Chapter 9 - Suspicion

EDWARD'S POV

Jacob was gone. Esme was gone. And Carlisle and I were a pair of broken souls. How does one go on when their mate is lost? My father and I had become empty shells of ourselves once we'd discovered our mates missing. When Esme never joined us on our hunt, we knew something was wrong. Hearing Carlisle's concern, I'd followed him back to camp, only to find no evidence of Esme, and a pile of heavily sleeping wolves, sans Jacob.

Carlisle immediately scented sedatives flowing through the wolves' veins—someone had obviously drugged them and stolen Jacob while they slept. But how had they overpowered Esme? Even if she'd been caught by surprise, it would have been difficult for someone to kidnap a vampire. Unless…what had happened with our mates was a mirror of what had happened to Irina and my son.

As my father and I held each other and wept for our tremendous losses, our minds whirled; my own thoughts combining with Carlisle's so that I could no longer tell which were his and which were my own as we searched our brains for an answer. The only conclusion we continuously came to was that this was the Volturi's doing, but how?

The rest of our party eventually returned, and there was an uproar as the wolves awoke and minds reeled with the shock of our missing comrades. The vampires argued and accused one another, even pointing fingers at the wolf pack; rationale was thrown out the window—the clearing in the Swiss mountains was in chaos. Everyone figured there was a traitor in our midst. And everyone was suspicious of each other, especially the Romanians, but I knew their minds—their consciences were clear. No one here was involved, and finally, I couldn't take the accusations and distrust anymore.

"Stop!" I screamed, my eyes wild in my grief. "No one here is responsible. Esme and Jake have simply disappeared."

Garrett huffed. "And how exactly do you know that?"

"I can read each and every one of your minds," I replied, "and no one here is responsible for their disappearance."

Carlisle spoke up then. "Friends, I know how distressing this is to you all. No doubt, it is most distressing to myself, and to Edward, who has now lost two who are dear to him. This is the Volturi's doing." Carlisle hung his head and added balefully, "It's me they want." Raising his head, he looked me in the eye. "I'm so sorry, Edward. This is all my fault. If I hadn't killed Aro, Jake and Anthony and…Esme would still be here."

I shook my head at his apology. "It's not your fault, Carlisle. If you hadn't killed Aro, Anthony would never have been born in the first place, and I would more than likely be dead."

Carlisle nodded, unable and unwilling to deny the truth in my statement.

Benjamin spoke then. "Perhaps the Volturi have some new vampire in their ranks that can control our minds? See over great distances to know that Esme had been alone and vulnerable for a few moments?"

It was as good an idea as any of us could come up with, and it gave me hope that our mates were still alive. Of course, there was no way to know for sure. All we could do now was work out a clear plan to infiltrate Volterra as swiftly as possible; not just to save Anthony, but to save our mates as well.

My belly twisted to think what horrible things they might do to my Jacob...Caius was known to hate all things canine. Would he torture him? Rape him? Mutilate him? Burn his beautiful tan skin? It was all possible, and I would put none of it past the fiend. I had to get there before he injured my husband too badly, or killed him, God forbid. I was confident Anthony would be held as bait, but I had no such confidence for Jacob's fate.

The thought of never seeing his perfect face, holding his body close to mine, his strong, calloused hands caressing me as I kissed his plump lips and breathed in his manly scent again, was swiftly turning my sadness to absolute rage.

First, they take my baby; now, they take my mate. All in the name of revenge. Honestly, what was wrong with an eye for an eye? Why had they not come directly after Carlisle? Why go for his loved ones...my loved ones? It made no sense.

But they would pay for what they'd done. And I was going to be the one to make them.

WILHELM'S POV

When I was a human, I was a gifted young scientist, just wetting my feet in the medical field. I had focused on microbiology and physiology; my dream in life being to find a cure for cancer.

That dream was cut short one night when I was working late in my lab. It was very late, and I don't recall exactly what project was keeping me there past normal operating hours; my memory of my human life was fuzzy, with many details missing.

What I do remember though, was a middle-aged man in a long black robe entering the abandoned laboratory. I think he may have spoken a few words to me; I only remember being frightened by his wardrobe, yet entranced by his surprising good looks. The next thing I knew was intense pain that seemed endless, and when it ended, I was no longer a human, but a vampire.

As a man of science, this was a shocking discovery, and it may have driven me insane had it not been for the jubilation of Roberto, a newborn engineer changed the same day as I had been, and the kindness that Marcus, the vampire who changed me, had shown me. He helped us learn to live and feed as vampires do, and after about a year, we were able to control our murderous impulses enough to focus on other things besides drinking blood.

It was then that Roberto and I were approached by Jane, and ordered to devise a contraption that could both spy on vampires unawares and essentially entice one to come to Volterra willingly, but without their knowledge. We didn't ask questions; we had been well warned by some of our comrades of Jane's vicious powers and did not want to be on the receiving end of them. Besides, what choice did we really have? We were essentially slaves to these ancient beings.

It took us a long time to work out the best tool for their use, but eventually, we presented them with our camera-equipped robotic mosquitoes with a remote-release mind control pheromone. Our leaders were beyond pleased, and once we taught them how it worked, they inducted us into the ranks of their Guard, and we were readily accepted amongst them.

When the woman and the young child arrived, the first victims of our device, I felt great shame. They had taken control of a little boy, and it was my fault. What could they possibly want with him? What would they do to him?

It was eating me up inside, so when I found Marcus alone in the library later that day, I inquired as to their intentions with the child.

"The child is merely bait and will remain unharmed," Marcus has assuaged me. "Fear not, Wilhelm, for his safety. While the boy is under my protection, no one will dare lay a finger on him." Then, the ancient vampire detailed what he knew of the strange circumstance of the child's birth. Two men bearing a child, one of which a vampire, was greatly intriguing to me. "That was the reason our brother Aro went to see the Cullens," Marcus explained, "to learn more of the child's miraculous conception. Instead, he was met with death, and that is why we are holding the child; to draw out our brother's murderer." I left the library feeling confident the child would be kept in good health, but I desperately wanted to see him for myself, to see the product of such an odd and unlikely union.

All I had to do was wax scientific about the boy's birth, and Marcus granted me permission to visit him. Perhaps the old man thought I might learn something that may be of use to him later; I was simply curious.

Carefully, I placed the key in the lock and turned. The door creaked open, and I slid inside, leaving the door slightly ajar. On the bed sat the child, Anthony; his vibrant green eyes shining, and his caramel-skinned forehead creased with a steely resolve as he glared at me.

Stepping closer, I addressed him. "Hello, Anthony. My name is Wilhelm. I am a friend of Marcus, a scientist."

Anthony stood up from the edge of the bed but did not approach me. His hard glare never wavered, and when he spoke, his tone was fierce.

"Where is my Papa?" he asked, although it was more a statement than a question.

"I'm sure he is looking for you as we speak, child."

Anthony shook his head, disbelieving. "I know he's here. I heard him cry Daddy's name."

As far as I knew, the father was the one they were attempting to lure. Thus, he could not possibly be here yet, or I was sure I would have heard about it. Perhaps the child was delusional from being held in this room.

"No, Anthony. Your papa isn't here."

Clearly unhappy with my response, Anthony balled his hands into fists at his sides; they were clenched so tightly his arms began to vibrate. The vibration spread up his limbs until his entire person trembled, his icy glare boring a hole into me. I felt a spark of fear, then admonished myself internally. I was a vampire—no child's tantrum could harm me.

"You're a liar!" Anthony spat, and the lights began to flicker.

The coincidence unnerved me, and I thought it best to leave the child alone. Quickly turning on my heel, I slid out the door and slammed it shut behind me, making sure to lock it with the key.

"Liar! Where's my Papa?!" Anthony screamed from behind the door.

The lights in the hallways were now flickering violently along with the boy's anger. Ready to hightail it out of there, I ran down the hallway, the bulbs bursting in quick succession behind me, sending sparks flying.

A/N: Happy New Year! Is anyone still out there, I wonder? If you are still enjoying this story, let me know and leave me some love :) A debt of gratitude is owed to my fabulous betas harrytwifan and remylebeauishot. Love you ladies!