Chapter 9- The Volturi

A shimmer of light shone through his narrowed eyelids as Edward came back into awareness. He was being dragged through a huge castle-like room and was thrown onto the stone floor by the large male vampire. Edward turned his head upwards, there was a stair case in front of him and rising from his chair was a slender vampire with long black hair, behind him sat two unmoving vampires in long robes sitting in thrones.

Edward was on his feet immediately and he assessed his surroundings defensively. The black haired vampire spoke with a polite voice,

"Jane, Alec and Felix have not successfully found who I seek. Who is this that you have brought forth loved ones?"

Jane replied, offering her hand to him, "Master Aro, as you know Fidelia's abilities outmatch ours, however we found this vampire where she was staying. He might be of use to us."

He took her hand and Edward saw a wave of memories and thoughts through Aro's mind flash through his. He suddenly recognized Aro as the Volturi leader Carlisle told him about with the ability to know everything a person has ever thought, by just one touch.

In Jane's memories he discovered the real truth that Fidelia had so conveniently kept from him. She had been a part of the Volturi for hundreds of years. Her ability to disappear completely and arrive in another location put her at a high rank in the guard. Eventually however, she grew tired of following orders and decided to overthrow the Volturi by creating and gathering an army of vampires that would destroy specifically Aro, Caius and Marcus so that with her power, she could take control of the vampire world. She ran away from the Volturi in secret and her ability to conceal her scent through teleportation made her almost impossible to track, so she carried out her plan. But everything went wrong when she broke the law and created a newborn child for herself. When the Volturi guard caught one of the newborns she had created, Aro picked up the child's scent in the newborns memories and by doing this, they were able to track Fidelia, through the child's scent.

When they found her and the army she had created, there was a great battle among the newborns and most of the Volturi. The army was taken by surprise at the Volturi attack and was killed along with the child and Fidelia vanished again. Over the years, they have tried to find her, but her power made her untraceable.

Now Aro walked down the stairs to approach Edward.

"Welcome young one. May I?" He gestured to his hand. Edward hesitantly offered it to him.

Aro took it and Edward saw all of his memories flash through Aro's mind. He didn't know if he felt comfortable with all of his darkest thoughts and secrets being exposed, he saw the memory of him and Fidelia in her bedroom; he was completely unaware at the time of her real persona.

Aro's eyes widened then narrowed as he let go of Edward's hand and turned around to face the others. Marcus spoke,

"What news have you received brother?"

"Does this ally of Fidelia have any use to us?" Caius leered.

"I am NOT her ally." Edward snapped back, disgusted at himself being associated with her.

Aro ignored his outburst and said. "It seems that Fidelia has left us a message. She declares that the time for battle has arrived and that everything is in its proper place. She also tells us to feel free to send our best members and that they will be ready."

Edward almost felt sick when he came to the realisation that Fidelia had set him up to be captured, so that her words in his thoughts could be a message to Aro and the others, that she and her army, wherever they might be, are ready to overthrow them. Everything else was all a part of her seductive game to get back at the Volturi. It was a game that Edward had so blindly fallen for.

Caius abruptly stood up, "We will accept her challenge! And we strike back at her treachery, once and for all. Felix," he seemed to float down the stairs and moved to where Edward stood.

"This vampire here has been an associate of a serious threat to our coven," Caius said pointing a long pale finger at Edward. "This will not go unpunished."

Edward knew that Felix had been ordered to kill him. But instead of protesting, Edward welcomed his death. He had come to a revelation that there was absolutely no reason for him to still remain on this earth for any longer. He had no one, his human family was long gone, and Carlisle and Esme would go on without him, even the only vampire who he had thought at least cared enough to pay him any mind was really betraying him all along. His life was a pathway of one disappointment after the other. What reason did he have to fight for his life? It was now staggeringly clear that he was already dead.

"Be still Felix," Aro said to Caius's dismay and Edward's annoyance. Why couldn't they just get on with it? "He is also an associate with our dear friend Carlisle, but has chosen to reject his way of life."

Aro tilted his head to look at Edward who stood like a statue, assessing Aro's thoughts.

"You, young one have chosen our way of life over your creator's. Your mind reading ability would be a great asset to our coven. It is evident that your thoughts express your need to find a productive way to live out your eternity. Join us and I assure you all charges made against you will be dropped." Aro said to Edward.

Edward stiffened, "So join or die is that it?"

"Aro stop this madness. He might get involved with her again." Caius protested.

"Yes, I suppose her luring charms may be the cause of that ever reoccurring." Aro said with a hint of sarcasm, poking at Edward's one night fling spent with Fidelia.

Edward turned his head, suppressing the growl in his chest. He was not in the mood to be reminded of his childish stupidity, especially from Aro. Suddenly the massive door opened to reveal two members of the guard, leading a vampire to centre of the room. Aro curiously strode to where they were.

"Master Aro," one of the guards said. "We've found this newborn vampire hunting in Volterra."

The male vampire squirmed as the guards struggled to restrain him. Caius told Jane to restrain the vampire and immediately, he was screaming as her power overtook his mind. After about a minute, Aro held up his hand to signal her to stop and grabbed the now frightened newborn's hand as he gathered information from his mind.

Aro gasped at what he saw. It was the visual images of Fidelia's head being ripped apart by the giant fangs of a massive black and white coated wolf. Could Fidelia have been killed in some way?

"I cannot believe it, Fidelia has perished." Aro said astonished that she was caught before she could manage to teleport somewhere else.

Around him, everyone was just as shocked. The man spoke quickly under his breath, relieving the disbelief floating through the room.

"Fidelia and her newborn army had been hunting a group of humans on a wolf pack's territory two days ago and they managed to catch her off guard while she was still feeding on the blood of a human. Some of the members of her army were killed as well. I managed to escape and I ran as far as I could for about a day. I came to Italy to report what happened. I have heard about the power of your coven from Fidelia. I have come here to prove my full loyalty and to be of assistance to you." The man said as he now knelt on one knee, showing his allegiance. Edward knew by his thoughts that he was only declaring his loyalty to save himself.

Caius was above his gaze in an instant. He looked down and said to the man, "You had great loyalty for Fidelia when you were a part of her army, didn't you?"

The man looked up; fear struck his thoughts as he saw Caius raise his left hand. With a quick, piercing sound, the two guards had beheaded him and his body was taken away.

"What wolves did he speak of that could dismember a vampire army?" Marcus asked with a weary voice.

"It couldn't have been werewolves; we have already drove them into extinction," said Caius.

Aro seemed deep in thought when he answered, "a pack of shape shifters, not werewolves. It was in the daylight that they attacked her."

Caius went to sit down at his throne and said, "At least they did some good and got rid of that nuisance, Fidelia, at last."

Felix spoke, "Master Aro, what of this vampire?"

Aro had almost forgotten Edward when he turned to see him still standing in the room. He looked at Aro with indifference as he contemplated.

"I suppose he is no major threat to us, I saw no loyalty towards Fidelia in his thoughts. It would be such a waste to get rid of him and his mental talents. You still refuse our proposal?" Aro asked Edward.

"Yes." Edward answered.

Aro sighed and moved up the stairs while saying,

"If you ever change your mind don't hesitate to join and if you ever decide to return to Carlisle again, be sure to send my regards. Farewell young Edward."

It did not occur to Edward that he was in Volterra, Italy until he was escorted out of the castle. He had never been to Italy before, the most charming country in the world, with its rich history, magnificent monuments, churches and people. He had hoped that his first time in the country would have been under better circumstances than being taken against his will by the members of the Volturi and being framed as an ally to one of their biggest enemies, by the woman he had just lost his virginity to. Right now, Edward's mental state was not looking well.

He made it out of the city, not bringing any attention to himself. In the forest he ran, not knowing where he was going. He ran for hours, and then days through different settings at the fastest speed he could go.