villa Visconti, 84 San Gimignano. Please do come alone, I depend upon your silence and discretion.
Sincerely;
Mrs. Bella Cullen
Was this some kind of sick joke? Chelsea stared again at the photograph. Could it really be hers? She hadn't dared to hope of ever recovering it. Even if it was the Crystal of Wisdom, how did this child find out about it? There were only two people who could have possibly given her this knowledge.
She stared at the stationery, no, this was no joke. She was after all in possession of the crystal, how else could the young one have known where to look for answers? It was the only explanation that made any sense and yet, why now? What was a Cullen doing here in Italy? Trying to cause problems again?
She stared at the photo, it was hers by rights. After all this time, all these centuries, the crystal had finally found its way back to her. How could she possibly refuse the chance to own it once more? The Volturi are strong, they have nothing to fear from this little girl. There is no reason for me not to go and claim what is rightfully mine… and yet. There is no guarantee she will be alone. The Cullens obviously have very powerful friends. But why would she come here, asking for my help? Why not just go to Aro who obviously had such a soft spot for her?
Chelsea folded the papers back up and replaced them in the envelope. She stood, sliding the envelope back into her coat. There might never be another chance like this to get the diamond back. She couldn't ignore this opportunity. She walked silently out of the church and darted, invisible into the black of night.
Edward and Bella stood arm in arm, overlooking the hillside by the pool. If not for their colorful clothing, they might have been mistaken for a life size carving from marble. Bella was terrified, Edward was infected with her anxiety, and they'd been immobilized like this for over an hour. They stayed there searching the night for a sound or a scent that would signal her approach. Or worse, for the sound of those Chelsea might have chosen to bring with her. More aware than their companions of the power the Ancient One they'd summoned could wield, their wariness had infected the moods of their house guests.
Amun stayed buried in the Game Room with Kebi while Benjamin and Tia were up in their bedroom suite on the second floor. Edward thought the less they knew, the better it would be for all of them, so they hadn't mentioned exactly who it was they were expecting. Bella had only intimated their guest would be shy and the meeting they'd planned would go better for everyone if they were allowed to handle it by themselves. Of course, it was understood by all that the conversation would not be a private one.
Edward tilted his head the tiniest fraction of an inch, but Bella sensed it.
"What was that?" she asked holding her breath.
"She comes," he answered quietly.
No sooner had he completed the words than a wisp of air floated past them and Chelsea appeared, dark and menacing before them at the poolside.
Her red lips parted in a menacing grin, "You called?"
Edward returned the grin in kind, "Actually, she wrote."
Bella giggled nervously, "So very glad you accepted our invitation."
"Invitation? Looks more like a ransom note to me," Chelsea sneered back.
"Yes, well desperate people do desperate things," Edward added calmly.
"Desperate? What cause have you to be desperate, young ones?" Chelsea looked longingly at the chain around Bella's neck, realizing the prize attached to it was hidden beneath the neckline of her sweater.
"Our family is being attacked – my sister lies helpless as we speak, sickened by the visions sent to her in an unending stream from the Volturi chambers," Edward explained.
"I know of no such attack."
"Perhaps not, but it is being done at Aro's command, all the same."
"Why would Aro commence such an attack now? Has your family breached the law once again, boy?"
"There was no breach!" Edward spat through his teeth.
Bella lay her hand upon his shoulder lightly, "Alice, our sister, in a brief moment of reprieve, was able to tell us that Aro wished to hide his intentions from us. The attack serves more than one purpose, however," she took a deep breath, "Aro is also testing his new recruit, Peridot. Perhaps you've met him?"
Chelsea smiled in understanding, "Why yes, I believe I have. Quite a nice fellow, I thought."
"Yes, our sister thought so too. In fact, she believes he deeply regrets his attack on her."
"Not deeply enough, apparently," Chelsea's expression was smug.
"Apparently," Edward echoed angrily.
Bella frowned, shooting a warning glance at Edward, "No, Alice didn't think so. She told me that he would never act this way of his own accord. She believes it is your influence over him that causes the attack to continue."
"My influence?" Chelsea said sarcastically in an affected tone. "You do me too much credit my dear."
"Not at all. When was the last time you tested your power?"
Chelsea hesitated, frowning.
"We do know that our powers change and grow in time. Escalating, sometimes beyond what we ourselves realize they can accomplish. My sister believes that your influence is now so powerful over the Volturi, they no longer have any choice but to serve Aro."
"Bah. Don't be so naïve, young one. These vampires would be here no matter what I decided, I do not overestimate my worth or my influence."
"On the contrary, Ancient One, we believe you seriously underestimate yourself," Edward added quietly.
"Perhaps. Is this what you would ask of me then?"
"Yes. We ask that you leave the Volturi and cease influencing their members on Aro's behalf."
"And for this, you will return my… necklace?" Chelsea glanced in the direction of Benjamin and Tia's bedroom for the briefest instant. Chelsea's expression turned even darker with anger, as she realized they were being listened to.
"No," Bella said as she watched her intently, "I will return your necklace to you, because it is yours and because you granted us the honor of your presence," Edward moved to undo the clasp on the back of Bella's neck.
Chelsea's expression was immediately confused, "I haven't agreed to your request yet."
"I know," Bella replied.
"Before I relinquish this to you," Edward said slowly, holding out the necklace with both hands, "I have a personal request to make of you, please stay to hear what I have to tell you?"
Chelsea nodded anxiously, her eyes glued to the stone.
Edward moved so blindingly fast, a human would have believed he made the necklace had vanished from his fingers to appear around Chelsea's neck of its own accord. "Vladimir sends his fondest greetings to you."
Chelsea spat and made a move to leave.
"You did promise," Bella said softly.
Chelsea froze. Slowly she returned Edward's gaze once more.
"Aro has been using you for centuries, to amass his little army for the purpose of retaining power over our world. He doesn't care about justice, he doesn't care about peace, he only cares about power. He wants you to believe that you are simply a guide, a suggestion to those whose talents he wants to harness for his own purposes. Whether that was once true or not, Aro is well aware by now that is no longer the case. You, Chelsea, are his real power. Your talent has become far too strong to suggest anymore, it enslaves. Without you, Aro is nothing, and he knows it.
"Bella and I, our entire family, wish only to live our lives together in peace and harmony. The ties we have to each other are based on love and mutual admiration. No one has induced us to care for each other, we simply do," Edward paused poignantly, "…just as Vladimir and Stefan love you still and always will."
Chelsea looked up at him then, and if he hadn't known it was impossible, he would have sworn there were tears gathering in her dark eyes.
"They are lost in the dungeons of their own making. Their anger and hatred has been the only thing to motivate them to survive all these centuries without you, Chelsea. I don't claim to know if it can be done, but if they have any hope of redemption, it lies with you." Edward pulled Bella closer to him tenderly, "Please, for our sake and yours… go home Chelsea." Edward handed her a card with a Romanian address printed on it.
Chelsea took the card from his fingers, gazing at it for a long moment. When she finally looked up her expression had softened. "Your words are true boy… the necklace forces me to acknowledge that." She turned her eyes to Bella, "The Crystal of Wisdom has served you well, child. The magic within the diamond makes it much like a living thing with a will of its own. Having possessed it once, it will never forget you." She reached out to touch Bella's hand with her own; the power was like an electric transfer through their fingertips. "We will always share that now."
She took in a deep breath and then smiled faintly, "Perhaps it is time I visited those guys. They're always getting into more mischief than they can bail themselves out of." Then with a wink, she was gone in a wisp of air.
Alice sat on the porch step of the great white house in Forks, staring blankly into space, waiting anxiously for Edward and Bella to get home.
"How much longer will they be, Auntie Alice?" Renesmee asked as she leaned against the great russet wolf behind her.
"Not too much longer, sweetheart."
Nessie sighed as the deep rumbling growl of the wolf reminded her of a kitten's purr and relaxed her into a yawn. She held up the shiny silver promise ring on her finger. The diamond chip managed to find a stray sunbeam and reflect it back at her.
"Hey there, darlin'," Jasper said as he came out to sit next to Alice. He smiled at her, exuding a strong wave of calm, love and contentment as he leaned over to kiss her cheek and pulled her closer to himself by her waist.
Alice leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed, "Three more left Aro this morning."
"How many does that make now?" Nessie asked.
"Um, seventeen, I think, counting Marcus and Chelsea." Alice said.
"I can't believe Marcus left!" Jasper said again for the third time. He, more than any of the others, was having a hard time accepting the dissolution of the Volturi. "Who is going to police our world now, I wonder?"
"Oh it's not that difficult to understand Marcus, he's known about Aro's deceptions for centuries. He just never could do anything about it with Chelsea around and as far as policing our world is concerned, I think we can all take care of ourselves pretty well." Alice lifted her head, "Oh…"
"Are they coming?" Nessie asked.
"Yessss! It's them, it's them! Come on everybody, places, places the conquering heros are coming home!" Alice jumped up enthusiastically pulling Jasper up after her.
Rosalie and Emmett came bounding out of the garage. Carlisle and Esme walked calmly outside, arm in arm. They could all hear the engine of the Volvo now.
"It's running a little rough," Rosalie said.
"Well, let's leave you in long term airport parking for a few years and see how you run, OK?" Emmett laughed at her.
She laughed with him, "I just meant we should probably adjust the timing…"
The car came into view and barely squealed to a stop before Bella bounced out of the passenger's side door and ran up to Nessie, scooping her off her feet and twirling her around in the air, "It's so good to be here with you baby girl!"
"Oh Mama, I'm so glad you're home!" Nessie squealed with delight as she hugged Bella's neck tightly.
Then Edward was out of the car and tossing the Volvo keys to Rosalie. He turned on the great wolf, and giving him what looked like a huge hug he whispered into his ear so closely, no one else would hear, "You'd better stay just as you are for a while, Jake. Give me time to calm down from the sudden urge I've got to rip your balls off, got me?"
Geesh, Edward. Renesmee found out from Nahuel that she isn't in any danger…Jake snorted nodding his huge head in resignation and laid back down on the porch.
"Good doggie!" Edward said good naturedly as he patted Jake on the head, but faster than anyone noticed he gave the wolf a stinging flick of his finger behind one ear.
OW! Geesh, it's not like we actually did anything! Jacob got up lazily and laid down on the porch.
Then Edward scooped up Alice and lifted her over his head as she giggled gleefully, "Well, you're looking pretty damn good for a sickie! I'd heard a rumor that you weren't feeling well, pixie… but I can see that was just a bunch of horse manure!" Edward said as he set her down and tweaked her nose.
"Welcome home, Edward. I can't tell you how much we've missed you both!" Carlisle clapped him on the back and Esme flanked him as they all walked back into the big white house together.
"Hey, what's wrong with Jake?" Bella asked Nessie as she indicated the wolf, "pleeeze, don't tell me there's a counter attack of some kind?"
Nessie giggled at her, "Aw gee, Mom. It's nothing like that; Jake's just agreed not to talk for a while is all."
"What is that about?" Bella asked in a cautious tone, looking at Edward.
He shook his head then rolled his eyes at her, "Don't ask, dear," he sighed.
A/N: The rest of the story is being published in "Danger at Dusk" the 'M' rated content will be published under Dusk Outtakes... I hope everyone will keep reading! A very special thanks to my beta 'Twilight Guru' for all her patience and thanks to all my readers for your support!
Thank you for reading! Now please use the Review Button below and let me know what you think! PLEASE!
