Origins

Chapter 8

by missrebecca


Deep mahogany wood lines the stone walls of the room, reflecting the candles lit upon the equally dark, stained table. It is a medieval addition to the castle, one which Isabella oversaw herself. It is a warm room, in which cold decisions are made. Portraits of the brothers cover the walls, spanning their long life. In some Isabella is beside them, in others their wives. But in all the three men are strong; this room is testament to their longevity, something Aro is paranoid might now be at stake.

"It was obviously a ruse, a trick to get Chelsea out of the castle," he says, pacing behind his chair at the head of the table. Isabella sits at the opposite end, with Caius and Marcus adjacent. All watch as Aro slowly loses himself to his fear.

"You're being ridiculous," Isabella says. "If that were true then it means that one of those in her troupe murdered her. But you've touched them and combed their minds; you've had your psychic attempt to catch them off guard. None of them understand what happened."

Aro turns on her, his once red eyes black with rage. His skin is flaking around his hair line, as the splinters wind their way towards his eyes. The lack of sunlight makes the brothers fragile, and they must feed twice as often in order not to disintegrate.

"We had solid evidence of a coven massacring humans. One even wrote a bloody article about it! And yet, my guard arrive and there is nothing. Not one scrap of evidence that any of it is true." His chest is rising and falling in his fitful fury, and after running shaking hands through his hair he attempts to calm himself. "I am not suggesting we have a traitor in our midst; it is fairly obvious we do not. But someone lured Chelsea out there, someone destroyed her."

It is difficult still for Isabella to imagine her long standing friend gone from this world. That someone could destroy her is the most troubling information. Her mind is cast back to their last conversation, upon the roof about those who create vampires. Chelsea didn't understand, but Isabella's feelings are from an ancient and very sensible place. There was a time when the only creature who could destroy a vampire was the one who created it, simply because they were older and therefore superior in strength. However, Chelsea's creator had been slaughtered many hundreds of years before, and there are few vampires in the world with both the strength and inclination to destroy her, the linchpin in the Volturi strength.

"The guard are aware of her demise then?" she asks, ignoring Aro and asking Caius instead.

"Some are, those who were under her influence, anyway. There are those already planning on leaving the castle."

"Who?"

"Heidi, the Amazonians. There are others, but those are the most fervent in their want to flee."

"And you're going to let them?" she questions, realising too late how her words could be taken.

Marcus' hands clench to fists upon the table, his mouth pressing into a thin line. However, he does not speak.

"We will allow them to leave, of course we will," Aro says, sending such a guilt-laden glimpse to his brother that Isabella must drop her gaze. None are innocent in this room.

"You're not seriously afraid of what might happen, are you?" Isabella asks Aro. His pacing stops and his shoulders drop before he replies.

"No, we survived without Chelsea at one point, and we shall survive without her again. Afton, however, will need to be watched."

On that, all in the room are in agreement. The mate bond is one unlike any other, and lends itself to eternal companionship within the species. However, when one half of the pair is lost the other is left bereft, and very often goes mad with grief, and a mad vampire roaming the Volturi castle cannot be allowed.

"Isabella," Aro says, rolling her name across his tongue, "I believe that is all you're needed for, you may go."

She laughs, as though she's going to leave them to continue conspiring. "I think I'll stay, and help you decide how to go on."

His smile slips, his eyes taking on the blank look of an ancient leader. "Allow me to rephrase, I want you to leave, we do not require your assistance."

"Excusare?" She is astonished, dropping back into a more native tongue.

"You are not a ruler here; neither are you a part of my guard. Your opinions have no impact on us. Now, close the door after you."

Your guard? Her thoughts revolt, as she stands from the chair. Her expression is placid, her eyes cold as they scan to Caius and Marcus. The former looks almost sheepish, ashamed by his brother's tone; the latter does not even lift his gaze from the wood grain.

"I'll go, as you say, I'm not a part of your precious Volturi. But don't forget who I am here, it's why I return, so you never will."

Aro only bows his head in response, and Isabella quenches the urge to slam the door after her as she leaves. As it is, she cannot stop her hands from clenching at her side as she stalks through the halls. There is only once place she wishes to be; only one itch she wants to scratch.

He's waiting for her, in his chambers with a book in his hands, though it is dropped to the floor as he stands to meet her in the doorway. Their arms encircle as she attacks his lips with her own. Her skirt is lifted and he is inside her mere seconds after her enraged entrance. The stone behind her crumbles beneath his thrusts, and her nails claw at his shirt, tearing it from him so she may touch skin and soothe the ache within her.

It does not take long for them to reach that electric peak together, and like all the other times they have mated there is no basking in the afterglow. Jasper returns to his bed and to his book as Isabella rights her skirt and hair. She casts one look over her shoulder before she is gone from his room. The union makes her cold, but she cannot help but smile now that the itch is sated. She knows that eventually they will speak; it's only a matter of time.


Very much hope you enjoy this chapter!

I'm not entirely sure when the next chapter will be up. It's not finished yet and I have my first exam (3.5 hours written) on Tuesday. I'm stressed beyond anything which to me equates to a loss of appetite, lack of sleep, ridiculously vivid dreams, and generally just crapping myself. So (all going to plan) I should post the next chapter after the exam on Tuesday, however it might be closer to Wednesday. OR! Maybe I'll surprise you and it'll be Monday, who knows? I certainly don't, obviously xD.

OH! and chapter 9 teasers are up on my new blog! missrebecca12 . wordpress . com / fanfiction. So if you'd like to be teased head on over there :)