Chapter 10: Sacrifice
On the one hand, I wanted to continue talking to Matia about the exact reasons that we loved each other. On the other hand, I knew that when I held her in my arms, that our love was unconditional, and unexplainable. Of course, there are many factors that led up to this, such as Matia's revelation of my soul, and how I seemed to become happier when she was happy. But our actual, pure love couldn't be explained with reasons.
One day, as we were all gathered on the couch, Alice's face went blank. Everyone turned to watch her. Horror started to leak across her face. I felt Matia freeze in my lap. I watched Alice's vision as she saw it. Fifteen ghosting figures in pitch-black cloaks gathered around the Cullen house. Aro, extending an offer to Edward; wanting him to join his guard. Aro trying to be persuasive. Not turning away after one no from Edward. In time, Aro would eventually find some reason to threaten the Cullens. In exchange of leaving them in peace, Edward would have to join him. Aro seeing the new additions: Jasper, Matia, and Alice. Four new vampires with remarkable gifts who he wanted to join him. The vision ended. Alice looked at me, at Matia, then at Jasper with a worried expression. "What do we do?" Alice whispered, fresh terror in her eyes. Before I could say anything, Emmett, Carlisle, Jasper, Esme, and Rosalie all yelled for us to explain. I looked down at Matia; she had felt the terror in Alice and I. She didn't need us to explain for her to grasp just how terrible Alice's vision was.
"There is no chance that Aro will be coming in peace?" Carlisle asked hopefully.
"He will come peacefully, but he won't give up quickly," Alice explained.
"Well what's wrong with just waiting them out?" Jasper asked, confused. Alice just looked at him; she couldn't get the words out of her mouth.
"The fact that Aro will become even more ecstatic when he finds out what you, Alice, and Matia can do," I clarified. "Once he realizes what the four of us could do for his guard, he will try even harder to get us."
"We won't let him," Emmett growled fiercely. No doubt, hoping for a fight.
"It doesn't end there," Alice whispered, "he will be looking for excuses to come again, monitoring our every move, waiting for us to do something that will make him not in peace, but as the punishing Volturi. He will agree to leave us in peace, if Edward joins him."
"We'll leave then," Esme suggested, hope in her eyes. "That way, when they come here, there won't be anyone to find."
"Demetri will track us," Jasper scowled. "Even if the four of us leave, he knows Edward."
I knew what had to happen. Alice, Jasper, and Matia had to leave while the Volturi persuaded me. We couldn't let Aro know what else he would want to gain. There was no way that Aro could know about Jasper, Alice, or...Matia. A new kind of despair washed over me as I thought of the gift cradled against my chest leaving me. As she felt this new emotion, she shuddered, and then I saw her realize what had to happen dawn in her mind.
"No. I won't leave you." She thought as she looked up at me with fierce determination in her eyes.
"You have to. I can't let Aro know about you." The possibilities ran through her head.
"If I stayed we could be together, but Aro would have more a reason to threaten our family. That's not an option. If the four of us left…the stupid tracker would find us eventually, forcing themselves on us. We couldn't run. Edward and I going one way, while Alice and Jasper went another way. The Volturi confronting Edward is absolutely unavoidable. This way, we are the only ones they would find. Alice, Jasper, Esme, Carlisle, Rosalie, Emmett; they would never be in danger." She looked up at me, her expression minutely optimistic.
"No. There is no way that I am going to let them find you, too."
"I'm not leaving you. And I'll just follow you if you attempt to leave."
I shook my head sadly. "The only way is for you, Alice, and Jasper to leave. They will also be tracking Carlisle's scent and mine. They will grow suspicious if we are not in the same place." I choked out. "They will know we were hiding something."
Matia understood that this was the only way that our family would not be endangered any more than they already were.
"I can't go off and hide with Alice while you are left to face those greedy, evil monsters."
I would gladly give up my talent if it meant that I would never have to see her suffer like this again. I looked around the room at the rest of my family, who would soon face a mob. Emmett was excited; he gladly hoped this would turn into a fight. Matia felt the bloodthirsty edge to him. We both hissed at him. "Oh yeah, sorry," he amended with fake sincerity.
"I don't like the thought of us splitting up at a time like this," Carlisle said sadly. "But, if it is the only way, I guess that's what has to happen."
"It is," Alice and I answered together.
"So be it."
"How long," Rosalie warily asked.
"Three days," Alice admitted, full of sorrow.
At this, Matia huddled even closer to me and buried her face in my chest. I wrapped my arms around her, realizing why no one else was reacting like we were. No one else had to be separated from their love as this danger encroached on us.