Chapter 9 – Fight or flee

Edward Cullen

"Edward, this isn't a good idea," Carlisle said, eyes boring into mine. I looked away as Keenan laughed. It was a chilling, demented sound.

"Well, if you prefer to be in smithereens I am looking forward to helping you with that." The look in Keenan's deep red eyes made Esme beside me shiver.

"Now, dream team, let's go before I use…persuasion."

Alice and I followed Keenan out the door as I grimaced at the thoughts in Keenan's head. The 'persuasion' that Keenan had prepared in his head revolted me.

"Now, slow pokes, do you know the lovely clearing that is several minutes jog off the 101 north?" Keenan sneered with disdain the moment we were clear of the house. I was careful to make sure that I could pick up every thought in Keenan's head. But it wouldn't be much of an advantage if he attacked us. Keenan's power was too powerful, even with the added advantages that Alice and I had.

I returned my mind to Keenan thoughts. The image that I saw revolving in Keenan's head stunned me. It was the meadow that I had taken Bella to when I first showed her how I looked in the sunlight.

"How do you-?"

"How did we know? Aro's had a nice peek into your head several times, and he thinks that it is a perfect location for a reunion with your sweet Bella. And for you little miss Alice, with your dear fighter boy."

I couldn't help snarling with Alice. Keenan glared at us, but there was amusement there.

"The grass there is getting older by the second. Now, move your butts or I will rip them off myself!"

Without further to do, Alice and I ran to my meadow, Keenan running behind us and throwing predatory glances at us every few minutes.


Bella Cullen

Of all the places the Volturi could've chosen to give Jasper and I our 'presents' they had to choose my meadow! The meadow that seemed to exist only for Edward and me, but now, the Volturi intended to turn it into a killing ground. I knew what the plan was even without the ability to read minds. Edward and Alice would come along, and if any one of us refused the Volturi's offer to join them, the other of the pair would be killed. We loved each other too much to allow that to happen. I knew that if someone was killed, the other would be forced to exist. I couldn't do that to Edward. And I knew that the Volturi knew that as well.

Beside me, Jasper was under the guard of three vampires, who were circling around him. Aro had obviously seen his fighting abilities in Edward's head – by giving Jasper that many guards Aro was showing his fear of Jasper.

As I looked around, Jasper's eyes met mine. There was a hard edge to the golden colour that made me know that his thoughts were along the same lines as mine. We only had two choices. Join the Volturi or die. It wasn't a predicament that I could see a way out of.

The wind blew gently from the south, bringing along the scent of wildflowers. Suddenly, the strength of the scent intensified, and with it came the scents of three vampires that I knew only too well. Alice, Edward, and that Volturi warrior Keenan. I really hoped that Alice hadn't seen what had happened to Jasper and me. I knew it would set Edward on a burning quest of vengeance the moment he read her mind.

The heads of Aro and Caius snapped up with the scent, as Marcus stayed back with that utterly bored expression in his face.

Aro turned to us, smiling serenely.

"I hope you, Bella, and you, Jasper, enjoy the gifts that I have presented you with. I hope they help you make your decisions. I can remind you that Keenan is more than geared up to return to the Cullens house with…another gift," Aro said, Caius behind him smiling with menace. Keenan, Edward and Alice finally arrived at the centre of the meadow, where Aro, Caius and Marcus stood.

Keenan looked up at Aro. But my attention was focused on Edward. It had been nearly an hour since I had last seen him, but it felt so much longer than that, with my abduction and the ultimatum that I had received with Jasper. Edward had changed so much in that time. When I had left him, Edward had a joyful glimmer in his eye and he had looked so much more alive. Now, Edward had lost all the emotions in his face, as he stared at Aro with an expression that bordered on hatred and anger. It made my chest twist just seeing him like that. All I wanted to do was to comfort him, give him a hug, and erase the pain from his face. The only thing I was grateful for at the moment was that Aro had not ordered Keenan to bring Renesmee along as well. I knew I would not be able to resist if she was there.

"Edward…why so bitter?" Aro asked, curious. I almost choked. Did Aro have the audacity to actually ask us that? Aro raised his open palm towards Edward. With a slow, reluctant movement, Edward pressed his palm against Aro's.

Aro closed his eyes as he read every thought that had passed through Edward's head. What we had done in the past century, every thought that had passed through the minds of the Cullens, the emotions that we felt towards the Volturi… Aro knew it all.

I expected Aro to lie, to say that we Cullens were misguided in our hatred.

"Well, I am not surprised to see that you felt like that to us. Seeing as we will be destroying the Cullens. You guys might sully our reputation, and it was so good to have a taste of your fear," Aro smiled. Caius looked at me squarely, not even concealing the look of malicious glee on his face.

"Carlisle will die," Caius said as he stood alongside Aro. "Carlisle, his useless wife, the stupid brawny one, though we might keep his mate – she is very good looking, even for a vampire, and I think my guards deserve a reward to play with for their…hard work. But the rest will die. I especially look forward to destroying that pretty half human child that you have there, Bella."

I didn't even realise that I had run forward until I felt the painful grip of several of the Volturi's guards on my shoulders. I let out a scream of hatred. Caius smiled, getting the reaction that he had wanted.

I took several deep breaths, trying to calm down, as the hard arms that had gripped me slowly let go. It helped my emotions that Jasper had been there – I felt my rage and fury abate, leaving me calm.

Aro frowned at Caius slightly. No doubt he was upset about Caius's intentions to kill Renesmee. Aro probably wanted Renesmee around as a lab rat.

Aro turned his gaze back to Edward.

"It's nice to see that you Cullens have expanded. Angela and Ben… I hate to say it, but Ben sounds quite useless to us except as bait for young Angela. I like her power…who knows what she might feel if she was working with us…I just have to see into her mind to see exactly what she can do."

I had to resist from snarling at Aro. I could see by the way that Jasper, Edward and Alice had their faces clenched that they were also resisting that urge.

"But that's it Aro! Apart from all the gifted vampires, the rest will die. The same will go to all that helped the Cullens in their quest to destroy us, and I don't think you can keep them all either," Caius hissed with a fury that made him sound snake-like. "And I don't care how powerful the sister brats of that girl was – I want all the Denali's dead and dusted. Especially Eleazar. Traitor left us for them…"

Aro patted Caius's arm delicately.

"No need for anger brother. Those that disobey us will die. And that applies to the delightful Cullens standing in front of me. So…" Aro turned around to meet my gaze. "Bella, what will it be? Will you join the Volturi or are you willing to watch Edward die?"

I let out a gasp the same instant that Felix and Keenan grabbed Edward. Keenan tilted Edward's head back, so his throat was exposed. Felix gave me a short wink as Keenan bared his fangs inches from Edward's vulnerable neck.

I understood Aro's plan perfectly. I was more valuable to Aro than Edward. I felt a pang of relief for an instant as the fear that I would leave Edward alone in the alone world left me. But the fear returned to me even stronger – if I refused, how would I live without Edward?

"Bella? What is your decision?" Aro said. On an invisible signal, Keenan sank his fangs into Edward's neck. I cried out as I saw the pain cross Edward's face as he struggled to conceal it. I had no choice. I could not let Edward die. I knew what I said in the next few seconds would be the factor that decided whether Edward's head stayed on his head or not.

"I'll join! I'll join the Volturi! Just get those fangs out of Edward! " I cried in desperation, eager to see the fangs that were imbedded in Edward's neck leave. From a distance away, I heard a harsh snarl that I recognised instantly. Jane. She was still here was she?

Aro gave Keenan a short nod as he released Edward and threw him on the grass. As Edward rubbed his hand on the wounds on his neck, Aro stepped forward, his shadow casting itself over Edward. I didn't like how the image looked. It was the image of an invincible person standing over the doomed person at their feet.

"Well then…Edward? Will you join Bella in the Volturi or die?"

Edward looked up at Aro, face still in a grimace of pain. Without waiting for a response, Aro grabbed Edward's arm and held it for a second.

"You don't want to be with the Volturi, but you don't want to leave young Bella…guess that is sorted. Your love for Bella is stronger than your hatred for joining. Welcome to the Volturi, Edward."

I rushed towards Edward, surprised that no hard hands were restraining me. Edward laid on the grass, defeated, the image of a beaten person.

"Edward," I whispered in despair. At least we were still together.

"Alice?" Edward asked, puzzled, but I saw something in his eye. He was hoping to hope.

The change in the scent of the wind was the only warning that we received before the werewolves attacked.

Edward acted instantly, flinging me onto his back as if I weighed nothing. Without regards to the battle that had just begun between the Volturi and the werewolves Edward ran recklessly into the trees, dodging vampires and werewolves alike.

Edward ran for several minutes until he was convinced that no one was following us. As he lifted me gently back onto my feet, I noted where we were standing. We were standing at the end of the road that I had driven on over a century previously when Edward had first shown me the meadow. I threw myself at him. If I were human, I would be crying all over him.

"Edward!" I cried, sinking my head into his chest. I felt Edward return my hug, and I looked up into his face just before he kissed me.

The passion in his kiss dissolved my worries instantly. All I cared about was returning his kiss, and moulding my lips around his. I did not notice when my body was curved around Edward in a way that would not have very polite in company. I did not care. I just wanted to savour Edward.

It was quite a shock when we fell down onto the hard road.

"Ow," I exclaimed, shocked. Edward was lying beside me with the same surprised expression.

"Guess we got a little carried away didn't we?" Edward said, a slight smile on the corners of his mouth. But then the current situation returned to me.

"The werewolves! And the Volturi! We can't just leave the werewolves to fight it out on their own!" I said, preparing to run back.

"Bella, wait!" Edward yelled. I turned around to see that his face looked less than concerned, although there was a slight hardness in his eyes that told me that something may have gone wrong.

"We don't need to run back to help the werewolves. The battle is over. The Volturi started fleeing the moment that they arrived, as they had no intention of fighting them. With you there Bella, the werewolves alone could defeat the Volturi."

"But..." I questioned, knowing there was more.

"The battle wasn't casualty free. On one hand, you will be thrilled to hear that Jacob and Sam have destroyed Alec, meaning that the Volturi lose one of their main advantages. But on the other hand, one of the younger werewolves was killed by Keenan as the Volturi fled."

"Oh no Edward," I whispered. I could imagine how Jacob would feel. A werewolf was killed trying to save me.

"Not everything is lost Bella. Apparently Keenan's power is not as fool proof as it seems. From what I read of Keenan's thoughts in the short battle, he may be able to overpower any vampire with his ability, but it does not work with the werewolves. If he fights one, he goes back to whatever ability he had before using his power, although, either way, Keenan is still quite the powerful enemy. It seems that the werewolves negate his ability whenever he fights them."

"That's a good thing at least," a husky voice panting slightly said from behind me.

"Jacob!" I cried, pleased to see him. I couldn't see a scratch on Jacob, which led me to believe that Alec hadn't put up much of a fight.

"Bella," Jacob murmured as he swept me up into one of his burning hot hugs. I couldn't help but hold my breath at his scent. I still couldn't get used to it after a century. It still smelled just as bad.

"How did you know where to find us?" I asked, enjoying Jacob's presence.

"Well, I was at the house when that bloodsucker arrived. So I ran to La Push and alerted the werewolves, and we followed Edward's scent to the meadow. Weird place too," Jacob added with a slight grimace. "Mind you, the drama nearly sent me insane. This time, we really have to kill those bloodsuckers. Seeing what they did to you… I do not want to see that ever again."

"So what are we going to do now?" I asked Edward. He knew I meant the current situation with the Volturi.

"We need to choose whether we are going to fight or flee," Edward said.