A/N: Sorry about the delay, and the Author Note last chapter. I will delete it if I can :)
Sadly, this chapter isn't Edward's POV - it's Emmett's - but hopefully the next chapter will be.
Enjoy :)
Rose parked the stolen car into a space, and got out, while I just sat alone in the car.
"Are you coming, Em?" Rose asked, impatient, "Now?!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." I said, climbing out the car and putting my arm around her.
I kissed the top of her head, and she turned towards me and kissed me full on the mouth. I kissed her back, my arms tight around her neck.
Then we heard Carlisle clear his throat behind us. We turned to see Esme dry sobbing and Carlisle supporting her.
"We have news from Alice," Carlisle began, but Esme cut him short with even harder sobs. He whispered something to her only she could hear, and she stood up a bit straighter.
"Ok," our father said, taking a deep breath, "Edward has chosen to live."
Rosalie and I absentmindedly let out sighs of relief, but Carlisle opened his mouth to continue.
"He's joined the Volturi."
Rose collapsed into my side, but I stayed up straight, determined to work out what to do without clouding my focus.
"Why is that so bad, Carlisle?" I asked.
"They are unlikely to willingly let him leave with us, and, anyway, it sounds as if his mind is made up."
"We are going to try though?"
"Of course we are."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Nothing," Carlisle said picking Esme up and brushing her hair out of her eyes.
He hissed something in her ear, and placed her back down. She walked over to Rose, and put an arm around her.
"Let me do this," Esme whispered to me, forcing a smile, "Let me be a mother."
I nodded, and began walking with Carlisle towards the walled town.
"We will get him back, won't we?" I asked looking in Carlisle's eyes, this time letting emotion overcome me.
"I hope so. I am a old friend of Aro's, and I am hoping that will work to our advantage."
"Ok," I said, steadying my breathing, "Let's hope it does."
Carlisle turned and took a long hard look at me, scanning my eyes. Without warning he put his arm around me in a fatherly way.
"It'll be ok." He whispered, and we began walking faster.
We arrived inside the city within minutes, and I looked around; I noted a tall clock tower and a fountain, and an absence of humans.
"Where are all the humans?" Rosalie asked before I got a chance too.
"I don't know. Maybe they aren't out this time of day," Carlisle responded.
"That can't be right; it's nearly 2pm!" Esme said, "Why do you care anyway?"
"I don't. It's just strange." Rose said, shrugging, "Anyway, we're lucky it's cloudy!"
"Quite right Rose," Carlisle said, "Shall we go?"
Carlisle led us through the town square to a dark alley, where a vampire was already standing.
"Aro!" Carlisle said, obviously surprised.
"Carlisle!" Aro said, smiling, "Edward said he heard your thoughts approaching the town. He wasn't surprised you were coming. Why was that? Did he contact you?"
Aro's brow furrowed, and he waited for an answer.
"One of my daughters has subjective visions of the future. Didn't you see that in Edward's mind?"
"He refused to make contact with me."
Rose and I must have looked confused, because Aro turned to us.
"I can read every thought a person has ever had while I am touching them," he paused, "What are your names?"
"I'm Rosalie," Rose said, reaching for my hand.
"And I'm Emmett," I said, squeezing her hand back.
"And you are?" Aro asked Esme, smiling.
"Esme," she murmured, grabbing Carlisle from behind.
"It's fine. We're safe." Carlisle whispered into her ear.
Esme still looked unsure, but I saw her grip round Carlisle's waist loosen.
"Can we see Edward?" Carlisle asked.
"Of course, if he wants you to," Aro said, "Follow me," and he turned away, and began walking down the alley.
We turned to look at Carlisle, and he nodded in the general direction of Aro. Suddenly Aro disappeared. Carlisle was unshaken, and jumped down a hole.
"Come on!" He called up, "It's this way!"
Bracing myself I jumped, and the women followed. Aro was talking to a pretty human woman who was seated behind a counter.
"Carlisle, Carlisle's family, this is Gianna," Aro said, holding a hand in the direction of the human, "She is kind of like our secretary. She is about to enquire whether Edward wants to see you," he turned to Gianna, "Go, Gianna, and return quickly."
The human left, fear in her eyes, and Aro followed.
"I will be back shortly; I am going to tell the others that Carlisle is here!" He called back, smiling.
Surprisingly, Gianna returned first.
"Where is Aro?" She asked, wary of us.
"Gone to tell the others we are here," Carlisle said calmly, "You don't need to be afraid; we don't eat humans!"
She still looked afraid, but sat back down in her chair behind the counter.
"Does Edward want to see us?" Carlisle asked.
"I can't tell you. I have to speak to Aro first."
Carlisle opened his mouth to answer, but a voice behind us spoke first, and we all turned.
"Carlisle!"
"Caius!" Our father called, "Nice to see you again."
"Yes, you left in such a hurry all that time ago," Caius said, his crimson eyes glinting.
I turned away, and watched Aro speaking to Gianna. I couldn't hear what he was saying, and she wasn't speaking; instead Aro was holding her hands in his. Behind me, Carlisle had stopped talking to Caius, and, like me, was watching Aro and Gianna.
"Carlisle?" Aro said, looking at us, "Edward said yes."
Thanks for reading :)
The next chapter will hopefully be up faster than this one was.
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Amsii xxx
