Author's Note: Henderson and I come from a generation of quizilla authors who injected magic into their Green Day fanfictions. So when we started writing Twilight RPs, we couldn't resist sliding in a magical element via extra vampire powers. By and large, Henderson took her vampiric powers straight from canon. I took mine from The Odyssey and from the paranormal realm.
I lied in the last chapter, where I said that it was one of the shortest in the story. The rest of these chapters are going to be on the short side- ironic, considering most of the angst and action happens in the next three chapters. But I hope that what they lack in length they make up for in good story.
Disclaimer: I stole a line from Wake Me Up When September Ends, by Green Day. There are a couple of reasons why- (a) Just to make Henderson laugh (b) That line is one that I traditionally used on quizilla when I started writing about things going bad (so it's one of my characteristic tells) (c) It's a good line, so why not use it? But if you try to call Billie Joe to tell him I stole his line, you won't find him. I keep him in my room. Besides, he lets me do anything I like with his music and the world he created, so long as I promise him a happy ending.
The next three months were happy ones for the Cullens. Edward and Henderson had quickly gotten married, to absolutely no one's surprise (but to Alice's great displeasure, as she had been cheated out of planning a lavish affair once again). Henderson and Roxanne were the perfect additions to the family; Edward and Emmett had never been happier, and Esme about burst with satisfaction every time she looked at them. The family was finally complete.
It became quickly apparent that the girls were supernaturally gifted, as Alice had hinted. The girls had retained their telepathic link, but it was a closed circuit; Edward couldn't hear Henderson's thoughts by reading Roxanne's mind, nor could the girls hear the mind of anyone else in the family. Henderson and Roxanne laughed about it and called it their "little secret." Edward called it "incredibly unfair."
Henderson was the ultimate in self-defense. Her mind remained as impenetrable as ever, and now she had the ability to shield others from psychic harm. Additionally, she was able to completely mask her scent and the scents of others from any creature.
Roxanne had quickly learned that she had been blessed with a voice that could truly have belonged to an angel, or a siren. It allowed her to manipulate people much the same way as Jasper. Any emotion she poured into her voice, she could make everyone around her feel. Anything she wanted someone to do, she had only to focus and speak her wish, and the person she focused on would be undeniably compelled to do her bidding. In addition to that, her gift of reading auras had blossomed into an ability to instantly read people- their characters, their strengths, their flaws.
A month after the girls' conversion, the Cullens had honored their agreement with the Quileute pack, and had left Forks behind. They had settled in Prince George, a small town in the British Columbia province of Canada. Carlisle was working in the ER of the hospital and teaching courses via telecom, while Jasper and Alice attended the local college, College of New Caledonia. Jasper was, ironically, studying Psychology, while Alice had gone for Philosophy. Edward and Emmett were focusing all their energies on being with their mates, helping them adjust to the life they seemed born to have lived.
But as a very wise man once said, the innocent can never last.
When Roxanne felt she couldn't put it off any longer, she wrote a letter to the Volturi, informing them that she would be happy to come to Volterra whenever they wished her presence. A week later, Demetri once more darkened the threshold of the Cullens' home.
"My dear friends," he smiled as he walked into the living room. "So wonderful to see you again!"
"The pleasure is all ours," Carlisle said with his flawless manners. "How are your masters?"
"They're all very well," Demetri smiled. "Though Aro does wish you would come to Volterra with your daughters, Carlisle. He has missed you."
"As I have missed him," Carlisle said. "Perhaps another time."
"Of course," Demetri nodded. "Where are Henderson and Roxanne?"
"Finishing packing, Carlisle replied. "They will be downstairs momentarily."
Upstairs, Henderson and Edward walked around their room silently, finishing loading her steamer trunk with anything she might need for the next- who knew how long a period of time? They both tried to move as slowly as possible, but it was still much too fast, and all too soon, it was time for Henderson to leave.
She fidgeted with the black cocktail dress Alice had chosen for her to wear, wishing that she could just wear jeans and a hoodie. She hated being this dressed up, but at least Alice had consented to letting Henderson wear black flats instead of heels. Edward helped her into her black knee-length trench coat silently, then stood back as Henderson checked her make-up and sleek hairdo for the millionth time.
"How do I look?" she asked, not trusting herself to glance at him in the mirror.
"Beautiful," he replied. "And very European. I miss your jeans and Converse."
Henderson managed a broken laugh, barely. They turned to face each other, identical expressions of anguish on their immortal faces. Silently, Henderson raised her hand and stroked Edward's face with her knuckles once. Then she grabbed her steamer trunk and left the room, wishing for the first time that she was human, so she could weep.
Two doors down, Emmett was crushing Roxanne in his arms, refusing to let her go. Instead of struggling, she clung to him just as tightly, burying her face in his massive chest.
"You don't have to go," he whispered. "You don't."
She sighed. "Take care of Emily."
For a moment they were silent, knowing that Roxanne was going to miss so very much in their daughter's development. It was a grief that Roxanne wasn't sure she could bear- but she had to bear it.
She stepped away from him, smoothing down the skirt of her A-line, charcoal gray wrap dress. She strapped on her stilleto heels, then reached for her white knee-length trench coat. She ran a hand through her curls before pinning them back in a half-ponytail. When she was ready to go, she turned back to Emmett, anguish in her eyes.
"I'll come back, I promise," she vowed. "No matter what happens or where I am, I will never for a second stop thinking about you. I love you, Emmett."
"I love you too, Rox," he whispered.
She looked up into his eyes, and then his lips were on hers, and her resolve to leave crumbled once again. For a moment she clung to him, holding him as close as she possibly could. Where she found the willpower to leave him, she didn't know, but she pulled away, grabbed her luggage, and walked out the door, struggling to compose herself.
"Ah, here they are!" Demetri nearly crooned as Henderson and Roxanne walked downstairs. "The Mrs. Cullens."
Roxanne managed to smile at Demetri. "It's good to see you again, Demetri. Shall we?"
"Just a moment… where is your child, Roxanne?" Demetri asked. "Surely you'd want to bring Emily along."
Roxanne brushed aside the implicit threat in Demetri's words with her beautiful smile and the full effect of her vocal talents. "I would have loved to, but for right now, she should remain with Carlisle, so he can watch her development."
"Of course," Demetri nodded, dazed. "Well, come along, then."
The sisters took one last glance at their family before following Demetri out to a black stretch limousine. He insisted on putting their luggage in the trunk for them, and then ushered them into the car before it shot off.
Henderson took her sister's hand covertly. She knew her sister better than she knew herself, and could read every emotion Roxanne was feeling as if it were all written down on her skin. Roxanne was in agony, and consumed with worry and fear for her husband and daughter. They were fears that Henderson knew were echoed on her face.
"Aro will be so happy to see you," Demetri said. "He has been very impatient this past week."
"As have we," Roxanne managed to say.
"All the traveling accommodations are in order," Demetri said. "Aro has ordered animal blood for the both of you for the duration of your visit."
"That's very kind of him," Henderson said, not missing the strange gleam in Demetri's eyes.
She squeezed her sister's hand. Something's wrong.
Of course something's wrong, Roxanne mentally sighed. There's always something wrong.
The Volturi are up to something.
Still not surprised. They're the Volturi, they're always up to something. At least we're together.
For now.
Pessimist.
Realist.
Same difference.
The trip to Volterra was interminable, but uneventful. Not much was said; not much needed to be said. Demetri was leading the girls to a glorified prison sentence, one which they would serve without complaining in order to save their family.
Finally, Henderson and Roxanne were shown into a tastefully opulent room where, sitting on identical thrones, Aro, Marcus and Caius Volturi were waiting.
"Ah, and here are the new Mrs. Cullens!" Aro said, his voice a feathery sigh, as he stood and glided towards them. "Henderson, Roxanne, welcome to Volterra."
"Thank you for inviting us, Aro," Roxanne said, concentrating all of her attention on keeping her voice even and worry-free. "And thank you again for your beautiful gift," she said, fingering the sapphires she wore.
"Yes, thank you, Aro," Henderson said, motioning to the ruby earrings, bracelets, and ring she had been given upon the occasion of her wedding to Edward. "They're beautiful."
"I am delighted you like them. But where is your daughter, Roxanne?" Aro asked.
"Emily is with Carlisle and Emmett," Roxanne said, the tension showing only in the rigidity of her back. "We decided she wasn't quite old enough for travel. I'm sure you understand."
"But this will not do," Aro said, his words made more menacing by his extreme courtesy. "It is not proper to divide a mother from her child. I will send for her immediately. Demetri, Felix, show our guests to their quarters."
Felix and Demetri stepped forward, somehow looking even more menacing than usual. Henderson and Roxanne exchanged panicked, despairing looks, but there was nothing they could do but follow the two soldiers out of the throne room and to their chamber.
